RTHK: Russian missiles hit crowded shopping centre Two Russian missiles slammed into a crowded shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk on Monday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 50, the regional governor said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said more than 1,000 people were in the shopping centre at the time of the attack, which witnesses said caused a huge fire and sent dark smoke billowing into the sky. "It is impossible to even imagine the number of victims ... It's useless to hope for decency and humanity from Russia," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Dmytro Lunin, governor of the central Poltava region, wrote on Telegram that 11 people had now been confirmed killed by the strike, adding that rescue workers would keep searching through the smouldering rubble, with more bodies likely to be found. Lunin also wrote on Telegram that 21 people had been hospitalised and 29 others had been given first aid without hospitalization. "It's an act of terrorism against civilians," he said separately, suggesting there was no military target nearby that Russia could have been aiming at. Kremenchuk, an industrial city of 217,000 before Russia's military campaign began, lies on the Dnipro River in the region of Poltava and is the site of Ukraine's biggest oil refinery. Ukraine's air force command said the mall was hit by two long-range X-22 missiles fired from Tu-22M3 bombers that flew from the Shaykovka airfield in Russia's Kaluga region. Russia did not immediately comment on the Ukrainian assertion. It has denied deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-06-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: Sturgeon proposes consultative independence vote Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans on Tuesday for a second referendum to be held on Scottish independence in October next year, vowing to take legal action to ensure a vote if the British government tried to block it. Sturgeon spoke as the Scottish government, which is led by her pro-independence Scottish National Party, published a referendum bill outlining plans for the secession vote to take place on October 19, 2023. She also said she would be writing to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for permission to hold a consultative referendum, but had already set in motion plans to get the legal authority should he try to block her. "The issue of independence cannot be suppressed. It must be resolved democratically. And that must be through a process that is above reproach and commands confidence," Sturgeon told lawmakers in the devolved Scottish Parliament. "What I am not willing to do, what I will never do, is allow Scottish democracy to be a prisoner of Boris Johnson or any prime minister." Voters in Scotland, which has a population of around 5.5 million, rejected independence in 2014. But Scotland's semi-autonomous government says Britain's departure from the European Union, which was opposed by a majority of Scots, means the question must be put to a second vote. Pro-independence parties won a majority in the elections last year and Sturgeon, under pressure from some in her own party, had promised to hold a vote by the end of 2023. Polls suggest a vote would be too close to call. Johnson and his ruling Conservative Party, which is in opposition in Scotland, strongly oppose a referendum, saying the issue was settled in 2014 when Scots voted against independence by 55 percent to 45 percent. Polls in 2022 vary, with some showing a similar split, and others showing the gap narrowing. Johnson has previously refused to issue a "Section 30" order, which gives authority to the Scottish parliament to hold a referendum, and said earlier on Tuesday the main priority for Britain was the economic pressures the country faced. His spokesman later reiterated that the government believed it was not the time to be discussing a new referendum. Sturgeon said that the legality of a referendum without permission from the British government was contested, and so she had already asked the Lord Advocate, the senior Scottish Law Officer, to refer the question to the UK's Supreme Court. "A decision has been taken by the first minister so we will carefully study the details of the proposal and the Supreme Court will now consider whether to accept the Scottish government's Lord Advocate's referral," Johnson's spokesman said. If the court found the Scottish parliament could not hold an independence referendum without the prime minister's consent, Sturgeon said the SNP would instead fight the next UK election on a platform of whether Scotland should be independent. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-06-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Scanning electron microscope image of Vibrio cholerae. Credit: Wikipedia A cholera outbreak in Iraq claimed its first victim Tuesday, with 17 new cases recorded in the country within 24 hours, a health ministry spokesperson said. The death was recorded in the northern province of Kirkuk, the ministry's Seif al-Badr was quoted as saying by state media. "Over the past 24 hours, 17 new cases were detected, bringing the total to 76 cases registered in Iraq since the start of the year," he said. The outbreak was first officially reported earlier this month, with Kirkuk accounting for one of the 13 cases confirmed at that time. The other infections were mostly concentrated in neighbouring Sulaimaniyah province, in the autonomous Kurdistan region. The country's last broad cholera outbreak dates back to 2015, Badr had said previously, with the central provinces of Baghdad and Babil to its south the worst affected. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that is treatable with antibiotics and hydration but can kill within hours without medical attention. It is caused by a germ that is typically transmitted by poor sanitation. People become infected when they swallow food or water carrying the bug. According to the World Health Organization, researchers estimate that annually there are between 1.3 million and four million cases of cholera worldwide, leading to between 21,000 and 143,000 deaths. Explore further Iraq confirms 13 cholera cases, scores suspected 2022 AFP Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Health care workers in New Zealand already face life-and-death decisions daily. But as multiple winter illnesses add pressure to a system already stretched by COVID, staff now also have to deal with daily abuse, acute staff shortages and unsafe working conditions. At times, they cannot provide the care they would like for their patients. The impact on health workers is often described as stress and burnout. The consequences of this prolonged pressure can be seen in the number of doctors, nurses and other health professionals leaving their jobs for overseas positions and the private sector, or being lost to their professions completely. Many of these health care workers may well be suffering from a more serious form of psychological distress than burnout: moral injury. "We are overloaded with the workload, we are all fatigued so I'm not sure how long this can go on. It's very difficult," say Auckland GPs as an overflow of winter patients, diverted from emergency departments knock on their doors.https://t.co/iR7PMoBk5g RNZ (@radionz) June 20, 2022 Moral injury refers to the psychological, social and spiritual impact of events on a person who holds strong values (such as caring for patients) and operates in high-stakes situations (hospital emergency care), but has to act in a way inconsistent with those values. Examples include having to turn patients away despite them being in pain or discomfort; being unable to provide adequate care due to staff shortages; having to care for a dying patient isolated from their loved ones while wearing full protective gear. Symptoms of moral injury can include strong feelings of guilt and shame (about not being able to uphold health care values, for example) as well as high levels of anger and contempt towards the system that prevents proper care. High levels of self-criticism, loss of trust in people and organizations and a weakening of personal relationships are further symptoms of moral injury. It can be viewed as a more severe form of burnout. But while burnout can happen in most workplaces, moral injury requires the three core components listed above. From war to the operating table The term moral injury arose in military psychology to refer to situations where, for example, soldiers were unable to intervene to save lives in case they risked breaching the rules of engagement. More recently, the term has been adapted to apply to health care. Viewing the experiences of health workers through this lens can help us understand why they may experience a seesawing emotional state and the confusing conflict of simultaneously wanting to be at work while wishing they were anywhere but. For health care workers, understanding the concept of moral injury may help reframe it as something that is happening to them rather than because they don't have the skills to cope. The latter can sometimes be a mistaken implication of the term burnout. While health care workers are largely at the mercy of the organizations they work for, there are some steps individuals can take to alleviate moral injury. Firstly, simply recognizing they may be suffering from this condition can reduce confusion and validate their experiences. Secondly, reconnecting back to an individual's values and beliefs can help refocus and re-energize, at least temporarily. Reminding themselves why they got into this job in the first place is a useful place to start. Organizational responses Organizations and businesses must play a lead role in preventing and treating moral injury. Many of the factors leading to it (lack of resources or staff, a pandemic or peak flu season) are outside the control of individuals. Most modern businesses will be aware they have a legal responsibility under the 2015 Health and Safety at Work Act to look after their employees' mental and physical well-being. At a high level, organizations can advocate for systemic change and increases in funding and resourcing, where needed. But these higher-level changes take time to achieve. In the meantime, it is important health care workers are protected and supported. Broad steps an organization can take to prevent or reduce moral injury include removing the burden of difficult ethical decisions from frontline workers and instead adopting evidence-based policies to guide an organization-wide response. Where possible, rotating staff between high and low-stress environments may help. Providing funding for workers to access professional psychological supervision is another practical step businesses can consider. At a team level, it can be helpful to have leaders who are visible, validating and can help make sense of the moral conflict. Leaders can also play a role in keeping alive professional values and modeling their own struggles with the situation. The general public also has a role to play in supporting health care workers. Any steps we can take to protect our own health and thereby reduce pressure on the system can have a cumulative effect on the well-being of doctors, nurses and allied health clinicians. The health of our nation rests with those who work in this field and it is in all our interest that their health is protected and prioritized. Explore further Hospital work during pandemic was like a war zone: Study This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Nurses and midwives feel "forever altered" by the impact of COVID-19 and remain deeply affected by what they experienced, new research from the University of Surrey reports. None felt they came through the last two years unscathed. Researchers say that there is an urgent need to tackle stigma to create a psychologically safe working environment and have called for a national COVID-19 nursing workforce recovery strategy to retain nurses and help restore their psychological well-being. Jill Maben, Professor of Health Services Research and Nursing at the University of Surrey, said: "Nurses and midwives put their own health and psychological well-being on the line for the public during the pandemic and many unfortunately lost their lives. Others experienced burnout, high levels of moral distress and PTSD. We have a duty as a society to take care of frontline staff who experienced such extreme psychological and emotional distress during this pandemic. "To prevent a mass exodus of our nursing and midwifery workforce, it is important that they are offered the care and support that they need. A new national strategy focusing on their well-being is essential. The support currently offered is a good start in improving well-being, however more needs to be done at organizational levels (not just letting the responsibility rest with the individual nurse or midwife) as a one size fits all approach does not work." The findings are published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies, as part of the ongoing Impact of COVID on Nurses (ICON) longitudinal interview study which arose from the ICON survey, researchers examined the impacts of the pandemic on frontline nursing staff's psychological and emotional well-being during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviewing nurses and midwives from across the country, researchers identified high levels of distress amongst participants about the lack of compassionate care they were able to offer patients during this time. One nurse, spoke about her distress and embarrassment about the care her patients received while she was redeployed, and her hope that investigations would be launched into patient care after the pandemic. Redeployment was also found to have caused trauma to nurses, with many being unaccustomed to caring for high numbers of critically ill patients and being witness to such high numbers of patient deaths. A lack of trust between existing and redeployed nurses was also identified with many experiencing distress when forced to carry out tasks that they felt insufficiently trained to do and were concerned that their professional registration may be endangered. Stigma was a factor in some nursing staff not accessing counseling services during the first wave of the pandemic. Some participants referred to the notion that nurses seeking counseling would be viewed as a 'sign of weakness." Those who did seek out counseling often did so through anonymous sources such as charities or Trade Unions suggesting a lack of trust in the confidentiality of resources offered by employers. Professor Maben added: "These interviews were some of the most challenging of my career. We felt immensely privileged as a research team to bear witness to the selflessness and skillful work of nurses and midwives during the pandemic, while also hearing their often harrowing stories. We were often in awe of their work and felt their stress and distress deeply. However, interviewees suggested that by listening to their stories we provided some therapeutic space and comfort, with many very grateful that we were undertaking this work and recording their experiences for posterity." More information: J. Maben et al, 'You can't walk through water without getting wet' UK nurses' distress and psychological health needs during the Covid-19 pandemic: A longitudinal interview study, International Journal of Nursing Studies (2022). J. Maben et al, 'You can't walk through water without getting wet' UK nurses' distress and psychological health needs during the Covid-19 pandemic: A longitudinal interview study,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104242 Brazilian researchers surveyed 900 volunteers via an online platform for five months. Most reported feeling that time passed more slowly during home confinement in the early months of the pandemic, associating this perception with feelings of loneliness and a lack of positive experiences in the period. Credit: S. Hermann & F. Richter/Pixabay The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people perceive the passage of time, according to an article published in the journal Science Advances. At the end of the first month of social distancing, in May 2020, most participants in the study (65%) reported feeling time was passing more slowly. The researchers classified this perception as "time expansion" and found it to be associated with feelings of loneliness and a lack of positive experiences in the period. An even larger proportion (75%) reported feeling less "time pressure," when the clock appears to go faster, allowing less time for day-to-day tasks and leisure. The vast majority of interviewees (90%) said they were sheltering at home during the period. "We followed the volunteers for five months to see if this 'snapshot' of the start of the pandemic would change over time. We found that the feeling of time expansion diminished as the weeks went by, but we didn't detect significant differences with regard to time pressure," Andre Cravo, first author of the article, told Agencia FAPESP. Cravo is a professor at the Federal University of ABC in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. The study began on May 6, when 3,855 volunteers recruited via social media answered a ten-item online questionnaire and completed a simple task designed to gauge their ability to estimate short intervals (pressing start and stop buttons in 1, 3 and 12 seconds). They were then asked about their routine in the previous week (whether they had completed all the requisite tasks and how much time they had devoted to leisure), and how they were feeling now (happy, sad, lonely etc). "They were invited to return every week for further sessions, but not everyone did," Cravo said. "In the final analysis, we considered data for 900 participants who answered the questionnaire for at least four weeks, albeit not all consecutively." Using time awareness scales from 0 to 100 that are standard for this type of survey, the researchers analyzed the answers and calculated the two parameterstime expansion and time pressureto see whether they increased or decreased week by week. "Besides a rise or fall on the scales, we also analyzed the factors that accompanied the changes. During the five-month period, we observed a similar pattern: In weeks when participants reported feeling lonely and experiencing less positive affect, they also felt time pass more slowly. In highly stressful situations, they felt time pass more quickly," Cravo said. When the first set of answers to the question on the passage of time was compared with the second, provided at the end of the first month of confinement, perceptions of time expansion had risen 20 points while time pressure had fallen 30 points, according to Raymundo Machado, a researcher at the Brain Institute of the Albert Einstein Jewish Hospital (HIAE) in Sao Paulo, and last author of the article. "These results are evidently affected by memory bias, however, because no measurements were made before the pandemic," he said. Time slowed most for younger participants early in the pandemic, when compliance with social distancing rules was strictest. Except for age, demographic factors such as household size, occupation and gender, had no influence on the results. For the authors, this may be an effect of the sample profile. Most of the volunteers (80.5%) lived in the Southeast region. A large majority were women (74.32%). Most had completed secondary school, and a great many even had a university degree (71.78%). In terms of income, roughly a third were upper middle class (33.08%). Sizable minorities worked in education (19.43%) and healthcare (15.36%). "This is typical of online surveys, where a majority are women living in the Southeast with high levels of formal education. The influence of demographics might have been more evident if the sample had represented the Brazilian population better," Machado said. Internal clock Although the pandemic changed participants' perceptions of the passage of time, it apparently did not affect their ability to sense duration, measured by the button-pressing task. "All of us are able to estimate short intervals. When the results of this time estimation test [including overestimation and underestimation of the intervals] were compared with the time awareness scores, there was no correlation," Machado said. According to Cravo, evidence from the scientific literature suggests the feeling that time is passing more slowly or more quickly is influenced mainly by two factors: the relevance of time in a particular context, and unpredictability. "For example, if you're late for work [so that time is relevant in the context] and have to wait for a bus [unpredictable timing], you have an extreme perception that the minutes aren't passing. When you're on vacation and having fun, time isn't relevant and appears to fly," he said. The perception often changes when we recall past situations. "When you remember what you did during a vacation, time seems to have lasted longer. On the contrary, when you're standing in line, time goes all too slowly but when you recall the situation some time later, it feels as if it was over quickly," Cravo said. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, how people will remember the passage of time during the period of social distancing is unknown. "Several temporal milestones, such as Carnival, the June festivals and birthdays, had to be skipped in the last two years, so the question remains open," he concluded. Explore further Distorted passage of time during the COVID-19 lockdown More information: Andre Mascioli Cravo et al, Time experience during social distancing: A longitudinal study during the first months of COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, Science Advances (2022). Journal information: Science Advances Andre Mascioli Cravo et al, Time experience during social distancing: A longitudinal study during the first months of COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj7205 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Pollution is linked to more than 10 percent of cancer cases in Europe, a report by the European Environment Agency said Tuesday. Most of these cases are preventable, it said. "Exposure to air pollution, carcinogenic chemicals, radon, UV (ultraviolet) radiation and second-hand smoke together may contribute over 10 percent of the cancer burden in Europe," the agency said in a statement. But EEA expert Gerardo Sanchez said "all environmental and occupational cancer risks can be reduced". "Environmentally determined cancers due to radiation or chemical carcinogens can be reduced to an almost negligible level," he told journalists last week before the release of the report, the agency's first on the link between cancer and the environment. In the European Union, 2.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year and 1.3 million die from it. The continent, which accounts for less than 10 percent of the world's population, reports almost a quarter of new cases and a fifth of deaths. Air pollution is linked to around one percent of all cancer cases in Europe, and causes around two percent of all cancer deaths, the agency said. Indoor exposure to radon is linked to up to two percent of all cancer cases, and one in ten lung cancer cases in Europe. Natural UV radiation may be responsible for up to four percent of all cancer cases in Europe, the agency said. Exposure to second-hand smoke may increase the overall risk for all cancers by up to 16 percent for people who have never been smokers, it added. The agency warned that some chemicals used in European workplaces contribute to causing cancer, including lead, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, acrylamide, and pesticides. Asbestos, a well-known carcinogen, is estimated to account for 55 to 88 percent of occupational lung cancers. The EU banned asbestos in 2005, but it is still present in some buildings and workers involved in renovation and demolition work are still exposed, the agency said. "Environmental and occupational cancer risks can be reduced by cleaning up pollution and changing behaviors," it added. "Decreasing these risks will lead to a fall in the numbers of cancer cases and deaths." Explore further Thousands of new cancer cases in Ontario each year due to environmental exposures 2022 AFP Photos of most of the face masks with numbers corresponding to Table I. Mask 2 is not shown because it is the same as mask 1 but with a printed design on it. Masks 1012 looked similar and so are represented by mask 10. Mask 13 (not shown) looks like mask 15. Masks 18 and 19 (not shown) look like mask 3. Mask 20 and 21 (not shown) look like mask 7. The dot on the lower lip of the mannikin was used to align the microphone. Credit: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2022). DOI: 10.1121/10.0010384 A new face mask designed by Manchester researchers is promising to end the stress and anxiety talkers and listeners experience when they cover up. Designed by a team at The Universities of Manchester and Salford, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Center (BRC), the revolutionary design will protect wearers from viruses such as COVID-19. The need for safe and effective covering remains important to protect wearers and bystanders for some groups. This can include elderly people or those who are are immunosuppressed (have a weakened immune system). A study by Dr. Gaby Saunders, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, showed how opaque masks were associated with anxiety and stress in both the talker and the listener, spurring the project. Dr. Saunders, who manages Manchester BRC's Hearing Device Center, said: "Facial expressions are used extensively in communication, even among hearing people, and our research showed how face mask wearers feel less connected, less willing to engage in conversation. "That is linked to increased anxiety and stress, as well as fatigue, frustration and embarrassment in both the listener and speaker." A 12-month "rapid-response" grant from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) allowed research audiologists at The University of Manchester, Dr. Michael Stone, Marston Senior Research Fellow, and Professor Kevin Munro, Honorary Consultant Clinical Scientist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), to assemble a team of experts. Dr. Stone, who is also Manchester BRC Developing Engineering Solutions Program Lead, consulted with members of the Deaf community and people with experience of hearing loss. Feedback from the community, and other users, allowed the team to refine the design, which was validated in a recent paper in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Professor Trevor Cox, from the acoustics research center at the University of Salford, and the Maker Space team, also based there, developed a re-usable cotton-based mask design, allowing it to be manufactured widely. The design incorporates an optically transparent panel, supported on a thin "scaffold," which produces less muffling of sound than a conventional opaque mask with the acoustic signal (sound) from the mouth. Prof Cox said: "By reducing the weight of the transparent plastic, we could stop the high frequency parts of speech being lost in the mask. The scaffold to support the thin plastic sheet is carefully designed not to hinder the sound." Dr. Stone said: "This is a brilliant linking up of two diverse academic pursuits, psychology and physics, to produce real-world benefit for a wide range of people. The optical panel has also been shown to be effective in face visors, and we are now looking for commercial partners so as to extend the reach of the designs and prototypes as well as incorporating a novel lightweight filtration material developed at the University of Manchester." Explore further Face masks leave us feeling isolated and stressed, survey reveals More information: Trevor J. Cox et al, Improving the measurement and acoustic performance of transparent face masks and shields, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2022). Trevor J. Cox et al, Improving the measurement and acoustic performance of transparent face masks and shields,(2022). DOI: 10.1121/10.0010384 Gabrielle H. Saunders et al, Impacts of face coverings on communication: an indirect impact of COVID-19, International Journal of Audiology (2020). DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1851401 Journal information: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new talking therapy for men in prison who struggle with suicidal thoughts and feelings is being launched in the U.K. The team of clinicians, academics, researchers, service users and caregivers will study the effects of Cognitive Behavioral Suicide Prevention therapy within prisons. Suicide is the leading cause of preventable death in prisons in England and Wales with 86 prisoner deaths and 52,000 episodes of self-injury in 2021 alone, leaving prisoners five times more likely to take their own lives than the general population. The Prevention of Suicide in Prisons: Enhancing Access to Therapy (PROSPECT) program is a collaboration between Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Manchester, the University of York, and King's College London. If proven to be effective, the promising new therapy could offer hope to those currently living in prison and also to the families, friends and professionals who care for them. Cognitive Behavioral Suicide Prevention is a talking therapy delivered in once or twice weekly 1:1 sessions, each lasting 3060 minutes with up to 20 sessions in total. The therapy supports patients to develop a personalized understanding of the reasons for suicide. It aims to provide short term, immediate benefit while also working towards longer-term gains through development of resilience to future suicidal episodes. Dr. Tim Kirkpatrick, a Research Fellow from The University of Manchester, said: "Suicide in male prisons is a serious problem and there is a great need to prevent it. "The PROSPECT program aims to improve treatments by promoting access to a promising new therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Suicide Prevention (CBSP) within prisons. "If successful, the PROSPECT program will help to reduce the personal, economic, and social costs of prison suicide." The trial will aim to test the CBSP therapy with men in four prisons from across the North of England, who have had recent difficulties with suicidal thoughts or behavior. Study participants will be randomly allocated to either receive the CBSP therapy in addition to their regular treatment offered to prisoners thought to be at risk of self-harm or suicide, or to receive regular treatment alone. Alongside the trial, researchers will be conducting an evaluation of how the CBSP therapy is carried out in the prison environment, to better understand factors that help or hinder successful implementation in this specific context. Dr. Daniel Pratt, a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Manchester and Chief Investigator for the PROSPECT project, said: "This is the first prison-based trial in England that has sought to improve access to a psychological talking therapy for suicidal thoughts and acts. "If this study proves the therapy to be effective, then we could see significant reductions in the number of suicide attempts and related deaths in prisons as well as improvements in prisoner mental health services." Dave Honeywell, an ex-prisoner who is now a lecturer at Arden University, said: "I was made blatantly aware there was a mental health crisis in prisons from my very first experience of prison in the early 1980s. It almost seemed an accepted part of prison life and certainly not taken seriously by the staff. "When I returned to prison in the 1990s it really stood out how much things had worsened and clearly exacerbated by drug use. The availability of therapy in prison could at least give prisoners hope and options which was something I was never offered. "My mental health suffered immensely in prison and if therapy was available, I was not aware of it because I would have been very eager to receive it. Not only would the availability of therapy be hugely important but all prisoners must be made aware that there is therapy available." Explore further Greenspace outside prison walls has a positive effect on prisoner wellbeing More information: For more information, see For more information, see sites.manchester.ac.uk/prospect/ Government publishes Zero Tolerance strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence Taoiseach joins the Minister for Justice and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to publish the most ambitious plan to date requiring whole of Government and community effort to create an Ireland where gender based violence is not tolerated 363 million investment will double the number of refuge spaces and improve services and supports for victims The establishment of a statutory agency for domestic, sexual and gender based violence by January 1, 2024 Updated primary and secondary school curricula to include consent, coercive control, domestic violence and safe use of the internet Maximum sentence for assault causing harm a common domestic abuse offence to be doubled from five to ten years Public awareness campaigns to challenge existing myths and biases Regular research will measure prevalence and support change The Government has today published the Zero Tolerance strategy. Led by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, it is an ambitious five year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept domestic, sexual and gender-based violence or the attitudes which underpin it. The 363 million strategy is built on four pillars Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination and the accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions to be implemented this year and next through new oversight structures. This will ensure that everything that is promised in the plan is delivered according to the clear timelines that have been set out. Its central aim is Zero Tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in our society. The actions are drawn from across Government departments and State agencies to reflect the fact that Zero Tolerance can only be achieved through a whole of society effort, and that domestic, sexual and gender-based violence cannot be treated as a criminal justice issue alone. The Zero Tolerance strategy also seeks to clearly identify children and young people as both witnesses and victims and survivors. The strategy was approved by Cabinet today and launched by Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic OGorman. An implementation plan, as also approved by the Government for the first 18 months was published by the Minister today, with annual action plans to follow for every subsequent year of the lifetime of the Zero Tolerance strategy. Speaking at the launch of the strategy, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: The launch of the third Domestic Sexual Gender-Based Violence strategy is an incredibly important moment for our country. It signals the Governments determination to affirm and protect some of our most vulnerable people. It will accomplish this through a comprehensive set of actions reaching across Government, spearheaded by a dedicated new Agency with oversight from the Department of the Taoiseach. Its ambitions extend to many parts of our society from education, to healthcare, and into our workplaces to name a few. Every sector has a part to play in calling out and taking action against DSGBV so that, once and for all, we reject the outmoded beliefs on which it rests. Minister McEntee said: Zero Tolerance means we dont turn a blind eye to violence and abuse just because its behind closed doors. It means we dont laugh off inappropriate touching or comments. It means we teach our children equality and respect from a young age. We will strive for Zero Tolerance through greater education and awareness to change attitudes and teach respect. By supporting victims with compassion when they take the brave step and come forward to seek our help. With effective punishment for perpetrators. And with a sustained will and dedication to bring about the change we need. This strategy is the most ambitious to date in seeking to bring about that change. It will see the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces and improved services and support for victims through a 363 million investment, and updated primary and secondary school curricula to include consent, coercive control, domestic violence and safe use of the internet. It has been developed with those working in the sector and on the frontline with victims. The knowledge and experience of these groups has been crucial in drafting this plan, and will be central to its implementation over the next five years. It has also been developed with the pain and suffering of too many victims at the forefront of our thoughts we commit to them and their memories, and to each other, that we will work towards Zero Tolerance as our ultimate goal. Minister OGorman added: I welcome the introduction of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV. This Strategy is the culmination of months of collaborative work between Government Departments, Tusla and organisations in the DSGBV sector. The Strategy is ambitious and far-reaching, and will go a long way to protect and support all victims of DSGBV. I am glad to see that many of the recommendations from the Review of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence, published by Tusla, have been incorporated into the Strategy and in due course will make for a significant expansion of refuge places, improving availability of DSGBV service nationwide. I look forward to working with partners in Government, Tusla and the sector to progress this strategy and make Ireland a safer place for all. Among the actions to be completed or begun within the first 18 months to two years of the five year strategy, under each of the four pillars of the plan, are: Prevention Updated secondary school curricula at junior and senior cycle to include consent, domestic violence, coercive control and safe use of the internet. The new junior cycle curriculum will be finalised in September 2022 for public consultation and rolled out in September 2023, with revised senior cycle curriculum finalised by September 2023 for public consultation and rolled out in September 2024. A revised primary school curriculum to include the same topics, taught in an age appropriate way, will be finalised for consultation by 2024. The Anti-bullying procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools will also be reviewed and updated in parallel with this work. Ambitious awareness raising campaigns to focus on attitudes among men and boys, increase awareness of services and supports among victims and reach migrant and minority communities, as well as the rollout of the national campaign on consent Updated planning guidelines to ensure public safety concerns are central to the development of public spaces, with planning to begin for local safety audits to assess lighting, seating and other factors to make public spaces are safer Improved training for professionals and support staff engaged with domestic, sexual and gender based violence Develop and implement a Night Time Economy Charter to develop industry safety standards this will be a requirement for annual licence renewals New public transport passenger safety and personal security reports to be undertaken and published by Department of Transport and National Transport Authority every year Roll-out of an online hub on consent and sexual awareness across the third level education sector Collect data on rate of sexual violence and harassment across the higher education sector Protection Progress work to double the number of refuge spaces an apartment type unit where victims of domestic abuse can seek safety over the lifetime of the strategy, from 141 to 282. This will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces and will ensure that every county has a refuge a building which can contain a number of apartment type units. Key milestones to reach this target include: The completion of 24 spaces in locations in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by 2024 98 new refuge spaces in Sligo, Cavan/Monaghan, Cork City, North Cork, West Cork, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Westmeath, Portlaoise, Balbriggan Longford, Carlow and Offaly. Project management and capacity building supports are being made available under the strategy throughout 2022 and 2023 to progress these refuges A further 19 refuge units will be provided in other locations, including Roscommon, Leitrim and Cavan/Monaghan Increase the number of safe homes accommodation for victims and children in homes in the community, rather than refuges by a third by the end of this year, up from 30 to 44 with further expansion over the duration of the plan Work to remove the legal barriers that prevent individuals experiencing sexual or domestic violence remaining at home where it is safe to do so and examine how to allow An Garda Siochana issue removal orders to take offenders out of the home in high risk cases New training for healthcare workers to be developed by the HSE to identity domestic violence and refer victims to appropriate services The introduction of statutory domestic violence leave this year The development of national support services for children as victims/survivors of DSGBV; DSGBV trauma informed therapeutic counselling services for adults and children; DSGBV trauma informed parenting supports Prosecution Increase the maximum sentence from five years to ten years for assault causing harm one of the most common charges in cases of domestic abuse. This measure will be included in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which will be enacted by the end of the year. Begin engagement with the judiciary to consider the creation of specialised judges for domestic, sexual and gender based violence cases Establish a review cycle within the Department of Justice to identify and consider further reforms to the law, beginning with, among others: Strengthening the range of emergency orders available to the Courts Increased powers of detention when investigating specific domestic abuse related offences, allowing for detention of more than 24 hours Limiting bail for breaches of barring orders where there is a history of violence How to better protect vulnerable women against sexual exploitation and sex for rent Improve the prosecution of domestic, sexual and gender based violence cases by providing specialised training across the entire Office of Director of Public Prosecutions and strengthening training in An Garda Siochana Additional training in An Garda Siochana to improve prosecutions and breaches of all DSGBV civil orders Publish and implement the Family Justice Strategy and enact the Family Court Bill to make a more user friendly family court system Work with An Garda Siochana to examine the establishment of a Domestic Violence Register Continue the implementation of the Supporting a Victims Journey Plan to place the victim at the centre of the criminal justice system Enact legislation to introduce stand-alone offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation Enact the Sexual Offences Bill to implement a number of recommendations in Supporting a Victims Journey, and to provide for a revised National Referral Mechanism to ensure that we can support the victims of human trafficking and disrupt the criminal networks which seek to exploit such vulnerable persons Enact the new Hate Crime Bill to introduce new, specific aggravated offences with enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by prejudice against certain characteristics, including gender. This will mean that certain types of crimes can be prosecuted as hate crimes where they are motivated by misogyny The rollout of body worn cameras in An Garda Siochana top help investigate domestic abuse cases and other crimes and protect Gardai Policy Co-Ordination The establishment of a statutory agency for domestic, sexual and gender based violence by January 1 2024. The new agency will: Co-ordinate the implementation of the Zero Tolerance strategy, and report to the Minister for Justice. The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality will provide political oversight for the implementation of this strategy. Deliver excellent services to victims, including the provision of accommodation, helplines and other supports Lead on awareness raising campaigns to reduce incidence of DSGBV and ensure victims can access supports Leading on consistent and ongoing research to inform policy development Report to and follow policy as set down by the Minister for Justice, who has lead government responsibility for DSGBV The establishment by the Central Statistics Office of a new National Domestic Violence Prevalence Study. The first survey results will be published in 2028, and will be conducted in alternating five year intervals with the National Sexual Violence Survey, which is due to be published in 2023. Oversight to be supported by new High-Level Oversight Board to be jointly led by the secretaries general of Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Justice Work with the Ombudsman for Children to support the strategy, with the Ombudsman providing advice and support to implement actions aimed at children While outlining the detailed actions in her plan, Minister McEntee also said that achieving Zero Tolerance will require a commitment from every person in society Government can and will lead the implementation of policy. Through awareness-raising campaigns and education by parents and schools we can encourage cultural change. We can educate our children that hate is destructive and that sex is not degrading or violent. But Government cannot call out inappropriate behaviour in the workplace or the WhatsApp group. We cannot question the lewd comment nor ask if someones actions on the street at night are making the woman walking home on the path ahead feel unsafe. It is for all of us to realise that we must in our everyday lives eradicate the social and cultural attitudes which can contribute to women feeling unsafe. The Minister for Justice has led the development of Zero Tolerance strategy, with input from across Government, detailed consultation with the NGO sector and the public. The consultation process saw over 70 written submissions from community groups, over 1,200 responses from members of the public, as well as inputs from workshops which included children and specialist organisations working in the sector. It also builds on a significant body of work from Minister McEntee in the area of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including the enactment of Cocos Law to tackle intimate image abuse and the implementation of the Supporting a Victims Journey Plan to put the victim at the centre of the criminal justice system. The implementation of Supporting a Victims Journey has to date involved a number of significant reforms, including: The introduction of pre-trial hearings to streamline the trial process and better support victims The national rollout of Divisional Protective Services Units, which are specialised units within An Garda Siochana to deal with domestic, sexual and gender-based violence The establishment of a new sexual offences unit in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Other reforms underway from Minister McEntee include: The Sex Offenders Bill will strengthen the management and monitoring of sex offenders in the community. Reforms to the law on the mandatory life sentence for murder to allow judges set a minimum number of years to be served. Notes: The 363 million budget is broken down as follows: The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and the Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan TD have today announced Government approval for the Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022 which seeks to ensure adequate provision of special educational needs placements for the coming school year. The key provision in this new legislation provides for a truncated Section 37A process, whereby a school can be directed to make additional provision for children with special educational needs. This new process can lead to a Ministerial direction to be served on a school within 6 to 8 weeks of receiving a report from the NCSE setting out its opinion that there are insufficient schools places in a certain area. The shortened process still allows two opportunities for school patrons and boards to make representations to the Minister ahead of a direction issuing. Minister Foley said: I recognise the importance of inclusive education for all children. It is my primary objective to promote and support actions that will ensure that the school setting is a welcoming environment for all. This legislation is an important step in ensuring that children with special educational needs have a school place for the upcoming school year. This legislation means that a child-centred and child-focused approach is taken to the provision of special education classes. The Department and the NCSE will continue to engage intensely with school authorities to open new special classes for September, but I am confident that this legislation can also play a key role in helping us with those efforts. Minister Madigan said: We are committed to providing appropriate places for all children with special educational needs. We know that Dublin is the real pinch point in relation to placements for these children and this announcement seeks to address that shortage. Schools have been working with us and the NCSE to open new classes and we will open at least 315 additional classes this year. I am grateful to all concerned for their ongoing work in this regard and I want to commend the schools that are making provision for these students. All parties would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from the Minister. It is also important to note that a range of supports is provided to schools opening new classes, these include funding for new staff (for example certain special classes will consist of 6 students and one teacher, plus two SNAs), support from the Planning and Building Unit within the Department for any physical alterations needed to the building, a grant for equipment, and a range of training courses provided by the NCSE. The Department and the NCSE continue to have a lot of engagement with patrons and school authorities in relation to opening special classes for 2022/23 school year. Primary schools in Dublin are a particular focus for intensive engagement where the NCSE is aware of 80 children who are awaiting a placement in a special class and who are not already in a mainstream setting. Over recent weeks this engagement has resulted in confirmations from 8 primary schools that they will open special classes for the 2022/23 school year. This will reduce the number of children who are awaiting a placement in a special class to around 56. Further engagement is happening with schools at present and this will continue intensively in the coming weeks with the intention of further reducing the number of children who require a special class placement. In addition, the NCSE advises that approximately 50 children require a special school placement, and the Department and the NCSE are actively engaged in work to ensure that additional special school provision is made available on both the North and South side of Dublin. ENDS The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, although the timing of those laws taking effect varies. Some Republican-led states will ban or severely limit abortion immediately, while other restrictions will take effect later. In anticipation of the decision, several states led by Democrats have taken steps to protect abortion access. The decision also sets up the potential for legal fights between the states over whether providers and those who help women obtain abortions can be sued or prosecuted. Here is an overview of abortion legislation and the expected impact of the courts decision in every state. ALABAMA Political control: Alabama has a Republican-controlled legislature and a Republican governor who want to ban or restrict access to abortions. Background: In 2019, Alabama lawmakers approved what was then the most stringent abortion ban in the country, making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The only exception would be when the womans health was at serious risk. A federal judge issued an injunction, under the precedent of Roe v. Wade, blocking the state from enforcing the law. In 2018, voters agreed to amend the Alabama Constitution to say the state recognizes the rights of unborn children and does not protect the right to an abortion or require the funding of abortion. A 1951 law made it a crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to induce an abortion, unless it is done to preserve the life or health of the mother. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Abortions became almost entirely illegal in Alabama on Friday. A 2019 state abortion ban took effect making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy, with no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. All three clinics stopped providing abortions Friday morning under fear of prosecution under the 1951 state law. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson hours later granted Alabama's request to lift an injunction and allow the state to enforce the 2019 abortion ban. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said it is now a felony to provide an abortion in Alabama beyond the one exception allowed in the 2019 law, which is for the sake of the mothers health. Doctors who violate the law could face up to 99 years in prison. Marshall said the state would also move to lift other injunctions that blocked previous abortion restrictions, including a requirement for doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges. Whats next: Some Republican lawmakers have said they would like to see the state replace the 2019 ban with a slightly less stringent bill that would allow exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Proponents said the 2019 ban was deliberately strict in the hopes of sparking a court challenge to Roe. ALASKA Political control: Republicans currently hold a majority of seats in the state Legislature, but the House is controlled by a bipartisan coalition composed largely of Democrats. Fifty-nine of the Legislatures 60 seats are up for election this year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican who believes life begins at conception, is seeking reelection. Background: The Alaska Supreme Court has interpreted the right to privacy in the state constitution as encompassing abortion rights. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision is not expected to immediately affect abortion rights in Alaska, given the existing precedent in the state. Whats next: Voters in the fall will be asked if they want to hold a constitutional convention, a question that comes up every 10 years. Many conservatives who want to overhaul how judges are selected and do away with the interpretation that the constitutions right to privacy clause allows for abortion rights see an opportunity in pushing for a convention. Recent efforts to advance a constitutional amendment through the Legislature have been unsuccessful. ARIZONA Political control: Both legislative chambers are controlled by Republicans, who regularly pass abortion restrictions that for the past eight sessions have been quickly signed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, an abortion opponent. Background: Arizona law allows abortion through about 22 weeks, but the Legislature passed a 15-week abortion ban in March mirroring the Mississippi law that was contested before the Supreme Court. It was to take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourned on June 24. Current restrictions include bans on abortions because of gender and a 2021 law that makes it a felony for a doctor to terminate a pregnancy because the child has a survivable genetic abnormality. Arizona also has a pre-statehood law still on the books that would ban all abortions, although it has not been enforced since Roe was decided. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Ducey has argued in media interviews that the law he signed in late March takes precedence over the total ban that remains on the books. But the law he signed specifically says it does not overrule the total abortion ban in place for more than 100 years. Ducey is term-limited and leaves office in January. Abortion providers across the state stopped all procedures after the court ruled because of concerns that the pre-Roe ban could put doctors, nurses and other providers at risk of prosecution. Republican state Attorney General Mark Brnovich said on June 30 that the pre-statehood law could be enforced, putting him at odds with the Republican governor. Brnovich said he would seek to remove an injunction in place since shortly after 1973s Roe decision. Also on June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Arizona to enforce a ban on abortions done solely because the fetus has a genetic abnormality. A federal judge blocked that part of the 2021 Arizona law last year, saying it was unconstitutionally vague, but will now have to reconsider that decision. Hes also being asked again to block a personhood provision that grants rights to eggs and fetuses, which medical providers worry could be used to bring various charges for harming an unborn child. Whats next: Abortion-rights supporters in Arizona have launched a long-shot bid to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. Rolled out weeks after the draft U.S. Supreme Court decision showing Roe could be overturned was leaked, backers must collect more than 356,000 signatures by July 7 to get the initiative on the November ballot. Voters would then be able to decide. ARKANSAS Political control: Arkansas legislature is controlled by Republicans who have supported dozens of abortion bans and restrictions in recent years. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson also has supported bans on abortion with some exceptions. Hes term-limited and leaves office in January. Republican nominee Sarah Sanders, press secretary to former President Donald Trump, is widely favored in the November election to succeed him. Background: Arkansas already had a law banning most abortions 20 weeks into a womans pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. The state has several other bans that have been struck down or blocked by courts in recent years, including an outright abortion ban enacted last year that doesnt include rape or incest exceptions. That ban has been blocked by a federal judge, and the state has appealed. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Arkansas has a law it enacted in 2019 that bans nearly all abortions now that Roe is overturned. That ban, along with the outright ban thats been blocked by a federal judge, only allows exceptions to protect the life of the mother in a medical emergency. Hutchinson has said he thinks bans should include rape and incest exceptions, but he has not called on the Legislature to add those to either of the bans. Whats next: Hours after Fridays ruling, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge signed certification that Roe had been overturned. That certification allows the states trigger ban to take effect immediately. The only exception in that ban is to protect the life of the mother in a medical emergency. The Legislature isnt scheduled to meet until January, but Hutchinson is considering calling a special session to take up tax relief proposals. The Republican governor said Friday he does not plan on asking lawmakers to consider adding rape and incest exceptions to the states ban. CALIFORNIA Political control: Democrats who support access to abortion control all statewide elected offices and have large majorities in the state Legislature. Background: California outlawed abortion in 1850, except when the life of the mother was in danger. The law changed in 1967 to include abortions in the case of rape, incest or if a womans mental health were in danger. In 1969, the California Supreme Court declared the states original abortion law to be unconstitutional but left the 1967 law in place. In 1972, California voters added a right to privacy to the state constitution. Since then, the state Supreme Court has interpreted that right to privacy as a right to access abortion, allow minors to get an abortion without their parents permission and use public funding for abortions in the states Medicaid program. California now requires private health insurance plans to cover abortions and does not allow them to charge things such as co-pays or deductibles for the procedure. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Abortion will remain legal in California prior to the viability of a fetus. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has vowed to make California a sanctuary for women who live in other states where abortion is outlawed or severely restricted. The number of women who travel to the state for abortions is expected to rise significantly. Whats next: The state Legislature is considering 13 bills that would strengthen or expand access to abortion. The bills are based on a report from the Future of Abortion Council, which Newsom formed last year to study reproductive rights in California. They include proposals that would help pay for women from other states to come to California for abortions, ban enforcement of out-of-state civil judgments on California abortion providers and volunteers, and increase the number of people who can offer abortions by authorizing some nurse practitioners to perform the procedure without the supervision of a doctor. Lawmakers also plan to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would explicitly guarantee the right to an abortion and contraceptives. COLORADO Political control: The Democrats who control the Colorado Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: A 1967 state law legalized abortion up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion has been accessible ever since, despite repeated legislative attempts and ballot initiatives to restrict or abolish the procedure. Colorado voters have consistently rejected such initiatives, the latest in 2020 that would have banned abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy. In 2022, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a law placing the right to abortion in state statute. The law guarantees access to reproductive care before and after pregnancy and bans local governments from imposing their own restrictions. It also declares that fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses have no independent rights. Abortion rights advocates plan a 2024 ballot initiative to add abortion rights to the state constitution and repeal a 1980s constitutional amendment that bans public funding for abortion. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The decision wont have any immediate impact on Colorado law -- but providers are preparing for a surge of out-of-state patients. Democratic House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar says lawmakers must consider how to invest in a health care workforce to ensure Colorado has the capacity to meet that anticipated demand. Colorados health department reports there were 11,580 abortions in the state in 2021; of those 14% were for non-residents. More than 900 of those non-residents were from Texas, Wyoming and Nebraska. Whats next: Its impossible to predict how many more patients from states surrounding Colorado will potentially seek care now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. But the Texas law could induce more people to come. Oklahoma now has an early pregnancy abortion ban; Utah and Wyoming have trigger laws banning abortion now Roe is overturned; the Kansas Constitution protects abortion rights, but Republican lawmakers placed on an August primary ballot an initiative to overturn it. CONNECTICUT Political control: Democrats who control the Connecticut General Assembly support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: Connecticut passed a law in 1990 giving women the legal right to abortion. Having passed with strong bipartisan support, it was lauded at the time for being a rare compromise between abortion rights advocates and opponents. It affirmed a womans unqualified right to an abortion prior to viability of the fetus, as well as later-term abortions necessary to preserve the life and health of the pregnant woman. It also repealed state laws predating Roe v. Wade that had made it a felony to have an abortion or to perform one and required that patients under 16 receive counseling about their options. This year, Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation to protect medical providers and patients from out-of-state legal actions. The same law allows advanced practice registered nurses, nurse-midwives or physician assistants to perform aspiration abortions in the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, has vowed to challenge any attempt to nullify Connecticuts abortion rights law. Lets not mince words. They will come for us, Tong warned abortion rights supporters during a recent news conference. We will fight that effort tooth-and-nail. Any court, any place, Connecticut will be there and will fight. The state is already involved in major abortion cases across the country. And while Connecticut is surrounded by mostly pro-abortion states, its still bracing for out-of-state patients seeking abortions now that Roe has been overturned. Whats next: Connecticuts new law protecting abortion providers from other states bans takes effect on July 1. It creates a legal cause of action for providers and others sued in another state, enabling them to recover certain legal costs. It also limits the governors discretion to extradite someone accused of performing an abortion, as well as participation by Connecticut courts and agencies in those lawsuits. Theres discussion of possibly amending the states constitution to enshrine the right to abortion, making it more difficult to overturn, but that would be a multi-year process. DELAWARE Political control: Democrats control the governors office and both chambers of the legislature in Delaware and have taken several steps to ensure access to abortion. Background: In 2017, Delaware became the first state following the election of President Donald Trump to codify the right to an abortion. A bill signed by Gov. John Carney, a Catholic, guarantees the unfettered right to an abortion before a fetus is deemed viable. The law defines viability as the point in a pregnancy when, in a physicians good faith medical judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the fetus can survive outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures. The law also allows abortion after fetal viability if, in a doctors good faith medical judgment, abortion is necessary for the protection of the womans life or health, or if there is a reasonable likelihood that the fetus cannot survive without extraordinary medical measures. The law eliminated existing code restrictions on abortions, much of which had already been declared unenforceable by Delawares attorney general in 1973 following the Supreme Court rulings in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. In April of this year, Carney signed a bill allowing physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe abortion-inducing medications including mifepristone and misoprostol. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: In Delaware, the privacy protections of Roe v. Wade are codified in state law, guaranteeing residents have access to legal abortion services even if Roe were to be undone at the federal level, Democratic lawmakers noted earlier this month in unveiling legislation further broadening access to abortions. The bill, which is likely to pass before the end of June, allows physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners and nurse midwifes to perform abortions before viability. It also includes various legal protections for abortion providers and patients, including out-of-state residents receiving abortions in Delaware. Those provisions include protections from civil actions in other states relating to the termination of a pregnancy, and protecting individuals from extradition to other states for criminal charges related to terminating a pregnancy. Whats next: According to state health officials, 2,042 abortions were performed in Delaware in 2019, with 1,765 involving Delaware residents and 277 involving nonresidents. Delaware is not likely to see a huge influx of women traveling from out of state to get abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned, given that neighboring Maryland and New Jersey also have liberal abortion-access laws. In neighboring Pennsylvania, where Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, future abortion access could hinge on the outcome of this years gubernatorial contest. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Political control: The local government in the nations capital is completely controlled by Democrats, with a Democratic mayor and the D.C. Council split between Democrats and nominal independent politicians, who are all, invariably, Democrats. Background: Abortion is legal in the District of Columbia at all stages of pregnancy, a status that was upheld in the 1971 Supreme Court case United States v. Vuitch. However, the U.S. Congress has oversight power over D.C. laws and Congress has already banned the city from using local funds to pay for abortions for women on Medicaid. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Elected officials in Washington, D.C., fear Congress could move to restrict abortion access, particularly if Republicans recapture the House of Representatives in midterm elections later this year. President Joe Biden could theoretically veto such a move, but that protection is subject to political calculations and is not guaranteed. Whats next: Local officials have pledged defiance against any sort of Congressional move to restrict local abortion access. The D.C. Council is considering legislation that would declare Washington, D.C., a sanctuary city for those coming from states where abortion is banned. According to federal data, most of the women getting abortions in Washington already are coming from out of state. Those numbers could increase, particularly if new Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin moves to restrict abortion access in neighboring Virginia. FLORIDA Political control: Republicans control both chambers of the Florida Legislature and this year passed a ban on abortions after 15 weeks, which was signed into law by the states Republican governor. Background: Abortion was legal in Florida until the 24th week of pregnancy, though lawmakers have been tightening access in recent years with bills requiring a one-day waiting period and requiring parents of a pregnant minor to be notified before an abortion can be provided. This year, in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, the Legislature passed a ban on abortions after the 15th week, except to save the mothers life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. It does not allow for exemptions in cases where pregnancies were caused by rape or incest. Gov. Ron DeSantis called the legislation the most significant protections for life that have been enacted in this state in a generation. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The decision places Floridas 15-week ban on firm legal ground, at least under federal law. However, the legislation is being challenged in state court on arguments that it violates a guarantee of the right to privacy under the state constitution. Whats next: Floridas 15-week ban took effect July 1, but it will be in place only temporarily after a judge ruled that it "violates the privacy provision of the Florida Constitution. The law will be in effect only until the judge signs his written order, something that is expected to happen within the week. Although only about 2% of Floridas abortions take place after 15th week, abortion rights advocates have expressed concern over declining access to the procedure not only for Floridians but for residents from nearby Southern states where restrictions have historically been stricter than in Florida. GEORGIA Political control: Georgia has a Republican legislature and governor who support abortion restrictions, but all are up for election this November. Republicans are likely to retain legislative control, but theres a possibility a Democrat could become governor. Background: Georgia lawmakers in 2019 passed a law by one vote that would ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, when fetal cardiac activity can be detected. The measure is unlike other so-called heartbeat bills in that it also contains language designating a fetus as a person for certain state-law purposes such as income tax deductions and child support. A federal judge quickly put the law on hold and in 2020 struck it down, saying it was unconstitutional. The state appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The 11th Circuit said it would wait to rule on the appeal pending a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Mississippi case. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The day the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Georgias attorney general asked the 11th Circuit to reverse the lower courts ruling and allow the states abortion law to take effect. That same day, the 11th Circuit directed the parties to file briefs within three weeks addressing what effect, if any, the Supreme Court decision has on the Georgia appeal. If the law takes effect, it would ban the large majority of abortions that currently take place in Georgia about 87%, according to providers. The change could happen in the middle of tightly contested races in Georgia for governor and U.S. Senate. Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and challenger for governor Stacey Abrams say they want to secure abortion rights. Republican Senate challenger Herschel Walker and incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp support restrictions. Whats next: Some Republican lawmakers and candidates want Georgia to go further and ban abortion entirely, but Kemp is unlikely to call a special session before this Novembers general election. Lawmakers are likely to consider further action when they return for their annual session in January. The Legislature or courts will have to sort out whether the provisions designating a fetus as a person are workable. HAWAII Political control: Hawaiis governor is a Democrat and Democrats control more than 90% of the seats in the state House and Senate. Background: Hawaii legalized abortion in 1970, when it became the first state in the nation to allow the procedure at a womans request. The state allows abortion until a fetus would be viable outside the womb. After that, its legal if a patients life or health is in danger. For many years, only licensed physicians could perform the procedure. Last year, the state enacted a law allowing advanced practice care nurses to carry out in-clinic abortions during the first trimester. This helps women on more rural islands who have been flying to Honolulu to obtain abortions because of doctor shortages in their communities. The law allows the nurses to prescribe medication to end a pregnancy and to perform aspiration abortion, a type of minor surgery during which a vacuum is used to empty a womans uterus. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Existing Hawaii law allows abortions, but Gary Yamashiroya, a spokesperson for the state attorney generals office, has said the attorney general was carefully considering measures Hawaii might take to protect and strengthen reproductive rights if Roe ended. No matter the outcome, our state remains committed to reproductive freedom and choice, he said. Whats next: Political support for abortion rights is strong. Anti-abortion bills are rarely heard at the state Legislature. When they have been, they havent made it out of committee. Gov. David Ige issued a statement supporting abortion rights when the Supreme Courts draft opinion overturning Roe leaked. No matter what the Supreme Court decides, I will fight to ensure a womans right to choose in the State of Hawaii, he said. The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women earlier this month said 72% of the state Senate and 53% of state House members signed a pledge supporting abortion rights. IDAHO Political control: Republicans hold super-majorities in the House and Senate and oppose access to abortion, as does the states Republican governor. Background: Following the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, Idaho passed a law generally allowing abortions in the first and second trimester up to viability at about 23 to 24 weeks. The law allows abortions after viability only to protect the mothers life or in cases of nonviable fetuses. This year, lawmakers passed a Texas-style ban prohibiting abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and authorizing family members to sue medical providers for performing an abortion. That law is on hold following a challenge by Planned Parenthood. The Idaho Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in August. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: It triggers a 2020 Idaho law banning all abortions except in cases of reported rape or incest, or to protect the mothers life, to take effect in 30 days. Under the law, the person performing the abortion could face a felony prosecution punishable by up to five years in prison. In cases of rape or incest, the law requires pregnant women to file a police report and provide a copy of the report to the provider prior to an abortion. If the Idaho Supreme Court upholds the states Texas-style abortion ban and Roe v. Wade is tossed aside, a medical provider who performs an abortion in Idaho could face a lawsuit and criminal charges. Whats Next: Pregnant women seeking abortions will have to travel out of state; the nearest abortion providers would be in Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. Planned Parenthood is renting space in the town of Ontario on the Idaho-Oregon border and says its preparing for an influx of patients seeking abortions. Some Republican lawmakers in Idaho might propose new legislation in January to outlaw abortion pills and emergency contraception. ILLINOIS Political control: Illinois is overwhelmingly Democratic with laws providing greater access to abortion than most states. Democrats hold veto-proof supermajorities in the House and Senate, and the Democratic first-term governor seeking reelection this year, J.B. Pritzker, has promoted peaceful street protests to protect the constitutional right to an abortion. Background: Abortion is legal in Illinois and can only be restricted after the point of viability, when a fetus is considered able to survive outside the womb. Medical science determines viability at 24 to 26 weeks, but the Illinois law does not specify a timeframe, saying a medical professional can determine viability in each case. Abortions are also allowed after viability to protect the patients life or health. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: It won't change access to abortion in Illinois. After the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the Illinois Abortion Act of 1975 legalized abortion but enacted a trigger law that would reinstate the ban if Roe were overturned. That trigger law was repealed in 2017 in legislation that also required Medicaid and state employees group health insurance to cover abortions. The 2019 Reproductive Health Act replaced the 1975 law, large parts of which were never enforced because they were found to be unconstitutional. Whats next: Like other states providing access to abortions, Illinois has seen a steady influx of patients crossing the state line for abortions in recent months and those numbers are expected to increase. Planned Parenthood of Illinois says it expects to handle an additional 20,000 to 30,000 patients in Illinois in the first year following the reversal of Roe. INDIANA Political control: Indiana has a Republican-dominated Legislature and a Republican governor in favor of restricting abortion access. Background: Abortion in Indiana is legal up to about 20 weeks, with some provisions for medical emergencies. Before an abortion, patients must undergo an 18-hour waiting period. Medical providers must tell patients about the risks involved in abortion and must say the fetus can feel pain around 20 weeks, which is disputed. Providers must report complications related to abortion; failure to report can result in a misdemeanor, 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Federal courts have blocked several restrictions in Indiana, including an attempt to ban a common second-trimester abortion procedure and a law that would have required doctors to tell pregnant women about a disputed treatment to potentially stop a drug-induced abortion. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: No immediate changes came from the decision, but the states Republican attorney general has asked federal judges to lift orders blocking several state anti-abortion laws. Those include one aimed at prohibiting abortions based on gender, race or disability, and another banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure that the legislation called dismemberment abortion. Whats next: Republican legislative leaders said they expected lawmakers to act on tightening Indianas abortion laws during a special legislative session starting July 6 but gave no details about what restrictions would be considered. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb called the Legislature into a special session to take up a tax refund proposal, although state law allows legislators to consider any subject. The session can last up to 40 days. ___ IOWA Political control: Iowas legislature is controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict abortion access and a Republican governor who agrees and is up for reelection this year. Background: Iowa allows most abortions until the 20th week of pregnancy, when theyre banned except to save a patients life or prevent a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. In 2018, the state Supreme Court declared access to abortion a fundamental right under the state constitution, granting stronger protections to abortion rights than the U.S. Constitution. The states high court, now with a conservative majority, overturned that decision June 17, thus allowing a state law requiring a 24-hour waiting period to go into effect immediately. That requirement is being challenged in district court. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing is expected to change immediately in Iowa. The GOP-controlled Legislature has been working to get an amendment on the ballot in 2024 that would declare the state constitution does not grant a right to abortion but, with Roe overturned, Iowa lawmakers can ban abortion without completing that lengthy process. Whats next: Now that the Iowa Supreme Court has struck down its 2018 ruling, the state Legislature can convene a special session this summer and pass abortion restrictions. Republicans could still move to get the constitutional amendment on a public ballot in 2024. KANSAS Political control: Kansas has a legislature controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict access to abortions but a Democratic governor who supports access and is up for re-election this year. Background: Under current law, Kansas does not ban most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, when theyre allowed only to save a patients life or to prevent a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The state Supreme Court in 2019 declared that access to abortion is a fundamental right under the state constitution, granting stronger protections to abortion rights than the U.S. Constitution does currently. State law, however, doesnt allow providers to dispense abortion medications through telemedicine consultations. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Kansas. The state Supreme Court blocked enforcement of a 2015 legislative ban on a common second-trimester procedure, and abortion opponents fear a host of other rules could fall to legal challenges in the near future. The GOP-controlled Legislature responded by putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot during the Aug. 2 primary, when turnout is expected to be much lower than in a general election and will likely see a higher proportion of Republicans voting. The amendment would declare that the state constitution does not grant a right to abortion. It would allow lawmakers to restrict abortion as much as the federal courts will allow . Whats next: If voters approve the amendment, the Legislature would still have to approve the new restrictions, and lawmakers are out of session until January 2023. They can call themselves in to special session with two-thirds majorities, but theyre likely to wait until after voters decide in the November general election whether to give Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a second term. KENTUCKY Political control: Republicans have a supermajority in the Kentucky Legislature and have been restricting abortion rights since the 2016 election over the vetoes of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who supports abortion rights and will seek a second term in 2023. Background: Kentucky bans abortions after 20 weeks, but all abortion services were temporarily halted in April after the legislature imposed new restrictions and reporting requirements on the states two abortion clinics. The clinics, both in Louisville, said they suspended abortions because state officials hadnt written guidelines on how to comply with the new law. Noncompliance could result in stiff fines, felony penalties and revocation of physician and facility licenses. Abortions resumed after a federal judge temporarily blocked key parts of the law, including a provision banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Abortion services in Kentucky immediately became illegal under a trigger law enacted in 2019. The measure contains a narrow exception allowing abortion to prevent the death or permanent injury of a pregnant woman. Kentuckians will be able to vote this November on a proposed amendment declaring there is no right to an abortion in the state constitution. Whats next: Abortion-rights activists say the suspension of abortion services in April foreshadowed what would happen in Kentucky and other Republican-leaning states if Roe v. Wade was overturned. It likely ends several legal challenges pending against other Kentucky abortion laws including a 2018 measure that abortion-rights supporters say would effectively ban a standard abortion method in the second trimester of pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in March that Kentuckys Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, can defend the measure that was struck down by lower courts. LOUISIANA Political control: Louisianas legislature is controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict abortion access. Its Democratic and Catholic governor also opposes abortions, though he supports exceptions for victims of rape or incest. Background: Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2020 stating that a right to abortion and the funding of abortion shall not be found in the Louisiana Constitution. Of the about 2 million people who voted, 62% approved the amendment. Abortion had been legal in Louisiana through the 19th week of pregnancy. After that, it was legal only if the fetus would die anyway or if continuing the pregnancy would threaten the mothers life or health. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Louisiana has a trigger law that immediately outlaws abortions. There is no exception for rape or incest. The only exception is if there is substantial risk of death or impairment to the woman. Earlier this week, Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, signed a bill updating various aspects of the law and subjecting abortion providers to up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $100,000. Edwards office said the bill allows the use of emergency contraception for victims of rape and incest prior to when a pregnancy can be clinically diagnosed." Edwards signed another bill that would require the doctor to certify that a drug used for abortion was being prescribed for another medical reason. The bill makes it illegal to deliver abortion medication to a state resident by mail-order, courier, or as a result of a sale made via the internet. Whats next: Louisianas three abortion clinics in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport were no longer providing abortions to patients as of Friday and instead are recommending pregnant patients seeking the procedure to go to states where it remains legal. MAINE Political control: Both chambers of the Maine Legislature, which has adjourned, are controlled by Democrats. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has vowed to protect the right to an abortion, saying she will fight with everything I have to protect reproductive rights. Background: A Republican governor in 1993 signed a Maine law affirming the right to abortion before a fetus is viable. After that, abortion is only allowed if the life or health of the mother is at risk, or if the pregnancy is no longer viable. In 2019, lawmakers eliminated a physician-only rule and Mills signed it into law, allowing nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other medical professionals to perform abortions. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change in Maine. Any attempt to restrict abortions when lawmakers reconvene next year would face fierce pushback. Abortion providers, meanwhile, said there could be an influx of patients seeking abortions from states that outlaw the procedure. Whats next: Any major changes are unlikely unless former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, unseats Mills and Republicans take control of both chambers of the Legislature in November. LePage, a Catholic who opposes abortion rights, has said its up to lawmakers to address the abortion issue as they see fit. MARYLAND Political control: Marylands legislature is controlled by Democrats who expanded abortion access this year by ending a restriction that only physicians can provide them and requiring most insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost. The legislature overrode Republican Gov. Larry Hogans veto of the bill in April. Background: The right to abortion is protected in Maryland law. The state approved legislation in 1991 to protect abortion rights if the Supreme Court should ever restrict access. Voters approved the right in 1992 with 62% of the vote. Maryland law prohibits restrictions on abortion prior to viability. Maryland does not have a gestational limit. After viability, clinicians make the determination, based on clinical standard of care. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Maryland law. Whats next: Marylands new law that will enable nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to provide abortions with training is set to take effect July 1. However, $3.5 million in state funding to provide training isnt mandated until fiscal year 2024. Hogan, who is term limited, has indicated he will not approve the money sooner. Some nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants already have received training on medication abortion and will be able to provide those services starting next month. MASSACHUSETTS Political control: The Democrats who control the Massachusetts Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Republican governor, although they differ on specific policies. Background: Massachusetts once had a contentious relationship with abortion in part due to the powerful influence of the Catholic Church, which opposes it. In recent years, that influence has waned and Massachusetts has become a strong supporter of abortion rights. In 2018, in anticipation of the conservative tilt on the U.S. Supreme Court, the state removed an 1845 abortion ban from its books that was not enforced. Two years later, Democratic state lawmakers clashed with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker who says he supports access to abortion over an effort to codify abortion rights into state law, allow abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy in cases where the child would not survive after birth, and lower from 18 to 16 the age at which women could seek an abortion without consent from a parent or guardian. Lawmakers passed the bill dubbed the Roe Act over Bakers veto. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Baker has vowed to fight to keep abortion legal in Massachusetts, but it is his last year in office. Both Democratic candidates for governor state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Attorney General Maura Healey support abortion rights. Republican candidate Geoff Diehl said he believes in the need to protect human life wherever and whenever possible. Fellow GOP candidate Chris Doughty said he would not seek any changes to our states abortion laws. Whats next: There is little chance Massachusetts will restrict abortion rights. Baker signed an executive order June 24 barring state agencies from assisting another states investigation into people or businesses for receiving or delivering reproductive health services that are legal in Massachusetts. The state also wont cooperate with extradition requests from states pursuing criminal charges against such individuals. The state House of Representatives has approved a bill later that is similar to the governors executive order. It would add protections into state law for individuals seeking abortions and providers so they would not be subject to actions taken by other states. MICHIGAN Political control: Both chambers of Michigans legislature are controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict abortion access, but the states Democratic governor supports access. Background: A dormant 1931 law bans nearly all abortions in Michigan but it hasnt been enforced since Roe v. Wade. The law made it a felony to use an instrument or administer any substance with the intent to abort a fetus unless necessary to preserve the womans life. It has no exceptions in cases of rape and incest. Anticipating that Roe could be overturned, Planned Parenthood of Michigan filed a lawsuit challenging Michigans ban. A state judge suspended the law in May, saying it violates the states constitution. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats, hailed the decision. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The injunction granted in the Planned Parenthood case ensures that abortion does not immediately become illegal. Planned Parenthood of Michigan and other supporters hope the injunction indicates abortion rights in the state will be preserved. But in a statement to The Associated Press, Nessels office said given the ongoing lawsuits, we cannot speculate what the state of abortion rights will be in Michigan after Roe. Whats next: Whitmer also filed suit asking the states Supreme Court to declare the 91-year-old law unconstitutional. It has not acted yet. Michigan abortion rights supporters hope to put the issue on ballots this fall. Their proposed constitutional amendment would affirm the right to make pregnancy-related decisions without interference, including about abortion and other reproductive services such as birth control. The Reproductive Freedom for All committee needs to collect about 425,000 valid voter signatures by July 11 to make the November ballot. The measure would become law if voters approved it. The issue also is expected to shape statewide elections Whitmer and Nessel are both up for reelection in the fall and legislative races. MINNESOTA Political control: The Minnesota Legislature is divided; Anti-abortion Republicans control the Senate and Democrats have the House, but the majorities are slim in both chambers, so control will be up for grabs in the November elections. Most legislative Democrats support abortion rights. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has said no abortion ban will ever become law while hes governor. But he faces a challenge this year from Republican Scott Jensen, who opposes abortion rights. Background: Abortion is legal in Minnesota up to the point of fetal viability, around the 24th week of pregnancy. The state has some restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period with state-mandated counseling, both parents generally must be notified prior to a minor getting an abortion, and only physicians can perform abortions. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Minnesota because the state Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that the state constitution protects abortion rights. If Republicans take control of both chambers, they could put a constitutional amendment on the ballot as soon as 2024 to reverse that ruling, but its not clear yet if they would take that path. Minnesota governors cant block constitutional amendments with vetoes. But amendments are hard to enact because they require the backing of most of the citizens voting in that election, not just those voting on the amendment. Leaving the ballot blank counts as a no. Whats next: Providers are preparing for a surge in women coming from other states to get abortions. Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said before the ruling that her organization was fortifying its delivery systems, including telemedicine. Dr. Sarah Traxler, the groups medical director, has said demand in Minnesota is expected to rise by up to 25%. MISSISSIPPI Political control: Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and leaders of the Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature have been working for years to chip away at abortion access. Background: Mississippi already had a law banning most abortions at 20 weeks, although the states lone abortion clinic offered the procedure only through 16 weeks. The state tried to enact a law in 2018 to ban most abortions after 15 weeks. That law is the basis for the case that the Supreme Court has now used to overturn Roe v. Wade. A federal district judge blocked Mississippis 15-week law from taking effect in 2018, and an appeals court agreed. The Supreme Court agreed to take the case in 2021. Justices heard arguments in December, with the Mississippi attorney generals office saying the court should overturn Roe v. Wade. Mississippi has one abortion clinic, and it stops offering abortions at 16 weeks. Reeves was lieutenant governor in 2018, when Mississippi tried to enact the 15-week ban, and in 2019, when the state tried to enact a six-week ban. Mississippi law does not allow providers to dispense abortion medications through telemedicine consultations. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Mississippis only abortion clinic, Jackson Womens Health Organization, is expected to close by early July unless a judge blocks a trigger law. The clinic filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the 2007 law that bans most abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned. That law is set to take effect July 7. Abortions still would be allowed if the womans life is endangered by the pregnancy or if the pregnancy was caused by a rape that was reported to law enforcement. Any person who knowingly performs or attempts to induce an abortion, except the pregnant woman, could be punished by up to 10 years in prison. Whats next: Mississippis 2007 law says the state attorney general must publish a notice in a state administrative bulletin after the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Mississippis ban on most abortions will take effect 10 days after that publication. MISSOURI Political control: Both GOP Gov. Mike Parson and the Republican-led Legislature support laws against abortion. Background: Missouri law previously allowed abortions up until 22 weeks of pregnancy. But a 2019 state law banned abortions except in cases of medical emergency, contingent upon the U.S. Supreme Court overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Under that Missouri law, performing an illegal abortion is a felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison, though women receiving abortions cannot be prosecuted. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The 2019 law contained a provision making it effective upon notification by the attorney general, governor or Legislature that the U.S. Supreme Court had overruled Roe v. Wade. Moments after Fridays Supreme Court decision, Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Gov. Mike Parson filed the necessary paperwork for Missouris law to kick in. State statutes were subsequently updated online Friday saying the abortion-ban law had taken effect. Whats next: Some Missouri residents wanting abortions are likely to travel to neighboring states, including Illinois and Kansas. A new Illinois logistics center near St. Louis helps women from out of state find travel, lodging and childcare if they need help getting to the area for an abortion, and it connects them with funding sources. The Kansas Supreme Court in 2019 declared that access to abortion is a fundamental right under the state constitution. Even without the ban in Missouri, the number of Missouri patients seeking abortions in Kansas has gone up in recent years, increasing about 8% from 2020 to 2021. MONTANA Political control: The Republicans who control the Montana Legislature and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte want to limit access to abortion. Background: Abortion used to be legal in Montana up until viability, or about 24 weeks of pregnancy, but the state Legislature passed a bill in 2021 to reduce that to 20 weeks, arguing that is when the fetus can feel pain. That law, along with one that requires chemical abortions to be done with in-person medical supervision, are being challenged in court. A state judge temporarily blocked enforcement in October 2021 while the challenges move through the courts. The state has asked the Montana Supreme Court to vacate that injunction and overturn a 1999 Montana Supreme Court opinion that found the states constitutional right to privacy guarantees a womans access to abortion care. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The effect is unclear because of the unresolved legal challenges to the 2021 state legislation. Montana does not have an abortion ban that was triggered when Roe v. Wade was overturned, but the Legislature could seek to further restrict access in the next session. Whats next: The Montana Supreme Court will issue a decision on the preliminary injunction. The Montana Legislature also passed a referendum to ask voters this November whether they support a state law to require abortion providers to give lifesaving treatment to a fetus that is born alive after a botched abortion. Opponents argue federal law already offers those protections. NEBRASKA Political control: Nebraska has an officially nonpartisan legislature with a Republican majority, but not a super-majority that would let the party unilaterally pass an abortion ban. Democrats appear to have enough votes to block such a bill, but just one defector could swing the vote. Nebraskas Republican governor vehemently opposes abortion. Background: Nebraska allows most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, although a few small towns have voted to outlaw the procedure within their borders. The state requires doctors to be physically present when patients take the first of two drugs that are used in medication abortions. Lawmakers have rejected attempts to allow abortion medications to be administered remotely, which would provide easier abortion access in rural areas. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: A ruling that lets states set their own abortion laws will trigger an immediate push by Nebraska conservatives to ban the procedure, but its not clear whether they could do it this year. Unlike other conservative states, Nebraska doesnt have a trigger law that automatically outlaws abortion. Gov. Pete Ricketts and other top Republicans have said theyll seek a special legislative session, but its not clear whether they have enough votes to pass anything. Whats next: If Ricketts calls a special session, attention will likely shift to state Sen. Justin Wayne, an Omaha Democrat who has declined to specify where he stands on abortion. Wayne was notably absent from a vote on the issue this year; his support would give Republicans the super-majority they need to enact a ban. He has struck deals with senators from both parties in the past. If a proposed abortion ban fails during a special session or if no special session is called, the issue will likely become a factor in the November election. NEVADA Political control: Nevadas governor and state attorney general are Democrats who are up for reelection this year. Democrats control the state Senate and Assembly. Background: Nevada voters enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution in 1990. The law says a pregnancy can be terminated during the first 24 weeks, and after that to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. It would take another statewide vote to change or repeal the law. Most Republican candidates for Congress, governor, state attorney general and other statewide posts say they oppose abortions. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Here in Nevada, overturning Roe would not be felt immediately, state Attorney General Aaron Ford said in a position paper released after the draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion became public. Ford noted that a federal ban on abortion would supersede state law and said it would be naive not to recognize that some people want to ban abortions or make them more difficult to obtain. But he said his office will fight attacks on abortion rights, rights to birth control access and rights for LGTBQ people. Gov. Steve Sisolak on June 28 signed an executive order protecting abortion patients and providers from prosecution by other states. State agencies are barred from assisting other states in investigations of people who come to Nevada from other states for abortions. The order also protects providers from discipline and having their license revoked. Whats next: Anti-abortion advocates are not expected to focus on trying to repeal Nevadas abortion law. But they will seek laws affecting waiting periods, mandatory counseling or requiring parental notification or consent. Melissa Clement, executive director of Nevada Right to Life, said she believes there is strong support for parental involvement. NEW HAMPSHIRE Political control: New Hampshire has a Republican governor and the GOP controls the 424-member Legislature. All face reelection this fall. Background: Any abortion restrictions New Hampshire had on the books before Roe v. Wade were not enforced after the landmark 1973 ruling, and they were repealed altogether in 1997. The state had no restrictions until January, when a ban on abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy was enacted. In June, an exemption was added for cases in which the fetus has been diagnosed with abnormalities incompatible with life. Anticipating the Supreme Court action, Democrats this year tried unsuccessfully to enshrine abortion rights into state law and the state constitution. Gov. Chris Sununu calls himself pro-choice and says he is committed to upholding Roe v. Wade, but he also has boasted Ive done more on the pro-life issue than anyone. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in New Hampshire. The Legislature wont return until fall, when there will be a one-day session to take up vetoed bills, and it would take a two-thirds majority vote to introduce new legislation then. Whats next: The majority leader of the New Hampshire House has said the public should not expect Republicans in the Legislature to further tighten state abortion laws. But anti-abortion lawmakers who have filed bills in the past are expected to try again. Democrats are urging Sununu to call a special session of the Legislature to codify abortion rights into state law, but both he and Republican legislative leaders say there is no need. NEW JERSEY Political control: Democrats control both houses of the state Legislature and the governorship. Gov. Phil Murphy started his second consecutive term this year. Background: Murphy ran for reelection on the promise that he would sign legislation to enshrine abortion rights into state law, and he fulfilled that promise in January. The measure also guaranteed the right to contraception and the right to carry a pregnancy to term. It stopped short of requiring insurance coverage for abortions, something advocates had sought. Instead, it authorizes the state Banking and Insurance Department to study the issue and possibly adopt regulations if a need is discovered. Under Murphys predecessor, Republican Chris Christie, state funds to womens clinics, including Planned Parenthood, were slashed. Murphy restored those and has been a strong supporter of abortion rights. New Jersey doesnt have any significant restrictions on abortion, such as parental consent or a mandatory waiting period. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Officials, including the governor, have said the end of Roe would not lead to any rollback of abortion services in the state. Instead of hoping for the best, we prepared ourselves for the worst, Murphy said in May, addressing reports of a leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling. What's next: A week after the Supreme Courts ruling, Murphy signed two bills aimed at protecting the right to abortion for out-of-state residents and barring extradition of providers and patients to states that have prohibited the procedure. Another bill that would require health insurance companies to cover abortion services and set aside $20 million for access to the procedure remains pending in the Legislature. The bill would set aside $5 million for an abortion training program, $5 million for a health security grant and $10 million for health care facilities. ___ NEW MEXICO Political control: The Democrats who control the New Mexico Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Several conservative Democratic state senators who voted against the repeal of the abortion ban in 2019 were ousted from office in 2020 by more socially progressive primary challengers. Background: In 2021, state lawmakers repealed a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures as felonies, thus ensuring access to abortion even after the federal court rolled back guarantees. Albuquerque is home to one of only a few independent clinics in the country that perform abortions in the third trimester without conditions. An abortion clinic in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, is just a mile from the state line with Texas and caters to patients from El Paso, western Texas and Arizona. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: There will be no immediate change in New Mexico now that the high court has overturned Roe v. Wade. It is unclear if Democrats, who control the state Legislature, will pursue additional guarantees to abortion access when lawmakers convene in January. Possible avenues of legislative reform include enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, which requires approval by voters. Abortion rights activists say the states equal rights amendment could be harnessed to guide more public funding for abortion-related programs. Raul Torrez, the district attorney in Albuquerque and the Democratic nominee for attorney general, is urging lawmakers to take further steps to protect access to abortions, including protections for women coming from other states. The state Republican Party said its time to elect more anti-abortion candidates to the Legislature. Whats next: The state can expect to continue to see a steady influx of people seeking abortions from neighboring states with more restrictive abortion laws. It already hosts patients from Texas and Oklahoma where among the strictest abortion bans in the country were introduced this year. NEW YORK Political control: The Democrats who control the New York Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: Abortion has been legal in New York state since a 1970 law was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller. The law allows abortions within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy or to preserve the mothers life. The 2019 Reproductive Health Act removed abortion from the states criminal code, codified Roe v. Wade and allowed abortions after 24 weeks if a fetus isnt viable or to protect the mothers life or health. Lawmakers have passed laws extending legal protections for people seeking and providing abortions in New York. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Roe v. Wade protections are enshrined in state law. New York is planning to give abortion providers $35 million this year to expand services and boost security in anticipation of an influx of out-of-state people seeking abortions once any ruling comes down. Its unclear how many more people from neighboring states could travel to New York to receive abortion care. New York had 252 facilities providing abortions as of 2017, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. Whats next: Planned Parenthood and civil liberty groups are urging lawmakers to start the process of passing a constitutional amendment protecting access to abortion care in case a future Legislature repeals the state law. NORTH CAROLINA Political control: Republicans hold majorities in the state House and Senate, but the party lacks the margins to defeat a veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, a strong abortion-rights supporter. Since 2017, Cooper has vetoed a born-alive abortion measure and a bill prohibiting abortion based on race or a Down syndrome diagnosis. He cant seek reelection in 2024 due to term limits. Background: A 1973 North Carolina law that banned most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy is currently unenforceable after federal judges struck it down as unconstitutional in 2019 and 2021. Instead, abortions can be performed until fetal viability. A state law approved in 2015 provides for post-viability abortions only in a medical emergency, which means the woman would die or face a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment without the procedure. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, the 20-week ban could be restored. Legal experts say formal action would have to be taken to cancel the earlier court rulings striking it down. On the day of the ruling, Republican legislative leaders asked state Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat and abortion rights supporter whose agencys lawyers defended the 20-week law, to act. Otherwise, they said they would seek to intervene. In a response Friday, Stein didnt commit to going to court, telling lawmakers that his offices attorneys are conducting a thorough legal review that may take weeks to complete. Whats next: Republican General Assembly leaders didnt consider additional abortion restrictions in their legislative session that ended July1. The party will likely intensify its efforts in this year's elections to gain the five additional seats it needs for veto-proof margins. Cooper and other Democrats already are making abortion rights a key campaign issue. Abortion politics also are expected to figure into two state Supreme Court elections in November. Republicans would gain a majority on the court if they win at least one of them. NORTH DAKOTA Political control: North Dakota has a legislature dominated by Republicans who want to ban abortion, and the GOP governor had hoped to see Roe v. Wade wiped off the books in favor of states rights. Background: The state has passed some of the nations strictest abortion laws, including one that would have banned abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can happen before a woman knows she is pregnant. The law never took effect because the states lone abortion clinic successfully challenged it in court. One failed Republican proposal would have charged abortion providers with murder with a maximum sentence of life in prison. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: North Dakota has a trigger law that will shut down the states sole abortion clinic in Fargo after 30 days. That 2007 state law makes it a felony to perform an abortion unless necessary to prevent the pregnant womans death or in cases of rape or incest. Violators could be punished with a five-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine. Whats next: The owner and operator of the Red River Womens Clinic in Fargo said she would explore all legal options to ensure abortion services are available in North Dakota. Should that fail, clinic leader Tammi Kromenaker plans to move across the river to Moorhead, Minnesota, where abortion has not been outlawed. Planned Parenthood says it can provide abortions in Moorhead until Kromenaker gets up and running. OHIO Political control: The Ohio Legislature is controlled by Republicans who support restricting or banning abortions, and the Republican governor backs those efforts. He is up for reelection this year against a former mayor who supports abortion rights. Background: Before Friday's ruling, Ohio did not ban most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy; after that theyre allowed only to save a patients life or when their health is seriously compromised. But the state imposes a host of other restrictions, including parental consent for minors, a required ultrasound, and in-person counseling followed by a 24-hour waiting period. Abortions are prohibited for the reason of a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis. Ohio also limits the public funding of abortions to cases of rape, incest or endangerment of the patients life. It limits public employees abortion-related insurance coverage and coverage through health plans offered in the Affordable Care Act health exchange to those same scenarios. Clinics providing abortions must comply with a host of regulations. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: A ban on most abortions at the first detectable fetal heartbeat became the law in Ohio hours after the ruling. Enforcement of Ohios 2019 heartbeat ban had been on hold for nearly three years under a federal court injunction. The state attorney general, Republican Dave Yost, asked for that to be dissolved because of the high courts ruling, and U.S. Judge Michael Barrett agreed hours later. Two trigger bills are on hold in the Legislature, but a key legislative leader has said he anticipates needing to write new legislation after the decision is reversed that more carefully reflects the actual ruling. That all but certainly would not happen until lawmakers return to the capital after the November election. Whats next: Activists are considering how to help Ohioans get abortions elsewhere. They may also mount a statewide ballot initiative that would embed the right to an abortion in the state constitution, though that could not happen before next year. Abortion opponents are weighing strategies for imposing a statewide abortion ban. OKLAHOMA Political control: Republicans in Oklahoma have a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature and a Republican governor up for reelection this year who has vowed to sign every pro-life legislation that came across my desk. Background: Abortion services were halted in Oklahoma in May after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill that prohibits all abortions with few exceptions. The ban is enforced by civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution. Republican lawmakers have been pushing to restrict abortion in the state for decades, passing 81 different restrictions since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: It will have little practical effect given that abortions are no longer being provided in Oklahoma. Oklahoma also has a trigger law that outlawed abortion as soon as Roe was overturned. Whats next: Given the fierce opposition to abortion from the governor and Legislature, Oklahoma will continue to prohibit the practice if states are given the option to do so. Meanwhile, abortion providers who had been operating in the state are taking steps to help patients seek abortions out of state, including coordinating funding for these women and developing a referral network of therapists to help address complications before or after a woman receives an abortion. OREGON Political control: The Democrats who control the Oregon Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: The Oregon Legislature passed a bill legalizing abortion in 1969. In 2017, Gov. Kate Brown signed into law a bill expanding health care coverage for reproductive services, including abortions, to thousands of Oregonians, regardless of income, citizenship status or gender identity. Oregon does not have any major abortion restrictions and it is legal at all stages of pregnancy. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The Guttmacher Institute has estimated that Oregon will experience a 234% increase in women seeking abortions arriving from out of state, especially from Idaho. In March, Oregon lawmakers approved $15 million to expand abortion availability and pay for abortions and support services such as travel and lodgings for residents and out-of-state patients. Whats next: Brown said after the draft Supreme Court decision was leaked that access to abortion is a fundamental right and that she will fight to ensure access to abortion continues to be protected by state law in Oregon. Democratic state lawmakers recently formed the Reproductive Health and Access to Care Work Group of providers, clinics, community organizations and legislators that will make recommendations for the 2023 legislative session and beyond. Recommendations may include proposals to protect, strengthen, and expand equitable access to all forms of reproductive care. PENNSYLVANIA Political control: Republicans who control the Pennsylvania Legislature are hostile to abortion rights, but the states Democratic governor is a strong supporter and has vetoed three GOP-penned bills in five years that would have added restrictions beyond the states 24-week limit. The race for governor this year could tilt that balance. Background: Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania under decades of state law, including a 1989 law that was challenged all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. That produced the landmark Planned Parenthood v. Casey ruling that affirmed the high courts 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide, but also allowed states to put certain limits on abortion access. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to protect access to abortion for the remainder of his time in office, through January. Running to replace him is the states Democratic attorney general, Josh Shapiro, who supports abortion rights, and Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who has said he supports banning abortion altogether, with no exceptions. The Legislature is expected to remain in Republican hands next year. Abortion clinics in some parts of the state already are experiencing fallout from the ruling. Less than a week after it came out, a clinic in Pittsburgh was flooded with patients who suddenly lost appointments in Ohio, the clinic director said. Clinic representatives are warning that Pennsylvanians will have a harder time finding appointments because of rising demand from out-of-state residents. Whats next: Legislation to outlaw abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat which can happen at six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant has passed a House committee and is awaiting a floor vote. The state Supreme Court is considering a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers aiming to overturn a 1982 law that bans the use of state dollars for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. In response, Republican lawmakers are advancing a proposed amendment that would declare there is no constitutional right to an abortion in Pennsylvania or to public funding for an abortion. RHODE ISLAND Political control: The Democrats who control Rhode Islands General Assembly support access to abortion, as does the Democratic governor. Background: Rhode Islands governor signed legislation in 2019 to enshrine abortion protections in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. The law says the state will not restrict the right to an abortion prior to fetal viability or after if necessary to protect the health or life of the pregnant woman. It repealed older laws deemed unconstitutional by the courts. The Rhode Island Supreme Court upheld the 2019 law in May, just two days after the Supreme Court draft opinion was leaked suggesting that a majority of the justices were prepared to overturn Roe. Abortion opponents had argued the law violates the state constitution. In 2020, there were 2,611 abortions in Rhode Island, according to the state health department. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Rhode Islands attorney general believes the 2019 Reproductive Privacy Act will continue to protect access to abortion. Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island also said abortion will remain legal regardless of the decision because the right was codified in state law. Whats next: On the Monday after the Supreme Court decision, Rhode Islands Democratic governor said he will sign an executive order to shield abortion providers in the state from lawsuits by anti-abortion activists in other states. McKees office didnt have a date for the signing, but said the governor wants to act as soon as possible. Two of his opponents in September's Democratic primary for governor, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and Matt Brown, had urged McKee to sign such an order. They also want state lawmakers to return for a special session to add abortion coverage to Rhode Islands Medicaid program and to the insurance coverage for state employees. Legislative leaders said they plan to address abortion coverage next year because it has financial implications and wasnt included in this year's budget. SOUTH CAROLINA Political control: South Carolina has a Republican governor, and its General Assembly is dominated by the GOP. However, the party doesnt quite have the two-thirds majority in either chamber needed to overcome procedural hurdles or a veto if a Democrat wins the 2022 gubernatorial election. Background: In 2021, South Carolina passed the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act that requires doctors to use an ultrasound to try to detect a fetal heartbeat if they think a pregnant woman is at least eight weeks along. If they find a heartbeat, they can only perform an abortion if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. The law is currently tied up in a federal lawsuit. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a federal judge allowed the state to begin enforcing the 2021 law. Planned Parenthood and others dropped their lawsuit, but the organization said it would continue to perform abortions in South Carolina under the parameters of the new law. Whats next: The South Carolina General Assemblys regular session ended in May, but Republican leaders had agreed they could return for a special session to take up more restrictive abortion bills if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. They have yet to announce a special session, despite Friday's ruling. Some Republican lawmakers have opposed a complete abortion ban, especially without exceptions for victims of rape and incest. SOUTH DAKOTA Political control: Republicans hold super-majorities in both Statehouse chambers. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is up for reelection this year and has been an ardent opponent of abortion rights. Background: South Dakota law bans abortions except if the life of the woman is at risk. The state had only one clinic that regularly provided abortions, a Planned Parenthood facility in Sioux Falls. The Legislature has worked over the years to make it more difficult for women to get abortions, passing mandatory waiting periods and requiring them to review and sign paperwork that discourages them from ending their pregnancies. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: South Dakotas trigger law immediately banned abortions except if the life of the pregnant woman is at risk. Whats next: Noem has called for a special session to craft laws under the new legal landscape now that Roe v. Wade is overturned. She hasnt commented on specific legislation, but lawmakers have floated proposals that would make it more difficult for women to seek an abortion out of state. However, South Dakota voters rejected outright bans in 2006 and 2008, and abortion rights advocates are preparing for a similar referendum on abortion access. The ban on abortions could eventually be challenged through a citizen-initiated ballot measure. TENNESSEE Political control: Tennessee has a Republican governor who is consistently vocal about his opposition to abortion. The GOP holds a supermajority in the state legislature and has steadily chipped away at abortion access. Background: In 2020, Tennessee passed a law banning most abortions when the fetal heartbeat can be detected at about six weeks, before many women know theyre pregnant. The measure has never been enforced because it was promptly blocked by a federal court. On June 28, a federal appeals court let it take effect. Tennessee voters approved an amendment in 2014 declaring that the states constitution doesnt protect or secure the right to abortion or require the funding of an abortion, and empowering state lawmakers to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion. State law also doesnt allow providers to dispense abortion medications through telemedicine consultations. There are six abortion providers in Tennessee. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The states attorney general, a Republican, has said a trigger law will go into effect in mid-August that bans all abortions in Tennessee except when necessary to prevent death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. Doctors could be charged with a felony for providing an abortion under the law. Whats next: Tennessees attorney general has said the trigger law will take precedence over the 2020 law banning most abortions at about six weeks. Meanwhile, Republicans are expected to continue to have supermajority control after this years midterm elections. Reproductive rights activists say they will direct patients seeking abortion to clinics in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned, or to Florida, which would ban abortions at 15 weeks. North Carolina and Virginia also could be options for women in eastern Tennessee. TEXAS Political control: The GOP has commanding majorities in the Texas Legislature and has controlled every statewide office for nearly 30 years. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is up for reelection in November and is favored to win a third term. Background: Texas has given the nation a preview of the landscape of abortion access without the protections enshrined in Roe v. Wade. A new Texas law banning most abortions after about six weeks before many women know they are pregnant took effect in September and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Because of how Republicans wrote the law, which is enforceable only through lawsuits filed by private citizens against doctors or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion, Texas has essentially outmaneuvered decades of Supreme Court precedent governing a womens constitutional right to an abortion. State data shows the number of abortions performed in Texas roughly two dozen clinics fell by half in the five months after the law came into effect compared to the same period a year earlier. Effect of the Supreme Court ruling: Texas had more than 40 abortion clinics in 2012 before a decade of Republicans chipping away at abortion access began forcing providers to close. Without Roe v. Wade, Texas plans to ban virtually all abortions 30 days after the Supreme Court issues its judgment in the case, which could take about a month. Abortions would only be allowed when the patients life is in danger or if they are at risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function. Whats next: Many Texas women have already traveled out of state for abortions since the law took effect, but they would likely have to travel much farther now that Roe is overturned as more states outlaw abortion. Some Republican lawmakers also want to punish companies that help their Texas-based employees get abortions elsewhere, although its unclear how much support that idea will have when the Legislature returns in 2023. UTAH Political control: Utah is deeply conservative and the Legislature is controlled by a Republican supermajority. Background: The state has been restricting abortion for years, including a ban after 18 weeks passed in 2019 thats now blocked in court. The following year, lawmakers passed a trigger law that would outlaw nearly all abortions if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The trigger law banning nearly all abortions became enforceable Friday evening, after the legislative general counsel certified the Supreme Court ruling to lawmakers. It does have narrow exceptions for rape and incest if those crimes are reported to law enforcement, and for serious risk to the life or health of the mother, as well as confirmed lethal birth defects. Whats next: Utah law makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. While its aimed primarily at providers, lawmakers have acknowledged that a woman who self-administers an abortion, including through medication, could potentially face charges. VERMONT Political control: The Vermont Legislature is controlled by Democrats, but Republican Gov. Phil Scott is a firm supporter of abortion rights. Background: Vermont has a 2019 law guaranteeing the right to an abortion and voters will consider a proposal in November to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights. Also in 2019, the Vermont Legislature began the process of amending the constitution to protect abortion rights, known as the Reproductive Liberty Amendment or Proposition 5. Vermonts proposed amendment does not contain the word abortion. Proponents say thats because its not meant to authorize only abortion but also would guarantee other reproductive rights such as the right to get pregnant or access birth control. Opponents say vague wording could have unintended consequences that could play out for years. Lawmakers approved the proposed amendment in February, leading the way for a statewide vote. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Vermont. Whats next: Vermont voters will cast ballots in November to decide if the state will amend its constitution to protect abortion rights. VIRGINIA Political control: Virginia has a Republican governor who says he would support new state-level restrictions on abortion. Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday that he will seek legislation to ban most abortions after 15 weeks. Youngkin told The Washington Post he has asked four antiabortion Republican lawmakers to draft the legislation. He told the Post that a cutoff at 20 weeks might be necessary to build consensus in the divided Virginia legislature, where Republicans control the House and Democrats control the Senate. Youngkin generally supports exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger. Background: In recent years, when Democrats were in full control of state government, lawmakers rolled back abortion restrictions. They ended strict building code requirements on facilities where abortions are performed and did away with requirements that a patient seeking an abortion undergo a 24-hour waiting period and ultrasound. Advocates said the changes would make Virginia a haven for abortion access in the South. Republican victories in the November elections shook up the states political landscape, but Senate Democrats defeated several measures that would have limited abortion access during the 2022 legislative session. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: There will be no immediate change to abortion laws in Virginia now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. Some abortion providers expect to see an uptick in patients seeking care in Virginia from neighboring states with trigger laws that would ban abortion. Whats next: The future of abortion access is Virginia is murky. Senate Democrats say they intend to continue blocking attempts to roll back abortion access, though they control the chamber by the narrowest possible margin and have one caucus member who personally opposes abortion and says he is open to new restrictions. Republicans also have a narrow hold on the House, with several moderate members. Every seat in the General Assembly will be on the ballot in 2023. WASHINGTON Political control: The Democrats who control the Washington Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: Abortion has been legal in Washington state since a 1970 statewide ballot referendum. Another ballot measure approved by voters in 1991 declared a womans right to choose physician-performed abortion prior to fetal viability and further expanded and protected access to abortion in the state if Roe v. Wade was overturned. And in 2018, the Legislature passed a measure that would require Washington insurers offering maternity care to also cover elective abortions and contraception. Earlier this year, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a measure that grants specific statutory authorization for physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners and other providers acting within their scope of practice to perform abortions. Supporters say the move is designed to help meet the demand from the potential influx of out-of-state patients. That same measure also prohibits legal action by Washington state against people seeking an abortion and those who aid them. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The state will use every available tool to protect and preserve Washingtonians fundamental right to choose, and protect the rights of anyone who wants to come here to access reproductive health care, said Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat. Data from the Washington state Department of Health from 2020 shows that of the 16,909 abortions performed in the state that year, 852 involved non-residents. The majority of those people came from neighboring states such as Idaho and Oregon. Whats next: Its impossible to predict how many more non-resident patients will potentially seek care in Washington now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, but the increase will likely be in the thousands, said Jennifer Allen, CEO of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. The state has more than 30 in-person abortion clinics, though the vast majority are in western Washington along the Interstate 5 corridor. WEST VIRGINIA Political control: West Virginia has a legislature controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict access to abortions. Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, opposes abortion access and has signed two anti-abortion laws since taking office in 2017. Background: Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, West Virginia law banned abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy unless a patients life is in danger or they face substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The state has several other abortion restrictions that include: requiring patients seeking abortions to wait 24 hours after undergoing legislatively mandated counseling that is designed to discourage a woman from ending a pregnancy; requiring minors to get parental permission; banning the use of telemedicine to administer a medication abortion; and prohibiting abortions on the grounds that the child will be born with a disability. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: West Virginias only abortion clinic announced after the Supreme Courts ruling that it would immediately halt abortion services out of concern that staff could be prosecuted under a state law banning abortion that dates back to the 1800s. Charleston-based Womens Health Center of West Virginia Executive Director Katie Quinonez said it would be impossible for the clinic to continue performing abortions with such a law on the books. Under that law, providers who perform abortions can face felony charges and three to 10 years in prison, unless the abortion is conducted to save a patients life. The law makes no exceptions for rape or incest. In 2018, West Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment to declare patients do not have the right to abortion and banning state funding for abortions. Whats next: State officials have not said formally how the 19th century abortion ban will be enforced. Abortion is addressed in numerous statutes in West Virginia state code, including the 20-week ban passed in 2015 that acknowledges the right to abortion access in the state. State Senate President Craig Blair and Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, both Republicans, said legislative attorneys are reviewing each statute on the books to determine how they apply" in light of the high court's decision. No lawmakers have commented on whether they intend to outlaw medication abortion. The governor has said he will not hesitate to call the Legislature into a special session if the states abortion law needs to be clarified. Quinonez said while her clinic is not currently performing abortions, it will remain open to continue to provide reproductive care, such as birth control and diagnosis, and to treat sexually transmitted diseases. She said the clinic will help women travel to other states for abortions through its abortion fund. ___ WISCONSIN Political control: Wisconsin has a legislature controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict access to abortions but a Democratic governor who supports access and is up for reelection this year. Background: Wisconsin has allowed most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy to save the health or life of the mother. A woman seeking an abortion must meet with a counselor and doctor before obtaining an abortion and wait at least 24 hours before having it done. Anyone under age 18 must have an adult relative over age 25 with them to obtain an abortion. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, it is presumed that a state law passed in 1849 making an abortion a felony offense could go into effect, and doctors have halted procedures. However, Wisconsins Democratic attorney general argues that the law is so old that its unenforceable. The language allows a woman to legally destroy her own fetus or embryo and grants immunity if an abortion is needed to save a womans life and is performed at a hospital. Another state law, passed in 1985, prohibits abortions performed after a fetus reaches viability -- when it could survive outside the womb -- conflicting with the 1849 ban. Whats next: Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit June 28 against Republican leaders of the state Legislature, arguing that the 1849 abortion ban conflicts with a 1985 law that prohibits abortion either after 20 weeks or at the point of fetal viability. His lawsuit says the 1985 law should take precedence. Republican lawmakers are expected to attempt to clarify the 19th century law during next years legislative session to ensure a ban is in place, even as that issue is being argued in the courts. Lawmakers efforts would be stymied if Democratic Gov. Tony Evers wins reelection. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, said he supports a rape exception to an abortion ban, but also said the overturning of Roe could prompt Republican lawmakers to consider other reproductive issues, such as contraception. WYOMING Political control: Wyoming has one of the most Republican legislatures in the U.S. and a long tradition of libertarian-type if not always social or religious conservatism. That may be changing. In March, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed into law a bill that would ban abortion in nearly all instances should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. Background: Current Wyoming law allows abortions up to when a fetus might be able to survive on its own outside its mothers body. The law does not specify when that happens, but it is generally considered to be at around 23 weeks into pregnancy. Wyoming currently doesnt allow abortions after then except to protect the mother from substantial risk to her life or health. Wyoming Republicans have traditionally taken a hands-off approach to abortion but have proven more willing to limit the practice lately. The number of Democrats in the Legislature has dwindled from 26 in 2010 to just nine out of 90 total seats now. A 2021 law requires physicians to provide lifesaving care to any aborted fetus born alive. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The new state law that bans abortion only provides exceptions in cases of rape or incest or to protect the mothers life or health, not including psychological conditions. Though Wyoming has no abortion clinics, abortions still occur. Ninety-eight took place in Wyoming in 2021, according to state officials. Whats next: A planned womens health clinic in Casper that would have been the only one offering abortions in the state was on track to open in mid-June but an arson fire May 25 delayed those plans by around six months. Clinic founder Julie Burkhart said Friday that, despite the ruling, she still plans to open the clinic and will continue to seek legal means to keep abortion legal in Wyoming. Police continue to look for a suspect in the arson investigation, and have offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Associated Press statehouse reporters from across the U.S. contributed. For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: June 25 The Washington Post says GOP support for gun bill offers hope for more reform Fifteen Republicans in the Senate and 14 in the House joined with congressional Democrats this week to break more than 25 years of inaction on gun safety. That these Republicans, many of whom had ratings of A or A-plus from the National Rifle Association, defied the gun lobby with their support of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act suggests they saw the political peril in doing nothing about the gun violence gripping the country. Indeed, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who voted for the bill, admitted as much when he said he hoped GOP support for the measure will be viewed favorably by voters as the party seeks to regain the majority next year. The public sentiment for gun safety that has steadily built with each mass shooting, finally forcing Republicans to drop their ironclad opposition, offers hope that the legislation, signed into law by President Biden on Saturday, will be the first and not last step in bringing some rationality to the nations gun laws. The 80-page bill, produced by a small group of Republican and Democratic senators in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings at a Buffalo grocery store and a Texas school, falls far short of the tough but common-sense measures long sought by gun-control advocates. There are no universal background checks, no ban of large-capacity magazines, no requirements for safe storage of weapons and no action not even raising the minimum age of purchase on assault weapons. That, though, does not detract from the significance of what was achieved. Among the worthwhile reforms: enhanced background checks for younger gun buyers to include juvenile and mental health records; incentives for states to adopt red-flag laws that allow guns to be temporarily confiscated from people deemed dangerous by a judge; tougher penalties on illegal gun purchases; and revision of a federal law intended to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers to close the boyfriend loophole. Those measures along with billions of new federal dollars to expand mental health programs and improve school safety will save lives. Credit for the hard work of fashioning a compromise that both sides could agree to goes to Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R- Tex.), aided by Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Mr. Murphy had just been elected to the Senate in 2012 when a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his home state and has been tireless in his pursuit of common-sense gun control despite many setbacks. Mr. Cornyns willingness to negotiate and his refusal to back down even when faced with withering criticism from former president Donald Trump, Fox News and his state GOP party is equally praiseworthy. So is his forthrightness in standing up to the NRA. We worked with the NRA, listened to their concerns, but in the end I think they simply they have a membership and a business model that will not allow them to support any legislation, Mr. Cornyn said. Passage of the bill came a day after the Supreme Court expanded gun rights by striking down a New York law limiting the carrying of guns in public. That ill-advised and dangerous ruling may have tempered any celebration over the gun bill, but it cant squelch the public sentiment that has risen up in support of rational gun-safety laws. June 25 According to the New York Times, the SCOTUS puts gun rights above human life The Supreme Court this week embraced a vision of the Second Amendment that is profoundly at odds with precedent and the dangers that American communities face today, upending the longstanding practice of letting states decide for themselves how to regulate gun possession in public. This decision reveals the vast gulf between ideologues on the court and those Americans ordinary people and their representatives in Congress who want this country to be safer from guns. As the high court issued its 135-page ruling, the Senate, across the street, approved an 80-page bipartisan bill that tightens restrictions on who can possess and purchase a gun. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Friday, and President Biden signed it Saturday. This breakthrough came after decades of virtually no congressional action on gun safety and was fueled by public outrage over a series of mass shootings, including the recent massacres in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo. Gun enthusiasts and gun manufacturers have long sought a ruling like the one the court delivered on Thursday: Its decision in the case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, is an assertion that the Second Amendment trumps reasonable efforts to protect public safety. The United States as it exists today awash in insufficiently regulated, high-powered weapons and afflicted by staggeringly high rates of gun homicide and suicide is the society that their preferred policies have created. The best that gun control advocates can hope for after the Bruen ruling is what Congress passed: gradual legislative tinkering. In its 6-to-3 ruling, the supermajority of Republican-appointed justices struck down a century-old New York law that placed strict limits on handguns. But the decision will also affect similar laws in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii and California. Many of those are states with some of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country. Extensive research has shown that strict regulation of guns leads to fewer deaths. Relying on a highly selective reading of history, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his majority opinion that these gun restrictions violate the courts new interpretation of the Second Amendment. (It was only in 2008, with its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, that conservatives on the court divined an individual right to bear arms hidden somewhere in the 27 words of the Second Amendment.) New Yorks law requires that a person seeking a concealed carry permit for a handgun must show a good reason for doing so, known as proper cause, which covers law enforcement officers and others who can demonstrate a reason to fear for their own safety. We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need, Justice Thomas wrote. It is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense. The majority left open the ability of states to ban guns from certain sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, but it cautioned that there is no historical basis for New York to effectively declare the island of Manhattan a sensitive place. What about, for instance, the subway, the site of a mass shooting in April? The court didnt say, as Justice Stephen Breyer noted in his dissent. That leaves an opening for the states to decide which spaces are off limits. Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York plans to call the Legislature back for a special session to address the ruling for just that reason. Lawmakers will consider legislation that could designate New Yorks public transit system a sensitive place, along with schools, parks, hospitals and office buildings, and buffer zones around them. The state should also institute extensive training requirements for concealed weapons permits. Lawmakers in several other states that will likely be affected by the decision said they were working to tweak their laws to meet the courts new standard for permissible firearms regulation. The justices bickered openly in their written opinions in the Bruen ruling, with the three liberals on the court pointing to various grim statistics on mass shootings and suicides, while Justice Samuel Alito asked what any of those deaths had to do with handgun regulations. Their discord reflects a grim truth about gun violence in the United States: It is several distinct and deadly crises happening simultaneously suicides by firearms, homicides related to domestic violence, gang killings and spectacular mass shootings. Cities, states and the federal government have approached these overlapping crises in various ways and with varying degrees of success. Broadly speaking, regulating guns saves lives. More guns and less regulation of them result in more deaths. The new legislation aims to tackle several types of gun violence at the same time. Called the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the law will enhance background checks for potential gun buyers under age 21, which might have helped thwart the mass shooting in Uvalde. It directs millions of dollars to states to put in place so-called red flag laws or other crisis intervention efforts, which will help stop domestic violence-related killings and suicides. It adds serious dating partners to the list of domestic abusers prohibited from buying guns, which is now limited to spouses and domestic partners. It also directs millions of dollars to mental health and school safety programs. The specifics of this bill matter. Of equal importance is the fact that the bipartisan legislation tackles an issue that has stymied Congress for decades. It isnt quite true, as some supporters of the new bill claim, that there hasnt been any gun control legislation passed in the past 30 years. Congress passed, and President Trump signed, a minor update to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in 2018. But no legislation equal to the size of the problem has made it to a presidents desk. With this new law, however limited, lawmakers are at least responding to the fundamental mandate of every elected government to protect its citizens. Given the political paralysis in Congress on so many other issues, any progress on guns is progress worth making. June 24 The Wall Street Journal suggests that abortion will still be widely available in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision on Roe v. Wade Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion could soon become illegal in half of the country. Or so Democrats warn. But its impossible to know how the debate will play out in many states. And a study this month by the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, suggests that the practical consequences for abortion could be far less severe. Many GOP states have increased abortion regulation in recent years, including parental consent and notification requirements for minors and mandated waiting periods. Yet abortions increased 8% nationwide between 2017 and 2020, according to Guttmachers abortion provider survey. More abortions arent something to celebrate, especially as births simultaneously declined 6% in the same period. But Guttmacher claims it may be a positive development if it means people are getting the health care they want and need. This is a tacit admission that stricter laws in GOP states havent stopped women from obtaining abortions. One reason is that left-leaning states have expanded access to abortion. Abortions increased by 25% between 2017 and 2020 in Illinois as more pregnant women came from surrounding states with more restrictive laws. Illinois in 2018 also began covering abortions with state Medicaid funds. Abortion providers responded to increasing demand by opening more clinics. Progressives claim traveling to other states to get an abortion will be a grave hardship for women. But the Guttmacher report suggests that thousands of women already do so. Many employers in recent months have also offered to cover the travel costs of employees in states where abortion is banned to get an abortion elsewhere. Abortions have also increased as local and national abortion funds increased their capacity and helped even more people pay for their abortions, the report says. Many pro-abortion rights groups have used the potential demise of Roe to boost their fundraising. The Supreme Courts ruling on Friday will be a fundraising boon for Planned Parenthood. States that are more likely to ban abortion already regulate it more strictly, so the Courts decision may have a smaller effect in those states. The Guttmacher report notes that because restrictions in recent years were adopted in states generally considered hostile to abortion rights already, they may not have played as much of a role as the measures expanding access in other states. This evidence from an abortion-rights group suggests that abortion will still be widely available in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision on Roe v. Wade. States will respond to the Courts decision in different ways, and thats the beauty of the U.S. federalist system. June 24 The Los Angeles Times says Roe being overturned should serve as a call to action - to fight to get it back In a dreaded and once-unfathomable decision, the Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade. Its a dark time in America as this once-revered institution has taken the rare and awful path of depriving people of their rights. With its 5-4 decision the court abolished the constitutional right to an abortion up to the point of viability of the fetus outside the womb, forcing the nation back 50 years to a time when state legislators decided whether to allow pregnant women control over their bodies. Or maybe the court has taken us back even further in time. Part of the justification for overturning Roe was because centuries of history indicate abortion was criminalized. When the majority says that we must read our foundational charter as viewed at the time of ratification (except that we may also check it against the Dark Ages), it consigns women to second-class citizenship, the three dissenting justices wrote. The decision was not a surprise, because a draft had been leaked earlier this year. But its devastating nonetheless that the Supreme Court has chosen to take away a constitutional right. The repercussions will be quick and severe: 13 states have trigger laws and others have pre-Roe bans still on the books. In Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi the state that brought the case that led to the ruling Friday the ban will go into effect within hours of Roe being overturned. Even if we dont return to the time of back-alley abortions, whats ahead is uncertainty. For those living in states that outlaw or severely restrict the procedure, getting an abortion will now involve traveling hundreds of miles out of state to find care with all the attendant costs or obtaining medical abortion pills. But obtaining the drugs through the mail might be considered a crime under these state laws and subject to prosecution. Some states are considering how to ban the pills. As always, abortion restrictions fall heaviest on those who already have trouble accessing healthcare people of color, people in rural areas, disabled people and those with low incomes who have less ability to pay for the procedure as well as arrange for child care and time off from work while they go to another state for abortion care. This is not a simple matter of returning a controversial issue to the states to decide, as Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. makes it sound in his opinion. The Supreme Court is depriving people of the right to control their own bodies and allowing state politics to determine the existence of a fundamental liberty. Roe v. Wade guaranteed the right to choose a path to either end or continue a pregnancy. It is incalculable how much that freedom, that opportunity, that choice to control ones body shapes a persons life. And everyone, not just those who can get pregnant, should be outraged that the court would do more to ensure that people can carry a concealed gun in public than defend the right of Americans to make personal reproductive decisions. The three liberal justices who dissented in this decision Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan ended their opinion with this heartbreaking coda: With sorrow for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection we dissent. So be angry about what the court did. Feel betrayed that Brett M. Kavanaugh, Neil M. Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett all said during their Senate confirmation hearings that Roe was a precedent, which many took to mean they wouldnt seek to overturn it. The conservatives on the court have forced this nation back to an age that most Americans dont remember well, if at all. The work now falls on this generation to restore the right to abortion and personal freedom. What abortion rights advocates are doing and what everyone should be focused on is how to make abortion accessible across the nation in a post-Roe world. Dozens of organizations across the country are raising money to help needy people without means to travel for an abortion. A number of states have introduced motions to enshrine the right to abortion in their constitutions. California is one of them. Legislators here have also introduced bills to help fund abortions and thwart other states efforts to criminalize any of their residents when they seek abortions in this state. The Biden administration is exploring options to help women get abortions as well including declaring a public health emergency, which might protect doctors in states that allow abortion when they provide the procedure to people from states that dont allow it. The Food and Drug Administration already allows abortion pills to be shipped to a person after a telehealth consultation. There is a move afoot to get the Food and Drug Administration to declare that its federal authorization of the use and shipment of the drugs nationwide overrides any state trying to ban the sale or receipt of them. Sadly, the Womens Health Protection Act, a federal bill that would ensure the right to an abortion, was voted down in the Senate recently. This is just the beginning of a battle over reproductive rights in America, and possibly for other rights as well. In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court should reconsider landmark decisions on contraception, sodomy laws and same-sex marriage. If that seems unthinkable, consider how unlikely it seemed even a year ago that Roe vs. Wade would fall. Dark times, indeed. June 26 The Guardian The decision, when it came on Friday, was not a surprise. Even before the dramatic leak of Justice Samuel Alitos draft opinion last month, it was widely predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court would grab the opportunity presented by the Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization case to rescind the decision made in 1973 in Roe v Wade. This, after all, was the purpose of President Trumps three Supreme Court selections and the culmination of a decades-long campaign by anti-abortionists to return to states the authority to ban the procedure. But the announcement still came as a shock. The U.S.s global influence means that the decision to remove a womans constitutional right to abortion there reverberates far beyond its shores. The speed with which multiple U.S. states reacted is disturbing; already, abortion has been outlawed in 10, with 11 more expected to follow shortly. While all women should be entitled to control their own lives and bodies, there are instances when denying this is particularly cruel. Americans who oppose forced pregnancy and birth now face the horror of rape and incest victims, including children, being compelled to become mothers. The U.S. is exceptional in its lack of federal maternity provisions; children as well as parents will suffer the consequences of unwanted additions to their families, with poor and black people the worst affected. Early signs are that the most extreme Republican legislatures could try to block girls and women from travelling out of state for treatment, and impose further restrictions on care delivered remotely including medication sent by mail. The potential for personal data stored online, including on menstrual apps, to be used against women is causing justified alarm. Having relied on Roe v. Wade to protect access to abortion for half a century, politicians can no longer do so. Abortion is now set to become a key issue in this autumns midterms. How this pans out will depend on public opinion; polling data suggest that 85% of Americans support legal abortion in some circumstances, and Democrats hope that this could work to their advantage. But the anti-abortion right is a formidable force. With hindsight, President Obamas decision not to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs choice not to retire when he could have nominated a replacement, look like disastrous errors. The three liberal justices who dissented said they did so with sorrow for many millions of American women and also for the court itself. With this decision, it has chosen to reopen deep wounds. The 14th amendment on which Roe v. Wade rested granted rights to former slaves, and is the basis for other crucial decisions including on same-sex marriage. By dismissing Roe v. Wade in the way that they did, and against the wishes of Chief Justice John Roberts (who argued to retain it, while allowing Mississippis 15-week rule to stand), the courts hard-right wing has seized control. Unprecedented division, and greatly increased hardship and risk for those denied safe healthcare, will be the outcome. While there is reassurance in noting moves elsewhere towards liberalization, U.S. anti-abortionists are far from unique, as tightened restrictions in Poland and the situation in Northern Ireland show. It is too soon to say whether Trumps justices and their backers have overreached from an electoral perspective. If there is an early lesson to be drawn, it is that once gained, womens rights must be constantly defended. END Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will vote on Tuesday whether to recommend that updated COVID-19 booster shots be used this fall to protect against omicron and its highly contagious subvariants. Because the virus mutates so quickly, the FDA may approve the new vaccine formulations as COVID-19 cases are expected to surge again this winter. Given how fast the virus changes, lengthy human trials may have to be abandoned in favor of more laboratory tests and animal tests, The New York Times reported. Human trials can take up to five months, which can make the vaccine obsolete before it is even released to the public. Both Pfizer and Moderna have been testing updated booster shots that target the omicron variant, with early trial results showing the tweaked shots boost protection against omicron. Since then, subvariants of omicron have surfaced and are spreading. As of June 18, the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants accounted for 35 percent of all U.S. infections. "Omicron is clearly in the rearview mirror," Peter Hotez, M.D., a vaccine expert with the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told The Times. An omicron booster is not necessary unless it works against the newest omicron subvariants, but "I haven't seen evidence of that," he said. Even the FDA said in a briefing document prepared for the advisory committee meeting that the bivalent booster targeting both the original virus and omicron is "already somewhat outdated." But Kelly Moore, M.D., president of Immunize.org, a nonprofit that works to increase vaccine rates, told The Times that an accelerated process is already used to update the flu vaccine each year. Although this is the first time the process would be used with COVID-19 vaccines, they have been safely given to hundreds of millions of people, she noted. Updating them might call for "very well-educated guesswork," she said, that is "appropriate for the circumstances." Still, the chance exists that the virus will change again and make the updated vaccines ineffective. John Beigel, M.D., a clinical research director at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, told The Times, "They [the new vaccines] may be old news by the time the fall comes." Beigel said one option is to stick with the existing vaccines, which continue to provide robust protection against severe disease, while offering very little protection against infection. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. TUESDAY, June 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents who experience cyberbullying are more likely to think about suicide, a new study shows. Researchers found a link between being bullied online, through texts or on social media, and thoughts of suicide that go above and beyond the link between suicidal thoughts and traditional offline bullying. "At a time when young adolescents are spending more time online than ever before, this study underscores the negative impact that bullying in the virtual space can have on its targets," said senior study author Dr. Ran Barzilay, an assistant professor at the Lifespan Brain Institute of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). "Given these results, it may be prudent for primary care providers to screen for cyberbullying routinely in the same way that they might screen for other suicide risk factors like depression. Educators and parents should also be aware of the substantial stress bullying in the cyberworld places on young adolescents," Barzilay noted in a hospital news release. The researchers analyzed data collected between July 2018 and January 2021 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (ABCD study), which contains information from 10,000 U.S. children between the ages of 10 and 13, including data from a cyberbullying questionnaire. Adolescents were asked if they had ever been the target or perpetrator of cyberbullying, which the questionnaire defined as "purposefully trying to harm another person or be mean to them online, in texts or group texts, or on social media [such as Instagram or Snapchat]." The participants were also surveyed separately about traditional offline bullying, with categories that included overt aggression, such as threatening or hitting; relational aggression, such as not inviting or leaving someone out; and reputational aggression, such as spreading rumors or gossiping. About 7.6% of the young adolescents responded that they had experienced suicidal thoughts, 8.9% reported being targets of cyberbullying, and 0.9% reported cyberbullying others. While being a target of cyberbullying was associated with suicidal thoughts, being a perpetrator of cyberbullying did not appear to be. That was different, the authors said, from with traditional bullying, where being a perpetrator is also linked with suicidal thinking. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 in 2018 in the United States, and rates have been steadily rising, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Our findings suggest being a target of cyberbullying is an independent risk factor for youth suicidality," Barzilay said. "For policymakers wishing to optimize youth suicide prevention efforts, this study should further encourage interventions for those who are being bullied online." The findings were published June 27 in JAMA Network Open. More information SOURCE: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, news release, June 27, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. TUESDAY, June 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Toking up increases your risk of landing in the hospital, a new study reports. Recreational marijuana use was associated with 22% greater odds of needing to visit an emergency room or be hospitalized, Canadian researchers found. The study showed physical injuries, lung ailments and gastrointestinal problems were the top three reasons why pot users had to go to the hospital. Pot is "a product that is now decriminalized and is being used with increasing frequency, and at least some portion of the population thinks it's benign, doesn't cause problems, can be used safely," said lead researcher Dr. Nicholas Vozoris, an assistant professor of respirology at the University of Toronto. "We're showing that it is associated with a significant risk of an important kind of hard outcome -- coming to the emergency room and being hospitalized," he said. The findings were published June 27 in BMJ Open Respiratory Research. For the study, Vozoris and his colleagues analyzed health records of more than 35,000 residents of Ontario who were between 12 and 65 years of age. Of those, nearly 6,500 had used cannabis within the past year. The data spanned 2009 to 2015. The increased odds that cannabis users would need emergency care or hospitalization held up even after researchers controlled for such factors as other illicit drug use, alcohol use, tobacco smoking and a variety of other mental health issues, Vozoris said. About 15% of the ER visits and hospitalizations were due to acute trauma; 14% to respiratory issues, and 13% to gastrointestinal illnesses, the study showed. Vozoris said there are a number of potential explanations for why pot use might lead to physical injury. "Some of that might be increased motor vehicle accidents related to cannabis-related drowsiness or altered level of consciousness," he said. "Some of that might be falls and fractures from, again, a cannabis-related altered level of consciousness or drowsiness. Some of it might be the cannabis making someone anxious or mentally unstable and then getting into physical altercations or injuring themselves." The overall risk of death did not differ significantly between the two groups, the study found. Leaders of NORML, a group advocating for reform of U.S. marijuana laws, downplayed the findings. Because the study was observational, it "does not indicate whether cannabis consumption was directly linked to the actual events triggering admittance," said NORML's political director Morgan Fox. "This is a highly speculative corollary only," Fox added. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano added that the findings run counter to other studies that found no increased risk of injury among marijuana users. But Linda Richter, vice president of prevention research and analysis at the Partnership to End Addiction, said the study is further evidence of the unintended consequences that could come with the spreading legalization of pot. "The growing notion that marijuana use is harmless and even medicinal for the general public -- a belief pushed by the cannabis industry and the legalization movement -- is especially dangerous given the steep rise in the drug's potency in recent years, the many toxic chemicals that are in the various types of marijuana products, and the increasing accessibility of the drug to people of all ages, especially children and adolescents who are most vulnerable to its effects," Richter said. "As more and more states legalize the drug, it is essential for them to launch effective public education efforts to dispel the myths and inaccuracies propagated by those who stand to gain financially from broader use of the drug," Richter added. More information The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about marijuana. SOURCES: Nicholas Vozoris, MD, assistant professor, respirology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Morgan Fox, political director, NORML, Washington, D.C.; Paul Armentano, deputy director, NORML, and chair, science, Oaksterdam University, Oakland, Calif.; Linda Richter, PhD, vice president, prevention research and analysis, Partnership to End Addiction, New York City; BMJ Open Respiratory Research, June 27, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) Pfizer Inc. announced Saturday that it has two possible candidates that beat back omicron infection more effectively than its original vaccine. The news follows Moderna's announcement last week that its omicron booster shot showed greater protection against the highly contagious variant. On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's scientific advisers will meet to debate whether to recommend updating existing vaccines to provide greater protection against spreading variants. As part of that process, the panel will be analyzing data on the updated shots from both companies. Pfizer said Saturday that it was confident its new booster candidates are better than their predecessor. "Based on these data, we believe we have two very strong omicron-adapted candidates," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a company statement. In one new booster option, Pfizer targeted just omicron. In the other, they combined omicron protection with that of the original vaccine. The company also tested the current dosage of 30 micrograms and a higher dosage of 60 micrograms. Both the combined shot and the omicron-specific shot provided a substantial increase in omicron antibodies in middle-aged and older adults who had received three previous COVID-19 vaccine doses. About 1,200 people took part in the study. The omicron-only booster prompted the strongest antibody response. However, some experts believe that the combo shot may be a better choice because it retains the original shot's power while adding in extra protection against omicron. One month after vaccination, those who received the combo shot had a nine-fold to 11-fold increase in omicron antibodies -- 1.5 times better than simply getting another dose of the original vaccine, Pfizer's data showed. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin's Democratic attorney general filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the state's 173-year-old abortion ban, arguing that statutes passed in the 1980s supersede the ban and it's so old that modern generations never consented to it. Wisconsin passed a law in 1849, the year after the territory became a state, banning abortions in every instance except to save the mother's life. The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling, which essentially legalized abortion nationwide, nullified the ban. The court's decision on Friday to reverse Roe vs. Wade has created questions about whether the ban is back in effect. Anti-abortion advocates insist it is. Abortion providers in the state stopped offering procedures on Friday out of fear of prosecution. Attorney General Josh Kaul had hinted before the Supreme Court's decision reversing Roe vs. Wade that he would challenge the ban's validity. He followed through on Tuesday, filing an action in Dane County Circuit Court. He blasted the ban during a news conference with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to announce the filing. We're talking about returning Wisconsin to the 19th century, Kaul said. Evers said Democrats are taking very, very, very important steps to return rights to the women of Wisconsin. According to the lawsuit, Wisconsin adopted a post-Roe vs. Wade law in 1985 that prohibits abortions after a fetus has grown enough that it could survive outside the womb. That point in time is the subject of debate. Some physicians say it's around 20 weeks, others around 28 weeks. Kaul argues that the 1985 law superseded the ban and therefore abortions before the point of viability remain legal in Wisconsin. Wisconsin abortion providers cannot be held to two sets of diametrically opposed laws, and the Wisconsin people deserve clarity, the lawsuit said. Kaul goes on to contend that the ban should be declared unenforceable because it has become obsolete, saying a law that was enacted so long ago cannot be said to have the consent of the governed." This Court therefore should declare that (the ban) cannot be enforced as applied to abortions until and unless new legislation is enacted into law," the lawsuit says. Republican lawmakers have said they may update the ban when they return to Madison for the next two-year legislative session in January. Evers would veto any of their attempts if he wins reelection in November, however. The lawsuit names Senate President Chris Kapenga, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos as defendants. Vos said in a statement that Evers and Kaul's decision to sue is just as misguided as the original Roe vs. Wade ruling. Once again we will do Attorney General Kaul's job and vigorously defend the law, Vos said. Kapenga and LeMahieu spokesman Adam Gibbs didn't return messages. Julaine Appling, president of anti-abortion lobbying group Wisconsin Family Action, said the 1849 ban is a duly enacted law and Kaul is simply playing to Democratic supporters. What you have here is political grandstanding, Appling said. He's playing to his political base and doing their bidding, unfortunately, rather than doing what he was elected to do. Kaul faces an uphill fight in the courts. The lawsuit is so important it will likely work its way to the state Supreme Court. Conservatives hold a 4-3 advantage on the court. Justice Patience Roggensack isn't running for reelection next April, which gives liberals a chance to regain the majority, but Kaul said during the news conference he wants a quick resolution of the case. We're right on the law, he said. Dr. Kathy King, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin's medical director, thanked Kaul and Evers for taking action. She said her organization has been forced to turn patients away, causing suffering because of a vague law from 1849. Meanwhile, three Republican gubernatorial hopefuls warned they would fire prosecutors who refuse to enforce the ban. Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, management consultant Kevin Nicholson and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun all said during a debate on Monday that they would remove district attorneys who won't enforce the ban. Former President Donald Trump's endorsed candidate, Tim Michels, didn't attend the debate. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne has said he won't enforce the ban. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm has hinted he won't enforce it, either. Ozanne and Chisholm are Democrats. District attorneys are elected officials but state law allows the governor to remove them from office for cause. Also Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced it would hear three new cases, including that of an anti-abortion protestor who lower courts determined was harassing a Planned Parenthood employee in 2020 when he followed her to her car and told her bad things could happen if she didn't repent. The court is expected to determine whether the protestor's statements were indeed harassment and whether the lower court's decision to block him from protesting outside Planned Parenthood for four years violated his First Amendment rights. Associated Press writer Harm Venhuizen contributed to this report. Venhuizen is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nonprofits around the state are increasingly losing bidding wars for affordable apartment housing complexes when they compete against investors and for-profit developers, and one organization is trying desperately to preserve an aging 161-unit apartment project in Missoula. In the worst-case scenario, hundreds of people could be left without a home. Heather McMilin, the project development director for the nonprofit Homeword, told the Missoula city council last week that her organization is applying for a chunk of a very limited amount of highly-sought-after federal low-income housing tax credits for the Creekside Apartments. They need the credits to make urgently-needed repairs to the complex, which houses 300 people and is located on the Clark Fork River between Missoula and East Missoula. Homeword used a 501(c)3 bond in 2017 to purchase the apartments from a for-profit developer and the units are rented to those who make 60% or less of Area Median Income. Montana has been awarded about $29.75 million in federal Housing Tax Credits for 2023, and eight projects across the state are finalists for those credits. However, some will get denied because the total combined amount the applicants are asking for is $51 million in tax credits. Montana has no state housing tax credit program, and a bill to create a program was vetoed by Governor Greg Gianforte. Homeword is planning on applying for $5.75 million in tax credits to renovate 40 of the units as part of a larger package to rehab the entire property, and the Montana Board of Housing will choose among them and seven other applications this fall. McMilin said it's no exaggeration to say that hundreds of people could become homeless if they don't get the tax credits. "If we get to a point where we can't get enough money to do the proper rehab, even if it's a partial rehab and then we plan the additional pieces later, an option for us is to sell it on the open market because the deed restrictions are coming off," she said. And that's the last thing they want to have to do, she told the council. "Because in reality, we're looking at 300 people being, I would say, homeless," she said. "And I say that with a straight face because there's no place for them to go. All of our units are full. All the (Missoula Housing Authority's) units are full. Yes, we're building 400 homes, but these particular projects are absolutely critical." McMilin said Creekside was built cheaply in 1996. It was built at the lowest cost per unit that (building) code allowed, she explained. All major systems are at the end of their useful life, but its critical to preserve the existing homes that people can afford to rent. Homeword knew the building was going to need major repairs when it bought the complex, but the organization knew that if the complex was bought by a for-profit investor, rent prices would be jacked up after a few years and people living there with low incomes would have no options. Missoula has experienced surging housing prices since the end of the last recession, as has most of Montana and the United States. The Creekside Apartments are now falling apart, literally. Were talking about the replacement of siding, roofing, windows and mechanical systems, McMilin said. If I ever have to use vinyl siding on a project, just light me on fire. Its never going to work. She said the siding is just peeling off the building, and residents are having to use foil in their windows to keep their apartments from being too drafty. Before the pandemic, Homeword might have been able to afford to renovate the building without using tax credits. But now, costs are so high that were looking at $9 million worth of work, she said. Unfortunately, all the systems are kind of coming to a crown in which theyre failing at very much the same time over a two- or three-year period. If theyre awarded the credits this fall, they could preserve the complex as affordable housing for another 46 years. But in just three years, the apartment might have to be sold on the open market, she said, because provisions that keep it affordable will be expiring. Thats happening across the state, and nonprofits dont have the firepower to keep up with out-of-state investors who are snapping up properties amid rising prices. Thank goodness we were proactive, the city and Homeword, in 2017 when Creekside became available, she said. It was at risk of going to market and we were able to get that bond and borrow as much money as we possibly could to be competitive with market-rate developers and we acquired it and we preserved it. Today, under current housing conditions, that might not be possible. If this had happened in 2020, if it had happened in the last two years, we would have never competed because whats happening statewide is these projects that are 30 years old have two to three years of (low-income affordability) compliance left, she said. We have gone after six different projects around the state, and so has the Human Resource Development Council in Bozeman and Blueline (a for-profit housing developer in Missoula). They've been outbid every time because their best offer hasn't been enough. We have all competed against our great developers and maxed our debt as far as we could or higher, she said. We looked at what projected rents could be, tax credit rents, with our board. And we are short $3 million to $5 million. Because whats happening is outside investors are buying these properties knowing that they can hold it, take losses for three to five years and then they can take it to market. She said Creekside would be in a similar position now if Homeword hadnt bought it. Thank goodness we preserved Creekside when we did," she said. "It was a high cost, but not as high as we are now. And we can take it and fold it back into the program and reinvest in its affordability and the longer deed restrictions." McMilin said it's extremely important for affordable housing developers to use long-lasting materials instead of building cheaply at first. She also said Montana needs a state housing tax credit. City council member Amber Sherrill said she's glad Homeword is working on the issue. "I'm scared that all those people are being displaced and I'm hopeful, that we have all these people in the community working toward making sure that doesn't happen," she said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 5 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Missoula City Council approved a divisive rezoning request Monday night in front of a crowd of public commenters. More than 30 people spoke to council about the request to rezone two parcels located at 2900, 2920 and 2990 Expo Parkway. After numerous comments in favor of and in opposition to the request, which would pave the way for a development known as Grant Creek Village, the council voted 10-2 in support of the proposal. During a housing crisis, we need to stop making housing illegal, said Ward 3 Council Member Daniel Carlino, one of the supporters of the rezone. We need to legalize housing. The need for more housing outweighed concerns raised by neighbors of the subject property, who turned out in droves to the Monday meeting. Joe Hertig, a Prospect subdivision resident and opponent of the rezone, likened the proposal to putting lipstick on a pig. Hertig referenced the lack of changes present in the current proposal, which evolved out of a 2020 proposal from the same developer. The 2020 version of the request was rejected by council. The rezone would increase building heights and allow the building density to go from approximately 500 units to 700 units. Hertigs neighbors raised issues related to traffic, fire hazards and density in the Grant Creek area. The addition of this many housing units, apartments in that section of Grant Creek will be a nightmare for both traffic and congestion, warned Grant Creek resident Jim Gray. To approve a development of this size, I think would be extremely dangerous and harmful to the neighborhood, Gray added. I think that this radical change will turn our neighborhood into something it isnt, agreed Prospect resident Nate Thomas. Proponents of the rezone emphasized the housing crisis in their support for the request. Missoula is a thriving and, most of all, its a growing city, said supporter Liam Seymour. Its growing around us every day and the best thing we can do for that growth is to embrace it and more importantly to plan for it. Missoula as a whole needs to grow and it needs to grow as a whole community, Seymour continued. No neighborhood can be exempt from that growth. The housing crisis is a crisis, its an emergency thats happening right now, not a potential emergency that we can mitigate going into the future, said fellow supporter Luke Santore. We need to do something right now to deal with the emergency that we are currently experiencing. Its not inconvenience, its people dying. Its people living a life of unimaginable stress that most of the people in this room, myself included, cant even fathom. Most city council members voiced support for the approach favoring more housing in the city. Ward 1 Council Member Jennifer Savage said concerns about traffic, fire and density are not unique to the Grant Creek area, and the need for housing prevails over those issues. These are the growing pains of growth and we are all struggling with these all over town, said Savage. If we said no to rezones, if we said no to projects every time neighbors didnt like it, nothing would ever happen, added Ward 4 Council Member Mike Nugent. And thats true in Missoula, thats true in every community in Montana and thats true across the country. The neighbors concerns, however, resonated with Ward 2 Council Member Mirtha Becerra, who lives in the Grant Creek area, and Ward 5 Council Member John Contos. Considering the addition of hundreds of units, thousands of people with no plan in place is simply, in my mind, irresponsible, said Becerra, referencing the lack of an evacuation plan for the area. While many have said that our housing need is reaching public health and safety levels, I would argue that allowing this development trades one type of safety for another. All of us were here first, Contos said. People coming in, they need to wait their turn or do what they need to do to stay here. The final vote was 10-2, with Contos and Becerra opposed. Council also voted 10-2 to approve a developers agreement alongside the rezone request, which guarantees the developer will only develop 700 units as part of the project. Council members Carlino and Ward 6's Kristen Jordan voted against the developers agreement. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 4 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina Republican legislative leaders have reached an agreement on adjustments to the second year of the two-year state government budget approved last fall, officials said Monday. House Speaker Tim Moore and Lauren Horsch, a spokesperson for Senate leader Phil Berger, confirmed the agreement separately, but neither provided details about it, saying they'd likely come on Tuesday. Moore said the actual legislation would be filed by Tuesday night, with two affirmative votes in the House and Senate required by the end of the week before it could head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The new fiscal year starts Friday. Berger and Moore began meeting late last week to hash out differences that their respective budget and tax-law writing lieutenants could not. Horsch said the two chamber leaders spoke on Sunday with Cooper who would be asked to sign any budget legislation into law on Medicaid and the budget. Cooper spokesperson Ford Porter made a similar comment, writing in an email Monday that the governor is having discussions with House and Senate leaders about budget and health care issues. Last November, Cooper signed his first comprehensive state budget into law since getting sworn in 5 1/2 years ago, saying the good inside of it outweighed the bad. The measure in part included a multi-year plan to reduce the personal income tax from 5.25% to 3.99% and eliminate the corporate income tax, currently at 2.5%. The General Assembly's annual work session began in mid-May. The chief challenge for GOP legislators who control the General Assembly has been to figure out what to do with an additional $6.2 billion in projected revenues above and beyond what they anticipated state government would receive this fiscal year and the next year that begins July 1. The enacted budget already tells state government how to spend about $27 billion for the next 12 months. Negotiators this month have been working through differences on additional tax cuts and pay raises beyond what is in the already-approved budget law. The possibility of expanding Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of additional low-income adults in North Carolina surfaced again as negotiations near their end although under different dynamics than in previous years. Berger, a longtime expansion opponent, has changed his mind. He embraced legislation this spring that would expand Medicaid while making several other changes to nursing licensure and hospital construction that he said would help increase both health care access and professionals. The bill passed the Senate in early June, but House Republicans were cool to the measure. Moore pitched a competing expansion bill last week that would direct Cooper's administration to develop an expansion plan by mid-December after which legislators would take an up or down vote on all or parts of it Berger dismissed the House measure as essentially another expansion study. As in previous years, Cooper proposed expansion in his budget proposal in May. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Even the wind passing can carry harmful microplastics into Flathead Lake, according to a new study by the University of Montana Flathead Biological Station. Through routes like river runoff or simply washing your clothes, microplastics are accumulating in water, creating a toxic threat toward humans and ecosystems. Experts say the situation, which is a global issue, is concerning. Plastics are falling out of the sky, but the sky has not fallen yet, said Jim Elser, Flathead Lake Biological Station director. Microplastics are everywhere. Its hard to function in society without coming into contact or using them. Microplastics are tiny, microscopic pieces of plastic used in commercial products like soap or broken down from larger plastic pieces. First publicized after researchers found microplastics in seafood, the issue has been discovered in most places humans live. Since 2018, visiting research professor Dr. Xiong Xiong, from the Chinese Academy of Science Institute of Hydrobiology, teamed up with UM researchers to find where microplastics accumulated the most in Flathead Lake. It looks quite clean, but if this clean lake is suffering from plastics, I want to check that, Xiong said in a press release at the start of his study four years ago. People think (plastic pollution) is more serious in the ocean, but many people live inland, and we need the freshwater. It may affect our daily life more directly than the plastic in the ocean. Scientists have found microplastics in a majority of ocean samples across the world. High levels of the particles can damage or kill human cells, and can be ingested through someones natural environment, or from eating animals contaminated with the plastics. Researchers have known about plastics in the lake for years, but the study was the first time they identified where the substances are coming from. Using 12 data sites across the lake, the study found Flathead Lake had similar levels of microplastics as other rural lakes. And Flathead Lake is not the only location in Montana that has microplastics, as the particles are floating through the earths atmosphere. The university study used two buckets that collected either dry deposition of the particles (in the earth), or plastics coming through rain and snow. While dry deposition peaked in the fall, some particles were found in the spring and summer as well. Wet deposition mostly happened in winter, and came through snowfall. Elser also said small towns surrounding the lake and intensive shoreline use contribute to microplastics through pollution. Trash and litter can be carried in a stream or river, slowly breaking into pieces of plastic too small to see with the naked eye. Maybe a less obvious source of microplastics is peoples clothes. Many synthetic fabrics use plastic, some of which breaks off in a laundry machine and flows into a water system, according to the study. Some of the most concentrated areas of plastics hug more populated places like Polson or Bigfork. Elser said the problem overall is caused by the sheer amount of plastics Americans use. The U.S. generated more than 35 million tons of plastic waste in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency the most per capita in the world. Elser pointed out that Flathead Lakes plastic levels are not as bad as other places. Xiong produced a similar microplastic study in China's Yangtze river, which yielded much higher levels the bigger the city, the more microplastics. There is not a clear path to getting rid of microplastics, but Elser recommended people should try to cut down their plastic use in general. The problem is that supply chains and producers often use plastics during the production process, even if the final product is non-plastic. Elser said some businesses have made progress on limiting the release of microplastics. Some laundry units, for example, are built with water filters that can keep microplastics from escaping. But while awareness is growing, Elser said plastic will continue to build in small amounts at Flathead Lake. Once it degrades, and we can't see it, it still exists, Elser said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An Army private charged with plotting to murder members of his unit overseas with help from a secretive violent anarchist group was planning a defense calling it all an internet fantasy before pleading guilty just before trial, court records show. Plans for the defense of Ethan Phelan Melzer was revealed in court papers in the months before the Kentucky man abruptly pleaded guilty to charges Friday, eliminating the need for his July 5 trial in Manhattan federal court. Sentencing is set for Jan. 6. He could face up to 45 years in prison rather than the life sentence that a jury conviction could have brought. Melzer, 24, was in Italy in October 2019 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team when he communicated online with others prior to plotting an attack against his Army unit once it was redeployed in 2020 to guard an isolated and sensitive military installation, prosecutors said. But court papers reveal the individuals he was communicating with online werent members of the Order of Nine Angles or 09A as he believed, but rather, government informants who helped build the case against him, defense lawyers said. The Washington Post quoted a European security official in a June 2020 article as saying that the Nazi-Satanist group was established in Britain in the 1970s and has promoted extreme violence for decades. The official who spoke on anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue told the newspaper that 09A membership ranges from a few dozen to about 2,000, targeting young people and sending supporters into groups to influence and recruit. Prosecutors said the white-supremacist group espouses neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic and Satanic beliefs and encourages members to infiltrate the military to gain training, commit acts of violence and identify like-minded individuals intent on subverting the military from within. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Friday that Melzer sought to orchestrate a murderous ambush on his own unit by unlawfully disclosing its location, strength and armaments to 09A members online. Story continues The defendant believed he could force the U.S. into prolonged armed conflict while causing the deaths of as many soldiers as possible. Melzers traitorous conduct was a betrayal of his storied unit and nothing short of an attack against the most essential American values, he said in a news release. Before Fridays plea, Melzers lawyers were building a defense asserting he was merely indulging in fantasy chats similar to a New York City police officer dubbed the cannibal cop by tabloids when he was convicted in 2013 of kidnapping conspiracy in a plot to rape, kill and eat women. They said it was a case with similar facts as those facing Melzer. Online, Officer Gilberto Valle had discussed the cannibalistic plot with others in grisly detail. But in throwing out the jury verdict, a judge wrote that while Valles misogynistic sexual fantasies reflected a diseased mind, prosecutors failed to prove hed taken steps to carry out any gruesome deeds. As Melzers lawyers wrote: The charges in this case are sensational, the facts less so: No jihadist ambush on Melzers unit happened, none was close to happening, and Melzer had no intention of seeing one happen. In post-arrest interviews with law enforcement he made clear that he never intended to see an attack occur and that he believed that his interlocutors were jokers who similarly had no intentions or capabilities of orchestrating one. They said his online prose was bluster falsities designed to impress the people he was communicating with online. And the lawyers wrote that while Melzer was curious about 09A, he thought it was weird and pretty much a cult and its beliefs were polar opposite of his own. They said one government cooperator posing as an 09A sympathizer online claimed to be a former Canadian paratrooper injured in Iraq, but he was actually a mentally ill 15-year-old who had been hospitalized for psychiatric care months before he began communicating with Melzer. The governments efforts to paint Melzer as an O9A-devotee committed to murdering his fellow soldiers are overblown, defense lawyers wrote. They said three post-arrest interviews in 2020 with law enforcement amounted to full-throated denials of the most serious charges against him. The guilty plea came after prosecutors clarified theyd built a case against Melzer that included evidence from his electronic devices and barracks photographs, videos and documents that could be characterized as jihadist and 09A materials. Also recovered were books titled The Sinister Tradition and The Anarchists Cookbook, which prosecutors maintained had detailed instructions on how to manufacture and use explosives and weapons. But the most potentially damaging evidence prosecutors said they planned to show the jury was proof Melzer sought to earn a self-initiation into 09A through violence as a street-level drug dealer after shooting a marijuana dealer in the arm in January 2017 near his Louisville, Kentucky, apartment. He joined the Army the following year. The Biden administration is set to hold lease sales for new oil and gas drilling on public lands starting this week and, for the first time, it will implement new regulations for producers. The oil auctions will effectively be the administrations first, since the only other lease sale it has held was tossed in court on environmental grounds. But neither industry nor green groups are particularly pleased with the sales, as industry wanted more land and fewer stipulations while many climate hawks wanted no lease sales at all. The Biden administration is expected this week to auction off parcels of federally owned land for drilling in seven Western states. The sale in Wyoming is expected to be by far the largest, with 130,000 acres available for lease, while the next largest comes in at just a few thousand acres. The other sales will take place in Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. When it announced the sales in April, the Interior Department said it was shrinking the overall land it was making available by 80 percent compared to the total amount of land it originally considered for the sale. The department also announced that it would hike fees that oil companies pay to the government for the oil they extract, raising royalty rates from the 12.5 percent imposed on previous sales to 18.75 percent for the new sales. In a statement from the time, the department said that the changes would help with addressing deficiencies in the program. For too long, the federal oil and gas leasing programs have prioritized the wants of extractive industries above local communities, the natural environment, the impact on our air and water, the needs of Tribal Nations, and, moreover, other uses of our shared public lands, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement at the time. Today, we begin to reset how and what we consider to be the highest and best use of Americans resources for the benefit of all current and future generations, she added. Story continues The lease sales are not expected to immediately impact the countrys oil supply, since it takes more than four years on average from the time they acquire their leases for companies to begin producing oil. But at a time when many Americans are struggling with skyrocketing gasoline prices, the optics of the sale could matter. Industry has mixed feelings about the sales. Frank Macchiarola, the senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute, said hes glad the administration is holding the sales but didnt like the smaller size or other stipulations. We are concerned about the reduction in available parcels, were concerned about royalty rate increases, were concerned that the administrations approach is limited at a time when we really need something bold, he said. But he added that the organization is pleased that finally the administration is actually moving forward with leasing. Weve seen an unprecedented delay in oil and gas leasing. Meanwhile, the administrations decision to hold lease sales at all has irked left-wing environmentalists who note that locking in more oil and gas drilling will worsen climate change. Why are they having these lease sales given the climate impacts that the Biden administration itself recognizes? asked Michael Freeman, a senior attorney at Earthjustice. Theres a clear contradiction between what the Biden administration says it wants to do on climate and what its doing with these lease sales, he added. But others were more understanding, saying they believe the Biden administration did the most it could to implement important reforms without running afoul of the federal judiciary. We look at it from a perspective of what is possible right now given the regulatory framework, given the legal landscape, what is defensible, and that is, from our perspective, where this lease sale landed as good as it could have given where the courts are, said Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities. The sales are slated to be the first onshore lease sales held under the Biden administration, which paused new oil and gas leasing during much of its first year as it reviewed the federal program. But that pause was halted by a court and the Biden administration held an offshore lease sale in November. The offshore sale, however, was also struck down in court on environmental grounds, making this weeks sales likely to effectively be the first the Biden administration is holding. Macchiarola, with the oil industry group, described the new lease sales as the bare minimum, saying the administration should do more to ramp up oil production. Its a small step in the right direction, but we need to see a lot more out of this administration, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A search warrant at a Mooresville residence led to the arrests of two people on a felony drug charge. Christine Yvonne Mays, 47, of Charlotte Highway, Mooresville, and Allen Jennings Campbell, 33, of Liledoun Road, Taylorsville, were arrested. Mays was charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver crystal methamphetamine and felony maintaining a dwelling, vehicle or place for the sale or use of a controlled substance. A magistrate set bond at $50,000. Campbell was charged with felony possession of crystal methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A magistrate set bond at $20,000. Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell, in a news release, said narcotics investigators received information that Mays was selling and distributing crystal methamphetamine from a residence on Charlotte Highway. Surveillance operations were launched and investigators verified the information, Campbell said. Undercover investigators bought crystal methamphetamine from Mays, he said. On Friday, narcotics investigators and road patrol deputies executed a search warrant and 22.76 grams of crystal methamphetamine, valued at more than $2,000, was found, Campbell said. Campbell was in the home at the time the search warrant was served and a hidden handgun was found in the bedroom where he was staying, the sheriff said. Mays history includes felony obtain property by false pretense, felony possession of Schedule I and felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, resisting a public officer, hit-and-run failing to stop, possession of drug paraphernalia, school attendance law violation and DWI. Campbell, authorities said, is a North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections verified member of the Nazi Low Riders Gang and is a registered sex offender. His history includes felony indecent liberties with a minor, felony fail to register as a sex offender, felony sex offender using a social networking site and failure to register new address as a registered sex offender and misdemeanor counts of injury to personal property, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, resisting a public officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Historic Burke Foundation will host a theater company with local ties for a special presentation. The organization has invited actors Kim and Ken Kay of Kay-Squared Productions to present two plays on stage at the historic Burke County courthouse at 201 S. Green St. in Morganton. The Kays have been married for 32 years and have worked together in many productions in theater and film. They founded Kay-Squared Productions in 2014 in Jupiter, Florida. Since Kim is a Drexel native, the couple has a strong connection to Burke County. We reached out to the Historic Burke Foundation board about a year ago, and they graciously invited us to meet with them and submit a proposal, Ken said. The folks with HBF have been real partners with us and super nice to boot. Were really pleased and grateful to have this opportunity. Kim will perform the one-woman play that she wrote called, Silver Shadows: Dark Side of the Mountain, at 7 p.m. July 12, 13 and 14. The play illustrates the life of Burke County resident Frankie Silver. Silver was one of the first women hanged in North Carolina after she was convicted of killing her husband, Charlie Silver, with an axe and dismembering his body on Dec. 22, 1831, according to previous News Herald articles. Many today believe that Frankie acted in self-defense during a violent argument with Charlie that preceded his murder. She was hanged on July 12, 1833. Kim, a graduate of Appalachian State University, debuted the play at the courthouse in 2014, directed by Ken. Frankies legend continues to fascinate her. I have done more research that informs me of that time period what Burke County and Morganton was like in 1831, Kim said. I have located and chatted with some of Frankies family, heard their voices a bit. I am still haunted by this story and the circumstances which led to Charlies murder and Frankies death. The wheels of justice moved so slowly for her. In my mind, she must have heard the present courthouse being built. You stand on the stage in this hallowed hall and it connects all of us to our history. Themes in the story, such as intolerance, domestic abuse and human rights, are social issues people still grapple with today. Voices of minorities not given a voice rings too true in our present society, Kim said. When Frankies daddy said, Die with it in ya, Frankie, at the gallows, she was silenced, in many ways as women and people of color are. Ken will take the stage in his one-person production of The Things They Carried at 7 p.m. July 20, 21 and 23. The play is a staged adaptation of Tim OBriens award-winning literary classic about a company of soldiers in Vietnam, according to the press release. I play a dozen different characters in The Things They Carried, Ken said. First, there is Tim, who is based on the real Tim OBrien. He is the main character of the play. The other characters are members of his infantry platoon, but there is also Tims father, his daughter and an old man named Elroy who helps Tim during a real crisis of conscience. Finding the distinct voices and physical characteristics of each of these people has been part of the challenge, but also a lot of fun. Its what gives the play its real punch. Ken served with the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Vietnam War era. I wasnt sent to Nam the Navy had other plans for me but many of the guys I served with did go, and some did not survive, Ken said. Their stories and experiences still resonate with me today. Though the play, like Silver Shadows, is historical in nature, Ken noted how it also highlights themes relevant today. I discovered in an earlier production how much this conflict still affects the families and friends of veterans to this day, Ken said. As a widow of one Vietnam vet wrote to me, We left the theater changed, with bigger, more vulnerable hearts, and with an undeniable pride in the sheer bravery of people who survived the most intolerable circumstances and compassion for their humanity. As an actor, you cant ask for any more than that that connection is priceless. The Things They Carried is performed by special arrangement with Susan Schulman Literary Agency in New York City. The Kays are looking forward to performing at the old courthouse again. The old courtroom space is just perfect for the kind of plays we will be doing there, Ken said. Its small and intimate. And its a great space for the audiencethere are no bad seats! Plus, the courthouse has a very long and colorful history as a place where a lot of legal drama took place. I feel like were just following in that tradition. Tickets for Silver Shadows and The Things They Carried are $20 for adults, $18 for veterans and students and $15 for HBF members. Tickets may be purchased from HBF by contacting 828-437-4104 or visiting the historic Burke County courthouse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. People also may purchase tickets online at historicburke.org or at the door the day of any given show. Seating is general admission for both plays. These stories are your stories, Ken said. Frankie Silver was a real person who lived and died right here. Her legacy and the remaining mysteries surrounding her fate is the stuff of legend and great theater. Likewise, Vietnam and the lasting effects that conflict has had on our country continue to impact us today. The Things They Carried offers some understanding of that time and maybe a bit of closure for those who lost someone important to them. And, of course, buying tickets for either play will help support the Historic Burke Foundation and all the important work they do. So, go see a show and help keep your history alive. For information on the productions or sponsorship opportunities, contact Debbie Bradley at 828-437-4104. Staff writer Tammie Gercken can be reached at tgercken@morganton.com. The case against a then-Montana Technological University student from Nevada, who was jailed for statutory rape on Jan. 27, 2020, has been dismissed. Caden Joseph Constable was 19 years old when Butte police arrested him for intercourse without consent with a girl more than four years younger than him. Under Montana law, a person under the age of 16 cannot consent to sexual intercourse. The felony charge carries a minimum two-year term but a four-year minimum if the offender is four or more years older than the underage victim. It carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or up to 100 years. Butte-Silver Bow Attorney Michael Clague said the charges against Constable were dropped because the state lost track of the victim. She got moved around, and we lost track of her, Clague said. We kept hoping wed be able to track her. He added that although there was probable cause to arrest Constable at the time, a witness is oftentimes needed in court. Butte police found the girl in Constables dorm room at Montana Tech on Jan, 25, 2020 at around 2:40 a.m. after they were informed by university security that she was believed to be a runaway and might be with Constable. He was arrested and later charged with allegedly having sex with the girl. Security at Montana Tech was tipped off by police in Elko, Nevada. Constable is from Spring Creek, Nevada, which is about 15 miles southeast of Elko in the northern part of the state. According to a January 2020 article written by The Standard, police at the time believed the girl knew Constable and came to Butte on her own. Constables defense attorney, Jeffrey Dahood, did not return attempts to reach him for a comment by the time of publication. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 9 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VIRGINIA CITY Maggie Monaghan tearfully implored the judge to reject a plea bargain offered to defendant Ethan Jacob Choate, who prosecutors have alleged participated in assaulting Monaghan, her husband and his brother outside the Pioneer Bar in Virginia City. Choate was the first of five defendants linked to the July 10 fight to resolve his case in court. He had been charged initially with misdemeanor assault but a plea agreement allowed Choate to plead no contest Tuesday in Madison County Justice Court to a lesser offense of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Four other defendants who, like Choate, were linked in July to the non-profit Heroes and Horses ranch for veterans near Virginia City, remain charged with felony assault. Justice Court Judge Marc Glines did not grant Maggie Monaghans wish. But he studied the disorderly conduct statute and the penalties allowed for a conviction and concluded, with obvious disappointment, that he could not include jail time in Choates sentence. Instead, Choate was ordered to pay a fine of $100, a surcharge of $85 and restitution of $660.10 to help pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses of Chase Monaghan for injuries suffered during the fight. Witnesses to the bar fight gave varied accounts about the specific involvement that night of defendant Choate. But most put him in the midst of the fray. The July 10 fight started inside the Pioneer Bar in Virginia City but didnt get bloody and brutal until the conflict shifted outside, where Cody Monaghan, Maggies husband, was beaten to the ground and kicked in the face, according to witnesses. The Madison County Sheriffs Office received reports about the fight at about 10:45 p.m. that Saturday. Deputies who investigated that night and into the next morning interviewed a number of suspects. At the time, Choate was a staff member at Heroes and Horses. The non-profit organization offers veterans emotionally scarred by service non-traditional approaches to healing such as backcountry horse packing. Later, four men believed to be clients at the non-profit Heroes and Horses ranch west of Virginia City were charged with felony assault. Cody Monaghan suffered serious injuries that night, including a broken nose and several facial fractures, according to court records. Witnesses said he was surrounded outside the bar by five cowboys, men wearing cowboy hats and jeans. One witness told the deputies Cody Monaghan was injured so badly because the cowboys were punching and kicking him on the ground. This same witness said Choate was not involved with attacking Cody Monaghan. Instead, the witness said Choate was engaged in a one-on-one fight with Cody Monaghans brother, Chase, on the boardwalk outside the Pioneer Bar. Witnesses told deputies some of the men described as cowboys left the area in a silver or gray pickup and headed west. Deputies interviewed Choate around 1:20 a.m. at the Heroes and Horses ranch. According to their report, Choate had dried blood on his right cheek. Later, Maggie Monaghan told investigators Choate was the person who threw or slammed her to the ground outside the bar. And Chase Monaghan allegedly attacked him outside the bar, court records show. The four defendants still facing felony assault charges are: Christopher Michael Kase, Arizona, charged with felony aggravated assault; William Robert Haley, Salt Lake City; Dalton Fish, Dowelltown, Tennessee; and Karson Edward Yuan, Phoenix, Arizona. These cases are in varied stages of potential resolution, with trial dates set in September, October and November. Cody and Maggie Monaghan and Chase Monaghan told authorities that on the night of July 10 they had attended a Brewery Follies show in Virginia City and were planning to have a drink at the Pioneer Bar before participating in the Virginia City Ghost Tours. They told investigators they found a table in the crowded bar and noticed there were men in cowboy hats at the bar, but turned away from the bar to face the tables. Maggie Monaghan told authorities a man in that group approached their table, confronted Chase Monaghan and snatched his sunglasses. Pushing and shoving ensued, witnesses said, and the bartender cleared the bar. Security camera footage seems to support this account, court records show, and the aggressor appears to be Kase. And from a photo lineup, Cody Monaghan said he was pretty certain Kase was among those assaulting him outside the bar, court documents show. Once the fight resumed outside the bar, accounts from witnesses varied about who shoved or hit whom first. There seemed to be general agreement, however, that a man picked up Maggie Monaghan and slammed her on the ground, and that more than one person from the cowboys group attacked Cody Monaghan. When deputies visited the Heroes and Horses ranch in the early morning hours after the fight one deputy observed what appeared to be dried blood on Kases right boot. Deputies reported that Kase stated he did not kick anyone. They spotted other apparent bloodstains on the inner side of Kases left pants leg, records show. Heroes and Horses started in 2014. CEO Micah Fink, a former Navy SEAL, has said he was motivated to help establish the organization after recognizing that suicide and addiction rates continued to rise among veterans in spite of the work of thousands of PTSD-related nonprofits and billions of dollars spent annually. Heroes and Horses says it works to offer combat veterans an alternative solution for defining and approaching their physical and mental scars a solution that does not include prescription medications or traditional psychotherapy but rather the opportunity to use tools to redefine their purpose, rediscover their inner strength, and maximize their potential by taking ownership of their lives for the first time since leaving service. Fink provided a statement in September responding to criminal charges filed against Choate and Heroes and Horses participants. Heroes and Horses mission is to provide life-saving personal infrastructure for American military heroes who have suffered emotional scarring after being wounded by war. Heroes and Horses has grown to be a respected program aimed at addressing the unique needs of veterans in the United States. Heroes and Horses values our community and remains committed to our mission of changing the lives of our veterans through our rigorous program. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 6 MUSCATINE Although a weekend has passed since the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade, many people citizens and government officials alike are still discussing whether or not the court made the right decision. In Muscatine, similar views can be found on both sides. I was pretty disgusted, Kelcey Brackett, chair of the Democrat Central Committee, said. This was settled law for the past 50 years, and weve had two Supreme Court justices who lied under oath and should be impeached. This is referring to Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who both said they considered Roe to be settled law during their confirmation hearings. When asked about his reaction to the overturning, Fred Grunder, chair of the Republican Central Committee, shared that he was happy with the decision and agreed with those who believe the Roe v. Wade decision was wrong originally. From a personal standpoint, my view is that life begins at conception, Grunder said. If life begins at conception, then abortion is basically killing a human being. I know all the arguments, and I struggle with certain things like instances rape and incest its certainly something I would never have to deal with but on the other hand, its still a human life. Grunder argued that, according to statistics he has found, rape and incest account for less than 1% of all abortions performed. This aligns with findings reported by the state of Florida, which records a reason for every abortion that occurs within its borders each year. According to its 2020 report, out of 74,868 Florida abortions, 0.01% were due to an incestuous relationship, 0.15% were due to rape and 0.20% were because the mothers life was endangered by the pregnancy. Regarding that final possibility, Grunder emphasized that he would support the choice of abortion if a mothers life was physically in danger. Not mental or if she had a reason like, Well, I wouldnt be able to finish college, or something like that, but the mothers physical life I would prefer a second opinion, but if the doctors say, This lady will die if she carries to term, then I believe the lady should be able to make that decision if it really is a matter of life and death. Brackett, on the other hand, stated his belief that mothers should have a choice whether or not they are in a life-or-death scenario and that this and cases of rape or incest should not be the only exceptions. This shouldnt be a political issue, Brackett said. This should be something that a woman decides on her own with her doctors advice. I believe in peoples rights to their freedom and their ability to make decisions on their own life that dont impact others, and people should not be forcing their beliefs upon others. This country is supposed to be built on freedom, not religious oppression. Brackett also argued that those who fight for the life of an unborn fetus while not allowing any exceptions for abortion often disregard not only the pregnancy dangers but the child itself after it is born. One of the things that disgust me is that most of the men that are pushing this forward dont even understand the dangers that go along with so many pregnancies, Brackett said. The fact that they are so ignorant that they dont understand the dangers they are creating means theyre not qualified to be in the positions theyre in. Once the fetus is born, they dont seem to give [an expletive] about it because they dont do anything to help take care of children or other people in situations that are outside of their own control once theyre born. All they care about is forcing women to give birth. Although Iowa currently doesnt have any trigger laws regarding abortion, it is expected that Gov. Kim Reynolds will continue fighting to outlaw abortions within Iowa now that the decision is up to each individual state, which Grunder also says he supports. If a state wants to have abortion, it will. If you look at places like New York, you can have abortions. Its not a federal thing outlawing abortions, its just saying, Hey, this is something that wasnt in the Constitution, so its relegated to the states and the people, Grunder said. I just think most people, if given the choice of maybe a child living and you sacrificing your life, theres at least going to be a percentage of mothers that will take that chance, I believe. But at that point, it should be their choice. Brackett, however, still believes that all mothers in every state should get to have their choice and shouldnt be controlled by those in power who want to enforce their own beliefs. As such, he said he will continue trying to fight for womens rights as well as freedom of choice and freedom of religion. Its a sickness that has infected our country that people think that they have to control every aspect of others lives, Brackett said. What well be doing is the same thing that we have been doing, though I expect there to be a bit more steam in it now, which is making sure that were doing our best to support candidates that respect the rights and beliefs of others and are not insistent of monotheistic religious control of our nation. There are no local protests planned within the city of Muscatine, according to City Communications Manager Kevin Jenison. Looking at statewide events, an Iowans for Reproductive Freedoms event has been scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 10, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Aide: Trump dismissed Jan. 6 threats, wanted to join crowd WASHINGTON (AP) The latest testimony about the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has Donald Trump rebuffing his own securitys warnings about armed protesters in the crowd gathering for a rally near the White House. A former White House aide also tells the House committee investigating the attack that Trump desperately attempted to join his supporters as they marched to the Capitol. In her testimony Tuesday, Cassidy Hutchinson described an angry, defiant president who grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential SUV when the Secret Service refused to allow him go to the Capitol. Trump has dismissed her as a total phony. Trump painted in testimony as volatile, angry president WASHINGTON (AP) A former Trump White House aide has painted a portrait of a volatile commander-in-chief who lashed out at advisers as his grasp on power was extinguished. Though accounts of the former presidents temper are legion, Cassidy Hutchinson offered previously unknown details about the extent of Trumps rage in his final weeks of office, his awareness that supporters had weapons with them and his ambivalence as rioters later laid siege to the Capitol. The testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee deepened questions about whether Trump himself could face criminal charges for his conduct and came as Trump weighs running for reelection in 2024. 1/6 Takeaways: Angry Trump, dire legal warnings and ketchup The House Jan. 6 committee held a surprise hearing Tuesday delivering alarming new testimony about Donald Trumps actions that day. Witness Cassidy Hutchinson is a lesser-known former White House aide who had proximity to power as an adviser to the then-president and his chief of staff Mark Meadows. She rebuffed Trumps team warnings against testifying and provided firsthand knowledge of what she saw and heard in the run-up to the insurrection. She described an angry and defiant Trump who ignored repeated warnings against summoning the mob to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and then refused to intervene to stop the violence as rioters laid siege. Colorado GOP deals blow to election denial movement DENVER (AP) Colorado Republicans have rejected two prominent election deniers in primaries Tuesday night. It's a setback for the movement to install backers of former President Donald Trump's election lies in positions with power over voting. Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters lost the Republican primary for secretary of state to Pam Anderson, a former clerk in suburban Denver. Peters was indicted for her role in a break-in of her county's election system. An ally, State Rep. Ron Hanks, lost his bid for the GOP Senate nomination. Hanks attended the Jan. 6 protests. He was beaten by businessman Joe O'Dea, a rare GOP backer of some abortion rights. Takeaways from first primaries since Roe v. Wade overturned NEW YORK (AP) A rare Republican who supports abortion rights found success in Colorado in the first primary elections held since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, New Yorks first female governor positioned herself to become a major voice in the post-Roe landscape. In Illinois, Democrats helped boost a Republican gubernatorial candidate loyal to former President Donald Trump in the hopes that he would be the easier candidate to beat in November. And in at least two states, election deniers were defeated, even as pro-Trump lightning rods elsewhere won. 51 migrants die after trailer abandoned in San Antonio heat SAN ANTONIO (AP) Desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America are seeking word of their loved ones as authorities begin identifying 51 people who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer without air conditioning in the sweltering Texas heat. It was the deadliest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas told The Associated Press that the driver of the truck and two other people were arrested. The bodies were discovered Monday afternoon on the outskirts of San Antonio when a city worker heard a cry for help from a truck parked on a lonely back road. Ukrainian survivor: Only a 'monster' would attack a mall KREMENCHUK, Ukraine (AP) The shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was nothing extraordinary, but in the middle of war it offered an escape for some residents. In a few moments on Monday, it suddenly became a hellish inferno after it was hit by a Russian airstrike. Authorities say at least 18 people are dead, more than 20 are missing and scores are wounded. The Kremenchuk mall is now the latest addition to the allegations of war crimes levied against Russia in the Ukraine war. One mall employee who said he had stepped outside for a cigarette when the air raid siren went off estimated 1,000 people had been in the mall, contradicting Russias claim it was empty. Turkey lifts its objections to Sweden, Finland joining NATO MADRID (AP) Turkey has agreed to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders summit in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent talks, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Russias invasion of Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had blocked the move, insisting the Nordic pair change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told the AP that the membership should be completed the sooner the better. Drug killings leave agony, savage facet to Duterte's legacy MANILA, Philippines (AP) The thousands of killings under Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes campaign against illegal drugs have left families in agony and a savage side to his legacy. Duterte ends his turbulent six-year presidency Thursday after building a reputation for expletives-laced outbursts and a disdain for human rights and the West. He's seen as a human rights calamity not only for the deaths in his drug crackdown, but also for his brazen attacks on critical media, the Catholic church and his political opponents. He's still an endearing, popular character to many Filipinos, however, and state-run TV has been highlighting infrastructure and poverty-alleviating projects of his administration. But in the homes of those lost in the drug war, an air of indignation and mourning permeates. EXPLAINER: Abortion, tech and surveillance With abortion now or soon to be illegal in over a dozen states and severely restricted in many more, Big Tech companies that vacuum up personal details of their users are facing new calls to limit that tracking and surveillance. One fear is that law enforcement or vigilantes could use data troves from Facebook, Google and other social platforms against people seeking ways to end unwanted pregnancies. History has repeatedly demonstrated that whenever peoples personal data is tracked and stored, theres always a risk that it could be misused or abused. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LONDON (AP) Scotland's leader told lawmakers in Edinburgh Tuesday that she plans to hold a fresh referendum on Scotland's independence on Oct. 19, 2023 even though U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson maintains it wasn't the right time for such a vote. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the question to be asked will be the same as that in Scotlands first independence vote in 2014: Should Scotland be an independent country? The U.K.-wide government of Johnson opposes a new referendum and has repeatedly said the issue was settled in 2014, when 55% saying they wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Scotlands government requires a special order from Johnson to legally hold a referendum. Sturgeon said she will ask the U.K. Supreme Court to rule on the Scottish governments right to hold the vote if Johnson does not give the go-ahead. Scotlands most senior law official has referred the matter to the top court on Tuesday, she said. She added that she would be writing to Johnson to inform him of her plans. Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party and the devolved government in Scotland, insists its time to revisit the matter of independence, not least because of Britains exit from the European Union a move opposed by a majority of Scots. My determination is to secure a process that allows the people of Scotland, whether yes, no or yet to be decided, to express their views in a legal, constitutional referendum so the majority view can be established fairly and democratically, she said Tuesday. Johnson said he would study Sturgeons plans for a second referendum, but stressed that the focus of the country should be on building a stronger economy." We will study it very carefully and we will respond properly ... I certainly think that well be able to have a stronger economy and a stronger country together," he told reporters. A spokesman for Johnsons office said his position is unchanged and he continues to think its not the time to be talking about a referendum. The spokesman said the government will not be drawn into hypotheticals about whether it would open negotiations for Scottish independence if Scots vote for it in a referendum next year. Even if the referendum does go ahead as proposed, a majority vote will not by itself make Scotland independent from the rest of the U.K. For Scotland to become independent following a yes vote, legislation would have to be passed by the U.K. and Scottish Parliaments, Sturgeon stressed. Sturgeon maintains that her party's success in local elections last year gives her a mandate for a fresh referendum. While the Scottish National Party did not win overall control in the Scottish Parliament, the election of a record number of Scottish Green lawmakers means there is a majority for a new independence vote. Sturgeon said that if there was no lawful way for the Scottish government to hold a referendum, and if Johnsons government refused to grant permission for such a vote, she would fight the next U.K. general election on the single issue of independence. Opposition parties have criticized Sturgeon for her obsession with holding a new independence vote and say she should instead be focused on more practical matters such as tackling the soaring cost of living. A potentially illegal referendum next year is the wrong priority for Scotland, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said. We wont play Nicola Sturgeons games. We wont take part in a pretend poll when there is real work to be done." Like Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland has its own parliament and devolved government and makes its own policies on public health, education and other matters. But the U.K.-wide government in London controls matters such as defense and fiscal policy. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ESTHERVILLE, Iowa -- The city of Estherville came together Monday to rescue a bulldog from a sinkhole. Estherville police officers responded to a report of a missing elderly bulldog named Tupelo at 3:10 a.m. According to a statement from the police department, the caller said she could hear her dog barking in a ravine behind a house in the 20th block of Orchard Lane. The officers and the dog owner searched the area and eventually found Tupelo in a cement drainage tile. The area around the tile had created a sinkhole approximately 3 feet in diameter and about 3 feet deep. The statement said the dog was wedged into the cement tile. Estherville Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Travis Sheridan, Estherville firemen, the City of Estherville's electricians and street department, Emmet County's secondary roads department, Dr. Arlen Omtevdt from the Estherville Veterinary Clinic, and neighbors assisted in the efforts to dig around the tile to free Tupelo. At 6:24 a.m., Tupelo was successfully removed from the tile and found to be in "great condition." He was returned to his very happy owners, according to the statement. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 State-owned power utility Eskom has warned that South Africa could see load-shedding escalate to Stage 6 by Tuesday evening unless its situation improves drastically. This is after ten generating units went offline overnight, representing over 6,000MW of capacity. Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter said that capacity loss due to breakdowns was 14,204MW. It is also seeing associated load losses of 3,661MW due to the unavailability of coal and labour. Another 3,218MW of capacity is offline due to scheduled maintenance. Medupi and Tutuka power stations lost three generating units each, while Kriel, Kusile, Kendal, and Duvha each lost one. This situation creates substantial risk, De Ruyter said. De Ruyter said Eskom plans to return 3,400MW to service by 17:00 this afternoon. If we get all of that back there is a possibility that we may avert Stage 6, he said. However, De Ruyter stated that it is not clear whether Eskom could return the capacity to the grid due to ongoing illegal strikes at its power plants. Chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer explained that the expected generation deficit for todays evening peak sits at 1,400MW, even with Stage 4 load-shedding taken into account. He added that Eskom would therefore need to return the offline units to operation well ahead of the evening peak to prevent increasing power cuts to Stage 6. We are communicating proactively with the South African public so they can plan accordingly, said De Ruyter. Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer warned last week that the power utility may need to escalate load-shedding due to the illegal protest action. The protest erupted after Eskom declared deadlock during wage negotiations with labour unions. Unions have distanced themselves from the protests and disavowed violent acts committed by their members. The Constitutional Court has ruled that South Africa may not switch off its analogue TV signals on 30 June 2022. In a unanimous judgement in favour of E-tv in the latest battle over South Africas migration from analogue to digital TV, the Court declared the 30 June cut-off date irrational and unlawful. Justice Nonkosi Mhlantla wrote in the judgement the communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni had erred on several counts. The decision of the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies not to give notice and take account of representations received on the analogue switch-off date is unlawful and is set aside, the Constitutional Court ruled. The Ministers decision to determine the deadline for registration of set-top boxes to be 31 October 2021, without considering the number of people who will be adversely affected by the analogue switch-off, tainted the process with irrationality. Households without a satellite service or TV capable of receiving digital terrestrial signals require a decoder-like set-top box (STB). These STBs convert digital TV broadcasts into signals that older, analogue-capable televisions can display. Indigent households qualify for a free STB. However, Ntshavheni had set a deadline of 31 October 2021 for needy families to register to receive their free boxes. The Court held there was no sense of urgency on the steps taken before October 2021, and there was insufficient evidence on the actions taken by the Minister between February 2021 and October 2021 to notify the public of the urgent need to register for STBs. As the process was defective, the Minister did not have the necessary information before her regarding the number of persons who qualified and wished to register for state-sponsored STBs before the analogue switch-off date, the Court stated. Regarding determining the analogue switch-off date, Mhlantla found it was not procedurally rational for the Minister to set it without adequate notice to the industry and affected parties. Ntshavheni should have sought the views of stakeholders on the matter. In the result, the Ministers decision not to give notice and take account of the representations received on the analogue switch-off with the public or affected parties was found to be unlawful, the Court held. The Constitutional Court also stated that it was within the Ministers executive powers to determine the analogue switch-off date and registration deadline for STBs. However, it found the Minister had not exercised this power rationally and lawfully. The Constitutional Court set aside the original order of the High Court in favour of Ntshavheni and replaced it with an order declaring the analogue switch-off date and the imposed deadline to register for STBs unconstitutional, invalid and set aside. The Court further ordered the Minister to pay the applicants costs, including the costs of two counsel. Ripple effect One of the benefits of migrating from analogue to digital terrestrial TV broadcasts is the digital dividend. These are large chunks of radio frequencies that become available because digital TV is more spectrally efficient than its analogue ancestor. The International Telecommunications Union earmarked these frequencies for use by mobile networks for 4G services. Since the digital dividend is located in a relatively low-frequency band much lower than South African networks have used in the past it is well-suited for rural rollouts and indoor coverage. This is because lower-frequency signals naturally propagate further, creating a larger coverage area per tower. They also penetrate walls better. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) included some of these frequencies in its March 2022 spectrum auction. However, operators cant use them until the analogue migration is complete. Ntshavhenis setback at the Constitutional Court impacts the availability of crucial cellular network capacity and not only terrestrial television broadcasts in South Africa. Full judgement E-tv vs Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies The St. Helena Historical Society is bringing back what will be its 16th annual "Spirits of St. Helena" Cemetery Tour on Sunday, Oct. 9. COVID-19 has shut down the event for the last two years. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Were excited to be collaborating again with Patti Coyle and the St. Helena High Schools drama students," said research director Mariam Hansen. "This years focus is on persons of Italian and Italian-Swiss heritage who are buried in the St. Helena Public Cemetery, including Robert Mondavi; Antonio and Ida Rossi; Antonio and Marianna Forni; Battista and Liberata Maggetti; Battista and Sabina Salmina; and Albino and Maria Pestoni. Its a chance to learn about the reasons our early settlers came to Napa Valley the challenges and hardships they faced." Theres a lot going on in St. Helena in the fall, and we want to make sure we get on everyones calendar. Oct. 9 is a Sunday, so this will be an event that families can enjoy. Well have two tours, each lasting about an hour. Tickets will be available at the cemetery or through Brown Paper Tickets. A Napa man is expected to spend the rest of his life in state prison after his sentencing for molesting three underage victims over nearly a decade, prosecutors have announced. Antonio Sarraza Villegas, 46, received a term of 128 years to life from Judge Monique Langhorne during his June 17 sentencing in Napa County Superior Court. Langhorne also ordered Villegas to pay $1.125 million in damages to the survivors and their families. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. A Napa jury convicted Villegas April 19 after a 10-day trial on six counts involving sexual assault of children, including forcible sexual penetration and lewd acts on a child 15 or younger. Jurors also accepted 38 special allegations and aggravating factors in the case. The charges resulted from the abuse of two of Villegass family members and a close family friend from 2010 to 2019, when the victims were between 10 and 15, the office of District Attorney Allison Haley said in a news release Monday. Napa Police arrested Villegas May 22, 2019, after a Napa school reported the abuse, police said at the time. The victims did not live in the same west Napa home as Villegas but did live on the same property, the department said shortly after the arrest. Two of the survivors addressed the court personally at Villegas sentencing, and the third had an impact statement read on behalf of their family, according to the District Attorneys Office. Abuse should never be tolerated. Although the sentence is severe, it is commensurate with this defendants horrific actions against three innocent children, Deputy District Attorney Kristen Orlando said in the statement published Monday. I am in awe and deeply proud of the courage, strength, and bravery displayed by all three survivors and their families throughout this case. They all deserve to be heard, to heal and to be free from the holds of this defendant. I hope that with this sentence, they can begin that journey. A second man, 46-year-old Lucio Villegas, was arrested in 2019 at the same time as Antonio Villegas and also booked into jail on similar allegations of sexually abusing children. The outcome of Lucio Villegas' case was not immediately available Monday. Napa County on Monday released the final results for the June 7 election, and there were no substantive changes from the partial results announced on Election Night. The only difference is that Oscar Ortiz is now officially the winner for the Sheriff's race, the Measure L quarter-cent fire prevention sales tax has now officially lost and so forth. None of the races were nail-biters. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. But there is more to come. The races for the two county supervisor seats resulted in November runoffs because no candidate claimed more than 50% of the vote. Napa County voters cast 36,285 ballots for a 43.12% turnout. Voter turnout statewide as of Monday morning was 32.7%, though that state number could still change as counties report results. Canvass procedures producing the official certified results included a manual tally of several randomly chosen precincts to confirm that machine tabulations are accurate, county Registrar of Voters John Tuteur said. Among the final county tallies: Sheriff-coronor race Oscar Ortiz 61.14%, Jon Crawford 38.86%. Ortiz wins. 1st District Board of Supervisors Joelle Gallagher and Suzanne Truchard advance to November runoff. Gallagher, 42.70%, Truchard 29.21%, Garrett Hale, 14.15%, David Graves, 13.95%. 3rd District Board of Supervisors Anne Cottrell and John Dunbar advance to November runoff. Cottrell 37.97%, Dunbar 17.84%, Anna Chouteau 13.91%, Matt Hooper, 13.09%, Lucio "Cio" Perez, 12.40%, Rafael Rios, 4.80%. Measure L fire prevention tax Yes 56.35%, no 43.65%, needed two-thirds (66.6%) to win. Measure I American Canyon term limits Mayor, yes 80.54%, no 19.46%. City Council, yes 82.31%, no 17.69%. Measure G to no longer directly elect St. Helena mayor No 60.42%, yes, 39.58%. Measure H St. Helena bond Yes 74.74%, no 25.26%. You can reach Barry Eberling at 707-256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are poised to eliminate the tax on marijuana growers, in a bid to provide relief to the flagging industry. However, some in the cannabis industry say that the tax cut doesnt go far enough, with industry advocates arguing that they were shut out of the process. In a budget trailer bill, which will be voted on by state lawmakers later this summer, the cannabis cultivation tax paid by growers would be set to zero, while the excise tax which will be shifted from distributors to retailers will remain at 15% for at least the next three years. After that, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the Department of Cannabis Control, will have the power to adjust the excise tax upward to capture revenues equivalent to the cultivation tax, according to an Assembly budget document. The tax cut wont come at the expense of the youth services and child care programs which receive funding from cannabis tax revenue; the proposed budget sets a baseline of funding for such services at $670 million, and also sets aside $150 million in general fund dollars to make up for any revenue loss. The proposed budget includes additional enforcement tools against the illicit cannabis market and worker protections, including enforcement of labor peace agreements. A revenue neutral approach Jim Keddy of youth advocacy group Youth Forward said he is satisfied with what the governor and Legislature have agreed upon. I have to say that Im very appreciative that the governor and Legislature chose to maintain the funding streams for child care and youth prevention programs, he said. With a possible recession on the horizon, Keddy said he was glad to see that the proposed budget calls for increasing the excise tax in the near future, making it effectively revenue neutral and ensuring a steady revenue stream for youth services. Theres so few reliable funding streams for youth services and child care, he said. Moving the goalposts Not everybody is happy with the proposed budget. Theres really nothing good about it, said Jerred Kiloh, president of the United Cannabis Business Association, an industry trade group for cannabis retailers. Kiloh said that the new provisions make it easier to tax the industry, and includes plenty of funding for enforcement and audits. I dont really know what the cannabis industry got out of it, Kiloh said. There was no relief for taxpayers or consumers of legal cannabis. Kiloh referred to a National Cannabis Industry Association survey of cannabis operators across the U.S., a survey which found that just 26% of California respondents report being profitable, according to the North Bay Business Journal. Kiloh vented his frustration with the governors office, which he said had told industry leaders to seek a remedy through the Legislature. Yet lawmakers declined to pass either of two bills that would have lowered the excise tax, Kiloh said. Wherever the goalposts are, they keep moving them, Kiloh said. ...It seems like its two steps forward and three steps back. Could prices go up? Despite a tax cut for the growers, Kiloh warned that the proposed budget will lead to rising cannabis prices, particularly in high-rent, high-labor-cost markets like Los Angeles or the Bay Area. Thats because the excise tax is being shifted to retailers, where the markup rate for us is about 100%, a 25% increase from the markup for distributors, Kiloh said. What are we doing to the consumers who are supporting legal cannabis? Kiloh said. As families of the more than 60 people packed into a tractor-trailer began to confirm their worst fears and talk of their relatives, a common narrative of pursuing a better life took shape from Honduras to Mexico. Armenia president congratulates Biden on US Independence Day anniversary Nigeria police free 77 people being held in basement by religious organization members Armenia opposition MP: It's just terrible what police have done Japan PM says marginal price of Russian oil will be halved Czech fighters to guard Slovakian airspace General Milli: US is watching China very closely over Taiwan situation Egypt closes Red Sea beaches after shark attack Peskov: Kyiv will have to agree to the conditions of Russia Protests continue in Sudan against military rule in the country Shoigu briefs Putin about taking control of Luhansk territory Two people killed in Texas: 3 police officers wounded Iranian MFA: Any Turkish military operation in Syria will lead to instability in region Passenger bus plunges into ravine in Pakistan, killing 19 North Korea to further strengthen its military potential due to military cooperation between US, South Korea and Japan Hungary to accelerate its defense development program Bloomberg: Russia's redistribution of ownership of Sakhalin-2 will push Japan to compete with Europe Migrants stage shootout on Serbian and Hungarian border: 1 killed, several people injured German State Minister urges to maintain openness towards culture of Russia Ryanair airline head predicts rise in airfare over next 5 years European countries to help Greece in fight against forest fires The Sun: Chaos reigns at London Heathrow Airport Russia lifts entry ban for 47,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan Armenian protester released on bail of AMD 2.5 million Paris airport workers set to go on strike again Missing private helicopter Robinson found in Russia: Pilot is alive Boris Johnson at focus amid another sex scandal around UK Conservatives Protests break out in Uzbekistan autonomous region over constitution reform plan Azerbaijan FM to visit Tehran Germany fears complete stoppage of Russia natural gas deliveries Armenian National Committee of America presents findings from fact-finding mission in Artsakh Bordachev: Russias surrounding area, where Armenia is also present, will be part of general conflict space Ministry aims to combine establishment of stable economy in Armenia with building of green economy Timofei Bordachev: Russia, Armenia are linked by one of worlds closest relations Political scientist: If Armenian authorities had goal to keep Berdzor they would have found way to keep it Mikhail Gorbachev hospitalized US, South Korea discuss Russia oil price cap New York state tightens rules for carrying weapons in public places Syria accuses Israel of rocket attack on Tartus Governorate Bulgaria President commissions finance minister to form new government 5 dead, 19 injured after two quakes jolt Iran in one day Libya protesters storm parliament, set part of building on fire Newspaper: What disrupted show planned in legislature by Armenia authorities? Newspaper: Even Armenia ex-President Sargsyan is used in having opposition MP join fellow opposition Albania in talks with NATO to build naval base Firefighters contain forest fire near Machu Picchu after 3 days US hypersonic missile system flight test fails WB approves creation of fund to combat pandemics Resistance Movement to have march on Armenian Constitution Day Australia and France announce new start in relationship Taliban supreme leader urges world to stop telling how to govern Afghanistan Indonesia and UAE sign free trade agreement Norway pledges 1 billion euros to help Ukraine for defense Armenian resistance movement holding march Erdogan: Turkey can re-export grain products from the Black Sea Armenian PM and Tashir group head discuss investments programs BREAKING digest: Armenian opposition MPs announce mass resignations Armenian opposition holding rally in Yerevan Armenia and Turkey agree to ensure possibility of crossing the land border as soon as possible Czech Republic takes over EU Presidency Armenian and Turkish representatives meet in Vienna Armenia National Assembly to convene special session on July 6 Russian billionaires lose almost $36 billion since 2022 Bloomberg: Kyiv is obliged to pay $1.4 billion of public debt by September Armenia Supreme Judicial Council acting head resigns Another opposition legislator resigns from position of deputy chair of parliament committee Turkey closes access to Deutsche Welle and Voice of America Another Armenia opposition MP resigns from post of parliament committee vice-chair Dollar, euro rise after long fall in Armenia Russia company head expresses hope that interesting projects will be implemented with Armenia Armenia opposition lawmaker resigns from position of National Assembly standing committee deputy chair Lavrov speaks on loss of NATO meaning after collapse of Warsaw Pact Finnish FM speaks on timing of country's entry into NATO Lukashenko says other post-Soviet countries should get closer to Union State of Russia and Belarus Dr. Akira Ishiyama is awarded with Armenia PMs letter of thanks Armenia parliament opposition: Authorities removal from power is inevitable EU Toivo Klaar welcomes Armenian and Azerbaijani efforts towards 'peaceful future' Putin: Moscow and Minsk, being pushed to speed up unification processes Armenia opposition legislator submits resignation from position of parliament standing committee chair Erdogan allows sudden start of military operations in Syria Armenia prosecutorial system several employees receive state awards Armenia opposition to have new MP Japan introduces electricity saving mode for first time in 7 years Germany economy minister visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Armenia opposition MP: Parliamentary opposition will resign from other administrative positions Armenia legislature majority faction member says there is heated battle within ruling party Catholicos, Israel envoy discuss preservation of Armenian heritage in territories that came under Azerbaijan control US and Japan conduct drills with strategic bombers 2 Armenia opposition MPs are recalled from their National Assembly leadership positions Armenia President nominates his Constitutional Court judge candidate Karabakh ombudsman: Aghavno village residents may move to Hin Shen, Mets Shen settlements State Department welcomes change of Israeli PM World oil prices are falling slightly Copper prices are falling Pashinyan to Trudeau: Armenia appreciates development of relations with Canada Armenia legislature holding special session, removing 2 opposition MPs from office is on agenda Converse bank will cover the insurance costs within the framework of program lending State Department announces reward of $10 million for reports on foreign interference in elections Armenia opposition movement staging protest outside parliament building Ukraine introduces visa regime for Russia Gold prices are falling A number of officials in the White House are increasingly doubtful that Ukraine will ever be able to regain control of the territories lost since the beginning of the Russian special operation, CNN reported, citing sources. According to him, advisers to US President Joe Biden are discussing whether there is a need for Ukraine to recognize territorial concessions in order to end the conflict as soon as possible. However, Washington does not intend to put pressure on Kyiv in this matter, the channel's sources noted. One of the sides of CNN considers the reduction of the territory of Ukraine not inevitable. The ability to regain the lost regions depends to a large extent, if not entirely, on the support Washington provides to Kyiv, he said. So, according to the source, Ukraine asked the United States for 48 multiple rocket launchers, and the Pentagon at the moment promised only eight. Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24. By June 28, the Russian military and forces of the DPR and LPR control the Kherson region, most of the Zaporozhye region, part of the Kharkiv region, almost all of the Lugansk region, with the exception of Lisichansk, and part of the Donetsk region. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the return of territories lost after February 24 a condition under which Ukraine would return to negotiations. The Kremlin, in turn, noted that peace with Ukraine is possible if it fulfills Russian demands. Thus, the goals of the special operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced the "denazification" and "demilitarization" of the neighboring state, as well as the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass from "genocide". After negotiations in Istanbul, an agreement was reached that Kyiv refuses to return the Crimea and Donbass by force, but then, as Putin noted, Ukraine moved away from these agreements. Over the past month, a number of politicians - both Western, in particular British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Ukrainian - have begun to notice "fatigue" from the ongoing conflict and its consequences. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, a number of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East offered Kyiv to stop resisting Russian forces so that Ukrainian ports would be unblocked and grain exports would continue. The minister himself called this initiative "an unthinkable proposal." US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) reacted sharply to President Bidens decision to once again waive Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, greenlighting new U.S. military aid to the Aliyev regime despite its ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a statement, Chairman Menendez noted, As Azerbaijan continues to further occupy territory from its violent assault on Nagorno-Karabakh, during which more than 6,500 people died and more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians were displaced in 2020, it simply makes no sense to say that U.S. assistance and training has not impacted its military balance with Armenia. I will continue to conduct rigorous oversight of any and all assistance to Azerbaijan and expect the Department of State to operate with complete transparency and provide all necessary details for Congress to assess any assistance provided to Baku. In commentary released to the ANCA, Chairman Schiff pledged to work with Congressional allies and the Armenian American community to remove a presidents power to waive Section 907 and to urge the Biden administration to reinvigorate the peace process. Chairman Schiff explained, Azerbaijan is responsible for provoking a horrific war and humanitarian disaster in Armenia and Artsakh, killing thousands of Armenians over 44 days in September 2020 and forcing thousands more to flee their ancestral homelands. To this day, Azerbaijan continues to illegally detain Armenian soldiers who have been subject to torture, and to threaten thousands of innocent civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh who live in fear of another attack and invasion. Chairman Schiff continued, Under no circumstances should the United States be providing military support to such a regime it not only runs counter to our nations core democratic values, but could empower the Aliyev regime to continue or escalate its provocative actions against Armenians. President Biden should not have waived Section 907. On June 23rd, the Biden Administration reportedly notified Congress of their decision to waive Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. The measure, adopted in 1992, establishes statutory restrictions on U.S. assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan until the President determines, and so reports to the Congress, that the Government of Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Congress included a Section 907 waiver in the FY2002 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. U.S. presidentsRepublican and Democrathave waived Section 907 annually ever since. During his run for office, on October 14th, 2020, then-candidate Biden stated that the United States must fully implement and not waive requirements under Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act to stop the flow of military equipment to Azerbaijan. As President, he first reversed his position on the issue on April 23, 2021on the eve of his historic announcement properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide. YEREVAN. Speaker Alen Simonyan of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) on Tuesday received the new Ambassador of Syria to Armenia, Nora Arisian. The NA President congratulated her on being appointed to this post. I am glad that a diplomat of Armenian origin represents Syria in Armenia. I think that your appointment is also symbolic for our friendly countries, and in the near future there will be many occasions for already practical meetings, Simonyan said, the NA informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. The RA NA President noted with regret about the deprivations of the Syrian friendly people, including the Syrian Armenian community during these years. At the same time, he expressed conviction that the Syrians, as well as the Armenian people, will overcome the grave consequences of the long-lasting crisis and will enter into the phase of progress. Alen Simonyan expressed his gratitude for the initiative of the Ambassador to include the theme of the Armenian Genocide in the school textbooks of Syria. The sides touched upon the inter-parliamentary cooperation within the framework of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Syria, stressing the role of the Friendship Groups. Alen Simonyan noted that Armenia continues its efforts in establishing lasting stability in the region. At the end of the meeting, the RA NA President wished the Ambassador of Syria good luck in her diplomatic mission, adding that he is ready to support her any initiative for the benefit of the development and deepening of cooperation between the two countries. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The war in Ukraine has caused a "fundamental shift" in NATO's approach to defense, and member states will have to increase their military spending in an increasingly volatile world. Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the alliance, stated this. According to him, the upcoming summit will outline the plan for the alliance in a more dangerous and unpredictable world. "So Russia has walked away from the partnership and the dialogue that NATO has tried to establish with Russia for many years. They have done so not least by the brutal invasion of Ukraine, a blatant violation, not only of international rule, but also of all the documents and agreements we have signed with Russia to try to establish a framework for a meaningful dialogue with Russia. So the meaningful dialogue we worked for so many yearsthat's not on the table, that's not working, simply because of Russia's behaviour. They have chosen confrontation instead of dialogue. We regret that, but of course then we need to respond to that reality. And that's exactly what we do with the fundamental shift in our deterrence and defence, and all the other measures we take, not least to provide support to Ukraine from NATO Allies and NATO," he said. "Then of course, there is a need to still have lines of communications to prevent incidents and accidents. And also at some stage, hopefully, be able to engage in some kind of arms control efforts. But the dialogue and the partnership we strived for we have to remember that, for instance, in the current Strategic Concept, agreed at the Lisbon Summit in 2010 - and I attended that Summit as the Prime Minister of Norway - at that time, President Medvedev of Russia participated in the meeting and we agreed in the Strategic Concept, which is still the current Strategic Concept, and we will have a new one later this week, we said that Russia is a strategic partner. That will not be the case in the Strategic Concept we will agree in Madrid. I expect that Allies will state clearly that Russia poses a direct threat to our security, to our values, to the rules-based international order," he added. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told lawmakers she plans to hold a new Scottish independence referendum on 19 October, 2023, the AP reported. She said the question to be asked will be the same as the first referendum in 2014: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" Back then, voters rejected independence, with 55 percent saying they wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government opposes a new referendum and has repeatedly stated that the question was settled in 2014. Any vote for independence would have no legal effect without Johnson's government's approval. Sturgeon said the senior official would ask the U.K. Supreme Court whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate an advisory referendum on independence. She added that she would write to Johnson to inform him of her plans. A majority vote in the referendum alone would not make Scotland independent from the rest of the United Kingdom. For Scotland to become independent following a yes vote, legislation would have to be passed by the U.K. and Scottish Parliaments, Sturgeon said. It's not the authorities that gave us the mandates, so they can take them away, the mandate was given to us by the Armenian people; 270 thousand citizens voted for the bloc "Armenia" with a certain goal and agenda, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Supreme Body representative and deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament from the opposition Ishkhan Saghatelyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. He recalled that one of the bloc's main messages during the campaign was to remove the government of evil and lead the country out of the current situation, prevent the expulsion of Armenians from Artsakh, build a strong Armenia, and bring dignified peace. Today, the agenda of building a strong Armenia and a dignified peace is outside of parliament and lies, in his estimation, also through the removal of the government. "We serve the agenda of those citizens of Armenia who gave us the mandate to do so. Today, the agendas of the parliamentary government and the opposition do not overlap. We said that we would go to parliament exclusively with our agenda. And we did, and the authorities ran away. Tomorrow, if we need to go to parliament again with this agenda, the authorities will run away again because they have nothing to say. As for the attempts to intimidate us by depriving us of our mandates, this is for them that mandate is the aim of life. Didn't we (both members of Armenia bloc and With Honor bloc) struggle before 9 November, when we have no mandates yet? We have fought and will continue to fight with the same resolve and the same success, because we know what to fight for. Intimidating us by depriving us of mandates is nonsense. We are committed to the agenda for which we have received votes, and we do not want to be discouraged by the authorities. It does not bother us at all. We have more important things to do, we have a mandate from the people, which they do not have, no matter how much they try to prove otherwise. They go to cafes accompanied by numerous police officers, they go to bed and walk the streets with fear in their hearts, they know they won't be able to hold on to power for long. They have reasons for all this. We know what we are fighting for and we know that we will not be ashamed to look our children in the eye. But they don't have the answer to that question. The mandate will remain for us just a tool of struggle. If the authorities want to take it away from us, then let them. It will have no effect on our struggle. If they see it as a tool to blackmail us in order to take us to the Parliament and then speculate with that, then they made a mistake in their calculations", said Saghatelyan. Earlier it was reported that the ruling Civil Contract party in Armenia was discussing the issue of depriving opposition deputies of their mandates. Evergrande opposes winding-up petition China Evergrande faces a winding-up lawsuit as it seeks to undergo major restructuring. File photo: RTHK China Evergrande said on Tuesday it will "vigorously oppose" a winding-up petition filed by an investor, while dismissing that the lawsuit will affect its restructuring efforts. The cash-strapped mainland developer acknowledged in a stock exchange filing that Top Shine Global had submitted the petition to the High Court on June 24, over a financial obligation amounting to HK$862.5 million. Top Shine Global is an investment holding firm that had bought 0.46 percent of Evergrande's online real estate and automobile marketplace, Fangchebao (FCB). It alleged that the embattled property developer had not honored an agreement to repurchase shares it bought in FCB. The winding-up petition is the first known to have been filed against Evergrande, which is reeling under more than US$300 billion in liabilities and whose offshore debt was deemed to be in default after missing payment obligations late last year. "The Company does not expect that the Petition will impact the Companys restructuring plans or timetable," Evergrande wrote, in its filing to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. The developer added that it is on track to reveal the details of a preliminary plan to restructure its offshore debt by the end of July. Trading of Evergrande shares has been suspended since March 21. (Additional reporting by Reuters) Turkey backs Finland and Sweden for Nato membership Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (centre) shakes hands with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: AP Turkey has agreed to support Finland's and Sweden's bids for Nato membership, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday. "I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join Nato," he told reporters on the sidelines of a Nato summit in Madrid. "Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns, including around arms exports and the fight against terrorism," he added. (Reuters) Minister and Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told reporters that the government decided to limit fuel distribution to essential services like ports, airports, health, food distribution, and agriculture. "This decision was taken to protect the limited reserves of fuel in the country and that they be used only for the essential services," he said. Requesting all others to work from home, the minister urged people to support attempts to limit the consumption of fuel in the country All schools in capital and other main cities are to be closed until July 10 while long distances bus services are also to be cancelled from midnight. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda met India's Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri to discuss urgent issues relating to bilateral energy cooperation. Moragoda had detailed the current crisis Sri Lanka and its people are facing due to lack of fuel and had urged for a possibility of securing petrol and diesel supplies that are required by Sri Lanka at present on an urgent basis. Meanwhile, opposition parties had demanded the government resign forthwith in light of the worsening fuel crisis. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa demanded that the government that had failed to provide basic needs of the people should resign while Marxist party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed that country's governing system "had exploded with careless and negligence". The bankrupted south Asian island nation, with hardly any dollar reserves, was depending on India's $500 million line of credit to purchase petroleum products since February and the final shipment with 40,000 MT of diesel arrived in Colombo on June 16. --IANS sfl/vd ( 320 Words) 2022-06-27-23:08:01 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on The Tiruchengode Co-operative Urban Bank, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, for non-adherence or violation of directions issued under various guidelines including Know Your Customer (KYC) Guidelines, the central bank said in a statement. The penalty has been imposed in the exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Section 46 (4) (i) and Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS). "This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers," the statement said. The inspection report of the bank based on its financial position as of March 31, 2020, revealed violations or non-compliance with the norms. Based on the same report, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why a penalty should not be imposed for non-compliance, it added. "After considering the bank's reply and oral submissions during the personal hearing, RBI came to the conclusion that the aforesaid charges of non-compliance with RBI directions were substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty." Earlier on Friday, the central had imposed a penalty of Rs 57.50 lakh on Indian Overseas Bank for non-compliance with certain directions. The non-compliance included failing to report certain instances of frauds involving ATM card cloning or skimming within three weeks from the date of detection, among others. (ANI) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 28 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Reckitt, the world's leading consumer health and hygiene company, under its flagship campaign Dettol Banega Swasth India launched 'Diarrhoea Net Zero' with support from the Government of Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow today. In the next 3 years, the program will directly impact 10 million people across Uttar Pradesh addressing 26 per cent of the burden of diarrhoea. 'Diarrhoea Net Zero' was launched by Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia and other dignitaries with an aim to achieve net-zero Diarrhoeal deaths among under-5 children in Uttar Pradesh. The program will follow the WHO-7-point plan for preventing and treating diarrhoea in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh namely- Bahraich, Bulandshahar, Firozabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Mathura, Mirzapur, Muzaffarnagar, Shravasti and Sitapur. The vision is to take this initiative to 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, Reckitt - South Asia said, "Uttar Pradesh is doing phenomenal work for the upliftment of its economy and for its people. We are truly proud to have worked closely with the State Government towards creating a 'Swachh and Swasth' India with our programs. In the last 7 years, we have touched the lives of over 10 million children in Uttar Pradesh. To further strengthen this relationship, we have launched India's first Diarrhoea Net Zero program with the support of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Our vision with this program is to ensure that there are Net Zero Diarrheal deaths among Under 5 children in Uttar Pradesh." Ravi Bhatnagar, Director- External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia said, "Uttar Pradesh has shown tremendous improvement in several health indicators and has been recognized as the top-ranking state in incremental growth on health by NITI Aayog. Dettol Banega Swasth India, Reckitt India's flagship purpose programme has been a partner to the state's development journey for the past 7 years in the fields of hygiene, health and sanitation. Recognizing the role of health as a foundation for development, the programme further aims to increase its depth and breadth of engagement in the state in the next 3 years by rolling out initiatives like Dettol Diarrhoea Net Zero, which will focus on preventing under 5 mortalities due to diarrhoea by following the WHO 7-point plan." Dettol Banega Swasth India has been consistently working to improve child health standards in India with specialized programs that address health, hygiene, and sanitation. To support Uttar Pradesh in its fight against diarrhoea, Dettol 'Diarrhoea Net Zero' supports the WHO 7-point plan for preventing and treating diarrhoea, which comprises a prevention package and a treatment package. As a part of the programme, Reckitt will create a scalable and replicable model to: -Build capacity amongst frontline workers (Asha workers, Anganwadi workers etc), Indian Medical Associations (IMA) and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) aligned with the WHO 7-point plan- Advocacy, communication and social mobilization around Diarrhoea prevention, health promotion and treatment through on-ground engagement- Assessing supply chain to ensure availability of Zinc and ORS across government health facilities- Monetary support for outpatient and inpatient treatment through the 'Diarrhoea Net Zero' voucher scheme to complement AYUSHMAN BHARAT The initiative will help improve the quality of care by addressing emergency cases faster, increasing focus on complete immunization coverage and improving the overall public healthcare system's responsiveness to diarrhoea care. Dettol Banega Swasth India has been working with the Government of Uttar Pradesh since 2015 to improve the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of children and the community and ensure better hygiene and health outcomes. Dettol and its partners have reached over 10.8 million children with its 'School Hygiene Education Programme' leading to a reduction in diarrhoea cases in school children and a reduction of nearly 39 per cent in school absenteeism due to health issues. Reckitt's various interventions across the state, include supporting villages to become Open Defecation Free, promoting hygiene and sanitation at India's biggest religious gathering - Kumbh Mela, receiving multiple accolades and appreciation from the Government of India for its initiatives. With the launch of 'Diarrhoea Net Zero' programme in partnership with Uttar Pradesh government, Dettol Banega Swasth India will continue to bring positive change in the lives of children and reduce the prevalence of Diarrhoea in the state through a scalable and replicable model. Note to Editor:The WHO 7-point plan is a comprehensive framework to reduce the burden of childhood diarrhoea. The plan is made up of two treatment and five prevention strategies. For treatment, children need fluid replacement to prevent dehydration, and zinc supplements. The prevention package consists of: i) Rotavirus and measles vaccinations; ii) Promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation; iii) Promotion of handwashing with soap; iv) Improvement of water quantity and quality, including treatment and safe storage of household water; and v) Promotion of community-wide sanitation. It is important that implementation of the prevention package is approached in a concerted way since single interventions alone are likely to result in lesser overall impact. The package should be accompanied by clear, targeted and integrated behaviour and social change communication strategies to improve uptake by families and communities. To know more: http://7pointplan.org/diarrhoea-control.html This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28 (ANI/BusinessWire India): The fourth edition of the annual prestigious 'Smt. Jyoti Dwivedi Memorial Scholarship Awards' was held by Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) on June 25, 2022. Six scholarships were presented, including two core awards of Rs 1 lakh each and four ad hoc awards of Rs 50,000 each. Exclusive to JBIMS, the scholarships are given to second-year M.M.S. students to meet their educational expenses based on their first-year scores and their family's financial standing. The scholarship amount is provided to JBIMS personally by Nimish Dwivedi from JBIMS' batch of 1993 in memory of his Mother, Jyoti Dwivedi. This is the first-ever scholarship instituted at this prestigious business school. The winners of the two core scholarships are Pranali Mahajan and Kaushal Jain; the ad hoc scholarship winners are Ajay Vasudevan, Niraj Zambre, Shubham Deora and KevalAjmeri. The winners were also gifted with a copy of Nimish's best-selling book 'Marketing Chronicles: A Compendium of Global and Local Marketing Insights from the Pre-Smartphone and Post-Smartphone Eras.' Dr Srinivasan R. Iyengar, Director of JBIMS, said, "This is the fourth edition of the Smt. Jyoti Dwivedi Memorial Scholarship started by Nimish Dwivedi, an Alumnus of the batch of 1993. It just shows that all of our Alumni still have a strong connection with JBIMS, and we are eternally grateful to Nimish for his continued support in helping the current students at JBIMS. I am sure this will bring a mindset of supporting their Alma Mater within students when they venture into the Corporate world to build their life." Nimish Dwivedi, the benefactor, said, "Heartening for me to present the 4th round of this Scholarship initiated in my Mother's memory. Her guiding value was - living means giving and giving means living." Two industry veterans attended the online event, Bobby Kakar and Shailesh Joshi. Bobby Kakar, 93 batch bajajite, has extensive experience in financial services, digital and payments. He has held leadership roles across numerous multinational and regional banks and is currently based in Dubai, U.A.E. He is a mentor to numerous Fintechs and a pioneer in the regional Blockchain payments ecosystem. Shailesh Joshi, 93 batch bajajite, is an Energy Industry veteran with over three decades of experience across the entire value chain of the energy industry from Fuels, Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewables and new technologies. Over the last 4-1/2 years, he has been running his own venture, ENCOSYM Solutions, dedicated to the cause of Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Sustainability. Speaking at the event, Bobby Kakar said, "I congratulate Nimish on this very noble initiative which gives deserving students a chance to pursue their career aspirations and also serve as a role model for other students. It is very fitting that the scholarship honours the memory of his Mother, Jyoti Dwivedi. She was a pioneer in education and a role model to numerous women as one of the first graduates of her home town in Gujarat in the 1960s. I wish all the winning students the very best in life and success in their professional careers." Shailesh Joshi said, "My heartfelt thanks to Nimish for this magnanimous initiative of supporting talent and offering a helping hand to the deserving. Many a times, success evades talent because there is no recognition or support at the right time. The installation of this Smt. Jyoti Dwivedi Memorial Scholarship provides that much-needed encouragement to talent enabling them to achieve more while instilling a culture of "gratitude".The initiative personifies the feeling "Buland Bharat Ki BulandTasveer...Hamara Bajaj...!!!" This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI/Mediawire): The world of fashion is continuously revolutionizing with social media and technology playing a significant impact on how it is perceived across the globe. Post-pandemic there has been a fast-paced inclusion of technological advancements in the world of fashion. Without disrupting the creative design and ideas, the comfort of the fabric has taken a center stage in the behaviourism of the consumers. Taking into consideration the global demands, ETRetail has initiated a series of Panel Discussions titled the "Fashion Forward" series in partnership with Fashmates, a renowned global platform in styling. The first-panel discussion happened on May 27, 2022, with the topic being "The Future of Fashion By Fashmates: Revamping Fashion Industry With CX Trends & Technology." The team of panellists included several dignitaries from the fashion industry. Among them were: - Harish Ramchandani, Founder and CEO, Fashmates. His brand is a global leader in the styling and outfitting of content platforms aiming to deliver hyper-personalized fashion to its customers. - Akhil Duggar Jain, Executive Director, Jain Amar. Jain Amar is an integrated network of distribution, e-commerce, and large format stores in modern clothing and accessories. - Vinay Chatlani, MD and CEO, Soch. Soch is a well-known chain of retail fashion outlets delivering a perfect combination of Indian traditional style with a touch of modern design. - Eshaa Amiin, Founder of the EshaaAmiin Label and The Style Elevator. The label is a well-recognized name in the Hindi film industry with a design experience for celebrities such as Amitabh Bacchan, Saif Ali Khan, Jahnvikapoor, and several others. - DevangiNishar, Director of Aza Fashions. The Indian luxury fashion label caters to the personalized fashion needs of both men and women. Amit Kumaar Manna, Partner Consumer Products, Retail and eCommerce, KPMG was the moderator for the discussion that took place. The fashion industry stalwarts provided pertinent details during the hour-long virtual discussion on several important areas. All of these note-worthy personalities who have created a stir in the world of fashion helped the audience get an even better understanding of the fashion business. Here's a quick crux of all the relevant points of the discussion: - The future of E-commerce looks quite promising as it is making Indian brands easily accessible to the customer base all around. The discussion focussed on how E-commerce with expenses quite less than the traditional business model is reshaping the fashion industry. With a greater outreach in comparison to store business, the concept of e-commerce has reduced the cost of marketing and store management as well. - The panellists talked about how the pandemic has drastically shifted the customer demands in terms of fashion. The demand for off-the-rack fashion is surging each day with customers wanting clothes tailored as per their comfort and preference. This shift in customer behaviour is restricting the scaling of a fixed mechanism that can help in the production of quantity as well as deliver personalized clothing items to the consumers. - The virtual session talked about how technology is enabling customer-centricity. Adopting innovative techniques such as AR and VR trial mirrors can fast-track the process of delivering value and enhanced experience to the end-users. It can also help your business stay relevant amidst the new developments in the industry. - Sharing their views on hyper-personalization, the members talked about how it is all about the realignment of fashion from the pre-existing stereotypes and shifting it to exactly what the consumer needs. Machine learning and data science play a crucial role in this context helping understand a particular consumer's choice based on their past buying choices. This increasing demand for personalization in the fashion industry is leading to flourished demand for designers. - The role of social media was also a crucial point of the discussion. The panellists discussed how storytelling and connecting with customers on social media have become extremely important for the success of any brand. Different social media platforms help businesses understand the needs and choices of their customer base without having to step into the market. Consumer mindset can be easily gauged and taken care of with the help of these social media platforms. - Influencer marketing has been emerging as the perfect tactic to reach the masses and prompt them to buy the different products out there. With millennials spending, a majority of their time on social media, new-age influencers have come into the limelight with their unique styling options. Be it a top-notch brand or a start-up, all of the brands are fetching influencers to make their products appealing to their customer base and boost their sales. Be it a conversation on where the technology is taking the fashion world next or the AR/VR dressing rooms, the virtual discussion proved to be extremely beneficial for the retail outlets and marketers out there planning to thrive in the industry. The fashion stores out there need to revamp their business and accelerate their digital positioning to stand out among their competitors. The discussion led to an understanding of how the future of fashion rests with the brands and labels that believe in flexibility and innovative technology. To watch the entire panel discussion please click here Click here to know more about Fashmates This story is provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Mediawire) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 28 (ANI/PRNewswire): After winning a slew of accolades and awards domestically, the Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER) was accorded with a rare honour in the United Kingdom. The deemed-to-be varsity was conferred with the Asian UK Award 2022 at a star-studded ceremony held recently, at the UK's House of Commons in London - the iconic building that houses Britain's parliament. The award was received by the President of the Chennai-based Group of Educational Institutions, Dr J Sundeep Aanand. Dr Aanand received the Asian UK Award 2022 for Best Edupreneur, for his impeccable track record in educating thousands of students and ensuring they get employment opportunities in the biggest companies the world over. While former Union Minister for External Affairs and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and Former MP and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury were part of the awards ceremony, the citation was given to Dr Aanand by Virendra Sharma, an Indian-origin Member of Parliament in the UK's House of Commons. Their flagship multi-stream university, the Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), was awarded for having one of the most robust systems of promoting Industry-Academia relations, as evidenced by their robust NIRF rankings over the past few years. Dr Aanand also announced that the Bharath Group would create a program to fund and assist 100 deserving, underprivileged students pursue research grants abroad and create intellectual growth for India and Tamil Nadu, over a period of time. "No student studying in any of our group institutions should ever feel that they cannot do research overseas for lack of funds. We will help disadvantaged students with great ideas travel and conduct research and make us all proud," he said. Currently, the Bharath Group of Institutions has MoUs with 100+ international universities including legendary citadels of learning such as the University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, Harvard University, Auckland University of Technology and URAL Federal University, etc. Reflecting on what the award, given by WBR Corp UK, meant to him, Dr Aanand said that this was merely the beginning of the grand plans they have for helping more of their students access global education through research collaborations. "I am truly honoured and blessed that a large UK-based combine has bestowed this honour on us. We have made great strides in the kind of research we are doing, despite working with some of the most rural and underprivileged students in the South of India. We do this by encouraging this kind of forward-thinking thought process to solve society's problems as opposed to simply showing statistics. That is more important to us," he said. During the Ideas for India conference which was organized by Bridge India, Dr Aanand, was one of the key delegates and discussed business, start-ups, defence tech, clean energy and how to tap the potential of students in rural areas with panellists who included the likes of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, and Dr C Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Higher Education et al, Government of Karnataka, London's Deputy Mayor Rajesh Agrawal, Lord John Browne, Chairman of BeyondNetZero. He said, "It is an absolute pleasure to have debated and spoken with some of India's best brains and this honour will go a long way in making our colleges sustainable and continuing our commitment to shaping some of the country's best young minds." Started way back in 1984, what started as one of Tamil Nadu's first private engineering colleges is now a massive educational conglomerate. Comprising BIHER (One of India's most reputed multi-stream universities comprising Medical, Nursing, Architecture, Management, Agriculture, Pharmacy, Law, Management, Allied Health Sciences and Humanities and Sciences) the group also boasts of running the Bharath Medical College and Hospital and Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences. The institutions are widely regarded as among the most well-attended in India and are known for opening their doors to students from disadvantaged families to help them get a great education. You can read about their work at www.bharathuniv.ac.in Dr J Sundeep Aanand is an educationist, philanthropist, entrepreneur, tech enthusiast and knowledge center. He currently serves as the Group President of the Bharath Group of Educational Institutes and has been instrumental in driving its growth from a small educational group to one of India's biggest conglomerates for multi-disciplinary education. A skilled business watcher with an eye for start-ups and a keen investor in all things AI and defence, he routinely promotes ideas by young people because he believes they are the future of Tamil Nadu and India. He is also a leading member of India's hospitality ecosystem as promoter of luxury hotel chain, the Accord Group of Hotels and Companies. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): Ujjivan Small Finance Bank's initiative 'Shagun Ka Lifafa' won a Gold at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, in Creative Commerce category. The initiative aims to give financial independence to women in Tier-II and III Indian cities through a redesigned version of 'Shagun Ka Lifafa' - the traditional gifting envelope presented at weddings. The envelopes were redesigned to become joint bank account opening forms, urging women to be actively involved in financial decisions. The creative agency that partnered with Ujjivan was McCann Worldwide. The initiative was based on the insight that, in the financially backward and economically weaker sections of most Indian households, men oversee the finances, including access to the bank account. As a result, women tend to lose out on opportunities to be financially active or independent. Even among newly wedded couples, every aspect of their life is characterized by togetherness. However, the finances continue to be managed predominantly by men. Also, Indian marriages, at every strata of society, traditionally see guests bearing cash gifts, called 'Shagun'. Most of these cash gifts are in multiples of Rs. 100's, and in round numbers. As per tradition, the Shagun is never a round figure, and hence is always accompanied by a 1 Rupee coin, since this addition signifies prosperity and continuity. Guests usually place this cash or 'Shagun' in a special envelope, or 'Shagun Ka Lifafa' - which has a 1 Rupee coin attached for convenience. A variety of lifafas with different motifs commonly associated with weddings were designed and were made available in stationery shops, gift stores and popular wedding shopping destinations. This lifafa was redesigned into an Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Joint Savings Account and presented to the newly-wed couples, thereby inviting them to commence their financial journey together. Speaking on the achievement, Ittira Davis MD & CEO, commented, "Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has been championing the cause of financial inclusion among the financially unserved and under-served. With this initiative we aim to redefine financial independence for women in Tier II and Tier III cities. 'Shagun ka Lifafa' is one such initiative where we aspire to see the women asserting themselves better as equal contributors to their financial freedom and prosperity." Dileep Ashoka, EVP & Head of South, McCann Worldwide mentioned, "McCann and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank have been in a close partnership for several years with a shared agenda of innovation in marketing communication. 'Shagun ka Lifafa' is a testimony to this. This idea hit the sweet spot since it addressed the inherent social, economic and gender inequities that exist in our society. We are elated and honoured that it received the top honours. It is a rare achievement." Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited is one among the leading small finance banks. The bank remains committed to serving unserved and underserved segments through financial and digital inclusion as a mass-market bank. Ujjivan is a one-stop destination for financial services, offering a personalized customer experience. The strengthened digital interfaces across regions and languages have empowered Ujjivan customers to seek timely and easy access to finance at all times. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI/India PR Distribution): NTC Group has launched two New Businesses - Boxory Logistics and Cargonix XpressThiru. The announcement was made on June 24 in Chennai at the NTC event held by Thangam Thennarasu, (Minister for Industries, Tamil Official Language & Tamil Culture Archaeology, Tamil Nadu). Cargonix Xpress will mark the entry of NTC Group into the express logistics vertical. Boxory Logistics is a freight consolidation service provider with services such as LCL, FCL, NVOCC, Air Freight, Multi-city consolidation, Warehousing and more. NTC Group commenced its journey in 1997 as a General Transportation provider with its flagship company NTC Logistics. Since then, it has been constant progress for the NTC Group as it expanded and crossed every benchmark it set. Crossing many significant milestones and having numerous entrusting clients across various sectors, today, the group has emerged as a conglomerate with diversified businesses and a family of nearly 5000 people. NTC Group has completed nearly 24 years of trusted partnerships in building Indian industrial establishments. Today, it contributes to vital economy-strengthening sectors such as Logistics, Engineering, Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, Manufacturing, Technology, and Agriculture. The Partners in Progress meeting organized by NTC Group was on June24, 2022 in Chennai turned the limelight on the launch of two new business verticals titled Boxory Logistics Pvt Ltd and Cargonix Xpress Pvt Ltd, where they exhibited their offerings and potential. Speaking at NTC Group event, Thangam Thennarasu, (Minister for Industries, Tamil Official Language & Tamil Culture Archaeology, Tamil Nadu) announced the launch of two New Businesses - Boxory Logistics and CargonixXpressThiru. He praised Dr K Chandramohan, Founder & Chairman, NTC Group of his vision and appreciated investment of NTC Group made in Tamil Nadu, which is the strongest economy in India. Such investments offer both employment and business opportunities. He added that growth of the NTC Group is because of Dr. Chandramohan's friends across the globe that has helped in diversifying and expanding his business globally. NTC Group is also completely stepping into the express logistics vertical with Cargonix Xpress. Cargonix has the express cargo capabilities to meet the dynamic market requirements for businesses of diverse nature with its services such as Same Day Delivery, Committed Delivery, Deferred Delivery, COD / FOD, Milk Run, as well as a spectrum of industrial solutions and more. Besides the offerings in the consolidation services, NTC Group also has a presence in the Warehousing and 3PL spheres. SCINNTC Supply Chain Solutions is the NTC Group's tech-enabled supply chain service provider with warehouses in 22 locations in India. With over 5 Million sq. feet of Warehouse Space and 4.5 Million sq. ft of 'Site Storage' facility, the company is offering the best in class warehouse facilities at all consumption centres in the country. SCINNTC is also listed among the world's Top 10 Inbound to Manufacturing (I2M) service providers. During the Partners in Progress meeting, the NTC Group launched a 70 m Truck Trailer for the first time in India, for transporting windmill blades. The trailer is manufactured by MAHA Auto Components, an NTC Group company, which can customize trailers to any possible lengths to suit diverse requirements, especially in the renewable energy logistics space. This trailer which is 70m in length when fully extended, is the largest of its kind to be made in India. Equipped with advanced accessories like ABS, EBS, Load Sensing Valves and more, the trailer is custom-made to ensure safety & reliability giving more thrust to the logistics of windmill blades. Today, there is a growing need in the world to focus on renewable power because of the drastically changing climate. However, the renewable energy supply chain is complex, time-sensitive and needs experience, perfection, and safety at every stage of the supply chain. Having foreseen the necessity in the early 2000s, NTC Logistics was the first in India to foray into wind logistics with the movement of long wind blades and other large wind turbine components. Through innovation and technology, NTC has successfully handled the 83m wind blade and has been the frontrunner in introducing technology through extendible trailers, blades and tower adapters. These achievements have given the company a remarkable value in the market, making it the number one renewable logistics player in the country today. Further, to enhance its green-energy mission, NTC Group has been executing renewable energy projects through its group company, Everrenew Energy. Everrenew offers a complete concept for commissioning renewable energy solutions under one roof, starting from logistics to site construction activities for wind and solar projects, as a packaged solution. To commit more towards increasing the green covers and contribute to its carbon offset measures, NTC Group has been planting trees on over 5000 acres of land in association with the Vanam India Foundation. Recognizing the fusion in the group's potential and the emphasis on customers seeking a broader set of logistic services, NTC Group is offering an entire gamut of services, well equipped under its roof to cater to their every need. With extensive presence across India, the group is outlining its expansion and is potentiating its strategic reach to where the demand is. It has now embarked on creating footprints across the globe, and the recently opened office in Malaysia is a step in that direction. Today, the NTC Group has overseas offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, with partnerships in Asia, Australia, the Americas, the Middle East, and the Far East. This story is provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/India PR Distribution) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 28 (ANI/PRNewswire): In the coming first week of July 2022, ICFAI Business School (IBS) is all set to launch IBSAT 2022, for admission to the batch of 2023-2025. The exciting part of the entrance exam this year is the scholarship program, which comprises an attractive amount of INR 10 crores which will be awarded to the meritorious students under different categories. The different categories are: wards of IBS Alumni, wards of defence personnel, and candidates with disabilities. With a history of more than 25 years of existence, IBS has produced more than 65000 Alumni, working in the corporate sectors across the country and abroad, and this is one way of thanking the IBSAF community. For the wards of defence personnel who strive hard to ensure the nation's security and also, this scholarship will be awarded to persons with disabilities, as a part of our corporate social responsibility. For the batch of 2023-2025, candidates need to be toppers in IBSAT 2022, NMAT 2022, CAT 2022, XAT 2023, GMAT (during 2022), or qualified CFA, CA, CS, ICWA. This initiative is to help the deserving candidates with a proven record secured in the entrance exams mentioned, encouraged to join ICFAI Business School (IBS). The scholarship amount will be adjusted towards fee payable by the students in the first and second semester after joining IBS and is subject to certain terms and conditions. ICFAI Business School (IBS) is hopeful of the fact that it will be able to attract more students, willing to get enrolled in one of the nine ICFAI Business Schools spread across the country. Here are just some of the multiple reasons to consider IBS as one of the best options to enroll: More than 25 years in existence, IBS is one of the most prestigious B-School. Most of the 65000 plus alumni members are in touch with their alma mater and are constantly helping the students by mentoring and guiding, perhaps directly or indirectly preparing them to secure the best placements. The placements of 2022 have been one of the best, with international placements having the highest CTC in excess of 50 LPA, and the highest national placement of over 22 LPA. Therefore, it is an excellent opportunity calling for MBA aspirants! Candidates who are aspiring to get enrolled in top MBA colleges and B schools in the country for the best Management studies along with a merit scholarship program, must not miss out on this opportunity offered by ICFAI Business School this year. With the launch of IBSAT 2022 in the 1st week of July, meritorious students will be able to avail this grand opportunity by cracking the exams and getting selected in any of the 9 ICFAI Business School campuses by clearing the selection process (GD & PI) scheduled during February/March 2023. The campaign of IBSAT 2022 will commence in the 1st week of July 2022. The IBSAT examination will be conducted in the last week of December 2022. A brief overview of the IBSAT Examination IBSAT stands as the abbreviated form for ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test which is administered by ICFAI Business School (IBS). IBSAT is among the top national level MBA entrance exam conducted across India by the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (Deemed to be University) and is a gateway to MBA/ PGPM 2023-25 at 9 campuses of ICFAI Business School spread across the country namely, IBS Hyderabad, IBS Mumbai, IBS Bengaluru, IBS Pune, IBS Gurgaon, IBS Kolkata, IBS Ahmedabad, IBS Jaipur and IBS Dehradun. IBSAT is a two-hour-long Computer Based Test (CBT) that comprises of multiple-choice questions and is aimed at testing the eligibility of the candidate for admission. IBSAT is generally conducted once a year, over a window of two days in the month of December. Qualified candidates will have to attend two processes, first the selection briefing process and second the final selection process, i.e. Group discussion (GD) & Personal Interview (PI) round. A quick look into the IBSAT Eligibility Criteria for 2022: Candidates are required to complete the following eligibility criteria for IBSAT 2022- Candidates should hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate score. Candidates not meeting the eligibility criteria for English medium in graduation need to submit the TOEFL/NELT/IELTS score Applicants in the final year of graduation are also eligible to apply. Candidates with a valid score of GMAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT by GMAC need not appear for IBSAT and they can directly apply for admission. Candidates who are aiming to pursue an MBA/PGPM degree and build a career in global business should opt for ICFAI Business School. Since its inception, IBS has been one of the best B-Schools in the country, providing excellent academic delivery and infrastructure to its students. ICFAI Business school (IBS) aims to offer innovative, globally accepted programs and great opportunities for the all-around development of the students. 100 per cent case-based learning technique is a unique aspect of IBS and it ensures the transformation of its students into future leaders. IBS campuses offer two years, full-time Management Programs to prepare the students and equip them for successful corporate careers. These campuses are independent professional institutions that are neither affiliated to nor are any off-campus centres of any University. For more details, please click on the link below: https://ibsindia.org/ IBS Admission Office Plot No. 65, Nagarjuna Hills Punjagutta, Hyderabad - 500082 Telangana Ph: 040 - 23440963 (5 lines) Toll Free :1800 425 55 66 77 E-mail: ibsat@ibsindia.org This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) Actor John Abraham, who is busy promoting his upcoming thriller, 'Ek Villain Returns,' recently opened up about his preference as an actor for the big screen, rather than OTT platforms. "I would not like to be available for Rs 299 or Rs 499," the actor was cited as saying. According to Mashable, the 'Satyamev Jayate' actor in the interview shared his thoughts about the growing OTT platforms and that, he "loved" the OTT space only as a producer and not as an actor. "I am a big-screen hero and that is where I want to be seen. At this point, I will do films that cater to the big screen. I would find it offensive if someone shut off my film midway on a tablet because they needed to rush to the washroom. Also, I would not like to be available for Rs299 or 499. I have a problem with it," the actor said. The OTT space has been growing at a fast pace over the past few years and many big Bollywood names like Shahid Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra among others are all geared up to mark their OTT debut very soon. However, the 'Batla House' actor doesn't seem much interested to work in a digital project even though his last film 'Attack Part One' was released on digital platforms after its theatrical release. Meanwhile, John Abraham faced some ribbing from netizens for his statement on OTT platforms. "I will go to John Abraham's next movie in the theatre and walk out to pee when he inevitably takes his shirt off" a user tweeted. Another user wrote, "Can please someone pass this gentle reminder to John Abraham that no one wants to see his acting on OTT as well as in the theatres." On the work front, the actor will be next seen in Mohit Suri's 'Ek Villain Returns' with Arjun Kapoor, Tara Sutaria and Disha Patani. The film is all set to hit theatres on July 29, 2022. His upcoming line-up also has 'Pathaan' with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, which is slated to release on January 25, 2023. (ANI) 'Robin Hood' actor Russell Crowe is all geared up to feature in the latest supernatural horror-thriller 'The Pope's Exorcist'. Crowe would be playing the role of the real-life chief exorcist of the Vatican City, Father Gabriele Amorth, who performed over 100,000 exorcisms in his life, reported The Hollywood Reporter. He also wrote two memoirs titled 'An Exorcist Tells His Story' and 'An Exorcist: More Stories' which recorded his experiences of battling demons that possessed people. Father Amorth passed away in 2016 when he was 91 years old. 'The Pope's Exorcist' is helmed by Julius Avery, known for his 2018 super-hit horror film 'Overlord' while Screen Gems would be the official producers of the movie. The script of the film is written by Evan Spiliotopoulos. Screen Gems has acquired the life rights of Father Gabriele Amorth from producer Michael Patrick Kaczmarek and production company, Loyola Productions. The rights include access to the two best-selling memoirs of Father Amorth alongside some of his other troves which host detailed accounts of his acts of exorcism. Talking about Crowe, Avery revealed in a statement that working with the actor on this project was a 'dream come true', reported The Hollywood Reporter. "It's been a goal of mine to work with Russell. "To collaborate with him on the amazing Pope's Exorcist is truly a dream come true," confessed Avery. 'The Pope's Exorcist' would start production in Ireland in September, reported The Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile, actor Russell Crowe who had previously bagged an Oscar for his film 'Gladiator' has a number of projects lined up. He recently wrapped up his shoot for the film 'Kraven the Hunter' and would be seen portraying the role of Zeus in 'Thor: Love and Thunder' as well. The latter is slated to release in July this year. Apart from that, Crowe will also be starring in the film 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' directed by Peter Farrelly. He will also feature in the movie 'Poker Face', directed and written by Crowe himself, opposite Liam Hemsworth. (ANI) Veteran music producer Chaka Zulu, the longtime manager of actor-rapper Ludacris is recovering from injuries sustained in a shooting that took place in Atlanta on Sunday, media reported. According to an incident report filed by the Atlanta Police Department on Monday (June 27), officers were notified around 11: 35 p.m. that "multiple persons [were] shot at the location of 2293 Peachtree Rd," reports Billboard. When police arrived on the scene, they "located three adult males with gunshot wounds." One victim was pronounced dead after the three of them were taken to a local hospital. However, the Atlanta Police Department did not release the identity of the victims. The incident report continued, "Homicide investigators responded to the scene to begin investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. This investigation remains active and ongoing at this time." Atlanta news reporter Michael Seiden on Monday, tweeted, "Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed just sent me the following statement on Chaka Zulu: We are fortunate to report that Chaka Zulu is in stable condition and recovering. The family thanks everyone for their well wishes and prayers, and asks for their privacy at this time." Chaka Zulu has managed Ludacris for more than two decades. On December 16, 2012, Ludacris, posing alongside Zulu, shared an Instagram post with the caption, "Me & my manager of 14 years Chaka Zulu #loyalty." Under Chaka Zulu's influence, Ludacris has released 11 albums that have charted on the Billboard 200, including two No. 1 albums and a total of eight Top 10 LPs, having also appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 56 times. (ANI) The Hyderabad Police on Monday conducted test identification parade in the Jubilee Hills gang-rape case. The test identification parade was held at Juvenile Home and Chanchalguda Central Prison. The minor victim has reportedly identified all the six accused. The police took the 17-year-old victim to both the places and recorded her statement in the presence of a magistrate. The girl was accompanied by her guardians. At the prison, she identified Saduddin Malik, the only major accused in the case while at Juvenile Home, all five minors were paraded before her. Since the victim had told the police that she had met the accused for the first time, the police conducted the identification parade after obtaining permission from the court. The police expect identification to help them in nailing the accused by producing strong evidence against them in the court to seek maximum punishment. Earlier, Hyderabad police received permission from a city court and Juvenile Justice Board to collect DNA samples from the accused and send the same to forensic lab for analysis. Five accused including four minors will be subjected to DNA profiling. The fifth minor, son of a city MLA, is facing only charges of molestation. The DNA samples will be collected from four minors lodged in Juvenile Home and from Saduddin Malik, the only major in the case who is lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison. The DNA matching is considered crucial in the investigations into the sensational case, which had rocked the state and triggered national outrage earlier this month. As part of its efforts to build a strong case against the accused, the police are focusing on gathering all the technical evidence. The investigators have already collected clues from Innova vehicle in which five accused had sexually assaulted the 17-year-old victim. The DNA test results are likely to help the police in matching the same with the clues gathered from the vehicle. This will be important to prove in the court that the gang rape was committed in the SUV, which is a government vehicle. One of the minors charged with gang rape is son of a leader of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and chairman of a government-run body. The SUV was allegedly allotted to him for official duties. The investigators, if required, may collect DNA samples from the victim, who has already given her statement to the police and the court. The Juvenile Justice Board had last week dismissed bail petitions of the minors. The Board agreed with the argument by the police that in view of the serious nature of the offence they should not be granted bail. The police told the court that since the case is at the investigating stage, if minors are released on bail they may try to influence the witnesses. The court was also told that the minors' parents, who hold influential positions in the society, may try to hamper the investigation. Six accused were arrested earlier this month for gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in a car on May 28 in the upscale Jubilee Hills. They had trapped the victim after a daytime party at a bar and after offering a lift sexually assaulted her. The police questioned the accused in their custody and carried out scene reconstruction. Potency test was conducted on five accused who were involved in the gang rape. The test established that they are capable of engaging in sexual acts. Saduddin Malik and four minors have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) 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 minor 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. --IANS ms/pgh ( 718 Words) 2022-06-27-20:30:03 (IANS) Opposition members protested in the Bihar Assembly on Monday over the Agnipath scheme of defence recruitment and demanded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar spell out his stand. Opposition parties, including the RJD, the CPI, the CPI-M, the CPI-ML, and the AIMIM sought to move an adjournment motion to discuss the Agnipath scheme. "We have demanded an adjournment motion in the Vidhan Sabha to discuss the Agnipath scheme. We want CM Nitish Kumar to clear his stand on this issue. During the Agnipath agitation, Bihar was burning for three days. Hence, the youths of Bihar and the country want to know the stand of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is silent on this issue," senior RJD leader Bhai Virendra said. "The Centre has put the country under threat. The Centre wants security for the country through contracts. We are against this decision. Securing the borders of our country on contract is absolutely the wrong decision," he added. CPI-ML lawmaker Mahboob Alam said: "The BJP has brought a scheme to change the structure of defense forces having a history of 250 years. Changing the structure of the defence system through a scheme cannot be possible. Center is playing with the future of youths." Opposition leaders asserted that that the agitation against the Agnipath scheme has not ended, and the RJD and Left will continue the agitation in Bihar and in the country. --IANS ajk/vd ( 245 Words) 2022-06-27-22:04:04 (IANS) The dissident Shiv Sena MLAs, who are camping at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati for the past few days are passing their time by playing various indoor games including chess and ludo. "Other than a couple of meetings within themselves, they have no other serious activity in Guwahati. To pass their time, they are playing various indoor games including chess and ludo to keep themselves engaged," a source close to the MLAs told the media on condition of anonymity. The rebel legislators led by disgruntled Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde are not allowed to go outside the hotel. Initially, the MLAs booked rooms of the hotel for about a week. Assam BJP MLAs, leaders and ministers are occasionally visiting the hotel, and briefly talking with the Maharashtra lawmakers. Assam police commandos led by senior officials are closely looking after the security of the MLAs, and from time to time, also reviewing the hotel security. The hotel authorities refused fresh booking of common boarders except the passengers from airlines, with which the hotel has long term arrangements. Assam's ruling BJP has been maintaining that it has nothing to do with the Maharashtra political crisis and camping of the MLAs in Guwahati. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that these people are guests and have chosen Guwahati for their stay on their own. Shiv Sena leaders from Manipur led by state President M. Tombi Singh came to the hotel on Monday to meet Eknath Shinde. However, they were not allowed to meet. The main opposition Congress in Assam earlier asked the dissident Maharashtra MLAs to leave the state at the earliest in the greater interest of the state. Since last Wednesday morning, dissident MLAs of Shiv Sena, Independents and others have been camping at the hotel posing a threat to the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government in Maharashtra. --IANS sc/pgh ( 323 Words) 2022-06-27-23:26:01 (IANS) The EOW joint CP Chhaya Sharma said that arrests were made near Cross River Mall in the Shahdara area of the national capital after a detailed analysis of data and manual surveillance. The accused were identified as the main accused Pradeep Paliwal alias Mahesh Gupta (70) and his associate Vinayak Bhatt. According to police, Paliwal was wanted in four cases and his associate Bhatt was also wanted in a CBI case. Police said Paliwal and his associate used to cheat people and banks on the pretext of getting money for investing in the granite mining business and getting loans on forged papers against already mortgaged properties. "He was using Telegram and Whatsapp on mobile numbers of Zimbabwe and never stayed at one location for more than 24 hours. He also avoided travelling by plane. He was using one private Pajero vehicle to travel from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi," said Police. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) The rebel Shiv Sena MLAs of the Eknath Shinde camp, who are currently in Assam, will hold a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the further plan of action, amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra. According to the sources, they are expected to take an important decision today. Independent MLAs might approach Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari very soon. Sources have earlier learned that they are likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati and are unlikely to return before July 5. "Rebel Maharashtra MLAs likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. The hotel was booked till July 5 and the booking can now be extended as per requirement," sources said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, attacking rebel MLAs of the party, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state. Thackeray also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde's rebel camp were in touch with the Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". Additionally, a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation amid the crisis faced by the MVA government. Notably, the political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde has now reached the Supreme Court. The pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenge the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. "This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe," Eknath Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11. (ANI) A total of six persons have been rescued so far and efforts are to rescue the others, ONGC said. Till now 6 persons are rescued. Operations are still on .= According to official sources, the Indian Coast Guard has also joined in the rescue operations. The Coast Guard has diverted two ships towards the site for the rescue operation. One Dornier aircraft, which took off from Daman dropped one life raft in the area, official sources said. The site of the mishap is located 7 nautical miles inside the Arabian sea from Mumbai. (ANI) Five people died after a speeding car collided with a truck on NH 325 earlier today. According to the information, all the five occupants of the car died on the spot. Locals said that the accident happened in the early hours of Tuesday. "The road accident in Jalore, Rajasthan is very sad. I express my condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this. May God give them strength in this hour of grief" the Prime Minister tweeted. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to Twitter to tweet: "The death of five people in a road accident near Charalee village in Ahor area in Jalore is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family, may God give them strength to bear this loss and may the soul of the departed rest in peace." Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia tweeted, "The horrific road accident in Ahor area of Jalore district is extremely sad; May God rest the departed souls and give courage to the families to bear this loss. The @BJP4Rajasthan family stands with the bereaved family in this hour of grief. Peace!" As soon as the information about the incident was received, senior police officers reached the spot. The deceased are yet to be identified and Police have sent the bodies for a post-mortem. (ANI) Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra triggered by a rebellion of a large section of Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently camping in Assam, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Tuesday said that they are waiting for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to declare that they don't have the numbers to prove majority in the state assembly. "BJP doesn't need to prove the majority as of now. We are waiting for MVA to declare that they don't have the numbers," he said. Mungantiwar further said that right now the BJP is in wait-and-watch mode. "We had clarified yesterday as well that we will hold another core team meeting in the days to come, keeping in mind its necessity - if any. We will deliberate and make a decision. Right now we are in a wait-and-watch mode," the BJP leader added. Another Maharashtra BJP leader Pravin Darekar said that the political situation in Maharashtra is unstable right now and the MVA government is in minority. "The political situation in Maharashtra is unstable right now. MVA government is in minority. They are issuing 200-300 Government Resolutions (GRs) every day. It is public money. I have requested the state Governor about it and he has asked the government to investigate it," said Darekar. Earlier on Monday, a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held to discuss the state's political situation amid the crisis faced by the MVA government due to the revolt in Shiv Sena. The BJP has decided that the party will follow the "wait and watch" approach. The meeting was held at the residence of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and other BJP leaders. Meanwhile, Congress's Rashtrawadi Yubak has called the rebel MLAs of Maharashtra traitors and they put up posters in various locations of Guwahati. A poster that reads "Sara desh dekh raha hai, Guwahati mein chhupe gaddaron ko, maaf nahi karegi janta aise farzi makkaron ko (The whole nation is watching traitors hiding in Guwahati, people will not forgive such cunning persons". Also, the banner, with the faces of Balasaheb Thackeray, Eknath Shinde and Anand Dighe, was seen yesterday on the route between Radisson Blu Hotel and Somnath Temple in Guwahati and it was removed today. A total of 48 rebel MLAs of Maharashtra including 39 rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena are staying at Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati since June 22. Notably, the political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde has now reached the Supreme Court. The pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenge the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. "This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe," Eknath Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11. (ANI) Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday reached Delhi amid the ongoing political situation in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state. He came to Delhi after a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation. A total of 48 rebel MLAs of Maharashtra including 39 rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena are staying at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati since June 22. After BJP manages to secure a majority in the 2019 Assembly election, Fadnavis took oath as a Chief Minister of Maharashtra, but soon he had tendered his resignation after his deputy and NCP leader Ajit Pawar quit. After Fadnavis quit, a post-poll alliance of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) and the Congress picked Uddhav Thackeray as their nominee for the chief minister's post. The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44. Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had warned the BJP and Devendra Fadnavis to not get involved in the crisis unfolding in the MVA government. "If they do, then their party (BJP), Fadnavis and PM Modi's names will be tarnished," Raut said. The political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde has now reached the Supreme Court. The pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenge the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. The Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. "This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe," Eknath Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11. Meanwhile, attacking rebel MLAs of the party, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state. Thackeray also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde's rebel camp were in touch with the Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". (ANI) Shiv Sena on Tuesday refuted reports which claimed that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had called BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. In an official statement, Shiv Sena spokesperson Harshal Pradhan said, "Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray called Devendra Fadnavis to save the government some such news is going on but this news is only to mislead. Whatever, Uddhav Thackeray has to say, he speaks publicly." Earlier, sources had claimed that Thackeray was in touch with BJP leaders to find a way out of the political crisis facing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government that includes the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress apart from Shiv Sena. The sources had also said that Thackeray was ready to resign on June 22 at 5 pm after it was clear that there was "no way out" of the political crisis facing the Maharashtra government but MVA allies convinced him not to resign. A core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation. The BJP has decided that the party will follow the "wait and watch" approach. "We had clarified yesterday as well that we will hold another core team meeting in the days to come, keeping in mind its necessity - if any. We will deliberate and make a decision. Right now we are in a wait-and-watch mode," said Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP leader. Meanwhile, rebel Shiv Sena MLAs of the Eknath Shinde camp, who are currently in Assam will huddle together this afternoon to discuss the further plan of action, amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra. According to the sources, they are expected to take an important decision today. Independent MLAs might approach Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari very soon. Sources have earlier learned that the MLAs are likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati and are unlikely to return before July 5. "Rebel Maharashtra MLAs likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. The hotel was booked till July 5 and the booking can now be extended as per requirement," sources said on Tuesday. Notably, the political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde has now reached the Supreme Court. The pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenge the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. (ANI) With two days left for the Amarnath Yatra, the langar committees are gearing up to facilitate Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Udhampur and Baltal. In Jammu and Kashmir, all necessary arrangements have been completed by the Ramban district administration for the convenience of the Amarnath Yatries during their Yatra (pilgrimage) starting from June 29 from Jammu, on the 66 Km journey from Nashri to Banihal. "We have made arrangements for langar here. The District administration has also completed preparations. We are ready to welcome devotees," says YP Sharma, Sarpanch, Halqa Tikri, Udhampur. "Government doesn't provide food here, only langers are served. They serve over 1.5 lakh meals a day. 38 langer organizations have been given permission to serve this time," said Camp Director NS Jamwal. Besides this, the DRDO hostel has been made prepared for the Amarnath Yatris. "DRDO hostel is ready in both the base camps for Amarnath Yatris. We have made arrangements for the pilgrims to stay. Langar, medical, communication and sanitation facilities for the pilgrims have been done here," said Nitishwar Kumar, CEO of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Additional District Commissioner, Ramban, Harbans Lal who is also the Nodal Officer for Amarnath Yatra in Ramban district said that as many as 1,005 toilets excluding mobile toilets have been arranged for the Yatris along the NH44 as well as in the shelter sheds. He said that special designated water supply has been made for the pilgrims. CCTV cameras have been installed for the security of 'Yatris' (tourists). Besides this, signboards and a public address system have been made for providing necessary information for pilgrims. In addition to this, Police Control Rooms and Joint Control Rooms the Helpline, and District Emergency Operation Centre numbers have also been established. Meticulous arrangements have been made for sanitation at their shelter places. All arrangements have also been made for any medical emergency of Yatris in the langars and other shelter sheds under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer. "Those going on the Amarnath yatra should be careful, should mask up and maintain distance," said Dr Sujeet Singh, Director NCDC. In the Ramban district along the NH-44, as many as 33 Langars by various religious and philanthropic organizations are all set to serve the pilgrims. In these langars besides free breakfast, lunch and dinner would be provided to the pilgrims. Besides this, there would be beds for night stays and free medicines in case of emergency. Nodal Officers have been deputed for ensuring the smooth running of langars. According to the Nodal Officer, Amarnath Yatra, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Harbans Lal the facilities of water and power supply besides security, medical and sanitation have been ensured in these Langars and Nodal Officers have been deputed for ensuring the smooth running of langars. Besides langars, many wayside eateries and food joints have been established. As many as 14 vulnerable points have been identified on the NH-44 where the road can be blocked due to landslides which can disrupt the Yatra and in case of emergency the stranded Yatries can be sheltered in newly established Yatri Niwas with a capacity of about 3600 Yatris. Besides this 4,600 pilgrims can take shelter in the way-side RAHAT Centres, Community Halls, and some schools where all arrangements like 24-hour water and power supply are available. The NDRF, SDRF, Quick Response Teams, and Disaster Management Teams are on the alert to rescue the Yatris to safer places in case of any emergencies. According to the Ramban SSP, Mohita Sharma, besides Police, Indian Reserve Police, 15 Companies of ITBP, and seven Companies of CRPF will be on duty along the NH-44 for the security of pilgrims throughout the Yatra. Round-the-clock surveillance by CCTV and drones will be done which will be monitored through Control Room. Occasional Mock drills have been carried out, awareness camps have been held by anti-sabotage teams to educate the drivers about the sticky bombs. For traffic regulation, no other private vehicle will be allowed to move during the Yatra convoy and a separate Traffic Advisory will be issued for Yatra days. The police would conduct random checkings of vehicles. The civil and Police administration of the Ramban district will hold a special program to welcome the Yatries at Nashri-the Gateway of the Ramban district, by garlanding the Yatries on June 29 morning. Meanwhile, pilgrims embarking on the Amarnath Yatra are advised to bring along their Aadhar Card or any other biometric verified Government ID Card. IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar along with SSP Anantnag visited Amarnath holy cave and conducted a security review of the deployment of forces on the ground. He physically inspected all deployments and gave further instructions for better coordination and joint efforts. (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will hold a cabinet meeting at 5 pm today, informed Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Tuesday. As per the sources, Maharashtra CM and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will not be physically present in the Cabinet meeting today. "CM will chair the meeting virtually and Deputy CM is likely to join through VC as he is COVID-19 positive," said sources. The cabinet meeting will be taking place amid the ongoing political crisis which was triggered when Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. The meeting came a day after Thackeray reshuffled the departments of ministers and took away portfolios of nine ministers who have joined the Eknath Shinde camp. Meanwhile, attacking rebel MLAs of the party, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray had on Monday accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state. Thackeray also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde's rebel camp were in touch with the Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". Notably, the battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. (ANI) Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is currently camping in a hotel in Assam's Guwahati, on Tuesday claimed that he has the support of 50 MLAs and will soon return to Mumbai. Speaking to reporters here, Shinde said, "We are in Shiv Sena and we are taking Shiv Sena forward. There should not be any doubt about it. We will give let you know about our further course of action. I would be in Mumbai soon." On the claim of Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray that 15 to 20 MLAs had claimed that they had been abducted and had reached out to party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati, Shinde said that "no MLA has been suppressed" and all are with him of their own will. "No MLA is suppressed here, everyone here is happy. MLAs are with us. If Shiv Sena says that the MLAs present here are in contact with them, they should reveal the names," he added. He further said that the rebel MLAs were in favour of Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and enthused about carrying it forward. "Our spokesperson is Deepak Kesarkar, he will give you all the information. He is letting you know about our stand and role. We are speaking about Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and we are carrying it forward," Shinde told reporters in Guwahati. Earlier, attacking dissident MLAs of the party, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state. Thackeray also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde's rebel camp were in touch with the Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday arrived in Delhi amid the ongoing political situation in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state. He reached the national capital after a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation. The political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde reached the Supreme Court with pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenging the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. The Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. (ANI) The Delhi Police on Tuesday said AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair had intentionally formatted his phone and also refused to co-operate with authorities in the investigation against him in connection with an "objectionable" tweet, providing grounds for his arrest. Zubair was arrested on Monday for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community in a Twitter post he had written in 2018 "Mohd Zubair's objectionable tweet led to a Twitter storm with hate speeches, detrimental to communal harmony. Two things including technical gadget and intention was important. He was evasive on both, the phone was formatted. This formed grounds for his arrest," said KPS Malhotra, DCP IFSO. The official said that Delhi Police will seek more remand time to question him. The police official further refuted reports that Zubair's arrest was "politically motivated." "If someone is booked in several cases it's our right to question him in all. Judiciary is involved, custody given, bail not granted, there must be some substance to case. Calling it politically motivated doesn't stand right. We'll ask for more remand," said KPS Malhotra, DCP IFSO (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations) unit of the Delhi Police. Zubair was arrested and sent to one day of police custody after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him based on a Twitter posting, which another Twitter handle alleged "hurt Hindu sentiments." Delhi Police said that Zubair was evasive during questioning and did not cooperate in the investigation. "He was evasive on the questions and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation," said Delhi Police senior officials. The officials also mentioned that the conduct of Zubair was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel conspiracy in this matter. The contentious tweet by Zubair was posted in March 2018. "The said post of Mohd. Zubair containing picture and words against a particular religious community are highly provocative and done deliberately which are more than sufficient to incite hatred among people which can be detrimental for the maintenance of public tranquillity," the Delhi Police said in a statement. DCP Malhotra said: "If you endorse a view on social media, it becomes your view. Retweeting and saying I don't know, doesn't stand here. The Responsibility is yours. Time does not matter, you only have to re-tweet and it becomes new. Police action was taken on basis of when the matter came to our cognizance." The FIR against Zubair was lodged on June 20 based on the complaint filed by the Duty Officer of the IFSO unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell which tackles cyber crimes. According to duty officer Arun Kumar, while he was monitoring social media, he saw a tweet shared by a person with the Twitter name 'Hanuman Bhakt' and Twitter ID @balajikijai. The shared tweet was Mohammad Zubair's and contained "objectionable" words. "Today, I was present in IFSO (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations) unit of Delhi Police, Dwarka as an emergency officer, and during social media monitoring, it came to notice that a Twitter handle Hanuman Bhakt shared a tweet against another Twitter handle - Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear in which it has been tweeted by Mohammed Zubair 'before 2014: Honeymoon hotel, after 2014: Hanuman Hotel...and has shown a picture of a signboard of one hotel, "honeymoon hotel changed to Hanuman hotel," Kumar stated in his complaint. The screenshot of the board is from a Hindi movie."These words and the picture found to be used by Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear against a particular religious community and are highly provocative and more than sufficient to incite feeling of hatred amongst people which can be detrimental for maintenance of public tranquility in the society. Transmission and publication of such posts has been deliberately done Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear through electronic media to insult the religious feelings of a particular community with intent to provoke breach of peace which attracts offence under Section 153-A and 295..From the contents of the post from Twitter handle Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear, offence 153-A and 295 is made out," the FIR further stated. Counsel for Alt News co-founder Zubair had moved bail application which was declined by the court on grounds of "not finding merits."Delhi Police's application for one-day police remand was granted by the court," said Delhi Police officials. Zubair was booked under Sections 153A (promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Delhi Police said. Pratik Sinha, another co-founder at Alt News, commented on his colleague's arrest and wrote on Twitter on Monday, "Zubair was called today by special cell, Delhi for investigation in a 2020 case for which he already had a protection against arrest from High Court. "However, today at around 6.45 pm we were told he has been arrested in some other FIR for which no notice was given which is mandatory under law for the Sections under which he has been arrested. Nor FIR copy is being given to us despite repeated requests," Sinha said in a statement on the microblogging site yesterday. (ANI) Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has resigned from the board of Reliance Jio handing over reigns to his elder son Akash Ambani, who will be Chairman of the Board of Directors. In a stock exchange filing, Reliance Jio Infocomm said the company's board has approved the appointment of Akash M Ambani, non-executive director, as chairman of the board of directors of the company." It said that the Board of Directors in their meeting held on June 27 noted the resignation of Mukesh D Ambani as Director of the company effective from the close of working hours on June 27, 2022. Akash has been closely involved with the disruptive and inclusive growth path charted by the digital services and consumer retail propositions of Reliance group and is now leading the creation of the 'convergence dividend' for over 500 million consumers, digitally and with high-inclusivity across geographies and income levels. His elevation as Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm recognises the specific contributions made by him to the digital services journey and rededicates him to even higher levels of responsibilities, going forward. Mukesh Ambani will continue to be the Chairman of Jio Platforms Ltd, the flagship company that owns all Jio digital services brands including Reliance Jio Infocomm. Akash Ambani, who has graduated from Brown University with a major in Economics, has been closely involved with the creation of the digital ecosystem around Jio's 4G proposition. He was closely involved with a team of engineers in inventing and launching an India-specs focussed Jiophone in 2017 which became quite a revolutionary device to take many people out of 2G to 4G. Akash personally led the key acquisitions made by Jio in the digital space in the last few years and has also been keenly involved with the development of new technologies and capabilities including AI-ML and blockchain. He was integrally involved in the trailblazing global investments by tech majors and investors in 2020, which in many ways catapulted Jio onto the global investor map. Akash is expected to continue to operate on the cutting-edges of innovation and technology to encourage an ecosystem that will further digital solutions and make the power of data and technology more accessible to all, including those who are still at the margin. He will continue Jio's efforts "to build India into a highly inclusive, highly digital society". According to the filing on stock exchanges, Pankaj Pawar has been appointed Managing Director of Reliance Jio Infocomm for the next five years. The Board has also approved the appointment of Raminder Singh Gujral and K.V. Chowdary, as Additional Directors of the Company, designated as Independent Directors for a period of five years commencing from June 27, 2022, subject to the approval of the shareholders. (ANI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) headed by Justice Arun Mishra, has issued an Advisory to the Centre, States and Union Territories Administrations to protect the human rights of commercial truck drivers. Prior to this, chairing the Core Group meeting on Business and Human Rights on the issues of commercial truck drivers, he had expressed serious concerns over the plight of commercial truck drivers and suggested collaborative, pragmatic and implementable solutions to safeguard their rights. Issuing the Advisory, the Commission has observed that despite making a significant contribution to the economy of the nation, the rightful entitlements of the truck drivers do not get adequate attention, as the truck business remains fragmented and unorganised. "The majority of the truck drivers do not get social security benefits such as provident fund, pension, health insurance, life insurance, gratuity, etc. long working hours, lack of adequate rest and sleep, long absence from family, low salary, non-availability of clean and healthy food in time, the constant threat of exploitation by law enforcement agencies and anti-social elements and high risk of road accidents makes the truck drivers prone to physical and mental stress, drug addiction and irresponsible sexual behaviour," the release read. The Commission, in a letter through its Secretary-General, Devendra Kumar Singh to the Secretaries of concerned Union Ministries/Departments, Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories, has asked for the implementation of its recommendations in the Advisory and sought Action Taken Report within three months. The Advisory has focused on four key areas for action by the Centre, States and UT Administrations. These include: Protection from exploitation, Provision of amenities to the drivers, provision of Socio Economic Security and the Physical & Mental well being of the commercial truck drivers. Some of the important recommendations, among others, include to amend the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 to provide for mandatory purchase of personal accident cover for an amount not less than Rs. 15 lakh for each driver, co-driver and helper of a commercial truck. Provide cashless treatment to drivers, co-drivers and helpers injured or incapacitated in road accidents is another recommendation. Establish and regularly maintain driver rest stops and lay byes consisting of parking area, furnished rest rooms, toilets/wash rooms, restaurants providing food and beverages at reasonable rates in clean hygienic environment, mechanic shops, medicine shops, doctor's clinics, etc. at regular intervals, not exceeding 40 kilometres, along National Highways and at prominent locations along the State Highways and other major district roads, the release read. "Establish fully equipped Trauma Centres at regular intervals along highways to extend emergency to victims of road accidents," it read. Launch a special drive to create awareness and register all truck drivers, co-drivers and helpers on the e-Shram portal to avail benefits of Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-ABJAY) as well as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PM-JJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PM-SBY) and Old Age Protection under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mann Dhan (PM-SYMD), the release read. (ANI) Earlier, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the incident and announced that the family of the deceased will be given Rs 5 lakh each while the injured will get one lakh. "Rs 5 lakhs to the kin of those who lost their lives in the Mumbai accident, along with Rs 1 lakh to the injured," Kudalkar said in a tweet. The four-storeyed building collapsed in Mumbai's Kurla late on Monday night. The incident took place in the Naik Nagar area. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Potnis said, "In 2016, the building was listed under the C1 category. Later, following an audit, it was reclassified under C2. It should have been repaired, but it wasn't. I, however, don't think there has been negligence on part of BMC." On Monday night, Minister Aaditya Thackeray visited Kurla where the building collapsed and said that such property should be vacated on the notice of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). "Whenever BMC issues notices, (buildings) should be vacated themselves...otherwise, such incidents happen, which is unfortunate...It's now important to take action on this," Thackeray said. (ANI) Hours after a video went viral on social media wherein a shopkeeper is seen being beheaded by two men in Udaipur for supporting Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to appeal to the youth of the state to maintain peace. Addressing the reporters today, Gehlot said, "It is a sad and shameful incident. There is a tense atmosphere in the nation today. Why doesn't Prime Minister and Amit Shah address the nation? There is tension among people. PM should address the public and say that such violence won't be tolerated and appeal for peace." "It is a very sad incident. It is not a small incident, what has happened is beyond one's imagination. The culprits will not be spared," Gehlot said on Udaipur murder. Rajasthan Assembly's Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria also condemned the incident that took place in Udaipur. "We have had a conversation with Chief Minister Gehlot, and he said that teams have been deployed. He himself has talked to the officials and further said that those who committed the incident will be arrested soon," Kataria said to reporters on Udaipur murder. Meanwhile, the internet services have been temporarily suspended for the next 24 hours in the Udaipur district, following the incident of murder of a man in the city. A man was beheaded by two men in Udaipur's Maldas street area today. He had shared a social media post in support of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma a few days ago. The two men posted a video boasting about the beheading and threatened PM Modi's life as well. Locals protested after the incident that took place in broad daylight. Shops in Maldas street area of Udaipur have been closed following the incident. Udaipur Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Choudhary said a few accused have been identified and a thorough probe will be conducted. "A heinous murder has been committed and a thorough investigation will be conducted into the incident. Few accused have been identified. Police teams constituted to locate the accused. We will take action on the video of men claiming to have committed the act," Choudhary said. District Collector of Udaipur Tara Chand Meena urged the people to maintain peace and law and order. "I appeal to all to maintain peace and law and order. The affected family will be provided help from the government. Stringent action will be taken against the accused," he said. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot promised the strictest action against the culprits and said the police will go to the bottom of the matter. "I condemn the heinous murder of youth in Udaipur. Strict action will be taken against all the criminals involved in this incident and the police will go to the bottom of the crime. I appeal to all parties to maintain peace. Strictest punishment will be given to every person involved in such heinous crime," he said. The BJP had suspended party spokesperson Nupur Sharma earlier this month for her controversial remarks during a TV debate. (ANI) A trial court has dismissed the plea of the prosecution seeking to cancel the bail granted to actor Dileep in the 2017 actress assault case. The prosecution argued that Dileep, who is the eighth accused in this case, has influenced the witnesses and tried to tamper with the evidence. The prosecution further claimed that they have the evidence to prove this. But the court today dismissed the plea. The survivor actress, on May 23, had approached the Kerala High Court seeking its intervention in the case to ensure justice and alleged that a move is being made to subvert the case. In her plea, she alleged, "It is an attempt to influence the politicians in the ruling alliance to end the case. Despite the evidence that accused actor Dileep's lawyers were trying to influence witnesses, they were excluded from the investigation by the probe team. It was informed that a move was being made to end the case in a hurry. This raises the question of whether this will lead to denial of justice." Earlier on May 24, the Kerala Communist Party of India (Marxist) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had said that the plea filed by the survivor actress in the 2017 actress assault case was mysterious and allegations raised by her against the state government were baseless. Dileep is the Malayalam actor who has been the eighth accused in the case apart from Sunil Kumar, Martin Antony, Manikantan, VP Vijeesh, Salim, Pradeep, and Charley Thomas. The case pertains that an actress, who worked in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films, was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of 17 February 2017. (ANI) As the political turmoil in Maharashtra continues to unfold, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis accompanied by 8 independent MLAs on Tuesday submitted a letter to the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and demanded an immediate floor test. "We have given a letter to the Maharashtra Governor demanding an immediate floor test," Devendra Fadnavis said. Sources earlier today also learned that eight independent MLAs have sent an email to the registered email address of the Maharashtra Governor demanding for an immediate floor test. It is being reportedly said that Fadnavis will further demand a meeting with the Governor. Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed to the rebel MLAs to come for talks. "Don't fall prey to anyone's missteps. The honour given to you by Shiv Sena cannot be found anywhere. If you come forward and speak, we will sort out the issues. As Shiv Sena party chief and family head, I am still worried about you. Come here for a dialogue," he said. Meanwhile, rebel leader Eknath Shinde stated that he will return to Mumbai soon and that his faction was taking "Balasaheb's Shiv Sena forward". Shinde has claimed the support of over 50 MLAs. In a jolt to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs revolted against the party on June 20 and camped in Gujarat's Surat. Later, the rebel MLAs shifted base to a hotel in Guwahati. "10 people attacked a Shiv Sainik. His condition is fine. It is because of such Shiv Sainiks that our party is standing high. The person who got elected on a Shiv Sena ticket and is sitting in Guwahati got our Shiv Sainik attacked through his supporters," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. The rebellion was triggered by a large section of Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently camping in Assam. Sources have now learned that they are likely to stay for more days at a hotel in Guwahati and are unlikely to return before July 5. "Rebel Maharashtra MLAs likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. The hotel was booked till July 5 and the booking can now be extended as per requirement," sources said on Monday. The political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde has now reached the Supreme Court. The pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenge the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. "This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe," Eknath Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11. Notably, the national executive meeting of the Shiv Sena on June 25 passed six resolutions giving absolute rights to Maharashtra Chief Minister and party president Uddhav Thackeray to take action against the rebels to bring the revolt within party under control. The meeting was called in the wake of Sena MLA Eknath Shinde's rebellion, which has not only destabilised the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government in the State but also poses a risk of the Thackerays losing control of the party. Earlier, two MLAs, on June 26, called for the removal of the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker, who could be the key decision-maker about the disqualification of the rebel MLAs. Mahesh Baldi and Vinod Agarwal, both independent MLAs and said to be close to the BJP, have moved for the removal of Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, who is from Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Independent MLA Mahesh Baldi from Uran assembly constituency reached Vidhan Bhavan today and submitted a letter to the office Deputy speaker saying that he cannot disqualify the 12 MLAs. In his letter, he has cited several judgements of the Supreme Court. "The entire Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government doesn't have the majority and they can't disqualify any MLA. I am against Congress and NCP and if the MLAs are disqualified, we will also go to the Court," he said. Notably, the Maharashtra assembly doesn't have a Speaker since February 2021. Also, the Deputy Speaker also approved the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the ruling party Shiv Sena in the assembly in place of Eknath Shinde. Eknath Shinde has called the appointment illegal as Chaudhary's name was proposed by the "minority faction" as he represents the "real Sena". Shinde, who has been replaced by Ajay Chaudhary as Shiv Sena's legislature party leader on Friday, is currently camping with over 40 rebel MLAs in Guwahati. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today wrote to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and urged them to return to Mumbai and talk to him. Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde today declared that he will go to Mumbai and "take Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy forward" as he spoke to reporters outside a hotel in Guwahati where he and other rebels have been staying for a week. Eknath Shinde, the leader of a staggering coup against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, claims that he has the backing of around 50 MLAs, nearly 40 from the Shiv Sena. (ANI) It has been an eagle one week for the Eknath Shinde-led rebel Shiv Sena faction that is camping at a luxury hotel in Assam's Guwahati. While they have been watching every bit of development on television and through their contacts in the state of Maharashtra, those who have watched them closely say that the rebel Sena MLAs have maintained a reasonable calm so far. While the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis came down to Delhi on Tuesday afternoon and by the evening, he was in Mumbai at the Governor's House. It was a simple Dal khichadi meal that Eknath Shinde and his rebel MLA friends are enjoying at the five-star hotel. The mood was entirely different after the court gave a huge sense of relief to the rebel MLAs by putting on hold the disqualification notice till July 11 and that was celebrated by eating the famous Maharashtrian Malvani mutton last evening. The MLAs have been very particular about having their own local cuisine which is essentially Maharashtrian food, sources told ANI. Most of them have been either camped in their own rooms or in the room of Shinde having a long conversation about what lies ahead for them in the future. Sources said many of the times, the MLAs in the Guwahati hotel come down to the lobby and have chat among themselves or indulge in multiple photo opportunities. Sometimes they also recline by the swimming pool. Many of them have often been seen engaging in long video calls with their family or loved ones and sometimes playing a board game. Regular meetings are being held and motivational speeches are given by Shinde, the leader of the faction in order to keep the legislators together especially when the halt in Guwahati is taking longer than expected. 39 Shiv Sena MLAs and nine other MLAs, including two from Prahar Janshakti Party, have been staying at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati since they landed in the city last Wednesday in a private charter from Surat. (ANI) In an apparent softening of stance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena President, on Tuesday appealed to the rebel group camping in Guwahati to return and hold discussions, but rebel leader and state minister Eknath Shinde indirectly spurned the latest overtures. "Many of you are in contact with us and are still emotionally connected with the Shiv Sena. The families of many have also got in touch with us and conveyed your sentiments to us," said Thackeray. He assured that as the head of the Sena family, he respected their views and made it clear from his heart that till date "nobody is out of the party" though the (rebels) are stuck in Guwahati with all kinds of speculation. "I appeal to you all... Come before me, let's remove all the misconceptions in the minds of the people and the Shiv Sainiks," Thackeray appealed. The CM said if they all sit together, they can definitely come up with a solution to the political imbroglio even as he cautioned them against falling prey to any kind of wrong measures, hinting at a possible tie-up with the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. He made it clear that the respect and dignity the Shiv Sena accorded to them, they can never get that privilege anywhere else. "Come in front of me and present your views, let's work out a solution. I am still worried about you," concluded Thackeray, as the worsening crisis threatened the survival of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress. Hours later, Shinde hit back at Thackeray, his son Aditya Thackeray and the party's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut in a sharp tweet. "On one hand your son (state minister Aditya Thackeray) and spokesperson (MP Sanjay Raut) called the revered Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sainiks pigs, gutter-muck, dogs, cattle, morons, zombies, and even brought in their fathers, and on the other hand, they are making a call to save the anti-Hindutva MVA by trying to get back the very same MLAs...What does this mean," Shinde asked. This was the third direct appeal made by the CM to the rebels since the party's crisis exploded on the night of June 21-22. The ruling MVA plunged into turmoil when around 39 Sena MLAs and 11 others sneaked out to Gujarat and then to Assam as part of the rebel faction herded by Shinde. On previous calls for rapprochement from the Sena side, Shinde has categorically demanded that first the CM should quit the MVA alliance and join a BJP-led government in the interest of the people of the state, Hindutva and safeguarding the future of the Sena threatened by the NCP-Congress partnership. Earlier on Tuesday, Shinde even challenged the Sena leadership to "name the rebel MLAs" who are reportedly in touch with the party top brass in Mumbai. "They are deliberately spreading such misinformation, and misleading the people and the Shiv Sainiks. We are with the Sena and are followers of Balasaheb Thackeray whose Hindutva we are carrying forward," declared Shinde. The rebuttal came in response to Aditya Thackeray and Raut's repeated assertions that around 20 MLAs who went to the 48-strong rebel camp are in contact with them and would vote for the Sena upon return. While the BJP has decided to adopt a cautious wait-and-watch policy, the Shinde camp continues to hold strategic meetings in the Guwahati hotel though formal movements are yet to start amid speculations that around a dozen Sena MPs are likely to raise a banner of revolt. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) --IANS qn/arm ( 611 Words) 2022-06-28-20:20:03 (IANS) Actor Dileep on Tuesday heaved a sigh of relief when the trial court here on Tuesday dismissed the petition of the Crime Branch police probe team demanding cancellation of the bail. Actor Dileep is the eighth accused in the actress abduction case. The probe team had filed this petition in April and since then there have been several arguments in the case, but the beleaguered actor had the last laugh. The details of what transpired in the court on Tuesday will be known only on Wednesday as the court only announced that the application of the probe team has been dismissed. The actress abduction incident occurred in 2017 and Dileep was in jail for 85 days after which he is now out on bail and the probe team approached the court that he has violated the bail conditions and hence his bail should be cancelled. The case has in the past few months taken numerous twists and turns and in December last year, a fresh case was registered against the actor and his close associates based on a disclosure made by Dileep's former friend and director Balachandrakumar that he had conspired to do away with the police officials who probed the 2017 actress abduction case. And in this case, it was after several rounds of hearing that he got anticipatory bail from the Kerala High Court in March. --IANS sg/skp/ ( 246 Words) 2022-06-28-20:28:03 (IANS) Several villages in Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, Katihar in Seemanchal, as well as East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Supaul and other districts were affected due to flooding. In Araria, the water level of Nuna river rose on Tuesday and flooded several villages after washing away the embankment at Sikti block. The section of road connecting Sikti to Singhiya was also damaged by flood water. Children were seen playing in flood water. Beside Nuna river, Lohandra river was also flowing above the danger mark and flood water entered everal villages coming under the Kursakanta block. The Parman and Bakrav rivers were 10 centimetres above the danger mark in Jokihat block. The water level of the Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Kosi, and Kamla Balan river have also crossed danger level in several places, due to continuous rainfall in Nepal. A total of 1.32 lakh cusec water was released from Valmikinagar Barrage in the last 24 hours leading to flood like situation in Bettiah, Bagha, and Gopalganj. The administration of these districts were on high alert as the rain is continuously taking place in Nepal and adjoining districts of Bihar. The districts of north Bihar lie lower than contiguous areas of Nepal, and hence, water accumulates there and creates havoc for the residents. The administration has alerted people and asked them to move to higher ground. --IANS ajk/vd ( 261 Words) 2022-06-28-20:34:03 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Tuesday outrightly denounced claims that termed the arrest of Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking portal Alt News, as politically motivated. "It is not right to call this case politically motivated. He had been evasive during the questioning, which basically formed the ground of his arrest," Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO, Special Cell), K.P.S. Malhotra, told IANS. Zubair, 33, was arrested by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police's Special Cell for allegedly posting a controversial tweet that hurt sentiments of a particular religious community. The IFSO functions under the Special Cell and is a specialised unit that handles all complex and sensitive cases of cyber crime, including those in which victims are women and children. The unit is equipped with a state-of-the-art cyber lab having cyber forensic capabilities such as extraction of deleted data from hard disks and mobile phones, imaging and hash value calculation, forensic servers, portable forensic tools for on-site examination, facility to extract data from latest Android and iOS phones as well as Chinese phones. The tweet for which Zubair was being questioned is four years old. In the said tweet, Zubair had used a screengrab of an old Hindi movie which showed an image of a hotel, with its board reading Hanuman hotel' instead of Honeymoon hotel'. In his tweet, Zubair had written, "BEFORE 2014: Honeymoon Hotel. After 2014: Hanuman Hotel." The DCP said that it does not matter whether the tweet in question was posted recently or four years back. "We took action when a social media user raised the issue with us," Malhotra said, adding that even endorsing [retweeting] a view on social media becomes the view of that person who has endorsed it. "Such tweets were getting retweeted and it appeared that there is a brigade of social media entities, who indulge in insult mongering, thereby leading to a possible ramification on communal harmony and are overall against the maintenance of public tranquility," the senior officer stated. The DCP averred that after Zubair's tweet, his followers on social media amplified and created a series of debates and hate mongering in the thread which were detrimental to communal harmony. "Moreover, apart from being evasive during questioning, the accused had even formatted his phone," said the official. Malhotra said that the police will be requesting the court for further custody of Zubair so that they can take him to the place of his stay where his technical gadgets are kept. "There was a case registered against Zubair in 2020 as well. But now in this particular case we have found pith and substance that warranted his custodial interrogation," the DCP said. Sources said that after recovering Zubair's laptop, the police will try to access its hard disk memory to check the materials which were allegedly posted by him. Later the laptop may be also sent for forensic examination at CFSL, Rohini. IANS spoke to DCP Malhotra before Zubair was produced before the court. Later, the court extended his police remand by four more days as Zubair's phone/laptop used for posting the tweet in question is to be recovered from his Bengaluru residence. (Ujwal Jalali can be reached atAujwal.j@ians.in) --IANS uj/arm ( 550 Words) 2022-06-28-20:52:05 (IANS) AIADMK's expelled interim General Secretary V.K. Sasikala has commenced a tour of Tamil Nadu to drum up support from the party cadres to emerge as the top party leader amid the intense power struggle between former Chief Ministers, O. Panneerselvam and K. Palaniswami. Aiming to travel across all the state's districts to meet local leaders and members, Sasikala had termed her venture 'Puratchi Payanam' (revolutionary trip), aimed at defending the rights of Tamil soil and the dignity of women. Sasikala, who was once the most trusted and powerful aide of former Chief Minister, late J. Jayalalithaa, told media persons during her yatra that she has the responsibility to protect the movement and has commenced this tour for the protection of the AIADMK. She also said that the AIADMK must have a single leader to lead the party but that leader must be elected from among the cadres and not decided by a few people. Sasikala said that the AIADMK was facing its biggest challenge in 50 years of its existence and that this adversity could be overcome by staying united. She also said that the recent developments in the AIADMK are to the happiness of the ruling DMK and that she would not allow the AIADMK to be decimated and hence the yatra. She said that she had made both Panneerselvam and Palaniswami Chief Ministers but both of them did not show gratitude to her in the long run. The powerful Thevar community, which has been the vote bank of the AIADMK in south Tamil Nadu is expecting a realignment between Sasikala and Panneerselvam, both of whom are from the community. Sources in the AIADMK told IANS that several meetings were conducted between the Thevar community leaders with both Sasikala and Panneerselvam separately. With the power of Panneerselvam waning in the AIADMK, the only option left is to drum up the support of cadres and for that, Sasikala is undertaking her state-level yatra. --IANS aal/vd ( 339 Words) 2022-06-28-21:04:02 (IANS) West Bengal is all set to witness scorching political heat in July over packed schedules of both the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP. On one hand, seven Central ministers are slated to visit West Bengal next month to hold public interactions to boost the morale of the party workers in the state. On the other hand, Trinamool Congress is launching a massive campaigning exercise for its annual Martyr's Day programme in Kolkata on July 21. Although officially there has been no announcement from the state unit of BJP on this count, party insiders said that these seven Central ministers will conduct a massive public interaction exercise throughout the state, especially in the 19 Lok Sabha constituencies from where the party candidates got elected in 2019. A state committee leader of the BJP, who did not wish to be named, said that the probable list of ministers includes Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupendra Yadav and Kiran Rijuju, among others. "The final list is expected to be announced by next week. These Central ministers will interact with the people in the Lok Sabha constituencies from where the party's candidates had won in 2019, have lunch at their places and try to have a feel of the public pulse. The ministers will also hold meetings with the state unit office-bearers at different levels," the state committee leader said. According to political analysts, retaining the 19 Lok Sabha seats that BJP won in 2019 will be crucial for the party in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and probably that is why the Central leadership of the BJP is focusing on West Bengal early. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress leaders have set a target to organise a record gathering on the occasion of Martyrs' Day on July 21. During the last couple years, the event was observed at a low-key level and that too mainly online because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and hence this time the party leadership wants it to be a mega event. --IANS src/arm ( 352 Words) 2022-06-28-21:12:03 (IANS) Fifteen people consuming alcohol in a closed industrial unit were arrested by the police on Monday evening. By Tuesday evening all were released on bail. Rajkot rural police was tipped off by the Anti Terrorist Squad that a rave party was going on in a closed industrial unit in the Matoda industrial estate area. A Paddhari police station team led by Sub Inspector M D Makwana carried out a raid on the plastic factory. Instead of a rave party, police found that 14 males and one woman were drinking liquor. The police arrested all of them and also seized cars, 19 cell phones and IMFL bottles. These youths were from Rajkot and Bhavnagar districts. They told the police that because police raids have become common on farmhouses, they had decided to party in a closed industrial unit. In another incident, Rajkot city police arrested three college students. The group led by Krishnapalsinh Vaghela allegedly stole iron scrap from construction sites. They were going to celebrate the birthday of one of the accused with the money earned from selling scrap. Krishnapalsinh reportedly told the police that he and his friends had hired two vehicles, a Scorpio and an i-20 for Rs 4500. When the police arrested the three youths, there was 150 kgs of iron scrap in the Scorpio. The police have recovered Rs 12 lakh worth goods. --IANS asmita/bg ( 241 Words) 2022-06-28-21:12:04 (IANS) Satish Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Alluri Sitharama Raju, said the arrested Maoist Vanathala Rama Krishna was area committee secretary and was involved in the murder of then Telegu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao and former MLA Siveri Soma in Araku in 2017. Police recovered Rs 39 lakh cash from his possession. Further, 5 kg landmine, five detonators, batteries, a 9-mm pistol and ammunition were seized from the arrested Maoist. According to Police, the arrested Maoist was involved in a total of 124 cases, including 14 murders and 13 exchanges of fire, the explosion of landmines and arson. SP Satish Kumar said that 33 CPI (Maoist) members and 27 militia members, including eight women, surrendered before the police. One of the surrendered militia members Korra Chinnayya alias Srikanth, was involved in 95 cases. Each CPI (Maoist) member who surrendered carried Rs 1 lakh reward on their head. "With the recent surrenders, arrests and deaths of top leaders, the Maoist party has become weak in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district," the official said. (ANI) Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind on Tuesday condemned the Udaipur killing incident and called it against Islam and the law of the land. "Maulana Halceemuddin Qasmi, General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, has condemned the incident of brutal killing in Udaipur apparently on the pretext of the insult to the Prophet (PBUH) and called it against the law of land and against the religion of Islam," reads the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind statement. "Has said whoever has perpetrated this incident cannot be justified in any way, it is against the law of the land and our religion. In our country, there is a system of law, no one has the right to take the law into his own hands. Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi appealed to all the citizens of the country to restrain their emotions and maintain peace in the country," it added. After the horrific murder of a tailor in Udaipur sparked outrage in the entire state, the Rajasthan government on Tuesday announced the imposition of section 144 of CrPC in all the districts for the next one month. The state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT includes the Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Special Operation Group Ashok Kumar Rathore, Inspector General of Police (IG), Anti Terror Squad (ATS), Prafulla Kumar and a Superintendant of Police (SP) rank officer and an Additional SP rank officer.Internet services have been suspended in the entire state on Tuesday. Udaipur Divisional Commissioner Rajendra Bhatt appealed to the people to maintain peace. "We appeal to the people of Udaipur to maintain peace. The (victim Kanhaiya Lal's) dependents have been assured of recruitment through placement service in UIT, and the family will be given compensation of Rs 5 lakhs," said Bhatt. Police are on high alert in every district of Rajasthan. "In view of the prevailing situation, Section 144 has been imposed in the entire district as well as the state. Shanti March has been cancelled by the organizers. We appeal to the people to maintain peace. Leaves of police personnel have been cancelled and they have been asked to report back. They are being deployed in law and order duty. We will ensure peace is maintained and take strict action against those attempting to disrupt it," Ajmer SP Vikas Sharma told ANI.The NIA team includes a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer, a source told ANI on anonymity, adding the move comes following an order issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). As per government sources, the NIA team is likely to file a case under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after visiting the crime spot. The incident took place in Udaipur's Maldas area. Soon after committing the crime, the two accused posted a video on social media boasting about the beheading and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life as well, police said. The two accused were arrested within hours of the incident. One of the assailants, who was identified as Riyaz Akhtar, attacked Kanhaiya Lal with a sharp-edged weapon while the other, Ghos Mohammad, recorded the crime on his mobile phone, police said. The victim, a tailor, reportedly had recently shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma-- former BJP spokesperson who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad. Following the murder, local markets in the area were shut as the traders demanded justice for the victim. "Both the accused have been detained and the law and order situation is under control. Some people were attempting to come out of the bylanes but were controlled. Curfew imposed in the nearby areas," Manoj Kumar, SP, Udaipur said. A statewide alert has also been issued to all Superintendents of Police and Inspector Generals to increase the mobility of forces and to maintain officers on the ground. (ANI) A new study that examines how heat impacts the behaviour and physiology of Zebra finches found that heat altered the activity of hundreds of genes in the testis, but fewer in the brain, suggesting that the brain may be less responsive to extreme temperatures. The study also provided some hopeful insights into birds and their ability to handle the threat of climate change. "Most of what we know about the behavioural and physiological effects of heat comes from aquatic organisms or terrestrial cold-blooded animals, but heat waves could be a real problem for terrestrial birds and mammals too, especially if heat interferes with critical components of their reproductive behaviour and physiology," said Sara Lipshutz, assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago, former graduate student at UT, and first author on the publication. "We wanted to understand how that happens as a first step towards understanding how to manage these problems." Heat waves can be lethal for warm-blooded animals, but behavioural and physiological effects are missing from recent high-profile studies on climate change. The researchers wanted to know about sub-lethal effects of heat that do not kill animals but still might impact their ability to adapt and thrive as the climate changes. Lipshutz and colleagues exposed zebra finches to a four-hour heat challenge, similar to what wild birds might experience during the afternoon heat on a summer day. Zebra finches were selected for the study because these songbirds experience extreme temperature fluctuations in their native Australia. The team measured heat effects on thermoregulatory behavior and looked specifically at how heat changed gene activity in tissues that are critical to reproduction -- the testis that control fertility and a part of the brain that regulates singing, which is an essential mate-attraction behavior in birds. They discovered that heat altered the activity of hundreds of genes in the testis, but fewer in the brain, suggesting that the brain may be less responsive to extreme temperatures. "At the same time, we found evidence that dopamine-related signalling was affected in the brain, meaning that even sub-lethal heat may change a bird's ability to reproduce, via changes in motivational circuits for song production," Lipshutz said. "If they can't sing, or sing well, they aren't going to breed." Bird populations have been dramatically declining over the past few decades, and male songbirds need to sing to attract a mate. Coupled with previous studies showing that birds sing less during heat, this project reveals potential underlying mechanisms by which heat may contribute to avian population declines. "It's really a triple-whammy," said Derryberry, corresponding author on the publication. "Heat's not only affecting their brains, but it also appears to affect testicular gene networks related to self-maintenance and sperm production. So, there's potentially less motivation to sing, reduced gonadal function, and greater investment in self-maintenance, all of which can detract from successful reproduction." The study also provided some hopeful insights for birds and their ability to handle the threat of climate change. Males that panted more often during the heat challenge exhibited more limited effects on gene activity in the brain and testis. "For a long time, researchers have reasoned that behavioral flexibility might be key for animals' ability to handle novel environmental challenges," said Kimberly Rosvall, associate professor of biology at IU Bloomington, whose lab oversaw that genomic side of this project. "We saw that some individuals better used behavioral thermoregulation to dissipate the physiological effects of heat. If animals are able to adjust their behavior. or if behavior can evolve to keep pace with climate change, birds may be able to adapt." According to Lipshutz, the results have important implications for sexual selection in a warming world as well. "Some individuals, or even some species, may perform well under extreme temperatures," she said. "That could influence both how thermal tolerance evolves and how behavior evolves too." (ANI) Multiple fatalities took place and at least 50 people were injured when an Amtrak train derailed after hitting a dump truck on Monday in Missouri, US, as per multiple media reports. In a communication, Amtrak media centre on its website wrote, "On June 27 at 12:42 p.m. CT, Southwest Chief Train 4, traveling eastbound on BNSF track from Los Angeles to Chicago, derailed 8 cars and 2 locomotives after striking a truck that was obstructing a public crossing near Mendon, Missouri." According to the company's statement, there were approximately 243 passengers and 12 crew members onboard with early reports of injuries. Following the incident, the company said that local authorities are currently assisting customers. "Our Incident Response Team has been activated, and we are deploying emergency personnel to the scene to help support our passengers, our employees and their families with their needs." Amtrak said that individuals with questions about their friends and family who were traveling aboard this train should call 800-523-9101. Additional details will be provided as available, it added. Eric McKenzie, the superintendent with Chariton County Ambulance Service, told CNN that multiple fatalities were reported. A spokesperson for Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, said authorities are still trying to ascertain the number of fatalities. The train hit a dump truck, he added. He also said that a school has been turned into a triage center for victims with minor injuries, he said. Governor Mike Parson tweeted that the Missouri Department of Public Safety, the highway patrol and other personnel were responding. "We are saddened to hear of the Amtrak train derailment in Chariton County this afternoon ... We ask Missourians to join us in praying for all those impacted," Parson said. Amtrak did not provide any additional information about the crash or the condition of the train and its passengers. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made India's position clear on the Ukraine conflict at the G7 summit where he reiterated that there must be an immediate end to the hostilities and a resolution should be reached by choosing the path of dialogue and diplomacy, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. Replying to a question on India's stand on Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kwatra during a press conference said, "On Russia-Ukraine, PM made India's position clear including an immediate end to hostilities; dialogue & diplomacy to resolve the situation." Foreign Secretary Kwatra also highlighted that PM Modi has spoken with the world leaders on the knockdown effect of the conflict in Eastern Europe on the food security crisis, especially on the vulnerable countries. "PM also put forward knockdown effect of the conflict on food security crisis, especially on vulnerable countries," Kwatra said. Ever since the war started on February 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been appealing to both Russia and Ukraine for peace and an end to hostilities. Earlier, PM Modi intervened and had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested that a direct conversation between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine may greatly assist the ongoing peace efforts to deal with the ongoing conflict. PM Modi had also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict. India is looked upon as a solution provider by all which was quite evident by the body language and camaraderie of leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra over PM's visit to G7 Summit in Germany. PM Modi on June 26-27 attended the G7 Summit in Germany, held meetings with world leaders as well as interacted with the Indian diaspora. During a press conference, Kwatra said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence at the G7 summit showed that India's presence is valued by all and that India is looked upon as a solution provider by all. You would have seen the body language and camaraderie of leaders with our PM." In an instance of bonhomie between the leaders of the two largest democracies of the world that caught the eye of viewers, US President Joe Biden walked up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greet him at the venue of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at Schloss Elmau, Germany on Monday. India is among the five partner countries invited to attend the G7 Summit. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today welcomed the Prime Minister at Schloss Elmau, ahead of the G7 Summit. (ANI) An accessed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between China and Nepal on Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) projects reveals how China seeks economic hegemony in Nepal through these projects, local media reported. These BRI projects even after so many years of signing the MoU are nowhere to be seen on the horizon and in a key development, a procured copy of the MoU exposed China and its attempts to dominate Nepal's economy with its currency and free trade provisions. Notably, in May 2017, the government of Nepal and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on China's BRI. However, neither Nepal nor China made the document public in all these five years. Meanwhile, Khabarhub has obtained a copy of the MoU on the widely-talked BRI signed between the two countries. As per the analysis of the contents of the MoU by Nepal's local media outlet, China, through its BRI agreement, has attempted to impose its economic hegemony, conditions, and vested interest in Nepal in the name of Free Trade Connectivity. The MoU obtained revealed that the document signed by both Nepal and China on BRI is a clear gesture on the part of China that it is not only trying to dominate and capture Nepal's economy and to use its currency in Nepal, but it is also trying to sell its goods through zero customs. In the document, China's endeavour to impose its monopoly in Nepal in the name of "promoting cooperation on mutually beneficial areas" under the principles of BRI, looks evident. Experts have expressed concerns over Nepal not able to make this document public. Political analyst Saroj Mishra has serious doubts that Nepal could be under immense pressure from China to not make the document public. "Until and unless it is a very sensitive and security-related document, every Nepali citizen has the right to exercise the right to information," Mishra said, adding, "If so, why is the government reluctant to provide the information?" He also raised concerns about what is barring the government from making it public. China, in the MoU, has imposed its clause saying that both the sides would "strengthen cooperation for connectivity by enhancing cooperation on transit transport, logistic systems, transport network security and related infrastructures development through joint studying and promoting cross border infrastructure projects, including railway, road, civil aviation, power grid, information, and communication." Moreover, according to the document, the MoU shall be automatically renewed for another three years thereafter unless and until terminated by either side by giving written notice at least three months in advance to the other side prior to the expiration of the present MoU. Even though while signing the MoU in 2017, it was stated that the MoU shall enter into effect on the date of signing and shall remain valid for three years. However, not a single project has taken off. "This is a traditional and conversationalist approach on the part of Nepal and China for not making public the BRI document," says Taranath Dahal, a senior journalist and Chairman of Freedom Forum, an anti-corruption non-government organization."Since there is no transparency, the question of accountability pops up," he said in a conversation with Khabarhub. According to the MoU, the two sides shall modify and supplement the MOU, when necessary, and any agreed revision in writing shall be considered an integral part of this MOU. The MoU also mentions that either side intends to terminate this MOU shall give written notice to the other side through a diplomatic channel at least three months prior to the expiration of this MOU. (ANI) After a senior Communist Party official said that the "zero-Covid" policy would remain in place in Beijing "for the next five years," Chinese censors removed his speech from the Internet. The misleading quote was made by Beijing's city party chief, Cai Qi, in Beijing Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper for the Chinese capital. Cai said on Monday that "for the next five years, Beijing will resolutely implement COVID-19 pandemic control measures and uphold the 'zero-Covid' policy to prevent imported cases from coming in and domestic cases from rebounding." Cai is a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and his "the next five years" remark sparked a huge backlash on Chinese social media. "I have to rethink whether I should continue to stay in Beijing in the long term," one user wrote on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform. "For the next five years...what is the point of being alive even," another user said. In an effort to tame an online backlash, Beijing Daily removed the line, describing it as an "editing error" while leaving his other remarks about pandemic controls intact, reported CNN. Weibo has since banned the hashtag "for the next five years" from its platform. While the entire speech and the published quote from Beijing Daily was misleading, Cai did discuss at length the possibility of keeping zero-Covid policies in place in the capital over the next five-year period, according to CNN. The pandemic controls that would stay in place include routine PCR tests, strict entry rules, regular health checks in residential neighbourhoods and public venues, as well as rigorous monitoring and testing for people entering and leaving Beijing, state media quoted Cai as saying. In early May, Xi doubled down on the zero-Covid policy in a meeting of the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, the country's top decision-making body, ordering officials and all sectors of society to adhere to the "decisions and plans" of the leadership. For months, cities across China -- including Beijing and Shanghai -- have been placed under full or partial lockdown because of the strict zero-Covid policy, wreaking havoc on economic activity and hurting the job market. In May, the unemployment rate for people aged 16-24 hit a record high 18.4 per cent, reported CNN. China continues to shut down entire communities and cities over just a handful of Covid cases. All positive cases and close contacts are sent to government quarantine. China reported 23 locally transmitted Covid-19 cases nationwide on Sunday, with Beijing and Shanghai each recording four cases, according to the country's National Health Commission. (ANI) Amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping centre in central Ukraine on Monday, killing 16 people. At least 10 people are missing and 59 people were severely wounded in the deadly strike that took place at a shopping mall near a railway station in the industrial city of Kremenchuk, located in Ukraine's central Poltava region, the New York Times reported. Condemning the attack, Ukraine's Interior Minister, Denys Monastyrskyi said "People just burned alive," in a statement. The strike came after Russia, in a sudden escalation, fired more than 65 missiles at Ukraine over the weekend. Smoke engulfed the surroundings after the missile hit the mall in Kremenchuk as local residents desperately searched for the missing, according to city council officials. Ukrainian officials said that as many as 1,000 people could have been inside the building at the time of the strike, though the exact number was not clear. Until Monday, the centre of the city had not been hit -- Russian forces had only hit industrial targets and an oil refinery. The Amstar mall, located in the city's centre, is not far from an industrial facility and is believed to be used to repair tanks, the officials added. "When they hit infrastructure or factories, we can understand that someone was given the coordinates," Olha Usanova, a deputy mayor of Kremenchuk, said. "This is just destruction of civilians. I have no words for this horror." Earlier, a strike in the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed five people and wounded 22 on Monday, New York Times reported citing local authorities. Quoting the head of Ukraine's emergency services, Serhiy Kruk as saying "So far, 16 people had been killed and 59 injured, 25 of whom were hospitalized," the media outlet reported. The strike had been carried out by a Russian X-22 missile weighing nearly 2,000 pounds and was fired from Russia's Kursk region, near the border, Ukraine's Defense Ministry stated. Ukrainian media reported that 115 firefighters had managed to put out the massive fire and rescuers were continuing to search through the debris for survivors. During the ongoing G7 summit that is taking place in Germany, the world leaders called the mall attack a "war crime" in a statement Monday night, as per the reports by New York Times. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine dedicated most of his nightly address on Monday to the strike, calling it "one of the most defiant terrorist attacks in European history." "Only totally insane terrorists, who should have no place on earth, can strike missiles at such an object," Zelensky said, adding, "Russia will stop at nothing," he said. Kremenchuk had a population of almost 220,000 people before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. The previous strikes by Russia have targeted a theatre, a maternity hospital and people waiting in line for bread, a shopping centre being the latest addition. On February 24, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine. Nearly 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to United Nations (UN) estimates and most of those displaced are women and children. The conflict has left 15.7 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian support, with some of them lacking access to water and electricity. Three million children inside Ukraine and over 2.2 million children in refugee-hosting countries are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Almost two out of every three children have been displaced by incessant rocket attacks and fighting between the two nations. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit to Germany to attend G7 Summit, presented its leaders with various gifts displaying India's rich art and crafts, particularly, those related to Uttar Pradesh's one district one product scheme His gifts included a hand-knotted carpet, carved matka, itr bottles, tea set, brooch and cufflinks. PM Modi gifted a Metal Marodi carving matka to German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. This nickel-coated, hand-engraved brass vessel is a masterpiece from District Moradabad, which is also known as the Peetal Nagari or "brass city" of Uttar Pradesh, India. After casting the pot, the design that has to be engraved is first sketched on paper. An outline of the whole design is done with a fine engraving tool hammered with a wooden block. This particular type of engraving is called Marodi, owing to the curved lines used to fill up negative space in this design. He gifted Gulabi Meenakari brooch and cufflink set to US President, Joe Biden. Gulabi Meenakari is a GI-tagged art form of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. A piece of pure silver is moulded into a base form, and the chosen design is embossed in the metal. The embossed shapes are then filled with great dexterity with crushed meena glass mixed with an intriguing natural anardana (pomegranate seeds) glue. The paint is fired layer by layer for permanence. The motifs primarily use the colour pink (Gulabi), which lends its name to the craft. These cufflinks were prepared for the President with a matching brooch for the First Lady, Jill Biden. Prime Minister Modi gifted a platinum-painted, hand-painted tea set from Bulandhshahr, Uttar Pradesh to UK PM Boris Johnson. The crockery is outlined with platinum metal paint in honour of the Queen's platinum jubilee being celebrated this year. The base form is hand-painted and fired at 1200 degrees Celsius. The embossed outlines are laid on manually with Mehndi cone work and require an extremely confident hand. Each shape is then separately filled with colour, with great dexterity and the entire cup is fired again. To French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi gifted Itr bottles in Zardozi box. The carrier box has been crafted in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India. The zari zardozi box has been hand embroidered on khadi silk and satin tissue in colours of the French National Flag. The motifs are traditional Indo-Persian, lotus flowers hand-embroidered with metal wire in blue and a pendant used in Kashmiri carpets and motifs from Awadhi architecture. This box included Attar Mitti, Jasmine oil, Attar Shamama, Attar Gulab, Exotic Musk, and Garam Masala. PM Modi gifted hand-knotted silk carpets which are famous all over the world for their softness and craftsmanship to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. A Kashmiri Silk carpet is known for its beauty, perfectness, lushness, luxury and dedicated craftsmanship. Each Kashmiri Silk carpet is considered to be a never-before-seen piece of hand-made art. The Kashmiri silk carpets are made predominantly in the Srinagar area of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in India. These exquisite creations are hand-knotted on the warp threads, one at a time, in accordance with a strict code of colours in the order of their appearance in the pattern. The knotted product is clipped with shears to smoothness and then treated with several brightening processes. Characteristically, all silk carpets have an amazingly innate attribute of displaying different colours when viewed from different angles or sides. PM Modi gifted Black Pottery pieces to Japan's PM, Fumio Kishida. The Black Pottery of Nizamabad in Uttar Pradesh uses a special technique to bring out black colours- while the pottery is inside the oven, it is ensured that there is no scope for oxygen to enter the oven and the heat level remains high. The presence of oxygen can turn the pottery red. The glaze on the pottery comes from the high zinc content of the soil and the layer of mustard oil applied before firing the pottery. PM Modi gifted a marble inlay table top to Italy's PM, Mario Draghi. Pietra dura or Marble inlay has its origins in the Opus sectile- a form of pietra dura popularized in the ancient and medieval Roman world where materials were cut and inlaid into walls and floors to make a picture or pattern. This marble table top with Inlay work has its origin in Agra of Taj Mahal fame. This particular table top is made of semi-precious stones with gradients in their colour, making it very similar to Italian marble inlay work. Stones with colour gradients are harder to place, but make the inlay more realistic. The delicate process involves cutting and engraving semi-precious stones on marble manually. To start with, a pre-defined pattern e.g., a floral design or a geometrical design, is engraved on the marble item. Small pieces of different semi-precious stones are then cut delicately. These small pieces are then slipped into grooves, making the simple marble item a beautiful and colourful masterpiece of art. Other than G7 leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union, PM Modi also gifted items to leaders from Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina. The Prime Minister gifted Dokra Art with Ramayana Theme to South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa. Dokra Art is non-ferrous metal casting art using the lost-wax casting technique. This sort of metal casting has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still used. There are two main processes of lost wax casting: solid casting and hollow casting. The product of artisans who are mainly from Central and Eastern India are in great demand in domestic and foreign markets because of their primitive simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful form. This particular art piece from Chattisgarh, a state in Central India, is based on the Ramayan theme. The principal characters in the artwork are Lord Shri Ram riding an Elephant along with Lakshman, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanuman. PM Modi gifted Nandi-themed Dokra Art to Argentina's President, Alberto Fernandez. Dokra Art is non-ferrous metal casting art using the lost-wax casting technique. This sort of metal casting has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still used. There are two main processes of lost wax casting: solid casting and hollow casting. The product of artisans who are mainly from Central and Eastern India are in great demand in domestic and foreign markets because of their primitive simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful form. This particular art piece from Chattisgarh, a state in Central India, is a figure of 'Nandi - The Meditative Bull'. According to Hindu mythology Nandi is considered as the vehicle (mount) of Lord Shiva, the lord of destruction. In front of every Shiva temple, on the court facing the shrine, you can see the image of a Nandi. PM Modi gifted Moonj baskets and cotton durries to Senegal's President, Macky Sall. Moonj is a wonderful example of utilitarian handicrafts made with sustainably sourced material. Like Senegalese baskets, Moonj craft also utilizes bright, jewel-tone colours. This particular piece is by a master craftswoman from Prayagraj. The blades of the sarpat grass used here are much thinner, making them more difficult to weave. The cotton Durries are hand woven in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. The art of Manjak loincloth weaving is similar to shuttle handloom work done in Sitapur durrie making. The beauty of this particular piece is the thin width of its loom which increases the work out into the Durrie threefold. PM Modi gifted lacquerware Ram Durbar to Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo. The GI-tagged lacquerware art-form has its roots in the temple town of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The wooden statues of gods, goddesses and sacred animals served as coveted souvenirs taken back by pilgrims. The process is a tedious one, requiring assembly of a base wooden form with separate limbs, which is covered layered by layer with distemper or lac-based paint. True to their city of origin, Lacquerware items always come in bright, jewel tones. This particular piece is made on Goolar (Botanical name: Ficus Racemosa) wood. The principal characters in the artwork are Shri Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman and Jatayu. It is believed that the Indonesian version of Ramayana was written during the Medang Kingdom (732-1006 AD) in Central Java. It is known as Kakawin Ramayana. The story of Ramayana was narrated to the people through shadow puppetry (wayang kulit and wayang purwa). (ANI) "On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I extend warm greetings and felicitations to Your Excellency and the people of Madagascar on the occasion of your National Day", said President Kovind in his message. He further said that India and Madagascar are important partners in the Indian Ocean Region, adding that India acknowledges and appreciates Madagascar's friendship and cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest and our people-to-people relations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also congratulated his Malagasy counterpart on social media. Taking to Twitter, he tweeted "Congratulate FM @RichardJRand and the Government and people of Madagascar on their National Day. Will continue working together to further our SAGAR vision for a secure and prosperous Indian Ocean Region". India-Madagascar relations have grown manifold during the past four years. The bilateral ties between the two nations are going from strength to strength since the visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Madagascar in 2018 under the collaborative vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). India sees Madagascar not only as an important bilateral partner but also as a vital role in the collaborative maritime vision of SAGAR. Madagascar's Foreign Minister Richard J. Randriamandrato visited India India in April 2022 and had an hour-long meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. Numerous agreements in the field of traditional medicine, training of diplomats, environment, tele-education and tele-medicine are ready to be sealed between the two countries. MoUs on health, culture and customs and administrative matters are also under finalisation. An India-Madagascar Chamber of Commerce was launched in April in Antananarivo to further strengthen the trade ties between the two countries. Moreover, a Green Triangle named after Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo in March of this year. Madagascar has over 17,500 people of Indian origin, mostly from Gujarat, living and working there. (ANI) The number of people who died in the Russian missile strike has reached 18 as a Kh-22 (Russian: X-22) missile weighing nearly 2,000 pounds struck a shopping centre in the industrial city of Kremenchuk on Monday. Another 36 people are missing as the search continues, CNN reported. Dmytro Lunin, head of the Poltava region military administration said that rescuers continue to work round the clock as the dismantling of damaged building structures is ongoing with the help of heavy engineering equipment and small machines. "25 people were admitted to intensive care at the hospital in Kremenchuk," CNN quoted Lunin, as saying. Ukrainian officials said that as many as 1,000 people could have been inside the building at the time of the strike, though the exact number was not clear. The strike came after Russia, in a sudden escalation, fired more than 65 missiles at Ukraine over the weekend. The strike had been carried out by a Russian X-22 missile weighing nearly 2,000 pounds and was fired from Russia's Kursk region, near the border. During the ongoing G7 summit that is taking place in Germany, the world leaders called the mall attack a "war crime" in a statement Monday night. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine dedicated most of his nightly address on Monday to the strike, calling it "one of the most defiant terrorist attacks in European history." Kremenchuk had a population of almost 220,000 people before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. On February 24, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine. Nearly 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to United Nations (UN) estimates and most of those displaced are women and children. (ANI) China is forced to toe a cautious line on its plan to annex Taiwan after seeing the global condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine. As per HK Post, China finds it difficult to use the Ukraine template for the Taiwan invasion as it may end up paying a heavy price- militarily, economically and diplomatically. But it has not deterred Beijing from its intentions to take control of the island nation. It has continued with its regular practices of mounting pressure on Taiwan through military threats, psychological warfare, and economic coercion. In the recent few days, China carried out ballistic missile tests, and sent a large sortie of warplanes into the Taiwanese airspace, apparently in response to the US, rejecting China's claims on the Taiwan Strait. Several other such actions by Beijing reflect its aggressive stand on the Taiwan issue. However, all this is drawing major military and economic powers into the Taiwan Strait conflict, many extending their active support to Taipei. Thus, it would not be easy for China to attack Taiwan on the lines of the Ukraine conflict, reported The HK Post. Amid strong opposition from the US and its allies, China has been treading cautiously. It is testing waters to gauge how the west block would react in case it attacks Taiwan. It has been sending its warplanes inside Taiwan's airspace to provoke Taiwan and to put the ageing Taiwanese air fleet under constant stress. In the third week of June, as many as 29 Chinese jets and bombers made an incursion into Taiwanese territory. Taiwan has shown great restraint though the military harassment by China is unsettling the Taiwanese people. Beijing is well aware of the fallouts and collateral damages in case it takes direct military action against Taiwan. Thus, it has resorted to "cognitive warfare", in which Taiwanese citizens are wooed using the same Chinese identity, reported The HK Post. Social media platforms and technological solutions are used to spread misinformation to cause social unrest and lower people's morale. China's cognitive warfare managed to generate fear and defeatism as well as disturbed trust and solidarity in Taiwan, said Alexander Huang Chieh-cheng, a professor at Taipei-based Tamkang University. But Taiwanese agencies managed to thwart these threats effectively through a series of actions. Taiwanese people are against the idea of reunification with mainland China as over 80 per cent rejected the "One China" principle. Although cognitive warfare has seen China pumping a huge amount of resources, it has failed to produce desired effects, and the intended reunification could not be done without military action. Moreover, Chinese President Xi Jinping has permitted military operations outside China's borders in the backdrop of Beijing making claims over the Taiwan Strait. The US too is changing its strategy. Although the US maintains "strategic ambiguity" over the Taiwan issue, the American President Joe Biden has clarified that it would support Taiwan in case of a Chinese attack, reported The HK Post. Biden administration is helping Taiwan to boost its self-defence capabilities. A new US legislation, the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, sends a clear message to China not to treat Taiwan as same as Ukraine. Other western powers such as France and the UK have warned China against any misadventure in the Taiwan Strait. Japan too has expressed concerns over Taiwan and decided to acquire a pre-emptive strike capability as any conflict in Taiwan Strait would draw it in naturally. Moreover, China is starting an economic slowdown. Thus, undertaking military operations to annexe Taiwan would not be easy for China. (ANI) The Group of Seven (G7) nations on Tuesday committed USD 4.5 billion to protect the most vulnerable people from malnutrition and called on Russia to end its blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports. "We commit to an additional USD 4.5 billion to protect the most vulnerable from hunger and malnutrition, amounting to a total of over USD 14 billion as our joint commitment to global food security this year," the G7 said in a statement. "We reiterate our urgent call upon Russia to, without condition, end its blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports, destruction of key port and transport infrastructure, grain silos and terminals, illegal appropriation by Russia of agricultural commodities and equipment in Ukraine and all other activities that further impede Ukrainian food production and exports," they added. The G7 leaders announced that they are not planning to apply sanctions against imports of agricultural products, including from Russia, and humanitarian aid deliveries. "We will continue to ensure that our sanctions packages are not targeting food and allow for the free flow of agricultural products, including from Russia, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance," the leaders said. Ukraine is regarded as the "breadbasket of Europe" supplying 10 per cent of the world's wheat, 12-17 per cent of the world's maize and half of the world's sunflower oil. Twenty-five million tonnes of corn and wheat - the entire annual consumption of all the least developed countries - can't be exported and is currently at risk of rotting in Ukrainian silos. The West accuses that Russia's actions have driven up prices in countries like the UK and the ongoing blockade has placed 47 million people around the world on the brink of humanitarian disaster. In addition to preventing grain from leaving Ukraine via the Black Sea - the route by which 96 per cent of Ukraine's grain has historically been exported, Russian attacks are disrupting rail exports. According to Western countries, not only is Russia preventing Ukraine from exporting its grain, but there is also increasing evidence that Russia is stealing grain from Ukraine, smuggling it over the border to sell and boost Putin's war coffers. Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, security experts say one of Moscow's earliest strategic aims quickly became apparent as its armoured columns advanced along the coast in an effort to seize Ukraine's coastline. The seizure of ports would strangle Ukraine economically at a time when it most needs the funds to fend off Russia. After more than four months of the conflict, two of Ukraine's five main commercial ports have been taken and both are in the northeast of the Black Sea. (ANI) Highlighting the strong bilateral ties between India and Mongolia, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal underlined how the exposition of Buddha relics in Mongolia showcased similarities and nearness between the two nations. The holy Kapilvastu relics of Lord Buddha, which were on the display for 11 days in Mongolia, were received by Meghwal on Monday. Speaking to ANI, the MoS said "The exposition of Buddha relics in Mongolia for 11 days showcased similarities and nearness between the two countries." He recalled the strengthened bilateral relations that India and Mongolia share. The mutual understanding between both the countries regarding the exposition of relics also developed brotherhood between the two nations, he added. The four Holy Relics - known as the 'Kapilvastu Relics' were brought in two special bulletproof caskets on board an Indian Air Force aircraft by an Indian delegation led by Union Minister Rijiju. The Holy Relics of Lord Buddha which are considered one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism returned to Mongolia after 29 years are considered one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism. They were displayed at the Batsagaan Temple in Gandan Tegchenling Monastery complex in Ulaanbaatar for 11 days. In 2015, the Holy Relics were placed under the 'AA' category of Antiquities and Art Treasures which should not be ordinarily taken out of the country for exhibition, considering their delicate nature. However, upon the special request of the Mongolian government, the government made an exception and permitted the exposition of the Holy Relics in Mongolia to boost cultural and spiritual relations between the two countries. (ANI) Pakistan's former director-general (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Zaheerul Islam has denied the "rumours" of joining former prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), asserting that he has neither joined the party nor met its chief. This comes after pictures of General Zaheer addressing a PTI gathering in Kahuta city of Rawalpindi district went viral on social media. The News International quoting Zaheer reported that he had recently held a gathering of the local elders at his house in his native village in Kahuta where the community decided to support the PTI candidate for PP-7 Rawalpindi in the upcoming by-elections. "It was the decision of the baradari and being part of it, I simply announced the decision," he said and explained that his presence in the event had been greatly misrepresented by the social media, The News International reported. He noted that he had not met Imran Khan for the past few years, at least not after he became the Prime Minister in 2018. However, the former spymaster has said that supporting the PTI chairman Imran Khan was the need of the hour. Several reports claimed that the retired Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam has entered the political sphere and joined a political party but he has not yet commented on these reports, the Dawn newspaper reported. A picture of Gen Islam was shared by journalist Saleem Safi on his Twitter account where Islam could be seen delivering a speech at a political event while standing at a podium emblazoned with PTI's flag. The information secretary of the party Fawad Chaudhry has dismissed the reports of the former ISI DG joining the political sphere. The former general was elected as the ISI chief from March 2012 to November 2014 and it was also speculated that he was a part of the negotiations during the party's sit-in outside the parliament. Earlier, voting for the first phase of local government elections was held in 14 districts of Sindh. The total number of registered voters is 1,149,2680. The election commission printed 2,950,000 ballot papers for the first phase of the Sindh LG polls. While polling began in the morning in all 14 districts, reports of violence, scuffles and ECP mismanagement started pouring in from upper and lower Sindh regions. These clashes were said to emerge out of missing election symbols as well. Polling was suspended at various polling stations. Voting will take place in the Hyderabad division -- part of lower Sindh -- along with provincial metropolis Karachi in the second phase on July 24. Hyderabad division has nine districts. (ANI) Sri Lankan opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya has announced to hit the streets this week demanding a change of government as the nation continues to battle its worst economic crisis. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) national organiser Tissa Attanayake on Monday said that the party will launch "street battles" this week for a change of government and called for a joint opposition struggle against the present administration. "The Rajapaksa - Wickremessinghe government will not remain in power for long," The Daily Mirror reported quoting Attanayake. Attanayake stated that the government has not been able to control the economic crisis in the country and the cost of living has seen a spike of 150 per cent. "People have been pushed to an even more difficult situation with the fifth fuel price hike for the year," he added. Ananda Palitha, the spokesperson of Samgi Trade Union Alliance, said that there was a move to allow private sector companies to import and distribute fuel and to sell more than 1000 filling stations that are held by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. SJB Organizer for Colombo North C. Y. P Ram said, "Many industries have been affected by the power crisis." Sri Lanka has been facing the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, leading to an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and fuel across the island nation. The nearly-bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, had 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. The economic crisis has particularly impacted food security, agriculture, livelihoods, and access to health services. Food production in the last harvest season was 40 - 50 per cent lower than last year, and the current agricultural season is at risk, with seeds, fertilizers, fuel and credit shortages. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) gas on Sunday decided to increase the fuel prices with effect from 2 am. The prices of a litre of petrol 92 octane have been increased by Rs 50 while a lite of petrol 95 octane has been increased by Rs 100, Daily Mirror reported. Sri Lanka is one of the few nations named by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which is expected to go without food due to the global food shortage expected this year. (ANI) Iran and Argentina have applied to join the BRICS grouping, that account for more than 40 per cent of the world's population and about 26 per cent of the global economy, media reports said. An Iranian official said on Monday said that country has submitted an application to become a member of the group of emerging economies known as the BRICS, Al Jazeera reported. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the country's membership in the BRICS group "would result in added values for both sides." Besides Iran, Argentina is also keen on joining BRICS. Notably, Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez in recent days reiterated his desire for Buenos Aires to join BRICS. On Monday, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov told a press briefing that Moscow favours the enlargement of the BRICS association but suggests defining procedures and criteria for future candidates first. "In principle, we look positively at the issue of the association's potential enlargement, although we understand that it is necessary to approach this issue very carefully," Ushakov was quoted as saying by TASS news agency. "What do we propose? First of all, we propose defining the procedures and requirements for potential candidates for joining BRICS," the Kremlin aide said. On 23-24, the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa held the XIV BRICS Summit under the theme "Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development" on June 23-24. They recalled that in the past 16 years, BRICS countries have strengthened mutual trust, deepened intra-BRICS mutually beneficial cooperation, and closer people-to-people exchanges, which has led to a series of significant outcomes. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi was also invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping. At the event, he elaborated on his country's viewpoints on the important international issues and the expansion of cooperation with other countries. (ANI) The programme was organised by the National Investigation Agency, in collaboration with the National Security Council Secretariat. The event saw participation from India, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Seychelles. The training programme was one of the engagement activities identified in the Colombo Security Conclave's Roadmap for Cooperation and Activities for 2022-23 agreed by member countries at the 5th NSA level Meeting held in Maldives on March 9-10. "Participants discussed the various challenges related to investigating terrorism-related cases in their respective countries and shared experiences and best practices on prosecution of terrorism-related cases, legal provisions in their respective countries, terror financing (including counterfeit currency), online radicalization and social media footprints, organized crime, economic intelligence, cyber and mobile forensics, and role of INTERPOL," the National Security Council Secretariat said in a statement. According to the press statement, panellists emphasised on the need for experience sharing, closer cooperation and coordination among member and observer countries of the Colombo Security Conclave for effective investigation and prosecution of terrorism and radicalisation-related cases. They agreed to identify specific areas to take forward the cooperation on countering terrorism and radicalisation under the Colombo Security Conclave. Back in April, the Colombo Security Conclave Virtual Conference on Sharing of experiences in investigation of terrorism cases was organised by the National Investigation Agency of India. Panellists and participants from India, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participated in the virtual conference. The conference was one of the engagement activities identified in the Colombo Security Conclave's Roadmap for Cooperation and Activities for 2022-23 agreed by member countries at the 5th NSA level Meeting held in Maldives. (ANI) A minor boy of the Hindu community was kidnapped from outside his residence in Pakistan's Sindh province. The boy was abducted on Monday morning by unidentified men from Ranipur town, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. The incident took place when the boy was playing with his two neighbourhood friends in front of his house, the newspaper said citing police and family members. According to the report, two suspects riding a motorcycle appeared in the lane and kidnapped him. "Initially, the abductors tried to kidnap two children, but one managed to escape, so they fled the scene with Aadesh in front of the area people," Sawan Raj, maternal uncle of the child, told The Express Tribune. The boy's uncle said that local people tried to chase the suspects but they managed to escape. Hero Mal, the minor's father, said that they belong to the lower middle class and cannot afford to pay ransom to recover his son. "We have not received any call from the kidnappers yet, but such incidents frequently happen with the intention of collecting ransom," he said. Following the abduction, the members of the Hindu community demonstrated in front of the police station. They also demanded the boy's recovery and strict security in the area to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. "Some time ago, a child belonging to the Hindu community was kidnapped from Babarloi Town of Khairpur Mir on World Children's Day. He was later sexually assaulted and murdered," Zameer Solangi, a local activist. 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) China on Tuesday asked the United States to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and cease any form of official exchanges with Taiwan. According to Chinese News Agency Xinhua, While responding to a query on the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in a news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, "The United States must abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, halt all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop negotiating agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces." He said that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, adding "The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China." Zhao further said, "China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction with the Taiwan region by countries having diplomatic ties with China, including negotiating or concluding agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature. This position is consistent and clear." "We would also like to make it clear to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities that they need to give up at once on the idea that they could seek independence with US support because the more ambitious they are, the more bitter their failure will be," Xinhua quoted Zhao as saying. Notably, On June 1, Deputy US Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi and Taiwan Minister John Deng met virtually and launched the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. The two sides met under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO). The new initiative intends to develop concrete ways to deepen the economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive economic growth. Earlier, China warned the US against enhancing ties with the democratic island that Beijing regards as its island and threatens to overtake it by force. China announced a large-scale military exercise around Taiwan, the third such exercise in the past month as tensions continue to rise in the Taiwan Strait. (ANI) Kofe was already on his way to Lisbon, Portugal, for the meeting but decided to withdraw after China's actions, Taiwan News reported citing Radio New Zealand. Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked Kofe for his support and for not giving into China's abuse of power. MOFA also expressed its sincere gratitude to the Tuvalu government for assisting Taiwan in advancing its international participation. The ministry strongly condemned China for its abuse of power on the U.N. Credentials Committee to threaten Tuvalu, Taiwan's ally, to revise the list of delegations, Taiwan News reported The Ministry further said that China's pressure on member states has only revealed its vile nature once again. The Taiwan government will continue to cooperate with allies and like-minded countries to jointly counter China's expanding malicious influence on the UN, the ministry added. The UN Oceans Conference took place from June 27 to July 1. It will focus on substantive issues such as marine pollution, marine conservation, and ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources. Representatives from 193 countries, including 938 civil society groups, 75 foundations, and 74 universities, will also be attending the conference, in addition to around 24 heads of state and governments, Taiwan News reported citing New Zealand media. Three Taiwanese delegation members ultimately announced their withdrawal from the delegation. (ANI) Cultural liberty in Tibet is a myth as Tibetans under the Chinese administration are strictly forbidden to follow their religion. In Tibet, those who are found practising their own religion, get arrested, beaten up and tortured brutally. While many of the arrested Tibetans were released after a deterioration in their health, Tibet Press reported, adding that the nuns and the monks are the targeted people of the Chinese. According to Radio Free Asia sources in the region, Chinese authorities have long sought to restrict the size and influence of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, traditionally a focus of Tibetan cultural and national identity. In a recent "All China Religious Circles" conference" in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa on May 13, the need for impelling Tibet's long-term peace and stability and cohesive consensus on high-quality development was emphasized along with the sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism. Aggressive promotion of Mandarin from the primary level of schooling of children from minority ethnic groups is part of this agenda contrary to China's purported "Bilingual Language Policy". This conference was also attended by TAR Chairman Yan Sinhal. Recently, US State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke at the release of the 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom at the State Department. He mentioned that China prosecute religious followers and called it as contradicting the CCP's doctrine for destructing religious places and discriminating Tibetan Buddhists. Rashad Hussain, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom who also spoke at the State department expressed that many governments use unfair laws to prosecute religious practitioners. He stressed that China is still cracking down on Tibetan Buddhists. Authorities arrested, tortured and use other abuses against Tibetans who promotes their language and culture, keeps pictures and writings of the Dalai Lama or practiced their religion at Buddhist monasteries. The Report released is divided into four parts. They are categorized as Religious Demography, Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom, Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom and US government Policy and Engagement. Since their illegal occupation in Tibet, China has assaulted the rights of the Tibetan people to practise their own religion, language, tradition and culture. The Chinese authorities, in order to accomplish their sinicization mission, have attacked their cultural identity by making their language, Mandarin, the medium of instruction in the schools in Tibet from the primary level, reported The Singapore Post. Chinese troops occupied Tibet in 1950 and later annexed it. The 1959 Tibetan uprising saw violent clashes between Tibetan residents and Chinese forces. The 14th Dalai Lama fled to neighbouring India after the failed uprising against Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama, the supreme Tibetan Buddhist leader, established a government-in-exile in India. (ANI) After Pakistan quietly sentenced the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack mastermind Sajid Mir this month, questions are being raised about what prompted this sudden decision. Mir, a senior member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is among India's most wanted for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was awarded 15 years in jail term by a Pakistan court this month. Mir was LeT's operations manager for the attacks, playing a leading role in their planning, preparation, and execution. Mir, 44, was sentenced by an Anti-terrorism court in Lahore this month after convicting him in a terror-financing case. He was also fined Pkr 4,20,000 and is currently serving sentence in Kot Lakhpat jail, the Dawn newspaper reported citing a source. His sentencing came as Pakistan is struggling to exit the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) terror-financing watchlist. Currently, Pakistan is on the 'Grey List' of the watchdog for not fulfilling the parameters to counter terrorism in the country. Pakistan media reports said Mir's court verdict was done so quietly that no one came to know about such a high-profile case, except for a very brief report in one of the newspapers, which too could not attract the attention. Writing for the InsideOver, Federico Giuliani said it is clear that only a combination of impending economic doom and tough posturing by international organisations like IMF, prodded by the US, has forced Pakistan to act against a terrorist known to be a key asset of the Pakistan Army. "There ought to be a similar clarity in understanding that the arrest and sentencing of Mir is not a move by Pakistan to disassociate itself from terrorism but to extricate from greylisting of FATF, get IMF bailout loan and reset its relations with the US, all in one go," he added. Giulian argued that Mir's arrest in April and sentencing in June were perfectly timed to persuade FATF to take Pakistan off the grey list. The country has failed to take adequate steps to counter-terrorism and prosecute terrorists including masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai attacks such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) founder Masood Azhar and LeT's Sajid Mir, according to an earlier US report. Pakistan made limited progress on the most difficult aspects of its 2015 National Action Plan to counter-terrorism, specifically in its pledge to dismantle all terrorist organizations without delay or discrimination, said the US State Department had said in its 2020 Country Reports on Terrorism. The report recalled how in 2021, a Lahore anti-terrorism court convicted LeT founder Hafiz Saeed on multiple counts of terrorism financing and sentenced him to five years and six months in prison. "Pakistan did not, however, take steps under its domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist leaders residing in Pakistan, such as JeM founder Masood Azhar and LeT's Sajid Mir, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks," it had said. The report goes on the mention the effectiveness of Indian security agencies in disrupting terror threats, although gaps remain in interagency intelligence and information sharing. (ANI) The United States has begun talks with India on how Russian oil price caps, National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday as he described New Delhi as one of the key consuming countries of Russian oil. US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Germany on Monday on the margins of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit. When asked about discussions between the two leaders about India's purchases of Russian oil, Sullivan said, "One aspect of that, of course, is intensive engagement with key consuming countries. India is one of those countries. That engagement has begun. We have begun talks with India on how the price cap would work and what implications would be." Biden did not speak directly about this issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, however, senior government officials have discussed the topic, Sullivan noted. "The President did not speak with Prime Minister Modi about this yesterday, but at senior levels of the U.S. government, we had communications with the Indians yesterday. Before it goes to leader-to-leader level, we need to work through the details with their team at basically the Cabinet-level, which is where it is right now," he said. On Monday, PM Modi attended the G7 where he integrated with several world leaders including Biden. "Interacting with @POTUS @JoeBiden and PM @JustinTrudeau during the @G7 Summit," PM Modi tweeted. On Saturday, US National Security coordinator John Kirby said that the US wanted other countries including India to help them increase the costs and consequences of the war on Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the Ukraine conflict. Addressing a press briefing, Kirby said the US shares a deep partnership with India but Washington wants international pressure on Russia amid the Ukraine conflict. "We're glad that India is coming. There are a lot to discuss on the agenda with India. We have a very deep partnership with them, even in the defence world," he said. "I'll let Indian leaders speak for themselves here, but obviously, what President Biden is focused on, what the administration is focused on is making sure that the costs keep rising for Putin, that it's harder for him to wage war. And obviously, we want to see all nations participate in those kinds of efforts," Kirby added. India in recent weeks has spiked energy imports from Russian despite global sanctions on Moscow. US officials conveyed the message to India there is no ban on energy imports from Russia but they do not want to see a rapid acceleration. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar earlier this month hit back at the unfair criticism of Indian oil purchase from Russia amid the Ukraine war that has created a knock-off effect on the world economy. (ANI) Urban refugees on Monday staged a sit-in protest at the entrance of the UN refugee agency-UNHCR, seeking 11-point demand that as per them would make their stay in Nepal easier. A large canopy of the urban refugees including the elderlies to children has been sitting despite the downpour and scorching sun. An Afghan refugee taking part in the protest, Nargesh Husseini told ANI, "Actually Nepal is safe we know, but there is no work, we don't have job permission also so it's very difficult for us to survive. We're safe, we are not in danger but we don't have food to eat, UNHCR doesn't help us, they don't do anything for us." During the protest, a clash also broke out between the agitated group and security officials leaving a few injured. Nargesh said that UNHCR says there is no resettlement or help for refugees in Nepal as the policy changed the year they came in. "They (UNHCR) have to help us or resettle us. We came to Nepal in 2015, they say the policy changed the year we came here and there is no resettlement or help for refugees." Another refugee from Myanmar, Jafar Miya, who has lived for about a decade in Nepal complained that they don't have any facilities. "We neither have a house here nor a permanent residence ship, our children are not getting a proper education, nor we are getting the work permit. We don't have anything that facilitates us. The Nepal Police also has been called here, we don't want that, this is not what we want," he added. The protesters are a part of a growing number of so-called urban refugees in Nepal whose number, according to the official records, till the year 2019 had reached around 700. Urban refugees seek asylum in urban areas and live in their own apartments, unlike other refugees who live in camps. In recent years, the number of ethnic Rohingya Muslims has increased in Nepal. The ongoing canopy also has a large number of ethnics from now military-ruled Southeast Asian nation. However, the Nepali government, which is not a signatory to the 1951 UN convention on refugees, does not recognize them as refugees. Under its law, urban refugees are considered illegal immigrants and are subjected to a daily fine of USD 6. Refugees seeking to resettle in Western countries incur a large fine when trying to leave. In Nepal, UNHCR works independently to determine the status of refugees and assists them with subsistence allowances, health care, education and other basic needs. It also coordinates sponsorships in third countries or refugees themselves can seek private sponsorships. Then, the UN refugee office in Kathmandu writes to the government to waive overstay fees. Anyone remaining in Nepal for more than 185 days after the expiry of their visa is considered "illegal immigrant". Those overstaying have to pay USD 5 per day as per the immigration law. In December of 2014, the UNHCR decided to reduce the monthly stipend of $50 by 25 percent. It said that while it would stop the allowance from next year, it would continue to provide it to refugees with special needs, including ailing, women, elderly and children. The UN agency at the time had issued the statement stating the office was forced to cut allowances due to large-scale displacements in other parts of the world. Though the UN body had issued temporary identification for the registered refugees which too has expired earlier this year. "The paper which UNHCR had given us works temporarily. The police cannot arrest us, that's only its purpose. With that card we cannot get job, we cannot go anywhere, no other facilities would be guaranteed by that card while staying in Nepal. We only can stay here temporarily," Abu Taher, another Myanmar refugee told ANI. The Rohingya community in Myanmar has been denied citizenship since 1982 and they are not provided job opportunities as well. The crisis of this community intensified after the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), which is regarded as a terrorist organization in Myanmar, killed nine officials and nearly 400 people in August 2017. In response, the military and the Buddhist people, in general, started targeting the Rohingya. These Rohingya started coming to Nepal starting 2012. These refugees had crossed Myanmar into Bangladesh and then entered Nepal, via the open border with India. The issue of refugees also entered the Nepal's Upper House on Monday where a member of National Assembly questioned about granting status to those undocumented foreign nationals. The Home Minister Balkrishna Khand replied, "Those who were left behind will also get their identification card and we are doing necessary homework to grant the document to them. We also bore that amiability that they also would be able to live an easy life." Those urban refugees that has continued to turn in front of UN refugee body had fled from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Iran and Iraq amongst others who entered Nepal on various timeframe. But now they are struggling to solve their hand to mouth problems and are worried for the forthcoming days. (ANI) A minor boy of the Hindu community was kidnapped from outside his residence by unidentified men in Sindh's Ranipur town, Express Tribune reported. According to police and family members, the incident took place on Monday morning when the boy, Aadesh Kumar, was playing with his two neighbourhood friends in front of his house. Two suspects riding a Honda 125 motorcycle appeared in the lane and kidnapped him. "Initially, the abductors tried to kidnap two children, but one managed to escape, so they fled the scene with Aadesh in front of the area people," Sawan Raj, maternal uncle of the child, told The Express Tribune. He said that the local people followed the suspects till Kot Banglow, some 50 km away from the crime scene, but they managed to escape. A man also sustained injuries after the kidnappers allegedly shot at him as he was trying to save Aadesh. "The nearby people saw the boy screaming from between the two bike riders when they crossed any populated area," Raj said, adding that soon after the incident, they informed the police. However, he lamented that the law enforcers have only given "empty assurances" for the child's recovery. According to the police, they have checked the CCTV recordings and have started an investigation into the matter. "We have also arrested a few suspects and hope that we will be able to recover the boy and arrest the real criminals," said Ranipur SHO Ameer Ali Chang. Hero Mal Aadesh's father, who runs a grocery shop in the Shahbaz Colony area of the town said that they belong to the lower middle class and cannot afford to pay ransom to recover his son. "We have not received any call from the kidnappers yet, but such incidents frequently happen with the intention of collecting ransom," he said, Express Tribune reported. After the incident, the Hindu community members and local activists protested in front of the police station by staging a sit-in. The protesters demanded the boy's recovery and strict security in the area to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. "Some time ago, a child belonging to the Hindu community was kidnapped from Babarloi Town of Khairpur Mir on World Children's Day. He was later sexually assaulted and murdered," Zameer Solangi, a local activist told the media. --IANS san/skp/ ( 396 Words) 2022-06-28-20:18:03 (IANS) A ringleader of the UK's notorious Rochdale grooming gang has won his battle against deportation back to his native Pakistan, media reports said. Abdul Aziz, known as 'The Master' by his fellow abusers, was stripped of his UK citizenship in 2018 after using human rights laws in a bid to avoid being thrown out of the country, Daily Mail reported. But while fellow gang members Adil Khan, 52, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 53, are still fighting efforts to send them back to Pakistan, the status of Aziz has been shrouded in secrecy. The 51-year-old taxi driver, who ferried victims to sex parties as far away as Leeds and Bradford, was convicted of trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and jailed for nine years in 2012, Daily Mail reported. But on Monday, to the outrage of campaigners, it was revealed that in reality, Aziz won his fight to stay in the UK almost four years ago. The truth was revealed when a barrister representing Rauf in his battle against deportation read out a document which she said then Home Secretary Sajid Javid wrote to Aziz on Halloween 2018. It revealed that Aziz renounced his Pakistani citizenship on July 13, 2018 - five days before a hearing before the Court of Appeal where he, Rauf and Khan lost their battle against being stripped of British nationality. As a result, the Home Secretary "has decided not to make a deprivation order in respect of you", the letter went on - meaning Aziz retained his British citizenship, Daily Mail reported. The Home Office last night failed to deny that Aziz was therefore no longer facing deportation. Whistleblower Maggie Oliver, who resigned a detective over failings in how police handled grooming cases in Rochdale, said victims would be "horrified" to learn that Aziz has secretly had his British citizenship restored. "All three of them should have been kicked out of the country as soon as they were released from prison," she told the Daily Mail. "Instead they've been given hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal aid to pay for clever lawyers who seek to defend the indefensible. "It's just the latest evidence that our criminal justice system is broken and that victims get no consideration at all." Victims have repeatedly told of their incredulity that the trio - all of whom had dual UK-Pakistani nationality - remain in the country a decade after they were jailed. --IANS san/ ( 419 Words) 2022-06-28-22:58:04 (IANS) US President Joe Biden congratulated Finland, Sweden and Turkey for reaching an agreement which will pave the way for the Nordic countries to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance. In a statement, Biden said, "I congratulate Turkey, Finland and Sweden on signing a trilateral memorandum, which paves the way for Allies to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO at the Madrid Summit." US President recalled Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and Sweden Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson's visit to the White House and said that they strongly support their membership. "Their membership will strengthen NATO's collective security and benefit the entire Transatlantic Alliance. I look forward to working with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, our Allies, and with Congress to ensure that we can quickly welcome them into our Alliance," Biden said. "As we begin this historic NATO Summit in Madrid, our Alliance is stronger, more united and more resolute than ever," he added. Earlier, on Tuesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that Turkey has agreed to support Finland and Sweden's NATO membership bids, removing a major hurdle to the two countries joining the alliance. In a statement, Niintso said that a joint memorandum on the matter was signed by Turkey, Finland and Sweden in Madrid. The joint memorandum underscores the commitment of Finland, Sweden and Turkey "to extend their full support against threats to each other's security," Niinisto said as quoted by CNN. "The concrete steps of our accession to NATO will be agreed by the NATO allies during the next two days, but that decision is now imminent," he added. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he is "confident" that Finland and Sweden will be able to successfully join NATO after the signing of the trilateral memorandum of understanding. "I'm pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns, including around arms exports, and the fight against terrorism," Stoltenberg said, speaking to journalists in Madrid following the signing of the memorandum. (ANI) Two women from Raleigh who were shot In downtown San Diego on Friday night have gained over $111,000 in support for medical costs. The San Diego Police Department reported that Lane Sheer and Toni Yrlas, employees for The Preiss Company, a Raleigh based student housing organization, were caught in the crossfire of an argument between two groups they were not part of. One of the women was shot in the hand and the other was shot in her upper body, according to police. They were on a business trip to attend the National Apartment Association conference in San Diego from June 22-24. The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. in a busy section of the city with several bars and restaurants. Police say an argument erupted between two groups and one person involved in the argument began shooting at the other group. No details have been released about the nature of the argument or how It started. Investigators have no leads on or accurate description of the shooter. GoFundMe support To help pay for surgeries, transport, rehabilitation and other expenses, Adam Byrley, the chief operating officer of the Preiss Company, created a GoFundMe page for Lane, the co-director of property operations, and Yrlas, a property training specialist. As of Tuesday morning, nearly 700 people had donated $112,623 surpassing a goal of $75,000. Donna Preiss, the founder of the Preiss Company, donated $10,000. The donations continue to increase. If you have ever met Lane and Toni before, you know how kind and sweet those two are, Byrley wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday. Our collective families are devastated. As first reported by FOX 5 San Diego, a Twitter user posted a video shortly after the shooting showing a large crowd and the voice of an Individual on a scooter saying one of the women was shot in the chest. I live DT.. video from right after it happened.. kid on the scooter explained what happened saying woman got shot in the chest in front of Patricks pic.twitter.com/sWXAN6zRKp Tige (@Ryan_Theige) June 25, 2022 San Diego Police have asked anyone near the scene of the crime to contact their crime stopper at 888-580-8477. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information Is released. The Daily Beast CNNRepublican Gov. Kristi Noem ducked and dodged Sunday morning when asked if South Dakota would force a raped 10-year-old to give birtheventually suggesting that tragic situation shouldnt change her states restrictive abortion laws. The law today is that abortions are illegal except to save the life of the mother, Noem told anchor Dana Bash on CNNs State of the Union.Bash had pressed Noem about the case of a 10-year-old girl in Ohio who was denied an abortion because she was three days Xaiana bought black market misoprostol from a drug dealer and terminated a pregnancy. (Dado Galdieri/The New York Times) RIO DE JANEIRO Last November, Xaiana, a 23-year-old college student in northern Brazil, began exchanging text messages with a drug dealer in the south of the country. Following the dealers instructions, she transferred 1,500 reais ($285), her living expenses for several months. Then, she waited three agonizing weeks for the arrival in the mail of a blister pack of eight unmarked white pills. When she took them, they had the effect she was hoping for: She underwent a medication abortion at home with her boyfriend, ending an eight-week pregnancy. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times But Xaiana kept bleeding for weeks, an unusual but not rare complication. It was like a murder scene every time I had a shower, she said. She was afraid to get help because it is illegal for a woman in Brazil to use the drug, misoprostol, to trigger an abortion. If she went to a clinic, she feared, the staff might figure out she had induced the abortion and report her. The penalty for having an abortion in Brazil is up to three years in jail. Its the loneliest feeling Ive ever felt in my life, she said, asking to be identified only by her first name out of fear of prosecution. After seven weeks, she went to a womens clinic and admitted to having terminated a pregnancy. She was given a simple cauterization, and no one reported her. Proponents of abortion rights in the United States have suggested that a post-Roe America would differ in a key way from the era before abortion was legalized nationally. Women seeking abortions today have the option of a medical termination, using hormone pills to trigger the body to expel the fetus in private, a practice approved by the Food and Drug Administration. But the wave of state trigger laws that have begun to take effect after the Supreme Courts ruling overturning Roe on Friday bar all abortion, including medication abortions. To get the pills legally, women will have to travel to states where it is allowed for a medical consultation, even if it is by video or phone, as required by the FDA. Story continues The trajectory of access to abortion pills in Brazil may offer insight into how medication abortion can become out of reach and what can happen when it does. While surgical abortion was the original target of Brazils abortion ban, the proscription expanded after medication abortion became more common, leading to the situation today where drug traffickers control most access to the pills. Women who procure them have no guarantee of the safety or authenticity of what they are taking, and if they have complications, they fear seeking help. Today, black market misoprostol, brought in from India, Mexico and Argentina, is sold for anywhere from about $200 to $400 for the eight tablets recommended for an abortion, compared with less than $15 for a 60-pill bottle in the United States. It took a New York Times reporter less than one minute of asking to find someone willing to sell eight pills for $300, in a Rio neighborhood known for the sale of black market goods. You buy it from a dealer. You dont know what it is. The whole process is made frightening. Its secret. Its not a medicine anymore, said Maira Marques, who is the director of campaigns for an abortion access advocacy organization called Milhas pelas Vidas das Mulheres. This is supposed to be the straightforward, less complicated way to have an abortion, but now, instead, its buying contraband. It has been illegal in Brazil to have an abortion since 1890, although exceptions were added in 1940 for women who were pregnant as a result of rape or incest and in cases where a womans life was endangered by the pregnancy; more recently, access was added for women carrying a fetus with anencephaly (missing parts of its brain). But starting in the late 1980s, word spread that an ulcer medication called Cytotec could bring on a period. In fact, it was Brazilian womens experience with off-label use of the drug that led to research and eventual global adoption of medical abortion as a lower-cost, less invasive way to end pregnancies that could increase access, especially in developing countries. Cytotec is misoprostol, one-half of the World Health Organizations recommended combination of hormones (the other is mifepristone) to carry out a medication abortion. Mifepristone has never been approved for use in Brazil, and women, unaware of the drug, do not seek it on the black market. Misoprostol is usually enough to induce a safe abortion; a study published in The Lancet found that 8% of women who used misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy experienced complications, including bleeding and abdominal pain requiring medical attention. The drug was sold in pharmacies without a prescription until 1991, and then it was regulated to require prescription, although the prescription rules were lax. The availability of the pills sharply reduced the number of women turning up in hospitals with the life-threatening infections or hemorrhages from abortions they had tried to induce with the castor root or bleach or coat hangers, said Dr. Ana Teresa Derraik, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Rio. It was a big relief for those of us who didnt think women should be punished like this. But misoprostol was becoming a focus of attention for anti-abortion campaigners in Brazil and beyond. In 1998, Brazils health regulatory agency, ANVISA, included misoprostol on the list of controlled drugs, alongside opiates, which meant a prison sentence of up to 15 years for anyone caught importing or buying it. International pharmaceutical companies that made misoprostol were hit with boycotts and stopped producing it; a small domestic company took over manufacturing a generic version of the drug to sell only to the Ministry of Health for hospital use. In 2006, the law prohibiting misoprostol distribution was strengthened to ban selling or publishing information about the drug on the internet. When Jair Bolsonaro was elected Brazils president in 2018, with the enthusiastic support of Brazils fast-growing evangelical Christian community, access became even more scarce. International reproductive rights organizations such as Women on Web used to mail abortion pills to Brazil, and local feminist groups used to source them and supply them, along with instructions for safe use, said Juliana Reis, director of Milhas. Now they have almost entirely stopped. Because of the political climate, its much more difficult to get safe products and to get proper counseling, because the networks that used to do that are much more afraid, said Sonia Correa, a researcher of reproductive health technologies in Rio. New guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health this month include the assertion that inducing abortion by telemedicine, using drugs from the special control list, can cause irreversible damage to the woman. Dr. Helena Paro, a gynecologist in the city of Uberlandia who introduced telemedicine consultations for legal abortion patients during the COVID pandemic, called the guideline completely ideological and contrary to the scientific evidence. The WHO considers the practice safe. In response to questions from the Times, the ministry said the guidelines reflect that misoprostol is authorized only in hospital establishments, that its use outside this environment is not allowed by law and that use of misoprostol for abortion via telemedicine meant women would not have timely access to health services that can manage the possible clinical or surgical complications resulting from the procedure. Derraik said she has seen an intensification of scrutiny for use of misoprostol in the hospitals where she offers abortion services to women who qualify as well as a simultaneous increase in the level of investigation of women who report miscarriages. Other women have fallen into police traps. In 2012, a Rio sociologist decided she could not continue her pregnancy; she was already struggling to parent a 12-year-old with intense special needs. The sociologist (who asked to be identified by her first initial, A., because her family does not know about her abortion) went to her gynecologist. He said, This medication exists, Cytotec, but I cant give it to you; youll have to buy it from the black market, she recalled. She found a website, ordered the drug and paid several months salary for it, but the package never arrived; she was tracking it online and watched it stall when it entered the country. She found a drug-trafficking contact through a friend of a friend and bought a second batch, took the drug at home and ended the pregnancy with no complications her only regret being that she had to be alone through a frightening process. A year later, a letter arrived summoning her to the police. She thought it was about her car, which had been stolen the year before. But when she arrived, a male officer asked her, Do you know what Cytotec is? She said she did. He asked if she had bought it. She could see he had her credit card information from the purchase on the paper in front of him, so she admitted she had. He asked if she had carried out the abortion. She replied, Of course not. The medication never arrived. It turned out that police were monitoring the website where she bought misoprostol, traced the package and said they would charge her with unlawful purchase of a controlled substance. After several years of hearings, she entered an alternative sentencing program and performed 60 hours of community service. She continues to have to report her whereabouts to police and cannot leave her state. Womens reliance on the black market for access to medication abortions means they may not follow best medical practice. When C., a 24-year-old teacher in Recife, bought misoprostol from a drug dealer last year, she searched Google to figure out how to take it. Because it was illegal, there was no information about how to take it or what to take, she said. Her search found recommendations to insert the tablets in her vagina, as a doctor would if she were in a clinic, but cautioned that traces might be left behind and give her away if she wound up in hospital; instead, she dissolved them under her tongue, a method that also works but less quickly. C., who asked to be identified only her middle initial out of fear of prosecution, bled for weeks after and wanted to ask her mother, a gynecologist, for advice. But her mother is an anti-abortion activist. Finally, C. said she thought she had miscarried, and her mother took her to see a colleague who performed a dilation-and-curettage under anesthetic. When I was having the curettage, I had to keep saying over and over to myself, Dont say anything. You cant say anything. It was torture, she said. Even though I was totally sure that I wanted an abortion I had no doubts you still feel like youve done something wrong because you cant talk about it. The restriction on misoprostol has complicated regular obstetric care, which uses the drug for induction of labor, said Derraik. At the Rio public maternity hospital where she is medical director, a doctor must fill out a request in triplicate for the drug, have it signed by Derraik, take it to the pharmacy where the supervisor must also sign before taking it out of a locked cabinet, and then the physician must administer the drug with a witness to ensure it is not diverted for black market sale. Not all of these steps are officially required, Derraik said. But hospitals do them because of the intense paranoia around the drug. 2022 The New York Times Company A new royal court of famous faces could soon join the Oscars voting ranks. The Academy announced Tuesday the list of 397 Hollywood and international film community professionals invited to join AMPAS' 2022 class, including Outlander and Belfast star Caitriona Balfe, reigning Best Supporting Actress winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), and superstar musician Billie Eilish, who won Best Original Song for her James Bond theme "No Time to Die" earlier this year. Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose, Billie Eilish Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images; Mike Coppola/Getty Images Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose, Billie Eilish, more invited to join Academy in Oscars voting ranks. Joining the aforementioned trio on the list of invitees are CODA's Best Supporting Actor winner Troy Kotsur, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jessie Buckley, Jamie Dornan, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Finneas O'Connell, and Drive My Car mastermind Ryusuke Hamaguchi, among others. According to an Academy press release, the 2022 class is comprised of 44 percent women, with 37 percent belonging to underrepresented ethnic or racial communities. About 50 percent of the invited class are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States. Overall, 71 potential new members are Oscar nominees, including 15 winners. Oscar Winners FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images 2022 Oscars winners include Ariana DeBose, Troy Kotsur, and Jessica Chastain. An invitation to the Academy does not automatically guarantee membership; those invited are often asked to join in more than one branches (such as Hamaguchi, who was this year invited to join both the writing and directing groups), and must formally accept their invitation before becoming official Academy members. The Academy previously announced that Michael J. Fox would receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic efforts at the upcoming Governors Awards, with Peter Weir, Euzhan Palcy, and 13-time songwriting nominee Diane Warren also receiving Honorary Awards at the same ceremony for their contributions to the industry. Story continues Per an internal survey obtained by EW earlier this year, the Academy is seemingly considering changes to its live telecast, following industry uproar over its decision to pre-tape the presentation of select technical categories and re-edit portions of those clips into the live show. Questions also referenced the decision to include an #OscarsFanFavorite audience-voted category for popular film moments of the year, which was announced during the ABC broadcast as well. See the full list of people invited to join the 2022 Academy class on the Oscars website. Check out more from EW's The Awardist, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's best in TV. Related content: STORY: On February 24, Penn was in Kyiv attending a press briefing at Zelenskiy's on the first day of Russia's invasion, recording footage for a documentary chronicling the crisis. Days later, Penn found himself among thousands of refugees fleeing to Poland, joining the exodus on foot. Penn is producing the documentary on Russias invasion of Ukraine for Vice Studios, a U.S.-Canadian digital media and broadcasting company, according to Variety. During their meeting on Tuesday (June 28), Zelenskiy thanked Penn his support for Ukraine, according to the presidential office. For his part, Penn said he was willing to visit cities and towns affected by the war, the statement added. Jun. 28The father of missing Manchester child Harmony Montgomery will face decades in prison if convicted on charges handed up by a Hillsborough County grand jury. Indictments returned by a grand jury earlier this month against Montgomery, 32, spell out the tough sentencing provisions of two "armed career criminal" charges: A minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, with a maximum of 40 years. A judge cannot shave off any portion of the sentence. A judge cannot order the sentence served concurrently with another sentence. Early parole is prohibited. Authorities can bring the career-criminal charge against a person who has a record that includes three felonies and is arrested with a weapon in their possession. The grand jury returned six other felony charges against Montgomery, all in connection with a theft of two firearms that took place in September or October 2019, when Montgomery was living in a car in Manchester with his wife and children. Meanwhile, Montgomery's lawyers appeared in Hillsborough County Superior Court on Tuesday, where Judge Amy Messer set a date of Nov. 7 for jury selection on eight gun-related charges. Messer said she expects that most court papers filed in the future will be done so publicly and told lawyers on both sides that they have to consult the law when it comes to records involving Montgomery's daughter, Harmony, and the state Division for Children, Youth and Families. "I do believe the law is strongly in favor of public access unless it is required to be under seal," Messer said. "Don't ask me to put an entire pleading under seal unless there is no way to redact (portions)." Montgomery's daughter, Harmony, was last seen in the fall 2019 and is the subject of an ongoing search by Manchester police and the FBI. Both Adam Montgomery and his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, face criminal charges, some involving Harmony and some involving the gun thefts. Kayla Montgomery, Harmony's stepmother, has been the subject of frequent court hearings and is currently out on bail. But the hearing on Tuesday was the first time that Adam Montgomery's case was discussed in open court. He was not present. Story continues He will face three trials. The first will be on the gun-related charges, followed by two separate trials: one on a single charge of hitting Harmony in the face and another on misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and interfering with custody. The indictments issued against Montgomery on June 20 include two armed career criminal charges, two charges for theft, two for felon in possession of a firearm and two for receiving stolen property. All involve a rifle and shotgun stolen in Manchester in September or October 2019. Prosecutors often bring multiple charges against defendants to encourage cooperation with authorities. Police have steadfastly refused to discuss Adam or Kayla's cooperation with the investigation into Harmony's disappearance, but the lengthy list of charges hints at little if any. Montgomery's lawyer, Caroline Smith, said she is yet to have meaningful discussions about a plea bargain with the prosecutor in the case, Senior Assistant Attorney General Jesse O'Neill. No formal offer has been made, but Smith said no deadline was necessary. Smith's biggest concern was how to file court papers that mention records from DCYF. State law calls for such records to be confidential, but some have already been released. "I really need guidance here," Smith said. For example, under pressure from Gov. Chris Sununu, DCYF released a synopsis of the Harmony investigation. It attributed a black eye received by Harmony, which is the basis for the felony assault charge, as the result of horseplay. Out of an abundance of caution, Smith said she filed under seal a pleading that seeks to separate the 12 charges into three trials. That remained sealed as of Tuesday, O'Neill said police continue to receive tips about Harmony. Harmony's disappearance has received national attention, and three activists in the movement to find Harmony were in court on Tuesday. mhayward@unionleader.com Chapel of the Fields Loblolly Farm Loblolly Farm There's a tiny chapel in Semmes, Alabama, that's built to hold a whole lot of love. Gary Smith constructed Chapel of the Fields on his property at Loblolly Farm in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. The 14.44-square-foot structure measures 40 inches by 52 inches and holds two standing people. It is being billed as the "smallest church on Earth." "She's little bitty," Smith told AL.com. The current record for Smallest Church in the World is held by a chapel in Spain that is seven square feet larger than Chapel of the Fields. Smith said he's currently waiting to hear back from Guinness World Records about making the title official. "If anybody builds anything smaller, they'd just be putting a steeple on top of a phone booth," Smith told AL.com. Chapel of the Fields was designed to resemble an old-fashioned Southern church, topped by a wooden steeple in a cross design. While there has yet to be a ceremony inside the chapel, plenty of couples have taken photos there. It's become a bit of a roadside attraction. "We've seen [car] tags from Nevada, Texas, North Carolina People just keep stopping by," Smith told AL.com. "They're weird, like we are." For more information about Loblolly Farm and booking the tiny chapel for yourself, visit loblollyfarm.com. PROVIDENCE Dr. Stephen Salloway, director of the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital and one of the nations leading Alzheimers disease researchers, is stepping down, the hospital announced on Tuesday. Salloway will continue his research and maintain his leadership roles at Brown University, according to a news release from Butler, which is part of the Care New England health-care network. He will serve as a consultant to interim director Dr. Meghan Riddle until a new permanent director is appointed, the hospital said. Dr. Stephen P. Salloway, Brown University professor of neurology and psychiatry, is stepping down as head of the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital. It has been my honor and privilege to lead the Butler Hospital Memory and Aging Program for the past 25 years. Thanks to the dedication of our staff and contribution of thousands of study volunteers, the Memory and Aging Program has grown into a leading international center for Alzheimers research, Salloway said in the release. Mary Marran, Butler president and chief operating officer, praised Salloway and his accomplishments, saying: We will remain forever grateful that he dedicated his career to this effort. Butler Hospital and Care New England look forward to continuing our work with Brown to advance AD research, including creating a caring environment that encourages people of all backgrounds to participate in research and take advantage of new treatments. Alzheimer's drug: FDA approves use of aducanumab despite cautions, criticism Butler hospital Alzheimers studies According to Butler, the Memory and Aging Program has conducted more than 100 clinical trials for Alzheimers and related disorders The program has embarked on a multitude of landmark Alzheimers studies focused on the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimers. Salloway will continue as the Martin M. Zucker Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, and Professor of Neurology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and as associate director of the Brown University Center for Alzheimers Disease Research, according to Butler Hospital. Story continues A national search will be conducted to find Salloways successor. Mental health care: Butler Hospital workers seek government aid to boost services The scientist and doctor is the latest in a number of prominent Rhode Islanders to leave their posts or announce plans to do so. Former Lifespan head Dr. Timothy J. Babineau stepped down at the end of May, and Dr. James E. Fanale, his counterpart at Care New England, the states second-largest health care system after Lifespan, plans to leave early next year. Meanwhile, Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil Steinberg announced last month that he will retire from that post on May 1, 2023. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Alzheimer's researcher Salloway to step down as Butler program head STORY: This festival celebrates Amazonian folklore Location: Parintins, Brazil This is the Boi-Bumba festival It features a three-day contest between red and blue teams to celebrate a local legend about a resurrected ox [Maracol Levy, Blue team performer] Every year is very exciting; it seems like it's always the first time. We get nervous and anxious, and after a two-year pause, the emotion is even bigger. We are very excited and happy to be here today. The festival was on pause due to the global health crisis This marks its 55th year PORTSMOUTH Andrew Kelly, currently serving his second term as an elected member of the Town Council, announced Monday his candidacy for the District 11 state Senate seat currently held by James Seveney, who will not seek reelection. District 11 was adjusted by the states recently passed redistricting legislation to remove a section of North Tiverton and include only Portsmouth and the southern end of Bristol. North Tiverton is now a part of District 10. In addition to his position on the Town Council, Kelly, running as an Independent, previously served as an elected member of the School Committee for six years. He also indicated in a press release his service on Town Council-appointed committees, including the Economic Development Committee, the Glen Manor House Authority, the Elmhurst Re-use Committee and the Charter Review Committee. Election 2022: Chappell seeks to bring voice and law experience to State House as state Senate candidate During my years of service, I have championed high-quality public education, improved roads and infrastructure and preservation of our environment," Kelly said in the press release announcing his candidacy. "We are facing difficult economic challenges, and I would like to help foster small businesses and job creation. I will always stand up for the rights of women, workers and all Rhode Islanders. Andrew Kelly. Kelly, a Portsmouth High School and Salve Regina University graduate who works for the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, stated in the press release his family has multi-generational roots in Portsmouth. He is a parishioner of Saint Barnabas Roman Catholic Church and serves on the Portsmouth Community Theaters board of directors. Election 2022: Portsmouth Town Council Vice President Linda Ujifusa will run for open state Senate seat "I am running for state Senate because I can effectively represent the people of Portsmouth and Bristol," Kelly said in the release. "There are key legislation and reforms that should be put in place and I am willing to do what needs to be done to help my constituents." Kelly is the second member of the Portsmouth Town Council to seek the District 11 seat after Vice President Linda Ujifusa announced her candidacy in mid-June. Local attorney Matt Chappell also intends to run. All three are Democrats. This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: State Senate District 11: Portsmouth Town Councilor Andrew Kelly to run SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A man who shot and killed a passenger on a San Francisco subway commuter train will be charged with gun crimes but not homicide in what was clearly" a case of self-defense after he was attacked with a knife, his attorney said Monday. Javon Green, 26, will face charges of having a concealed weapon in a public place and having a loaded gun in a public place, both felonies that possibly could be reduced to misdemeanors, attorney Randy Knox told the San Francisco Chronicle. Green was scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office declined to comment to the paper Monday. Messages from The Associated Press seeking comment weren't immediately returned. Green shot to death Nesta Bowen, 27, last Wednesday on a Muni train, his attorney said. Knox told the paper that his client was a security guard who carried a gun for protection because he had twice been shot, and that he had twice tried to move away from a man on the train who is believed to be Bowen. The man had been sitting next to Green. According to his client's account, the man was mumbling and saying aggressive things" to Green, who got up and walked away from him, but the man followed him and took a knife from his pants, Knox said. According to Knox, Green said to him, what are you going to do, stab me? And thats when he started to run away, Knox said. Its a clear case of self-defense. Surveillance footage obtained by the Chronicle appeared to show the man pulling something from his pocket and charging at Green, swinging at his face with his fist and what appears to be a knife, the paper said. Green backs up but as they approach the end of the train car, Green shoots the man, the paper said. Police said the shooter fled when the train stopped in the Castro neighborhood. Green was arrested the next day in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Pittsburg. A 70-year-old passenger on the train was wounded and received non-life threatening injuries. Knox said Green apologized to the man and to other train passengers. (Bloomberg) -- Chinas two largest cities have contained Covid-19 following a bruising four-month fight that saw millions of residents locked in their homes, exhaustive testing and restrictions on daily life that impacted every facet of society and the economy. Most Read from Bloomberg The capital and financial hub both recorded zero new locally-transmitted Covid infections for Monday, the first time both cities had no virus freely circulating since Feb. 19. Nationwide, China reported just 22 cases, according to the National Health Commission. Reaching the milestone in Beijing and Shanghai shows it is possible to eliminate the virus despite the arrival of the highly-contagious omicron variants that are able to evade immunity gained from vaccination. The victory has come at a significant cost, however, and doesnt mean the fight is over. New infections could emerge, triggering a renewed cycle of containment in either city. China itself hasnt been virus-free since October, but is still pursuing its intensive Covid Zero strategy. Constant Cycle of Restrictions Is Chinas Covid Future Its not surprising that China has managed to return to so-called zero, after all the huge effort its made, said Huang Yanzhong, a senior fellow for global health at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. But that doesnt mean it can claim a thorough and durable victory because it didnt eradicate the virus, he said. Unless they thoroughly fence off Beijing and Shanghai, the virus could sneak in anytime. Halting local circulation of the virus required harsh measures to root out infections and break chains of transmission. In Shanghai, which last reported no new community cases on Feb. 23, more than 25 million residents endured a two-month lockdown. Targeted restrictions, extensive contact tracing and regular testing are now widespread in both cities. Story continues Lofty Goals The demands of Covid Zero show how difficult it is to stamp out the infectious pathogen for long, and underscore the risk facing the worlds second largest economy. Many now expect Beijing to miss its 5.5% growth goal for the year, with economists projecting 4.2% gross domestic product gains in 2022. The repercussions are being felt around the world, with Nike Inc. the latest company to offer a gloomy forecast based on dimming expectations in China. Zero tolerance is isolating China from the rest of the world, which is awash in the virus after shifting to living with it. Still, Chinese authorities are under massive pressure to insulate the economy from Covid Zero, especially ahead of the Communist Party congress later this year when President Xi Jinping is expected to secure an unprecedented third term. There is no end in sight for local leaders who are juggling efforts to keep Covid out while spurring their economies. At least five key cities and provinces have said virus control measures will continue as their party chiefs -- many of whom are Xis close allies -- addressed local party congresses in recent days. Chongqing party boss Chen Miner pledged no slack in implementing Covid control measures. Tianjins Li Hongzhong promised to normalize pandemic prevention. And while Beijing Daily retracted a report that sparked a social media backlash for saying the capital would stick to a zero-tolerance approach in the next five years, it was based on comments from party leaders who were addressing the major tasks for the next five years. Meanwhile, Shanghais leader said the citys approach was completely correct as he declared victory in defending the financial hub against Covid-19. Most pandemic restrictions in Beijing, which last reported zero cases on April 16, are on track to be eased and students will be allowed to return to in-person school on Monday. But there is a new normal. Residents are required to show a green code on a mobile app that tracks their health status, and take a Covid test every three days to enter any public venue, including restaurants, shops, and mass transportation. Even kids over age three must be tested to play in the park. Looming Threat The virus is still circulating elsewhere in the country, as well. Several cases have emerged in the technology hub Shenzhen, which is in the spotlight as Xi is expected to stay there later this week during the 25th anniversary celebration of the handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese. His attendance is also anticipated at the swearing-in ceremony for the citys incoming chief executive John Lee. There were five local infections in Shenzhen on Monday, found after the Futian district that borders Hong Kong was locked down, non-essential businesses were shut and restrictions were imposed on residents leaving their compounds. The northern port city of Tianjin also reported four Covid infections on Monday. They were found during regular checks of staffers working in a closed-loop system used for inbound international flights, state media reported, citing the municipal government. Its unclear how or when China will exit the Covid Zero mindset. From the government perspective, authorities think the costs are worth it as they believe they have avoided the most dangerous situation, said Huang, from the Council on Foreign Relations. And while the government claims the social and economic costs are still affordable, there are far larger indirect costs that havent been taken into account, he said. We cant foresee an end. (Adds outside comment in the fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. President Biden on Tuesday said the Pentagon will send additional Navy destroyers to Spain as part of U.S. efforts bolster NATO defenses in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine. In talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Biden promised to increase the number of Navy destroyers stationed at Rota Naval Station in Spain from four to six. As I said before the war started, if Putin attacked Ukraine, the United States would enhance our force posture in Europe and respond to the reality of a new European security environment, he said alongside Sanchez after the two met. Together, the new commitments will constitute an impressive display of allied unity and resolve and NATOs 360-degree approach to our security. Biden, who is in Madrid as part of a three-day NATO summit, said the additional destroyers are just one of several announcements that he and allies would make during the gathering. National security adviser Jake Sullivan referenced those announcements earlier aboard Air Force One as Biden was flying to Madrid, telling reporters they will respond to a more acute and aggravated Russian threat. The United States will be making specific announcements tomorrow on land, sea and air on additional force posture commitments over the long term beyond the duration of this crisis, for however long it goes on, Sullivan said. Among those expected announcements is a plan to extend the presence of American troops in Poland, who were initially stationed there following Russias Feb. 24 attack against Ukraine. The Pentagon deployed at least 4,700 U.S. troops to Poland, which borders Ukraine, while other American forces were repositioned in Germany and Romania ahead of the invasion. The troops have added to a significant U.S. force presence increase in Europe from about 80,000 troops to roughly 100,000 since late February. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said the alliance plans to significantly increase its quick-reaction force to well over 300,000 soldiers, a huge boost from the forces current 40,000-person standing. We will enhance our battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance up to brigade-levels. We will transform the NATO Response Force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000, Stoltenberg said at a Monday news conference. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Tuesday confirmed that President Biden will meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in July. Ebrard confirmed the news on Twitter and added that the meeting between Lopez Obrador and Biden will take place on July 12. He shared that the agenda for the meeting has already been agreed upon with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the White House team. The meeting will come a month after Lopez Obradors snub of the U.S.-led Summit of the Americas; the Mexican president pulled out of the event after the U.S.s refusal to invite the leaders of Cuba and Nicaragua and representatives of the Maduro government in Venezuela. There can be no Summit of the Americas if all the countries of the American continent do not participate, Lopez Obrador said in May. Or there can be, but we believe that means continuing of old politics of interventionism, of a lack of respect of their communities. Lopez Obrador, who has praised former President Trump despite Trumps anti-Hispanic campaign rhetoric, has had a tense relationship with Biden since he took office. He had initially refused to recognize the results of the U.S. presidential election and said he would hold off on recognizing Bidens win until it was officially announced. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports For weeks, two teams have been linked to Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield the Panthers and the Seahawks. With all teams in position to study film from offseason workouts and with plenty of teams perhaps not having clear answers at the position, which teams should be at least pondering the possibility of a potential upgrade [more] In the wake of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Chicago fired off hundreds of letters Monday to Fortune 500 CEOs in states facing abortion bans, pitching the city as a more welcoming location for their businesses. The letter, which was signed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other civic leaders, was mailed to about 300 CEOs in 25 states that are enacting trigger bans, restricting access and criminalizing abortion. It warns that employees in those states may suffer and see their lives upended as a result of the decision to end the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right. Advertisement As you weigh the repercussions facing your employees, customers and vendors, we welcome the opportunity to highlight the ways in which Chicago remains a welcoming city for all, the letter states. [ The Supreme Courts ruling on Roe v. Wade could offer a surprising benefit to Illinois: More corporate offices ] World Business Chicago, the citys public-private economic development arm, launched the letter-writing campaign. It is buying a full-page ad this week in The Wall Street Journal featuring a copy of the letter, which was also signed by Michael Fassnacht, president and CEO of World Business Chicago, and Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments and vice chair of the economic development agency. Advertisement The Supreme Court decision Friday struck down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which along with the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, held abortion was protected by the 14th Amendment until a fetus was viable outside the womb. With abortion no longer a constitutional right, states are free to enact their own standards, with a wave of restrictions and outright bans expected to severely limit access for many women. The Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit research organization that supports reproductive rights, projects 26 states are certain or likely to attempt to ban abortion following the Supreme Court ruling, including such longtime Illinois corporate rivals as Texas, Florida, Arizona, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Indiana. Illinois is among about a dozen states classified as protective of abortion rights by the Guttmacher Institute. Current state regulations allow for abortion until fetal viability at 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy, with state Medicaid and private health insurance plans required to cover the procedure. Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a rally at Federal Plaza in Chicago to protest the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, allowing states to ban abortions, on June 24, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for a special legislative session this summer to increase legal protections for providers and potentially expand the ranks of medical professionals allowed to perform abortions as Illinois prepares for an expected influx of out-of-state patients. World Business Chicago is unabashedly promoting a values proposition as states competing with Illinois for corporate headquarters rush to ban abortion, despite polls that show the majority of Americans do not support overturning Roe v. Wade. When companies or capital or talent makes a decision about where to start a career, where to relocate or expand, you have to take into consideration the values that a city and a state has, and it has to be part of the site selection decision, Fassnacht said. Its not just always about low taxes, it is the value and the climate that your employees are living in. Last week, the Chicago area suffered its latest corporate blow when billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin announced he was moving Citadels headquarters to Miami. Earlier this month, Caterpillar announced it would relocate its headquarters from north suburban Deerfield to Irving, Texas, outside Dallas. Fassnacht declined to comment on the impending moves, calling on employees of companies considering relocation to states with more restrictive abortion laws to speak up for themselves. Advertisement I encourage employees working for companies who are contemplating where to build their business or relocate, to raise their voice and make sure that their CEOs know about their feelings, that they might feel uncomfortable moving to one of these states that does not protect your rights, Fassnacht said. It is not the first time World Business Chicago has attempted to leverage the fallout from controversial legislation to lure businesses to relocate. In April, the agency took out full-page newspaper ads in Florida, Texas and Arizona touting Chicagos inclusivity as those states enacted legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, such as the Florida education law critics have dubbed Dont Say Gay. Last September, World Business Chicago took out a full-page ad in the Sunday Dallas Morning News inviting businesses to head north after Texas passed restrictive abortion and voting legislation. rchannick@chicagotribune.com US Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell wipes his eye as he watches a video being displayed during a House select committee hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Jim Bourg/Pool via AP A Capitol Police officer said on Tuesday that "our own president set us up" on January 6, 2021. "He wanted to lead the mob and wanted to lead the crowd himself ... he wanted to be a tyrant," Sgt. Aquilino Gonell told HuffPost. Gonell attended the sixth public hearing of the House January 6 committee on Tuesday. A US Capitol Police officer injured during the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol told reporters on Tuesday "our own president set us up" during the sixth public hearing of the House commitee investigating the Capitol riot. Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, an Army veteran who was in the room during Tuesday's hearing, testified before Congress last year about the injuries he suffered while defending the Capitol. Gonell underwent surgery and was moved to desk duty as a result of the injuries he sustained to his foot and shoulder while being physically attacked by rioters during the Capitol siege. "I just feel betrayed," Gonell told HuffPost's Igor Bobic on Tuesday. "The president should be doing everything possible to help us and he didn't do it. He wanted to lead the mob and wanted to lead the crowd himself ... he wanted to be a tyrant." He later told Insider that he still remembers how him and his fellow officers tried to stop pro-Trump supporters from forcing their way inside of the US Capitol building on January 6. Gonell said the latest hearing has shown that Trump was actively "working against" the police officers that day. "Even if you give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn't know, he still didn't do anything to help us," he told Insider. His remarks come after Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Cassidy Hutchinson, testified before the House panel investigating the January 6 insurrection. She later testified that President Donald Trump was "furious" that people with weapons were prohibited from passing through metal detectors outside of his rally on January 6 because it kept the crowd size small. Hutchinson said the former president ordered his aides to remove the metal detectors, also known as "mags," and said that he wasn't concerned that his supporters brought weapons, including assault rifles, to the rally, insisting they be allowed to march to the Capitol. Hutchinson said, "I was in the vicinity of a conversation where I overheard the president say something to the effect of, 'I don't f-ing care that they have weapons. They're not here to hurt me. Take the f-ing mags away. Let my people in, they can march to the Capitol from here.'" Read the original article on Business Insider ABC It was a rare and opportune moment to have a woman hosting a network late-night talk show. As previously scheduled, comedian Chelsea Handler began her week of shows filling in for Jimmy Kimmel just a few days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Ill be here all week long, Handler said at the top of her monologue. Or at least until Republicans make it illegal for women to talk. She then joked that Kimmel is currently on vacation doing whatever the fuck he wants with his body. And then, At this point, Id probably have more rights if my vagina was an AR-15. Overall, Handler took the opportunity to tell numerous jokes that never could have been made by the shows regular host, including one about women deleting period-tracking apps from their photos. Because if they get an abortion, theyre worried law enforcement might use the data to track and prosecute them, she explained. I also deleted my menstruation app, but mostly because Im on the eve of menopause. The court decision, Handler said, has made her a very strong advocate of the pull-out method, which she described as when you pull Clarence Thomas out of the Supreme Court. I was thinking to myself, who would ever marry a pig like Clarence Thomas, she added, before pointing to Ginni Thomas insurrectionist tendencies. Thats right, she was working behind the scenes to overturn a democratic election. Isnt it so beautiful when two disgusting and awful people find each other? They are the ultimate abuse-of-power couple. The whole thing is especially upsetting, Handler said, when you realize that three of the six justices who voted to overturn Roe were appointed by a former president with a over a dozen sexual assault allegations, who lost the popular vote twice, who was impeached twice, and attempted a coup because hes a little, fat, big baby loser. Samantha Bee Goes on With COVID to Raise Hell Over Roe Decision Handler also sounded off on the Republicans who still claim to be pro-life despite doing everything they can to make life harder for the same kids they claim they want to save by outlawing abortion. Story continues Universal health care, thats pro-life, she said. Restricting guns, thats pro-life. Fighting climate change, thats also pro-life. Listening to doctors during a pandemic, also pro-life. Not forcing women to give birth like livestock. But your party opposes all of those things. Calling Republicans pro-life is like calling O.J. Simpson pro-wife. And Handler made sure viewers knew she was speaking from experience as someone who had three abortions while still high school. And if that sounds too extreme, lets pretend I had two, she joked. Because heres the thing, this planet is a much safer place without me polluting it with my children, she concluded. For more, listen to Chelsea Handler on The Last Laugh podcast. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. This vehicle, thought to be a Chevy Malibu, is believed to have been involved in a robbery and homicide on the city's Northeast Side on Saturday night. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Terry Kelley at 614-645-0907. Columbus police homicide detectives are asking for help in identifying and locating suspects in a Saturday night shooting that left a 24-year-old man dead. Around 10:10 p.m. Saturday, Neal Smith, 24, had made a cash purchase at a market on the 2000 block of Arygle Drive on the city's Northeast Side. Police have released photographs of people they say are suspects in Saturday's homicide. Surveillance video shows three men "closely watching" Smith as he receives his change, according to Columbus police. Smith then left the market and was followed by the three men, who were in a vehicle. That vehicle is believed to be a Chevy Malibu with damage to the rear passenger side. Smith's killing is 61st homicide: Man killed in Northeast Side shooting; 14-year-old charged in separate stabbing As Smith approached the intersection of Argyle Drive and Woodland Avenue, two of the three men got out of the vehicle and approached Smith. Witnesses told police they heard Smith yell "Just take it" followed "almost immediately" by gunfire. One of the suspects in a Saturday night homicide has a number of distinctive tattoos, including this one on his left hand. Police are asking for anyone with information to contact Det. Terry Kelley at 614-645-0907. The two men then ran back to the vehicle, which drove off southbound on Woodland Avenue. Smith attempted to run after being shot, but he collapsed a short distance later. A 34-year-old woman who was in the area but had nothing to do with the incident also was struck by gunfire. She also ran a short distance before collapsing. Homicide database: Here's where homicides have occurred in Columbus since 2017 Detectives believe Smith was targeted for a robbery because he had cash. One of the suspects has several distinctive tattoos, including what appears to be a spiderweb on his left hand. Detectives do not believe Smith knew the men who robbed and shot him. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Terry Kelley at 614-645-0907 or email him at tkelley@columbuspolice.org. Anonymous tips can also be called in to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police need help ID'ing suspects in Saturday night shooting Fifty-five years after its inception, the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was finally recognized by Congress. The U.S. Senate agreed by unanimous consent on a resolution that acknowledges the festival and the 1970 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The resolution was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. It states that the last weekend of June 2022 will commemorate the first weekend of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, with the Senate recognizing that the festival represented a shift in Black culture, consciousness, and expression. The festival, which ran for six weeks the same summer as Woodstock, kicked off on June 29, and was the subject of the documentary that swept the nation, Questloves Summer of Soul. The Oscar and Grammy winning film looked at the festival and how unknown it is in history, forgotten by the masses for decades. According to Rolling Stone, the festival was the brain child of New York City Parks department employee Tony Lawrence in 1967. Lawrence was a local entertainer who was hired by the department to organize summertime programming in Harlem. Held in Harlems Mount Morris Park (now known as Marcus Garvey Park), the festival celebrating Blackness, featuring free events that celebrated Black people and highlighted Black music. Over the next few summers, the festival grew exponentially. Great artists like Count Basie, Bobby Blue Bland, Tito Puente, and Mahalia Jackson performed to tens of thousands of festival-goers. Soon, White politicians gunning for bigger political opportunities, as well as Black community organizers and civil rights leaders, wanted to make an appearance at the festival. It was official The Harlem Cultural Festival was a force to be reckoned with. Story continues In the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination, the community needed the festival more than ever. Lawrence hustled to get the funding and support needed to make the 1969 festival bigger than ever. A record 300,000 people showed up, and some of the greatest entertainers of all time, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, B.B. King, and many, many more, graced the stage. The Black Panthers even provided security for the event, History reports. 69 was a pivotal time period for a lot of Black people in the country to have self-pride and self-love, Questlove explained on a call discussing the Senate resolution. That was a new concept to them. Schumer was also present on the call, and when he asked how folks learned of the festival, Summer of Soul producer Joseph Patel explained information was spread the old fashion way. Mostly in Harlem, word of mouth, local radio, he said. Some people from other boroughs showed up, but really it was put on for the community and sort of kept within the community. David Dinerstein, another producer on the film, echoed his explanation. He also noted that the festival didnt get the coverage it deserved. Unfortunately the media didnt really pay much attention it got very little coverage both on the promotion side and the review side after the fact, he explained. Questlove shared his shock at the Senates recognition on social media. WHOA! He wrote, probably realizing the influence Summer of Soul had on Congress. The resolution takes it a step further, encouraging collaborations between the U.S. government and Black artists, Rolling Stone reports. It encourages Senators to plan appropriate activities that support the objectives of the [festivals]and encourages local governments in the United States to build partnerships with local Black artists, performers and activists to further uplift Black culture and art and promote equal treatment of all people. The New Voice of Ukraine The Armed Forces of Ukraine are successfully using new weapons delivered from the U.S., said Foreign Policy journalist Jack Detsch on Twitter on July 1. In particular, he commended the use of HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to target Russian command posts and weaken their capabilities on the battlefield. This was noted at a closed briefing at the U.S. Department of Defense. The Biden administration is preparing to send an advanced air defense system to Ukraine to help Kyiv fight back against the Russian invasion, an announcement that was followed by a devastating Kremlin strike on a Ukrainian mall. Well share the details on the Washingtons latest weapons pledge and Russias response, plus NATOs move to increase its quick-reaction force and what to watch for at this weeks NATO meeting. This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, Im Ellen Mitchell. Subscribe here. US preps advanced air defense system for Ukraine The Biden administration is preparing to send an advanced air defense system to Ukraine as part of another tranche of military assistance to help Kyiv fight back against the Russian invasion. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G-7) summit Monday that the U.S. is in the process of finalizing a package that will include advanced air defense capabilities, though he declined to provide details on the specific system. This week, as the President told his fellow G-7 leaders and as he told President Zelensky we do intend to finalize a package that includes advanced medium- and long-range air defense capabilities for the Ukrainians, along with some other items that are of urgent need, including ammunition for artillery and counterbattery radar systems, Sullivan said. More details: CNN reported that the Biden administration is preparing to send Ukraine a Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, a medium- to long-range air defense system that has a range of more than 100 miles. A plea: President Biden and other G-7 leaders met virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, the second day of the summit in Germany. Sullivan said that during the closed-door meeting, Zelensky brought up recent Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and asked for more air defense capabilities that could shoot Russian missiles out in the sky. The Ukrainians have been pleading for more heavy weapons to push back against the Russian assault that has been focused on the eastern part of the country. Story continues Still unclear: Its unclear precisely when the U.S. will finalize the next military assistance for Ukraine. The Biden administration just last week announced another $450 million security assistance package including more advanced rocket systems, ammunition and other weaponry. A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters later on Monday that the U.S. is seeking ways to help Ukraines air defense: Thats certainly something that were looking at is the way to help the Ukrainians with additional air defense assets. I dont have the particulars associated with the systems, but as soon as we know that and as soon as those are finalized, we will certainly work to provide you with those details and the particulars of the systems that were employing. Read more here NATO to significantly increase quick-reaction force While the West moves to ship more weapons to Ukraine, NATO seeks to bolster its defenses against any potential conflict spillover by significantly increasing its quick-reaction force to well over 300,000 soldiers, the head of the alliance said Monday. During a news conference, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance plans to increase its Response Force on its eastern flank. We will enhance our battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance up to brigade-levels. We will transform the NATO Response Force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000, Stoltenberg said. We will also boost our ability to reinforce in crisis and conflict. What that includes: Stoltenberg said the boost in military units will also include more pre-positioned equipment, stockpiles of military supplies, more forward-deployed capabilities, upgraded defense plans and strengthened command and control. These troops will exercise together with home defense forces, and they will become familiar with local terrain, facilities, and our new pre-positioned stocks, Stoltenberg said. So that they can respond smoothly and swiftly to any emergency. Together, this constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective deterrence and defense since the Cold War. Read more here Alleged Russian attack on Ukrainian mall rocks West People watch as smoke bellows after a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping mall, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, Monday, June 27, 2022. Ukrainian officials say scores of civilians are feared killed or injured after a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping mall in the central city of Kremenchuk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post Monday that the number of victims was unimaginable, citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged on Monday that Russia had hit a crowded shopping mall in the Kremenchuk region, calling it one of the most daring terrorist acts in European history, with resulting casualties likely significant. Sharing video from the strike on his Telegram account, Zelensky said: The mall is on fire, firefighters are trying to extinguish the fire, the number of victims is impossible to imagine. He added that about 1,000 people may have been in the structure when it was struck, and the shopping mall had posed no strategic value or danger to Russian forces. This is not a mistaken hit of missiles. This is a planned Russian strike at this shopping center, Zelensky said. Western leaders react: The G7 leaders quickly condemned the attack as abominable in a joint statement on Monday. We, the Leaders of the G7, solemnly condemn the abominable attack on a shopping mall in Kremenchuk, according to the statement. Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account. An increase in strikes: Earlier on Monday, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters that Russia has increased its strikes into Ukraine in the past week, though they could not pinpoint the reason. It could be related to the G7. It certainly could be related to the Ukrainian movement of [High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems] into theater, they said, referencing the system the West was providing Kyiv in its fight. Or it could be a larger portion of their long-term battle strategy here. Im just not sure. Read that story here Pentagon: Russias latest nuke threats irresponsible Russian President Vladimir Putins weekend pledge to transfer nuclear-capable missile systems to Belarus is being viewed by U.S. officials as cavalier and irresponsible language, a senior U.S. defense official said Monday. Certainly, anytime anybody uses the word nuclear you have concerns. Quite honestly it seems pretty irresponsible of a national leader to talk about the employment of nuclear weapons and to do so in a generally cavalier fashion, the defense official told reporters in an on-background briefing. Over the weekend: Putin on Saturday told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that the Kremlin will transfer Russian-made Iskander-M missile systems to Belarus in the next few months. The mobile, short-range ballistic missile systems with a range of up to 310 miles can use both ballistic and cruise missiles, both in conventional and nuclear versions, the Russian leader told Lukashenko at a meeting in St. Petersburg, according to a readout from Moscow. Always watching: The U.S. defense official said Washington takes such threatening language seriously and has from the very beginning of Russias attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24. The way that statement read from Putin was, Hey were going to give them Iskanders, and oh, by the way, they can hold nuclear weapons. And everybody takes that very seriously when you use that language, the official said. Our strategic forces are always monitoring things in that regard, they added. Read the full story here BIDEN AT NATO SUMMIT: FIVE THINGS TO WATCH President Biden will convene with allies this week at a NATO summit in Madrid, which is expected to focus on the security alliance projecting its unity and coordination amid Russias war in Ukraine. The meeting, which follows the Group of Seven summit in Germany, is expected to cover a hosts of issues beyond the Russian war, including the bids by Finland and Sweden to join the organization. Read about the five things to watch for at the meeting here ON TAP TOMORROW President Biden will attend the G-7 summit where he will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz , French President Emmanuel Macron and United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson , then deliver remarks at the final session of the summit. He will then travel to Madrid to participate in the NATO summit. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Madrid to attend the NATO Leaders Summit and then to Stuttgart, Germany for the change of command ceremony for Gen. Christopher Cavoli , set to become head of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will give the opening speech at the Summit of NATO Heads of State and Government in Madrid, Spain at 9:30 a.m. The U.S. Institute of Peace will host a virtual discussion on Delivering Justice for Ukraine: Pursuing Accountability for Russian Atrocities and Restoring the Constitutional Rights of the Ukrainian People, with Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova ; Ukrainian Ambassador at Large Anton Korynevych ; U.S. Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova , at 1 p.m. The Atlantic Council, the Elcano Royal Institute, the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Munich Security Conference will provide a NATO Public Forum during the NATO Summit at 3 p.m. The Center for Strategic and International Studies will hold an event on National Security and Artificial Intelligence: Global Trends and Challenges, at 4 p.m. WHAT WERE READING Thats it for today. Check out The Hills Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you tomorrow! VIEW THE FULL EDITION HERE For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Phenix City dentist was arrested Monday after shooting a technician in the parking lot of the office on 4th Street. The Phenix City Police Department responded to a shooting at about 6 p.m. and found Phenix City resident Michael Brown, 30, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to a news release. Brown was shot during a verbal altercation with Dr. Hugh Ogletree, 73, of Salem, Alabama. Ogletree was arrested at the scene and booked into the Russell County Jail where he made bond. He was charged with attempted murder, said Phenix City police Capt. Darrell Lassiter. Brown was taken to Piedmont Columbus Regional for his wounds. The Phenix City Criminal Investigations Division is looking into the incident. A suspect believed to be holding two women hostage was fatally shot by deputies along Floridas Space Coast following a chase that spanned three counties. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The Brevard County Sheriffs Office said in a news release that a woman on Saturday night was shot and kidnapped in Osceola County, located south of Orlando. The suspect was pursued into Indian River County and then Brevard County with the wounded woman and another woman in his car. The suspect fired several times at Indian River County deputies. After the suspects car became disabled in Brevard County, the wounded woman was able to escape the vehicle and was assisted by Brevard County deputies, according to the news release. The suspect then fled into nearby woods holding a gun to the head of the other woman, authorities said. Aviation units tracked the suspect and hostage, and the man was fatally shot following an exchange of gunfire with deputies on the ground, the news release said. Read: Man exonerated after wrongful conviction accused of shooting man on Jacksonvilles Northside No deputies were injured during the shootout. Both women were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The Brevard County Sheriffs Office didnt release the names of the suspect, hostages or deputies involved. As is customary, the deputies involved in the shootout have been put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision to undo Roe v. Wade and end federal protections for abortion has propelled companies into the issue of reproductive freedom, with some employers around the country saying they will cover expenses when workers travel to get an abortion. The topic has taken on heightened importance for Illinois, whose role as a haven of legal abortion care in the Midwest is likely to be amplified as other nearby states have, or are expected to, ban or significantly limit abortion access. Terminating a pregnancy is enshrined in Illinois state law as a fundamental right. Advertisement But for workers in the roughly half of the states that are expected to curtail or ban abortion, two law professors said plans to cover travel costs to undergo the procedure could face headwinds. Advertisement Executives at Bolingbrook-based Ulta Beauty said the company would provide travel expense assistance for eligible reproductive health services where access to care is restricted, including legal abortions. The coverage took effect Friday, the same day as the Supreme Court ruling, according to a company statement. As always, we encourage our teams and our guests to learn more and act on issues important to them by making their voice heard and their vote count, company executives said in a statement. Banking giant JPMorgan Chase will also cover travel to receive legal abortions, according to a company benefits memo sent June 1. JPMorgan has long covered abortion under a health insurance plan, and also covered travel for certain health care services. In July the travel coverage is set to expand to all health care services that can only be obtained far from home, including, for some, legal abortion. Spokespeople for Ulta Beauty and JPMorgan Chase declined to specify how many employees could be eligible for the policies because they live in states that restrict abortions. Chase Tower on July 6, 2021. JPMorgan Chase occupies much of the 1.9 million-square-foot tower. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Among the other companies that said they would cover employee travel costs are The Walt Disney Co., Facebook parent Meta, American Express, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. Companies like Apple, Starbucks, Lyft and Yelp reiterated after Fridays ruling previous statements taking similar action. Outdoor clothing maker Patagonia posted on LinkedIn Friday that it would provide training and bail for those who peacefully protest for reproductive justice and time off to vote. Chicago-based United Airlines said in a memo to employees that its benefit policies did not change as a result of the Supreme Court ruling. The companys medical plans cover reproductive health care. In an email to the Tribune, spokeswoman Christine Salamone said employees can fly on United for free. Chicago-based McDonalds did not respond Monday to a Tribune question about its policies. The Associated Press reported the company also did not respond to a request from the news organization Friday, and neither did dozens of other big businesses. Even as companies announce policies in response to the ruling, World Business Chicago, the citys economic development agency, has already seized on the states abortion rights protections, mailing letters Monday to some 300 Fortune 500 companies located in states that have or are expected to limit abortion access, and offering to highlight the ways in which Chicago remains a welcoming city for all. Advertisement Residents of those states including those who work at your company may suffer as a result of this decision (undoing Roe v. Wade), the agency wrote in the letters, signed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, vice chair Mellody Hobson and CEO Michael Fassnacht. Families and individuals can now be punished for private healthcare decisions. Not to mention, many lives will be upended as people are stripped of 50-year-old right. Meanwhile, companies that are covering travel to receive an abortion out of state could face roadblocks or confusion. One concern is whether a company paying travel costs might face a lawsuit for violating a state ban on aiding and abetting an abortion. There could also be tax implications for employees, said Robin Wilson, a University of Illinois College of Law professor. She praised Gov. J.B. Pritzker for calling a special legislative session, saying it was necessary to sort through these and other issues. There are these sort of downstream questions, she said. Its what I would call a bramble of issues. States could also pass other laws targeting companies that pay for travel to receive an abortion, said Sonia Green, an associate law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. But overall, companies that pay for travel are likely to have protections, she said. Enforcing some of the laws states could enact would be difficult, and many types of insurance plans are subject to a federal law that restricts states ability to regulate insurance. About 65% of workers get their insurance through plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, she said. Advertisement I think the landscape is such that employers could and should provide these benefits and protections, because the potential consequences are, I think, maybe more theoretical than real, she said. Even for companies that pay for travel, questions remain about whether employees will take advantage of the policy, Green said. Some women might be reluctant to discuss abortion care with their human resources department. Ultimately, she said, laws targeting companies that offer travel payment could cause businesses to leave states or make it harder for them to recruit talented employees, especially women, who dont want to work in a state with an unfriendly environment. Are states going to risk that? she asked. Are they going to risk hurting their economies? The Associated Press contributed sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com Advertisement lschencker@chicagotribune.com The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty/APHes been called the Mormon Manson, but polygamist Ervil LeBaron and his Mexican-based family managed to make Charlie and his gang look almost tame by comparison. A 68 white supremacist and religious fundamentalist who loved to seduce underage girls, LeBaron trained women to kill for him and ordered hits on rival polygamists and apostates from his church. And kill they did: Members of LeBarons family were responsible for as many as 50 murders, Photo credit: Wally Rides on YouTube The EPA has proven yet again that there will be consequences for those in the automotive aftermarket who are unwilling to respect the Clean Air Act. Spartan Diesel Technologies founder Matthew Sidney Geouge of Hendersonville, North Carolina, as The Drive and MarketWatch report, is now facing a year in prison for his actions in relation to selling and distributing thousands of emissions defeat devices for diesel trucks. That's on top of two fines of over a million dollars. More precisely, Geouge has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for conspiracy to violate the CAA, according to the Department of Justice, as well as a charge of tax evasion. Spartan Diesel Technologies is a well-known diesel tuner among the Ford crowd, with the brands tunes for the 6.4-liter Power Stroke claimed to be among the best quarter-mile performers on the market. Those tunes were accessible through the companys "Phalanx" tuning devices, which weve seen the EPA take a stronger stance on in recent years. Like many diesel performance tunes, Spartans setups would often dump huge amounts of black soot out of the exhaust. This trend of rolling coal is commonly cited by aftermarket industry leaders as one of the key instigators of the EPAs current CAA enforcement strategy. The EPA specifically notes that Spartan Diesel Technologies has sold more than 14,000 Phalanx tuners. According to MartketWatch, Geouge managed to bring in around $10 million from selling the emissions defeat devices. The EPA had previously issued Spartan Diesel Technologies a violation notice for selling these tunes back in 2015, but the company never responded. That inaction was followed up by a $4.15 million fine in 2017, which Geouge allegedly tried to skirt by selling Spartan off to another company called Patriot Diagnostics. The EPA has argued that Geouge instead attempted to rebrand the business. Geouge would ultimately plead guilty to the charges levied against him in 2021. In addition to the aforementioned jail time, Geouge is slated to spend six months in home confinement, and an additional three years of supervised release after his sentence. The EPA always expects $1.3 in penalty payments, with the IRS asking for another $1.2 million. Three of George's associates have also been issued six months of home confinement and probation, in addition to community service and other financial penalties. Story continues It is no secret that the EPA is cracking down on some of the biggest names in the aftermarket industry. That said, it is hard to come to the defense of the folks who peed in everyone's pool. Diesel tuners have to be aware of the fact that they played a huge role in the EPAs renewed vigor surrounding the CAA, and that were all left to deal with the consequences. We wouldnt be surprised if this is just the start of the Department of Justice taking things further than fines. You Might Also Like MarketWatch As record-breaking numbers of Americans pack their cars and travel to Fourth of July barbecues that will cost them more than last year, theyll fill up at gas stations where they are likely to be paying just a little less at the pump. Believe it or not, national gas price averages recently have been declining. On Sunday, the average edged down again to $4.81, down from the record high of $5.01 set in mid-June, AAA said. BALTIMORE -- Doctors learned early in the pandemic that COVID-19 was more than a respiratory disease. It was attacking bodily organs, including the heart even in healthy, young athletes. Enough athletes with COVID were experiencing heart inflammation, called myocarditis, that doctors at the University of Maryland and other Big Ten schools didnt want to take any chances. Myocarditis already was seen as one of the leading causes of sudden death in elite athletes, so doctors across the conference immediately imposed official protocols that kept some players off the fields for up to six months. Some grumbled, but everyone recovered. They could be walking time bomb and wed only find out retrospectively, said Dr. Yvette Rooks, who oversees care for more than 530 athletes on 19 teams as head team physician at the University of Maryland, College Park. Some had symptoms and many did not. This really could save lives. The doctors also started taking a deeper look into the chests of each student-athlete testing positive for COVID-19 starting in the early months of the pandemic, eventually reviewing some 1,600 cases. As they learned more about the risks, doctors scaled back intense testing and reduced the length of time out of play. But a registry created from the athletes health data is now poised to help the doctors understand more about the longer-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19. Doctors and researchers at the University of Maryland and other Big Ten schools plan to follow the athletes even after graduation to better understand the consequences of COVID-19 on the heart, said Rooks, also a clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the universitys school of medicine and a co-investigator on the registry. The registry has specific findings from several tests, including MRIs, which are not typically performed on people testing positive for COVID-19. The detailed images found 37 cases of myocarditis, though only eight of those athletes had cardiovascular symptoms. Story continues Lacrosse player Jack Brennan was one of the asymptomatic cases. While home in Rochester, New York, in December 2020, he took a COVID-19 test so he could visit his grandparents and was surprised it came back positive. He was even more surprised when he returned to College Park in January 2021 and an MRI found swelling around his heart. He was frustrated to sit out the spring 2021 season, but with time and learning about the seriousness of the condition, he became more understanding. He was cleared by the fall of 2021 to return to play, and now 21, hes eligible to compete as an intercollegiate athlete for two more years, instead of one. (The Big Ten gave athletes who missed a season under the more extensive timeouts an extra year of eligibility.) I didnt know what to think or what it was at first. All I heard was, Youre not allowed to play, and I did give them a hard time, because I was impatient, Brennan said. But Im not an expert. You have to listen to the doctors. And hes glad theyre using his records to keep looking at the long-term effects. If they can figure out the process you go through, figure out how myocarditis affects athletes, that would be helpful, Brennan said. No one really knows the long-term effects yet. Among the things researchers want to know is whether damage or scarring will ever cause issues and when and what is the cardiovascular tie to so-called long COVID, where symptoms persist well after an infection. Another lingering question is whether those who had asymptomatic cases, like Brennan, should be concerned. Early indications show that mild cases with no symptoms wont be an issue, said Dr. Matthew Martinez, past chair of the American College of Cardiologys Sports & Exercise Cardiology Section. Hes not involved in the Big Ten registry. Martinez studied data from a larger subsequent registry of athletes that found up to 15% developed myocarditis after COVID-19 infections, but there were no cases of sudden cardiac death. The study concluded that the intense across-the-board testing done by the Big Ten, specifically the use of MRIs, was needed only when athletes had cardiac symptoms or other heart tests were abnormal. Further, Martinez said, returning recovered athletes to play faster was safe in most cases. Martinez said, however, the abundance of caution taken for all the athletes wasnt a bad idea when no one knew what to expect from the new virus. Its really important to know, said Martinez, also medical director of Atlantic Health System Sports Cardiology at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. Were all learning this on the fly. There is a measure of relief across the athlete community. Going forward, Martinez said, athletic programs ought to have a plan for athletes who develop heart issues on the field, including increasing access to defibrillators across all playing arenas. He said that cardiac testing, even an MRI, is needed when athletes have symptoms such as pressure in their chests, fast heart rates or breathlessness, or if they later develop those symptoms. He also said there should be study of protections from vaccines against myocarditis, which appears to be significant, as well as the risk from the vaccines themselves, which seems minimal. None of the Big Ten athletes developed the condition after the vaccinations. Martinez hopes there is a continued focus on health and safety for athletes, including cardiovascular health. Big Ten researchers say studies are underway using the registry data, and that others are planned. Dr. Geoffrey Rosenthal is a professor of pediatrics in University of Marylands School of Medicine and chief of pediatric cardiology at University of Maryland Medical Center. He is serving as coordinator of six core labs that make up the registry. Thats where data from specific tests are housed so they are uniformly interpreted. The epidemiology and cardiac MRI labs are housed in Marylands medical school, while the overall registry is based at the Ohio State University. Rosenthal said answers to the doctors questions will come in time. But he already had immediate advice for the general population. One of the biggest takeaways for the athletes and the general population is that the best way to protect ones heart is to get vaccinated and get boosted when its time, he said. The second public health message for people who have or had COVID: If they have heart palpitations or chest pain, they should seek medical attention. The researchers also were glad they have a bank of MRI data that identified all the myocarditis cases, even the asymptomatic ones. That offers a unique opportunity for researchers, said Dr. Jean Jeudy, professor of diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine at the Maryland medical school. He leads the cardiac MRI core lab for the registry. It will be important for us to follow these student-athletes over time to determine whether mild myocarditis has any permanent impact on their heart health, he said, and how any findings may apply to the general population that tends to be older and sicker than these athletes. A Twitter video of a husky licking a TV screen depicting a plate of meat went viral this week, but the statuesque golden retriever sitting next to the husky steals the show. In the video, which was posted on Sunday, the husky tries to get its face close enough to the TV screen to lick it. Beside the husky, the retriever is motionless, seemingly oblivious to the other dogs antics. If this were not enough, a person in the background most likely the one filming the scene can be heard singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat. More from NextShark: White men date Asian women because of imperialism, according to TikToker The video has garnered over 9.3 million views and 66,600 likes so far. In response to several Twitter users questions about the retriever, the user who posted the video has since uploaded a new clip, this time of the dog following along with a yoga video and doing the downward dog pose. Featured Image via My China Trip More from NextShark: Singaporean TikToker explains why sharing plane ticket photos on social media poses serious risks Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Meet Ytiet, the Vietnamese cowherd whos been popping up in your favorite artists' songs The wife and stepdaughter of a Fort Worth police officer who was killed in the line of duty gave emotional testimony Tuesday about how Garrett Hulls murder changed their lives. Hull was shot and killed while tracking down three men who robbed a bar in Fort Worth in September 2018. His shooter, Dacion Steptoe, was killed by another officer seconds after Steptoe shot Hull. On Monday, Timothy Huff was found guilty of capital murder in Hulls death. While Huff did not pull the trigger, a jury found that he was responsible for Hulls death because he was part of the robbery and foot chase that led to Hulls death. The jury determined Huff was guilty because he should have reasonably known that someone could die during the commission of the crime. The trial is continuing Tuesday and likely Wednesday to determine his sentence. The maximum sentence for capital murder in Texas is the death penalty. Timothy Huff looks back toward the gallery during his trial on Monday, June 27, 2022. Huff was found guilty of capital murder in the 2018 shooting death of Fort Worth police Officer Garrett Hull. On Monday afternoon, the punishment phase of the trial began in Judge George Gallaghers courtroom with testimony from one of Hulls colleagues who helped take him to the hospital the night of Sept. 13, 2018. On Tuesday morning, testimony continued, and Hulls daughter and wife took the stand in Tarrant Countys 396th District Court. Jordan Haenszel, Hulls stepdaughter, first met Hull in 2002 when she was about 3 or 4 years old, she testified Tuesday. Haenszel and her mother moved into the same apartment complex as Hull, and they became friends, Sabrina Hull testified at the beginning at the trial. Haenszel, 22, said Hull bought her her first hula hoop so I liked him a lot. Haenszel described herself and Hull as best friends and said she always felt safe with him, and she thought Hull being a police officer was the coolest thing when I was little. He made the choice every day to love me, Haenszel said. The night of the shooting, Haenszel was in England, where she was enrolled at Oxford University. She was celebrating her 19th birthday and planning a trip to London when he mother called her. Sabrina Hull told Haenszel there had been an accident, and Hull had been shot. Story continues Haenszel got on a plane that day and described the 11-hour flight as terrifying. She tried to tell herself that Hull was going to be OK and probably had been shot somewhere nonfatal. But when Fort Worth police picked Haenszel up at the airport to escort her to the hospital, she learned her stepfather had been shot in the head. She visited Hull in his hospital bed. He was unconscious, but when Haenszel held his hand, he squeezed her hand back. Since Hull died, Haenszel said, her younger sister has been more quiet and reserved. She has changed, too. I dont think Ill ever be whole again, Haenszel said. I cant even celebrate my birthday anymore. Haenszels mother, Sabrina Hull, testified after her daughter. She described how she fell in love with Garrett Hulls smile and how safe she felt around him. She never expected to marry a police officer, she said, and never expected someone like Garrett Hull to love someone with such a broken background. She explained she grew up in foster care, and her parents were both addicted to drugs. Garrett Hull was a steady force, someone who protected the people he loved and called his parents every single day, she said. Sabrina Hull, wife of former Fort Worth police Officer Garrett Hull, leaves the courtroom on Monday, June 27, 2022. Timothy Huff was found guilty Monday of capital murder in the 2018 shooting death of her husband. During Sabrina Hulls testimony, prosecuting attorney Timothy Rodgers showed a photo to the courtroom titled Last photo. In the picture, Sabrina Hull is curled up on her side in the hospital bed alongside her husband, who is bandaged and unconscious. The picture is the last one she took with her husband. Sometimes I wish they would have just buried me, too, she said. I am not the same woman I was. I dont feel safe in this world, thats for sure. Body-camera footage, other testimony Two other witnesses testified Tuesday morning a juvenile probation officer who knew Huff when he was a minor and another Fort Worth police officer who previously testified about the night Hull was shot. Fort Worth Officer Victor Rankins drove Hull to John Peter Smith Hospital after he was shot. Rankins body-cam footage from the drive was presented in court Tuesday, and showed the chaos and efficiency in which the officers rushed Hull to the emergency room. The emotional footage showed Hull on a stretcher, surrounded by ER staff as police officers waited in the hospital hallway. Rankins was emotional in his testimony about the video. He said watching the footage made him feel like a failure. A wife lost a husband. Children lost a father, he said. The world lost a great man. Several family members left the courtroom before the video played. When the court took a break afterward, family, friends and colleagues comforted one another in the hallway. The juvenile probation officer testified about Huffs time spent in and out of foster care and juvenile detention facilities as a child. Huffs mother was in and out of prison, and his household was chaotic, she said. At least six children lived in the house, and Huff at times took care of his younger siblings. His mothers boyfriend was physically abusive toward the children, the probation officer said. During juvenile court hearings, she said, Huff sometimes asked to talk to the judge alone, and would speak to the judges in their chambers. When they would emerge, Huff at times would be granted probation instead of being sentenced to a detention center. He ran away from at least one foster care placement, the probation officer said. First, Ron Johnson denied he knew about an offer from his top aide to deliver phony electoral votes for Donald Trump denied he had anything to do with it. The next day, he said Trump's lawyer in Wisconsin asked him to deliver a document regarding "Wisconsin electors" to Vice President Mike Pence but said he didn't know what that meant. The more we learn about the role Wisconsins senior senator played in the days leading up to the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, the more things dont add up. And the more it looks like Johnson or his team may have aided a Trump administration conspiracy to overturn the lawful election of Joe Biden. A top Pence aide says he has no reason to believe Johnson was involved directly in an attempt to pass fake electors to Pence. But the Justice Department should launch an investigation into the phony elector scheme, including what Johnson and his staff knew and what they did in the lead-up to the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress. The latest revelations are stunning: Just minutes before Congress was to meet to certify Joe Bidens win over President Donald Trump, Johnsons top aide, Sean Riley, texted a staffer for then Vice President Mike Pence: "Johnson needs to hand something to VPOTUS please advise." This happened just before Pence prepared to preside over the official certification of Bidens victory. It was 12:37 p.m. and the joint session of Congress was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. What could be so urgent at that late hour? An alternate slate of electors for MI and WI ... Riley replied. The fake electors were part of a plan to give Pence cover to not certify Biden's election by either illegally accepting the fake votes ginned up by Trump or by claiming the election results were so murky they had to be sent back to the states to decide. Trump's team hoped that once the matter was returned to Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia and other key battleground states won by Biden, Trump could pressure Republican-controlled state legislatures to overturn the citizens' decision and select false electors from his own party. The hearings of the bipartisan congressional committee looking into the attack on the Capitol that afternoon have brought this Trump conspiracy into the open for all to see. Story continues The alternate elector slates were part of a scheme advanced by Trump and his personal attorneys, John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani, to steal the presidency on the false claim with NO evidence to support it that the election was fraudulent. In reality, Trump lost the 2020 election by more than 7 million votes and in the Electoral College by 306 to 232. Trump lost recounts in Wisconsin and dozens of lawsuits around the country challenging the results. Chris Hodgson, Pences legislative liaison, texted back to Riley: Do not give that to him. Pence did his duty that day, refusing to intervene and insisting that congressional certification take place just hours after a violent mob of insurrectionists, egged on by Trump, stormed the Capitol, with some of them vowing to hang the vice president. They came within 40 feet of Pence at one point, the hearings revealed. It was one of saddest chapters ever for American democracy. After the texts were revealed, Johnson claimed to have no knowledge of his chief of staff's request that he hand-deliver fake electors from Wisconsin and Michigan to Pence. He called it a "nonstory," saying he was "basically unaware" of the effort. Then he changed his story. By Thursday of last week, Johnson was saying he had coordinated with a Wisconsin attorney to pass along the information and that the documents came from Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania which Kelly's office said was "patently false." Heres what we know: After the election, even after it was clear Trump had lost, Johnson fanned the flames of the election deniers. Johnson acknowledged that Biden had won but then chaired a bitterly divided hearing while he still was a Senate committee chairman in December, 2020, allowing witnesses to spew unsubstantiated claims of fraud and irregularities that had already been knocked down repeatedly in courts. Just two days before the Jan. 6 debacle, Johnson and other GOP senators heard from MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell, a leading proponent of false election conspiracies who urged Trump to use every tool at his disposal to retain power. In the lead-up to the certification vote, Johnson signed onto a plan with other GOP senators to object to the Electoral College results. As the electoral count started on Jan. 6, Johnson formally objected to electors from Arizona, another state where Republicans control the Legislature and Bidens margin of victory was slender. A short time later, a violent mob stirred up by Trump and led by white supremacist groups attacked the nation's Capitol with the goal of stopping the electoral vote certification. At first, it appeared to work. Proceedings were halted as members of Congress and Pence were whisked to safety. After the National Guard and police officers regained control of the Capitol from the insurrectionists, Johnson, perhaps momentarily sobered by the violence that had just occurred, changed his plans and voted to recognize the legitimate electors chosen by the people of Arizona. Ever since, Johnson has downplayed what happened on a day when several people died, many more were injured, including 140 police officers, and our democracy suffered a gut punch with ramifications were only now beginning to understand. Johnson has said the violence at the Capitol didnt seem like an armed insurrection to me. Tell that to Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards, who described in a committee hearing how she suffered a concussion while trying to hold the rioters back. I was slipping in peoples blood. I was catching people as they fell. It was carnage. She recalled seeing Officer Brian Sicknick, who died the next day, turn ghostly white after being sprayed with chemicals. She and others described the scene as a battlefield, which was apparent to anyone watching the scene on live television. Johnson also claimed that the Trump supporters who rioted and ransacked the building didnt worry him because those were people who love this country, that truly respect law enforcement. He might have been concerned, he added, if the rioters had been supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement. Thats textbook racism. Our senators represent all Wisconsin citizens, not just white Trump supporters. Whether it be promoting disproven treatments for COVID-19, visiting Moscow on the Fourth of July, or blaming global warming on sunspots, Johnsons judgment has been suspect for years. Despite Johnsons attempts to deflect attention, what happened on Jan. 6, 2021, was a very big deal a day when our 246-year experiment in citizen government was put at risk by the narcissistic, power-hungry egotist in the White House. Johnson has proven by his past actions that he isn't fit to be a U.S. senator. This latest episode only makes that more clear. The citizens of Wisconsin, regardless of party, should vote him out of office in November. Federal law enforcement officers, who are assigned to defend the Constitution, should get to the bottom of the effort to unlawfully create phony electors in Wisconsin and other battleground states. And they need to look into whether Johnson played any role to overrule the citizens' votes and overturn the last presidential election. Editorials are a product of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Editorial Board, which operates independently from the network's news departments. Why we write editorials. Meet the Editorial Board. Why we write editorials Editorials are the consensus view of our statewide Editorial Board, which discusses the issues, decides what to write and when to write it, and always operates independently of our news reporters. The Editorial Board represents the 11 main sites in USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin: Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Wausau, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield. We focus on issues where the public widely recognizes our unique expertise or recognizes our special duty. Our editorials defend the First Amendment, public records and public access to government meetings. They also highlight government corruption and ensure that minority rights and viewpoints are respected by the majority in our democracy. We remain independent of any politician, political party or special interest group. We work for our subscribers period. To contact us, email: jsedit@jrn.com USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Editorial Board Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson's denials about Trump's fake-elector plot don't add up Yaroslav Halas KUSHNYTSYA, UkraineLike thousands of Ukrainian men, Vasil Shtefko volunteered to fight after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade his country in February. The fact that Shtefko is 55 years old and lost both of his legs nearly 20 years ago did not stop him. I was making pelmeni, traditional dumplings, when he called saying he had enlisted and is heading to the east, his wife, Oksana, told The Daily Beast from the kitchen of their home in the village of Kushnytsya in central Transcarpathia, Ukraines westernmost region.I didnt believe he would do it. I cried a little, she admitted. But then she regained her self-control. And I went back to my pelmeni. From Kushnytsya alone since the start of the war, six freedom-fighters-to-be, including Shtefko, have joined the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, an elite military unit of some 6,000 soldiers with headquarters in Mukachevo, Transcarpathias second biggest city. Throughout the region, the brigadeknown as the Transcarpathian Legionenjoys legendary status. The brigade already has an indelible place in Ukraines history. Natalia Bodnar In 2014, the brigade was at the core of the defense of Luhansk Airport, and in 2015 it fought in Debaltseve, one of the biggest combat zones in the Donbas, Ukraines eastern region. Its war-weary fighters were awarded several state honors, including Hero of Ukraine, the highest national title, for Serhiy Shaptala, the brigades commander and current Ukrainian Chief of General Staff. In a video recorded from the front, Shtefko told The Daily Beast that he thought about enlisting the moment he had learned about the war. I love my country, he said. Whatever obstacles Im facing, Ill overcome them in order to defend Ukraine. [My country] put me on my feet helping to get prosthetics, she offered me a pension, moderate as it is, but still. The brigade was effective against Russia-backed separatist groups on Donbas plains, but what makes it unique is its special training for fighting in the mountains, Yaroslav Halas, a journalist-turned-soldier and the brigades press officer, told The Daily Beast. Story continues Its hardly surprising: Transcarpathia is a mountainous region separated from the rest of Ukraine by the bend of the East Carpathians, while the traditions of its military mountaineering are rooted in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Transcarpathian Legion also represents the regions ethnic diversity: many Hungarians, Rusyns and Romanians enlisted to fight for Ukraine, as well as local Ukrainians. There are women too, mostly as doctors and psychologists, said Halas. To wear a beret with an edelweiss flowerthe brigades insignia and a dream for many Transcarpathiansone must complete a grueling obstacle course in full combat gear. Shtefko, a car mechanic, lost both his legs at the age of 38 (he asked not to reveal the details of the event) and has since relied on prosthetic legs. After joining protesters at the Maidan in Kyiv in 2014a wave of demonstrations that ended up with deadly clashes with the security forceshe was rejected by the brigade due to his disability, despite having completed military service in Kharkiv in the Soviet era. Now, even more determined to become a part of the Transcarpathian Legion during Putins war, he chose the simplest possible strategy for his advantage: a lie. He informed the committee that he has only one prosthetic. Without pulling up his pants its almost impossible to know, Oksana said. They all found out in the combat zone when he accidentally broke one of the prosthetics. Working on Ukraines eastern battlefields as a driver and mechanic, Sergeant Shtefkoas hes now known to his compatriotsis continuing his family traditions of semi-legal military service: his father drifted into the Red Army during World War II claiming he was 18 years old, though he hadnt yet turned 16. Natalia Bodnar Transcarpathia is proud of its boys, Lyubov Povadaychyk, a volunteer whos been helping the brigade for eight years and whose son is also fighting in Ukraines east, told The Daily Beast. And not just of those who fight, but of everyone who does something, either contribute with money or just pray. Only staying away is immoral. The son of a Russian mother, Shtefko is outspoken about his attachment to Ukraine. In the army different things happen There are often conflicts, especially when people come from different districts, he said in his video message to The Daily Beast. But here is different. My soul is happy to be here. There are many youngsters around us, but all the boys are patriotic and well-integrated. Its a joy to serve with them and to see a united Ukraine fighting for a common goal. His wife described him as a person with a deep interest in politics and the law and a restless soul who has long been following the political developments in Ukraine and was looking for an opportunity to make his mark. Ukraines Resistance Is Heroicbut Putins Ready to Unleash Hell When they speak by phone, Shtefko and Oksana try to avoid discussing horrors of the war. Instead, they focus on the wellbeing of their 11-year-old daughter Sofia and their cat Frozca, in addition to household chores. Shtefko recently sent her instructions on how to take care of the plum trees in their yard. He even made an instructional video from the front, Oksana said. Love is when you understand and feel one another. Natalia Bodnar When asked what plans she had for her husbands return, Oksana is quick to return to her usual matter-of-fact attitude. Renovation at home has to be done, she said, smiling and pointing to a burnt-out wall outlet. The first task is to replace the electrical system. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. PATRICK PLEUL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Elon Musk hasn't tweeted in a week, amid his bid to buy Twitter and take it private. Up until June 21, Musk's tweets were making headlines near-daily as he shared updates on the deal. Musk is arguably Twitter's most visible user, one who's only ever taken short breaks from tweeting. Do you hear that? It's the silence of a week without a single tweet from Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO and potential future owner of Twitter has been noticeably absent from the platform since June 21. Save for a few likes on June 22, Musk has been mum; up until last week, he'd tweeted at least once each day since as far back as May 1. It's a mysterious silence for arguably Twitter's most visible user, one whose tweets have been making headlines near-daily since he offered in April to buy the company outright. Though his $44 billion bid to take Twitter private has gone anything but smoothly, he got one step closer last week when the social-media giant's board endorsed the takeover bid. Since then, he's gone dark, causing observers and fans to wonder where he's gone, even as he reached a new milestone on Twitter: 100 million followers. Musk, like many of us, has taken Twitter breaks before. In June 2020 shortly after the birth of his son, X Musk announced that he'd be "off Twitter for a while," only to return four days later. And in 2019, he quit tweeting for all of three days after pondering the "good" of Twitter. Though unannounced, this could be another hiatus for Musk. Perhaps the exec, worth $223 billion, is cruising on a yacht or lounging on a beach somewhere in celebration of his 51st birthday on Tuesday. But perhaps not Musk is famously vacation-phobic. Back in 2000 when he was CEO of PayPal, the board fired him while he was en route to Australia for a vacation. Soon after, on another vacation to Brazil and South Africa, Musk contracted what he's said was a "near fatal" case of malaria. Another time, one of his rockets exploded during his week off. Story continues He's since said that "vacations will kill you" and claimed in 2015 that he'd only taken two vacations since founding SpaceX in 2002. So if he's not relaxing somewhere without internet access, it's possible Musk is working through the "firehose" of Twitter data he requested in order to close the deal. Hung up on the prevalence of bots on the platform and unconvinced by Twitter's own investigations, Musk demanded Twitter's trove of internal information in order to conduct his own analysis and just last week, Musk asked for and received even more data. That data includes real-time information on the hundreds of millions of tweets sent every day, most likely requiring a team of experts and massive computing capacity to comb through it all which may not be leaving Musk much time for his favorite pasttime: tweeting. Read the original article on Business Insider Walgreens Boots Alliance has decided not to sell its huge United Kingdom Boots business, after months of floating the idea. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune) Walgreens Boots Alliance has decided not to sell its huge United Kingdom Boots business, after months of floating the idea. Deerfield-based Walgreens began reviewing whether to sell Boots in January, but recently decided not to sell Boots or its No7 Beauty Company business, noting in a news release that since launching the process, the global financial markets have suffered unexpected and dramatic change. Advertisement Boots is a major retail pharmacy chain in Britain with more than 2,200 stores. As a result of market instability severely impacting financing availability, no third party has been able to make an offer that adequately reflects the high potential value of Boots and No7 Beauty Company, the company said in a news release Tuesday. Consequently, WBA has decided that it is in the best interests of shareholders to keep focusing on the further growth and profitability of the two businesses. Advertisement Walgreens has been performing well recently. In the second quarter of this year that ended Feb. 28, Walgreens reported adjusted earnings of $1.59 per share, beating expectations, and revenue climbed about 3% to $33.76 billion. Still, Walgreens has been trying to cut costs in recent years, announcing plans in October to try to slash $3.3 billion in costs by 2024, up from an earlier goal of $2 billion a year by 2022, which the company has already reached. Its also been increasingly forming partnerships to better compete and bring more people into stores. Earlier this month, it announced plans to launch a clinical trials business. In October, Walgreens said it would invest $5.2 billion in Chicago-based VillageMD, which provides primary care to patients, and increase the number of Village Medical clinics in its stores, with many in medically underserved communities. Walgreens also announced in October a majority investment in CareCentrix, a Connecticut-based company that coordinates home care for patients, including after they go home from the hospital. In September, Walgreens said it would invest $970 million in Massachusetts-based Shields Health Solutions, which is a company that helps hospitals and health systems with specialty pharmacy services. Kryvyi Rih TPS Read also: Russian airstrikes hit Zaporizhzhya, Kryvyi Rih, and Kharkiv oblasts Earlier, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson claimed that there were Ukrainian troops at the power plant. Reports of armed personnel on the premises of DTEK Kryvyi Rih TPS are absolutely fake, DTEK said, commenting on the Russian claim. Read also: Wartime Kryvyi Rih: Zelensky's hometown gets back to work, welcomes refugees, and rediscovers its Ukrainian identity According to the company, there is, and never was any military presence at the facility. Only the regular staff of the facility is present on site, operating the power plant. Read also: Russia has not abandoned its goal of crushing Ukrainian statehood The company (DTEK) considers such claims by the officials of the aggressor country as attempts to justify further terror attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure by its invading forces, DTEKs message said. Help NV continue its work reporting on the Russian invasion. The New York Times Republicans are bracing for Donald Trump to announce an unusually early bid for the White House, a move designed in part to shield the former president from a stream of damaging revelations emerging from investigations into his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 election. While many Republicans would welcome Trumps entry into the race, his move would also exacerbate persistent divisions over whether the former president is the partys best hope to win back the White House. The par Erie police are searching an impounded vehicle for evidence including a gun following a reported shooting on the city's west side on Monday night that led to a pursuit and the arrest of the suspected driver. No one was reported injured in the shooting, which happened in the area of West 18th and Chestnut streets shortly after 9 p.m. Monday. A 19-year-old man, whom police accuse of driving the vehicle involved in the shooting, is facing charges including attempted homicide and aggravated assault, according to Erie police. He had not been arraigned on the charges as of Tuesday morning. A second suspect, who is not yet identified, ran off after police stopped the vehicle in the area of West 10th and Cascade streets. The suspect remained at large Tuesday morning. Erie police were initially sent to the area of West 18th and Chestnut streets on Monday at 9:02 p.m. to investigate a report of multiple gunshots fired, Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said Tuesday. As officers were heading to the location, the person who reported being shot at said the suspect vehicle, a gray four-door Dodge, was last seen heading north from the area, Lorah said. Officers spotted the vehicle at West 12th and Liberty streets and saw that a passenger in it was wearing a mask and a hood over the passenger's head, according to Lorah. Police pulled behind the Dodge, which took off and led officers on a pursuit, he said. The passenger in the Dodge exited the vehicle and ran off in the area of West 10th and Cascade streets. Officers removed the driver from the Dodge and spotted a pistol and shell casings in plain view inside the vehicle, Lorah said. The driver was taken into custody. Police impounded the Dodge and will serve a search warrant on it for evidence, Lorah said. The man who was shot at told officers he was going to his brother's house when he noticed a vehicle that seemed out of place stopped near the residence, so he drove by his brother's house. The man said the suspicious vehicle then began following him and rammed his vehicle before someone started shooting at him, according to Lorah. Story continues The man was not injured and police found no evidence indicating that the man's car was struck by bullets, according to police. Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie shootings: Suspected driver charged after shots fired at vehicle A former CIA officer based in Moscow said Putin might face threats from within his inner circle. Daniel Hoffman told The Daily Beast that Putin could get a "hammer to the head." Another former CIA officer said Putin is safe as long as his elite security guards are on his side. Russian leader Vladimir Putin could face severe internal threats and be at risk of getting murdered or deposed by a member of his inner circle, said a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer. Daniel Hoffman, a former CIA officer who was once based in Moscow, told The Daily Beast that Putin might face threats from top aides frustrated with his actions in Ukraine. Per the outlet, Hoffman highlighted three people close to Putin as potential threats: Kremlin security council chief Nikolai Patrushev, Federal Security Service head Alexander Bortnikov, and Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister. "Nobody's gonna ask, 'Hey Vladimir, would you like to leave?' No. It's a fucking hammer to the head and he's dead. Or it's time to go to the sanatorium," Hoffman told The Daily Beast. "They schwack him for it. That's what they'll do." Meanwhile, Ronald Marks, a former CIA officer and currently a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, told the outlet that Putin might still be safe if the agents protecting him remain loyal. Video: The event that led to Putin's rise to power "And he's done a nice job of getting rid of those who aren't on his side," Marks said. However, comparing Putin to other ousted Russian leaders, Marks said such figures "either drop dead in office" or get removed from power. In May, former British intelligence chief Sir Richard Dearlove also speculated that Putin might end up in a sanatorium and be ousted from power by 2023. That same month, a Ukrainian intelligence official said Putin was the target of an assassination attempt. Western officials refuted that claim, saying that the "controlled environment" around Putin would make an assassination attempt "hugely complex." In April, reports speculated that Putin had purged members of his inner circle. According to media reports, similar purges have also occurred amongst national guardsmen in Putin's "private army" and the Russian military's top brass. Read the original article on Business Insider By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed NEW YORK (Reuters) -A nearly $17 billion JP Morgan fund is expected to reset its options positions on Thursday, potentially adding to equity volatility at the end of a dismal first half for stocks. Analysts say the JPMorgan Hedged Equity Funds reset roiled markets in the closing hours of the last quarter and has the potential to move markets again this time around. Here is what you need to know: WHAT IS THE JP MORGAN HEDGED EQUITY FUND? The JPMorgan Hedged Equity Fund holds a basket of S&P 500 stocks along with options on the benchmark index and resets hedges once a quarter. The fund, which had about $16.71 billion in assets as of June 27, aims to let investors benefit from equity market gains while limiting their exposure to stock declines. For the year, the fund was down 9.7% through June 29, compared with a 19.3% decline for the S&P 500 Total return Index. Its assets have ballooned in recent years, as investors seek protection from the sort of wild swings that rocked markets in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. The fund's positions include some of the market's biggest names, such as shares of Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com Inc. HOW DOES THE FUND USE OPTIONS? The fund uses an options overlay strategy that involves buying put options that make money if the S&P 500 drops about 5% or more from its level at the start of each quarter. To limit the cost of these put purchases, the fund also sells puts that would make money if the S&P 500 drops more than 20%. In addition, the fund sells call options struck about 3.5%-5.5% above the market level, to help fund the cost of the hedge. In all, the trade is structured so that investors are protected if the market falls -5% to -20%, and they are able to take advantage of any market gains in the average range of 3.5-5.5%. In March, the refresh of these positions involved about 130,000 S&P 500 contracts in all, worth some $20 billion in notional terms. Story continues HOW CAN THIS AFFECT THE BROADER MARKET? Options dealers - typically big financial institutions who facilitate trading but seek to remain market-neutral - take the other side of the fund's options trades. To minimize their own risk, they typically buy or sell stock futures, depending on the direction of the market's move. Such trading related to dealer hedging has the potential to influence the broader market, especially if done in size, as is the case for the JPM trade. The S&P 500 Index fell 1.2% in the last hour of trading on March 31 amid a lack of any obvious news - a move some analysts pinned on options hedging flows. Traders say the refresh could exacerbate market swings on Thursday, as the fund rolls over its options positions and dealers buy and sell futures to hedge their exposure. Charlie McElligott, equities derivatives strategist at Nomura, believes that all else being equal, more volatility and stock weakness could follow after June 30, once the trade is out of the way. The strategy's puts corresponding to the 3,620 level on the S&P 500, the lower leg of the trade, may have lent support to the market during its slide this month, he said. (Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New YorkEditing by Ira Iosebashvili and Matthew Lewis) Facebook Abortion Pills (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Facebook and Instagram have begun removing posts that offer abortion pills to women who may not be able to access. The news follows the Supreme Courts decision that stripped away constitutional protections for the procedure. Roe v Wade guaranteed a womans constitutional right to an abortion, but Justice Samuel Alito and the other members of the court gave states power to legislate abortions at a state level. Previously, women had total autonomy to terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and allowed some state influence over abortions in the second and third trimesters. We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled, Justice Alito wrote in a draft of an opinion dated 10 February. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the peoples elected representatives. There are at least 13 states with so-called trigger laws that have now banned abortion with Roe getting overturned. At least 26 states are likely to ban abortion quickly now that power has returned to states. Memes and status updates explaining how women could legally obtain abortion pills in the mail exploded across social platforms. Some even offered to mail the prescriptions to women living in states that now ban the procedure. Almost immediately, Facebook and Instagram began removing some of these posts, just as millions across the U.S. were searching for clarity around abortion access. General mentions of abortion pills, as well as posts mentioning specific versions such as mifepristone and misoprostol, suddenly spiked Friday morning across Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and TV broadcasts, according to an analysis by the media intelligence firm Zignal Labs. By Sunday, Zignal had counted more than 250,000 such mentions. The AP obtained a screenshot on Friday of one Instagram post from a woman who offered to purchase or forward abortion pills through the mail, minutes after the court ruled to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. Story continues DM me if you want to order abortion pills, but want them sent to my address instead of yours, the post on Instagram read. Instagram took it down within moments. Vice Media first reported on Monday that Meta, the parent of both Facebook and Instagram, was taking down posts about abortion pills. On Monday, an AP reporter tested how the company would respond to a similar post on Facebook, writing: If you send me your address, I will mail you abortion pills. The post was removed within one minute. The Facebook account was immediately put on a warning status for the post, which Facebook said violated its standards on guns, animals and other regulated goods. Yet, when the AP reporter made the same exact post but swapped out the words abortion pills for a gun, the post remained untouched. A post with the same exact offer to mail weed was also left up and not considered a violation. Marijuana is illegal under federal law and it is illegal to send it through the mail. Abortion pills, however, can legally be obtained through the mail after an online consultation from prescribers who have undergone certification and training. In an email, a Meta spokesperson pointed to company policies that prohibit the sale of certain items, including guns, alcohol, drugs and pharmaceuticals. The company did not explain the apparent discrepancies in its enforcement of that policy. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed in a tweet Monday that the company will not allow individuals to gift or sell pharmaceuticals on its platform, but will allow content that shares information on how to access pills. Stone acknowledged some problems with enforcing that policy across its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. Weve discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement and are correcting these, Stone said in the tweet. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday that states should not ban mifepristone, the medication used to induce an abortion. States may not ban mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDAs expert judgment about its safety and efficacy, Garland said in a Friday statement. But some Republicans have already tried to stop their residents from obtaining abortion pills through the mail, with some states like West Virginia and Tennessee prohibiting providers from prescribing the medication through telemedicine consultation. Digital rights advocates and abortion campaigners have warned women to take action to protect their privacy online. Those seeking, offering, or facilitating abortion access must now assume that any data they provide online or offline could be sought by law enforcement., Cindy Cohn and Corynne McSherry of the Electronic Frontier Foundation write. This could be through apps, search engine requests, posts on social media. People should carefully review privacy settings on the services they use, turn off location services on apps that dont need them, and use encrypted messaging services. Companies should protect users by allowing anonymous access, stopping behavioral tracking, strengthening data deletion policies, encrypting data in transit, enabling end-to-end message encryption by default, preventing location tracking, and ensuring that users get notice when their data is being sought. Additional reporting by Associated Press By Daina Beth Solomon and Laura Gottesdiener MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -The family of a murdered Honduran activist filed a petition with prosecutors in the Netherlands on Tuesday to urge a criminal probe into a Dutch development bank that financed a Honduran infrastructure project linked to her killing. Environmentalist Berta Caceres was organizing to stop a hydroelectric dam's construction on lands of the indigenous Lenca people when she was shot dead in 2016. The 138-page petition, prepared by the Amsterdam-based Global Justice Association, argues that bank FMO ignored warnings of potential graft and fraud while providing millions of dollars to the project. In a statement to Reuters, FMO said it deeply regrets Caceres' death, which it called "a dark page" in the bank's history. "However, we distance ourselves strongly from the accusations that - as we understand - have been put forward against FMO. If it should give rise to an investigation, FMO will of course fully cooperate," the bank said. FMO exited the project after Caceres' killing and says it has since improved its human rights policies. The Dutch public prosecutors' office did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Caceres' family wants prosecutors to investigate whether FMO violated anti-money laundering and other financial laws, and whether it could be held liable for complicity in violence surrounding the project, including Caceres' murder. FMO is already the target of another civil lawsuit in the Netherlands, in which Caceres' family alleges the bank contributed to human rights violations. FMO has said it is seeking a settlement. Earlier this month, Roberto David Castillo, former president of Desarrollos Energeticos (Desa), the Honduran power company financed by FMO, was sentenced to more than 22 years for participating in Caceres' murder. Bertha Caceres, daughter of the slain activist, said she hopes a Dutch criminal probe could reveal "the faces of those whose money enabled the attacks against the Lenca people." The hydroelectric project also received financing from the Finnish state investment fund Finnfund and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. The petition against FMO does not ask for criminal investigations into either. (Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey and Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Stephanie Van Den Berg in The Hague; editing by Richard Pullin and Richard Chang) Federal agents seized the cell phone of John Eastman, an attorney who advised former President Donald Trump in his bid to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, Eastman said in a court filing on Monday. Eastman filed a lawsuit asking the Justice Department to return his property and destroy any records it had obtained after FBI agents in New Mexico stopped him as he was leaving a restaurant last week. The investigators had a warrant and seized his iPhone, the filing says, and agents were able to access his email accounts. The lawyer said in the filing the agents forced him to unlock the device. By its very breadth, the warrant intrudes on significant privacy interests, both of [Eastman] and of others whose communications with him are accessible on the seized cell phone, his attorneys wrote in the filing, obtained by The Hill. Eastman was a key figure in developing a plan that would have seen Vice President Mike Pence delay or block certification fo the 2020 Electoral College results, and his work has become a central focus of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Pence refused to go along with the scheme. (Photo: Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) (Photo: Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) Eastman also spoke at the Jan. 6 rally just before the Capitol attack, where Trump falsely claimed that widespread election fraud had cost him the White House. There is no evidence to support those allegations. The seizure of Eastmans phone came the same day federal authorities searched the home of Jeffery Clark, a former Justice Department official under Trump who encouraged the then-presidents efforts to remain in office despite his Electoral College loss to Joe Biden. Clark had served in the Trump administration as assistant attorney general of the environment and natural resources division but became close to the White House after the 2020 election. At one point, Trump mulled putting Clark in charge of the Justice Department after William Barr resigned after refusing to go along with Trumps false claims of widespread voter fraud. Story continues The House select committee focused heavily on Eastmans efforts to aid Trump during its third hearing this month. The body, citing an email he sent to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, also noted that Eastman sought to be on the presidents pardon list. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... At least some U.S. adults may get updated COVID-19 shots this fall, as government advisers voted Tuesday that it's time to tweak booster doses to better match the most recent virus variants. Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration wrestled with how to modify doses now when there's no way to know how the rapidly mutating virus will evolve by fall especially since people who get today's recommended boosters remain strongly protected against COVID-19's worst outcomes. Ultimately the FDA panel voted 19-2 that COVID-19 boosters should contain some version of the super-contagious omicron variant, to be ready for an anticipated fall booster campaign. We are going to be behind the eight-ball if we wait longer, said one adviser, Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego. The FDA will have to decide the exact recipe, but expect a combination shot that adds protection against either omicron or some of its newer relatives to the original vaccine. None of us has a crystal ball" to know the next threatening variant, said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks. But we may at least bring the immune system closer to being able to respond to what's circulating now rather than far older virus strains. It's not clear who would be offered a tweaked booster they might be urged only for older adults or those at high risk from the virus. But the FDA is expected to decide on the recipe change within days and then Pfizer and Moderna will have to seek authorization for the appropriately updated doses, time for health authorities to settle on a fall strategy. Current COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives globally. With a booster dose, those used in the U.S. retain strong protection against hospitalization and death but their ability to block infection dropped markedly when omicron appeared. And the omicron mutant that caused the winter surge has been replaced by its genetically distinct relatives. The two newest omicron cousins, called BA.4 and BA.5, together now make up half of U.S. cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Story continues Pfizer and Moderna already were brewing boosters that add protection to the first omicron mutant. Their combination shots, what scientists call bivalent vaccines, substantially boosted levels of antibodies capable of fighting that variant, more than simply giving another dose of today's vaccine. Both companies found the tweaked shots also offered some cross-protection against those worrisome BA.4 and BA.5 mutants, too, but not nearly as much. Many scientists favor the combination approach because it preserves the original vaccines' proven benefits, which include some cross-protection against other mutants that have cropped up during the pandemic. The question facing FDA is the correct recipe change. Both companies said theyd have plenty of omicron-targeted combo shots by October but Moderna said switching to target omicrons newest relatives might delay its version another month. Further complicating the decision is that only half of vaccinated Americans have received that all-important first booster. And while the CDC says protection against hospitalization has slipped some for older adults, a second booster that's recommended for people 50 and older seems to restore it. But only a quarter of those eligible for the additional booster have gotten one. Marks said that by tweaking the shots, we're hoping we can convince people to go get that booster to strengthen their immune response and help prevent another wave. The logistics will be challenging. Many Americans haven't had their first vaccinations yet, including young children who just became eligible and it's not clear whether tweaked boosters eventually might lead to a change in the primary vaccine. But the FDA's advisers said it's important to go ahead and study updated vaccine recipes in children, too. And one more complexity: A third company, Novavax, is awaiting FDA authorization of a more traditional kind of COVID-19 vaccine, protein-based shots. Novavax argued Tuesday that a booster of its regular vaccine promises a good immune response against the new omicron mutants without a recipe change. Advisers to the World Health Organization recently said omicron-tweaked shots would be most beneficial as a booster only, because they should increase the breadth of people's cross-protection against multiple variants. We dont want the world to lose confidence in vaccines that are currently available, said Dr. Kanta Subbarao, a virologist who chairs that WHO committee. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Tomato farmer Lossim Lazzaro standing in front of crops Under the beating Tanzanian sun, Lossim Lazzaro nervously looks over his farm. He slowly pours livestock manure on his crops, in a last-ditch attempt to help them grow. Mr Lazzaro owns five acres (two hectares) of land and was once a successful tomato farmer in the northern Arusha region. But now, like many others, he is battling to keep his business and crops alive, amid a global fertiliser shortage. "It's been difficult for me to get fertiliser in the market," Mr Lazzaro says. Fertiliser - the key ingredient needed to help crops grow - is in short supply across the world. Global prices have also sky-rocketed in part because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "I used to buy fertiliser for about $25 [20] per 50kg bag in 2019," Mr Lazzaro recalls. "But the same bag now goes for almost double that price. It is extremely expensive for me." The amount of fertiliser available globally has almost halved, while the cost of some types of fertiliser have nearly tripled over the past 12 months, according to the United Nations. That is having a knock-on effect in countries like Tanzania, where farmers are dependent on imported fertiliser. "I ended up buying fertiliser from a local manufacturer but still I have to place an order months earlier due to the shortage," Mr Lazzaro adds. Rising fertiliser costs are pushing up prices The crisis is fuelling fears of food scarcity. Africa - which already uses the least amount of fertiliser per hectare in the world - is at high risk. The short supply will inevitably impact crop yields, particularly for wheat which requires a lot of fertiliser and is essential for feeding millions. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the fertiliser shortage could push an additional seven million people into food scarcity. They say that cereal production in 2022 will decline to about 38 million tonnes, from the previous year's output of more than 45 million tonnes. Tanzania, like many other African countries, relies on fertiliser from Russia and China - the two leading global manufacturers. Story continues Russia, which is under Western sanctions, produces large amounts of potash, ammonia and urea. These are the three key ingredients needed to make chemical fertiliser. They helped to fuel the Green Revolution in the 1960s which tripled global grain production and helped to feed millions. Russia exports around 20% of the world's nitrogen fertilisers and combined with its sanctioned ally Belarus, 40% of the world's exported potassium, according to data from Rabobank. The cost of fertiliser was already high following the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, the sanctions on Russia and Belarus, compounded with export controls in China, have made a bad situation worse. The crisis has left many African countries, which are heavily dependent on foreign imports, scrambling to find solutions. Wheat prices have also soared, pushing up the cost of everything from bread to noodles Demand for locally produced fertiliser is rising. Small-scale farmers in the north of Tanzania are now turning to places like Minjingu Mines and Fertilizer Ltd, one of the biggest fertiliser manufacturers in the country. The company says it is experiencing a sudden increase in demand and is struggling to fill orders. But bosses say they are unable to increase their capacity because of heavy taxation. "We don't have a level playing ground compared to the importers," said Tosky Hans, a director of Minjingu Mines and Fertilizer. "Local manufacturers have to pay a lot of taxes, whereas the importers don't," he added. Like many other countries, foreign investors are given subsidies in Tanzania to attract investment while local manufacturers pay set taxes. Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (Agra), a non-government organisation that promotes green solutions across the continent, says this is an opportunity for farmers to become more self-sufficient. Vianey Rweyendela, country manager of Agra Tanzania, encourages farmers to unionise and form co-operatives. A move he says that could give them a voice on market prices. "That will help them have bargaining power and fertiliser sold to them will be affordable," argues Mr Rweyendela. The richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, recently commissioned a fertiliser plant in Nigeria, which is expected to produce three million tonnes of urea fertiliser annually. He believes guaranteed supplies will make the difference. "Ordering fertiliser and having it arrive has been a big challenge for farmers in Africa and they end up missing their planting season," said Mr Dangote. "With the launch of this plant, we shall ensure farmers get the nutrients early." Corky Siegel remembers Jim Schwall, vividly and forever. It is all clear as day, Siegel said. Jim could do pretty much anything he wanted to do. He was a master of the guitar, an artist, an incredible photographer. He was a poet and a great songwriter. He was also a humanist. A great man. Advertisement Schwall died June 19 of natural causes at his home in Tucson, Arizona. He was 79 years old. He had long been gone from Chicago; making a life and making music in rural Wisconsin; in Iowa for a time; and for a longer time in Madison, Wisconsin, where he earned a doctorate in musical composition, tirelessly advocated for human rights and homeless causes, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor. Advertisement Talking late last week, Siegel remembered the day he met Schwall in the mid-1960s. They were young students studying music at Roosevelt University and playing in the schools jazz band. They found one another riding in an elevator, Siegel carrying a saxophone, Schwall with a guitar. They talked, they shared their passion for music and they were soon visiting one anothers apartments to play. Then they traveled south, to sit in with the blues greats who frequented a place called Peppers Lounge. We were amazed and so lucky, hired to play from 9 at night to 3 in the morning, Siegel told me. Two young white kids just learning the blues and having this mind-blowing experience. Joined on stage by Muddy Waters or Buddy Guy or Otis Spann or Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Hound Dog Taylor. The next week it was Howlin Wolf and James Cotton. Another week it was Junior Wells and Magic Slim. It became clear to me how fortunate we were to be on stage every week with these blues masters coming and going all night long. They quickly formed the Siegel-Schwall Band with Siegel on harmonica and piano, Schwall on guitar, Rollo Radford on bass, and Shelly Plotkin on drums. It would become one of the most influential bands in the history of the city. They played such local clubs as Peppers, the Quiet Knight and Big Johns. They traveled and shared billings with such performers as Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell. They recorded a number of studio and live albums for Vanguard and RCA/Wooden Nickel. They also became the first blues band to ever perform with a symphony, playing Three Pieces for Blues Band and Symphony Orchestra with the San Francisco Symphony and elsewhere, a piece written by Chicagos William Russo and conducted by Seiji Ozawa, the Japanese-born conductor who had initiated the collaboration when with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Jim Schwall outside his home in Madison, Wisconsin, in August 2000 at a time he was running for mayor of the city. (PETER THOMPSON) Memories of all this, and much more, came rushing back to Siegel at the news of Schwalls death. I will never forget the number of people, people like Larry Coryell, the late acclaimed jazz guitarist, telling me how great Jim was and how much he admired him. Billboard magazine once referred to the band as one of the best acts in America and the Boston Globe called Schwall undoubtedly the best electric guitarist in the country. It came as a surprise to many when the Siegel-Schwall Band broke up in 1974. But it was a split without acrimony or rancor. As Siegel would later recall, There were a couple reasons we stopped playing together. One, people were getting real rowdy at our concerts, and we werent feeling real good about it. And two, we werent doing anything we could feel very proud about. Schwall would continue to live on a Wisconsin farm for a time with a wife and a dog; in Davenport, Iowa, working in shipping at a gas station supply distributorship; and for a lengthy time in Madison, Wisconsin. Advertisement Siegel would fashion a new career playing clubs as a solo folk and blues act, record a couple of albums, play keyboards and harmonica on albums by John Prine and Steve Goodman, and was a guest harmonica player with major symphony orchestras in here and Europe. He would become a member of the Blues Hall of Fame and be acknowledged as one of the worlds greatest harmonica players. Inspired by the collaboration with Ozawa, Siegel would also found Chamber Blues, a compelling and wildly entertaining blending of classical music and blues that remains a vital part of the music scene. And Siegel-Schwall would live on, reuniting for shows over the decades. That, for both men, was a joy. As Schwall would say, That was only part of being a musician that I like and the only part that I ever have liked is the part that involves me having a guitar in my hands in front of an audience. I dont like any of the rest of it, and I especially dont like the business part. In addition to his playing with the reconstituted Siegel-Schwall, the guitarist also fashioned a career with the Jim Schwall Band and as a solo artist, which resulted in such albums as a Spring Vacation in 1978, 1995s Live at Heroes, and 2014s Bar Time Lovers. He gave live performances at various Madison-area taverns and coffeehouses. And he and Siegel talked frequently. Advertisement Eventually he gave up music, said Siegel. He sold his guitars. He was reading books, just hanging out. We talked often on the phone and I would say that he was happy, very happy. The last few times they spoke, Siegel said, I realized that in the 60 years we had known each other, played music together, there had only been two disagreements, and each of those lasted one minute. I made it a point to tell him in some of our final conversations how much I loved him and how important he had been to my career, to my life. Schwall is survived by two brothers, William and Stephen. A memorial service is planned. rkogan@chicagotribune.com The Filipino American family who was threatened and physically attacked by a man at a McDonalds drive-thru in North Hollywood, California, last month will seek an extraction order on their assailant. Patricia Roque, 19, expressed her frustration at her familys ongoing case against Nicholas Weber, who faces hate crime charges, as he refused to attend his arraignment for the third time. Its very frustrating, Patricia told migrant rights advocate Xenia Tupas on June 24. How long do we have to wait to get a solid confirmation on anything? This is Webers third refusal. I know were putting enough pressure, but its very difficult to get that pressure to the right authorities so they could hear what the people and what my family want in this case, she added. More from NextShark: Heroic Dog Who Lost Her Snout Saving Two Girls Years Ago Passes Away in the Philippines Weber, who is currently in police custody, refused to leave his cell for the arraignment. The hearing has not been pushed through due to his absence, according to a joint statement by the Filipino Migrant Center, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and Migrante Los Angeles. An arrest warrant was issued after Weber did not appear in court on June 8. He was arrested in Orange County on June 16 and charged with battery causing serious bodily injury and misdemeanor battery, both with hate crime enhancements. The 31-year-old suspect was filmed harassing and assaulting the Roque family at a McDonalds drive-thru on Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood on May 13. Weber reportedly rear-ended the familys car before telling Patricia and her mother, Nerissa, that they were so Asian. Weber allegedly used racial slurs and threatened to kill them in a mock Asian accent. More from NextShark: Pokemon Go Trainer, 56, Arrested for Brawling With Another Trainer, 55, Over Control of Gym The verbal attack became physical when Weber tried to open their car door to get to Patricia but was stopped by her father Gabriel, who arrived at the scene minutes after being called by Patricia. The 60-year-old father was punched to the ground and suffered a broken rib from the attack. Nerissa was allegedly choked while trying to stop Weber. Story continues Activists rallied outside the Van Nuys District Attorneys Office on June 17 to demand justice for the family. Dozens of supporters called for officials to investigate the case in-depth and prosecute Weber for committing a hate crime. Patricia called District Attorney George Gascons claim of being in close contact with the family an exaggeration. More from NextShark: Missouri Police Restart Search for Body of Chinese Woman Missing Since 2019 Hes got his information wrong. If hes trying to appease the people, appease my family for his own political and personal gain, then he might as well shouldve looked up the background of our case first before giving out any statement that was obviously false, Patricia said. He said that the incident occurred 10 days ago when in fact, it has been more than a month since the incident happened. He also mentioned that hes in close contact with the family. No, she added. I think hes only contacted my parents once, but that doesnt equate to close contact. And not only that, were not even hearing anything from the defense attorneys and from him. Featured Image via ABS-CBN News (left, right) More from NextShark: Korean Consulate In Canada Warns of Danger After Citizens are Stabbed and Beaten Because of Coronavirus TVLine.com When Kristian Alfonso tendered her resignation from Days of Our Lives in 2020 after 37 years, the actress seemed rather emphatic about it being a permanent departure. Cut to July 2022, Alfonso is set to reprise her role of Hope Williams Brady opposite former leading man Peter Reckell in the second installment of Days offshoot Beyond [] The 74 This week the U.S. Interior Department released a 100-page report on the lasting consequences of the federal Indian boarding school system. You might recall last June Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, announced the federal agency would investigate the extent of the loss of human life and legacy of the federal Indian [] Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that will require apartment landlords to conduct background checks on employees, a response to the September murder of a Valencia College student. With the signature, DeSantis finished taking action on all of the bills passed during the 2022 legislative session. Under the new law, criminal and sexual-offender background checks will be required for apartment-complex employees. Also, tenants will have to be given 24 hours notice before workers can enter apartments. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The measure (SB 898), known as Miyas Law, was crafted after the death of 19-year-old Miya Marcano, who was found dead a week after she went missing from her Orlando apartment. The suspected killer, who later committed suicide, worked as a maintenance worker at Marcanos apartment complex. According to investigators, he used a master key fob to enter Marcanos apartment the day she went missing. By signing this legislation, we are making it safer to live in a rental unit and giving renters more peace of mind in their home, DeSantis said in a prepared statement. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] In March, the House and Senate unanimously passed the measure, which was sponsored by Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, and Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood. Although this legislation will not bring Miya back, it will help save lives and bring a greater sense of security to college students moving into their first apartment, seniors residing in apartment communities, and all the 2 million renters in Florida, Bartleman said in a statement. The measure also will ban motels and hotels from charging hourly room rates as a way to try to prevent sex trafficking. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Boston Police are charging four teenagers in the beating of a local musician outside South Station in Boston on Friday. The attack was caught on video by witnesses and shared widely on social media. Adam Neufell suffered a broken nose and a concussion in the assault. All of the teenagers charged are juveniles. One of them is 15 years old and the three others are 16 years old. Charges include simple assault and battery and larceny. Boston 25 News is blurring the faces of those involved because they are being charged as juveniles. The suspected attackers had yelled at Neufell to get a haircut before the incident, according to a police report. Neufell was out with his girlfriend trying to get home after missing a train when the alleged assault happened. Adam Neufell is a drummer for the local rock band Young Other. On Tuesday morning, the band announced it had to cancel some upcoming shows, while Neufell recovers from his injuries. Young Other, of Worcester, will not perform in Ohio or New York in early July in wake of a beating early Friday morning that left their drummer, Adam Neufell, with a concussion and a broken nose. It is with heavy hearts that we must announce that we will be unable to perform our upcoming July dates that kick off this Friday in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, due to the severity of Adams concussion, the band said in a Facebook post. Local band cancels upcoming tour dates after drummer severely injured in Boston attack This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Former President Donald Trump and Fox News Chief Political Anchor Bret Baier. Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images Fox News host Martha MacCallum argued Tuesday's January 6 testimony was not surprising. Former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified about a pair of violent outbursts. MacCallum said it's not "wholly out of character" that Trump "might throw his lunch." Moments after a colleague referred to Tuesday's January 6 committee testimony as "stunning," Fox News host Martha MacCallum downplayed new revelations about former President Donald Trump's violent outbursts surrounding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified that Trump threw a plate in the White House dining room after he found out former Attorney General Bill Barr publicly said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud, leaving "ketchup dripping down the wall." "I mean, I'm not sure that it really shocks anybody that the president just knowing what we've seen, observing him over the years if he got angry then he might throw his lunch," MacCallum said. "I'm not sure. It's obviously a very dramatic detail, and the way that she describes it, um, is. But I'm not sure if this is wholly out of character with the Donald Trump and the President Trump that people came to know over the years." The Associated Press (@AP) June 28, 2022 Similar to her remarks during last week's hearings when she said "not to say that it's not truthful" to preface the testimony MacCallum tried to include the pro-Trump perspective while acknowledging the former president was unable to back up his voter fraud claims with any evidence in court. "And there's a lot of people out there who obviously shared his feelings of frustration over the course of those days," MacCallum said. "The problem was that they couldn't back it up with anything in the courts and they couldn't back it up with evidence they produced." Hutchinson also testified that Trump tried to grab the steering wheel and lunged at a Secret Service agent when he found out he wouldn't be driven to the Capitol after his speech the morning of the riot. Read the original article on Business Insider Former President Donald Trump during a Fox News virtual town hall from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on May 3, 2020. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images Fox News and other Murdoch-owned entities are showing signs of a new post-Trump era. The primetime lineup is still in his corner, and January 6 remains a sensitive topic. But some hosts are pivoting, and the network recently lost a motion to dismiss Dominion's $1.6 billion lawsuit. After a 4-year presidential term of "Fox & Friends" call-in interviews and live tweeting the network's weekend programming, Donald Trump is facing headwinds at his once-favorite cable news channel. A variety of Fox News hosts and contributors have either recently issued stern critiques of the former president or outlined a vision for the 2024 presidential election that does not include him. Even the network's latest Trump exclusive showed how a new dynamic is at play: his reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade ran on Fox News' website, not as a live TV appearance. Fox News and its parent company are also dealing with a legal fight inextricably linked to Trump, who gave interviews to the network around 8 times more often than any other TV channel during his presidency. Failure to dismiss Dominion's $1.6 billion lawsuit Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Dominion and Smartmatic, two rival election technology companies, have filed a series of defamation lawsuits against right-wing media organizations and individuals they say falsely accused them of rigging the 2020 election results against then-President Trump. Newsmax, One America News Network, and Fox News are among the institutional defendants. Individual defendants include MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and other election conspiracy theorists closely aligned with Trump. All of the lawsuits have continued to make their way through the courts. Dominion achieving a major victory last week, when the Delaware judge overseeing its case against Fox News ruled that Fox Corporation, the media organization's parent company, would also be subject to discovery. Dominion made a convincing case that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, who oversee the company, pushed the media organization to follow Trump's the election lies in order not to lose ground to Newsmax and OAN, the judge said. Story continues While Fox News did not carry nearly as many election fraud-related segments as Newsmax or OAN, an interview from host Maria Bartiromo 's weekend show with former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell was one of the video exhibits during the January 6 committee hearings. The interview has also become a centerpiece of both Smartmatic's and Dominion's lawsuits against Fox News. Powell's lawyers have argued "no reasonable person would conclude" her claims about the 2020 election and vote stealing to be "truly statements of fact." Fox News did not return Insider's request for comment. Fox personalities leaving Trump in the past Brian Kilmeade, co-host of "Fox & Friends" on Fox News. Noam Galai/Getty Images Piers Morgan appeared on Fox News last week to flesh out his latest column for the New York Post, titled "Memo to Republicans: It's time to dump The Donald and run with The Ronald" the latter a reference to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. "He isn't just 35 years younger than Trump, he's more eloquent, focused and organized, going about his business with military-style planning," Morgan wrote. Later, in an appearance on Fox News' "Your World with Neil Cavuto," Morgan compared DeSantis to Barack Obama for the Democrats in 2008. Vanity Fair also recently reported on the Murdoch property-wide phenomenon of boosting DeSantis ahead of 2024. The primetime lineup of Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham are still nowhere close to being Never Trumpers. Carlson counter-programmed the first night of the January 6 hearings with a version of his demonstrably false streaming mini-series on the insurrection being a "false flag operation." Hannity has recovered from his reported falling out with Trump after the election, with the former president calling into his show back in January. In the case of the January 2022 call-in, Hannity did not ask Trump about the substantial body of text message correspondence between network stars like himself and White House officials particularly Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff around January 6. When mutually beneficial, Trump and the top stars at Fox News have shown they're still willing to get along on-air even after the election fallout. The same can't be said for one of the morning side's biggest stars. On Sunday, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade harped on Trump for not letting go of his election lies. "I've said this before: I believe from the time when the election results came in until January 6th is the worst moment of Donald Trump's political career," Kilmeade said on the Fox News Sunday show "Media Buzz." "I think how you lose in life defines who you are," Kilmeade continued. "And even if there are things that bother you, welcome to the world." Kilmeade, who once pressed a 6th grader in a live interview for praising Biden and not giving Trump enough credit on school reopenings, recalled how Trump stormed out on him off camera after he briefly pushed back on the former president's claims of election fraud. "As soon as we were done, he just stormed off," Kilmeade said. "And you know how long I've known him, for 15 years or 20 years prior to him going to the White House. I've never seen him so angry." Trump has already given Fox News 1.6 billion reasons why they shouldn't let him hitch his wagon to theirs again. DeSantis, should he run for president, might be the best protection they can find. Read the original article on Business Insider Banning Russian gold is a way to block off paths between the Russian economy and the broader global financial system, a White House official said. (Sakchai Lalit / Associated Press) As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth month, the U.S. and its allies are taking aim at Russia's second-largest export industry after energy: gold. On Tuesday, the Group of 7 advanced economies agreed on a ban on Russian gold imports in the latest round of sanctions over Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. says Russia has used gold to support its currency as a way to circumvent the impact of sanctions. One way to do that is by swapping gold for a more liquid foreign exchange that is not subject to current sanctions. Some experts say that since only a few countries are implementing the gold ban, the move is largely symbolic, while others, including those in the Biden administration, say a ban on imports of Russian gold will target Moscow's ability to interact with the global financial system. How a G-7 Russian gold ban would work: How much gold does Russia have? Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told CNN on Sunday that because gold is Russia's second-most lucrative export after energy and nearly 90% of the revenue from it comes from G-7 countries, "cutting that off, denying access to about $19 billion of revenues a year thats significant. Blinken said that without the money, Russia cant acquire what it needs to modernize its defense sector, to modernize its technology, to modernize its energy exploration." Russia began increasing its gold purchases in 2014, after the U.S. issued sanctions on Russia for Putins annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. Now the country holds $100 billion to $140 billion in gold reserves, which is roughly 20% of the holdings in the Russian Central Bank, according to U.S. officials. How would a gold ban work? While Russia will still able to sell gold to other countries outside the G-7's jurisdiction, it will impact the ability of Russia to earn export revenue, says Chris Weafer, a Russian economy analyst at consulting firm Macro-Advisory. Its that high level of export receipts that is sustaining the country and sustaining the economy since sanctions were ratcheted up" after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Weafer said. Story continues In practice, it could result in civil or criminal penalties on people who come from countries that have agreed on a gold ban from Russia. Swiss customs officials Friday said they were tracking roughly three tons of Russian gold worth more than $202 million that entered Switzerland from Britain last month as they monitor potential violations of economic sanctions against Russia. What other measures have been taken on the gold trade? In March, the U.S. and its allies moved to block financial transactions with Russias Central Bank that involve gold, aiming to further restrict the countrys ability to use its international reserves. That came after calls from members of Congress to restrict Russias gold trade. The Treasury Department issued guidance that American individuals, including gold dealers, distributors, wholesalers, buyers and financial institutions, are generally banned from buying, selling or facilitating gold-related transactions involving Russia and the various parties that have been sanctioned. How will this move punish Russia? Like the thousands of sanctions already imposed on Russia, the gold import ban is meant to isolate Russia economically, starve its funding arm and prevent money-laundering. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at the G-7 meetings in Elmau, Germany, that the ban would directly hit Russian oligarchs and strike at the heart of Putins war machine. Putin is squandering his dwindling resources on this pointless and barbaric war. He is bankrolling his ego at the expense of both the Ukrainian and Russian people," Johnson said. A White House official told reporters the ban is yet another way to block off paths between the Russian economy and the broader global financial system. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- Group of Seven leaders agreed that they want ministers to urgently look into how prices of Russian oil and gas can be curbed to limit revenues flowing to President Vladimir Putin, though exactly how the initiatives would work remained unclear. Most Read from Bloomberg We reaffirm our commitment to phase out our dependency on Russian energy, the leaders said in a joint statement Tuesday following their three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps. In addition, we will explore further measures to prevent Russia from profiting from its war of aggression. The move by the club of rich nations comes as part of a broader push to choke off the profits Russia makes from energy exports that are helping to fund its invasion of Ukraine. The war has been the dominant topic at the gathering at Schloss Elmau hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, where leaders pledged indefinite support for the government in Kyiv. Key Developments G-7 Grapples for Ways to Punish Russia While Taking on China From Scholz to Biden, a G-7 Scorecard of How Each Leader Got On G-7 Oil Price Cap Idea Beloved by Economists Faces Harsh Reality G-7 Launches Climate Club in Attempt to Avoid Green Trade Wars G-7 to Allow Fossil-Fuel Financing If Climate Pledges Are Kept (All times CET) Kishida Wants Freedom Partnership With Europe (4 p.m.) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he wants to strengthen ties with NATO and build a partnership for freedom and democracy between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Kishida spoke at a news conference in Munich just before departing for Madrid, where he will be the first Japanese premier to attend a NATO summit. Canada May Expand Energy Support for Europe (3:45 p.m.) Story continues Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country is looking at expanding energy infrastructure to help Europe over the medium term to transition away from Russian oil and gas. Trudeau said, without providing details, that there are opportunities to build facilities that could export liquefied natural gas to the continent. The infrastructure could then be used for hydrogen exports in the future, he said, keeping it consistent with Canadas longer-term climate goals. G-7 Launches Club to Tackle Climate Change (3:15 p.m.) Leaders agreed to form a Climate Club, where members agree on joint rules and standards in the fight against global warming with the hope that it will avoid spats over green tariffs. The initiative was a significant achievement for Scholz, who has made better coordination on climate protection measures a key theme of his G-7 presidency. We note with concern that currently neither global climate ambition nor implementation are sufficient to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the leaders said in a joint statement. The Climate Club will address that by accelerating climate action and increasing ambition, with a particular focus on the industry sector. Putin Wont Attend G-20 in Person, Draghi Says (3 p.m.) Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Indonesian President Joko Widodo told the G-7 gathering that Putin wont attend a G-20 summit in November in person. Widodo was categorical, he has excluded it, he will not come, Draghi said at a news conference. What might happen, is a remote appearance, but this is not clear, we will see. An official familiar with the Indonesian governments thinking said the invite for Putin to attend stands and its up to him if he comes in person or takes part virtually. Both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have accepted invitations to the meeting in Bali from G-20 presidency Indonesia. Putin has declined to meet with Zelenskiy, who has said its the only way to end the war. Asked earlier whether Germany and other G-7 nations will attend the meeting in Bali, Scholz said there was broad agreement among the leaders that they dont want to drive the G-20 apart. As things stand, the decision of the countries gathered here was that they will attend, Scholz said at a news conference. Oil-Price Cap Very Ambitious, Scholz Says (2:15 p.m.) Scholz hinted that hes skeptical about the viability of a cap on the price of Russian oil, saying its a very ambitious and prerequisite-rich plan. Thats why there will still be a lot of work on this to do, he said at his concluding news conference. At a separate briefing, French President Emmanuel Macron said sanctions on Russia will remain for as long as needed and with the necessary intensity in the coming weeks and months. Biden-Erdogan Meeting at NATO Summit Uncertain (11:30 a.m.) A possible bilateral meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of this weeks NATO summit in Madrid is one of the most anticipated of the gathering in the Spanish capital, except neither are confirming it will happen. At stake is whether Biden can do something to overcome Turkeys opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the military alliance. The two men spoke earlier Tuesday and Erdogan was first to announce it to state television. Its pretty clear what hes after. Erdogan pointedly said he wants to discuss F-16 fighter aircraft and mentioned seeing the president on the sidelines of NATO. The White House, in its own statement, confirmed the call and said Biden looks forward to seeing Erdogan. Leaders Commit $4.5 Billion to Fight Famine (11:10 a.m.) In a separate statement on global food security, leaders committed to providing an additional $4.5 billion to protect the most vulnerable from hunger and malnutrition and called on Russia to unconditionally end its blockade of Ukraines Black Sea ports and attacks on key infrastructure. We are strongly supporting Ukraine in resuming its agricultural exports to world markets, as well as UN efforts to unlock a safe maritime corridor through the Black Sea, according to the statement. G-7 Wants China to Intervene With Russia (10:45 a.m.) In the draft of their statement, leaders called on China to use its influence with Russia to try to convince Putin to end what they called the unjustifiable, unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine. The government in Beijing should urge Russia to stop its military aggression -- and immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine, according to the text of the statement. They also said they are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in China and called on the government to respect universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in Tibet and in Xinjiang, where they said forced labor is of major concern to them. G-7 Reference Chinese Competition Curbs (10:30 a.m.) The leaders also referenced what they called challenges posed by non-market policies and practices which distort the global economy practiced by China. We will build a shared understanding of Chinas non-transparent and market-distorting interventions and other forms of economic and industrial directives, the statement said. We will then work together to develop coordinated action to ensure a level playing field for our businesses and workers. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to engage over the course of the next few weeks. Biden to Leave Early for NATO Summit (10 a.m.) Biden will leave the summit at Schloss Elmau early to head to Madrid for a meeting of NATO leaders that starts later on Tuesday, the White House said. Leaders meeting in the Spanish capital will sign off on a document outlining the alliances priorities for the coming decade. The so-called Strategic Concept is set to label China a systemic challenge while also highlighting Beijings deepening partnership with Russia, according to people familiar with the matter. The previous version, published in 2010, made no mention of China and referred to Russia as a partner, wording that is set to be scrapped. Biden Summit Bilaterals Limited (9:30 a.m.) Biden had a handful of meetings with world leaders behind closed doors at the summit. He huddled with Japans Kishida out of view of reporters, and they discussed the NATO summit, which will include Indo-Pacific leaders like Kishida for the first time, according to the White House. Biden also spoke about food security, Ukraine and infrastructure in a private meeting with Senegalese President Macky Sall, who was invited to the summit as one of a number of special guests, according to the White House. The only public meetings Biden has held with G-7 counterparts was a Sunday huddle with Scholz and a separate meeting with Scholz, Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Macron was also captured on camera telling Biden about a conversation he had with the UAEs Mohammad bin Zayed about oil production. G-7 Says Kremenchuk Attack a War Crime (7:30 a.m.) Scholz and his fellow leaders published a statement late Monday in which they condemned what they said was Russias abominable missile attack earlier in the day on a shopping mall in central Ukraine, which left at least 18 people dead and dozens injured. G-7 leaders said that indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime and vowed that Putin and those responsible would be held to account. We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian as well as military support for Ukraine, for as long as it takes, according to the statement. Yellen Presses Europeans on Price Cap for Oil (7 a.m.) US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is pressing European counterparts to embrace measures designed to enforce a price cap on Russian oil, a move that officials in Washington hope will maintain global supplies while at the same time limiting Moscows revenue. Yellen spoke Monday with Constantinos Petrides, the finance minister of Cyprus, a major maritime player that serves as Europes largest ship-management center. The two spoke about the goal of placing a price limit on Russian oil to deprive the Kremlin of revenue to finance their war in Ukraine while mitigating spillover effects for the global economy, the Treasury said in a statement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. On July 1, visitors at Adler Planetarium will be able to see full-scale models of the Mars Perseverance rover and its sidekick helicopter Ingenuity as NASAs Roving with Perseverance traveling exhibit stops in Chicago. Nicknamed Percy and Ginny, Perseverance and Ingenuity landed on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021, where they are exploring the planet with the hopes of learning more about how its past climate could have been warmer and wetter than it is now. Advertisement Perseverance, which is as large as a small car, is also collecting rock samples that will be studied on Earth with the goal of finding signs of ancient microscopic life. Meanwhile, Ingenuity, which is small and light, is the first aircraft to fly on another planet. Visitors will get a close-up look at the technology on board the real Perseverance, follow its travels across Mars and see the Ingenuity helicopter hanging above the exhibit space. Advertisement Scientists and engineers who were involved with the NASA Perseverance and Ingenuity projects will take part in special programs at Adler as part of the exhibits tour. More details about those events will be announced at a later date. July 1 through Jan. 2, 2023. The exhibit is included with all ticket options; more information at adlerplanetarium.org Artists concept of the rover Perseverance and helicopter Ingenuity on the surface of Mars. (NASA/ JPL-Caltech) What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. Sign up for our Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Take our survey: We want to know what you think about our work. So weve put together these five questions. The Group of Seven (G-7) countries are endorsing investments in natural gas as many seek to reduce their dependence on Russian fuels. In a communique issued on Tuesday, the group, which is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S., also backed increased deliveries of the fuel. In this context and with a view to accelerating the phase out of our dependency on Russian energy, we stress the important role increased deliveries of [liquified natural gas] can play, and acknowledge that investment in this sector is necessary in response to the current crisis, their statement said. It continued that in some cases, government investment in the gas sector can be appropriate as a temporary response. The support for the fossil fuel comes as Russia has moved to cut off gas supplies to several countries when they have refused to pay for it in Russian rubles. Russia has been a major supplier of European gas, providing 40 percent of the European Unions gas consumption in 2021. However, the endorsement miffed climate advocates, who argue that the countries should be moving more towards energy sources that dont contribute to global warming. Public support for gas infrastructure is not the climate presidency Joe Biden promised. Climate activists will not sit idly by while our tax dollars lock in another generation of extraction, said a statement from Kate DeAngelis, international finance program manager for Friends of the Earth U.S. The G7 countries are failing as true climate leaders by abandoning their Glasgow commitments and holding up LNG as an energy response, DeAngelis said. The G-7 memo also further floated putting a price cap that has been discussed on Russian oil, saying it may do so by banning services that help Russian oil travel by sea, unless the oil is purchased below a certain price. As for oil, we will consider a range of approaches, including options for a possible comprehensive prohibition of all services, which enable transportation of Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products globally, unless the oil is purchased at or below a price to be agreed in consultation with international partners, the statement said. Additionally, the countries said they hope to create an international Climate Club by the end of this year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Philip Blenkinsop GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) -G7 leaders urged China on Tuesday to use its influence with Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine and drop "expansive maritime claims" in the South China Sea, in unprecedentedly tough criticism of Beijing's policies and human rights record. They called on China to press Russia to pull forces out of Ukraine immediately and unconditionally, citing a ruling by the International Court of Justice that Moscow suspend its military operation, and related U.N. General Assembly resolutions. China says sanctions on Russia cannot resolve the Ukraine crisis and has criticised the United States and its allies for supplying arms to Ukraine. "G7 countries only make up 10% of the world's population. They have no right to represent the world or to think their values and standards should apply to the world," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press briefing on Wednesday, when asked about the G7 communique. In the communique, concluding their three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps, the Group of Seven rich industrial democracies took aim at what they called coercive Chinese non-market policies that distorted the global economy. The Chinese section of the communique, highlighted by the United States, referred to China's "non-transparent and market-distorting interventions" and other forms of economic and industrial directives. The G7 leaders committed to work together to ensure a level playing field for their businesses and workers. The communique further voiced serious disquiet about the situation in the East and South China seas and unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. "We stress that there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea," it said. It also the G7 was now "gravely concerned" - a term not used in their summit a year ago - about the human rights situation in China, including forced labour in Tibet and Xinjiang. China should also honour its commitments to uphold rights, freedom and a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, they said. A NATO summit starting immediately after the G7 summit will tackle China's deepening ties with Russia since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and what is seen as Beijing's growing inclination to flex geopolitical muscle abroad. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, additional reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; editing by Mark Heinrich and Frank Jack Daniel) When Ghislaine Maxwell arrived in New York City in 1991, she seemed like the perfect candidate for its elite social scene. The British socialites father, UK publishing titan Robert Maxwell, had dispatched her to launch an international magazine called the European, as part of his sprawling media conglomerate. Robert Maxwell had also purchased the New York Daily News in March of that year, around the time of her arrival, further boosting her status, as ownership of that tabloid once conveyed real-world influence. Maxwells pedigree and appearance further enhanced her profile. Related: Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking crimes The Oxford-educated Maxwell cut an impressively attractive figure; she was about 5ft 8in, with a slim frame and bold dark hair, her defined cheeks drawing notice. She had a polished English accent. By years end, however, Maxwells position among New York Citys power players was imperiled: Robert Maxwell died in a boating accident on his yacht, Lady Ghislaine, on 5 November 1991. Shortly after Robert Maxwells death, it was revealed that 460m ($565m) was missing from his businesses pension funds. Maxwell faced financial and social ruin, decamping from a very large Columbus Circle residence to a mere studio apartment within months of her fathers death. But one of Maxwells new associates, the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, stood by her side. Three decades later, Maxwells relationship with Epstein would come to a sordid conclusion. Following an international criminal drama that culminated in Maxwells sex-trafficking conviction, she was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in jail for luring girls, some as young as age 14, into Epsteins abusive world. The pair were romantically linked early on, and in 1992, Maxwell was managing Epsteins Palm Beach estate, setting the stage for her longtime management of his various properties. Maxwell appeared to have assumed the role of Epsteins procurer by 1994. Story continues That year, Maxwell met Kate in Paris. She brought Kate, then 17, into Epsteins orbit shortly thereafter, luring her into sexual encounters with him under the false pretense of providing massages. Kate testified that Maxwells relationship with Epstein appeared to pay financial dividends, saying, she told me that she owned her house in New York City, and that Jeffrey had got it for her. David Rodgers, Epsteins longtime pilot, said that Maxwells residences changed while she dated the businessman owning a townhouse on East 65th street around the late 1990s. Prosecutors presented evidence that Epstein transferred in excess of $30m to Maxwells bank accounts from 1999 to 2007. Their romance ended in the early 2000s, and Maxwell stopped working for him. Despite their split, Maxwell remained in high-profile social circles. She began dating Ted Waitt, the co-founder of Gateway Computers. The tech billionaires check-writing helped secure her place at conferences as they replaced benefit galas as the first-tier social gatherings of the late aughts, the New York Times reported. The immense benefits Maxwell enjoyed from her association with Epstein imploded in 2007. That year, Epstein came to a controversial plea deal that permitted him to avoid federal charges for child-sex crime accusations. Maxwell was protected by a non-prosecution agreement, but she was not insulated from negative publicity. Waitt grew weary of this imbroglio, and they broke up in 2010. He had donated $12m to Bill Clintons charitable foundation, however, which helped Maxwell maintain ties to the former first family. With connections forged at Clinton family conferences, Maxwell launched an ocean charity called TerraMar in 2012. The New York Times noted that TerraMar had a website, and raised funds, but didnt seem to give out any grants. In the mid-2010s, Maxwell found herself under scrutiny yet again. Virginia Giuffre openly accused Maxwell and Epstein of forcing her into a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew when she was only 17. Maxwell responded by calling her a liar, and Giuffre hit back with a defamation suit in 2015. The suit was settled in 2017, and it appeared that the controversy had largely subsided. Late in 2018, Epsteins crimes once again drew international attention when the Miami Heralds Julie K Brown published a bombshell series that prompted outrage over his non-prosecution agreement. Epstein was arrested for sex trafficking in July 2019. He killed himself in jail about one month after his arrest. Epsteins victims, denied justice once again, were allowed to speak in court following their death. Five women named Maxwell as an enabler or participant in his abuse. All eyes were turned to Maxwell, with many wondering whether she would be prosecuted. One year after Epsteins arrest, federal prosecutors in Manhattan revealed that Maxwell was arrested at her tony estate in Bradford, New Hampshire. She was charged with sex crimes, conspiracy and perjury, for her role in Epsteins sexual abuse of minors. Maxwell went on trial for sex trafficking and related crimes in November 2020. The prosecution presented 24 witnesses over the course of 10 days, and her team brought nine witnesses to the stand over a two-day period. After 40 hours of deliberations, spanning six days, jurors found Maxwell guilty. Her fate was handed down in a New York court room six months later: 20 years in jail. Maxwell maintains her innocence. Ghislaine Maxwell, the high-flying socialite born with a silver spoon in her mouth, completed her riches-to-rags descent Tuesday in shackles as she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for enabling Jeffrey Epsteins serial abuse of children. The steep prison term all but ensures Maxwell, described by Manhattan Federal Judge Alison Nathan as instrumental in Epsteins international exploitation of teenage girls, will remain imprisoned until her twilight years. Nathan rejected Maxwells longstanding defense that she had been scapegoated for the financier, who hanged himself at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in 2019 while awaiting trial for underage sex trafficking. It is important at the outset to emphasize that although Epstein was of course central to this criminal scheme, Ms. Maxwell is not being punished in place of Epstein or as a proxy for Epstein, said Nathan. Ms. Maxwell is being punished for the role that she played in the criminal conduct. As to that role, the trial evidence established that Ms. Maxwell was instrumental in the abuse of several underage girls, and she herself participated in some of the abuse. ... The damage done to these young girls was incalculable. Maxwell, 60, learned her fate after making a somewhat remorseful statement to her victims that stopped short of an apology. I want to acknowledge their suffering. I empathize deeply with all of the victims in this case. I also acknowledge that I have been convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes, Maxwell said. I know that my association with Epstein and this case will forever and permanently stain me, said Maxwell, wearing a blue jail jumpsuit. It is the greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein. Testimony during last years trial revealed how Maxwell instructed teen victims as young as 14 on how to pleasure Epstein and sometimes even joined in the abuse. She forced them into repeated rapes and sexual assaults at his Palm Beach mansion, Upper East Side Townhouse, and remote Zorro ranch in New Mexico. Epsteins sick routine typically began under the guise of a massage. As Epsteins Lady of the House, Maxwell enforced a strict code of conduct that indulged his every desire while treating him like royalty. Maxwell kept a basket full of sex toys in her private bathroom at Epsteins Palm Beach residence, which he used on underage victims. Story continues Witnesses recalled Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, and other powerful men flying on Epsteins private planes. A photo introduced at trial showed Epstein and Maxwell lounging at the Queen of Englands Scottish castle. Todays sentence holds Ghislaine Maxwell accountable for perpetrating heinous crimes against children. This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law and it is never too late for justice, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. Maxwells lawyer Bobbi Sternheim said her wealthy client had been vilified and pilloried and that she would appeal. We all know that the person who should have been sentenced today escaped accountability, avoided his victims, avoided absorbing their pain, and receiving the punishment he truly deserved, Sternheim said. Clever and cunning to the end, Jeffrey Epstein left Ghislaine Maxwell holding the whole bag. Nathan, who also imposed a maximum fine of $750,000, handed down the sentence after a three-hour proceeding in which Maxwells victims detailed the enduring trauma of her and Epsteins abuse. The former socialite appeared tense at times, puffing her chest out to take deep breaths and looking resigned in other moments, staring into the distance with a glazed expression. She showed little emotion when the sentence came down. In attendance were the British defendants siblings, who had written to Judge Nathan ahead of the sentencing. Also spotted was juror Scotty David, who almost jeopardized Maxwells conviction when he revealed discrepancies in his juror questionnaire in media interviews after the verdict. Four victims described Maxwell as a master manipulator who had ruined their lives. One victim, Annie Farmer, asked Nathan to consider the womens ongoing suffering and the calculated nature of Epstein and Maxwells crimes. She doesnt think what she did was wrong. She is not sorry, and she would do it again, said another victim, Kate, who described Maxwell as a manipulative, cruel and merciless person who only uses kindness to manipulate. Victim Elizabeth Stein said the predatory couple had almost killed me. For the past 25 years, Ghislaine Maxwell has been free to live a life of wealth and privilege, said Stein. Shes had her life. Its time to have mine. She needs to be imprisoned so all of her victims can be free. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday for helping the sex offender and globetrotting financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. The British socialite, 60, was convicted in December for recruiting and grooming four girls to have sexual encounters with Epstein, then her boyfriend, between 1994 and 2004. The monthlong trial was widely seen as the reckoning that Epstein - who killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 at age 66 while awaiting his own sex trafficking trial - never had. It was one of the highest-profile cases in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to speak out about sexual abuse, often at the hands of wealthy and powerful people. In often emotional and explicit testimony during the trial, four women testified that Maxwell was a central figure in their abuse by Epstein. U.S. Circuit Judge Alison Nathan read the sentence at a hearing in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors last week called Maxwell's conduct "shockingly predatory" and said she deserved to spend at least 30 years behind bars for the five charges on which she was convicted, based on their interpretation of federal sentencing guidelines. Maxwell's lawyers had earlier said in court papers that she should be sentenced to no more than 5-1/4 years, arguing that she was being scapegoated for Epstein's crimes and that she had already spent significant time in jail. Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 and repeatedly denied bail. Since then, she has been held mostly at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), where she has complained of vermin and the scent of raw sewage in her cell. Her lawyer has compared her confinement conditions to those of Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs." Maxwell was placed on suicide watch over the weekend. However her lawyers said she was not suicidal. In April, Nathan rejected Maxwell's bid for an acquittal, but set aside guilty verdicts on two counts because they overlapped. That reduced Maxwell's maximum possible sentence to 55 years from 65 years. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Noeleen Walder) Ghislaine Maxwell turns to sketch court sketch artist Jane Rosenberg during the trial of Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking, in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S., December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg A federal judge sentenced Ghislaine Maxwell to 20 years in prison. In December, a jury found her guilty of sex-trafficking girls for Jeffrey Epstein. The trial shed light on how Epstein and Maxwell preyed on teen girls for sex. A judge on Tuesday sentenced Ghislaine Maxwell to 20 years in prison for trafficking girls to have sex with Jeffrey Epstein and sexually abusing them herself. Maxwell was also fined $750,000, the judge announced, and would be on probation for five years following her time in prison. A federal jury in Manhattan convicted Maxwell in December, finding she was guilty of five of the six sex trafficking and conspiracy charges brought against her. US District Judge Alison Nathan, who oversaw the trial in Manhattan federal court, said the sentence which slightly exceeded sentencing guidelines addressed the "heinous and predatory" nature of Maxwell's crimes. She also took into account statements given by victims. "The damage done to these girls is incalculable," Nathan said. Before her sentencing, Maxwell, now 60 years old, addressed the court her first public remarks since her arrest in 2020. She walked into the courtroom wearing a pale blue jail-issued smock, chains on her ankles clanking. Though Maxwell didn't take responsibility for trafficking girls to Epstein and sexually abusing them herself, she acknowledged the "pain and anguish" expressed by the victims. Maxwell said statements by the victims were "difficult to hear and absorb" and said she's had plenty of time to think about her actions in solitary confinement. "It is the greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein," Maxwell said. "I have had plenty of time to think, having spent two years in solitary confinement. I believe that Jeffrey Epstein was a manipulative, cunning, and controlling man who lived a profoundly compartmentalized life and fooled all of those in his orbit." Maxwell said Epstein "should have been here" to hear the stories of the victims. Story continues "I hope my incarceration brings you closure, some measure of peace and finality," she said. "May this day help you travel from the darkness into the light." In issuing the 20-year sentence, Nathan said her version of events, false claims made in depositions for civil lawsuits against her for her conduct, exaggerations about her conditions in jail, and inconsistencies in financial statements for bail reflected a "pattern of deflection" and dishonesty. "Ms. Maxwell is wealthy or that this case is high profile is not a basis for increasing punishment in any regard, but the rule of law demands and this Court must ensure that whether you are rich or poor, powerful or entirely unknown, nobody is above the law," Nathan said. Maxwell's victims spoke in court before she was sentenced Four women took the stand throughout the monthlong trial and, in painful testimony, described how Maxwell befriended them as teenagers, groomed them for sex with Epstein. One of the accusers, who testified under the pseudonym Kate, said Maxwell told her Epstein needed sex three times a day and that she couldn't keep up. Two of the accusers Jane, a pseudonym, and a woman who testified using only her first name, Carolyn said that the sexual acts started when they were as young as 14 and that Maxwell sometimes participated in the abuse. Annie Farmer, the only accuser to testify using her full name, said Maxwell fondled her breasts during a visit to Epstein's New Mexico ranch when she was 16. On Tuesday, she gave a statement to the court about her experience. "For a long time, I wanted to erase from my mind the crimes that Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein committed against me and pretend they hadn't happened," she said. Annie Farmer, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, speaks to the press as her lawyer Sigrid McCawley looks on following the sentencing of the Ghislaine Maxwell outside the U.S. Courthouse in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 28, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid The sentence given to Maxwell was slightly above statutory sentencing guidelines, which Nathan said demonstrated the severity of her crimes. "There are a small number of cases where the Court imposes an above-guideline sentence," prosecutor Alison Moe told Nathan during the sentencing hearing. "This is that case." Following the sentencing, Farmer told Insider that she was "very happy" with the 20-year sentence. In the days leading up to the sentencing, prosecutors and attorneys for Maxwell's accusers submitted statements from victims. Maxwell's attorneys sought to limit who would be able to speak, but Nathan permitted statements from each victim who testified, others identified by witnesses as her victims, and two other accusers who watched but did not participate in the trial in court. The accuser who testified in the trial with the pseudonym Kate said that her experience on the stand was "both terrifying and retraumatizing" but that she does not "regret it for a moment." "There is nothing more important than protecting the innocent and, if I was able to provide, in any way, information helpful to understanding the nature of this type of abuse, as perpetrated by Ghislaine Maxwell, then my pain has had meaning and therefore not been for naught," she wrote. The trial shed light on how Epstein and Maxwell controlled girls During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that shed more light on Epstein's lavish lifestyle, connections with the powerful, and the way he pursued children. Epstein funded and maintained a "scholarship lodge" at a summer camp where he and Maxwell targeted Jane, instructed his household staff to pay little attention to visitors, and kept a stash of money and diamonds in a safe in his Manhattan townhouse. His victims testified that he namedropped the likes of Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, and Prince Andrew to keep them in line. Epstein also gave Maxwell more than $30 million during their time together, which included a romantic relationship as well as a period of time where she acted as his household manager. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of at least 30 years in prison for the disgraced socialite, in addition to fines. Maxwell's lawyers fought for five years and said she plans to appeal her conviction. During the trial, they argued she was unfairly targeted after Epstein died in jail following his arrest in 2019, and presented friends to testify that they never witnessed her sexually abuse anyone. In a sentencing memorandum, Maxwell's lawyers said she should be granted leniency because of childhood abuse from her father, the late British mogul Robert Maxwell. An undated photo of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein entered into evidence during her criminal trial. US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York The verdict against Maxwell was nearly derailed after one of the jurors said in media interviews that he was personally a victim of sexual abuse as a child something he failed to disclose on his prospective juror form. After Nathan questioned him under oath, she ruled that he made an honest mistake and that the situation didn't meet the legal standards for throwing out the jury verdict. Prosecutors have also said they would drop a separate set of perjury charges against Maxwell, for lying about her sexual abuse in a deposition taken for a civil case involving Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre has accused Maxwell and Epstein of sexual misconduct, and earlier this year secured a settlement with Prince Andrew, who she accused of sexually abusing her as part of Epstein's sex-trafficking scheme. Giuffre was not brought as a witness in Maxwell's criminal trial. Nathan dismissed the charges, at the prosecutors' request, at the end of the sentencing. She noted in her sentence that she believed Maxwell lied in her depositions, given the evidence in her trial. "Overall, the behavior appears consistent with a pattern of deflection of blame," Nathan said. In her own impact statement, Giuffre said she hoped Maxwell's trial would "set a precedent for victims and the hunters who prey upon them." "Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible pedophile. But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you," the statement reads, addressing Maxwell. "For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it." Read the original article on Insider NEW YORK (AP) Ghislaine Maxwell, the jet-setting socialite who once consorted with royals, presidents and billionaires, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for helping the wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The stiff sentence was the punctuation mark on a trial that explored the sordid rituals of a predator power couple who courted the rich and famous as they lured vulnerable girls as young as 14, and then exploited them. Prosecutors said Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, and couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion and onetime girlfriend. In December, a jury convicted Maxwell of sex trafficking, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts and two conspiracy charges. U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who also imposed a $750,000 fine, said a very significant sentence is necessary and that she wanted to send an unmistakable message that these kinds of crimes would be punished. Prosecutors had asked the judge to give her 30 to 55 years in prison, while Maxwells defense sought a lenient sentence of just five years. Maxwell, wearing a blue prison uniform and a white mask to conform with coronavirus rules, sat quietly before the sentencing, looking ahead as Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe recounted how Maxwell subjected girls to horrifying nightmares by taking them to Epstein. They were partners in crime together and they molested these kids together, she said, calling Maxwell a person who was indifferent to the suffering of other human beings. When she had a chance to speak, Maxwell said she empathized with the survivors and that it was her greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell called him a manipulative, cunning and controlling man who lived a profoundly compartmentalized life, echoing her defense attorneys assertions, in court filings calling for a lenient sentence, that Epstein was the true mastermind. Story continues Maxwell, who denies abusing anyone, said she hoped that her conviction and her unusual incarceration bring some measure of peace and finality. Several survivors described their sexual abuse, including Annie Farmer, whose voice cracked several times as she said we will continue to live with the harm she caused us. Farmer said her sister and herself tried to go public with their stories about Epstein and Maxwell two decades ago, only to be shut down by the powerful couple through threats and influence with authorities. Inside the crowded courtroom, three of Maxwells siblings sat in a row behind her. Most of the others in attendance were members of the media. Epstein and Maxwells associations with some of the worlds most famous people were not a prominent part of the trial, but mentions of friends like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Britains Prince Andrew showed how the pair exploited their connections to impress their prey. Over the past 17 years, scores of women have accused Epstein of abusing them. Many described Maxwell as acting as a madam who recruited them to give massages to Epstein. The trial, though, revolved around allegations from only a handful of those women. Four testified that they were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins mansions in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Three were identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, an ex-model from the U.K.; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Farmer, the sole accuser to identify herself in court by her real name, after speaking out publicly. They described how Maxwell charmed them with conversation and gifts and promises that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to help fulfill their dreams. Then, they testified, she led them to give massages to Epstein that turned sexual and played it off as normal. Carolyn testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epsteins Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to massage him in exchange for $100 bills in what prosecutors described as a pyramid of abuse. Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. The allegations against Epstein first surfaced publicly in 2005. He pleaded guilty to sex charges in Florida and served 13 months in jail, much of it in a work-release program as part of a deal criticized as lenient. Afterward, he was required to register as a sex offender. In the years that followed, many women sued Epstein over alleged abuse. One, Virginia Giuffre, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had also pressured her into sexual trysts with other powerful men, including Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations and Giuffre ultimately settled a lawsuit against Andrew out of court. Federal prosecutors in New York revived the case against Epstein after stories by the Miami Herald in 2018 brought new attention to his crimes. He was arrested in 2019, but killed himself a month later. Eleven months after his death, Maxwell was arrested at a New Hampshire estate. A U.S., British and French citizen, she has remained in a federal jail in New York City since then as her lawyers repeatedly criticize her treatment, saying she was even unjustly placed under suicide watch days before sentencing. Prosecutors say the claims about the jail are exaggerated and that Maxwell has been treated better than other prisoners. Her lawyers also fought to have her conviction tossed on the grounds of juror misconduct. Days after the verdict, one juror gave media interviews in which he disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child something he hadnt told the court during jury selection. Maxwells lawyers said she deserved a new trial. A judge disagreed. At least eight women submitted letters to the judge, describing the sexual abuse they said they endured for having met Maxwell and Epstein. Six of Maxwells seven living siblings wrote to plead for leniency. Maxwells fellow inmate also submitted a letter describing how Maxwell has helped to educate other inmates over the last two years. Anne Holve and Philip Maxwell, her eldest siblings, wrote that her relationship with Epstein began soon after the 1991 death of their father, the British newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell. They said Robert Maxwell had subjected his daughter to frequent rapid mood swings, huge rages and rejections. This led her to becoming very vulnerable to abusive and powerful men who would be able to take advantage of her innate good nature, they wrote. Prosecutors called Maxwells shifting of blame to Epstein absurd and offensive. Before her fate was announced, Maxwell looked down and scribbled on a notepad as Sarah Ransome an accuser whose allegations werent included in this trial spoke of the lasting harm to her life, gazing directly at Maxwell several times . Ransome, who twice tried to die by suicide, finally drew a look from Maxwell when she said: You broke me in unfathomable ways but you did not break my spirit. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. lithium factory - REUTERS/Stringer The Government has invested in a company hoping to help end Britain's reliance on China for a key electric battery component. Livista Energy's bid to set up one of the first lithium refineries in Europe has won support from the Government. The new plant, set to be built in England, will produce the materials required to build batteries for electric vehicles. Livista's co-founder Roland Getreide told the Financial Times: "The electrification of the car fleet means a whole new supply chain and the UK Government has chosen us to explain the process and how to build a refinery here." The funding will help Livista pick a location for the refinery, Mr Getreide said. Britain and the European Union have been trying to end their reliance on China for refined lithium amid concerns about security of supply. Lithium is set to be a key material in the coming decade as the world shifts towards electrification. China is the biggest refiner of lithium in the world, though it sources most of the raw metal from beyond its borders according to S&P Global. Britain has deposits of lithium and start-ups Cornish Lithium and British Lithium are exploring commercial mining. The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that Green Lithium, another British start-up backed by the worlds biggest private metal trader Triafigura, is also considering setting up a refinery in Teesside. The funding for Livista came as part of a 43.7m package of co-investment from the Government and the automotive sector for 21 projects aiming to decarbonise the car industry. Lord Gerry Grimstone, minister for investment, said: "By investing in projects, such as electric motorcycles, to develop the latest clean auto tech or to investigate the potential for further growth in UK electric vehicle manufacturing, we are not only keeping the UK at the forefront of this vital sector, but also securing potentially thousands of highly-skilled jobs for the future." The Government also announced it would invest 4m in a rare earth refinery to be built in the Saltend Chemicals Park in Yorkshire. Story continues The plant recently received planning approval from local councillors and will be built by rare earth metals company Pensana. Rare earth metals are required to manufacture essential equipment for the healthcare sector and the military. China provides around 98pc of the EU's requirement for rare earth metals after heavily investing in the production capacity needed for processing and exporting them. On Monday night, the Chicago Symphony Orchestras moniker for its annual free community concert felt like more than lofty branding. Much more. The CSO and music director Riccardo Muti last performed a Concert for Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion back in 2018. The roving annual series usually signals the end of summer and the beginning of the fall season. But in a city where summers can hang heavy with strife, the CSOs concerts in Millennium Park, the citys symbolic heart with other visits in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015 feel like a special balm. Advertisement And after the grief of the intervening four years? Well. How long is this concert supposed to be again? In case the more literal among us were wondering: a tight hour, give or take a few minutes. But it was a dense hour, pairing Dmitri Shostakovich and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Russian symphonists who wrote the book on waltzing, marching and grinning through tragedy. Advertisement Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 4 is one of the composers most programmed symphonies, if not the most programmed. But Mutis interpretation curry-combed this war horse head to hoof. His recording of the symphony with the Philadelphia Orchestra offered a blueprint for Mondays performance, but with some fanciful updates that threw back to his idiosyncratic Pathetique with the CSO last fall. The calls-and-responses between strings and winds in the middle of the first movement dramatically seesawed tempos, whetting Tchaikovskys schismatic emotional contrasts to sharp points. When first violins shriek out the opening fanfares return in a fearsome orchestra tutti, that section can feel like a sudden reckoning, a strike from the heavens. In Mondays rendition, Muti guided listeners step by step to that clash, and it was not a lick less thrilling because of it. We knew we would meet our fate. All that was left, it seemed, was to confront it. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs its "Concert for Chicago," in Millennium Park on June 27, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) An appropriately uptempo Andantino followed, led by William Welters endearingly midcentury take on the opening oboe solo. Though its rolling string lines are most singable, this movement was the winds show from start to finish, with plush legatos from the brass and short yet scene-stealing contributions by principal clarinet Stephen Williamson. The fine-boned third movement is a tall order for any outdoor setting, but from this reviewers seat about ten rows from the stage, string pizzicatos sounded robust and the winds were appealingly tart in some of their figures. Hopefully, that sly sarcasm landed for those hearing an amplified version on the lawn. The symphonys finale is all fun and games until the shattering return of the first movements brass theme, which was exceptionally devastating on Monday night. Muti let the orchestras two strikes ring out, and in those pregnant pauses, one could have sworn not just Millennium Park but the whole Loop fell silent. The whiplash between celebration and anguish is just one commonality between Tchaikovskys Fourth and Shostakovichs Festive Overture. The concert made it abundantly clear these works share the same cultural bloodline, from their opening fanfares to their extra-high flourishes for violin and piccolo. The Chicago brass sounded especially magnificent at Overtures beginning, paving the way for an engaging and extroverted sonic parade. Muti and CSO leaned into contrasts in timbres and tempos but, for the most part, kept dynamics assertive for the Pavilions wide-open acoustic. Riccardo Muti prepares to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in its "Concert for Chicago," featuring Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, in Millennium Park on June 27, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Nearly as spunky as the Overture was Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association president Jeff Alexanders introductory remarks. Alexander deviated from usual decorum to make a point of unfolding a piece of paper and rotely reading off a thank you to concert sponsors Ken Griffin, Citadel and Citadel Securities, who recently announced their relocation to Miami. The obligatory acknowledgment was greeted by deafening boos. Advertisement Mutis concluding paean to the importance of culture was more heartfelt, if also more predictable. He implored the 12,000 audience members to come to a concert at Symphony Center if they enjoyed the performance, and called for increased government subsidies for the arts, so it is possible for you all to come to concerts in a more simple way. Unfortunately, in this country, the prognosis on that possibility never seems to get rosier. But hey, its always worth a shot next season. Hannah Edgar is a freelance writer. The Rubin Institute for Music Criticism helps fund our classical music coverage. The Chicago Tribune maintains complete editorial control over assignments and content. Don't miss CoinDesk's Consensus 2022, the must-attend crypto & blockchain festival experience of the year in Austin, TX this June 9-12. Central bank digital currencies (CBDC) wont be a silver bullet that solves all issues with cross-border payments, according to Cecilia Skingsley, first deputy governor of Sveriges Riksbank, Sweden's central bank. For instance, countries wont necessarily play nicely with each other, making interoperability or the way CBDCs interact with other payment systems complex and layered, Skingsley said at the European Central Banks (ECB) annual forum on central banking held in Sintra, Portugal, on Tuesday. We have to think about different levels of interoperability, Skingsley said, adding, It's going to be jolly hard for everybody who wants to be part of that to agree on governance and supervision and the like. Skingsley was joined on a panel by ECB Executive Board member Fabio Panetta; Ulrich Bindseil, ECB director general of Market Infrastructure and Payments; Princeton economist Markus Brunnermeier; and Neha Narula, a director of the Digital Currency Initiative at the MIT Media Lab. Last year, payments giant Visa announced it was working on a platform that would enable interoperability between CBDCs and other private digital currencies such as stablecoins, which are pegged to the value of another asset such as the U.S. dollar or gold. Skingsley, who recently became the head of the innovation arm at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), an association of central banks from around the world, said BIS is set to release a report on CBDC interoperability in two weeks. The BIS Innovation Hub is conducting several CBDC experiments with central banks around the world. In September 2021, BIS told central banks around the world they should start working on CBDCs because central bank money must evolve to fit into a digital future. At that time China had already made some progress on a digital version of the renminbi, its sovereign currency. Story continues Now, countries around the world are looking into establishing a CBDC which, panelists were told by Panetta, is at least in part in response to the crypto market boom when the market hit $2.7 trillion in October. There are high expectations for CBDCs, from potentially streamlining cross-border payments to improving financial inclusion. According to the panelists, CBDCs will introduce competition to a digital payments world increasingly dominated by private banks. But serious experimentation into CBDCs has only just begun and there are a host of implications and design elements to consider. One thing that could complicate interoperability between different nations CBDCs is the level of access governments will be willing to provide to their CBDC, including how much individuals would be allowed to hold or even whether tourists should be able to use them to make payments, according to Skingsley. It would be a more efficient and open system if, say, foreign payment service providers had access to CBDCs around the world, she said. But some countries could find that to be too risky. I think there will also be different choices and different levels of [barriers] that countries would like to choose, Skingsley said. So there won't be one access model [that would] work for everybody. Skingsleys own country, Sweden, is looking into creating a CBDC, the e-krona in a bid to safeguard the central banks authority over private banks at a time when the country is going cashless at a dramatic pace. Sweden has one of the lowest rates of cash usage in the world, with only 10% of the population paying with cash in 2020, down from 40% in 2010. In April, Riksbank started enquiring about possible suppliers and technical options that can form the basis for an e-krona. Around the same time, Riksbank found that tests to integrate state-backed digital money into conventional banking systems were a success and it would continue examining the benefits the new technology could bring. At the ECB forum, Skingsley said the Sveriges Riksbank have estimated that demand for e-krona could be worth around 10% of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). For comparison, in 2019, cash in circulation in Sweden was at 1% of GDP. Providing as open infrastructures as possible could possibly help promote competition in the payment markets, not only domestically, but also across borders and put a bit of pressure on private solutions, Skingsley said. Jack Schickler contributed reporting. Lai Yee Chan, a home attendant who worked 24-hour shifts in New York City providing health-related personal care, said she received a $200 check in late 2014 for roughly 6,000 overtime hours. Chan said she viewed the issue as a case of wage theft and rallied other home attendants and filed a class-action lawsuit in 2015 against her employer. Now, years later, workers and advocates are speaking out and protesting in Chinatown in response to what they say is an insulting settlement deal. Chan, who works for the Chinese-American Planning Council, saw her organizing set off years of legal battles and grassroots organizing. It culminated in a $30 million settlement in March between 1199 Service Employees International Union, the health care union representing more than 100,000 home attendants in the city, and 42 home care agencies. Divided evenly among all the workers, the settlement would give $250 only $50 more than Chan originally received to each person, or less than two days of back pay for a 24-hour shift worker, according to the Aint I a Woman Campaign, a women-led national outreach effort to end sweatshop conditions. The union said only 5% to 7% of the home health aides it represents work 24-hour shifts, so workers like Chan will receive significantly more than $250. But even if the $30 million compensation fund were split among those who worked 24 hours, according to estimations from Aint I a Woman," each person would still receive less than $4,000 a sliver of the total overtime Chan is owed. It sounds like theyre looking down on us Chinese women, like were so cheap and were just begging for money, Chan, 67, told NBC Asian American through an interpreter. This is violence against us, and weve had enough. Overtime pay for Chan alone, she said, amounts to more than $250,000. Wayne Ho, chief executive of Chinese-American Planning Council, said the agency has for years advocated to abolish the 24-hour shift but has no power to do so itself. Because the organization is Medicaid-funded, he said, it has to comply with state rates and rules, and the state only reimburses the agency 13 hours for 24-hour shift work. Any change to the current system, he said, is possible only through new legislation. Story continues We recognize the 24-hour rule is not fair for workers or patients, but this is a systemic issue, Ho said. The solution starts at a state level, not with one home care agency at a time. Studies and lawsuits show that wage theft and labor law violations run rampant in the home care industry, which is built on the backs of older immigrant Asian and Latina women. New York state law allows employers to pay workers for 13 hours of a 24-hour shift, provided they receive at least eight hours of sleep five of which must be uninterrupted and three hours of meal breaks. For women like Chan, who has been a home attendant for more than two decades, these rules for mandated breaks are often violated. For eight years, she said she worked around the clock for a patient who was left half-paralyzed by a stroke. During the day, she cooked, fed and bathed him; at night, she woke up every two hours to flip his body sideways, so he wouldnt choke in his sleep. Sarah Anh, an organizer with the Aint I a Woman Campaign, said the settlement sets a dangerous and demoralizing precedent for vulnerable workers in other industries fighting against deplorable conditions. Many women, meanwhile, continue to work around the clock for half the pay. The most insidious thing about this settlement is that it lets off employers with a slap on the wrist, Anh said. What does it mean when women Asian women, immigrant women, Latino women sound the alarm about what happens in their workplaces and do everything youre supposed to do in American legal society, and their employers are still behaving the same way as they were seven years ago? After suing the agency, Chan said she now works split shifts from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., for 13 hours of pay. But she experiences chronic elbow pain and insomnia, for which she cannot afford treatment. Decades of around-the-clock work also took a toll on her family life: Her husband had to quit his job to look after their children, whom she barely saw as they were growing up. Theres progress on the legislative level. New York City Council Member Christopher Marte, D-Manhattan, who represents Chinatown and the Lower East Side, introduced a bill earlier this month to outlaw around-the-clock workdays for home attendants, banning shifts longer than 12 hours except in emergencies. Prior to negotiating the settlement, Chan said union representatives told members that said the health care industry would collapse if the agencies were forced to pay the estimated $6 billion needed to cover back pay for every single worker. Ho said the agencys home attendant program has a $200 million budget, more than 95% of which is spent on employee compensation and benefits. Should the organization be forced to compensate every home attendant, he said, it would go bankrupt. Community organizers like Anh find the reasoning unacceptable. You cant say, The law will continue to be broken until we find some magic pot of money, she said. You cant build an industry based on free labor of women. Since the settlement was announced, dozens of other immigrant women who work in the home care industry have held numerous protests on Chinatown's streets. Chan, for her part, said she wont cash out the settlement money and that she plans to delay her retirement so she could keep fighting to end the 24-hour shift. I keep my job because I want to keep people informed, she said. Reuters/Kaylee Greenlee Beal The death toll from the suffocating tractor-trailer abandoned on the outskirts of San Antonio with a pile of bodies inside rose to 51 on Tuesday, officials said. The victims, found Monday after temperatures in the area hit 103 degrees, include Mexican nationals, Guatemalans, and Hondurans, according to Mexicos foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard, who cited information provided to him by American authorities. The Honduran government on Tuesday released the names of several victims: Margie Tamara Paz Grajera, Fernando Jose Redondo Caballero, Alejandro Miguel Andino Caballero, and Adela Betulia Ramirez Quezada. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told The Daily Beast on Tuesday evening that Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the alleged human smuggling event, along with local police. The agency said officials also currently consider the disaster a protected area from deportation and other immigration enforcement activity in the wake of the tragedy. To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP will not conduct immigration enforcement activities so individuals, regardless of immigration status, can seek assistance, and otherwise address the tragedy with law enforcement, the agency said. Bexar County officials said that 39 males and 12 females had died and some of the victims could be under 18 years old. Officials said late Monday that an additional 16 peopleincluding four childrenwere taken to four hospitals with apparent heat exhaustion and dehydration after authorities opened the trailer doors on Monday. Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Alex Salgado was only minutes from the scene that evening when he caught wind of the tragedy in his hotel room and realized that it was blocks awayhe even heard the sirens. The migrant advocate felt compelled to race over and began filming live on Facebook to document what was happening before many of the countrys authorities arrived. It is something to see the pile of bodies, its... shocking, he told The Daily Beast in Spanish. Ive never in my life seen anything like that. And Im also a migrant. Story continues Some people who were there said that they heard when [the migrants] were yelling for help, added Salgado, who works for a Honduran migrant organization called Fuerza Catracha. But what stuck out to him were the faces of the police on the scene, many of them Latino, and at least one of whom expressed that she shared his own feeling of helplessness, he said. I know what you feel, he recalled the cop telling him Monday evening. I also feel it. My parents are migrants, and I was born in this country, but Im of Mexican blood and Latino descent. She had only seen anything like this, he said, when a group of migrants were found dead in a Walmart parking lot, a notorious 2017 incident in the same city. But that was only 10, he remembered her saying, referring to the number of people who died in that case. For now, Salgado said he was working with other migrant groups to prepare to help the families of victims, and support the survivors themselves with legal assistance and trauma support. Imagine that theyre dehydrated, desperate, and within a week theyre released and going to face deportation. Its horrible, he said. Local fire chief Charles Hood said that while the vehicle was designed to be refrigerated, the trailer had no working A/C unit or water inside, and that people brought out of the death trap were hot to the touch. It has crossed the border through the Laredo checkpoint, Rep. Henry Cuellar said. Law enforcement was alerted to the tragedy when a city worker heard cries for help from the truck on Monday morning. Initial reports suggested that 46 bodies were discovered at the site on a remote back road, but the toll now appears to have risen. The case is already one of the worst tragedies related to people smuggling across the Mexico-U.S. border in recent years. This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, adding that the dead had families who were likely trying to find a better life. Migrant Horror: 46 Dead After Stacks of Bodies Found in Truck in Texas William McManus, the chief of the San Antonio Police Department, said three people had been arrested in connection with the horrific discovery. He did not say if the driver who appeared to have abandoned the truck was among those taken into custody. The tragedy is the deadliest case of migrant deaths in the citys history, McManus said. According to a report from the San Antonio Express-News, Felipe Betancourt Sr. and his son, Felipe Jr., claim that a third party falsely used U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Texas DOT credentials associated with one of their trucking-company vehicles on the truck in which the migrants were discovered. They referred to the practice as cloning. Separately, Isaac Limon, who identified himself as a son-in-law, told The Daily Beast that the credentials were misleadingly repurposed by whoever was behind the now-notorious vehicle in what amounted to a setup. Limon said the company had not been contacted by authorities but would be happy to work with investigators. The first thing that we realized was, you know, thats our people out thereso many people that tragically lost their lives, said Limon, noting they were a Mexican-American family themselves. I mean, a lot of people that we know have been through the same thing, and its just something very sad. But the second thing on our minds was that like, hey, whats gonna happen to us? Limon insisted that the vehicle identification number (VIN) inside the grisly crime scene would not match what was registered with state and national authorities for his familys vehicles, indicating the truck found in San Antonio had an additional window that their companys truck did not. ICE did not respond to requests for comment on Limons statements. The tragedy is the latest nightmare associated with attempts at mass crossings of the southern border. Last December, over 50 people died when another trailer filled with migrants flipped on a road in southern Mexico. And in April 2021, 10 people died when a van carrying 29 migrants crashed in Texas. That tragedy came just weeks after 13 people lost their lives when an SUV carrying 25 people crashed outside of San Diego. The latest case is already being cashed in on for political point-scoring. These deaths are on Biden, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted late Monday. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Investors withdrew US$423 million in funds from digital assets last week, the largest such weekly outflow on record, according to exchange data tracked by CoinShares. See related article: Crypto winter ushers in account freezes as platforms feel the chill Fast facts The outflows were almost entirely from Bitcoin (BTC), which experienced a net withdrawal of US$453 million in investments, a report by digital asset management firm CoinShares said. Bitcoin assets under management were at US$24.5 billion last week, the lowest since the beginning of 2021, CoinShares said. CoinShares stated that the outflows were almost solely from Canadian exchanges, and one specific provider, on June 17 but reflected in last weeks figures due to lags in reporting trading data. The BTC outflows erased most of the inflows into the digital asset this year, and the report noted that the outflows were likely responsible for a fall in BTC prices over the weekend to below US$18,000, its lowest level in 18 months. Meanwhile, funds shorting BTC increased their positions by about US$15 million last week after the U.S. fund issuer ProShares launched the first short Bitcoin-linked ETF. ETH had inflows of about US$11 million last week, snapping a 11-week streak of outflows, CoinShares said. At US$46 billion, total digital assets under management tracked by CoinShares are at their lowest point since February 2021, down about 59% from their peak in November 2021. See related article: Warnings on crypto, Bitcoin have materialized, says central bank body BIS The Iowa Funeral Directors Association is encouraging the community to attend the funeral of former World War II pilot and Iowa funeral director Hugh Bell, who died June 2. He was 98. Bell was born in McCook, Nebraska, in 1924 and moved to Shenandoah with his family later that year, according to his obituary. He graduated from Shenandoah High School with the class of 1942. He took flying lessons and was preparing to take the test for a private pilot's license when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1943, according to his obituary. Bell earned his United States Army Air Force Pilots Wings and Officers Commission in 1944 and trained pilots for overseas duties, his obituary said. He was assigned to the 47th Bomb Group, 84th Bomb Squadron and he and his crewmen flew 21 night bombing missions over the North Apennine Mountains and Po Valley in Italy. After the war ended, Bell became a troop carrier pilot, visiting 33 countries and flying over 25 more countries. More: World War II soldier from Iowa to be buried in hometown of Lake City nearly 80 years after death Former WWII pilot and Iowa funeral director Hugh Bell will be buried with military honors in Shenandoah, Iowa July 8. He was released from the military in 1953, but his service did not end there, according to his obituary. From 1967 to 1968, Bell volunteered to be a civilian mortician for the Department of the Army, Mortuary Service. He was assigned to Saigon, Vietnam where he took care of 836 casualties so they could be returned home for burial. Bell received many awards for his service, including the 47th Bomber Group Unit Citation, Air Medal, Air Force Combat Ribbon, WWII Victory Ribbon and the German Occupation Ribbon among others. Bell became a licensed funeral director and served communities in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Arizona for over 55 years, according to his obituary. With only one surviving family member, a nephew in Rhode Island, the Iowa Funeral Directors Association is asking the public to attend Bell's funeral service July 8. Story continues "The community, and anyone who would like to pay tribute to this hero, is welcome and encouraged to attend the graveside service," said Taylor Teays of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association in a June 23 news release. The graveside service for Bell will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery at 11 a.m. on July 8, and will include military honors conducted by the Shenandoah American Legion Color Guard. Memorial donations are welcome at People for Paws, an Iowa nonprofit that helps people and pets without homes, or the Shenandoah American Legion Color Guard. Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former WWII pilot, Iowa funeral director to be buried in Shenandoah DOHA (Reuters) - Indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington started on Tuesday in Doha, Iranian state media reported, as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator met with European Union envoy Enrique Mora, who will shuttle between the American and Iranian sides. Based in separate rooms in a hotel in Qatar's capital, Iran's Ali Bagheri Kani and U.S. Iran special envoy Rob Malley are trying to break a months-long impasse that has stalled efforts to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with world powers. Iran refuses to hold direct talks with its arch-foe, the United States, resulting in the "proximity" talks arrangement involving Mora. The nuclear pact seemed near revival in March but talks were thrown into disarray, chiefly over Tehran's insistence that Washington remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), its elite security force, from the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list. Last week, one Iranian and one European official told Reuters that Iran had dropped its demand for the removal of the IRGC's FTO sanctions, but still two issues, including one on sanctions, remained to be resolved. In 2018 then-U.S. President Donald Trump reneged on the deal, under which Iran restrained its nuclear program in return for relief from economic sanctions, prompting Iran to begin violating its core nuclear limits about a year later. (Additional reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha,; Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean) LAS VEGAS Israel Adesanya is ready to level up. The UFC middleweight champion, who defends his belt on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena against Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC 276, has made a career out of proving others wrong. But now, as he transitions into the next stage of his career, hes ready to make that star turn. For a long while, Adesanya had to prove he could defend the takedown, because he was a kickboxer and not many were foolish enough to willingly stand toe-to-toe with him and try to get him to the ground. But after brilliant performances defending takedowns in wins over Marvin Vettori and Robert Whittaker, that is now in the rear view mirror. And given the level of his striking, hes a threat to deliver an explosive finish at any point should he not have to spend so much of his time fending off takedown attempts. Hes not sure exactly how the fight will go, but he does firmly believe one thing: Its not going to end well for Cannonier. Honestly, I just I really think Im going to f*** him up, Adesanya said. Ive said this already multiple times, but I really feel I'm going to f*** him up. If he wants to try and take me down, go ahead. You wont be the first one. If you want to stand up with me and test the stand-up skills, I welcome that too, because thats what I specialize in. But yeah, just stay tuned, and expect the unexpected. Israel Adesanya is ready for his star turn. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Adesanya hasnt been getting a lot of knockouts recently four of his last five have gone to decision, including a challenge for the light heavyweight title against Jan Blachowicz that he lost though a lot of that is the quality of opposition. The higher up a rung a fighter gets, the more difficult it is to score KOs. But UFC president Dana White pointed out that Adesanya has scored 15 knockouts among his 22 MMA wins. Given Cannoniers style, White sees the bout as a brawl. That might lead Adesanya to the kind of emphatic ending that he seeks. Hes a master counter striker and if he can lure Cannonier into his range and land something, it could be lights out. But what has White so excited about the fight is that Cannonier has serious power, as well. Story continues Cannonier has 10 victories by KO among his 15 wins, and has been KOd twice in his five losses. This should be an absolute gunfight, White told Yahoo Sports. I dont see either guy coming in and trying to wrestle or get this thing to the ground. I see a gunfight coming. Since he won the title in 2019 by knocking out Whittaker, Adesanya has been as active as any top-level UFC fighter. Thats getting him a lot of face time with the UFC audience and thats important in developing into a superstar. Conor McGregor did it faster than most because he was one of the best trash talkers ever and was delivering spectacular performances at the same time. Ireland was significantly, and passionately, behind him and that support helped make his story more compelling. It was similar to how the support boxer Manny Pacquiao drew from the Philippines helped push him into mainstream status in the U.S. Israel Adesanya won't look past Jared Cannonier, plans to "f*** him up" at UFC 276. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images for UFC) Adesanya was born in Nigeria, fought extensively in China and now lives in New Zealand, so that passionate home-country support that McGregor and Pacquiao got isnt as obvious with him. But beating elite opponents, fighting regularly and taking time to do media all contribute to the development of a superstar. And Adesanya seems poised to burst into superstardom. Hes already one of the biggest names in MMA, but there are indications he may expand beyond the MMA fan base. Hes got an endorsement deal with Puma, a prominent shoe brand, and hes outspoken on social issues. Thats the recipe for success. Hes built the foundation fight by fight and is now ready to take it to the next level. And one of his secrets is that while he sets goals and has a game plan for moving forward, he values fluidity. Hes able to adapt as necessary and that makes a huge difference. Ive got good balance physically and mentally, so I know how to walk the fine line of not underestimating them, but not overestimating them, he said of his opponents. You know, being in the present and not looking in the future, or just peeking. I know the main thing for me is, if I dont beat Jared, then all my plans that I have just push back. So thats why I don't fret. I dont hold on to the plans I have too dearly. I focus on the now, because if I don't get it done now, those plans become null and void. So thats what helps me. Like I said, I have a good balance. A Canton man was gunned down outside a motel room at the Rodeway Inn, located on Sunset Strip Avenue NW in Jackson Township, on Sunday. JACKSON TWP. A man shot to death outside the Rodeway Inn on Sunday night has been identified as 35-year-old Tyrone Barboza of Canton. He was killed in the motel parking lot along Sunset Strip Avenue NW. Cortez W. Watson, 37, of Canton has been charged with murder, felonious assault and having weapons under disability. He made his initial appearance Tuesday in Massillon Municipal Court and remains held on a $500,000 bond. The victim's name appeared in court paperwork. Jackson Township police are working with state investigators on the case. A man shot to death Sunday night outside a Jackson Township motel has been identified as 35-year-old Tyrone Barboza. No motive or additional information was available as of Tuesday afternoon. A 911 caller described the scene to a police dispatcher saying: "Ive got a male laying in my parking lot that looks severely injured. Hes not responsive." Barboza was transported to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. More: Canton man charged with murder following fatal shooting in Jackson Township Jackson Township police, Stark County Sheriffs Office, U.S. Marshals Service and the Canton FBI Safe Streets Task Force assisted in Watsons arrest on Monday. Watson is set to appear in Massillon Municipal Court in front of Judge Edward Elum next week for a preliminary hearing. Reach Cassandra cnist@gannett.com; Follow on Twitter @Cassienist This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson Township motel shooting victim identified A look at some of today's top stories, the weather forecast and a peek back in history. The House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol has kept the topic and witnesses for its next meeting under wraps. Millions of dollars in Arizona are allocated based on the census. Some cities and towns are worried that their populations weren't counted right. Three Arizona restaurants Pizzeria Bianco, Pomo Pizzeria and Craft 64 earned spots on an Italian organization's list of best in the country. Today, you can expect it to be sunny with a high near 107 degrees. A slight chance of thunderstorms at night, with a low near 89 degrees. Get the full forecast here. For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com. Today in history On this day in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles (vehr-SY) was signed in France, ending the First World War. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Alien Registration Act, also known as the Smith Act, which required adult foreigners residing in the U.S. to be registered and fingerprinted. In 1994, President Bill Clinton became the first chief executive in U.S. history to set up a personal legal defense fund and ask Americans to contribute to it. In 2013, the four plaintiffs in the U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned Californias same-sex marriage ban tied the knot, just hours after a federal appeals court freed gay couples to obtain marriage licenses in the state for the first time in 4 1/2 years. In 2012, The Affordable Care Act narrowly survived, 5-4, an election-year battle at the U.S. Supreme Court with the improbable help of conservative Chief Justice John Roberts. Attorney General Eric Holder became the first sitting Cabinet member held in contempt of Congress, a rebuke pushed by Republicans seeking to unearth the facts behind a bungled gun-tracking operation known as Fast and Furious. (The vote was 255-67, with more than 100 Democrats boycotting.) Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise after five years of marriage. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Briefing: Jan. 6 committee to hold surprise hearing TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in Germany to attend the Group of Seven leaders summit, said on Tuesday that Japan will extend an additional $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. He added that Japan would also provide support to expand Ukraine's grain storage capacity as the harvest season nears. Kishida travels to Madrid later on Tuesday, where he will become the first Japanese prime minister to take part in a NATO summit. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) Dear Amy: I have one son and two grandsons. The older grandson, age 17, appeared at his prom wearing a full-length purple gown with nail polish to match. Advertisement I privately told my son (his father) that I was concerned for my grandsons safety, as he would be a target if he is so flamboyant. My son became very defensive and said that people can love who they want, and that society needs to get used to it. I agree. But there are people out there who dont like this in your face behavior. Advertisement I have not mentioned this again. I dont want to alienate my son or grandson, but the prospect of having a LGBTQ grandson makes me sick. He spends most of his time alone in his room and is very sullen. His maternal grandfather committed suicide last year, so I am concerned about the mental health of the entire family. They are receiving counseling individually and as a family. Can I do anything other than cry myself to sleep? Could this be a phase, or will he always be like this? Devastated Grandma Dear Devastated: I have a blunt question for you: Are you going through a phase, or will you always be like this? I hope its a phase. Advertisement Yes, you worry. Yes, you fret. But the role of a grandparent is actually so simple: All you have to do is to love your grandchildren exactly as they are, exactly as they present to you; through phases, representations, or revelations and through whatever joys or challenges they encounter. Can you imagine the impact on this family if you just simply loved and accepted all of them, no matter what? You might not understand why your grandson would make the choice to go to the prom wearing what sounds like an amazing outfit. But that sullen teenager left his bedroom, got dolled-up, and took himself to the prom! (I wish Id had an ounce of that kind of courage at his age.) Furthermore, his father is his ally! Give yourself credit for raising a man who is a good parent. This family is receiving professional support (another very wise choice). Advertisement Your only job here is to find a way around your own fears, and to relieve yourself of the burden to judge this family and instead to love all of them, just as they are. Dear Amy: I moved to a different state in 2019 and have made one friend. I met Stacy before the pandemic so up until now, shes been the only person in my new home that I have close ties to. Im a loner, and it takes a lot for me to let people in. One of the main reasons for this is because I believe I suffer from an eating disorder. Most of the time, I have to force myself to eat. Some months are better than others, but its a daily battle for me. Advertisement I overheard Stacy talking to her significant other about my weight the other day. She said I lost too much weight and that something must be wrong with me. I feel like if were friends, why not ask me about this directly? My weight has been a struggle for me and Ive actually gained a little bit, so this hurt my feelings. Only my children know how much I struggle with this. (Ive never been diagnosed by a doctor, either.) This isnt the first time Stacy has said something that has cut me deep, but I also dont want to lose the only new friend Ive made. How should I handle this? Advertisement A Confused Loner Dear Loner: First, do this (today): Go to the National Eating Disorders Association webpage, national eating disorders.org. They offer many invaluable and supportive resources, including a chat function and a helpline: (800) 931-2237. You should see a physician and get a thorough checkup. Second: Please be brave enough to be honest with Stacy. Sharing this might deepen your friendship, and you deserve to have a good friend in your corner. You can get better, and I hope youll move toward a healthy recovery today. Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from Americas Favorite Advice Columnist for $5. > Dear Amy: I did NOT agree with your advice to Accidental Witness, who saw her stepdaughters husband kissing the familys nanny. I would be horrified if someone knew about this in my family and did not tell me. Upset Advertisement Dear Upset: The problem was that this witness couldnt seem to bring herself to deliver this news. She wanted others to do it. Got a question for Amy? Enter it here and well send it to her. Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time get the book "Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from Americas Favorite Advice Columnist" for $5. 2021 Amy Dickinson. Many are dealing with broken hearts on Joint Base Lewis-McChord after a soldier drowned on Saturday. Spc. Xavier Chambers was swimming at Shoreline Park on the base when he apparently drowned. Chambers, assigned to the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, was pronounced dead after he was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center. Chambers battalion commander, Lt. Col. Melinda Acuna, said in part, He was a promising solider, filled with raw potential and a will to serve his country honorably. As a member of our team, Xavier was motivated and charismatic. His loss comes too soon; we will forever be grateful for the time and the impact he had on our formation. Chambers drowning is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division. More news from KIRO 7 DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP By Rajesh Kumar Singh CHICAGO (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp on Monday ratcheted up its bidding war with Frontier Group Holdings for Spirit Airlines Inc as the race for the ultra-low-cost carrier enters the final stretch. Both bidders see Spirit as an opportunity to expand their domestic footprints at a time when the U.S. airline industry is dogged by labor and aircraft shortages. Either of the deals would create the fifth-largest U.S. airline. Under the new offer, JetBlue offered a "ticking fee," which would give Spirit shareholders a monthly prepayment of 10 cents per share between January 2023 and the closing of the deal, raising the overall value of the deal to $34.15 per share. The New York-based carrier also increased the breakup fee to Spirit by $50 million for a total of $400 million if the deal fails to get regulatory approval. It will also prepay $2.50 per share as a cash dividend to Spirit stockholders following approval of the transaction. The latest offer came after Frontier last Friday raised its bid for Spirit. Frontier's revised offer persuaded shareholder advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) to reverse its position and recommend Spirit shareholders back a merger with the Denver-based budget carrier. Glass Lewis, another proxy firm, has also recommended the Frontier deal. Spirit shareholders are due to vote on the merger deal with Frontier on June 30. Frontier Chief Executive Barry Biffle told Reuters on Monday the company's revised offer for Spirit will be enough to secure a merger deal with the ultra-low-cost carrier. "We're really excited about it and getting good feedback," Biffle said. JetBlue, however, is not ready to give up. On Monday, it again urged Spirit shareholders to vote against the Frontier deal, saying its proposal offers them "more value and certainty." (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Leslie Adler and Chris Reese) U.S. marshals escort John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot then-President Reagan in 1981. (Barry Thumma / Associated Press) The man who tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan in 1981 apologized for his actions Tuesday and said he doesn't remember what he was feeling when he fired the shots that wounded the then-president and three other people. John Hinckley Jr. told "CBS Mornings" in his first televised interview since he was freed from all court oversight this month that he feels sorry for all the lives his actions affected. I feel badly for all of them. I have true remorse for what I did, Hinckley said. I know that they probably cant forgive me now, but I just want them to know that I am sorry for what I did. Asked about what feelings led him to commit the act, Hinckley said he couldn't remember those emotions and didn't want to. Its such another lifetime ago. I cant tell you now the emotion I had right as [Reagan] came walking out. I cant tell you that, he said, later adding: Its something I dont want to remember. Hinckley was 25 and suffering from acute psychosis when his gunshots hit Reagan and men around the president outside a Washington hotel. The assassination attempt paralyzed Reagan's press secretary, James Brady, who died in 2014. It also wounded a police officer and a Secret Service agent. Jurors found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity, and he spent decades at a mental hospital in Washington. He began making visits to his parents' home in Williamsburg, Va., in the early 2000s. A 2016 court order granted him permission to live with his mother full time, albeit under various restrictions, after experts said his mental illness had been in remission for decades. He signed a lease on a one-bedroom apartment in the area last year and has been living alone there with his cat, according to court documents. His mother died in July. He's also been releasing songs and looking for a venue willing to let him sing and play guitar before a live audience. and posting videos of himself performing on YouTube. Hinckley had previously been under restrictions that barred him from owning a gun, using drugs or alcohol and contacting members of the victims' families. But a federal judge in Washington had said months ago that he would free Hinckley from those restrictions if he remained mentally stable. Those restrictions were lifted June 15. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. AQABA, Jordan (AP) Jordan on Tuesday promised an investigation into the deadly explosion of a chlorine tank the previous day at the Red Sea port of Aqaba, which killed at least 13 people. A crane loading chlorine tanks onto a ship on Monday dropped one of them, releasing a large plume of toxic yellow smoke. Along with those killed, some 250 were sickened, authorities said. King Abdullah II stressed the need to provide transparent explanations to the public after investigations conclude, as well as identifying shortcomings and holding those responsible to account by law, the palace said in a statement. He also offered condolences to victims' families. Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh visited the site Tuesday and, citing civil defense and environmental authorities, said the gas concentration in the area had returned to normal. He said that most movement at the port has resumed, except for the exact site of the incident which was being cleaned and inspected. Al-Khasawneh said many of those in hospitals were being discharged. A government spokesman, Faisal Al-Shboul, told state media that eight of the dead were Jordanian and five were foreigners. Among the injured were Chinese and Vietnamese nationals, hospital officials said. Video carried on state TV showed the moment the tank exploded, sending dockworkers scrambling to escape the toxic cloud. Some 200 people were hospitalized. The Public Security Directorate, which initially described it as a gas leak, said authorities sealed off the area after evacuating the injured and sent specialists in to address the situation. State-run Jordan TV said 13 people were killed. Al-Mamlaka TV, another official outlet, said 199 were still being treated in hospitals. The Public Security Directorate said a total of 251 people were injured. Aqaba is on the northern tip of the Red Sea, next to the Israeli city of Eilat, which is just across the border. Both are popular beach and diving destinations. Eilats emergency services said in a statement that there was no impact on the city but that they were following the situation closely. TALLAHASSEE A federal judge Monday rejected arguments by attorneys for teachers, a student and a diversity consultant that he should block a controversial new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms and workplace training. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a 23-page order that largely denied a request for a preliminary injunction against the law, which is slated to take effect Friday. Walker, however, did not rule on an injunction request by a University of Central Florida professor, after ordering attorneys to file additional briefs. Lawmakers passed the measure (HB 7) dubbed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Stop WOKE Act during this years legislative session after fierce debate. A group of plaintiffs filed the lawsuit April 22 after DeSantis signed the bill, arguing, in part, that it violated First Amendment rights. They also challenged rules approved last year by the State Board of Education that included banning the use of critical race theory, which is based on the premise that racism is embedded in American society and institutions. Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed for new Stop Woke restrictions on how issues concerning race are discussed in schools, universities and workplaces. Walker, who held a hearing last week, said in the order Monday that four of the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to obtain a preliminary injunction. Those plaintiffs were Donald Falls, who teaches high-school government and economics in Manatee County; Jill Harper, a Leon County substitute teacher; a child identified as RMJ who is an incoming kindergarten student in Nassau County; and Tammy Hodo, president of All Things Diverse, a consulting firm that provides training on issues such as diversity and inclusion. Stop WOKE: DeSantis signs legislation to restrict instruction of Critical Race Theory in Florida Free speech: DeSantis Stop WOKE Act faces court test as universities become targets. At issue: free speech Lawsuit filed: Minutes after bill is signed, lawsuit filed against DeSantis for 'Stop WOKE Act' While writing that he was not determining whether the challenged regulations are constitutional, morally correct or good policy, Walker said the teachers, student and consultant had not shown injury-related proof needed to establish standing. Story continues For example, he wrote that the State Board of Education, which is a defendant in the case, can withhold funding from school districts that do not comply with the regulations. But Walker said the teachers did not show how that would directly injure them. Plaintiffs logic goes like this: pursuant to its statutory authority, the Board of Education will withhold funding from the teachers school districts if they violate the challenged provisions, he wrote. In turn, members of the school board will withhold money from the teachers individual schools or, perhaps, put pressure on officials at those schools to discipline the teachers. In other words, the teachers theory of traceability and redressability flows from the Board (of Education) to the school district, from the school district to the teachers school, and only then to the teachers. Thus, plaintiffs argument requires the court to stack multiple layers of inferences. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly signs HB7, individual freedom, also dubbed the stop woke bill, during a news conference at Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School in Hialeah Gardenson April 22, 2022. As another example, he said Hodo did not establish that she has been injured by the law. Dr. Hodo does not claim that she has lost clients, that clients have told her they will no longer hire her, or that clients have even expressed trepidation about hiring her, Walker wrote. Walker, however, left unresolved the preliminary injunction request by Robert Cassanello, an associate history professor at the University of Central Florida. That came after the plaintiffs attorneys last week filed a document pointing to a proposed rule that is scheduled to go before the state university systems Board of Governors on Thursday. The proposed rule would direct how the law should be carried out by universities. The plaintiffs attorneys cited part of the proposal that, for example, raises the possibility faculty members could be disciplined for not complying with university regulations on the issue. Walker ordered attorneys for both sides to file briefs by noon Tuesday on whether the proposed rule could affect Cassanellos legal standing in the case. The law lists a series of race-related concepts that would constitute discrimination if taught in classrooms or in required workplace-training programs. As an example, part of the law labels instruction discriminatory if it leads people to believe that they bear responsibility for, or should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of, actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, national origin or sex. As another example, the law seeks to prohibit instruction that would cause students to feel guilt, anguish or other forms of psychological distress because of actions, in which the person played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, national origin or sex. Two businesses and a consultant who conducts workplace training filed a separate challenge to the law last week in federal court in Tallahassee. That case is pending. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida judge denies requests to block so-called 'Stop Woke Act' Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as a top aide to former Donald Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, on Tuesday delivered bombshell testimony to the Jan. 6 committee about the inner workings of Trump's White House as his election subversion push mounted. Over the course of a couple hours, she laid out her knowledge of Trumps post-election campaign to hold onto power from his desire to go to the Capitol as unrest by his supporters became a riot, to his efforts to allow armed rallygoers to join him on the Ellipse hours before the attack. Here are the top moments from her testimony: Trump lunging for the Beasts wheel Hutchinson told the committee that she heard from a top presidential security official, Tony Ornato, about an altercation on Jan. 6, as Trump continued pressing to go to the Capitol following his speech to supporters at the "Stop the Steal" rally on the Ellipse. When Trump was told he would return to the White House instead of going to the Capitol that day, while being driven in the presidential vehicle known as "the Beast," Hutchinson recalled hearing that he became irate. She said she heard from Ornato that Trump lunged for the steering wheel of the car and was physically restrained by the head of his Secret Service detail, Robert Engel. Ornato "described [Trump] as being irate. The president said something to the effect of, I am the fucking president. Take me up to the Capitol now,'" Hutchinson said. She added that while Ornato relayed this story to her, Engel sat silent. Trump throwing food at the wall After then-Attorney General William Barr gave an interview to The Associated Press in December 2020 saying there was no widespread voter fraud, Trump was so enraged that he threw his plate of food at the wall, smearing it with ketchup, Hutchinson said. There was ketchup dripping down the wall and a shattered porcelain plate on the floor, Hutchinson testified, noting that aides nearby conveyed the president was "extremely angry" at the Barr interview. She told the committee that she then grabbed a towel and started wiping the ketchup off the wall alongside a presidential valet. Story continues A call from angry McCarthy House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called Hutchinson on Jan. 6 to relay his concern that Trump would try to come to the Capitol after the then-president mentioned it on stage at the Ellipse rally, she testified. He sounded rushed and frustrated and angry, Hutchinson said, adding that the California Republican told her Trump had offered assurances for a week that he would not be coming to the Capitol on Jan. 6. McCarthy then asked Hutchinson, as she remembered it: Why would you lie to me?" Figure it out," she said McCarthy told her on Jan. 6, as Congress prepared to certify the 2020 election results. "Do not come up here." A spokesperson for McCarthy did not immediately return a request for comment about Hutchinson's recounting of the call. Meadows warning then non-reaction Meadows, Hutchinson's boss at the time of the Capitol attack, told her on Jan. 2 that "things might get real, real bad" four days later, she recalled. But four days later on Jan. 6, when he was told the Capitol Police were being overrun, she recalled that he almost had a lack of reaction." I remember him saying something to the effect of, How much longer does the president have left in his speech? Hutchinson said. She had to wait about 20 to 25 minutes to talk to Meadows that afternoon while he was on a call in a secure vehicle, she said. It wasnt something he regularly did. Trump OKing weapons at Stop the Steal Minutes before the then-president took the stage at the Ellipse rally of his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021 a gathering to amplify his baseless election fraud claims that he vowed would be "wild" and later metastasized into the Capitol riot Hutchinson said she heard Trump urging the Secret Service to remove security magnetometers and let in people with weapons. His rationale, as she recalled it, was allowing in armed rallygoers because theyre not here to hurt me. Trump wanted the rally space to be full and for people to not feel excluded, Hutchinson said, and was fucking furious people were turned away. Officials announced Tuesday that Russian forces had abducted Kherson Mayor Igor Kolikhaev after he refused to abandon his city despite months of Russian occupation. The Kherson mayor said he was doing his duty by remaining in the besieged city, which has been occupied by Russian troops since late March. Ukrainian officials have been sounding the alarm that Russia is looking to annex Kherson, which sits roughly 80 miles north of the occupied Crimean Peninsula, since April. A Ukrainian soldier stands outside a school hit by Russian rockets in the southern Ukraine village of Zelenyi Hai between Kherson and Mykolaiv, less than 5km from the front line on April 1, 2022, as NATO says it is not seeing a pull-back of Russian forces in Ukraine and expects "additional offensive actions", alliance chief warns. BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images RUSSIA WARNS UKRAINE ATTEMPTS TO RETAKE CRIMEA WILL BE SEEN AS 'DECLARATION OF WAR' Tuesday, adviser to the mayor, Halyna Lyashevska, told Ukrainian news outlet Pravda that "they took Igor Kolykhaev." Details surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, but Kolykhaev is just the latest in a long line of Ukrainian civilians and officials who have been abducted by Russian forces. Russia has concentrated its efforts in southern and eastern Ukraine, and regions like Kherson have felt the brunt of the Russian invasion for months. Regional officials reported earlier this week that civilian abductions have increased, and fighting-age men have reportedly found themselves the target of Russian conscription. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been forcibly deported into Russia while thousands more have been placed in "filtration camps" spread throughout eastern Ukraine. Sergyi Badylevych (L), 41, hugs his wife Natalia Badylevych (R), 42, and baby in an underground metro station used as bomb shelter in Kyiv on March 2, 2022. Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/STF/AFP via Getty Images ZELENSKYY: RUSSIAN AIRSTRIKE ON UKRAINE MALL 'ONE OF THE MOST DARING TERRORIST ATTACKS IN EUROPEAN HISTORY' City and regional officials have not only been abducted, but a number of officials and their families have been killed by Russian forces including Mayor Olga Sukhenko, from the town of Motyzhyn, whose body was found with her hands bound in a shallow grave alongside her husband and son. The United Nations has reported more than 4,700 civilian deaths since Russias invasion began in February. However, the official death count is expected to be substantially higher. Ukrainian soldiers carry supplies into the trenches on the front lines between Mykolaiv and Kherson in Ukraine, Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images Casualties and the true impact of Russias invasion remain largely unknown in parts of eastern and southern Ukraine. Only after Russian forces retreated from northern regions in Ukraine in late March, including from the town of Motyzhyn just west of Kyiv, were officials able to start to uncover the depth of atrocities committed there. Jun. 28LAWRENCE Two Lawrence firefighters who rescued an elderly woman from a second-floor balcony during a fire Monday night received official praise from the fire chief. Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said he wrote up commendations for both Capt. Michael Blanchard and Firefighter Ignacio Rodriguez-Guzman after the 7:16 p.m. fire in an apartment complex at 40 White St. A fire broke out on the first floor, pushing smoke into the 90-year-old woman's apartment upstairs. The woman went out on her balcony where Blanchard and Rodriguez-Guzman were able to raise a ladder. A stair chair was lifted onto the balcony for the woman, who was safely brought to the ground, Moriarty said. Both she and the tenant in the first floor apartment were treated by paramedics at the scene and then taken to Lawrence General Hospital for possible smoke inhalation and as a precaution, Moriarty said. The two-alarm fire was caused accidentally by unattended cooking. Damage from the blaze gutted the first floor apartment, which will need to be rebuilt, the chief said. Kelly Frazier, the city's homeless coordinator, was working with the tenants Tuesday to find housing. Hotel stays are available for two nights. However, the elderly woman on the second floor hopes to stay with her niece, she said. The chief's commendations were sent to Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena as well as the state fire marshal's office for inclusion in an annual awards ceremony. Moriarty praised the firefighters for saving the woman's life and preventing further injury. Blanchard and Rodriguez-Guzman serve on LFD's group four, which Moriarty also lauded. "Teamwork prevailed," he said. Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill. At least 42 migrants were found dead inside a tractor-trailer on a roadway in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, according to reports. Sixteen others found in the truck on Quintana Road were taken to area hospitals in varying conditions, police told KSAT.com. Sources told Fox News the truck was believed to have been part of a human-smuggling operation involving migrants. Multiple SAPD sources tell me its at least 40 people dead. Sixteen others were taken to area hospitals in varying conditions. Death toll could rise. https://t.co/zdb5KC6Q4M Dillon Collier (@dilloncollier) June 28, 2022 The 18-wheeler was abandoned in a remote area near railroad tracks, the New York Times reported. Police and first responders were using thermal imaging cameras along the tracks to find any potential survivors and the driver, who remains at large, according to KSAT. Today in San Antonio it was 102 degrees. Imagine being abandoned inside an 18-wheeler left to die 42 people died today will @AliMayorkas even mention their names? Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) June 28, 2022 While it was not immediately clear how the migrants died, temperatures in San Antonio hit 102 degrees on Monday. A vehicles temperature can reach over 115 degrees when the outside temperature is 70 degrees, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cited by the New York Post. More from National Review Lewis Hamilton has been a champion for diversity and inclusion in F1. Clive Mason/Getty Images Three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet used the Portuguese equivalent of the N-word to describe Lewis Hamilton. The comments were made on a podcast in November, but just now surfaced. Piquet's daughter, Kelly Piquet, is dating Hamilton's chief rival, Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton has again been subjected to racial abuse, this time from a former Formula One champion. Three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet described Lewis Hamilton as a "little [N-word]" in Portuguese, according to Lucas Schroeder of CNN Brazil. According to the report, Piquet made the statement on a podcast in November but was only discovered recently. The former F1 driver was discussing an incident between Hamilton and Max Verstappen during the 2021 Great Britain Grand Prix at Silverstone. CNN Brazil transcribed the key passage from the podcast, Motorsports Talk. "The little [N-word] put the car in and left because there was no way to pass two cars on that corner. He made a joke. Lucky for him, only the other one [Verstappen] got fucked up," Piquet said, according to CNN Brazil via Google Translate. According to Sky Sports, Piquet used the term a second time during the podcast: "He wanted to take [Verstappen] out no matter the cost. The [N-word] left the car there to hit him." Piquet's daughter, Kelly Piquet, is dating Verstappen, Hamilton's chief rival. Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet. MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty Images On Tuesday, Hamilton, the only Black driver in F1, released a statement calling for action and noting that these comments are nothing new. "It's more than language," Hamilton wrote on Twitter. "These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport. I've been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action." Nelson Piquet (left) with former F1 champion Niki Lauda in 2015. Lars Baron/Getty Images Hamilton has been an outspoken proponent of more diversity and inclusion across all walks of life, especially in motorsports. Hamilton and his Mercedes team started a diversity initiative after he was jarred at how little diversity there was in a team photo following his 2019 championship. Story continues After Hamilton's initial tweet, he also wrote one in Portuguese that translates to: "Let's focus on changing the mentality." Earlier this month, Hamilton was given honorary Brazilian citizenship by the country's congress. F1's governing body and the Mercedes F1 team released statements condemning the comments from Piquet. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 28, 2022 Read the original article on Insider NEW ORLEANS Abortion bans were temporarily blocked in Louisiana and Utah, while a federal court in South Carolina said a law sharply restricting the procedure would take effect there immediately as the battle over whether women may end pregnancies shifted from the nations highest court to courthouses around the country. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for a wave of litigation. One side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect, and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures. Advertisement Much of the initial court activity focused on trigger laws, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last weeks ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old anti-abortion laws that were left on the books in some states and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play. Well be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case that resulted in the high court ruling, said Friday. Advertisement Rulings to put trigger laws on hold came swiftly in Utah and Louisiana on Monday, and a hearing was scheduled for Tuesday as Texas clinics seek assurances they can resume services for at least a few more weeks without risking prosecution. A Utah judge Monday blocked that states near-total abortion ban from going into effect for 14 days, to allow time for the court to hear challenges to the states trigger law. Planned Parenthood had challenged the law, which contains narrow exceptions for rape, incest or the mothers health, saying the law violates the equal protection and privacy provisions in the state constitution. I think the immediate effects that will occur outweigh any policy interest of the state in stopping abortions, Utah Judge Andrew Stone said. People attend an abortion-rights protest at the Utah State Capitol, June 24, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/AP) In Louisiana, a judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of that states trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing. At least one of the states three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures on Tuesday. Were going to do what we can, said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport. It could all come to a screeching halt. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judges ruling and enforce the law. We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, Landry tweeted Monday. Advertisement In South Carolina, a federal court lifted its prior hold on an abortion restriction there, allowing the state to ban abortions after an ultrasound detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. There are exceptions if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Planned Parenthood said after the ruling that it will continue to perform abortions at its South Carolina clinics within the parameters of the new law. Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions to save a mothers life or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality, but no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The ACLU of Florida argued that the law violates the Florida Constitution. A ruling on that is expected Thursday a day before the law is scheduled to take effect. Abortion rights activists also went to court Monday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. In Fridays ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges, said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school. Advertisement As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states either because of state laws or confusion over them. In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time. Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited. Thats likely to be the case in Louisiana. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state court dont deny that the state can now ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana now has multiple, conflicting trigger mechanisms in the law. They also argue that state law is unclear on whether it bans an abortion prior to a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. And while the law provides an exception for medically futile pregnancies in cases of fetuses with lethal abnormalities, the plaintiffs noted the law gives no definition of the term. Now that the high court has ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights groups are seeking protection under state constitutions. Challenges to trigger laws could be made on the grounds that the conditions to impose the bans have not been met, or that it was improper for a past legislature to bind the current one. James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, said the wave of suits from abortion rights advocates is not surprising. We know that the abortion industry has basically unlimited funds, and its allies have basically unlimited funds, and of course theyre fanatical about abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, Bopp said in an interview. Advertisement But he said that that the Supreme Court ruling should preclude abortion rights supporters from prevailing in any federal challenges. And he called efforts based on state constitutions fanciful. Still other cases could be filed as states try to sort out whether abortion bans in place before Roe was decided sometimes referred to as zombie laws apply now that there is no federal protection for abortion. For instance, Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother. Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe it is enforceable. Abortion opponents have called on lawmakers to impose a new ban. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it immediately suspended all abortions. In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban ahead of last weeks Supreme Court ruling. In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the states constitution. Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control. Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have adopted laws that allow people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions. It is an open question as to whether that means people can be pursued across state lines, and legal challenges over the issue are likely to come up in cases of both surgical abortions and those involving medicine mailed to patients. Advertisement The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to shield abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments imposed by other states. In liberal Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday that prohibits state agencies from assisting other states investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts. Rhode Islands Democratic governor said he would sign a similar order. Forliti reported from Minneapolis and Mulvihill from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Samuel Metz in Salt Lake City; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; and other AP reporters throughout the U.S. contributed to this report. (Getty Images) Rapper Ludacriss manager Chaka Zulu has been shot and wounded in Atlanta. The veteran music executive was shot near Peachtree Road in Buckhead at around 11.35pm on Monday (27 June), along with two other men. According to 11Alive, police revealed that all three men were transported to the hospital, where one died. Homicide investigators responded to the scene to begin investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Atlanta Police said. Information about Zulus condition or that of the other surviving victim has not been revealed yet. However, a source close to the situation told Variety that Zulus condition is critical but stable. (Getty) Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed also reportedly told WSB-TVs Michael Seiden: We are fortunate to report that Chaka Zulu is in stable condition and recovering. The family thanks everyone for their well wishes and prayers, and asks for their privacy at this time. No suspect has been arrested so far, but XXL reports that policehave surveillance video of the scene and are hoping to be able to identify the shooter. Zulu, along with his brother Jeff Dixon and rapper Ludacris, founded Disturbing Tha Peace Records in 1998. Over the years the labels roster has included artists such as Chingy, Shawnna, Bobby V, Playaz Circle, Lil Scrappy and others. The label signed a long-term deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2008. Lufthansa Group has cancelled as many as 3,100 flights this summer, per Bloomberg Getty Images Lufthansa Group said the war in Ukraine is restricting European airspace and causing flight delays. "Massive bottlenecks" are adding to staff shortages and resourcing challenges, execs said. Many airlines suspended or rerouted flights to Russia and Ukraine in the wake of the invasion. The war in Ukraine is exacerbating summer flight chaos, leading to "massive bottlenecks" as airlines had to divert routes to avoid the war zone, according to the German carrier Lufthansa. In an open letter to customers, Lufthansa Group's executive team apologized for the spate of flight cancellations. It said like other airlines, it was affected by staff shortages and a lack of resources as global travel demand bounces back after the pandemic. In addition, "the ongoing war in Ukraine is severely restricting available airspace in Europe," the executives said. "This is leading to massive bottlenecks in the skies, and thus, unfortunately, to further flight delays," the executives said. Airlines began to reassess their travel plans before the invasion, rerouting flights or suspending them indefinitely over potential safety concerns and insurance issues, if war broke out. Lufthansa Group suspended all flights into Kyiv and Odessa, on February 20. In the aftermath of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia closed its airspace to airlines from 36 countries. All Lufthansa and Lufthansa Group flights into Ukraine and Russia are currently suspended until July 31, according to the company website. It continues to monitor the situation. This has added hours to some flights as carriers need to get creative to avoid the countries. According to the live flight tracking website FlightAware there were no commercial flights crossing Ukrainian airspace on Tuesday morning. FlightAware showed no flights over Ukrainian airspace on Tuesday morning. FlightAware Screenshot The rerouting has added to what is already a turbulent period for the airline industry as it seeks to bounce back from the disruption of the pandemic. In June the group, which owns airlines including Lufthansa and Eurowings, announced plans to cancel 900 Lufthansa and GermanWings flights in July around 5% of its weekend schedule due to staff shortages. Story continues The group has cancelled 3,100 flights in total according to Bloomberg. The executives said the problem is unlikely to improve in the short term. "Too many employees and resources are unavailable, not only at our infrastructure partners but in some of our own areas, too," the letter said. Lufthansa declined to provide further comment on the letter when approached by Insider. In a presentation made alongside its 2021 results, Lufthansa Group said it lost almost a quarter of its workforce between 2020 and 2021. This included a 31% reduction in ground staff. The group expects to have a "much more reliable air transport system worldwide, by 2023, per the letter. Read the original article on Business Insider Renderings of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, Panama has miles of pristine beaches as well as lush mountains (where the world's most expensive coffee is grown). The Central American country, known for the famous Panama Canal, is emerging as a leading luxury destination. And this fall, its capital will welcome another luxe property that will mark a legendary brand's North and Central American debut. We are talking about Sofitel Legend, which has chosen the historic district of Casco Viejo in Panama City for the setting of its next global address. The forthcoming Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama, opening in fall 2022, will be the brand's sixth property, and the first in North and Central America. Renderings of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Occupying the historic building of the former Club Union of Panama once the most exclusive social club in Panama City frequented by Albert Einstein, Queen Elizabeth II, and Helen Keller in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama will be a luxe waterfront oasis, blending French art de vivre with the destination's eclectic architecture and storied past. Renderings of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama The waterfront property will offer jaw-dropping ocean and city views and a mix of high-end facilities. The hotel will have 159 rooms and suites with sea views, five restaurants and bars, a Skybar and a lounge, an oceanfront pool, and nearly 10,000 square feet of event spaces. The project is helmed by one of the country's leading architects, Manuel Choy, who has kept many of the building's original French colonial features. The interior decor reflects the city's past and present by juxtaposing the work of modern Panamanian designers with French colonial accents such as marble checkerboard floors and wrought-iron balcony detailing with colorful contemporary furnishings inspired by the diverse flora and fauna found throughout Panama. Story continues Renderings of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama The property's food and beverage program will include the waterfront Ammi SkyBar that will offer 180-degree views of the city; Caleta, a Mediterranean brasserie that will serve the freshest seafood and locally sourced seasonal ingredients; and Mayda Lobby Bar & Plaza with classic cocktails and small bites inspired by Panama's history and culture. A gym, spa, and butler service round out the five-star amenities. Renderings of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama "We are privileged to introduce the exceptional Sofitel Legend brand to North and Central America in the vibrant and thriving destination of Panama City, within the historic and culturally significant district of Casco Viejo. A remarkable addition to our portfolio, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo will be the brand's flagship in the region and will debut a distinctive luxury hotel offering in Panama," said Heather McCrory, Accor's CEO of North and Central America. "Inspired by the essence of the city, and where local culture is celebrated and infused with an authentic passion for French art de vivre, the hotel is poised to set a new standard of luxury hospitality in Panama." Renderings of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama Sofitel Legend comprises properties in landmark, culturally important buildings dating back centuries. This Panama hotel will join the exclusive roster of properties in Vietnam, the Netherlands, Egypt, Colombia, and China. Impeccable service, opulent decor, and unique culinary experiences immerse Sofitel Legend guests into the legacy of these hotels and the cities in which they are located. BERLIN (AP) A 101-year-old man was convicted in Germany of more than 3,500 counts of accessory to murder on Tuesday for serving at the Nazis Sachsenhausen concentration camp during World War II. The Neuruppin Regional Court sentenced him to five years in prison. The man, who was identified by local media as Josef S., had denied working as an SS guard at the camp and aiding and abetting the murder of thousands of prisoners. In the trial, which opened in October, the centenarian said that he had worked as a farm laborer near Pasewalk in northeastern Germany during the period in question. However, the court considered it proven that he worked at the camp on the outskirts of Berlin between 1942 and 1945 as an enlisted member of the Nazi Partys paramilitary wing, the German news agency dpa reported. The court has come to the conclusion that, contrary to what you claim, you worked in the concentration camp as a guard for about three years, presiding Judge Udo Lechtermann said, according to dpa. He added that, in doing so, the defendant had assisted in the Nazis' terror and murder mechanism. You willingly supported this mass extermination with your activity," Lechtermann said. You watched deported people being cruelly tortured and murdered there every day for three years. Prosecutors had based their case on documents relating to an SS guard with the mans name, date and place of birth, as well as other documents. The five-year prison sentence was in line with the prosecution's demand. The defendant's lawyer had sought an acquittal. Defense attorney Stefan Waterkamp said after the pronouncement of the sentence that he would appeal the verdict, dpa reported. Germany's leading Jewish group welcomed the ruling. Even if the defendant will probably not serve the full prison sentence due to his advanced age, the verdict is to be welcomed, said Josef Schuster, the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The thousands of people who worked in the concentration camps kept the murder machinery running. They were part of the system, so they should take responsibility for it, Schuster added. It is bitter that the defendant has denied his activities at that time until the end and has shown no remorse. Story continues For practical reasons, the trial was held in a gymnasium in Brandenburg/Havel, the 101-year-olds place of residence. The man was only fit to stand trial to a limited extent and was only able to participate in the trial for about two and a half hours each day. The process was interrupted several times for health reasons and hospital stays. Efraim Zuroff, the head Nazi hunter at the Simon Wiesenthal Centers office in Jerusalem, told The Associated Press that the sentence sends a message that if you commit such crimes, even decades later, you might be brought to justice." "And its a very important thing because it gives closure to the relatives of the victims," Zuroff added. The fact that these people all of a sudden feel that their loss is being addressed and the suffering of their family who they lost in the camps is being addressed ... is a very important thing. However, Zuroff expressed concern that S. might serve only part of the sentence or none at all because of his planned appeal and his advanced age. Sachsenhausen was established in 1936 just north of Berlin as the first new site after Adolf Hitler gave the SS full control of the Nazi concentration camp system. It was intended to be a model facility and training camp for the labyrinthine network that the Nazis built across Germany, Austria and occupied territories. More than 200,000 people were held there between 1936 and 1945. Tens of thousands of inmates died of starvation, disease, forced labor and other causes, as well as through medical experiments and systematic SS extermination operations including shootings, hangings and gassing. Exact numbers on those killed vary, with upper estimates of some 100,000, though scholars suggest figures of 40,000 to 50,000 are likely more accurate. In its early years, most inmates were either political prisoners or criminal convicts, but they also included some Jehovahs Witnesses and homosexuals. The first large group of Jewish prisoners was brought there in 1938 after the so-called Night of Broken Glass, or Kristallnacht, an antisemitic pogrom. During the war, Sachsenhausen was expanded to include Soviet prisoners of war who were shot by the thousands as well as others. As in other camps, Jewish prisoners were singled out at Sachsenhausen for particularly harsh treatment, and most who remained alive by 1942 were sent to the Auschwitz death camp. Sachsenhausen was liberated in April 1945 by the Soviets, who then turned it into a brutal camp of their own. Tuesday's verdict relies on recent legal precedent in Germany establishing that anyone who helped a Nazi camp function can be prosecuted for being an accessory to the murders committed there. In a different case, a 96-year-old woman went on trial in late September in the northern German town of Itzehoe. The woman, who allegedly worked during the war as the secretary for the SS commandant of the Stutthof concentration camp, has been charged with more than 11,000 counts of accessory to murder. Jun. 28METHUEN Mayor Neil Perry and Police Chief Scott McNamara announced that seven officers have joined the ranks of the city's finest. "I want to congratulate these men and women on completing the Police Academy," McNamara said. "The academy is rigorous and challenging, but it prepares officers for the work that they will now do on our streets," he added. "I welcome these officers to our department and know they will continue to learn and grow throughout their field training." The new officers are Jason Young, Cameron Fountain, James Smith, Kayleigh Forgetta, Dannery Serrano, Robert Fitzgerald and Angel Mejia Jr. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said the Mexican consul was en route to the site where 42 people were found dead in a truck carrying migrants near San Antonio, Texas, Monday. Ebrard said in a tweet that the victims' nationalities were still unknown. The Mexican General Consulate in San Antonio said on Twitter that it would provide aid to any Mexicans involved in the incident, if there were any. It also said Consul General Ruben Minutti was on the way to the scene. (Reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Kim Coghill) Joseph Fucheck, a white Miami man who pointed a gun at a Black homeowner and hurled a racial slur, has pleaded guilty, accepted probation and will have to complete the usual array of conditions, such as mental-health counseling, substance abuse treatment and staying away from the victim. But theres one unusual requirement: Hes banned from pretending to be a military or police man. The reason: Fucheck, 60, had for years been posing as a former police SWAT leader and Navy SEAL, donning a bogus military uniform, bragging about his supposed medals for valor, even getting free drinks. Damn right, I carry a gun because Im a 35-year former Navy SEAL! Go look at my Purple Heart! he yelled during the June 2020 incident. Miamis Joseph Fucheck, seen posing in a Navy uniform, never served in the U.S. military. The plea deal, struck on Monday, concludes the case against Fucheck, whose racist tirade was captured on camera and led to his arrest for aggravated assault with a firearm with prejudice. The criminal charge was enhanced under Floridas hate-crime law, which stiffens the penalties and makes the crime punishable by 15 years in prison. Under the plea deal, hell spend three years on probation. On Monday, Fucheck apologized to the victim, Dwayne Wynn, for the unprovoked, unwarranted, and senseless attack. You did not deserve that and it will not happen again, Fucheck said. Wynn approved of the plea deal. A civil lawsuit is expected to settle soon. Fuchecks arrest happened at a time when race relations in the United States had become increasingly tense after the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee on Floyds neck for more than eight minutes Wynn was chatting at his neighbors house when he saw Fucheck pull up, put a small advertising card in his mailbox and drive away. Wynn walked over and took the card out Fucheck returned seconds later and began a profanity laced rant, accusing Wynn of not living at the house and stealing his advertisement, according to an arrest warrant. Story continues The warrant said that Fucheck lunged at Wynn, demanding the return of the card and pointing his pistol. After the man lowered the weapon, Wynn began recording the tirade with his phone. The video shows that Fucheck called Wynn a derogatory name for gay people and then the n-word before driving off. Investigator soon learned Fucheck had a penchant for posing as a veteran. Detectives found that supposed Purple Heart when they raided Fuchecks Miami apartment, along with Navy certificates, dress uniforms and even portrait photos of Fucheck decked out like an admiral in front of an American flag. A real retired Navy SEAL, who tried confronting Fucheck a few years ago about his long-running scam told the Miami Herald that the mans bogus dress uniform was a total and complete mess. His own daughter also told the Herald that Fucheck never served in the military and created a shrine to his fake military service in his home, complete with folded-up American flag. Hes a narcissist, she said. He just has to be the center of attention. The plea deal was accepted by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Laura Cruz. Fucheck was defended by lawyer Scott Kottler, and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Khalil Quinan. Even Minnesota Uniteds Dark Ages werent as dour as their current form. With Saturdays 2-1 loss to Inter Miami, the Loons are 1-6-1 in their past eight games. Those four total points constitute the worst regular-season skid over any eight-game stretch since the club joined MLS in 2017. This lull is worse than what MNUFC wrung out in any eight-game string in their dreadful expansion season in 2017 or sophomore hangover in 2018. The Loons tallied five points once apiece in each of those seasons. Loons manager Adrian Heath sought a broader perspective Tuesday during his video conference call with reporters before Minnesota (5-8-3) plays Los Angeles Galaxy (7-5-3) at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. If we were playing poorly and not creating opportunities and giving goals up, then Id start to, not worry because obviously Im concerned but there is not an awful lot wrong, Heath said. This is not a bad team. This is a team that can compete with anybody. Heath said he went through some lists Tuesday morning and rattled off some of the headlining competition MNUFC has faced: first-place Philadelphia and Los Angeles FC. Of the 16 total games this season, 12th-place MNUFC has played 12 teams currently in the MLS Cup Playoffs picture. Added sting to Minnesotas skid comes in how they led 1-0 against Miami and New England on June 19 before losing both road games. MNUFC has dropped 10 points after scoring the first goal of the game this season. Thats something that weve been looking for for a least a month or two: where we need to have complete performances, center back Michael Boxall said. Heath said the message to the players has been: Keep believing in what we are doing. Keep believing in the performances. The conclusion of Wednesdays game will mark the halfway point of the 2022 season. After a home game against Real Salt Lake on Sunday, the Loons will have six consecutive games against teams outside the playoff picture. Three of them will be in St. Paul. Story continues HUNOU DEAL ALMOST DONE MNUFC expects to have everything signed Wednesday to complete the permanent move of forward Adrien Hunou to Angers in Frances Ligue 1, a source told the Pioneer Press on Tuesday. Hunou, who was not with the Loons in Miami on Saturday, has not scored a goal in 128 minutes in MLS play in 2022. He had seven goals in 1,707 minutes in 2021. Hunou, 28, joined Minnesota as a Designated Player in May 2021 on a transfer fee in excess of $3 million, and the Frenchman was the Loons highest-paid player at $2.68 million, according to MLS Players Association figures. He was the 17th highest-paid player in the league when MLSPA shared its data on April 15. BRIEFLY Loons midfielder Joseph Rosales sprained his ankle against Miami, cleared the MRI test and planned to train in L.A. on Tuesday, Heath said. Captain defensive midfielder Wil Trapp is coming off a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulations on Saturday; he is available to play Wednesday. Reynoso is one caution away from a one-game suspension. When MNUFC made three straight playoff appearances, they avoided prolonged droughts. From 2019-21, they had only one eight-game stretch below eight points. That included quickly bouncing back from an 0-4-0 start in 2021. L.A. Galaxy has had recent success with Javier Chicharito Hernandez and Devan Joveljic as two strikers on the field at the same time, but Heath expects coach Greg Vanney to have Chicharito start alone up top Wednesday. On May 18, Robin Lod scored the equalizing goal in the 87th minute for Minnesota to net a 1-1 draw with Galaxy in St. Paul. After being traded from Minnesota in early May, Chase Gasper has played 174 of Galaxys 540 total MLS minutes. Related Articles There is no clear blueprint for corporate engagement on abortion. After numerous companies came forward to announce that they would cover travel expenses for their employees to get abortions, executives have had to move swiftly to both sort out the mechanics of those policies and explain them to a workforce concerned about confidentiality and safety. Few companies have commented directly on the Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which ended nearly 50 years of federal abortion rights. Far more have responded by expanding their health care policies to cover travel and other expenses for employees who cant get abortions close to home, now that the procedure is banned in at least eight states with other bans set to soon take effect. About half the country gets its health care coverage from employers, and the wave of new employer commitments has raised concerns from some workers about privacy. Advertisement Its a doomsday scenario if individuals have to bring their health care choices to their employers, said Dina Fierro, a global vice president at cosmetics company Nars, echoing a concern that many workers have expressed on social media in recent days. Employers are scrambling to prepare for possible legal challenges to their health care policies, as well as responding to scrutiny of their past political donations to politicians who supported abortion bans. Match Group, for example, whose former CEO Shar Dubey announced a fund in September supporting abortion access in partnership with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, donated more than $100,000 to the Republican Attorneys General Association last year, as was reported in Popular Information. Match Group declined to comment. Advertisement Among the companies that said they would assist employees who have to travel for abortions are Disney, Macys, H&M, Nordstrom, Nike, Dicks Sporting Goods, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Snap, which join a larger group including Starbucks and Yelp that had previously committed to doing so. Salesforce and Google both said they would move employees who want to leave states where abortion is banned. These employers cover health care for only a fraction of the millions of people living in states where abortion is or will soon be banned. And other major employers have not made public statements regarding employee assistance. The countrys largest private employer, Walmart, declined to comment on the Supreme Courts ruling. Other large employers such as Target, Coca-Cola and Delta Air Lines did not respond to requests for comment. Some marketing experts note that companies that do weigh in will probably face some backlash. Consumers and employees dont want companies to take a stand unless companies take up their position and cause, Kimberly Whitler, who teaches marketing at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, said in an email. In an attempt to ease fears over potential confidentiality issues, many employers rolling out new benefits related to abortion are aiming to allow workers, and others on their health care plans, to get travel reimbursement without disclosing anything to their managers. In some cases, that means having people submit claims to their insurance companies as they would for other medical procedures. Yelp, for example, explained to its employees in April that its travel benefit is administered through its insurance provider. No one at Yelp will ever receive any information on who incurred a claim or received reimbursement, a Yelp spokesperson said. The Bank of America Tower, which houses the bank's New York headquarters, in midtown Manhattan on March 30, 2022. Bank of America has joined a larger group of companies that have committed to assisting employees who can't get reproductive health care close to home. (Jeenah Moon/The New York Times) Aetna, one of the largest insurance companies, said it would ensure our data practices comply with all applicable laws protecting the privacy of our members. UnitedHealth declined to comment specifically on privacy issues. Anthem, Cigna and Humana did not respond to requests for comment. Expedia said travel costs would be reimbursed through medical plan providers, and employees could use their time off without noting the reason. BuzzFeed said that instead of reimbursements for abortion-related expenses, it would offer stipends that would be approved by the head of its human resources department someone, the company said, who was trained to handle confidential issues. PayPal said it had an employee advocacy team that provided confidential information to employees on sensitive issues, including on using their health care benefits. Starbucks workers have third-party point people, called advocates, whom employees can anonymously approach with questions about health care benefits, ensuring they dont have to disclose details about their medical needs to managers. Advertisement That can be anything from Ive got knee surgery planned and want to make the right decision on a plan, to getting advice on what they should do if they intend to use the fertility benefit and everything in between, said Reggie Borges, a spokesperson for the company. Some employers have laid out the details of their new health care policies in memos to staff. Impossible Foods, for example, said that in addition to travel for abortions, it would also cover lodging, meals and child care. Wells Fargo said that as of July 1, its health care plans would include reimbursement for travel and lodging for legal abortion-related services. (Patagonia said it would also cover bail for employees who are arrested while peacefully protesting the Supreme Courts decision.) Many other companies were still ironing out their plans. Culture Amp, for example, an employee survey firm, said in announcing up to $2,000 in reimbursements for abortion-related travel that it was figuring out how to minimize the disclosure of information in the reimbursement process. The company said Monday that it was still getting final confirmation that flight or gas expenses could be routed for approval to the human resources team instead of through managers. You shouldnt have to tell your manager youre getting an abortion, said Aubrey Blanche, a senior director at the company. Currently, no states with bans try to prosecute women who travel out of state for an abortion, but some legal experts think that those laws could be possible in the future, as could attempts to use existing laws to prosecute abortion travel. Republican legislators in Texas have already said they plan to introduce legislation penalizing companies that pay for out-of-state abortion travel. Advertisement Were going to see creative attempts by people who are deeply committed to stopping abortion to use existing laws and pass new laws to stop as many abortions as possible, including those funded by companies, said David Cohen, a constitutional law professor at Drexel University. Companies are gearing up for a fight. And some executives seemed prepared for it. On Friday, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff wrote in a tweet: I believe CEOs have a responsibility to take care of their employees no matter what. c.2022 The New York Times Company At least 46 migrants were found dead in a refrigerated tractor-trailer near San Antonio, Texas, on Monday night, according to local officials. Another 16 migrants were taken to the hospital for critical care, including four children, San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said at a Monday night press conference. A majority of the migrants transported to local hospitals were too weak to get out of the truck, Hood added. It is our hope and prayer that the conditions of those who were transported will improve as we speak, the fire chief said. Three individuals were arrested in connection to the incident, San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Chief William McManus said at the press conference. The case was turned over to the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations team for a federal investigation. Dozens of police and emergency personnel teams responded around 6 p.m. to a major road near San Antonio to find a parked tractor-trailer truck next to a set of railroad tracks. Hood said the tractor-trailer was a refrigerated unit, but the air conditioning system was not working. The migrants inside the truck were hot to the touch and suffering from heat exhaustion without any available water. Several outlets reported Monday the incident appeared to be one of the worst cases of migrant deaths at the southern border. The area San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at the press conference the incident was tragic. There are forty-six individuals that we know of who are no longer with us, Nirenberg said. Who had families, who were likely trying to find a better life. This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy. Updated 11:15 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Human remains found in the North Carolina woods have been identified as a man who vanished in 2011, officials said. Michael Dwayne Wilkerson was 34 years old when he was last seen in the Asheboro area. The same day that he disappeared, a totaled pickup truck was discovered with no one inside, according to the Randolph County Sheriffs Office. Wilkersons location was a mystery for more than a decade until someone stumbled upon human remains in March. While DNA helped to confirm the remains belonged to the missing man, his cause of death was still unknown as of Tuesday, June 28, deputies said in a news release. Officials said Wilkersons family last saw him on Sept. 15, 2011. He was spotted in the area of New Hope Church Road, near Asheboro and roughly 85 miles southwest of Raleigh. That same morning, the wrecked pickup was found along the same road. Officials in their news release didnt say whether the truck belonged to Wilkerson but said his cellphone was inside. The last call made on Michaels phone had been made about 2:30 a.m., the sheriffs office wrote. A highway patrol trooper arrived on the scene at approximately 5:15 a.m. in response to a passerbys report of the wreck. Wilkerson was reported missing days later on Sept. 24, 2011. In the decade that followed, officials treated the case as a possible death investigation, and Crimestoppers offered a $1,000 reward for tips, The Courier-Tribune reported in 2021. A year later, officials said his remains were found in woods along New Hope Church Road. The cold case investigation was ongoing as of June 28. Body left near road identified as person reported missing a year ago, NC cops say Body buried in North Carolina yard identified as man who vanished in 2016, cops say LOS ANGELES In the wake of the Supreme Courts momentous decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade and end nearly 50 years of nationwide abortion protections, Democrats in Washington, D.C., have struggled to show how they would or could fight back. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recited a poem. Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) turned "inward" with yoga. And the national Democratic Party flooded inboxes with opportunistic fundraising emails. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders outside the Beltway took actual, concrete action, demanding special legislative sessions to expand abortion access (Illinois) and filing suit to stop a nearly century-old abortion ban from taking effect (Michigan). But so far, no one is countering the fall of Roe as aggressively as California, Americas most populous and in many ways, progressive state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom displays a bill he just signed that shields abortion providers and volunteers in California from civil judgments from out-of-state courts during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, June 24. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) "California can play an outsized role at this moment," Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday. "I want folks to know, all around the rest of the country, and in many parts of the globe, that I hope we're your antidote to fear or anxiety. Perhaps to the cynicism that many of you are feeling about fate and the future." Newsom has long touted California as a liberal bulwark, picking frequent fights with Republican peers such as Floridas Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texass Gov. Greg Abbott over crime, COVID-19, LGBTQ rights and critical race theory. In recent weeks, the Golden State governor, 54, has gone even further, joining former President Donald Trumps right-wing Twitter alternative, Truth Social, to personally "cal[l] out Republican lies" a move that led Washington, D.C., types to speculate that he might be positioning himself for a White House run in 2024 if an aging and politically vulnerable President Biden declines to seek reelection. "Newsom is young and politically muscular," David Axelrod, a longtime Democratic strategist and political adviser to former President Barack Obama, told the New York Times. "Which may be just what the market will be seeking post-Biden." (Newsom, for his part, has repeatedly denied having his eyes on the presidency, telling Yahoo News earlier this year that Vice President Kamala Harris "is the next in line" should Biden decide not to run.) Story continues Yet the nature and scope of the courts ruling on Roe represents a rubber-meets-road moment for Newsom and other governors with possible national ambitions. Suddenly, its their responsibility to either preserve or prohibit a medical procedure that had been enshrined as a constitutional right for almost half a century a responsibility that will put them in direct conflict with other governors veering in the opposite direction. Abortion rights protesters gather at the U.S. Supreme Court to denounce the court's decision to end federal abortion rights protections in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Experts say the brewing clash between blue states and red states over abortion echoes the era of slavery. "We havent seen this kind of battle about the reach of the jurisdiction of one state over another in a very long time," Wendy Parmet, director of Northeastern Universitys Center for Health Policy and Law, told the Washington Post. "Nothing of this magnitude have we seen since the Civil War." So with conflict coming and with leaders in Washington largely powerless to act Newsom seems determined to position California, and himself, on the frontlines. Already, more than half the states in the United States all of them Republican-controlled have moved to ban abortion within their own borders, and many are introducing measures that would also seek to limit access across state lines by prohibiting shipment of abortion-inducing pills, prosecuting residents who leave the state to terminate their pregnancy and penalizing out-state-medical professionals for performing the procedure. Together, these efforts could leave an estimated 40 million people without abortion access in their own state. In response, Newsom and other California Democrats have been laying the groundwork to transform the Golden State into Americas leading abortion "sanctuary" not just for Californians but for red-state residents as well, with an entire infrastructure to facilitate travel and termination of pregnancy across state lines. Abortion rights demonstrators hold signs as they gather near the state Capitol in Austin, Texas, June 25. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images) The process started last fall. After Texas passed its own restrictive 15-week ban, Newsom quickly convened the Future of Abortion Council to generate new sanctuary policies; its recommendations, released in December, now form the basis of a sweeping package of more than a dozen bills working their way through the California Legislature. These efforts include a new amendment to the state Constitution introduced by Newsom and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, who once ran a womens health clinic that would explicitly protect the right to abortion and contraception. The measure passed the state legislature by a wide margin and will appear on the November ballot for voters approval. They also include a new law signed Friday by Newsom that will nullify civil liability judgments against providers or patients if theyre based on laws in other states. "We will not aid, we will not abet, in their efforts to be punitive, to fine and create fear for those that seek that support," Newsom said. And that's only the start. A raft of additional measures could pass before the Legislature leaves Sacramento in August, according to CalMatters. One would prohibit medical providers and health insurers from sharing information in cases that seek to penalize abortion. Another would prevent the state medical board from suspending or revoking the license of a physician who is punished in another state for performing an abortion in accordance with California law. A third would stop police from arresting someone for providing or obtaining an abortion and ban law enforcement agencies from sharing information with colleagues in other states. Police holding rubber-bullet guns and batons move to disperse a crowd of abortion rights activists protesting in downtown Los Angeles after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) At the same time, Newsom has asked for an extra $125 million to help California abortion clinics prepare for a surge in out-of-state patients. Already, 16.5% of all U.S. abortions are administered in California, and a recent UCLA report estimates that an additional 10,600 people mostly from Arizona and Texas will travel to California each year for abortion care now that Roe is gone. To that end, a state budget deal announced Sunday night includes $20 million for clinicians who commit to providing reproductive health care services, along with $21 million for existing workforce programs and $20 million for recruitment and retention at clinics. Other bills would create state-administered funds to help patients who cant afford an abortion possibly including travel and lodging and clinics that provide uncompensated care to patients who lack reproductive coverage. "To people across the country living in a state hostile to abortion: California is here for you," Jodi Hicks, president of Planned Parenthood affiliates of California, told Politico. "We will not turn people away, and we will find a way to support you so that you can get the care you need." California is hardly alone in pushing back against the Supreme Courts decision. In total, about 20 states largely Democratic-controlled have promised to preserve or expand abortion access in post-Roe America. But instead of just protecting its own residents abortion rights, California is moving the fastest to create a haven for potential patients from nearby anti-abortion states as well a number that is expected to increase from 46,000 to 1.4 million in the weeks and months ahead. Protesters hold placards during a demonstration in downtown Los Angeles on June 26, 2022, two days after the U.S. Supreme Court released a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, striking down the constitutional right to abortion. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images) "California, Oregon and Washington are building the West Coast offense to protect patients' access to reproductive care," Newsom said Friday in a video announcing a joint "commitment to reproductive freedom" with his fellow West Coast governors. And they will do so, added Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, for "patients from any state who come to our states for abortion care." Meanwhile, the White House is mostly hamstrung on the issue as is the U.S. Senate, where the filibuster will prevent a simple majority from codifying abortion rights for the foreseeable future. In contrast, Newsom who has made waves in recent weeks by accusing his own party of inaction on major issues now has a chance to lead. "Where the hell is my party?" he said at a Los Angeles Planned Parenthood office in May. "[Republicans] are winning. They are. They have been. Let's acknowledge that. We need to stand up. Where's the counteroffensive?" The answer, Newsom hopes, is California. Acres of slums line the creeks of Nigeria's oil hub Port Harcourt, home to tight-knit communities with a population density more than twice that of Manhattan. The tangle of 50 self-built waterfront settlements made of concrete, wood and corrugated sheets hosts half a million people, many reliant on the polluted creeks for their livelihoods. Port Harcourt's communities are now caught in a battle over their informal homes after Rivers State Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike ordered all the settlements to be demolished. Wike and Rivers officials have described them as "dens of criminals" that needed cleaning up, offering no compensation for the homes destroyed and no development plan for the land. Many residents lived there for decades. Their parents and grandparents built the land, filling the creeks with fibrous black mud cut from the mangroves. Since the demolitions began in January, half of the Diobu settlement in the southwest of the city has been destroyed. Up to 22,000 residents were made homeless in six days. Where there was a thriving community now sits 11 hectares of rubble. "We were peacefully living here," said Tamunoemi Cottrail, a local landlord and fish seller, recalling the start of the demolitions when officials arrived accompanied by armed men. "As they came, they did not talk to anybody. They just came down the steps and begin to mark X on some buildings." Local government officials say the project will benefit the entire city and that demolitions of informal communities are necessary and legal. The Port Harcourt land struggle illustrates the complex development of cities in Africa's most populous country, which is estimated by the UN to become the third most populous in the world by 2050. Most of that will be urban growth, and much of it in slums as Nigeria's development plans largely ignore rapid informal urbanisation and adequate infrastructure. Port Harcourt is Nigeria's oil capital. But despite the petroleum revenues, its infrastructure is overwhelmed and many live in slum conditions. Story continues "People don't deliberately put themselves in informal settlements," said Isa Sanusi of Amnesty International Nigeria. "There shouldn't be informal settlements in those kinds of places because the states are rich and they have the capacity to provide." Public backlash - The demolitions began nearly three weeks after the governor announced his decision during a New Year's speech. Rivers State's chief security officer arrived in Diobu waterfront on January 19, marking homes for demolition and telling residents they had seven days to pack up and leave. As Diobu's representative in the local governing body, Cottrail approached the officers, attempting to initiate a dialogue. But they refused to engage with him. They came back at the end of January. "There was no way to talk to them because they came with fully armed police officers and some civil defence officers," Cottrail said. "When they came, they started flogging people," said Omobotare Abona, a local fisherman. "When people were like 'You guys should wait -- let us pack our things because it's sudden', they were like 'Go out.'" After some public backlash against the governor's plan, his commissioner for information and communication, Paulinus Nsirim, took a harsher tone, emphasising the government's push to "sanitise the waterfronts". He said that the communities had become "a den of thieves, flies in the face of rational analysis". "That is a lie," said Abona, who has lived in the community most of his life. "There is nowhere they don't have bad persons." For the state development authorities, the programme is about the legitimate use of land. "The law allows (demolitions) so long as it is for public interest," said one official from the Rivers State Housing and Property Development Authority. "What he wants to do is for the... benefit of the state or for everybody." Living with relatives - Many former Diobu residents have moved in with relatives elsewhere, now cut off from their water-related livelihoods. Others have their furniture and clothes piled on the pavements near the waterfront. In one disused government compound close to the waterfront, women have squatted with their salvaged belongings and children. Peace West, a school cook who now squats there with her four children, said she had paid a year's rent upfront in October but now does not have the money to pay another. Some residents are still sleeping in the rubble of their former homes, even though the rainy season has swung into full force. The city's waterfront communities help fuel the informal economy, which accounts for up to 65 percent of real economic activity. But they live in extreme poverty, with little to no municipal services and a lack of political representation. For residents like Abona it is hard to imagine living elsewhere than in his community, where he lives off the properties he built and fishing. Although he relocated his wife and infant son to a relative's house, he often returns to the demolition site, watching over his family's land. He is waiting for the right time to rebuild. "As a riverine man, I feel safe and I grew up here," he said. "So I know everything here, at least. It's my comfort zone." str/pma/imm TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nissan Motor Co Ltd on Tuesday rejected a shareholder proposal at its annual general meeting (AGM) that would have led to the disclosure of a decades-old agreement with 43% stakeholder Renault SA. Ahead of the AGM, one investor proposed deeming Renault as Nissan's parent company for disclosure purposes which by law would force the publication of the agreement which stipulates the automakers' capital and business alliance. Lack of publication prevents shareholders discussing the alliance which consequently remains "unequal", the investor said. Nissan owns only a 15% non-voting stake in Renault. Observers expected opposition from the French automaker to scupper the proposal. Still, Nissan last month said it would disclose the agreement's content in its annual securities report to the extent it does not violate a confidentiality obligation. Full disclosure of the Restated Alliance Master Agreement would reveal the scope of the 23-year-old tie-up, formed when Renault rescued Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy. The deal has long been the source of tension as it allows Renault to increase its involvement in Nissan's management. The alliance, which in 2016 added Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp, was rocked by the 2018 ouster of alliance founder Carlos Ghosn amid a financial scandal. The automakers have since pledged to pool more resources and work closer to make electric vehicles (EVs). Still, Renault in April said all options were on the table - including a possible public listing of its EV unit - when it comes to overhauling its business in response to the swift electrification of the auto industry. For Nissan - an EV pioneer with its 2010 Leaf - it is too early to consider spinning off its EV division, its chief operating officer said last month. (This story corrects headline and second paragraph to clarify the proposal was for disclosure purposes only) (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Ed Gonzalez, sheriff of Harris County, Texas, has withdrawn from consideration to be director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle) More than a year after President Biden nominated him, a Houston-area sheriff has withdrawn from consideration to be director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Biden tapped Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez for the ICE director's post in April 2021. However, more than a year has passed since the President nominated me for this important position, which has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, Gonzalez said Monday in social media postings. Gonzalez, who is a Democrat, said he informed Biden administration officials of his decision Sunday. I arrived at this decision after prayerfully considering whats best for our nation, my family, and the people of Harris County who elected me to serve a second term as sheriff, he wrote. The Senate has not confirmed any nominee for the ICE directorship since 2017. Gonzalez expressed gratitude to Biden for the honor of nominating me, and I wish this administration well as it strives to overcome the paralyzing political gridlock that threatens far more than our nations border. Frankly, the dysfunction threatens Americas heart and soul. Gonzalez rose to sergeant during an 18-year run at the Houston Police Department before his 2016 election as sheriff. He pointedly criticized then-President Trumps immigration enforcement raids and policies when Trump vowed to deport millions of people. Gonzalez had expressed concern then about driving undocumented families further into the shadows, discouraging them from reporting crimes to authorities. Backers of Trump's immigration policies criticized Gonzalez as a backer of the Biden administrations rapidly expanding practice of releasing migrants on parole, particularly those who were not subject to a pandemic rule that prevents migrants from seeking asylum. The Border Patrol paroled more than 207,000 migrants who crossed from Mexico from August through May, including 51,132 in May, a 28% increase from April, according to court records. In the previous seven months, it had paroled only 11 migrants. Parole shields migrants from deportation for a set period but provides little else. By law, the Homeland Security Department may parole migrants only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Parolees can apply for asylum within a year. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. North Carolina sheriffs deputies have issued two murder warrants after a man and a woman were found dead and two children were found safe at a North Carolina home Sunday. Deputies with the Davie County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a disturbance Sunday morning on the 1100 block of Junction Road, WGHP reported. A 911 caller told dispatchers that someone was shooting at her, the sheriff's office said, adding that a dispatcher heard "a loud disturbance" over the phone. After that, the phone line was open but no one was responding to the dispatcher, the sheriff's office said. NYC CHINESE FOOD DELIVERYMANS ACCUSED KILLER MIGHT POST BAIL AFTER DUCK SAUCE DISPUTE TURNED DEADLY: REPORT When deputies reached the home, they found 29-year-old Justin Dewayne dead in the front yard and 23-year-old Savannah Lyn Anglin dead inside the home. Two children were found in the home unharmed, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies said 31-year-old Anthony Laquane Brooks is wanted, WGHP reported. His whereabouts are unknown, and he should be considered "armed and dangerous." Anyone with information is asked to contact the Davie County Sheriffs Office at 336-751-6238. The Associated Press contributed to this report. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said during an unrelated press conference Tuesday that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani should be reminded that falsely reporting a crime is a crime after video was released that called into question Giulianis claim that he was hit very, very hard by an employee at a Staten Island, N.Y., supermarket. I think the district attorney, he has the wrong person that hes investigating. To falsely report a crime is a crime. If that video wasnt there, then this person wouldve been charged with punching the former mayor, said Adams, referencing a surveillance video from the New York ShopRite where Giuliani had said he felt as though a boulder hit him. Well, when you look at the video, the guy basically walked by and patted him on the back, Adams added. I dont know if he said congratulations. I dont know what he said to him, but it was clear that he was not punched in the head. It was clear that it didnt feel like a bullet. It was clear that he wasnt about to fall to the ground. So it was clear that he had a lot of creativity and sensationalism that caused this person to be arrested, Adams stated during the press conference, while also calling Giuliani irresponsible for a former mayor. The video shows Giuliani barely moving after a ShopRite employees hand makes contact with his back. The employee is then seen saying something to the former mayor. Giuliani commented Monday that the ShopRite video of the incident is probably is a little deceptive, after describing the alleged attack a day earlier. All of a sudden, I feel this, Bam! on my back, Giuliani said Sunday, adding that he nearly fell down from the blow. All of a sudden, I hear this guy say, Youre a f scumbag, then he moves away so nobody can grab him, he added. Story continues The ShopRite employee, identified as 39-year-old Daniel Gill, was detained after the Sunday incident, according to the New York Police Department, and has been released ahead of his scheduled hearing on August 17. Giuliani said he believed Gill hit him because of his pro-life stance on abortion, with the incident coming just two days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which established the constitutional right to an abortion. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A suspect was arrested Monday afternoon in Tacoma for the June 18 homicide of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier in Parkland. The Pierce County SWAT team surrounded a Tacoma home at 1:41 p.m. and asked the suspect to surrender, according to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department. The 37-year-old man left the residence without resistance and surrendered, the Sheriffs Department said. Detectives had previously identified, located and obtained a warrant for the suspects arrest. Sgt. Emmett Leviticus Moore, a native of East Point, Georgia, died June 18. Moore was shot at a residence in the 1600 block of 112th Street during a gathering he and the suspect were attending. Officers searched unsuccessfully for the suspect that evening. The suspect was booked into the Pierce County Jail for investigation of murder and firearms charges. DENYS KARLOVSKYI MONDAY, 27 JUNE 2022, 17:04 Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the head of the President's Office, has responded to the ultimatums from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov that the war could be ended in one day by Ukraine's capitulation. Source: Podoliak on Twitter Quote from Podoliak: "Z-ultimatums again? It wasnt Ukraine that started the war, so we cant end it by order. They could end the war in Moscow at any time, simply by returning to appropriate behaviour: stop firing missiles on cities, withdraw their troops, and abandon nuclear propaganda." Previously: On the morning of 28 June, the Kremlin issued an ultimatum that the war could be ended by the end of the day if the Ukrainian military laid down its arms and the government capitulated and complied with Russia's demands. Lake County Associate Judge Elizabeth Liz Rochford won the Democratic primary for an open Supreme Court seat following Tuesdays election, but whether she will face off in the fall against another Lake County judge or the former Lake County sheriff remains too close to call. In the Republican primary, with 95% of precincts reporting, Lake County Circuit Judge Daniel Shanes and former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran were leading two other candidates and separated by less than two percentage points. Advertisement Shanes and Rochford were both rated highly recommended by the Illinois State Bar Association, while Curran was found not recommended. Shanes, a former Lake County prosecutor and sitting judge since 2007, was the Republican primary candidate favored by an independent expenditure committee funded primarily by billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin. The group, Citizens for Judicial Fairness, spent more than $170,000 in support of Shanes. He is a deputy chief judge in Lake County and oversees felony and law division cases. Advertisement Citizens for Judicial Fairness spent roughly $50,000 to oppose Currans bid. Curran was elected sheriff in Lake County in 2006 and remained in office until 2018. Before that, he worked as a local and federal prosecutor, and he now works on criminal defense and civil cases. He unsuccessfully ran against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in 2020 as the Republican Party candidate, scoring almost 40% of the vote statewide. Rochford, whose campaign committee far out-fundraised her two competitors, has worked as a Cook County prosecutor and spent several years in private practice working on wills, trusts and real estate matters. She has been on the bench since 2012 and hears guardianship cases in probate court. Her father, James M. Rochford, was the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department in the 1970s. Rochford will face off in November against the GOP nominee for the 2nd Judicial District seat previously held by former Chicago Bears kicker Bob Thomas, a Republican justice who was on the states highest court for nearly two decades. The 2nd Judicial District has consistently elected Republican candidates since the 1960s, but the Democratic-controlled Illinois legislature recently redrew the electoral map. Voters from the northwest part of the state were shifted from the 2nd to the sprawling 4th District, which now stretches from Jo Daviess County to Jersey County, just north of St. Louis. [ [Live results] 2022 primary election in Illinois ] Lake, McHenry, DeKalb, Kane and Kendall counties remain in the 2nd District, while DuPage County was moved to the 3rd. The Republican primary was a four-way race between an appellate judge, two circuit judges and the former Lake County sheriff. Like Shanes, 2nd District Appellate Judge Susan Hutchinson was awarded a highly recommended rating from the Illinois State Bar Association. Like Curran, John Noverini, a circuit court judge in Kane County, was rated not recommended. Noverini received the rating automatically after declining to participate in the bar groups evaluation. Among the Democrats, the bar group rated Kane County Circuit Judge Rene Cruz recommended and sitting Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering not recommended. Advertisement Rochford and Rotering both have ties to powerful Democrats in the state. Allies of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan helped Rotering gather petitions in her unsuccessful 2018 bid for Illinois attorney general, and Rochford has donated money over the years to Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, now under federal indictment. [ Latest returns in Supreme Court primaries updated here ] Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > The race almost had three fewer candidates. Rotering, Hutchinson and Curran were temporarily booted from the ballot over a snafu involving the number of signatures required to run in the newly redrawn district. A Cook County Circuit Court judge reinstated all three candidates last month. Illinois Supreme Court justices often, though not always, have prior experience on the bench before ascending to the states highest court. Each of the courts current seven members served at the circuit or appellate court level. In the states 3rd Judicial District, Michael J. Burke and Mary Kay OBrien each faced uncontested primaries. The Democratic candidate, OBrien, is an appellate court judge in the 3rd District and served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1996 to 2003, when she was appointed to the appellate court. Burke, the Republican candidate, is sitting on the Illinois Supreme Court after the court appointed him to fill the vacant 2nd District seat left by Thomas. But the legislative redistricting shifted his home seat, so he is now running to fill the 3rd District vacancy created by the 2020 failed retention bid of former Justice Thomas Kilbride. In 2020, Citizens for Judicial Fairness spent millions in an effort to unseat Kilbride as he sought the 60% yes votes needed to maintain his seat on the bench. The group linked him unfavorably to Madigan. The court appointed Robert L. Carter, from Ottawa, to fill Kilbrides seat in 2020, but Carter said at the time that he would not run in this election. Advertisement If Republicans win both Supreme Court races in November, the court would have a Republican majority for the first time in decades. ehoerner@chicagotribune.com Cincinnati police said early Tuesday that the man found shot to death in Evanston Monday evening was 37-year-old John Wilson. Cincinnati police said early Tuesday that the man found shot to death in Evanston Monday evening was 37-year-old John Wilson. The shooting happened near the intersection of Woodburn and Blair avenues, a few blocks from Walnut Hill High School. Police received a ShotSpotter activation around 6:25 p.m. for multiple shots at the 1600 block of Blair Avenue, according to Cincinnati police Lt. Tim Lanter. Officers arrived to find Wilson dead at the scene, Lanter said. Lanter declined to say if a suspect is in custody. Police are searching for a silver sedan with shot-out rear windows, Lanter said. Traffic on Woodburn Avenue going north was blocked from Blair Avenue due to the criminal investigation. If you have information about this shooting, call the homicide unit at 513-352-3542. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police investigating fatal shooting in Evanston identify victim West Virginia State Police are investigating a suspicious fire at the historic Saint Colman Catholic Church in Raleigh County as an arson. The church, which was built in 1878, burned to the ground on Sunday. By the time firefighters arrived after receiving a call for a structure fire, the church was already destroyed but still smoldering, the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department said. The fire department said the fire is considered suspicious in nature. West Virginia State Police are investigating the fire as an arson. The fire department and the state police could not immediately be reached for comment. Saint Colman had not held services since it was declared an official historic site in 1984. It is the latest in a string of churches to face attack in recent years. Though authorities have not released information about potential suspects or motives, the fire came days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. As the fight over abortion in the U.S. has grown more contentious, churches and pregnancy centers have increasingly been on the receiving end of violent attacks. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has tracked at least 142 incidents of vandalism at Catholic sites in the U.S. since May 2020. The incidents, which have occurred across 36 states and Washington, D.C., include arson; statues beheaded; statue limbs cut, smashed, and painted; gravestones defaced with swastikas and anti-Catholic language and American flags next to them burned; and other destruction and vandalism. The USCCB began tracking vandalism at Catholic sites after a pair of Catholic churches San Gabriel Mission in California and Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Florida were set on fire on July 11, 2020. More from National Review Reuters Three people were killed and several more were wounded in a shooting at a shopping centre in Copenhagen on Sunday, Danish police said, adding they had arrested a 22-year-old Danish man and charged him with manslaughter. The attack rocked Denmark at the end of an otherwise joyful week, just after it hosted the first three stages of the Tour de France cycle race. Copenhagen police said armed officers were sent to Field's mall in the capital late on Sunday afternoon after reports of a shooting, and had told people inside to stay put and await assistance. Around 100 protesters gathered outside City Hall in Hartford on Monday to rally against the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Signs in hand, activists chanted in solidarity as they gathered to protest the ruling that effectively ended the Constitutional right to have an abortion. One sign read, Bans Off Our Bodies and another read Ruth Sent Us in reference to former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in 2020. The rally was organized by the Nonprofit Accountability Group, which includes a host of non-profits throughout the state, including Workers Voice, BLM860, PowerUp CT, Kamoras Cultural Corner, 350 CT, Sunrise Connecticut, Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter, Quiet Corner Shouts and Resource Generation Connecticut. The Supreme Court turned the abortion issue over to the states in its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson overturning the landmark 1973 case on Friday. Since then, hundreds of protests have been held in the country, including in Connecticut. Abortion is health care, shouted Tenaya Taylor, executive director and founder of the Nonprofit Accountability Group, to the crowd that echoed it back. Health care is a fundamental right. Were here because were not going to be silent. Other activists from the group also spoke and touched on many different issues surrounding race, police brutality and economic inequality. If we took care of the trans lives, the queer lives, the elderly lives, the homeless lives and those with mental health issues and the disabled we wouldnt be here today, said Keren Prescott, founder and CEO of PowerUp CT. But when you dont take care of the least, you will not take care of the most. Prescott shared her own personal story of having an abortion after she was raped in 1999. Thank God I was able to have an abortion back then, Prescott said. I came back to Hartford where that was seen as health care. That right has now been taken. Prescott said that since the abortion ruling just a few days ago many people have come up to her asking how to fight back. She noted that many of them are new to protesting and organizing but feel empowered to take action. Story continues What I want to say to our Black, brown and non-white folks is that this is a new fight for white people because for many years their skin color, class, status and privilege has afforded them a protection they never understood, said Prescott. Being white meant having every single protection until now. We welcome them into our fight. We are in this for the long haul. Others in attendance spoke on the intersectionality between abortion and other issues, including the environment. Its not hard to see the intersectionality between reproductive rights and the climate movement: For one thing, people in the climate movement get pregnant. They must be able to choose whether they want to have children or not, said Melinda Tuhus, an activist with the environmental non-profit 350 CT. Mothers are the most impacted demographic in climate catastrophes they have to protect and figure out how to feed and house their children when they lose their homes and mothers especially single mothers often have the fewest resources. Tuhus sporting a climate justice Walk for Our Grandchildren shirt, spoke about her memories before Roe in the early 1970s to many of the younger protesters. I was almost 25 when Roe was decided, so there were plenty of years when my friends and classmates were getting illegal, sometimes dangerous and deadly abortions, Tuhus said. We wont go back! Protesters came from all over the state with some even driving more than an hour to show their support. It was important that I came to this, said Claudia Allen, of Thompson. Im here to stand for all women so they can make their own decision about their own bodies. Many black and brown women and those who are underprivileged will die because of this. We need to make our voices heard. Of the 26 states that have signaled a ban on abortion, 13 have laws in place that are designed to be triggered and take effect automatically or by quick state action after the Roe ruling Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. In May, Gov. Ned Lamont signed Public Act 22-19, a first-in-the-nation law that protects medical providers and patients seeking abortion care in Connecticut who may be traveling from other states that have outlawed abortion. Additionally, the law expands abortion access in Connecticut by expanding the type of practitioners eligible to perform certain abortion-related care. Reproductive rights will be protected here in Connecticut, Lamont said. Roe may not be the law of the land but it will be the law in the state as long as Im here. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com TheStreet.com In Las Vegas, everything has an end date. Casinos and resorts seemingly need updates nearly as soon as they open and what seems cutting edge today may be dated in a just a few years. The Las Vegas Strip undergoes nearly endless change. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings on Tuesday called three shootings over the past week that involved his officers a disturbing trend. Early Tuesday, a CMPD officer was shot in the leg after responding to a 911 call at a bar in NoDa. Jennings said the wounded officer will recover. Police have located a person of interest, CMPD said. Johnny Jennings, chief of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, discusses recent shootings involving his officers at a crime scene in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, NC, on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Last Thursday, a man fired gunshots at police from inside a home after officers responded to a call to assist a Medic team. A SWAT team de-escalated the situation with a negotiator, and officers didnt fire back, CMPD said. No officers were injured, CMPD said. On Sunday, Kevin Boston, a 45-year-old, single father of three fired at officers, police said. The officers returned fire, striking Boston, who died at a hospital. Police said Boston was a suspect in an armed robbery of a Food Lion on Tuckaseegee Road in west Charlotte. However we have a serious issue within society as a whole, not just here in Charlotte but across our nation that gunfire seems to be the most common theme when it comes to violence in our cities, Jennings said in a video recorded at the shooting scene in NoDa. It's a disturbing trend that our men and women in uniform are being fired at while doing their jobs, and its not just in Charlotte where this is happening. My message from the scene in Noda this morning: https://t.co/ix5TwPYMLg (2/2) Chief Jennings (@cmpdchief) June 28, 2022 We need to turn the narrative that we see so often about the vilification of law enforcement, police officers, and realize what they really and truly do and thats to try and keep our community safe, he said. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9, which advocates for law enforcement officers in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, posted on Facebook to say Charlotte must do better. The FOP statement emphasized the number of shootings in recent weeks, asking where the violence interrupters are. Story continues When will this violence stop? the FOP asked. In a statement to The Charlotte Observer, FOP Lodge 9 President Daniel Redford said there is a crime problem in Charlotte. We are grateful the officers injuries arent life threatening and (the officer) is expected to recover, Redford said. The events (Tuesday) morning are unsettling, especially after CMPD officers just faced two separate incidents where shots were fired at them. Redford said reform is needed within the bond system. Babies are being murdered and shot, and those committing these heinous acts are getting younger and younger, he said. Our court system seemingly rewards criminality by letting violent offenders out on low/no bonds. AAA predicts that nearly 48 million Americans will be travelling outside of their local area for this years Fourth of July weekend, and a record-setting 2.2 million are Ohioans. >> Monkeypox: CDC activates emergency ops center Lori Comer, AAA Dayton North Retail sales manager, attributes the high numbers to growing comfort around travel. Theyre ready to get out and do something, Comer said. Many travelers are planning to visit the East Coast as the areas popularity has declined amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of people like to go out west from the Midwest area, said Comer. But were seeing a lot of travel into Maine, into Massachusetts, doing the beaches of Virginia Beach. AAA recommends that travelers ensure that their vehicle is road-worthy, as well as verify flight details and vacation reservations. GENEVA (Reuters) - The heads of Libya's two rival legislative chambers met in Geneva on Tuesday for negotiations aimed at restoring a U.N.-led election process that fell apart last December. Agreement on national elections would represent a big step towards stopping another bout of warfare and helping to end a decade of chaos and conflict since the NATO-backed ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Both bodies are recognised under the U.N.-approved 2015 Libyan Political Agreement as the two legislative bodies, but they have been in direct confrontation with each other for most of the period since Libya split between eastern and western factions in 2014 Parliament speaker Aguila Saleh and High State Council head Khaled al-Meshri arrived at the U.N. Geneva office on Tuesday morning and sat stiffly, separated by the United Nations Libya adviser Stephanie Williams. "It is now the time to make a final and courageous effort to ensure that this historic compromise takes place," she said at the start of the talks which began at 11:00 CET (09:00 BST). She added that the timeline and process to "guarantee a clear path to the holding of national elections as soon possible" would be discussed. U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo expressed hope at the U.N. Security Council on the eve of the talks that the meeting would lead to a "final and implementable agreement that would lead to the elections at the earliest possible date." However, analysts were more downbeat, seeing little prospect that could help avert renewed conflict or de facto partition. Agreement on how to hold an election would help resolve a standoff over control of government that has renewed splits between rival factions involved in the last major bout of conflict that paused two years ago. There is currently no agreement on how to move the political process forward and who should rule the country in the lead up to elections, with one government in the capital Tripoli and a rival one backed by the parliament in the coastal town of Sirte. (Reporting by Emma Farge and Denis Balibouse in Geneva and Angus McDowall in Tunis; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Photo credit: Jon Cherry/Getty Images On Friday, Americans learned we no longer have a constitutional right to an abortion. In a 6-3 vote, the U.S Supreme Court upheld Mississippis ban on abortion after 15 weeks and overruled Roe. v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, two landmark cases that for nearly 50 years ensured the right to end a pregnancy safely. The May leak of Justice Samuel Alitos draft opinion promising to erase Roe put abortion rights organizers on high alert, but theyd been preparing for this day long before the specifics were made public. Conservative lawmakers and activists had in recent years used state legislatures to chip away at access to the procedure, inching up the weeks of gestation after which abortion was banned and requiring that providers jump through medically unnecessary hoops to stay in business. While federal courts sometimes stood in the way of these anti-abortion laws taking effect, residents of many states particularly in the South and Midwest already had to travel hundreds of miles to get the healthcare they needed. On Friday, the highest court in the land put decision-making fully in the hands of state legislatures and our consistently deadlocked Congress. Reproductive justice organizer Monica Simpson was certain how her work will advance. Our next step is taking care of our people, Simpson, executive director of SisterSong: Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, told Oprah Daily just after news of the ruling broke. Immediately, trigger bans dependent on the fall of Roe moved to outlaw abortion in 13 states, and the legality of abortion is now in question in dozens more. Were going to have to move people around this country to get access to abortions in the places where it is secure. Part of the challenge is knowing where access remains and for how long. The landscape is shifting rapidly as anti-abortion politicians move to seize the opportunity created by the Supreme Court. Abortion is still legal in Ohio, Iris Harvey, CEO and President of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, said Friday afternoon during a media briefing. Our number one strategy is to make sure our patients know that our doors are still open. Trigger bans there are moving through legislative committee and have not yet become law. But within minutes of the Supreme Courts ruling, the states Republican attorney general asked the courts to lift an injunction on a ban on abortion after six weeks that was signed into law in 2019. On Friday evening, a federal judge approved the request and lifted the courts hold on the law. Story continues This is not over today in Ohio, Jessie Hill, an attorney who litigates abortion rights cases in the state, said during the briefing. There are still legal moves to be made and legal avenues to be pursued. The fight for abortion rights will take place in the courts and, as Monica Simpson of SisterSong stressed, through more intimate and practical acts of mutual aid. Over Juneteenth weekend, Simpsons organization and Black Feminist Future, another reproductive justice group, hosted an event that brought more than 1,000 abortion rights activists to D.C. to rally and march from Stanton Park to the Supreme Court. The event, called Black Bodies for Black Power, featured speakers who repeated a key message: in the absence of a constitutional right to abortion, civil disobedience will be key. These times require that we dont just do what is legal. We have to do what is moral and what is just, Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, said at the June 18th rally. We cant depend on courts or the government to protect us. This will mean supporting abortion funds, organizations nationwide that raise the money people need to get the procedure and that offer wraparound services to meet the pregnant persons needs. Abortion funds connect people with a range of resources, helping them pay rent, buy diapers for the babies they already have, and explain to their employer why theyll be absent from work. Resisting the overturn of Roe will also mean looking to Black, Indigenous and low-income women and communities of color for leadership, Simpson said. These groups have been hardest hit by existing abortion restrictions and so have a head start in knowing how to survive the ongoing assault on human rights, she said. For example, the Hyde Amendment, a federal prohibition on Medicaid coverage of abortion, was enacted in 1976. Systemic racism and high costs have long denied many in these communities access to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services. The stakes are particularly high for those who are denied an abortion, as Diana Greene Foster and her landmark Turnaway Study have shown. Women who want the procedure and cant get one are much more likely to live in poverty, be unemployed, stay with abusive partners and suffer poor health impacts for years after their pregnancies, the study found. Black women have used workarounds for generations and will have to lean into this ancestral know-how as abortion gets further out of reach. Midwives were providing abortions as well as catching the babies, Simpson said. They were our first abortion clinics and our first abortion funds the sister circles in our communities. Were not doing anything new here. I know were prepared for this moment, even though its hard. Even though its scary. While some Americans will deepen their commitment to community self-reliance, others will stay focused on the federal governments responsibility to ensure womens rights. Last year, the House passed the Womens Health Protection Act. The law, which would have protected abortion rights nationwide, failed in the Senate. Voting in the midterms and beyond to change the makeup of Congress and state legislatures is important, but Simpson urges a multi-pronged approach, given that conservatives assault on human rights is itself multi-pronged. Voting rights are also under attack in this country, she said. Electoral change also takes time, and for many Americans the need for relief will be immediate. With Roe overturned, people may risk arrest and prosecution for engaging in activities such as crossing state lines, purchasing certain medications online, or visiting a hospital after having a miscarriage. Americans can expect to face greater levels of surveillance and policing, advocates said. Weve seen in recent years how pregnant people can be made to suffer when bodily autonomy is criminalized and a fetus is given more rights than the person carrying it: Healthcare providers, law enforcement officials and child welfare workers are given incredible power to act on their suspicions and biases and, sometimes unwittingly, ruin lives. Brittney Poolaw, a 21-year-old Oklahoma woman, was sentenced to four years in prison for manslaughter last year after she suffered a miscarriage and sought medical attention. Prosecutors built their case using reports from healthcare providers, with whom Poolaw shared that she had used illegal substances. Christine Taylor in Iowa was also treated as a perpetrator against her own womb. The 22-year-old pregnant mother was arrested after she tripped and fell down a flight of stairs and then sought medical treatment. Neither she nor her fetus were harmed, but hospital staff contacted law enforcement because she shared with them that at one point in her pregnancy, she had considered an abortion. This month, the organization National Advocates for Pregnant Women released a toolkit geared toward helping law enforcement, defense attorneys, medical examiners, hospital staff and legislators better understand their roles and responsibilities when interacting with pregnant people. According to the groups research, many in these professions believe they are required to make reports that can go on to result in a woman being investigated, having her children taken away, or even being incarcerated. But this is often a misinterpretation of their duties, the group argues. The health and just treatment of pregnant women and their families depends on individuals in the community choosing to disrupt these cruel cycles of surveillance and criminalization, the report reads. Clarifying the appropriate role of healthcare providers in a post-Roe America is especially important, as many people of reproductive age will turn to procuring the pills mifepristone and misoprostol by mail and managing their abortions at home. Three states explicitly ban self-managed abortion. But in more than a dozen states, existing laws could be used to criminalize people whose miscarriages or stillbirths are deemed suspicious and reported to police. During a livestream hosted by the news organization The Intercept Friday, Hayley McMahon, an abortion access researcher who focuses on self-managed abortion, recommended resources to help navigate these legal gray areas: the experts at If/When/How, PlanCPills.org, and the abortion privacy guide created by Digital Defense Fund. The road ahead will require that supporters of abortion rights engage in self-advocacy, community care through mutual aid, and political organizing. In overturning Roe, the Supreme Court has cleared the path for states to force women to carry their pregnancies to term and give birth. Its also motivated reproductive rights and reproductive justice activists to expand the networks and alliances theyve been building for years. We have the highest court in the land saying you dont have control over your body, Simpson of SisterSong said. This gives us an opportunity across our movements to build collective power. Dani McClain reports on race, parenting and reproductive health. McClain's writing has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, TIME, The Atlantic, Harper's Bazaar and EBONY.com. Her work has been recognized by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and she received a James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism. McClain is a Puffin Fellow at Type Media Center and a contributing writer at The Nation. She was a staff reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and has worked as a strategist with organizations including Color of Change and Drug Policy Alliance. Her book, We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood, was published in 2019 by Bold Type Books and was shortlisted in 2020 for a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award You Might Also Like KREMENCHUK, Ukraine Exhausted rescue workers picked through the smoldering rubble of what had been a busy shopping mall in central Ukraine on Tuesday, still searching for survivors after a deadly Russian missile strike once again left the country reeling and pleading with its international allies for tougher action. In this industrial city and across Ukraine, the attack relatively far from the artillery battles at the front lines was a jarring reminder that Russia's assault could arrive at their doorsteps at any time. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of carrying out one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history on the site in Kremenchuk, which he said was packed with hundreds of civilians. The death toll rose to at least 18 Tuesday, Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi told reporters, with nearly 60 others injured, including a child. More than 20 people were reported missing, Monastyrskyi said, adding that most of the bodies had not been identified because they were so severely burned. More than 1,000 people were reportedly shopping or working at the mall when air raid sirens sounded, leading many to evacuate and helping to hold down the number of potential deaths. Still, hope faded that anyone else might be found alive, and global outrage mounted. Leaders of the Group of Seven nations, which include the U.S., condemned what they called an abominable attack. They wrapped up a summit focused on the war with a pledge to impose economic pain on the Kremlin and support Ukraine for as long as it takes. The shopping center strike and the accompanying images of fiery wreckage brought renewed focus to the severe civilian toll of the Kremlins war after weeks of updates on the grinding battle for control of eastern Ukraine. Cherry pickers and cranes picked up large beams as workers toiled through mangled metal and debris inside the charred ruins of the shopping center. A strong smell of fire permeated the space. Story continues Speaking to NBC News at the site, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said the attack will be investigated as a possible war crime. Yurii Ruseniuk, the head of the surgical department at a local hospital, said the facility had handled 26 of the injured from the shopping center. Ruseniuk said he treated three patients, two of whom were working at the mall. The other had simply stopped by to use the malls ATM when the attack took place. Oleg Kovalenko, 56, who works as a mechanic at the local train station, said he was walking to his daughter's birthday party through a park next to the mall when he heard a clap and a second sound that left his ears buzzing for hours. The shock wave made his head spin, and it took a moment for him to realize he had been flung from his feet by the blast. Kovalenko, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said he had heard similar sounds before. "Everyone was on the ground: One grandma fell over the bench, another one fell as she was chasing her grandchild," he said as he swept up glass shards close to the attack. "All of them were alive but still lying on the floor or awkwardly crouching towards each other. I stood up and saw a column of black smoke rising." The regions governor, Dmytro Lunin, said it was the most tragic day for the Poltava area in more than four months of the war as he declared a regionwide day of mourning for the victims. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy denounced what he called a calculated Russian strike. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the strike but said it hit a legitimate military target in Kremenchuk on Monday, describing it as a depot that harbored weapons and ammunition supplied by the U.S. and its European partners. The detonation of the ammunition, the ministry said Tuesday, caused a fire in what it said was an empty and disused shopping mall nearby despite accounts from survivors and the presence of worried families fearing their loved ones may be among the dead. Russia has consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine, but local residents highlighted that the mall could not be confused for anything else. Kremenchuk is an industrial city with oil refineries, heavy machinery and chemical plants. The Amstor mall was a popular gathering place for residents, a site where younger people bought the latest gadgets at tech stores and older folks walked laps in its interior. Its supermarket was considered the mall's crown jewel, offering products that were otherwise difficult to find during the war meats, foreign spices, oils and rare liquors which allowed residents to celebrate special occasions or break from tradition. Natalia Katysheva, 47, a chemist at a municipal water treatment facility in the city, was a frequent shopper at the mall. She said that the attack happened on her way home from work and that her bus dropped her off 200 meters from the site of the blaze. She and other riders watched as the smoke unfurled across the blue sky, smelling burning plastic and feeling the scorching heat emanating from the mall even from that distance. "You know when you visit the store often the shopkeepers start noticing you. Maybe you dont know their names and they dont know your name, but there emerges some kind of a bond between you when you frequent the store," Katysheva said. "I was thinking about the people who were in Amstor at the time of attack. Maybe I did not know them like other people did, but I felt for them." Volunteers and firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the flames in Kremenchuk. (Efrem Lukatsky / AP) The attack in Kremenchuk capped several days of increasing Russian missile strikes on cities around Ukraine. The main thrust of Russias assault, now into its fifth month, has been focused for weeks on the eastern region of the Donbas, but the strikes in Kremenchuk and beyond served as brutal reminders that Ukrainians throughout the country remain vulnerable to Russian forces far-reaching artillery and airstrikes. Kyiv has been urging the West for weeks to provide it with long-range weapons and defensive systems to combat the firepower. A senior U.S. defense official said Monday it wasnt clear why Russia had launched the strikes across Ukraine in recent days. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said it could be in protest against the G-7 gathering or the delivery of U.S. high-mobility artillery rocket systems, known as HIMARS, to Ukraine. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. also plans to send Ukraine a medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile defense system. Zelenskyy warned of greater hostile activity from Russia this month, saying Russia could strike purposefully and demonstratively as Ukraines Western allies gathered for the series of summits in Europe. Alex Guzenko, Ellison Barber and Susan Archer reported from Kremenchuk, Ukraine, and Yuliya Talmazan reported from London. News Vietnam COVID-19 yet to be considered an endemic disease: Ministry of Health Beth Redbird took to sociology wanting to make societies better. While working in the areas of affordable housing development and anti-poverty programs, Redbird learned the power of data. Now Redbird, an Oglala Lakota and Oklahoma Choctaw, is all about showing the world the data contained in tribal constitutions. As co-director of the Tribal Constitution Project, Northwestern University assistant professor Redbird is focused on gathering, analyzing and cataloging hundreds of constitutions of North American Indigenous tribes passed from 1934-2020. By looking at the structures of self-governance between nations, Redbird is focusing a lens on the development of tribal sovereignty and the influences that shaped constitutions within the history of the United States. Advertisement Redbird is on this National Science Foundation-funded journey with co-director Erin Delaney, a Northwestern law professor. The project partnered with the New York University-Yale American Indian Sovereignty Project, where law student volunteers trained in Indigenous law notate the contents of each tribal document. Beth Redbird, a Northwestern University assistant professor of sociology and Native studies, is seen June 17, 2022. As co-director of the Tribal Constitution Project, Redbird is focused on gathering and analyzing hundreds of constitutions of North American Indigenous tribes. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Constitutions are one of the most significant components of tribal sovereignty, she said. For better or worse, they determine the structure of a tribal government. They allow access to self-determination. But theyre also one of the primary ways that a tribe asserts its sovereignty. These constitutions are a direct indication of how nations seek to control their own affairs, and they articulate how a tribe sees itself as a people and as a nation. Advertisement According to Redbird, the collection of tribal constitutions got its start in 2018 at NUs Institute for Policy Research when the summer research fellows program helped launch an archival mission to unearth every constitution enacted by a federally recognized tribe in the continental U.S. Over the next four years, more than 10 undergraduates helped collect, clean and catalog more than 1,200 constitutional documents by searching dozens of law libraries and legal repositories, contacting tribal nations and with assistance from librarians and archivists. The project shows the constitutions origins, citizenship, and rights in the United States. Redbird said the initiatives goals are about creating a tool for use by tribal courts and lawyers who want to assert sovereignty, claim treaty rights, reclaim land and engage in sovereignty affirming action; for use by researchers for policy analysis; and for pedagogical use for teachers and students. Native studies is vastly undertaught in public schools, and most schools omit discussions of tribes as nation and modern tribal issues altogether, Redbird said. That omits not only the entire history of the United States with Native peoples, but it omits the contributions of Native peoples to modern American society and to the world. One of the goals of the Constitution Project is to help people understand that tribal governments still exist. And theyre vibrant and theyre diverse and theyre interesting, and theyre innovative. And theyre important, and they contribute. Dorene Wiese, chief executive officer of the American Indian Association of Illinois, an urban-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming American Indian education into an experience founded in Native culture, language and history, says the project is important because the American Indian population is still in a civil rights struggle. Legal documents keep us alive, she said. We have treaties and constitutions that have been approved by the federal government. We look at them all, theyre going to say that the tribe is a corporation, and members really are not given that much power in terms of the governance of the tribe itself. Tribes always have had things that they needed to do for their people and their land for survival. The government has always interfered with that and tried to control everything about Indian people religion, music, dance. These constitutions were written to appease the federal government, not in the best interest of our own people. Plans are being made to create a public web portal that contains history and facts about tribal governments, and information about the contents of the constitutions. The portal will also serve as a mechanism for tribes to contextualize their own constitutions as the narrators of their own stories.According to Redbird, allowing tribes to narrate their own history and describe their governments in their own voice is not only vital to the concept of sovereignty, but important to accurate knowledge about whats actually contained in the documents. These documents do something really important, Redbird said. They express how a tribe asserts its sovereignty. They represent the structure of a tribe on the ground, as seen in federal policy. This is not the be all and end all of how tribes govern but what it is, is an expression that is read by courts and the federal government in deciding tribal rights, tribal sovereignty, tribal cases. Its also a statement by the tribe on the things they wish to officially claim sovereignty over. Sovereignty is not one size fits all. Tribes make strategic decisions, to use their autonomy in very specific ways to benefit their members. What these constitutions do is provide a snapshot for how tribes see themselves, how they perceive their future as nations and how they are asserting their sovereignty today. One of the questions (we) are seeking to answer is how much influence the federal government has had in the passage of these constitutions. Advertisement Advertisement drockett@chicagotribune.com ALONA MAZURENKO TUESDAY, 28 JUNE 2022, 18:43 The Russian occupiers have fired 6 Calibre missiles on Dnipro from the Black Sea, and Ukrainian defenders managed to shoot down four of them. Source: Air Force Command Quote: "Today (28 June ed.), at about 5.30 pm, the Russian occupiers struck with Calibre naval-based cruise missiles from the Black Sea. Six Ruscists missiles were aimed at the city of Dnipro." Details: Ukrainian defenders report that anti-aircraft missile units of the Skhid [East] Air Command managed to shoot down 4 Russian missiles. Valentyn Reznichenko, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, said that the railway infrastructure and an industrial enterprise in Dnipro had been destroyed due to "arrivals": "A car repair service company is on fire". In Synelnykove district, the scale of the destruction is being clarified. Reznichenko also notes that the military shot down 3 missiles: "over the Dnipro and over Synelnykove district". Previously: On 28 June, the Russian invaders fired on Dnipro. The mayor of Dnipro Boris Filatov reported that rockets had hit a car repair service company, people were under the rubble and rescuers were putting out a fire. In this article: (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Bali next week, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Jakarta told Reuters on Tuesday. The meeting, hosted by current G20 chair Indonesia takes place from July 7-8. (Reporting by Kate Lamb in Sydney; Editing by Martin Petty) By Alistair Smout and Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans on Tuesday for a second referendum to be held on Scottish independence in October next year, vowing to take legal action to ensure a vote if the British government tried to block it. Sturgeon spoke as the Scottish government, which is led by her pro-independence Scottish National Party, published a referendum bill outlining plans for the secession vote to take place on Oct. 19, 2023. She also said she would be writing to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for permission to hold a consultative referendum, but had already set in motion plans to get the legal authority should he try to block her. "The issue of independence cannot be suppressed. It must be resolved democratically. And that must be through a process that is above reproach and commands confidence," Sturgeon told lawmakers in the devolved Scottish Parliament. "What I am not willing to do, what I will never do, is allow Scottish democracy to be a prisoner of Boris Johnson or any prime minister." Voters in Scotland, which has a population of around 5.5 million, rejected independence in 2014. But Scotland's semi-autonomous government says Britain's departure from the European Union, which was opposed by a majority of Scots, means the question must be put to a second vote. Pro-independence parties won a majority in the elections last year and Sturgeon, under pressure from some in her own party, had promised to hold a vote by the end of 2023. Polls suggest a vote would be too close to call. Johnson and his ruling Conservative Party, which is in opposition in Scotland, strongly oppose a referendum, saying the issue was settled in 2014 when Scots voted against independence by 55% to 45%. Polls in 2022 vary, with some showing a similar split, and others showing the gap narrowing. Johnson has previously refused to issue a "Section 30" order, which gives authority to the Scottish parliament to hold a referendum, and said earlier on Tuesday the main priority for Britain was the economic pressures the country faced. Story continues His spokesman later reiterated that the government believed it was not the time to be discussing a new referendum. Sturgeon said that the legality of a referendum without permission from the British government was contested, and so she had already asked the Lord Advocate, the senior Scottish Law Officer, to refer the question to the UK's Supreme Court. The top court said once the referral has been made to its president, he would decide whether there were any preliminary matters to be addressed and when the case would be heard. "At this stage, we cannot confirm when the case will be heard," it said in a statement. If the court found the Scottish parliament could not hold an independence referendum without the prime minister's consent, Sturgeon said the SNP would instead fight the next UK election on a platform of whether Scotland should be independent. (Reporting by Alistair Smout and Michael Holden, additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by William James, Raissa Kasolowsky, Catherine Evans, Alexandra Hudson) Cassidy Hutchinson, a top former aide to Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testifies Tuesday during the sixth hearing held by the Jan. 6 committee. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images) In testimony before a House panel Tuesday, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson outlined a stunning series of events surrounding the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, including an account that then-President Trump lunged at a Secret Service agent in a desperate bid to travel to the Capitol after his speech that day. Hutchinson revealed that White House officials knew about the risk of violence on Jan. 6 in the days prior to the attack, and testified that Trump knew supporters at his rally were armed, wanted them to bypass security and was still determined to go to the Capitol with them after his speech, despite concerns raised by his advisors. "Please make sure we don't go up to the Capitol," White House Counsel Pat Cipollone told Hutchinson on the morning of Jan. 6. "We're going to get charged with every crime imaginable if we make that movement happen." Here are some of the bombshell revelations from the hearing and Hutchinson's testimony: Several Trump aides knew the risk of violence before Jan. 6 The Department of Justice and the Secret Service were aware of security concerns about Trump's supporters targeting the Capitol. The Secret Service's intelligence division sent messages to Robert Engel, the head of Trump's security detail, and Tony Ornato, the former deputy chief of staff for operations, who handled security. Ornato told Meadows on the morning of Jan. 6 that police had confiscated weapons, including guns and flagpoles, from people attending the president's rally. Hutchinson said that Meadows appeared uninterested and didn't look up from his phone when he received the news, saying: "All right, anything else?" Trump knew Jan. 6 rally attendees had weapons Ahead of his Jan. 6 speech near the White House, Trump expressed anger that the secure area surrounding the stage was not full of people, Hutchinson said. Ornato said that several of the president's supporters did not want to go through the "mags," or magnetometers, to be screened because they did not want to have their weapons confiscated. Story continues "I don't f care that they have weapons. They're not here to hurt me," Trump said, according to Hutchinson. "Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here. Let the people in; take the mags away." Trump went on to urge his supporters to march to the Capitol and said he would join them. White House counsel raised concerns about Trump speech Eric Herschmann, a former senior advisor to Trump, said that it would be "foolish" for the former president to include certain lines in his speech, Hutchinson said. Those sections included language about fighting for Trump, going to the Capitol and references to then-Vice President Mike Pence. Herschmann and the White House counsel's office urged speechwriters not to include those lines "for legal concerns and also for the optics of what it could portray the president wanting to do that day," she said. Trump wanted to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6 In his 2021 book, "The Chief's Chief," Meadows wrote that Trump was speaking metaphorically when he said he wanted to go to the Capitol with his supporters on Jan. 6. But Hutchinson testified the president was serious and that it was discussed in the days prior to the insurrection. On the evening of Jan. 2, after Trump lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani met with Meadows at the White House, he told Hutchinson: "We're going to the Capitol. It's going to be great. The president's going to be there, he's going to be powerful ... talk to the chief about it, he knows about it." Hutchinson said she followed up with Meadows, who told her "things might get real, real bad on Jan. 6." Prior to that meeting, Hutchinson said she felt "apprehensive" about Jan. 6. That evening was the first moment that I remember feeling scared and nervous for what could happen, she said. Hutchinson said there were discussions about Trump giving another speech outside the Capitol or going into the House chamber. Cipollone urged Hutchinson to make sure the president did not go to the Capitol, stating that he was worried it would lead to charges of obstructing justice, inciting a riot and defrauding the electoral count. Other aides, including former Trump assistant Nick Luna, also testified in video depositions that Trump wanted to go to the Capitol. Trump lunged for limousine steering wheel to go to Capitol After the president and his staff returned to the White House, Ornato pulled Hutchinson aside into a room with Engel. Ornato told her that Trump had a "very strong, very angry response" when Engel told him they would not be going to the Capitol. "The president said something to the effect of 'I'm the f president, take me up to the Capitol now,'" she said. Things escalated from there. "The president reached up toward the front of the vehicle to grab the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm," she said. "Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge toward Bobby Engel." Hutchinson said Engel was in the room while Ornato relayed the story, and did not dispute it. Trump didn't want to take action to stop the riot on Jan. 6 Hutchinson said there were three ideological camps within the White House when it came to responding to the insurrection: One group wanted immediate action, one group knew they needed to act but also wanted to placate Trump, and one group wanted to "deflect and blame" and point the finger at antifa activists. She said Meadows was in the deflect-and-blame group but eventually took on a more moderate stance. About 2 p.m on that day, as rioters swarmed the Capitol, Hutchinson said she went into Meadows' office, where he was on his cellphone. She asked him whether he'd talked to the president about what was happening. "He said, 'No, [Trump] wants to be alone right now,'" she testified. A few minutes later, Cipollone went to Meadows' office and said they needed to see the president immediately. Meadows told him, "He doesn't want to do anything." Cipollone said: "Something needs to be done or people are going to die and the blood's going to be on your f hands." After Meadows and Cipollone met with the president, Cipollone said they needed to do more to stop the attack on the Capitol, especially with rioters chanting they wanted to hang Pence. "You heard him, Pat, he thinks Mike [Pence] deserves it," Meadows said, according to Hutchinson. Trump later tweeted that Pence didn't have the "courage to do what needed to be done." "I remember feeling frustrated, disappointed.... I was really sad," Hutchinson said. "As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic, it was unpatriotic." Trump threw his lunch at wall after reading William Barr story After former Atty. Gen. William Barr told the Associated Press that the Department of Justice had found no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud, Trump threw his lunch against the wall. Hutchinson said that after the article was published online, a White House valet said that Trump wanted to see Meadows in the dining room. After Meadows returned, Hutchinson said she went to the dining room and saw ketchup dripping on the wall and a shattered plate on the floor. "The valet had articulated the president was extremely angry at the attorney general's AP interview and had thrown his lunch against the wall," she said. Trump and Meadows wanted to include pardon language in Jan. 7 speech On Jan. 7, President Trump delivered a brief, on-camera address condemning the previous days Capitol attack. According to Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the vice chair of the committee, Deputy White House Counsel Pat Philbin wrote a draft of the speech the morning of Jan. 7, which he shared with Cipollone, who approved it. Trump initially resisted giving a speech, but was convinced by a group of people that included his daughter Ivanka, her husband, Jared Kushner, Herschmann, Cipollone, Philbin and Meadows. Part of the argument in favor of the speech was concern over the possibility Trump's Cabinet would attempt to use the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. Trump rejected lines about prosecuting rioters and wanted to include language about offering pardons. Hutchinson said Meadows was also supportive of pardon language. She said that both he and Giuliani sought pardons. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Steve Bray may no longer be able to boom his message across Westminster after his loudspeaker was confiscated - Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images Steve Bray, the top hat-wearing anti-Brexit protester, has had his loudspeaker confiscated by police and been warned he could face large fines, after new laws on protesting kicked in. Social media videos showed officers walking away with Mr Brays speaker as he shouted: This is not the law. It comes as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 took effect, including a provision that allows police to intervene against noisy protest. Previously, Mr Brays noisy actions had been protected as an act of legitimate political protest. The former numismatist became well-known during the height of Parliaments Brexit crises by wandering around Parliament Square ringing a bell and shouting Stop Brexit! at the top of his lungs. A video uploaded to the protester's Twitter page showed two officers calmly explaining to Mr Bray that he was no longer allowed to protest noisily within the vicinity of Parliament. He responded by saying it was his human right and challenged the police to arrest or fine him. You slap all the fines on me you like, you know what Ill say? Uh! he said, while giving the middle finger to the police with both hands. They have started already. This is Parliamentary police just now. pic.twitter.com/ZSEEm1Pj13 Steve Bray Activist Against Brexit +Corrupt Tories (@snb19692) June 28, 2022 In another video, an officer told Mr Bray that he was being recorded on bodycam. Mr Bray responded by saying: Ive got a message for someone. Up yours Priti Patel, while holding up a middle finger to the officers body cam. So it starts they are threatening to seize the amps and give me fixed penalty fine. So be it! pic.twitter.com/grjFqWOQ4L Steve Bray Activist Against Brexit +Corrupt Tories (@snb19692) June 28, 2022 The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 faced significant protest and opposition during its passage through Parliament. Story continues The House of Lords initially voted to remove anti-protester provisions but was overridden by the House of Commons. A number of Tory MPs criticised the Bill, but failed to block its passage. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, criticised the Bill at the time, calling it deeply authoritarian. However Ms Patel, the Home Secretary, defended it - claiming that it would protect Britain from mob rule. The Act, a reaction to disruptive protests by groups such as Extinction Rebellion, also includes provisions that criminalise interfering with national infrastructure and obstructing transport networks. The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment. Lee en espanol Arizona businesses have partnered with an abortion rights organization to help collect petition signatures that would put a constitutional amendment making abortion legal in the state on the November ballot. The effort was coordinated by Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom, a coalition of health care professionals and advocates whose goal is to collect 356,467 voter signatures before the July 7 deadline. If the endorsement goal is met, Arizonans will have a chance to vote in November if they want to make abortion a constitutional right in the state or not. The organization submitted the petition application to the Arizona Secretary of States Office on May 16, two weeks after the draft leak of the Supreme Courts opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. Within hours following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade eliminating abortion as a protected constitutional right thousands took to the streets across the state to speak against the ruling. Others held demonstrations to celebrate it throughout the weekend. Following the decision, abortion rights organizations in Arizona issued an emergency motion on Saturday asking the federal court to block the law from prevailing to protect health care workers who perform abortions from being charged with assault or child abuse felonies. The majority of abortion clinics in Arizona have already stopped providing services on Friday out of fear of facing criminal charges related to two state laws on the books banning abortion. The newest out of the two was passed in April 2021 and prohibits abortion at 15 weeks, except in cases to save the mother's life. The law could take effect 90 days after the state Legislature adjourned, which would be Sept. 24. Physicians who violate the law could face felony charges and the removal of their professional licenses. Story continues Another ban, which dates back to pre-statehood, criminalizes helping someone access abortion, except to save the mother's life, and calls for a mandatory prison sentence of two to five years for violators. It is unclear which of the two state laws could prevail following the Supreme Court ruling. Latest on Arizona abortion law: 1864 law to send abortion providers to prison may apply, prosecutor says What the abortion rights measure would do The proposed constitutional amendment would create a new right for Arizonans to make decisions about abortion, contraception, prenatal care, childbirth, infertility care and related services. The amendment would take power away from the government to "restrict, penalize, frustrate or otherwise interfere" with any of those rights, including "pre-viability" abortions, or interfere with nonmedical reproductive services. Abortions would still be limited by the viability of the fetus, as they are now, but with no set time frame as a firm rule. Viability would be defined by a "good faith medical judgment" of a licensed health care professional that a fetus would survive, with or without artificial support, the initiative states. Abortion-rights activists protest outside the Arizona state Capitol following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, in Phoenix on June 25, 2022. What Arizona businesses are doing to support measure As of Monday afternoon, more than 25 businesses across the state with a majority of them concentrated in Pima County had partnered up with Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom in an effort to collect the over 300,000 signatures needed to get the measure on the ballot. The owner of Phoenix-based Tres Leches Cafe, Magali Martinez Saenz, is one of the businesses that will be taking part in the signature-collection efforts on Monday evening. Martinez said she, her husband and her kids went out on Friday night to the Arizona Capitol to protest for reproductive rights. She said she initially felt safe participating in the demonstration until she heard tear gas warnings from other protesters. Abortion reaction: 4 arrested, several detained after protesters push down fencing "Not even a couple minutes later we started seeing them shoot canisters from the windows. We were so scared, the kids were terrified," she said. "We had a right to be there, they have absolutely no reason to shoot out into crowds of families. So, what else can we do? I can't demonstrate, I can't be out there with my 2-month-old baby." She said she then came across the petition initiative from Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom on social media. "We know that we have to do something," she said. "We're hosting this event (on Monday) because we know that it impacts our demographic, our community directly." Gabe Hagen, one of the owners of Brick Road Coffee in Tempe, said he believes it's important for Arizonans to have a chance to decide on the ballot if they want to keep abortion legal in the state. "If they want to leave it to the states, let the states decide. If that's what they want, then the people need their voices heard," he said. For Hagen, the signature collection process should not be a necessary step to let the people cast their vote on the matter, he said. "This is what we have to do, so this is what we will do," he said. "What I'm seeing here, what I have been experiencing is just so much support. I do believe we'll be able to meet the deadline." Petition events will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Tres Leches Cafe and from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Brick Road Coffee. Arizona abortion law: What you need to know now that Roe v. Wade is overturned Tucson shops also gathering signatures Tucson businesses also have partnered with Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom to help gather signatures for the petition. The Gloo Factory, at 238 E. 26th St., is a full-service print shop in south Tucson and one such partner. Weve been printing all the petitions, said Samantha Thomas, who works at the Gloo Factory. She said the Gloo Factory has people picking up the petitions to then going to collect signatures while they are also mailing out between 25,000 and 45,000 petitions beyond Tucsons bounds. The Gloo Factory decided to partner with the organization because they were already very involved with south Tucson and political campaigns in the Democratic party, so it was a no-brainer, Thomas said. While there has not been too much traffic yet, Thomas said the partnership is very new and they expect more people to come in as the week goes on. There are several other businesses in Tucson that have petitions available for pickup, most of which are located downtown or on Historic Fourth Avenue, with a few scattered elsewhere. The easternmost locations are Revolutionary Grounds Books & Coffee and the Pima Democratic Party, both located near Speedway Boulevard and Swan Road. Although Pima County and Maricopa County have the most available locations to sign, Pinal, Graham, Santa Cruz, Coconino and Yavapai counties also each have one location. Additional locations accepting signatures can be found on the Arizonans for Reproductive Freedoms website. Where do they stand? These candidates for governor could decide the future of Arizona abortion law Republic reporter Ray Stern contributed to this article. Reach breaking news reporter Laura Daniella Sepulveda at lsepulveda@lavozarizona.com or on Twitter @lauradNews. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Abortion rights petition: Arizona businesses collect signatures The annual Spaceport America Cup rocketry competition concluded Saturday night, but most of its winners have yet to be announced owing to delays in assembling flight data. The international event draws college teams from all over the world for a week-long event that includes exhibitions at the Las Cruces Convention Center and rocket launches at Spaceport America's vertical launch facilities in Sierra County. This year's event was the first in-person competition since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While 152 teams registered for the event, not all of them made it to New Mexico. On Thursday, the first day of launches, approximately 100 teams were reportedly on site. Launches had been scheduled to commence Wednesday, but rains throughout the day soaked the grounds and mired several vehicles in deep mud on unpaved area roads. Spaceport America's fire department helped free approximately 15 vehicles from that predicament, spokesperson Alice Carruth said. University of Akron's Akronauts Rocket Design Team assemble their rocket on the launch pad during Spaceport America Cup competition at Spaceport America on Thursday, June 23, 2022. The team won a technical award for their project at the event's closing ceremony on June 25. An hour into Saturday night's awards ceremony in Las Cruces, Spaceport America director Scott McLaughlin gave a speech to the young rocketeers about tenacity and learning from errors or mishaps. Some of you had a really good week, some of you had a bad week," he said, "but the only mistake you made is if you dont learn from those mistakes. Later in the evening, the tough news came from Cliff Olmsted, president of the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association, the nonprofit that has managed the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) since 2006: Most of the event's 17 awards would not be distributed that night, as ESRA judges were still compiling and analyzing flight data needed to judge each mission. Listen:This week's Reporter's Notebook Podcast delves into Spaceport America Cup Theres a real possibility we may not get that data tonight," he announced. "Thats really hard news very hard for you to hear, very hard for me to give. Were going to make sure that data is accurate, were going to make sure were giving the right awards to the right teams. Story continues That includes the event's Chile Cup, an award exclusively for university teams from New Mexico and Texas. Many of the awards differentiate between rockets based on their fuels and target altitudes of 10,000 or 30,000 feet, in addition to the competition's overall winning team. "The system tracking the launch data crashed on Saturday," Carruth explained Monday. As a result, she said the data needed to be "manually input into their system," a process slowed further because judges have returned to their homes and regular jobs. "It will likely take until the end of the week to analyze," Carruth wrote in an email. Space Dynamics Laboratory presented the three winners for its payload challenge, which awards cash prizes for the design and performance of research payloads that fly on the rockets. Those honors went to teams from the University of Queensland in third place, West Virginia University in second and University of Sydney in first. The teams won $500, $750 and $1,000 respectively. Olmsted also presented a team sportsmanship award to Worcester Polytechnic Institute's team, and three technical awards which went to students from the University of Melbourne, University of Michigan-Dearborn and University of Akron. On Tuesday, ESRA had yet to post winners on its website. A post on the event's official Facebook page stated, "Experimental Sounding Rocket Association continues to work on collecting data and will hopefully have an update on results by the end of this week." A rocket is launched during Spaceport America Cup competition at Spaceport America on Thursday, June 23, 2022. "The rest of these awards behind me are still on the table," Olmsted announced, indicating the trophies on display behind him. "Were still working to make sure we get you the right information and get the right trophies to the right people. He also honored longtime volunteer and range safety officer Tony Alcocer, who is retiring, and first-time volunteer Holly Gummelt. The competition has been held at Spaceport America since 2017, when the IREC was rebranded as the Spaceport America Cup. The leading sponsor of this year's competition, Sierra Space, signed an agreement earlier this month adding the spaceport as a potential landing site for the company's Dream Chaser commercial spacecraft. Others are reading: Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Spaceport America Cup 2022 awards delayed by technical problems Carolyn Drove, 25, votes in the Illinois primary election on June 28, 2022, at Kelvyn Park High School in Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood. Two of the neighborhood's four precincts had to turn voters away. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Late-arriving poll workers and no-shows caused delayed starts in a primary election Tuesday that forced some polls to stay open later despite relatively low voter turnout. The delays were considered serious enough for the Cook County clerks office to seek a court order Tuesday afternoon that kept certain precincts open an hour later at Kennedy School in Chicago Heights, Golf Middle School in Morton Grove, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Melrose Park, Roosevelt School in Broadview and Douglas MacArthur School in Hoffman Estates. Advertisement Advertisement Six precincts that opened late this morning remained open until 8 p.m., which was expected to delay the clerks reporting of results, the clerks office said. The remaining 1,424 precincts in suburban Cook County closed at 7 p.m. [ [Live results] 2022 primary election in Illinois ] Chicagos Board of Elections found 56 delayed openings at precinct polling locations, said agency spokesperson Max Bever. But he said election investigators hadnt found enough evidence of problems needed to ask a court to keep any of them open beyond 7 p.m. The courts intervention for the suburban precincts came after a morning in which some locations across the city and suburbs struggled to open on time amid a shortage of workers. At Kelvyn Park High School in Hermosa, two of the four precincts had to turn voters away into the afternoon. One was Jenny Morales, a 46-year-old shift manager, who was told by an elections official that shed need to go to an early voting site to cast her vote because the election judges for her precinct did not show up. I feel angry and I feel frustrated, she said, adding she didnt plan to go to the early voting site that was nearly two miles away. Youre not gonna shuffle me back and forth. This is ridiculous. Election coordinator Alison Chambliss said when she arrived before the polls opened at 6 a.m., they only had enough staff to accept voters for two precincts. She said in nearly 20 years of working at polling places, the staffing issues Tuesday stood out. This is one of the worst in terms of judges, she said. Theres always been a body. Polling places in Humboldt Park also had problems. As of 8:30 a.m., state Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Democrat running in the 3rd Congressional District race, was one of two voters who had shown up at her polling place at Harriet Beecher Stowe School, which opened with two of four poll workers still yet to arrive. Advertisement Ramirez said while she was en route to vote, she saw volunteers in front of the voting site at Yates Elementary School did not have voting booths open as of 6:45 a.m. Unfortunately, Lillian and I talked to a number of voters who said, Im sorry, Ive been waiting, I have to get to work, said Ramirez, who addressed reporters alongside Lillian Jimenez, who is running to replace Ramirezs seat in the Illinois House. We have people who absolutely understand the importance of voting, especially when we see whats happening in the country, and they wont be able to vote, Ramirez said. A poll worker at the school later told the Tribune that while they had opened on time, they were short staffed with half the number of judges as usual. Between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., there were 137 voters split among three precincts at the location, the worker said. Michele Ryba of Archer Heights said she showed up to her polling place at Edwards Elementary School at 8:45 a.m. only to discover she could not vote because no election judges had shown up. Several people trying to vote were turned away, she said. Ryba, who works as a marketing director in the hospitality industry, ended up voting instead at the Archer Heights Library, an early voting location. Advertisement At least I got to vote, she wrote in an email to the Tribune. I wonder how many people were turned away due to election judges not showing up and voters not being directed to an alternate polling place. [ Election 2022: Read all of our coverage here ] Some sites opened later because of judges who resigned in recent days, including some who resigned as late as 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., Bever said. Another challenge, Bever said, may have been that 48 precinct polling places were left vacant, under court order, after struggles lining up polling places for Tuesday, ranging from summer availability to accessibility issues. That affected nearly 60,000 Chicago voters, who received letters and emails letting them know how to vote Tuesday. By 7 p.m. Tuesday, the total number of ballots cast in Chicago was 299,460, counting those cast early, by mail and at the polls, but not counting any mail-in ballots yet to be received by elections officials. The vote tally represented 20% of registered voters. That is lower than four of the last five primary elections, which ranged from 16.5% turnout in March 2014 to 53.5% in March 2016. The last gubernatorial primary, in March 2018, saw a 32.7% turnout of Chicago voters. Turnout increased steadily throughout the day, with most people voting around 5 p.m. A total of 163,360 ballots were cast on Election Day in the city as of 7 p.m., with the highest number of votes cast among people ages 65 to 74, Bever said. Election officials wary of lower voter turnout had urged voters to cast their votes early by mail, before leaving town for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Along with falling on a nonpresidential election year, the primary date is unusually late. The election was moved from its usual March date because 2020 U.S. Census Bureau numbers needed for redistricting were late, making it the latest Illinois has held a primary since at least the Great Depression. Advertisement While in-person early voting lagged behind the last midterm, more people voted by mail than in the 2018 midterms. Statewide, 460,114 votes had been cast early or by mail as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, compared with 449,749 in 2018, according to Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections. That includes 171,556 mail ballots returned so far, compared with 96,875 mail ballots in 2018. Another 166,859 mail ballots remained unreturned as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dietrich said. In Chicago, 115,545 ballots had been cast through early voting or voting by mail by the close of early voting Monday evening, Bever said. By comparison, a total of 129,509 ballots had been cast the day before the 2018 midterm primary, Bever said. While early voting tallies were lower overall in Chicago, more than twice as many ballots were returned by mail before the election compared with 2018, mirroring the trend seen statewide. As of Monday, 51,078 ballots had been returned by mail, compared with 20,228 one day before the 2018 election, Bever said. Another 73,801 mail-in ballots had yet to be returned in Chicago as of Monday. Tuesday was the last day a mail-in ballot could be postmarked to be counted. Any ballot postmarked after June 28 will not be counted, and ballots must be received by local election authorities by July 12. Advertisement More than 160 teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators from the Illinois attorney generals office were monitoring the election throughout Illinois for potential problems, according to a news release. Voters who suspect improper or illegal activity can call 866-536-3496 in Chicago and northern Illinois, or 866-559-6812 in central and southern Illinois. Spanish public prosecutors said Tuesday they have opened an investigation into the deaths of at least 23 migrants during a mass attempt to cross into Spain's Melilla enclave. The announcement came a few hours before the United Nations denounced what it called "excessive force" by authorities on the border between Morocco and Spain and demanded an investigation into the migrants' deaths. The tragedy occurred at dawn on Friday when around 2,000 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, tried to break through the fence from Morocco into the tiny Spanish enclave. Moroccan authorities said some had fallen while trying to scramble over the fence, giving an initial toll of 18 dead, but later raising it to 23 after another five migrants died of their injuries. They said 140 Moroccan police were wounded. There were very few details about the incident, but Spanish media showed images of many people lying on the ground, some with bloodied hands and torn clothes. The death toll is by far the worst recorded in years of attempts by migrants to cross into Melilla, one of Spain's two North African enclaves which have the European Union's only land borders with Africa, making them a magnet for migrants desperate to escape grinding poverty and hunger. In a statement, the Spanish prosecutors' office said the decision was made by Attorney General Dolores Delgado in order "to clarify what happened at the Melilla border", citing the "seriousness and gravity" of the incident and its impact on the individuals' fundamental and human rights. "We saw the use of excessive force by the authorities, which needs to be investigated because it is unacceptable," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters in New York. Earlier on Tuesday, the United Nations' rights office called for an independent investigation "as a first step towards establishing the circumstances of the deaths and injuries", spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said. Story continues While it remained unclear how the deaths had occurred, Shamdasani said the office had received reports of "migrants beaten with batons, kicked, shoved, and attacked with stones by Moroccan officials as they tried to scale the barbed-wire fence" which is between six and 10 metres high. The African Union has also called for an "immediate investigation," with AU Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat expressing "deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants attempting to cross an international border from Morocco into Spain". In Morocco, prosecutors are moving to press charges against 65 migrants, mostly Sudanese, who took part in the storming of the border, a defence lawyer in Rabat said on Monday. tpe/hmw/chz/spm MADRID (AP) Spain's prime minister is defending the way Moroccan and Spanish police repelled migrants last week as they tried to cross the shared border into the north African enclave of Melilla, depicting the attempt in which at least 23 people died as an attack on Spain's borders. We must remember that many of these migrants attacked Spains borders with axes and hooks, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said during an interview Monday with The Associated Press. We are talking about an attempt to assault the fence that was evidently carried out in an aggressive way, and therefore what Spains state security forces and Moroccan guards did was defend Spains borders. Authorities in Morocco have blamed the deaths on a stampede of people that formed early Friday as hundreds attempted to scale or break through the 12-meter (29-feet) iron double fence. The barrier surrounds Melilla, a town of 85,000 separated from the Spanish mainland by the Strait of Gibraltar. Nonprofits working in northern Africa and human rights organizations have deplored the treatment the migrants received from police on both sides. But they have also directed their blame at Spanish and European Union officials who they say have essentially outsourced border controls to Morocco and other states. Sanchez, whose left-to-center government is trying to improve ties with Morocco following an acrimonious diplomatic dispute over Western Sahara, has refused to criticize the crackdown. Speaking at the palace on the outskirts of Madrid that hosts his office and residence, Sanchez told AP that his thoughts were with the families of those who died. But he blamed the tragedy on international human trafficking rings who are profiting from the suffering of human beings who only want to seek a better life. I insist, these are international mafia groups that are not only damaging the territorial integrity of Spain but also that of Morocco, which is a country suffering that irregular migration. Story continues Sanchez spoke to AP on the eve of hosting NATO leaders in a summit that aims to redraw the defense alliances strategy for the next decade. While Russias invasion of Ukraine will take center stage at the Wednesday and Thursday meeting, the group will also debate its posture on Africa, where Russian mercenaries are adding to concerns about migration, extremism and the impacts of poverty and climate change. Footage uploaded to social media shows how a large number of migrants approached a section of the fence and began scaling it. Some of the migrants hurled rocks at Moroccan anti-riot police trying to stop them. At one point, the fence collapses, sending many of the migrants to the ground from a height of several meters. In at least one video released by Spanish online news website eldiario.es, Spanish guards can also be seen escorting migrants back to the Moroccan side, a practice that human rights activists say denies the right of refugees to apply for asylum on European soil. More gruesome videos and photos posted online appear to show the aftermath of the crossing attempt, with scores of young men, some of them motionless and others barely moving and bleeding as Moroccan security forces stood over them. At least 76 civilians and 140 security officers on the Moroccan side, and 60 National Police and Civil Guard officers on the Spanish side, were injured, according to their respective governments. A small group of African men who did make it across the fence were taken to a migrant holding center in Melilla. Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the continents largest grouping of countries, the African Union, has called for an investigation into the deaths. In a tweet, Mahamat said he wanted to express my deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants, adding that all countries have obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritize their safety and human rights while refraining from the use of excessive force. While Moroccan authorities say 23 people died in addition to scores of injuries both among the migrants and border guards, activists claim that the death toll is higher and denounce the EU's policy of striking deals with Morocco and other states like Turkey to control migration flows. A group of 51 human rights groups said Monday in a joint statement distributed by Spanish NGO Walking Borders that the deaths are the tragic example of the European Union's policies of externalizing its borders, with the complicity of a southern country, Morocco. The death of these young Africans at the borders of Fortress Europe is a warning of the deadly nature of the security cooperation on immigration between Morocco and Spain, the statement added. Spanish authorities in Melilla, meanwhile, are using the most recent attempt by migrants to cross over in mass numbers to make an appeal for even greater guarantees on their territorial security. Last year, when relations between Spain and Morocco were frayed, Moroccan border guard let thousands of people cross in a few hours in Ceuta, Spains other enclave city in Africa. Since then, the Spanish media has been rife with debate about whether NATO would help Spain out if its hold of Melilla and Ceuta was ever in jeopardy. Melilla is Europes southern frontier, and that is why Europe must look to the south, Melilla chief Eduardo de Castro said Monday. ___ Follow more AP migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration Forensic personnel carry a body out of a bar in the city of East London, South Africa. STR/AFP via Getty Images At least 21 people were mysteriously found dead in a bar in South Africa on Sunday. Survivors said they had choked on a substance, with one saying it smelled like tear gas or pepper spray. The cause of the deaths remains unclear. Officials suspect an accidental poisoning. Survivors at a South African bar where at least 21 people were mysteriously found dead said they were choking on a substance that smelled like tear gas or pepper spray, multiple reports say. At least 21 people, most of whom were underage, were found strewn across floors and tables in the Enyobeni Tavern in the city of East London, South Africa, on Sunday morning, DispatchLive reported. The youngest victim was 13 years old, police said, the BBC reported. Kamvelihle Matafeni, a 18-year-old student, told The Washington Post that she went to the bar with her friends for a widely-advertised party that was being hosted by two popular local DJs. Matafeni told The Post the bar started to fill up, and she saw something hurled through the door and into the crowd. People around her began to scream, "I can't breathe" and "I'm choking," she said. Matafeni said she also struggled to breathe and was pushed toward the door. "People were falling around me," she told The Post. "They were dying right in front of my eyes." She ultimately managed to get out of the bar, The Post reported. Another 17-year-old student, identified only as Sinethemba, told Al Jazeera that the bar was overcrowded and some people had been asked to leave when a substance was sprayed into the crowd. "We suffocated for a long time and [were] pushing each other but there was no use because some people were dying," she told Al Jazeera. "It smelled like gas. I'm not sure if it was tear gas or pepper spray. Then some people died and I also fell asleep for three hours," she said, adding that she eventually woke up and was picked up by a family member. It is unclear who could have sprayed the substance in the bar. The South African Police Service did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, and told The Post it had made no arrests so far. Story continues Authorities previously said they ruled out a stampede as the cause of death because were "no visible wounds" on any of the victims, Agence France-Presse reported. Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for Eastern Cape's provincial community safety department told Reuters on Monday: "It is either something they ingested which will point to poisoning, whether its food or drinks, or it is something they inhaled." A toxicology report remains underway. Read the original article on Insider Kevin Bostons family says the Charlotte father was at a Food Lion to get food for his children Sunday afternoon. Police say he robbed the store and later shot a gun at officers, who returned fire and struck him. Boston, 45, died at a hospital around 4:38 p.m. Sunday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said in a news release Monday. At a news conference at Marshall Park on Monday, members of Bostons family said they werent notified of his death, and police had not reached out to them. A CMPD spokesperson told The Charlotte Observer that the department notified the family on Sunday. In this undated photo, Kevin Boston stands with his three children. Boston, a 45-year-old single father, was shot and killed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers Sunday, June 26, 2022. Police say Boston, a suspect in an armed robbery, fired a gun at officers. Officers arrived at the grocery store on Tuckaseegee Road in west Charlotte just before 1 p.m. Sunday to investigate a report of an armed robbery. Using a description of a suspect and items noted on the call, officers found Boston nearby, according to a CMPD news release. The suspect discharged a firearm multiple times at officers, striking at least one patrol vehicle, the release said. At that point, officers returned fire and struck the suspect. Boston was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and died Sunday afternoon, police said Monday. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is examining the shooting, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, CMPD said. The names of the officers involved in the shooting have not been released. Kevin Bostons family reacts Affectionately known as KK by his family, Boston was a single father of three children, ages 13, 14 and 18. Mario Black, his cousin, and Billie Black, Bostons sister-in-law, say he was a family man. Boston was loving, and a jokester who loved to cook for everybody, Billie Black said at Marshall Park. He was always taking his kids, nieces and nephews to the park, she said. She called Bostons death heartbreaking and crushing, not just for his children, but for the rest of his family. He has family, he has cousins, he was born and raised here, she said. Story continues Billie Black said police had not reached out to Bostons family. CMPD posted tweets about the shooting on Sunday but did not name a suspect until Monday. Amanda Aycock, a police spokesperson, told the Observer that next of kin were notified Sunday, but she declined to say who was notified and how. Typically, a representative from CMPDs Victims Services Unit handles such notifications, Aycock said. An investigating detective and the SBI also could notify families. Boston struggled with mental health issues and has had interactions with CMPD, his family said. Bostons family said they want to know what led to the shooting and have doubts about CMPDs account. Honestly, they shot him down like he was a dog, Billie Black told reporters. Billie and Mario Black called for communication from CMPD and that video from police body-worn and dash cameras be released. In North Carolina, only a judge can approve the release of police body-cam footage. Mario Black says his mission is to obtain footage from police of what happened to his cousin. I want the footage out of Food Lion, I want it all because then we can piece together and figure out those moments of what happened, what could we have done differently? What could CMPD have done differently to ensure that it wasnt death, Billie Black said. Bostons body remains with the coroners office and plans for services are pending, Billie Black said. Police shootings in Charlotte Sundays shooting is at least the third involving CMPD officers this year. Boston is the first to die in a CMPD shooting this year: On March 9, shots were fired a driver tried to run over a CMPD officer with a car at a hotel on Nations Ford Road. The car had been reported stolen. Police arrested Carneal Robinson, 34, of Charlotte and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and possession of a stolen vehicle. However, because no one was hit, the SBI is not investigating the shooting. On April 6, a CMPD officer shot and injured an unidentified person at an apartment complex on Ollie Drive. Little information has been released about the shooting or what led to it. The identity of the wounded person was not released. A gun was recovered, police said in a tweet. Last year, CMPD officers shot and killed two people in five officer-involved shootings. On Thursday, a man fired at officers from inside a home on on the 5800 block of Hunting Ridge Lane in east Charlotte. The shots prompted police to bring in a SWAT team and mental health crisis experts. Police say the man was in a crisis and later was hospitalized. Officers successfully deescalated the situation without shooting back, CMPD said. Police Chief Johnny Jennings, in a series of tweets Monday, said he was proud of the professionalism his officers showed in the two most recent shootings. In these situations, officers must make split-second decisions to preserve their lives as well as citizens, Jennings said. For the second time in a week, the men and women of CMPD have faced gunfire in the line of duty. Thankfully none of our officers were injured in either instance. (1/6) Chief Jennings (@cmpdchief) June 27, 2022 In November 2019, CMPD revised its use of force policy, which governs when and how officers are allowed to use their weapons. The department banned drawing and pointing a gun at someone unless the officer reasonably believes that deadly force may become necessary. Tulare County Court Commissioner Mikki Verissimo of California signed an order to release two suspected drug traffickers recently arrested with 150,000 fentanyl pills in their possession, Fox News confirmed Tuesday. Officials arrested Jose Zendejas, 25, and Benito Madrigal, 19, during a traffic stop on Friday and transported them to the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility on charges of possession, transportation and selling of illegal drugs , but they were released over the weekend. The Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward's office said in a statement to Fox News Digital that it was "not involved with or agree with the decision to release these individuals." DRUG TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED IN CALIFORNIA WITH 150,000 FENTANYL PILLS RELEASED AFTER JUST DAYS IN Jil "The time in which they were released was after their arrest and prior to police reports being submitted to our office. Through a risk assessment by the county probation department, they were released by a judicial officer," Ward's office said. Sheriff Mike Boudreaux also expressed concern with the suspects' release, telling Fox News' "The Story" on Tuesday that he only learned of an order to release Zendejas and Madrigal "until it was far too late." "This assessment was done behind the scenes, basically without ever contacting me as the sheriff or even asking me what I believe the risk to our public safety would be," he said. "I could not believe that we had 150,000 fentanyl pills one of the most dangerous epidemics that is facing our nation today with people in custody, that we may potentially be able to impact the future of this type of drug trafficking organization and or cartels in California in my county and we let them go." WASHINGTON MEN BUSTED IN CALIFORNIA WITH 150,000 FENTANYL PILLS DURING TRAFFIC STOP He continued: "California's system of justice is failing us all. Law enforcement up and down the state of California is frustrated. We want to hold people to their justice and hold them accountable for the crimes that they commit. But Proposition 47 and 57 through Governor Newsom and the legislators in California who are really soft on crime allowing people like this to be released from our facilities, we have no control over that. And for law enforcement leaders in California, it's incredibly frustrating when we are responsible for public safety." Story continues Bordeaux went on to say that the record-breaking flow of migrants coming into the United States through the southern boarder is part of the reason fentanyl is coming into the country and creating danger "to the quality of life." "This drug is brought in from China. It's produced in Mexico and brought across our border. This has nothing to do with an immigration issue. This has to do with the security and protection of our country. And because this fentanyl is clearly coming across our open border, we need to secure those borders," he continued. The Tulare County Probation Department said one of its "roles as law enforcement professionals of the Tulare County Probation Department is to provide services to the Court." "In this capacity, our Pretrial Assessment Unit completes a validated risk assessment, the Public Safety Assessment (PSA) on individuals arrested," the department said. "The PSA does not provide a recommendation for pretrial release, it provides an assessment outcome. The Probation Department does not have the authority to order the release of inmates and we did not make a recommendation for release of these individuals. The assessment process is not done behind the scenes, the development and implementation of Pretrial functions in Tulare County was a collaborative and transparent process involving representatives from our law enforcement partners." The department continued: "Consistent with best practices and the law, the release decision rests with the Judicial Officer. The PSA provides judicial officers with research-based information that they weigh, along with other information, to make more informed pretrial decisions. The Tulare County Superior Court ultimately decides the release of individuals pertaining to all inmates booked with the Tulare County Sheriffs Office." Investigators seized 150 packages with 1,000 fentanyl pills in each enough to potentially kill several million people. Officials aid each pill sells for about $5 meaning the bust netted about $750,000 worth of deadly drugs. Fox News' Lawrence Richard contributed to this report. The Daily Beast YouTube/Akron PDPolice in Akron, Ohio, have released disturbing body-camera footage showing the moment cops shot an unarmed 25-year-old Black man dozens of times as he fled.I wont mince words, the video you are about to watch is heartbreaking, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan warned at a press conference Sunday. I am urging all of our residents to please reserve your full judgment until our investigation is complete.The body-cam videos begin with officers pursuing Jayland Walker in their squad cars Tarrant County commissioners voted to approve a settlement agreement Tuesday stemming from a lawsuit filed by a Fort Worth woman who claimed she was fired after she informed her supervisor that she was pregnant. Samantha Chandler claimed the county violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act portion of the Civil Rights Act. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act says pregnant people cannot be discriminated against in relation to their employment, including but not limited to hiring and firing, according to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. Chandler worked as a crime scene investigator from August 2020 to April 2021, according to the suit. She sought more than $200,000 but less than $1 million in damages. She agreed to settle for $48,000, which was close to a years salary, said her lawyer, Ali Crocker Russell of Crocker Russell & Associates in Mansfield. Crocker Russell said pregnant people in these situations may not know their rights and that theyre protected both federally and by Texas labor laws. Chandler initially filed her suit without a lawyer, Crocker Russell said. I think she deserves, you know, like a lot of credit for standing up to the Tarrant County Sheriffs Department and Tarrant County in general saying, You know, what you did to me was not OK, Crocker Russell said. According to the lawsuit, Chandler told a coworker she had previously been a surrogate and would like to do it again. The co-worker expressed worry about the possibility of Chandlers potential pregnancy affecting schedules. She said she felt it would be unfair that Chandler would eventually ask for light duty, according to the lawsuit. The suit alleges the co-worker told Chandler she needed to talk about her pregnancy plans with her supervisor if that was her intention, and that Chandlers supervisor would be the one to decide if they would retain Chandlers employment in light of her intent to become pregnant. Chandler found out she was pregnant in January 2021, according to the suit. She told her supervisor, Sgt. Robert Brown, in April. Chandler gave him a note from her doctor that said she couldnt lift more than 30 pounds. Story continues The lawsuit alleges she was sent home for the day and was told she would need to be put on light duty. Brown told her she could not work until she had a note from her doctor. Chandler missed four days of work. She then received a note from her doctor saying she could return without restrictions, according to her lawyer. When she came back to work, Chandler claimed she was mistreated by coworkers who were upset they had to cover for her. The coworker told Chandler she shouldve been fired for missing days because of her pregnancy. On April 23, 2021, Chandler was fired and she later received a letter from the county that told her she was on probation and that the county didnt have to give a reason for her firing. A spokesperson for Tarrant County Sheriffs Office directed a request for comment to an email that didnt immediately receive a response. A county spokesperson and Stephen Lund, the countys assistant DA and attorney in the case, directed requests for comment to the DAs office, who had no comment. Investigators are determining how a party Sunday at an apartment complex in Oklahoma City escalated into a shooting involving an adult and a 15-year-old boy. Police arrested a 15-year-old boy after a man was killed in a shooting Sunday morning. Shortly before 3 a.m., officers were called to Pickwick Place Apartments near S May Avenue and W Interstate 240 Service Road. Police learned an argument broke out between two individuals at a party and the argument escalated into a shooting. The wounded man, Tyree Donte Lowman, 24, was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead. Authorities said they suspect a 15-year-old boy in the shooting.. More: As Oklahoma's gun access expanded, deaths from firearms increased Oklahoma City police Sgt. Dillon Quirk said he did not know if the teenager would be charged as an adult. Thats up to the district attorney, Quirk said. Its a felony crime, obviously, but the exact charges that 15-year-old will face will be up to the DA. The teen was booked into the Oklahoma County Juvenile Justice Center on a murder complaint. Police urge residents with information on the shooting to contact the Homicide Tip Line at 405-297-1200. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City police arrest 15-year-old after deadly shooting Sunday Tidal energy is now flowing onto Nova Scotia's grid A decade in development, power production in Grand Passage has begun with tidal energy officially flowing onto Nova Scotia's grid. The Weather Network (TWN) was invited out to tour the Sustainable Marines floating platform to get a first-hand look at what Jason Hayman, the company's CEO, describes as next gen technology just off Westport, Nova Scotia. This in-stream system is well advanced from previous iterations that attempted to harness the power of the world's highest tides in the Bay of Fundy with large structures lowered to the sea bed. Commercial operation of the platform began June 9, 2022. (Sustainable Marine) Commercial operation of the platform began June 9, 2022. (Sustainable Marine) "The difference is that we can get to everything. We're on it here now. We're here, we can maintain it just like a ship, we can get to things, we can fix things and we don't need to go and do a really expensive operation to pull it off the seabed to do that," Hayman told TWN. Nova Scotia Minister Of Environment and Climate Change Timothy Halman toured the platform now selling its energy at 50 cents a kilowatt hour, an incentive for others to invest. The next phase of this project will see platforms deployed to the Minas Passage at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy. (Sustainable Marine) The next phase of this project will see platforms deployed to the Minas Passage at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy. (Sustainable Marine) "As we navigate our way through climate change, this type of innovation is fundamental to be supported by the provincial government. For the next generation of Nova Scotians and Canadians, we're standing literally on the future of clean energy production," said Halman. Each of the six turbines on this platform is rated for 70 kilowatts but Hayman says they will get scaled with time. You can take a tour of the platform and learn more in the video above. Thumbnail image: The PLAT-I 6.4 floating tidal platform in operation off Westport, Nova Scotia. (Sustainable Marine) Composer Tan Dun has made a unique mark on the world's music scene with creative works bridging Eastern and Western traditions, as well as pushing the boundaries of classical music, traditional Chinese operas, and multimedia. The composer released an album on June 10, titled Eight Memories in Watercolor, by leading classical music label Naxos. Featuring six piano works composed by Tan, the album is performed by Dutch pianist Ralph van Raat. "I am very proud of these piano works, which are like my diaries from the days that I started to learn to compose to the most recent one or two years," says Tan. "The album comes about the right time when we live amid the pandemic. These music pieces provide people with comfort." The opening piece, which is also the titled piece, Eight Memories in Watercolor, was written by Tan in 1978, about the time when he left his hometown in Hunan province to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He was among the first group of students admitted to the music school when it reopened in 1978. He was homesick, and wrote this piece as a diary to express his longing for his hometown while being immersed in studying Western classical and contemporary music. "Now, when I listen to this music piece, I can still sense the freshness and feel touched. There are many portrayals of the actual scenery of my hometown, which are the best memories of my younger days," says Tan, 64, adding that he uses the word "watercolor" to imply visual inspiration of his hometown. Traces, written by Tan in 1989 after he returned from his trip to Dayao Mountains, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is also featured in this new album. "I prefer to call the piece 'traces of the wind'. I can still recall the day I took a bus and the wind was blowing outside. The bus window was not fully shut so I could hear the sound of the wind, like la, do, re, re, do and la. Sometimes the sound would disappear, but it always returned. It was so interesting that I wrote them down right after I returned home," says Tan. The composer moved to New York in 1986 to study on a scholarship at Columbia University, where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1993. He wrote a music piece, C-A-G-E, in memory of his teacher, avant-garde composer, John Cage, who died on August 12, 1992. Cage, from the United States, was influenced by Buddhism and I Ching (Book of Changes, a Chinese classic). As a young student, Tan listened to Cage's famous piece, 4'33" in Beijing in 1978 and in 1988, he watched pianist Margaret Leng Tan perform the piece at the Whitney Museum in New York. The piece is actually a silent span of 273 seconds. Cage himself was among the audience then. Before the concert, he told the audience that he tried to let people hear the sound of silence. "I was very excited because there's no such thing as silence, which is full of accidental sounds," says Tan. When Tan learned about Cage's death in 1992, he was shocked, sad and couldn't believe it until he read the obituary on the New York Times the next morning. Then he composed a music piece by combining recurrent melodic and harmonic motifs of the notes C, A, G, and E.The technique of pizzicato made the piano sound like a different musical instrument. Tan is also known for composing soundtracks for movies and one of his most famous works is his original score for director Ang Lee's film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which won both a Grammy and an Oscar. In the new album, the composer adapted his score for the Chinese film The Banquet, which was directed by Feng Xiaogang in 2006, into a piano piece. It was the first time that the piano version was released to the public. The vibrant music piece, Blue Orchid, commissioned by Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in 2020, incorporates the opening motif of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations. Asked about his friendship with Dutch pianist Van Raat, Tan says that they've toured together many times throughout the whole world and had great times together. The Fire, written by Tan for Van Raat, contains some of the composer's most virtuosic and dramatic piano writing. It was featured in the new album as the music piece's world premiere. "Since my teenage years, I have been a fan of Tan Dun's music, and I had performed his Eight Memories in Watercolor several times already in concerts," says Van Raat, who first met Tan about nine years ago when he performed Tan's Banquet Concerto with a Dutch orchestra under the baton of Tan. The pianist performed in China for the first time in 2010 during Expo Shanghai, where he played a recital featuring works by both Dutch composers and Tan. Since then, he has been invited to perform in China frequently. In 2014, the pianist decided to perform the complete piano solo music of Tan. The idea grew to record a full CD with his piano solo works. The album, Eight Memories in Watercolor, was recorded during the pandemic in August 2020 in the beautiful concert hall in Amsterdam. The pianist and the composer spent 15 months preparing for the album with online discussions and sending sound files now and then. "I love all the pieces for very different reasons, also because the pieces are so diverse," the pianist says. He adds that perhaps the most striking one is C-A-G-E, since it really seems to transform the sound of the piano completely into the sound of a Chinese instrument. "It is incredibly inventive, how Tan Dun has thought of special playing techniques directly inside the strings of the piano, as if you are playing for example a Chinese pipa. The result is a perfect blend between East and West-the modern Western grand piano which produces music which immediately evokes the sounds and silences of the East," he says. Breakout Tiger King baddie Bhagavan "Doc" Antle will once again be free to roam the wild planes of Myrtle Beach. On Monday a federal judge in Florence, S.C., set a $250,000 secured bond for the animal park owner, who has been charged with laundering more than half a million dollars. According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors said Antle's release would take a day to process, after which he'd be confined to his 50-acre wildlife preserve in Socastee, outside Myrtle Beach (which actually doesn't sound that confining.) Prosecutors had argued that Antle, 62, is a flight risk, given that he has "significant financial resources" and "contacts that know how to make false identification documents," while Antle's attorneys noted that he has no prior convictions and said he has medical conditions that could "exacerbate the symptoms of COVID-19 should Antle contract the disease while he is incarcerated." Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle Horry County Police Department Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle Antle was was arrested by the FBI on June 4, and charges against him and an employee at his Myrtle Beach Safari, Andrew Jon Sawyer, were disclosed at a subsequent hearing in federal court. According to federal prosecutors, Antle and Sawyer laundered $505,000 over a four-month period using checks from businesses they ran, claiming they were paying for construction at the safari. Antle allegedly planned to conceal the excess cash by inflating the number of tourists to his wildlife preserve and had previously used the laundered money to buy animals under the table. Antle and Sawyer each face 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Sawyer was released on $100,000 bond earlier this month. Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle on 'Tiger King' Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle on 'Tiger King' Antle came to national attention as one of the less sympathetic figures in Netflix's hit docuseries Tiger King, which is saying something. In promotional materials for the three-episode 2021 spin-off Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story, Netflix described him as "a predator far more dangerous than his beloved big cats and a man shadier than any of his Tiger King counterparts." Story continues The Doc Antle Story delved into accusations that Antle ran his operation like a cult, using his power to prey on women. And going back to at least 1989, Antle has been accused of mistreating animals, collecting some 35 violations from the USDA. He also faces multiple charges in Virginia, including animal cruelty, wildlife trafficking, and 13 misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act. With Antle on his way out from behind bars, we have to imagine that his rival Carole Baskin is fuming somewhere in Florida. Perhaps the big question now is whether all this will lead to further episodes of the seemingly never-ending Tiger King saga. Related content: A three-year-old boy in Columbus, Georgia died after he was left inside a hot car for nearly three hours, marking the seventh heat-related death inside a car in the US this year, as temperatures across the country begin to soar. The Muscogee County coroner reports that Kendrick Engram Jr was found dead inside an SUV in the parking lot of a Wendys restaurant on 26 June. The childs grandmother had returned home around around 5.30pm that evening after spending the day together with the boy and other children, according to corononer Buddy Bryan. The grandmother realised the boy was missing around 8pm and called the boys uncle, who borrowing the car to pick up ice cream, to report that he was missing. The uncle found Kendrick in the third row of the SUV, according to Mr Bryan. He was pronounced dead around 9pm from asphyxiation from the hot vehicle. Just be aware. Just be aware. If youre an adult, be responsible, Mr Bryan told reporters. The children are innocent. They cant help themselves and when you have a child that puts the responsibility on you. Kendricks death is at least the seventh hot car-related death in the US this year, according to child safety advocacy group SafeKids. Roughly 38 children die from being left in a hot car each year, according to Kids and Cars Safety, a national organisation that tracks heat-related car deaths. More than 1,000 children have died from heatstroke in hot cars since 1990 and at least another 7,300 survived, with varying injuries, according to the group. The organisation and other car safety groups have urged the US Department of Transportation to advance a provision within the sweeping Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that mandates heat-detection equipment and warnings that a child is left alone inside cars. By Makiko Yamazaki TOKYO (Reuters) -Toshiba Corp shareholders voted in on Tuesday two board directors from activist hedge fund investors - a step expected to add momentum to the industrial group's exploration of potential buyout deals. Toshiba's annual general meeting elected Nabeel Bhanji, a senior portfolio manager at Elliott Management, and Eijiro Imai, managing director at Farallon Capital Management as new board members. Shareholders also chose Akihiro Watanabe, an executive from boutique U.S. investment bank Houlihan Lokey, who becomes board chairman. The appointment of Bhanji and Imai was not without controversy. External director Mariko Watahiki, who opposed their candidacy, tendered her resignation after the vote, concluding that, in order to move forward as a united board, it would be better she step down, Toshiba said in a statement. Watahiki, a former high court judge, had argued the appointments of the two could skew the board too much towards the input of activist investors. So far only a few large Japanese companies have brought activist shareholders onto their boards. Toshiba is particularly significant given its history of accounting and governance crises since 2015 and tensions with its large activist investor base. "One of the major issues that we've had as a company is a lack of trust between our large shareholders and management, and this was an attempt to address that," Raymond Zage, who chairs Toshiba's nomination committee, told the meeting before the vote. Farallon and Elliott together hold about 10% of Toshiba and all activist shareholders are estimated to own roughly a quarter of the company. According to a provisional breakdown of the voting, Watahiki had the lowest support rate, of 65.87%, followed by 75.81% for Imai and 76.16% for Bhanji. BUYOUT TALKS IN FOCUS Tensions with activist investors culminated last year when a shareholder-commissioned investigation concluded Toshiba had colluded with Japan's trade ministry - which sees the company's nuclear and defence technology as a strategic asset - to block overseas investors from gaining influence at its 2020 shareholder meeting. Story continues This year, shareholders rejected management-backed plans to split the company in two, prompting Toshiba to restart a strategic review. "Since the shareholders voted down the board's strategy to split, the board has had no choice but to try to produce the outcome preferred by the large shareholders - privatisation," said Travis Lundy, an analyst at Quiddity Advisors who publishes on the Smartkarma platform. "It may not be successful but they don't have the choice to do nothing." Seven new board directors were appointed and six including Watahiki were reappointed on Tuesday. Toshiba said this month it had received eight initial buyout proposals to go private as well as two proposals for capital alliances that would keep it listed. It plans to shortlist bidders soon so they can start due diligence from July. Jerry Black, who chairs the board's committee in charge of the strategic review, told the shareholder meeting that going private "could possibly help" with a radical and speedy transformation of Toshiba, while stressing that the committee has no predetermined points of view. Sources have told Reuters at least one bidder is considering offering up to 7,000 yen per share to take the company private, valuing a potential deal at up to $22 billion. KKR & Co Inc, Baring Private Equity Asia, Blackstone Inc, Bain Capital, Brookfield Asset Management, MBK Partners, Apollo Global Management and CVC Capital Partners have submitted initial bids, according to people familiar with the matter. Some of them may form consortia for a bid, they added. Japanese funds are also looking to see how they can participate. State-backed Japan Investment Corp has hired SMBC Nikko Securities as its financial adviser for a potential equity investment, two people familiar with the matter said. The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that KKR was stepping back from bidding for the whole company. A representative for KKR declined to comment. Toshiba shares turned positive on the news of the board appointments and finished 0.7% higher at 5,745 yen, bringing it up 21% for the year so far and valuing at $18 billion. (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Additional reporting by Dave Dolan in Tokyo and Kane Wu in Hong Kong; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Tomasz Janowski) CONKLIN, N.Y. (AP) A missing golden retriever named Lilah, discovered deep inside a culvert pipe in upstate New York, could not be lured out by her owner with peanut butter dog treats or cheese. In the end, State Trooper Jimmy Rasaphone decided to crawl about 15 feet (5 meters) into the pipe under a rural road to rescue Lilah, despite the extremely tight fit. He crouched down and literally disappeared into the hole with a lead that had a choker on it," said Lilah's owner, Rudy Fuehrer, who called 911 for help on Sunday morning. He was able somehow to manipulate his arms and get the choker around the dogs head." The trooper and retriever both emerged soaking wet, but safe. The 13-year-old dog had been missing since Friday afternoon. Fuehrer was walking his two other dogs both Lilah's offspring a few hundred feet down the road from his house Sunday when he heard a plaintive yelp. I said, Oh my God, thats Lilah! he recalled Tuesday. Fuehrer, who lives near Binghamton, tried the get the weary and confused dog out but eventually called 911. Rasaphone and his partner showed up within minutes. Rasaphone said he'd go into the pipe since he was the smallest of the three of them. Fuehrer estimates the pipe's diameter was under 2 feet (60 centimeters). He was able to pull Lilah out after Rasaphone emerged. Fuehrer said he was grateful Rasaphone had the compassion and initiative to go nose-to-nose with his dog in a drainage pipe. And he said Lilah is recovering nicely and out walking. Needless to say, I took her out on a leash," he said, "because I didnt want any more escapades. Kari Lake, an Arizona gubernatorial candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, was outraged Monday when she was asked on Fox News about a controversy related to her campaign. Earlier this month, one of Arizonas best-known drag queens accused Lake of hypocrisy, claiming that the right-wing Trump acolyte had attended countless drag shows over the past two decades. Richard Stevens, who performs as Barbra Seville, said Lake had even hired him once to perform at her home in front of her child. He provided photos of himself in drag with Lake as evidence. Lake has, during her campaign, attacked drag queens as dangerous to children. Shes picked a side in the culture war, but her actions in the past dont support it, Stevens told The Arizona Republic. Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked Lake about the story on Monday after she spoke for several minutes about 2020 election fraud conspiracy theories. I actually do care to address that, Lake replied. And Im really shocked. Im actually appalled that Fox News would take a defamatory story like that and we are pursuing legal action against this drag queen Im appalled that you would bring that up when you have not talked about our stolen election. We just spent three questions, Ms. Lake, talking about this, Baier replied. Im really disappointed in Fox, Lake added. I thought you were a little better than CNN. She claimed Stevens had never been in her home. Asked to explain the photos, Lake diverted back to election conspiracy theories, then said we dont want our tax money going into drag shows at school. She berated Baier again for bringing the hypocrisy accusation up. She never answered the question about the images. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... NATO officials in Madrid. Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Turkey will support Finland's and Sweden's NATO applications now that the military alliance has reached a deal addressing the lone holdout's concerns, NATO Secertary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Tuesday. Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not support either countries' accession due to their support for "Kurdish organizations that Turkey considers security threats," CNBC writes. All 30 members of NATO must approve a country's application before it can officially join the alliance. Further details will be discussed at the NATO summit in Madrid that's currently underway, per Bloomberg. "I am delighted to conclude this stage on Finland's road to NATO membership," Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said. "I now look forward to fruitful conversations on Finland's role in NATO with our future allies here in Madrid." Still, despite Turkey's newfound support, there's a long road ahead for both Finland and Sweden. The membership process will likely take a number of months, Bloomberg notes. The two countries, both of which have a history of military neutrality, decided to join the alliance in the wake of neighboring Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin, who has decried NATO's eastward expansion, has not responded positively to the news. You may also like Why isn't Lightyear taking off at the box office? What we pay for when we pay for a gallon of gas Pfizer says Omicron vaccines produce stronger immune response By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday said a former Uber Technologies Inc security chief must face wire fraud charges over his alleged role in trying to cover up a 2016 hacking that exposed personal information of 57 million passengers and drivers. The U.S. Department of Justice had in December added the three charges against Joseph Sullivan to an earlier indictment, saying he arranged to pay money to two hackers in exchange for their silence, while trying to conceal the hacking from passengers, drivers and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco rejected Sullivan's claim that prosecutors did not adequately allege he concealed the hacking to ensure that Uber drivers would not flee and would continue paying service fees. Orrick also rejected Sullivan's claim that the people allegedly deceived were Uber's then-chief executive, Travis Kalanick, and its general counsel, not drivers. "Those purported misrepresentations, though not made directly to Uber drivers, were part of a larger scheme to defraud them" according to the indictment, Orrick wrote. Lawyers for Sullivan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sullivan also faces two obstruction charges. The defendant was originally indicted in September 2020, and is believed to be the first corporate information security officer criminally charged with concealing a hacking. Prosecutors said Sullivan arranged to pay the hackers $100,000 in bitcoin, and have them sign nondisclosure agreements that falsely stated they had not stolen data. Uber had a bounty program designed to reward security researchers who report flaws, not to cover up data thefts. Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber's current chief executive, fired Sullivan after learning the extent of the breach. In September 2018, the San Francisco-based company paid $148 million to settle claims by all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. that it was too slow to reveal the hacking. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis) By Nick Carey LONDON (Reuters) - UK startup Circulor, which uses blockchain technology to map supply chains for companies pursuing greener, more sustainable production, said on Tuesday it had raised $25 million to fund expansion, primarily in the United States. The Series B funding round brings Circulor's fundraising over the last two years to $45 million. The funding round was led by early Tesla investor Westly Group and included investments from the venture capital arms of Volvo Cars, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and BHP Group, the world's largest listed miner. Westly Group founder Steve Westly told Reuters that Circulor is "very much like Tesla," a pioneer in electric vehicles (EVs)that is the world's largest carmaker by market capitalisation. "The market is going that direction in an extraordinarily rapid way... and Circulor is by far the leader in this sector," he said. Circulor is working with carmakers including Volvo, Tata Motors unit JLR, plus miners and energy companies BHP and TotalEnergies, to trace their supply chains as they pursue environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) goals. BHP has used Circulor's blockchain platform to track the carbon emissions of nickel from the point when it was mined to Tesla's "gigafactory" in Shanghai. Circulor CEO Douglas Johnson-Poensgen said demand for supply chain visibility has grown in response to regulatory pressure from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Global supply chain disruptions have given manufacturers further reason to seek scrutiny over every stage of a component's journey. "U.S. industry is increasingly interested in not just origin, but also demonstrating ESG performance because the SEC has made clear that the greenwashing and war of glossy brochures isn't good enough," Johnson-Poensgen told Reuters. The U.S. government has also pushed for domestic EV battery production, which Johnson-Poensgen said will intensify the need for better supply chain mapping. Story continues "Clearly the global arms race for battery materials is going to spread to the U.S. pretty quick," he said. "The one thing I think most folks can agree on is whatever the reason for supply chain visibility, it is now mission critical." Johnson-Poensgen added that Circulor plans an initial public offering "in due course". (Reporting By Nick Carey; editing by Barbara Lewis) WASHINGTON The U.S. Army on Tuesday selected General Dynamics Land Systems to build a light tank meant to improve mobility, protection and direct-fire capabilities for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. The production deal is a key step forward for Army Futures Command, which has promised faster and more successful modernization programs through a competitive prototyping approach. GDLS will deliver 26 vehicles initially, but the contract allows the Army to buy 70 more over the course of low-rate initial production for a total of $1.14 billion, according to the Army. At least eight of the 12 prototypes used during competitive evaluation will be retrofitted to be fielded to the force, service officials in charge of the competition said. The first production vehicles are expected to be delivered in just under 19 months. The first unit will receive a battalions worth of MPF systems 42 vehicles by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. The Army plans to enter full-rate production in calendar year 2025, according to GDLS. MPF shows the Army is committed to doing acquisition rapidly and using all the new approaches and new authorities we have to do modernization in a new way, Army acquisition chief Doug Bush said in a June 28 media roundtable. He noted its the first major platform going from prototyping to production under Army Futures Command, which relies on new rapid prototyping authorities. This program is leading the way in that effort, and prototyping into production is not easy. Theres a lot more work to do as we go into low-rate production and then we have operational testing, he said. But Im very encouraged by the work so far. The Army expects to spend roughly $6 billion on the MPF program through the procurement phase, including whats already been spent in research and development and prototyping, according to Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean, the services program executive officer for ground combat systems. The total life cycle cost of the program including sustainment, military construction and personnel is estimated at around $17 billion. Story continues The Army plans to buy 504 vehicles, and they are projected to be in the inventory for at least 30 years. The bulk of procurement should be complete by 2035, Dean said, adding that the MPF program has remained on schedule and budget. Once fielded, the MPF capability will be organized by battalion, but will be employed as companies generally at the brigade level, Maj. Gen. Ross Coffman, who oversees combat vehicle modernization, said during the same roundtable. GDLS and BAE Systems selected in 2018 to build prototypes were competing to produce MPF. Reports earlier this year indicated the service had already made its choice, taking BAE out of the competition several months ahead of announcing the winner. At the time, Bush said the Army had conducted a fair and thorough evaluation of both vehicles, but did not address the reports the Army had already decided on a winner. Dean, during Tuesdays roundtable, declined to discuss the selection process, citing the sensitivity of the competition. The two prototypes differed significantly. GDLS offered a new, lightweight chassis with a high-performance power pack and an advanced suspension, combined with a turret featuring the latest version of the fire control system found in the Abrams main battle tank. BAE Systems design is an updated M8 Buford armored gun system with new capabilities and components. BAE System will build an M8 Buford Armored Gun System with new capabilities for its prototype for the Army's Mobile Protected Firepower vehicle. (BAE Systems) Army officials said the service opted to move forward with GDLS because it offered the best value. The cost of the system, the maturity and the readiness for production were all factors, Dean said. In 2021, the companies were tasked with delivering prototypes to a soldier vehicle assessment with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina There, soldiers worked to validate the MPF concept and provide feedback on how the service should develop tactics, techniques and procedures for fighting with this capability. GDLS delivered vehicles to the soldier evaluation in January, months ahead of BAE Systems, which struggled with production delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Soldiers wrapped up evaluations in early August. In fall 2021, the competing light tank prototypes moved into the Armys limited-user test, including live-firing of the systems, which marked the final step before the service selected a winner. The soldiers the Army selected for [the soldier evaluation] were tankers, so they were familiar with the Abrams tank when they started last years evaluation and they immediately saw how common the look and feel and operations inside the turret were [compared] to the Abrams tank today, Tim Reese, GDLS director of U.S. business development, told Defense News on June 28. It didnt take a lot of training to get them up to speed. The company also included a commanders independent thermal viewer, which was not originally an Army requirement, Reese said. Reese said the commonality to Abrams will mean the vehicles can be upgraded together where appropriate. He said the company designed its vehicle with growth capacity for what we would imagine over the lifetime of the program will be the desire to upgrade things or add capabilities and said GDLS made some tweaks to the vehicle after soldier feedback. One of the things that the soldiers really wanted was the skirts on the track to be more easily removable and turn-able, so they could get in and clean and adjust the track, Reese said. We made some changes to the seals around hatches based on their feedback. We learned a few things about the cooling system, he said. Theres a number of things that are better today or will be better when we get into low-rate production than those first 12 that we built for the competition. BAE Systems told Defense News in a statement that while the company was not chosen to move forward in the MPF competition, we will take the innovation and lessons learned from our solution with us and apply it to future modernization efforts. Tencent Video has revealed release details of more than 70 potential online series and 25 online movies, including the hotly anticipated sci-fi series "Three-Body." The video streaming giant held an online press event on June 21 to publicize its vast content bank of upcoming projects. A total of 72 diverse online series were revealed, with fans watching with excitement as the announcements were made one by one. The most hotly anticipated release is the Chinese TV adaptation of Liu Cixin's Hugo Award-winning sci-fi novel "The Three-Body Problem." The upcoming series, titled "Three-Body" and directed by Yang Lei, is set for a summer release, but the exact date still has yet to be confirmed. However, Tencent Video has released a brand new trailer and new posters to further entice fans. Other high-profile series include "Bright Future," a drama focusing on the struggles of a county official and colleagues; the long-awaited drama series "Blossoms Shanghai" by famous Hong Kong-based director Wong Kar-wai; "Where Dreams Begin," starring young idol Xiao Zhan, which depicts how a group of young people lived and grew in the 1970s; and "Ode to Joy 3" about a group of sisters and their lives in the city. The video site also revealed 25 online movies that are currently in production or preparation, including a remake of Hong Kong classic "Infernal Affairs" as well as new adaptations of the late wuxia novelist Louis Cha's "The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber" and "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer." Tencent Video has already produced numerous phenomenal online projects, including "Sword Snow Stride," "Reset," "The Oath of Love," and most recently, "A Dream of Splendor" and "Lion Rock Spirit." "Though the movie and TV industries were seriously impacted by the COVID-19 resurgence this year, there are still plenty of popular content reaching audiences," said Han Zhijie, vice president of Tencent's Online Video Business Unit. Han added that the film and television industries are entering a new cycle of "reducing quantity but improving quality." "In the future, Tencent Video will also establish a coordinate system for high-quality content in the three dimensions of breadth,' 'target precision,' and 'emotionality,' and use this opportunity to break the boundaries of drama subjects, forms, and cooperation," Han said. "This will cover the entire creative chain with a creative attitude of excellence and refined operations, as well as heartwarming works with the industry collaborators to further meet the needs of the public in terms of content." Lifetime Network has sparked fan outrage after its forthcoming movie The Gabby Petito Story was spotted filming near Salt Lake City, Utah. The film which is based on 22-year-old Gabby Petito whose death in 2021 became widely publicised was given the green light by the network in May. Petitos family reportedly do not approve the making of this film. Photos from the shoot were released on Monday (27 June), days after a confession note from Petitos fiance Brian Laundries notebook was made public. In it, Laundrie wrote that he ended her life because he wanted to take away Petitos pain. Twitter users have widely condemned the forthcoming film. I won't be watching. I already know this isn't the Petito/Schmidt family saying this is ok. The poor family can't even get a break, one user said. Another wrote: And it will have the Hollywood' spin that will make the already horrific story even worse. Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito (EPA) I will not be watching! I wish we could start a petition to stop it! It's Sickening! someone else said. A number of people suggested that Lifetime are trying to make money off a tragedy. Making a movie out of this tragic story is f***ing gross. Everyone involved is gross, wrote another. The Gabby Petito Story is directed by child star Thora Birchs (best known for Purple People Eater). She will also star as Nicole Schmidt, Petitos mother. The film follows the release of Peacocks 2021 documentary The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media. Petito, an aspiring social media star who went missing in late August 2021 during a cross-country road trip from New York to Oregon with her fiance Laundrie, was strangled to death. Her body found in a Wyoming national park. More than a month later, skeletal human remains found inside the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida were confirmed to be those of her fiance Brian Laundrie. Autopsy results showed Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a notebook found alongside the remains contained a note claiming responsibility for the murder. Story continues Laundrie claimed in the confession note that Petito had been injured after falling into a creek prior to her death. I found her breathing heavily gasping my name, she was freezing cold, he wrote. He claimed she was gasping in pain, begging for an end to her pain. The Gabby Petito Story is expected to premiere later this year as part of Lifetimes Stop Violence Against Women campaign. This is the woman I am; this is the case for four of my closest six mates (AFP/Getty) A woman in a lovely sparkly pink jumper with a beautiful Northern Irish brogue sat giving evidence in Belfast to the Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into abortion. Before proceedings had started, she and I had chatted I asked her where she got her jumper as I really liked it. This same woman said, while giving her evidence: Ive never met a woman who had an abortion and doesnt regret it. Now, this was a factual evidence session, so obviously we probed her on the details but even with that, her statement couldnt possibly be true: because she had met me. I dont regret my abortion. I dont regret it one bit. I told her she would have to update her patter next time she made that statement and offered to introduce her to many of my mates and family who, like me, had no regrets. She seemed less than interested to meet these rhetorically unhelpful women. A shame they wear cool sparkly jumpers too, Im sure shed like them. Abortion is once again in the news. The overturning of Roe v Wade in the US means that millions of women in conservative regressive states such as Texas or Alabama will no longer have a right to demand access to healthcare. When I found out that six unelected justices on the supreme court (two of whom have been accused of sexual harassment, which they deny) had made this decision, I felt as if I was being punched in the stomach. To hear of such a backwards and regressive step in a nation which lords itself as the home of the free made me feel scared scared for the women who will now die, suffer and be forced into a life they dont want. I also became immediately annoyed at the way those who need abortion are being represented. People always feel the need to lean on the hard cases. I understand why the rape victim forced to carry her baby, or the woman whose baby has a condition that means it will die as soon as it breathes are the bold primary colours of this debate. These cases exist, I see them daily. I have helped young women procure terminations of pregnancies that occurred because they were prostituted, exploited women, with no idea which one of the punters was the father. I have known women who have been murdered by their abusive partners after they found out that theyd had an abortion. I have met the women of Northern Ireland who were forced to travel so they didnt die in labour from a pregnancy that they very much wanted. Story continues I know these cases exist, and they are a rhetorical tool in the fight for womens rights, they are important but they are also rare, compared to the women who just want to make a choice about their lives. This is the woman I am; this is the case for four of my closest six mates. I am sorry if it is not primary colour enough to think a woman should be able to decide about her own body and her own life. My son was just a few months old when I found out I was pregnant again. I was still breastfeeding; still a zombie, living each day counting the hours and hoping it would get easier sometime soon. I was 24 years old and the mother of a little boy who I worshipped. When I was pregnant with him, it had been suggested to me for health reasons (to do with cancerous cells on my cervix) that I should consider a termination. My late mother had told me that if I was going to be ill because of the pregnancy she felt I should really consider it, but I wouldnt countenance it. From the second my pregnancy test flashed positive with my first child, I knew I wanted to have that baby. It wasnt necessarily a wise choice at the time I was crashing in my new boyfriends (somewhat insalubrious) shared house. I was temping and working in pubs. We had nothing in the way of security back then, but I knew I wanted it, wanted him so badly. I dont even need to tell you my story as to why I had an abortion the next time I became pregnant it is simply enough that I knew which times I wanted to be a mother and which times I didnt. I knew and it was my life. And it was my body that would go on to be so battered by my final pregnancy that I nearly died and ended up in intensive care. To keep up to speed with all the latest opinions and comment sign up to our free weekly Voices Dispatches newsletter by clicking here I know what is right for me and my family because I am a grown woman. I dont feel sad about a child that never was. I wouldnt have my youngest son if I had seen that pregnancy out and I really like my youngest son, he is a hoot. The crux of the abortion debate for me is not the hard cases of the women who will now certainly die in the US, it is the attack on the idea that women and girls dont have minds enough to know best for themselves. The overturning of Roe v Wade belittles and patronises the women of America it tells them that some bureaucrat knows whats better for their bodies and lives than they do. It is in no way liberal, it is in no way even libertarian. It is aggressive and regressive and it treats women as if they are children who need the consent of a proper adult to live. If the Supreme Court justices dont like abortion, I suggest they simply shouldnt have one it is not compulsory. I am not a child, I am a good mother of two children and I know that what is best for them is what is best for me. I refuse to make any apology for that. The women of the world must do whatever we can to ensure that women everywhere have a right not just over their own bodies, but also over their own minds. Trust women. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, left, and Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess. Brendan Smialowski and Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess said Tesla's new factories could "take strength out of" Elon Musk. In a prior interview, Musk said factories in Texas and Berlin have become "gigantic money furnaces." Tesla and Volkswagen are both vying for the title of largest EV company in the world. Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess said Tesla's new factories could cause growing pains for Elon Musk and his electric-car company. "Elon has to ramp up two highly complex factories in Austin and Gruenheide at the same time as well as expand production in Shanghai," Diess said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. "That's going to take strength out of him." The German CEO made the comment at a meeting that addressed the impact of supply-chain snags on Volkswagen production goals, according to Reuters. Diess said that Tesla's supply-chain struggles could pave the way for Volkswagen to overtake the car company in the EV market, per Reuters. A spokesperson for Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Insider. Diess' concerns for Tesla echo Musk's. Last week, the Tesla CEO warned in an interview with Tesla Owners Silicon Valley that the carmaker's new factories in Texas and Berlin had become "gigantic money furnaces" that were losing billions of dollars. At the time, Musk said electric-car battery shortages and supply-chain snags caused by the Shanghai lockdown were making it difficult to ramp up production at the factories and that they had only managed to manufacture a "tiny" number of vehicles. Tesla opened both factories in Austin, Texas and Berlin, Germany in 2022. But, the company's largest manufacturing facility is in Fremont, California. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Diess said in the meeting on Tuesday that Volkswagen is ramping up production in Germany and China because shortages of semiconductor chips have begun to ease. Volkswagen has pushed further into the electric-car industry in recent years. In April, Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen's US branch, told Insider's Tim Levin that he sees electric cars as a way for the carmaker to capture more of the US market. Story continues "It's sort of like an F1 race to me," Diess said. "This is your chance to be in the first two rows at the start of the race, as opposed to, if we do anything internal combustion engine, we're in the 12th row." While Tesla still owns 75% of the market share for electric cars in the US and 14% of the global share, Volkswagen is close on its tail. Last year, Volkswagen claimed about 11% of the global EV market and doubled its sales from 2020. Experts have warned that Tesla will likely lose its crown. In June, Bloomberg Intelligence predicted that the carmaker could lose the title of largest in the world by 2024. The report said that Volkswagen was likely to claim the title. Even Musk has acknowledged Volkswagen's success in the industry. In May, the billionaire said during an interview with Financial Times that Volkswagen has made the most progress in the electric-car market outside of Tesla. Read the original article on Business Insider Jun. 28WABASHA Pragmatic, selfless and committed is how Wabasha city representatives described coworker and first female mayor of the city, Emily Durand. Durand has been mayor of the city since 2019 and was recently named the first recipient of the League of Minnesota Cities' Emerging Leader Award. "One of the first impressions I had (of Durand) was just how committed she is to the community," Caroline Gregerson, Wabasha's city administrator, said. According to Gregerson, she decided to nominate Durand for the award based on qualities like Durand's data-driven and research-oriented approach to problem solving, the energy she brings to the workplace and her ability to balance all factors in decision making. "Under her tenure, Wabasha has made a lot of progress on big goals," Gregerson said. According to Durand, Gregerson tried to nominate her for the award in secret and she only found out about Gregerson's attempted nomination after Gregerson had to request a copy of her resume. "She finally told me that she was going to nominate me for the award so that I could give her a decent resume, and so I actually discouraged her (from making the nomination)," Durand said. "She wisely realized that it's not just an award for me, it's an award for our community." The LMC, the organization that offers the award, is an association that represents about 835 of the 854 Minnesota cities, according to Luke Fischer, the LMC's deputy director. "As an association, we really pride ourselves on promoting excellence in local government and one of the ways that we do that is through our awards that we give out at our annual conference," Fischer said. According to Fischer, the LMC launched the Emerging Leader Award this year because it wanted to create a way to recognize people who are new to public service, with eight years or less working in municipal government, but still make a significant impact where they live. Story continues The city officials nominated should have demonstrated meaningful contributions to their city and show promise for continued community service and leadership, according to the application brochure. "Emily Durand was nominated by her city for the work that she's done," Fischer said. "She is one of those infinitely impressive people. She cares deeply about Wabasha, thinks about her role as mayor and how she can really do the best for her community, and that's why she was selected for this award." In her time serving as Wabasha's mayor, Durand has worked on projects to renovate the National Eagle Center, reroute Minnesota Highway 60 and make a local food shelf more accessible by moving it downtown. According to Durand, the work she is most proud of centers around child care. "I am very proud of a small, but important, child care grant that we have developed for existing and new child care providers," Durand said. "We've been working on that for a couple of years with Wabasha Port Authority, which is our economic development authority." After receiving funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the city of Wabasha led by Durand was able to create a program that makes $2,500 grants available for new or existing child care businesses within 5 miles of the city. This program has the goal of both attracting and retaining young families in the city. "Emily gets extra credit for the big conversation she's having specifically around child care," Fischer said. "That's a big statewide conversation." Award recipients were recognized at the LMC's annual conference, which was held in Duluth from June 22 to June 24, 2022. According to Durand, she could not attend the conference, but Gregerson, Council member Jeff Sulla and Director of Wabasha Main Street Mary Flicek went to the convention to accept the award on her behalf. "It was really great to see Mayor Durand and Wabasha highlighted at a state conference," Gregerson said. "It kind of felt like being at the Academy Awards or something." When Durand was recognized as one of the recipients of the award at the conference, a video compiled by coworkers and acquaintances describing Durand's qualities and accomplishments played through the conference hall. "Emily came to town as a leader, so I believe she's beyond emerging," Flicek said in the commemoration video. "She's a visionary, she's ethical, she's enduring. She does everything for the good of the whole and expects nothing in return." According to Gregerson, Durand noted in her virtual acceptance speech the value of volunteers and leadership in small communities like Wabasha, all the while Durand's coworkers describe her as as the person who always volunteers to help out and works tirelessly to help the city. "It's the Emerging Leader Award but Emily came to town as a leader," Flicek said. "We knew that Emily was one in a million." Whoopi Goldberg has warned US Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas about his interracial marriage and the cause and effect the court has set off with the decision to overturn Roe v Wade. On Friday (24 June), the court ruled in favour of a Mississippi law that outlaws abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy while also overturning key precedents established by the 1973 decision in Roe. Whats next? Clarence Thomas is signaling they would like to get rid of contraception. Do you understand, sir? No, because you dont have to use it, Goldberg said on The View on Monday (27 June). We were not in the Constitution either. We were not even people. You better hope that they dont come for you, Clarence, and say you should not be married to your wife, who happens to be white. Because they will move back. And you better hope that nobody says, You know, well, youre not in the Constitution. Youre back to being a quarter of a person. Because thats not going to work either. Justice Thomas was among the six justices who voted to overturn Roe. He is married to Ginni Thomas, an American attorney and conservative activist from Omaha, Nebraska. Clarence Thomas with his wife Ginni Thomas (centre) (Getty Images) In May, Thomas hit out at protesters enraged by a leaked decision that would overturn Roe, saying that the Supreme Court cant be bullied. Justice Thomas, a hardline conservative, had in May made a passing reference to the outcry and protests over the leaked draft during an appearance at the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference in Atlanta. The 73-year-old said that as a society, we are becoming addicted to wanting particular outcomes, not living with the outcomes we dont like, according to Reuters. We cant be an institution that can be bullied into giving you just the outcomes you want. The events from earlier this week [in May, after protests sparked by the leaked draft] are a symptom of that, he said. In a question-and-answer session with a former law clerk, he referred to the unfortunate events, referring to the protests, and claimed he worried about the declining respect for institutions. It bodes ill for a free society, he had said. The alligator was lined with a portable missile system The video was published by the Ukrainian Ground Forces on their Facebook page on June 28. The date of the incident is not given. Read also: Russian Ka-52 helicopter shot down by Mykolaiv paratroopers The video shows one of the paratroopers hitting a K-52 by using a portable missile system, causing the helicopter, seen only in the far distance, to lose altitude and fall. Yes! Got it! soldiers can be heard shouting happily as the missile hits the helicopter. Read also: Near Izyum, Ukrainian forces shot down Russian Ka-52 helicopter Smoke from the site of the crash of the helicopter is circled in the video. The fate of the Russian helicopter's crew is not mentioned in the report. A barricade around Monument Terrace divided two groups seeming to share little but passion Monday evening. On one side of Church Street, a group of some 200 pro-abortion activists sung, chanted and spoke to protest the Supreme Courts recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Across the fences, a smaller group of anti-abortion activists and Campbell County Militia members voiced their opposition to the abortion-rights gathering. The abortion-rights crowd cheered after speaker Donna StClair told them, Every woman here is now a second-class citizen. And I did not join the United States Army to be a second-class citizen. Rise Hayes shared a former evangelical perspective that was echoed by many other abortion-rights speakers. I know the Scriptures. Ive been taught the taglines that were supposed to tell people. Ive been raised pro-life, she said in an interview, explaining she noticed inconsistencies in the text. So they want to preach that God loves all life, but God has never, not the God of the Old Testament or the new, has represented loving all life. Its a contradictory text. Hayes told the crowd she is autistic and part of a group anti-abortion activists have no problem getting rid of. They want to say theyre pro-life. Theyre pro-white, Hayes said. Hayes said she would never want to be in a position where she could not have an abortion if she needed it and, I would never want to be in the position where I cant support those who do. Because I dont know anyones position, I dont know how they got there. Mariah Milena spoke at the rally on behalf of Lynchburg Food Not Bombs, which she described as an anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist and abolitionist mutual aid group. Twice per week, her group meets at Miller Park to distribute a hot meal, clothes, hygiene products and birth control to those in need. Were really just trying to build solidarity in the community because people are not going to care about issues like poverty, abortion theyre not going to vote if their material needs are not met. Youre not worried about voting if you dont have a place to sleep, Milena said. This is something that affects all of us. With Roe being overturned, everything could be next. She told the crowd to not only vote but organize in their community to make change happen. Lynchburg police maintained the barrier between groups for the two-hour protest, and the opposing sides only interacted verbally. A speaker on the anti-abortion sides mention of the abortion-rights slogan, my body, my choice, made abortion-rights protesters across the barrier take up the chant. Campbell County Militia founder Wes Gardner handled the microphone for a majority of the groups counter-protest. I dont see how you can sit here and talk to me about sins when your hands are dripping in red, he said toward the crowd on the other side. I want you to be able to live as long as its not affecting anyone elses life. But this flies in the face of that. These women are wanting to live the way they want to live, but the problem is ... you dont get to absolve yourself of the consequences by killing the child that youre carrying, Gardner said in an interview. Militia member Eric Routon called himself an oddball in the bunch because he wasnt protesting for religious reasons. Im a libertarian, I believe in the Constitution. All this Roe v. Wade rollback does is put the authority back where it was originally supposed to be, with the states. He said he was at Monument Terrace to support the Constitution and the right to life, referencing the Constitutions preamble: If you read the preamble of it, theres life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The right to life is the very first thing. Corey Thomas spoke into the anti-abortion microphone holding her child: You can do all the research you want to. You should look for information. You should question the narratives youre seeing on social media. You should ask people who have experience with these issues instead of assuming what they think and what they want. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Emma_Martin Follow Emma_Martin Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The Lynchburg Police Department is in contact with state and federal law enforcement and has begun receiving tips after vandalism and property damage occurred over the weekend at the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center on Old Forest Road. At 10:40 a.m. Saturday, LPD officers responded to 3701 Old Forest Road for a property damage call for service, according to a news release from the police department. When officers arrived, the release said, they found the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center building and the walkway leading up to it had been spray-painted with graffiti. Several windows had been broken. Susan Campbell, executive director for the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, said in a statement Monday, Our Center is cooperating with state and local police who are actively investigating the attack on our facility, and weve also been in contact with the Virginia Governors Office and the Office of the Attorney General who have offered their support and assistance. We exist to comfort and support those involved in unplanned pregnancies, and we plan to continue to provide free pregnancy supplies, counseling, and unconditional support and love to anyone who walks through our doors, no matter what decision they make. The pregnancy center, according to its website, is a Christian-based anti-abortion organization that helps men and women with unplanned pregnancies. All of their services are free of charge and the center never advises, provides, or refers for abortion. Planned Parenthood has criticized such pregnancy centers, calling them fake clinics and saying they push an agenda to scare, shame, or pressure you out of getting an abortion, and to tell lies about abortion, birth control, and sexual health. According to a picture of the security footage shared by LPD, four masked people appeared to be walking on the premises at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Among the graffiti was one message reading Janes Revenge, which appears to be a reference to a nationwide abortion-rights group named Janes Revenge. The group, according to its website, following the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court in May regarding Roe v. Wade, said that there would be a night of rage if the case were overturned. The Supreme Court ruling Friday in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturned Roe and ended constitutional protections for abortion. In recent weeks, the group on its website has taken credit for vandalisms and property damage incidents in several states around the country. LPD Lt. Gregory Coleman said the police department has been in contact with state and federal law enforcement and said they have agreed to assist LPD in any way needed. Gov. Glenn Youngkin condemned the acts of vandalism and property damage, tweeting on Saturday, There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable. This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate. In response to the Supreme Court decision, Youngkin seeks a new law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy in Virginia. He has named Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, and Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, as well as Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, and Del. Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland, to take the lead in crafting legislation to introduce during next years General Assembly session. LPD is asks anyone with information about the incident to call Detective David Dubie at (434) 941-9937 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Anonymous tips can be entered online at p3tips.com or use the P3 app on a mobile device. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. You are here: Business Air China will resume direct flights between Beijing and Budapest on July 7, the company's Budapest office said on Monday. In early 2020, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Air China and other airlines flying the China-Hungary route all suspended their passenger services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called the decision "a real milestone." "The announcement is also of great importance for Hungary's economy as tourism and trade will both receive a huge boost from the fact that Budapest will once again be directly accessible from the Chinese capital," Szijjarto said. Air China launched its first direct flight between the two capitals on May 1, 2015. Two former Council Bluffs mayors and difference-makers have been lost during the past 30 days. Maynard Telpner, who served as mayor in the early 1960s, and Walt Pyper, who was mayor in the early 1980s, have died. Telpner, 94, of Ashland, Oregon died Thursday of congestive heart failure, according to his obituary on the Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home website. Graveside services were held Sunday at Scenic Hills Memorial Park in Ashland. He was a people person, said his daughter, Sari Telpner. Fifty people showed up on a 104-degree day at the funeral. Telpner practiced law in Council Bluffs for 50 years and founded what is now Telpner Peterson Law Firm. He was born on March 23, 1928 in Omaha. He grew up in Council Bluffs and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School, served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II and attended Creighton University on the G.I. Bill. He started his legal career practicing solo. He married Sally Priesman on June 5, 1951, and the couple raised their three daughters in Council Bluffs. He served as mayor in the early 1960s when the mayor was a City Council member chosen to serve in that position. Telpner later expanded his law firm by adding partners. Chuck Smith was a partner with him from 1976 until Telpner retired in 2002, he said. He was both a friend and a mentor, and he always did things the right way, Smith said. He was just a wonderful man, and he was a respected attorney and a fierce advocate for his clients but also a gentleman. He had the ability to disagree with people without being disagreeable. Said Smith, He was just a delightful man and had a tremendous sense of humor. My dad was known to everyone as very unique and incredibly funny, Sari said. His wit and his one-liners were epic. Telpner served on the Boards of Trustees at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital and the Christian Home Association, as well as on The Eagle Scouts Board of Review. He was active in the Council Bluffs Bnai Brith chapter and the Rotary Club. He served two terms on the Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors. He was nominated for the Iowa Supreme Court but was not chosen to serve, Sari said. He was so highly respected, she said. My dad had such a reputation for integrity and honesty. Telpner was honored with the Heritage Award for Business in 1999. He retired from practicing law in 2002, and he and Sally moved to the Ashland/Medford, Oregon area, then to Bozeman, Montana and then back to Ashland. He and Sally became part of the Ashland/Medford community and made many new friendships. He volunteered at the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. He also kept in touch with associates back in Council Bluffs. Smith said he had just visited with him a couple weeks ago. Maynard was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Sylvia Telpner; his brother, Gene Kewpie Telpner; his sister, Audrey Shapiro; and his brother, Zeph Boonjug Telpner. He is survived by his wife, Sally; daughters Heidi Barr (Irwin), Sari Telpner and Marci Rosenthal (David); six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He leaves behind many friends in Oregon and the Council Bluffs-Omaha area. Pyper, age 85, passed away May 31 in Council Bluffs. He was born July 26, 1936, in Omaha but will be remembered for his love of Council Bluffs. Pyper ran for City Council in 1977 and was elected from a slate of 18 candidates. He served two terms on the Council and two years as mayor. He joined the Iowa League of Cities and was later elected president, according to former Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan. In the 1990s, he convinced the group to have its annual convention in Council Bluffs. It was the first time it had been held here for 100 years. He was very well respected across the state, Hanafan said. Pyper served as manager of Bluffs Run when it was owned by Iowa West and casino gambling hadnt been approved yet, he said. One of Pypers big accomplishments was bringing together the City, library foundation and Iowa West Foundation to raise money for construction of the new Council Bluffs Public Library, Hanafan said. He was president of the library foundation during a key period. When the new library got built, Walt was on the library foundation board and helped the foundation put that together, he said. The City had tried two or three times to pass a bond on the library (and it had failed). Walt was heavily invested in that. Pyper was involved in promoting history and the arts in the community and served on the Historic General Dodge House Board of Trustees, including as chairman. The National Historic Landmark was a longtime interest of his: He had written his thesis on the Dodge House at Princeton University. He once called the Dodge House the Symbol of Council Bluffs. Pyper was involved in the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce and served as president of the Rotary Club of Council Bluffs. He was also involved in the Nebraska AIDS Project, Humanities Iowa and the State Historical Society of Iowa. He was honored with the Heritage Award for Arts and Humanities in 2011. He was preceded in death by parents Walter W. and Frances (Brown) Pyper; and nephew Dan Smith. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; sister Grace (John) Smith; and brothers Jerry and Tom (Sue) Pyper. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh accepted a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for cleanup of the former Reliance Battery Manufacturing Company site at 813 22nd Ave. on Monday. We are honored to be a recipient of this EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant, Walsh said. This grant will have a transformative impact on the former Reliance Battery Factory site and the surrounding community. It will improve the quality of life and attractiveness of the City of Council Bluffs. The grant was presented in the form of a large novelty check by EPA Region 7s Land, Chemical and Redevelopment Division Director DeAndre Singletary. This Brownfields grant is a significant boost to the citys cleanup efforts at the Former Reliance Battery Site, Singletary said. We are proud to partner with Council Bluffs, and we share their commitment to enhancing the lives of those who live near this site by cleaning up contamination and engaging with the community. Council Bluffs is one of 265 communities awarded funds from the $254.5 million in Brownfields grants. The grants are supported by President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a total of $1.5 billion to advance environmental justice, spur economic revitalization and create jobs by cleaning up contaminated, polluted or hazardous brownfield properties. A brownfield is real property for which the expansion, redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the environmental contamination that is either real or perceived. Warehouses and factories are often abandoned and left uninhabited because the property is a brownfield. We are grateful to Director Singletary and to the Region 7 staff for all their support, said Council Bluffs Community Development Directory Courtney Harter. Brownfields are certainly a team effort. Id like to give special thanks to Mel Pins of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Brownfields Program for his assistance in funding the removal of asbestos and hazardous materials, and to all of the City staff involved in getting us here. For more information about the Brownfields Program, including activities, public meetings and community events, visit councilbluffs-ia.gov/brownfields. Any residents with a property that might be a good fit for the Brownfields Program are encouraged to contact Housing and Economic Development Planner Dessie Redmond at dredmond@councilbluffs-ia.gov or by phone at 712-890-5352. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Weather Alert ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values up to 108 expected. * WHERE...Portions of east central, northeast and southeast Nebraska and southwest and west central Iowa. * WHEN...From noon Monday to 7 PM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. && Morocco has denied reports that it has engaged in official or unofficial contact with the self-proclaimed republic of Donesk, an entity not recognized by the Kingdom nor by the United Nations. Morocco denies such information, said the Moroccan embassy in Kiev in a statement, following media reports alleging there were contacts between Morocco and the self-proclaimed republic of Donesk. This entity is recognized neither by our country nor by the United Nations, the embassy reiterated. Therefore, there can be no official or unofficial contact of the Moroccan state with an entity of this nature, the statement said. Reports about the alleged contacts came after Moroccan Brahim Saadoun was captured by Russian forces in April while fighting with the Ukrainian forces. Brahim Saadoun, aged 21, was indicted, together with two Britons, by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic to the death penalty on mercenary charges. When he was captured he was wearing Ukrainian fatigue because he was a marines member, a choice he made by his own free will. Saadoun has Ukrainian nationality and this was confirmed by his father, who pleads for his son to be treated as a prisoner of war and not as a mercenary because he has Ukrainian nationality. The OCP Foundation signed, Monday in Dakar, a $2.2 Mln agreement with the Senegalese Agency for Reforestation of the Great Green Wall (ASRGM) aimed at preserving biodiversity. The agreement aims to support community agricultural development and to build the capacity of the agency in terms of supporting and supervising local biodiversity projects. This is a great day. A consecration of common work with the Agency and a very committed team. We have just signed the first milestone, the OCP Foundation Secretary-General, Abdelhadi Sohib, told reporters on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the agreement, inked by the agencys Director-General, Oumar Abdoulaye Ba. The Great Green Wall project raises the issue of the fight against climate change and the safeguard of biodiversity, especially in Africa, Sobhi stated. It is an African Union flagship initiative aimed at growing an 8,000 km-long green wall meant to combat desertification of the Sahel. Once complete, the Great Green Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet, 3 times the size of the Great Barrier Reef. A Tunisian investigating judge ordered Monday the liberation of former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali but requested his appearance on July 20 for hearing in connection with an investigation into an alleged money laundering and terrorism financing case. His son-in law and the son of Rached Gannouchi, the Speaker of the dissolved Parliament and leader of Ennahdha party, are also involved in the case. Jebali was arrested in the city of Sousse and transferred to capital Tunis. The Interior ministry accused him of involvement in a money laundering scheme in connection with a charity called Namaa. Jebali denied any wrongdoing. His family and his defense team held President Kais Saied responsible for his arrest arguing that detention was politically motivated. Samir Dilou, member of the defense team told local media that the investigating judge ordered Jebalis release because of his health condition. Hamadi Jebali appeared before the investigating judge in a very critical state. The judge asked him if he could speak, he replied that he could not. Consulting his medical file and the case file, the investigating judge ordered his immediate release, Dilou said. Club de Madrid, the largest non-profit organization made of former Presidents and Heads of States, on Sunday issued a statement urging Tunisias President Kais Saied to liberate the ex-Prime Minister and respect the rule of law in the North African country. Political tensions and human rights concerns have been rising in Tunisia since July 2021, but also the implementation of exceptional measures imposed by President Kais Saied, including the dissolution of the Parliament, the Higher Council of the Judiciary and the Higher Independent Electoral Body. This process is considered a creeping dictatorship in Tunisia, the statement added. Jebali was detained last Thursday by security police for the second time in less than two months without an immediate official comment. He began a hunger strike, claiming that his arrest was politically motivated and not related to money laundering. His health condition deteriorated and he was urgently transferred to an intensive care unit in a Tunis hospital. Sudan held the launching ceremony of Sudan-China Express, the first direct maritime shipping route between the two countries, in capital Khartoum on Sunday evening. Sudanese Minister of Transport Hisham Ali Ahmed Abuzaid and Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin are among the officials and business representatives of both countries attending the ceremony. Noting that Sudan locates in northeastern Africa and on the west coast of the Red Sea, Ma said the country boasts unique geographical advantages and has served as a key passage for Chinese goods to Africa since ancient times. The Chinese ambassador added that Sudan and China have great potential and broad prospects of cooperation in shipping. A 32,000-ton maximum capacity cargo ship disembarked on her maiden voyage along the new route from the Sudan Port on June 11, and is expected to arrive at her destination, the Chinese eastern seaport of Qingdao, on July 1, said Xu Qun, executive president of Shanghai Greenroad International Logistics, the ship's operator. Despite being the only country in Africa with a migration policy permeated by a humanitarian approach, Morocco was recently attacked by those intent on looking at half-truths in the wake of the tragic crossing of Melilla which left at least 23 migrants dead. Head of migration and borders at the Interior ministry, Khalid Zerouali, spoke to Moroccos news agency insisting that Moroccos approach to migration is humanist and puts human rights before all else and that organized crime and gangs will not alter that. Since 2013, Morocco has offered residency cards to over 50,000 people and campaigned for a paradigm shift that breaks away with the security-approach in favor of a win-win co-development model that puts human rights and development at the heart of an orderly migration management. Moroccos migration approach will not be sapped by criminal acts led by trafficking networks that take advantage of vulnerabilities of the victims, he said. These networks are now resorting to violent attacks that are almost militarily organized by people with militia experience coming from countries beset by war and conflict, Zerouali said. Morocco had shown videos to African ambassadors revealing the horrific violence suffered by Moroccan security forces during the attack by Sub-Saharan migrants instigated by criminal networks. The videos, published by Moroccan media, showed migrants attacking security forces with stones, sticks and knives as they crammed to a narrow border post causing a stampede that cost the lives of many. At least 65 migrants are facing charges of kidnaping security forces, arson and migrant trafficking. Zerouali deplored the dead among the migrants during this real tragedy, adding that Morocco had dismantled 1300 criminal networks involved in illegal migration since 2021. So far this year, 12 crossing attempts have been made on Ceuta and Melilla during which security forces acted professionally in line with human rights and safety standards, he said. Since 2018, 8100 migrants took part in voluntary repatriation, co-organized with IOM. Since 2017, Morocco has foiled 360,000 migration attempts, including 26,000 so far this year. Zerouali noted that the regional environment, the Covid context, The Russia-Ukraine war and the food crisis will further exacerbate migration challenges which require, more than ever, greater multilateral solidarity. Spirit AeroSystems, one of the worlds largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets has recently started producing at its Morocco plant the fuselage components, the front and rear section of the Airbus A220 aircraft. The site has developed expertise in the manufacturing of components for Bombardier business jets and has now joined the Spirit sites which already supply Airbus commercial programs. The fuselage components are shipped from Morocco for assembly at Spirits site in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Both sites were acquired by Spirit in 2020 as part of a major diversification strategy, adding significant Airbus content, and further developing Spirits global footprint and aftermarket services business. The official launch of the production of Airbus A220 aircraft fuselage components at Spirit AeroSystems 25,000 sqm site in Midparc, in Casabalanca, which was recently expanded, took place on Monday. Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour who attended the ceremony expressed pride to present the largest aircraft part built in Africa. Today, we proudly celebrate the booming growth of this site, whose construction works had been launched by King Mohammed VI, in September 2013 at Midparc. Since that time, this cutting-edge plant has established itself as one of the flagships of the aerospace industry in Morocco, he stated. Spirits new program to produce the largest fuselage sections in Africa further strengthens the positioning of the Kingdom on complex processes with high added value, as well as the international influence of the national aerospace ecosystem, the minister added. For his part, Vice President and General Manager of Spirit AeroSystems in Morocco, Stephen Orr, noted that the group has developed an ambitious roadmap to accelerate the sites growth with the support of the Ministry of Industry, saying the group is delighted to expand its manufacturing capacity to include this latest Airbus program. We look forward to working with the Spirit team in Belfast, which also supplies the integrated wing for the A220 aircraft, and building a strong and rewarding relationship with Airbus, he noted. In the same vein, Mikail Houari, President of Airbus Africa and the Middle East, noted that the Kingdom already manufactures parts for all Airbus commercial aircraft, including the A220, This aircraft is the latest addition to our product range and therefore to our industrial footprint in Morocco, he added. Most of the migrants who took part in Melillas deadly crossing last Friday were from eastern Africa, notably Sudan, who could only access Morocco after crossing the Algerian border. The role of Algeria is evident in creating this migration crisis in Northern Morocco. According to Spanish paper El Mundo, quoting security officials in Madrid, Algeria is putting pressure both on Spain and on Morocco by using poor migrants as a weapon. While it boasts that its borders with Morocco- the enemy- are one of the most secure and heavily patrolled in Africa, Algeria turns a blind eye to Sub-Saharan migrants as the military regime seeks to redraw illegal migration routes to put the burden on Morocco. Spanish security sources said Algiers loosened control on migration flow on its 1700 km border with Morocco by facilitating access to its territory of the migration flows that cross Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, which usually opt for Italy or Greece, the paper said. We noted great porosity on the border between Algeria and Morocco, El Mundo said. The paper notes that out of the 325 foreigners that were listed in Melilla migrants centers by 21 June, 139 were from Sudan, indicating that a new route is emerging from Darfour to Morocco via Algeria. Algeria is taking revenge on Spain because of the latters support for Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara, the paper said. Relatedly, Le 360 news outlet reports that among Sudanese migrants, many are former militiamen who fought the civil war in Darfour. Videos shown by Moroccan authorities to African ambassadors accredited to Rabat demonstrated the scale of violence as Sub-Saharan migrants attacked security forces using sticks, stones, knives and acid. Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, stated, Tuesday, that without the collaboration of Morocco, it would be impossible to control illegal migration flows. Without the collaboration of the Moroccan security forces and the excellent work of the Spanish security forces, it would be impossible to control the illegal migration phenomenon, Albares said in an interview with Antena 3 TV channel. According to the head of Spanish diplomacy, no country in the world, no matter how powerful it is, can face this phenomenon alone. He highlighted the complexity of managing this scourge and facing the onslaught of people who seek a better life, putting their lives at risk. What we must do is to improve and strengthen our cooperation with Morocco and with the countries of origin and transit. Europe and the European Commission must be involved, said Albares. Cooperation between Europe and the countries of origin and transit must be strengthened, and technological means must be provided to prevent this kind of attack from happening again, he insisted, alluding to the storming by some 2000 migrants of the fence of Melilla, a Spanish occupied enclave in Northern Morocco, last Friday. The illegal migrants coming from sub-Saharan countries attempted to storm the metal fence, resorting to very violent methods and causing a huge stampede and fatal falls from the top of the fence. This attempted forced entry, which left 23 migrants dead and 140 law enforcement agents injured, was marked by the use of unprecedented violence by would-be illegal migrants. Armed with stones, clubs and sharp objects, these would-be illegal migrants resisted violently the law enforcement officers, who were mobilized to prevent them from crossing the fence, as shown by the photos and videos circulating on the web and social networks since last Friday. Meanwhile, as Morocco faces a defamation campaign and criticism for the way it handled Fridays mass migration attempt, Spains Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, stepped up to the plate to express strong support for the North African countrys approach to tackle irregular migration. In an interview with the Spanish news outlet La Vanguardia, Sanchez described Morocco as a strategic partner for Spain not only in terms of controlling illegal immigration, but also in being an important ally for Spain in the fight against terrorism. Backing Moroccos intervention in the Melilla events, the Spanish PM said Morocco has been suffering in addition to fighting violent actions of migrants. He notably blamed the Melilla incidents on human trafficking networks and other transnational mafias who, he said, have turned migrants desperation and suffering into a money-making business. Sanchez who regretted the loss of lives during this latest mass migration attempt, expressed satisfaction with and gratitude to Moroccos security response to migrants muscular attempt to cross into Melilla. In this context, the European Union has said it is maintaining contact with authorities in Morocco and Spain to understand the circumstances of the incident. EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Marssali stressed on Tuesday at a press conference in Brussels the EUs determination to work more closely with partners on a comprehensive management of the migration crisis, including the urgency of boosting coordination to fight human trafficking networks. While some critics have been quick to hold Morocco accountable for the tragic incidents, the North African country has received support from a number of African diplomats who have hailed Morocco as being the only country in Africa with a migration policy permeated by a humanitarian approach. Morocco is seeking to attract Japanese investors and strengthen the confidence of Japanese economic decision-makers in the Kingdoms investment and economic potential. It is in this context that Junior Minister in charge of Investment, Mohcine Jazouli, is paying a working visit to Japan June 27 to July 1. The visit, organized by the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investments and Exports (AMDIE), seeks to highlight investment opportunities in the Kingdom, investment being one of the major axes of socio-economic revival and development of the country, to attract Japanese investors and consequently create stable jobs with added value. Jazouli is expected to meet leaders of Japanese companies in the transport and logistics, automotive, aeronautics, agri-food, energy and pharmaceutical sectors as well as representatives of institutions and senior officials to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. Morocco and Japan have a long-standing economic partnership. With the recent entry into force of the Agreement for the Protection and Promotion of Investments and the Non-Double Taxation Agreement between the two countries, Rabat and Tokyo seek to take their trade to a higher level. Currently, 75 Japanese companies operate in Morocco, mainly in the areas of wiring, automotive and electronics, employing around 50,000 people. Japan is thus the first foreign private employer in Morocco, which stands as the 2nd destination of Japanese investments in Africa. This visit will be marked by the projection of the promotional film Morocco Now on the 5 screens of Shibuya Street, one of the most prestigious places in the Japanese capital. This new investment and export promotion brand, Morocco Now, aims to promote Morocco as a leading industrial platform in order to accelerate foreign investment. It also intends to strengthen Moroccos position in terms of international trade and investment. This platform also highlights sustainability, competitiveness and flexibility, which reflect Moroccos economic dynamism. With state construction support in hand for an industrial rail park outside Hershey, Lincoln County commissioners Monday put two more pieces of the projects puzzle in place. A unanimous County Board voted 5-0 to create an inland port authority to operate the 339-acre park and to negotiate to buy the former Greenbrier Rail Services factory and its critical Union Pacific rail spur as the authoritys headquarters. Chairman Chris Bruns said both steps move the county closer toward securing nearly 2,900 jobs and an eventual annual impact of $2 billion as estimated in the projects economic impact study from the rail parks eventual agribusiness, warehousing and manufacturing clients. The entire package is exciting for the county and west central Nebraska, Bruns said after the meeting. Its transformative for us in a positive way. The commissioners first rail-park vote clears the county to apply for one of five statewide port authority designations under Legislative Bill 156, passed in 2021. If the Nebraska Department of Economic Development agrees, commissioners would appoint a nine-member board to oversee day-to-day operation of the rail parks inland port district, Bruns said. Nonetheless, the county has a lot of supervision and authority in this process, which I think is key, he told his fellow commissioners. DED leaders are expected to formally open the port authority application process in about a week, he said later. We meet all the criteria that LB 156 laid out for getting one, Bruns said. Really, theres no one else in Nebraska who can pull this off as well as we can. Mondays second vote authorized Bruns and Deputy County Attorney Tyler Volkmer to work toward the $4.5 million purchase of the Greenbrier plant. It opened in 2011 but shut down in spring 2020 as COVID-19 prompted the railcar servicing firm to consolidate its operations in Kansas City. Funds for the purchase would come from the countys as-yet-unallocated $6.8 million share of federal pandemic aid under the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Greenbriers 34 acres sit in the middle of the rail parks intended location stretching east from Hersheys village limits and mostly between U.S. 30 and the railroad. It would serve the best interests of the rail park if it could be the catalyst for moving things in and out, said Gary Person, president and CEO of the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp. The chamber holds five-year purchase options for the entire rail park with Greenbrier and landowners Dennis Steffes and R.B. Miller, Person said. Thats important for county residents to know, Commissioner Joe Hewgley said. This is not a condemnation process. These are willing sellers and willing buyers. Office space accounts for 5,000 square feet of the Greenbrier building, Bruns said. The rest would be used for U.S. Customs Service inspections of incoming and outgoing shipments, assuming the rail park also is designated a foreign trade zone. Inland port authorities serve as logistics and distribution hubs handling goods involved in international trade, like their counterparts on the U.S. coasts. By handling customs inspections as well, they also enable local agribusiness and manufacturing producers to better avoid shipping congestion at coastal harbors, Person said. Commissioner Michaela Wuehler, a longtime employee at North Plattes UPS center, said the worldwide shipping concern regularly moves packages through an inland port authority in Chicago. It helps us moving packages in and out immensely, she said. Using the same mechanism would be a wonderful complement to the rail park. Mondays County Board votes and last weeks securing of $30 million in state rail park matching funds should go far toward landing the major employers local leaders have been hoping for, Person said. They know your interest is more than speculative. Its firm, he told commissioners. And that makes all the difference in the world. Person said chamber leaders are engaged in talks with an anchor manufacturer that would inject $300 million to $400 million into Lincoln Countys economy by building at the rail park. That concern would process soybean oil, according to the County Boards port authority resolution. The planned Sustainable Beef LLC meatpacking plant along Newberry Access also is expected to build a refrigerated warehouse to ship out its meat via Union Pacific. Commissioner Jerry Woodruff asked Person if the county would be asked to own the entire rail park or just the intended headquarters at Greenbrier. Its the latter, Person replied. Its so critical to the rail park, and theyre motivated to sell, he said of Greenbrier. We didnt want something to happen to that facility that wouldnt complement what were trying to do. The purchase will be immensely valuable to the county, Commissioner Kent Weems said, because it includes an already existing U.P. spur and switch to the mainline just west of Bailey Yard. Weems said the railroad usually charges $1 million apiece to install switches for rail customers. One more switch may be needed at the parks east end, Person said. With Greenbriers spur in hand, additional spurs can be built off it to other rail-park businesses. Bruns said. The county also can charge user fees for the switch, Weems said, helping to offset property tax income lost when the countys purchase takes the site off the tax rolls. Greenbriers listed $4.5 million purchase price, Person said, roughly equals the propertys current taxable value. Its also likely far less than what that facility is worth, Bruns said, stressing Greenbriers history of cooperating with local leaders during and after the factorys decade of operation. And its an ideal use of Lincoln Countys ARPA funds to benefit the most people in the county and region, Wuehler said. After the meeting, Bruns said the county will set aside a total of $5.2 million of its ARPA share for the Greenbrier purchase and associated costs. Much of the remaining $1.6 million, he said, will go to the county roads department to restock materials and replace aging road equipment. Local nonprofits and food pantries also will have the chance for grants from the countys ARPA pool, Bruns said. Commissioners supported the pantries with some of its funds from earlier rounds of federal COVID-19 aid. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Lake Maloney resident made a 911 call and said two injured and intoxicated teenagers came to his door and told him they had driven their vehicle into the canal. UPDATED, June 29, 2022, 12:05 pm: The original version of this story included a weblink from the Nebraska Public Service Commission press release that incorrectly depicted eligible reserve auction areas in western Nebraska. The locations below have been corrected accordingly. *** LINCOLN The Nebraska Public Service Commission will launch a reverse auction Aug. 8 designed to direct state funds toward filling gaps in rural broadband coverage statewide. Successful bidders will receive shares of more than $13 million in available money from the states Universal Service Fund, the PSC said in a Tuesday press release. Dan Watermeier, chairman of the five-member elected commission, said the reverse auction offers another tool to get broadband into our rural areas. A reverse auction generally begins with each bidding unit receiving a starting price. During successive rounds, the price for the bidding unit is lowered until a winning bidder emerges, the PSC said. Eligible areas in western Nebraska include scattered locations in southeast Custer, northeast Dawson, eastern Gosper, eastern Red Willow and southern and eastern Furnas counties. No Panhandle areas are included. A pre-auction application form is available on the PSC website for eligible entities wanting to take part in the reverse auction. Pre-applications must be submitted electronically to psc.nusf@nebraska.gov no later than 5 p.m. July 15. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For those who love country music, in my mind, there is no better country concert Id rather see than Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives who graced the stage June 23, 2022, at the beautiful Brown Country Music Center in Nashville, Indiana. As one of the band members said we finally made it to Nashville, which got big applause from the audience. The music, one of the tightest bands out there, and the audience all wrapped together for an amazing show that would make Country proud and those that love surf music happy as well. On this night Stuart was celebrating the release of his 18th album Way Out West a tribute to California and the American West. And as with any great band, the Fabulous Superlatives were by his side, with guitarist Kenny Vaughan, drummer Harry Stinson and the newest member, bassist Chris Scruggs. Martys set included La Tingo Tango, Sitting Alone, Matches, Country Got a Hold on Me (sung by Cousin Kenny Vaughn), Hot Like That and the Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd (sung by Handsome Harry Stinson), Brain Cloudy Blues (sung by Chris Scruggs) and many more. Marty Stuart has played with so many of the greats over the years which is likely why he feels compelled to carry on that legacy and why that makes his concerts the best of the best. Lester Flatt saw something in me and gave me his wisdom, wit, and music. Johnny Cash was my best friend. But all of that doesnt come for free. The job is to pass it along, says Stuart. Thats the way its supposed to be in country music." If you ever get a chance to see these guys, you will not be disappointed. Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-5458.jpg Cousin Kenny Vaughn 2022 Mark Sheldon-5483.jpg Chris Scruggs 2022 Mark Sheldon-5968.jpg Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-5535.jpg Kenny Vaughn 2022 Mark Sheldon-5647.jpg Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-5923.jpg Harry Stinson 2022 Mark Sheldon-5786.jpg Harry Stinson, Marty Stuart and Chris Scruggs 2022 Mark Sheldon-6020.jpg Kenny Vaughn 2022 Mark Sheldon-5811.jpg Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-5354.jpg Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-5381.jpg Kenny Vaughn and Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-1000801.jpg Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-5300.jpg Kenny Vaughn, Harry Stinson, Marty Stuart and Chris Scruggs 2022 Mark Sheldon-6042.jpg Marty Stuart 2022 Mark Sheldon-5716.jpg Marty Stuart and Chris Scruggs 2022 Mark Sheldon-5845.jpg Marty Stuart, Kenny Vaughn, Harry Stinson and Chris Scruggs 2022 Mark Sheldon-5975.jpg Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Under China's newly-updated COVID-19 control protocol, close contacts and inbound travelers will be under medical observation in isolation at designated sites for seven days plus three days of in-home health monitoring. This is an obvious length cut compared with 14 days of medical observation in isolation at designated sites plus seven days of health monitoring at home stipulated by the previous edition of the protocol. Also according to the ninth edition of the protocol released Tuesday, individuals deemed to have had close contact with COVID-19 close contacts will face seven days of medical observation under home quarantine, instead of seven days of medical observation in isolation at designated sites. Under the new protocol, China will increase the frequency of nucleic acid tests for individuals with direct contact with inbound travelers, goods and environments to one time a day. The January 6 hearings have two basic functions. The first is to reveal, to the degree it is possible, as much as can be uncovered about Donald Trumps efforts to negate the 2020 election result and remain in office. The second is to expose the allies who are, in one way or another, complicit in his crime. On both counts, the committee is delivering. Tuesdays hearings produced numerous revelations. Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to chief of staff Mark Meadows and a first- or secondhand witness to the coup attempt, deepened Trumps complicity in the insurrection. She testified that Trump instructed Meadows to call Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, two aides who were connected to the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, the main paramilitary organizations that directed the violence; that Trump, after being told his supporters were bringing weapons to his rally, told the Secret Service to remove the metal detectors because theyre not here to hurt me; and that Trump was so desperate to join the march on the Capitol that he actually assaulted a Secret Service agent when he was denied on security grounds. At this point, even with the hearings in progress, it seems safe to rate this as the greatest political scandal in American history. This is true when measured by its depth (the lengths the perpetrators were willing to go extended to the violent overthrow of the U.S. government) as well as its breadth (the guilty parties included elected officials, lawyers, foot soldiers, and, of course, the president of the United States). It is all the more striking, then, that the Republican Party stance was, and is, that none of this should be investigated. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell opposed the formation of the commission. (After careful consideration, Ive made the decision to oppose the House Democrats slanted and unbalanced proposal for another commission to study the events of January 6th, he announced on the Senate floor last year.) House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy appointed a collection of Trump lackeys. When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to seat two of them Jims Jordan and Banks on the grounds that they were personally implicated in the investigation, McCarthy ordered his entire caucus to boycott the hearings. Republicans have responded to the stream of revelations by dismissing them as boring and partisan. Their party-controlled media have either ignored the hearings, engaged in frantic whataboutism, or supplied talking points to distract from the damning news. They have turned against the only members of their party willing to participate in the hearings, branding them as traitors. This in turn has sent a message to every staffer privy to the coup who is contemplating the choice to share what they know or stick to the omerta. The future in Republican politics belongs to those who do not betray Trump. They may not be required to pledge open obedience to him, but silence is far safer for their careers as Republicans than testifying against Trump is. Republicans could have made cooperating with the committee the safe choice. Instead, they have made it dangerous. Republicans probably justify all this as simple partisan logic. If you are able to conceive of events only in terms of political benefit, then the function of the hearings is to hurt Republicans; therefore, the Republican task is to engage in damage control. But this is precisely the kind of rank partisanship that carried most of the party along with Trump through, and past, his reelection campaign. It brought him within a fraction of a percent of the vote of winning a second term and let his postelection coup attempt come harrowingly close, at minimum, to provoking a violent crisis. After Trump refused to accept the election outcome, a Republican aide infamously said, What is the downside for humoring him for this little bit of time? It was an astonishing quote even then. January 6 revealed how dangerous that mentality is. The partys response to the hearings reveals that this mentality has not changed. Photo: Caroline Tompkins/The New York Times On a recent evening, journalist Patrick Radden Keefe was in his home office in Westchester County, toying with a story idea that involved the Russian mafia. Before calling it a day, he printed a trove of related documents and left them in a stack on his printer tray. When he returned the next morning, he found that someone had taken one of the pages a picture of a dead body inscribed with a threatening message in Cyrillic letters and placed it on his desk. The culprit had added a single word to the page: No. As a staff writer at The New Yorker, Keefe has written about all kinds of disreputable figures an international arms broker, hackers, a dubious diamond dealer, a mass shooter, and the Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, to name just a few and this wasnt the first time someone had tried to get him to beg off a story. While working on Empire of Pain, his 2021 book about the Sackler familys role in the opioid epidemic, Keefe came to believe the family had hired an investigator to intimidate him by loitering outside his home. This time, however, the intimidation campaign was coming from inside the house. Every time he tells me a new story idea, I feel like I have a miniheart attack. Oh jeez, another litigious asshole or murderous criminal? Cant you do a celebrity profile or something? says Keefes wife, Justyna Gudzowska, an attorney who specializes in international financial-crime policy. Patrick is intrigued by all of the bad guys. Keefe insists that his predisposition toward bad guys is not a point of tension in his marriage, but his new book, Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks (Doubleday), is proof of his nearly undivided focus on scoundrels. After the enormous success of Empire of Pain and 2018s Say Nothing, a murder procedural set against the backdrop of the Troubles in Ireland, Keefes latest is a collection of 12 stories drawn from his work at The New Yorker and a reminder of his command of the magazine thriller. I need a story about people. I always start from the ground up. There may be some kind of particular 30,000-foot phenomenon thats interesting, but I have to find an anecdotal way into it, Keefe says, sitting on a bench in Tompkins Square Park on a recent sunny afternoon. Im often thinking about these kinds of questions of the specific and the universal and to what degree can we empathize with people even if theyve done awful things. The appetite for stories about people who do awful things has never been higher. Magazines have embraced the era of true crime with cash-starved glossies selling the rights to 8,000-word, already fact-checked features to streaming services. There is peril in that bargain: Narratives sometimes read as if theyve been engineered for Netflix; vulnerable sources, who are often victims, can feel exploited; and lurid storytelling can romanticize, or absolve, criminals. But Keefes work is mindful of the havoc his subjects unleash on their victims, their families, and the institutions around them. In his hands, an abyss becomes a mirror. You end up learning what is the vulnerability or the vanity of the culture that got taken in by this person or that allowed this criminal to triumph or prosper. Thats why I feel like his work, admittedly emerging during a time when there is a grifting-journalism economy, stands out as singular, says Daniel Zalewski, Keefes longtime editor at The New Yorker. Keefe has a natural tendency to key in on his subjects family lives as a means of interrogating their motives. In Rogues, nowhere does that tendency serve a story better than in the case of Amy Bishop, a disgruntled former science professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, who killed three colleagues and injured three others in a 2010 mass shooting. Years before her rampage, when Bishop was 21, shed shot and killed her 18-year-old brother. Keefe tirelessly reported on that time period, making trips to Bishops hometown of Braintree, Massachusetts. His reporting pointed to a theory that Bishops parents had called their sons murder an accident instead of facing the horror of fratricide. Keefe landed a series of interviews with Bishops parents, Judy and Sam, and laid out his theory for them. I was able to home in on some of the inconsistencies in Judys story. But, of course, I didnt feel any sense of triumph. Cruel is the wrong word. I felt great empathy, because I felt these were two people who, in order to survive, had constructed a universe of denial. And there I was poking holes in that edifice, Keefe says. They called me the night before the piece came out. It had been through fact-checking already. Sam said, We want you to know that whatever happens with the piece, were really glad that we told our story to you. Which meant the world to me. The next day, the piece came out, and they havent spoken to me since. While Rogues represents 15 years of magazine writing, its Keefes relatively recent work that launched him to a level of success few journalists ever reach. Say Nothing was a New York Times best-seller and optioned as a limited series on FX. In the spring of 2020, as the U.S. went into lockdown, Keefe released Wind of Change, an eight-episode podcast in which he investigated the mysterious origins of the Cold Warera anthem of the same name by glam-metal band the Scorpions. It was picked up by Hulu. A year later, Keefe published Empire of Pain, which also quickly became a New York Times best-seller. At 46, Keefe is tall and lean with a sharp nose and a trimmed thicket of salt-and-pepper hair. Hes painstakingly affable a manner that surely serves him well as a reporter. Were eating chicken sandwiches from a trendy Indian restaurant Keefe was eager to try. A self-described dedicated eater, he doesnt have much time to explore the citys culinary delights these days thanks to two young sons, work, and the promotional obligations that come with literary fame. He has just come from a podcast interview about Empire of Pain and, in 48 hours, hell be on a plane to the Maldives for the Jaipur Literature Festival, which is being held at a five-star resort there. His books have earned Keefe awards, a spot on late-night TV couches, shout-outs from A-list celebrities, and the chance to testify before Congress. Ive heard that he no longer fields blurb requests from fellow authors, because there are simply too many. Its ridiculous, he says of the Maldives trip. Next month, Im going to Ireland and doing a bunch of speaking. I could never have imagined, until a few years ago, saying no to that kind of opportunity. But Ive had to start saying no to stuff, because the last thing I want to do is keep running a victory lap for work that came out over a year ago. Keefe grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the son of an urban planner and a professor of philosophy. After undergrad at Columbia, Keefe went to Cambridge and the London School of Economics. Even as he was collecting masters degrees unrelated to journalism, Keefe always knew where he wanted to end up. Working at The New Yorker was always his dream job, says Gudzowska, who also studied at Cambridge and LSE. I found this incredibly pretentious when I met him, but we were living in the U.K. together and hed find the newsstands that got The New Yorker earlier than the other newsstands and insist on going there as soon as the issue came out. After England, Keefe and Gudzowska enrolled at Yale Law School, where Keefe took a year off to write his first book, Chatter, about the U.S.-eavesdropping-surveillance network. In 2006, the same year Chatter was published, Keefe sold his first story to The New Yorker, about Sister Ping, a prolific human smuggler in Chinatown, which Keefe would expand into his second book, The Snakehead. He sent in a pitch, and it was so strong that I immediately agreed to work with him, said Zalewski. What was clear was that he could see that it was a crime operation, but that he was most interested in the complex motivations that had led her to embark on this endeavor to both help and exploit her community. It was that awareness of the double edge that caught my eye. If there is a cinematic quality to Keefes work, thats because he plainly admits to drawing inspiration from the structure, pacing, and reveals in movies. When Keefe flew to Paris to interview an HSBC computer technician hed pitched to his editors as the Edward Snowden of Swiss banking, he quickly realized he was sitting across from a compulsive liar. At first, Keefe thought he needed to scuttle the story, because he couldnt build a feature around such an unreliable subject. Then he remembered The Informant!, a 2009 Matt Damon film about a disastrous FBI source, and it inspired him to lean into the unreliability of his subject. While trying to make it as a magazine writer, Keefe briefly worked as a Hollywood screenwriter, adapting a Jo Nesb novel for Channing Tatum and writing a script about Somali pirates for Jerry Bruckheimer. (It is a mercy to the world that that didnt get made and Captain Phillips did, he says.) Back at Tompkins Square Park, Keefe is finishing the last few bites of his sandwich before getting back to work on a story about a CIA hacker on trial for allegedly leaking a massive cache of files to WikiLeaks. Before leaving, I ask whether he regrets any part of his interviews with Bishops parents. I wouldnt change a thing, he says. Its a thing that I wrestle with not so much ethically but emotionally. Its the Janet Malcolm thing, right? When you sit down to write, if you are pulling punches on behalf of the people youre writing about, youre not doing your job. There may be a necessary and inescapable cruelty in that. Which emotionally is hard for me but, professionally, I feel fine with. LONDON, June 29, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Akanda Corp. ("Akanda" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AKAN), an international medical cannabis platform company, today announced that its UK import and distribution wholly-owned subsidiary CanMart Ltd. ("CanMart") has partnered with Phlo Connect and Cellen Life Sciences ("Cellen") to create a first-of-its-kind fully digital dispensing collaboration for medical cannabis. The strategic partnership strengthens CanMarts existing partnership with Cellens digital Leva Clinic and expands its route to market in the UK with a dispensing model that is also fully digital while at the same time improving the experience for UK medical cannabis patients. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005777/en/ Phlo Connect integrates digitally with CanMart, Akandas UK-based, fully licensed pharmaceutical importer and distributor, to quickly and conveniently deliver prescriptions to patients throughout the United Kingdom (Photo: Business Wire) Phlo Connect integrates digitally with CanMart, Akandas UK-based, fully licensed pharmaceutical importer and distributor, to quickly and conveniently deliver prescriptions to patients throughout the United Kingdom. Initially, patients will secure prescriptions through the Leva Clinic, with product transferred through CanMart to Phlo Connect. Patients can then schedule delivery to their home or office. Phlo Connect is the UKs leading API driven digital pharmacy infrastructure provider that seamlessly connects prescribers, pharmacies and patients for an end-to-end digital experience. Phlo Connect offers a 120-minute delivery service in London and Birmingham and next-day delivery across the UK. This process will be increasingly seamless for patients in the near future as Phlo Connect, Leva Clinic, and CanMart build additional digital interconnections. "Akanda is committed to expanding access to high quality products for anyone in need, and that is qualified in the United Kingdom, a growing market for medical cannabis," commented Tej Virk, CEO of Akanda. "Phlo Connect and Cellen are the ideal partners to make this happen, combining the UKs first fully digital pharmacy with a digital dispensing model that is easy to use, secure, and real-time. Patients can arrange a specialist consultation at www.levaclinic.com and seamlessly connect to Phlo Connects smartphone app to arrange medical cannabis delivery. In the nascent UK medical cannabis market, patients currently suffer from excess friction as the prescription process, and last mile delivery is disjointed. We firmly believe that our solution is the best way to satisfy patients and get our 1P and 3P-supplied medical cannabis in their hands quickly and conveniently, which will greatly improve the patient experience." Story continues "We believe partnering with CanMart and Cellen will be a game-changer for medicinal cannabis patients here in the UK. By integrating with both CanMart and Cellen via our API driven pharmacy platform, we believe that this partnership is the first truly end to end digital experience for medicinal cannabis patients in the UK," commented Adam Hunter, CCO of Phlo Connect. Added Eric Bystrom, CEO of Cellen, "Our patients require access to new high-quality products without the friction and hassle of traditional dispensing services. This partnership is another example of our continuing efforts to build on our national, established relationships with the wider pharmaceutical community in innovative ways. We believe that CanMarts access to high quality products as well as Phlo Connect's extensive capabilities in dispensing will go a long way to helping our service to our patients." The digital dispensing solution is now live. Patients interested in exploring the program should visit www.levaclinic.com to book a free call with one of our specialists. The partnership with Phlo Connect builds on CanMarts existing partnership with Cellen, a health tech company that provides treatment to chronic pain patients through its digital pain clinic, Leva Clinic, as well as through partners including the NHS, Boots and others. The Leva Clinic, regulated by the Care Quality Commission ("CQC"), is one of the first fully digital pain clinics in the UK. Through a multi-disciplinary clinical team of expert clinicians, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists and nurse consultants, the Leva Clinic supports patients through personalized online care plans. Cellen is also a medical cannabis supplier to Project Twenty21, the large-scale medical cannabis observational study monitored by Drug Science that aims to improve access to medical cannabis for those in need. Corporate Update As previously announced, Harvinder Singh, Mohsen Rahimi, Jatinder Dhaliwal and Katharyn Field joined Akandas board of directors (the "Board"), effective June 23, 2022. Each of these new directors brings with them a unique perspective within high growth industries pertaining to supply chain, pharmaceuticals and regulatory measures. Tej Virk continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as part of the five-member Board. Concluded Virk, "Along with the rest of the Akanda management team, we wanted to extend our gratitude to the former directors for their contributions to our business. The many contributions of our prior Board members were critical in enabling us to reach this inflection point. As we increase our focus on the European market, and near-term opportunities, our new directors bring relevant backgrounds and relationships. Management is excited to collaborate with the new Board to achieve profitable growth. We have never been more confident in Akandas future." About Akanda Corp. Akanda is an international medical cannabis and wellness platform company seeking to help people lead better lives through improved access to high quality and affordable products. Akandas portfolio includes Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness, a GACP qualified cultivation campus in the Kingdom of Lesotho in Southern Africa; Holigen, a Portugal-based cultivator, manufacturer and distributor with a prized EU GMP certified indoor grow facility; and CanMart, a UK-based fully licensed pharmaceutical importer and distributor which supplies pharmacies and clinics within the UK. The Companys seed-to-patient supply chain also includes partnerships with Cellen Life Sciences Leva Clinic, one of the first fully digital pain clinics in the UK, and Cantourage, which operates a platform for bringing medical cannabis to Europe. Connect with Akanda: Email | Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram About Phlo Phlo Connect is an API driven pharmacy infrastructure platform that partners with other healthcare providers to offer a seamless end to end digital pharmacy experience. Leveraging a network of pharmacies, Phlo offers on-demand delivery of prescriptions at a time and place which suits the patient. You can find out more about Phlos infrastructure platform at www.phloconnect.com and its on-demand pharmacy service at www.wearephlo.com. Connect with Phlo: Email | Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram About Cellen Cellen is a UK based healthcare innovation company, improving the health and wellbeing of people living with chronic pain with a focus on Medical Cannabis access. Founded in 2019 by Eric Bystrom and Dr. Benjamin Viaris de Lesegno, Cellen is building integrated solutions to manage chronic pain by combining clinical care, innovation and real-world evidence generation. In November 2020, Cellen launched Leva Clinic, the UK's first Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered online pain clinic. Leva Clinic provides pain management services to the NHS and Boots UK customers. Cellen was selected as UK Department of International Trade's 25 'One's to Watch' for Digital Health, was named a finalist for Tech Nations Diversity and Inclusion Award 2021, and was awarded Outstanding for Well-Led by the CQC in 2022. Connect with Cellen: Email | Website | Twitter | Instagram Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Akanda's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Akanda's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to business strategy, product development, market changes and sales and growth plans. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Akanda does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005777/en/ Contacts Investor: Matt Chesler, CFA FNK IR ir@akandacorp.com Media: United States: Annie Grant Allison + Partners akanda@allisonpr.com Europe: Imogen Saunders Irvine Partners imogen@irvinepartners.co.uk Basilea Pharmaceutica AG Ceftobiprole met primary and secondary efficacy endpoints Basilea plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) in the U.S. around year end 2022 Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Basel, Switzerland, June 28, 2022 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today positive topline results for the phase 3 ERADICATE study, evaluating ceftobiprole in the treatment of adult patients with bacterial bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SAB).1 Basilea is planning to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for ceftobiprole to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) around year end 2022. In accordance with the agreed Special Protocol Assessment (SPA), Basilea will seek approval for SAB and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) indications based on the successfully completed ERADICATE study and the TARGET phase 3 study2, which was successfully completed in patients with ABSSSI in 2019. In addition, the company will explore the possibility for gaining approval for a third indication based on a previously performed phase 3 study in community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).3 Dr. Marc Engelhardt, Chief Medical Officer, stated: The successful completion of the ERADICATE study is an exceptional achievement. ERADICATE is the largest double-blinded randomized study conducted of a new antibiotic treatment in SAB. The positive results underline the potent activity of ceftobiprole for treating serious bacterial infections. Achieving this important milestone enables us to proceed with a regulatory filing. Ceftobiprole would be the first beta-lactam antibiotic approved in the U.S. for the treatment of SAB caused by methicillin-susceptible or methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, addressing important medical needs. Thomas Holland, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and chair of the ERADICATE Data Review Committee said: This is a landmark study in an area with a high need to provide new treatments to patients. Complicated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections are common and associated with high morbidity and significant mortality and available antibiotic treatment options are limited, especially when methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is involved. The ERADICATE study provides strong support for the efficacy and safety of ceftobiprole in complicated SAB. This large phase 3 study included patients with a wide spectrum of underlying complications, underscoring its broad applicability to routine clinical practice. Story continues The ERADICATE study enrolled 390 patients with complicated SAB, including right-sided endocarditis. Ceftobiprole met the pre-specified efficacy objective of overall success in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population at 70 days after randomization, assessed by an independent Data Review Committee, within the pre-specified non-inferiority margin of 15% compared to daptomycin, with or without aztreonam. The overall success rate was 69.8% with ceftobiprole compared to 68.7% with daptomycin, with or without aztreonam. The statistically adjusted difference between ceftobiprole and the comparator group was 2.0% (95% confidence interval: -7.1% to 11.1%). Initial subgroup analyses showed no significant differences between the two treatment groups. Ceftobiprole was well tolerated and the observed safety profile was consistent with previous phase 3 studies and the post-marketing experience with ceftobiprole. In the ERADICATE study the overall rate of adverse events was similar between the two treatment groups. As expected, gastrointestinal side effects were more frequent with ceftobiprole. Basilea plans to submit the full data from this study for presentation at an upcoming scientific conference. Ceftobiprole was designated a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) by the FDA for SAB, ABSSSI and CABP. Therefore, if approved, ceftobiprole would be eligible to receive ten years of market exclusivity in the U.S. from the date of approval. The U.S. represents the most important commercial market for ceftobiprole, with Basileas estimate ranging from 80 to 90 percent of the global potential. Basileas ceftobiprole phase 3 program is funded in part (up to USD 134.2 million, which is approximately 70% of the total potential program costs) with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract number HHSO100201600002C. Conference call and webcast Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. will host a conference call and webcast today, Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 4 p.m. (CEST), to discuss the ERADICATE topline results. Via audio webcast with presentation The live audio webcast of the presentation of the results can be followed here: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=28DAz4AN. Please note that there is no function to ask questions via webcast. For questions, please additionally dial in via phone (see below). Via phone To listen by phone and ask questions, please use the dial-in details below. To ensure prompt access, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. +41 (0) 58 310 5000 (Europe and RoW) +1 (1) 866 291 4166 (USA) +44 (0) 207 107 0613 (U.K.) Replay The webcast, along with the presentation will be available online shortly after the event and accessible for three months. About ceftobiprole Ceftobiprole medocaril, the prodrug of the active moiety ceftobiprole, is a cephalosporin antibiotic for intravenous administration, with rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This includes methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.4 The brand is currently approved and marketed as Zevtera and Mabelio in a number of countries in Europe and beyond. Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements in Europe, Eurasian countries, Latin America, China, Canada, Israel, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. About the ceftobiprole phase 3 program The ERADICATE study1 was a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 study, which enrolled 390 patients with SAB and compared the safety and efficacy of intravenous ceftobiprole medocaril with intravenous daptomycin plus optional intravenous aztreonam for coverage of Gram-negative pathogens. Patients were enrolled at more than 50 study centers in Eastern and Central Europe, Israel, Latin America, the Republic of South Africa, and the U.S. The TARGET study2 was a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 study, which enrolled 679 patients with ABSSSI and compared the safety and efficacy of intravenous ceftobiprole medocaril with intravenous vancomycin plus intravenous aztreonam. The study was conducted at more than 30 clinical centers in the U.S. and Europe. The two phase 3 studies were conducted under Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreements with the U.S. FDA. About Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is a leading cause of bloodstream infections, responsible for a broad variety of complications and has been associated with significant morbidity and a mortality of 20 to 40%.5, 6 Several studies have demonstrated that MRSA bacteremia is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate compared with MSSA bacteremia.7, 8 Infections of the inner lining of the heart or heart valves (infective endocarditis) and bone infections (osteomyelitis) are common complications of SAB. About Basilea Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of severe bacterial infections. In addition, we have several preclinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. 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. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com investor_relations@basilea.com This ad hoc announcement can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References ERADICATE: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03138733 K. Hamed, M. Engelhardt, M. E. Jones et al. Ceftobiprole versus daptomycin in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a novel protocol for a double-blind, Phase III trial. Future Microbiology. 2020 (1), 35-48 TARGET: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03137173 J. S. Overcash, C. Kim, R. Keech R et al. Ceftobiprole Compared With Vancomycin Plus Aztreonam in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections: Results of a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind Trial (TARGET). Clinical Infectious Diseases 2021 (73), e1507-e1517 S. C. Nicholson, T. Welte, T. M. File Jr. et al. A randomised, double-blind trial comparing ceftobiprole medocaril with ceftriaxone with or without linezolid for the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 2021 (39), 240-246 Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Zevtera: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9164/smpc [Accessed: June 27, 2022] A. G. Jensen, C. H. Wachmann, F. Espersen et al. Treatment and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a prospective study of 278 cases. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 25-32 J.-L. Wang, S.-Y. Chen, J.-T. Wang et al. Comparison of both clinical features and mortality risk associated with bacteremia due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008 (46), 799-806 S. I. Blot, K. H. Vandewoude, E. A. Hoste et al. Outcome and attributable mortality in critically ill patients with bacteremia involving methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 2229-2235 S. E. Cosgrove, G. Sakoulas, E. N. Perencevich et al. Comparison of mortality associated with methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a meta-analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2003 (36), 53-59 Attachment Rapid Medical and MicroPort NeuroTech Join Forces to Pair Premium Numen Coil with the de Novo Comaneci Coil-Assist Device YOKNEAM, Israel & MIAMI, June 28, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rapid Medical, a leading developer of advanced neurovascular devices, announces the expansion of its portfolio in the United States and the first Numen coil embolization procedure. Rapid Medical now has an exclusive distribution agreement with MicroPort NeuroTech, a subsidiary of MicroPort Scientific Corporation. MircoPorts global presence offers nearly 300 medical solutions to patients in more than 80 countries and generates over $780 M in annual revenue. "The Numen coils are extremely soft and take the shape of the anatomy very well," describes Dr. Ajit Puri, who completed the procedure at UMASS Memorial Hospital in Worcester, MA. "The reliability from shape to detachment is exactly what we are looking for when choosing a coil." The Numen Coil Embolization System showed excellent results in a 350-patient, prospective head-to-head study against one of the market-leading coils1. In the trial, the Numen coil demonstrated 91.2% successful long-term occlusion at 6 months and comparable mortality and serious adverse events. These results are particularly noteworthy since the Numen coils are generally longer and may need fewer coils to achieve the same packing density. "We are excited to expand our portfolio for treating brain aneurysms with the addition of the Numen Coil Embolization System," comments James Romero, President, Americas of Rapid Medical. "The combination of our de Novo Comaneci device and the Numen coil expands physicians capabilities to treat complex aneurysms with one of the safest and most effective modalities availableComaneci-assisted coil embolization." "This strategic partnership leverages the strengths of both companies and our respective products," says Bruce Wang, Executive Director and Executive Vice President of MicroPort NeuroTech and Rapid Medical board member. "By working together, we can offer physicians superior options for successful outcomes." Story continues About Rapid Medical Rapid Medical develops the premier, responsive interventional devices for neurovascular diseases such as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Utilizing novel manufacturing techniques, Rapid Medicals products are remotely adjustable and fully visible. This enables physicians to respond in real-time to the intravascular environment and have greater control over procedural outcomes. TIGERTRIEVER17 and 21, COMANECI, and COLUMBUS/DRIVEWIRE are CE marked and FDA cleared. TIGERTRIEVER13 and XL are also CE marked. More information is available at www.rapid-medical.com. 1 Zhao R, Duan G, Yang P, et al. Endovascular Aneurysm Treatment with the Numen Coil Embolization System: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Open-Label Multicenter Noninferiority Trial in China. World Neurosurg. 2022;160:e23-e32. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.11.067 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005724/en/ Contacts Ronen Eckhouse +972-72-2503331 ronen@rapid-medical.com Figure 1: Troia Target Plan Map, highlighting trench locations and assays. Figure 1: Troia Target Plan Map, highlighting trench locations and assays. Figure 2: Photographs from trenching at the Troia Target, highlighting chromitite reef horizons and chromite-rich ultramafics. Figure 2: Photographs from trenching at the Troia Target, highlighting chromitite reef horizons and chromite-rich ultramafics. Figure 3a: Trench TR22TR02 cross section, Troia Target, highlighting geology, assays, and proximal Trado auger drilling. Figure 3a: Trench TR22TR02 cross section, Troia Target, highlighting geology, assays, and proximal Trado auger drilling. Figure 3b: Trench TR22CC01 cross section, Troia Target, highlighting geology, assays, and proximal Trado auger drilling. Figure 3b: Trench TR22CC01 cross section, Troia Target, highlighting geology, assays, and proximal Trado auger drilling. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (ValOre; TSXV: VO; OTC: KVLQF; Frankfurt: KEQ0, the Company) today announced trench channel sample assay results from the Troia target (Troia) at ValOres 100%-owned Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE, 2PGE+Au) Project (Pedra Branca) in northeastern Brazil. Our geological team continues to deliver at the Pedra Branca palladium-platinum project. Troia joins Ipueiras and Galante East in our pipeline of drill-ready targets, stated ValOres V.P. of Exploration, Colin Smith. The trench results at the Troia target confirm the presence of in-situ PGE mineralization intercepted in previously reported Trado auger drilling and rock sampling and demonstrate potential continuity of the target chromite-bearing ultramafic rocks over 600 m along trend. Mineralization and the target ultramafic intrusion remain fully open at depth and warrant follow-up core or RC drilling. Troia Trenching Highlights: Six of seven trenches returned significant intervals of PGE mineralization at surface, including: 42 metres (m) grading 0.87 grams per tonne palladium + platinum + gold (g/t 2PGE+Au), including 10 m grading 1.72 g/t 2PGE+Au in trench TR22TR04; 28 m grading 0.91 g/t 2PGE+Au , including 12 m grading 1.73 g/t 2PGE+Au in trench TR22TR01; 26 m grading 0.82 g/t 2PGE+Au in trench TR22TR02; 16 m grading 1.30 g/t 2PGE+Au in trench TR22CC01. Troia Target Exploration Program ValOre conducted detailed geological mapping and prospecting along the 1-km-long anomalous trend at Troia, a target located 4.5 km north-northeast of Massape (129,000 oz 2PGE+Au grading 1.21 g/t in 3.31 Mt) and 8 km north of Trapia (885,000 oz 2PGE+Au grading 0.96 g/t in 27.8 Mt). The trend was subsequently followed up with 72 Trado auger holes totaling 206 m, with ultramafics (UM) encountered in 19 Trado holes. Story continues PGE assays previously reported from Trado auger drilling and rock sampling, which included 23.01 g/t 2PGE+Au and 12.00 g/t 2PGE+Au (CLICK HERE for news release dated April 25, 2022), warranted follow-up trenching along 600 m of geological trend to confirm the presence of in-situ PGE mineralization. Seven trenches were excavated (400 m total length), with all exposing UM and UM-derived rock continuity along strike, including chromite-rich UMs of significant thickness in the central trenches, TR22TR01 to TR22TR04, and in the northern trench, TR22CC01. See Figure 1 below for a detailed plan map of the Troia target, Figure 2 for photographs of the Troia trenching program, and Figures 3a-3b for cross sections (trenches TR22TR02 and TR22CC01). Trench mapping and assays indicate a strong potential for continuity between the northern trench (TR22CC01) and the main zone (trenches TR22TR01 to TR22TR006), despite the lack of surface exposure in between. Detailed follow-up mapping and prospecting has commenced to further investigate this gap zone. Table 1: Trenching Highlights for Troia Target Trench ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) 2PGE+Au (g/t) Interval Summary* TR22TR01 15 43 28 0.91 28 m grading 0.91 g/t 2PGE+Au incl. 12 m grading 1.73 g/t 2PGE+Au 16 28 12 1.73 TR22TR02 19 45 26 0.82 26 m grading 0.82 g/t 2PGE+Au TR22TR03 10 27 17 0.61 17 m grading 0.61 g/t 2PGE+Au incl. 4 m grading 1.06 g/t 2PGE+Au 16 20 4 1.06 TR22TR04 0 42 42 0.87 42 m grading 0.87 g/t 2PGE+Au incl. 10 m grading 1.72 g/t 2PGE+Au 8 18 10 1.72 TR22TR05 5 16 11 0.20 11 m grading 0.20 g/t 2PGE+Au incl. 4 m grading 0.32 g/t 2PGE+Au 10 14 4 0.32 TR22CC01 27 43 16 1.30 16 m grading 1.30 g/t 2PGE+Au *Reported trench assay interval lengths are channel samples and estimated to represent 75-85% true width. Figure 1: Troia Target Plan Map, highlighting trench locations and assays. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14eb0b15-a56c-4231-9ee1-2c94578bf26a Figure 2: Photographs from trenching at the Troia Target, highlighting chromitite reef horizons and chromite-rich ultramafics. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7bafb4b9-0d71-491d-a47e-2e37c76965c4 Figure 3a: Trench TR22TR02 cross section, Troia Target, highlighting geology, assays, and proximal Trado auger drilling. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a9115fb-6939-48f1-8888-a6dfcf96c5ac Figure 3b: Trench TR22CC01 cross section, Troia Target, highlighting geology, assays, and proximal Trado auger drilling. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9d1e6d2-01db-4aad-b6e1-56318e0a7073 About the Trado Auger and Trenching methodology CLICK HERE for more information regarding Trado Auger and Trenching methodology Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QA/QC) and Grade Interval Reporting CLICK HERE for a summary of ValOres policies and procedures related to QA/QC and grade interval reporting. Qualified Person (QP) The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Colin Smith, P.Geo., ValOres QP and Vice President of Exploration. About ValOre Metals Corp. ValOre Metals Corp. (TSXV: VO) is a Canadian company with a portfolio of highquality exploration projects. ValOres team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration, process improvement, and innovation. In May 2019, ValOre announced the acquisition of the Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) property, in Brazil, to bolster its existing Angilak uranium, Genesis/Hatchet uranium and Baffin gold projects in Canada. The Pedra Branca PGE Project comprises 52 exploration licenses covering a total area of 56,852 hectares (140,484 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 7 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a 2022 NI 43-101 inferred resource of 2.198 Moz 2PGE+Au contained in 63.6 Mt grading 1.08 g/t 2PGE+Au (CLICK HERE for news release dated March 24, 2022). All the currently known Pedra Branca inferred PGE resources are potentially open pittable. Comprehensive exploration programs have demonstrated the "District Scale" potential of ValOres Angilak Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada that hosts the Lac 50 Trend having a current Inferred Resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading 0.69% U3O8, totaling 43.3 million pounds U3O8. For disclosure related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium deposits, please CLICK HERE for ValOre's news release dated March 1, 2013. ValOres team has forged strong relationships with sophisticated resource sector investors and partner Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) on both the Angilak and Baffin Gold Properties. ValOre was the first company to sign a comprehensive agreement to explore for uranium on Inuit Owned Lands in Nunavut Territory and is committed to building shareholder value while adhering to high levels of environmental and safety standards and proactive local community engagement. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Jim Paterson James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO ValOre Metals Corp. For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604.653.9464, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com. ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.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. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the future operations of ValOre and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body As hospitals and clinics across the country attempted to navigate the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so many things were happening in such a short amount of time. Pharmacists, including Erin McCreary, a 2015 graduate of the Harrison College of Pharmacy, and other health care workers worked tirelessly to identify treatments for struggling patients. Never one to be afraid of work, hard work, McCreary did not stand idly by. Asking questions at a crucial time, she assumed a vital leadership role within the hospital system and became a key resource in pharmacy circles across the country for COVID-19 treatment and protocols. An infectious diseases pharmacist and director of Stewardship Innovation, Infectious Disease Connect with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, or UPMC, as well as a clinical assistant professor of medicine with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, McCreary noticed some trends in orders coming through the pharmacy. With so much information coming through her system, she spoke up and volunteered to coordinate the summarization and cataloging of information coming through the pharmacy. Just by asking the question, she became a pivotal leader in the health systems approach to COVID-19. That led to the first draft of our first COVID-19 treatment guideline. We started truly putting out systems and protocols and information technology support across the entire health care system: rural, critical access hospitals, community and the academic and urban areas. They were all operating under the same oversight, which was our committee, said McCreary. I went from being kind of one pharmacist at one hospital, to being the system lead pharmacist for all COVID-19 therapeutics basically by asking if anyone was writing a basic guideline. As pharmacists and physicians learned more about COVID-19 and ways to combat the disease, monoclonal antibodies became an important tool in treating those infected with COVID-19. Made for use in people already infected with it, monoclonal antibodies look for and attach to the spike protein that sticks out of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. When monoclonal antibodies attach to the spike protein, they can block the virus ability to enter cells and slow down the infection. With this treatment coming to the forefront, McCreary once again stepped to the front to lead the charge and is the lead pharmacist for the UPMC Monoclonal Antibody Network. When the antibody treatments received emergency use authorization in November 2020, McCreary and her team shifted their inpatient work to outpatient, utilizing their network to treat as many patients as possible. Monoclonal antibodies are highly effective, but they are logistically challenging to get to patients, and it takes a whole village of people to coordinate this, she said. Their success did not go unnoticed. Soon The White House was calling to find out what exactly they were doing at UPMC. They said, We have invested in all of these drugs, and people arent using them and you guys seem to have figured out how to use them, we want to help you do more of this, recalled McCreary. So, with these efforts from an incredible team of people, we were able to go from treating about 3% of all eligible patients to 35% of all eligible patients in just shy of a couple months, which is a really, really tremendous increase in access and something we are very proud of. Receiving recognition The leadership and determination shown by McCreary during such a critical time exemplifies why she was selected as the Young Alumni Achievement Award winner by the Auburn Alumni Association. I am so honored and humbled to receive this award, it still doesnt feel real, said McCreary. Im so proud to represent pharmacists and to represent women. It admittedly feels a bit odd to celebrate work related to COVID-19 since the pandemic has been such a horrible experience in so many ways; however, when I step back and think more about the systems we built, the ways we collaborated, the patients we helped and the path forged for future young female scientists, I am so proud and this award recognizes a path forward for so many more future leaders to continue this work and improve it even more. McCreary is the first graduate of the Harrison College of Pharmacy to receive the Young Alumni Achievement Award and just the second graduate in as many years to be recognized by the Auburn Alumni Association. With the valuable contributions of pharmacists, particularly during the COVID-19 era, McCreary is happy to see the spotlight shown on the meaningful work as part of patients health care teams. Pharmacists are an essential member of every patient care teamno matter the location of the patient or the specialty or medical condition requiring care, said McCreary. When we collaborate with our physician, nursing and other health care partners, we truly can design trials and build systems that optimize care while using resources judiciously. Its never too early to work hard and make a difference. Giving credit For McCreary, her interest in infectious diseases started during her second year of pharmacy school in Jack DeRuiters class. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics fascinate me, and I think one of the best parts of being a pharmacist is diving into these data for different compounds, combining that knowledge with available clinical data and optimizing dosing to a desired effect, she said. During our bugs and drugs course P2 year, I realized antimicrobials were the coolest drug class ever. I think its fascinating how the chemical structures directly relate to their spectrum of activity against various pathogens and adverse events we see in patients. Along with DeRuiter, she credits several others from the Auburn Pharmacy Family for helping her along the way. Salisa Westrick taught the research elective where she learned about writing research studies and applying for grants, and the late Anne Marie Liles was an important faculty mentor who helped McCreary and others start and grow the Equal Access Birmingham interprofessional free clinic in Birmingham. She also credits Courtney Watts Alexander and Kent Owusu, members of the HCOP Class of 2014, who taught her about residencies and getting involved with professional organizations. She also credits Brent Fox for helping her create her first Twitter account. That account now has a blue checkmark beside it, boasting nearly 15,000 followers as she has become one of the leading voices around the country regarding COVID-19 treatment. Next chapters Upon leaving Auburn, McCreary completed two years of residency work with University of Wisconsin Health, specializing in infectious diseases in her second year. Additionally, she has served as a member of the American Society for Microbiology Planning Committee and is chair of the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists, or SIDP, publications committee. She was recently elected to the executive board of SIDP and will complete a two-year term from 2021-23. Her practice interests include infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship in immunocompromised hosts, antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic optimization. Within UPMC, she chairs the COVID-19 Therapeutics Committee, which oversees writing guidelines and developing order sets for all inpatient and outpatient COVID-19 treatments across 35 hospitals and eight electronic health records. She is the pharmacy lead for two large randomized, adaptive trials: REMAP-CAP COVID-19 and OPTIMISE-C19 and leads UPMCs outpatient monoclonal antibody treatment network and 22 Evusheld administration clinics. With all the data, studies and trials, McCreary is still shocked at how complex and unique COVID-19 is, making it all the more difficult to treat. COVID-19 is phenotypically complex, meaning it presents very differently for different patients. We see patients with absolutely no symptoms and patients that die tragically, she said. It also has very heterogeneous sequela, meaning outside of respiratory symptoms, patients can present with maladies of almost every other organ system which range in severity. Finally, were just now beginning to understand the terrible consequences of Long COVID and so we will not only be trying to optimize care for acute illness for the foreseeable future, but now we are learning how to manage patients with long-term comorbidities associated with their infection. Still in her first 10 years as a professional, McCreary has seen her whole world change in a small amount of time. COVID-19 changed everything. For the past two-plus years, the majority of my work and the work of many on my teams has shifted to exclusively COVID-19, she said. We also had to learn to navigate providing clinical care and collaborating with teams almost exclusively virtually for a while, appreciate the social and mental challenges we all faced throughout the pandemic and work faster and more ready to pivot plans completely with changing information more so than ever before. The silver lining has been meeting people all throughout the health system, in various roles, as we all collaborated to improve outcomes. Nick Zano was born to play a guy called Chad Reply Thread Link Absolutely thrilled about this since I love both of them and this sounds fun. And can't wait to see Nick in a comedy again! The first thing I ever saw him in was What I Like About You, which I still adore, and he was also fantastic in LoT. And always here for more Shelley too - thrilled to see her in the Teen Wolf movie. Reply Thread Link He looks like the giga Chad Reply Thread Link His face seems very Square. Reply Thread Link This actually sounds fun to me and I will be totally high watching this, and I won't remember a damn thing about it! Reply Thread Link The only type of comedy I will accept from him is the What I like about you kind. Anything like legends and its a no. Reply Thread Link Her neck seems weird in that pic Reply Thread Link It's so weird that they chose the worst possible pictures for both of them. Reply Parent Thread Link LOL they had her pose weird!!!! She is leaning forward but tilting her head back?!?! Reply Parent Thread Link Whoever chose that pic knew exactly what they were doing lmao it's a horrible picture Reply Parent Thread Link So uppity girl has to loosen up, ugh, hate this weak and overused description. Reply Thread Link i would have let nick zano gape all of my holes back during his 'what i like about you' days. now... not so much. Reply Thread Link She is sooooo insanely gorgeous. I loved her in When We First Met. Reply Thread Link I only know Nick Zano from The Leftovers and from being engagaed to Paris Hilton. That's all I got. Eta. Ooops! I mean Chris Zylka - so I have less than nothing sorry! Edited at 2022-06-28 01:20 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I actually had such a crush on him when he was on What I Like About You. That's all I know him from though. Reply Parent Thread Link I read the description for this show and my body cringed so hard I may have formed a wormhole into another dimension - a dimension where this show does not exist. Reply Thread Link Im here for it. Didnt he date Hilary Duffs sister for a while? Reply Thread Link so that's where pete from happy endings ended up Reply Thread Link Alexander got inside her house and up to the locked door of her bedroom while Spears was inside. What in the actual fuck. Her former security team should also go on trial for incompetence and endangerment of their client. I don't even want to imagine what would have happened had she not locked that door. Edited at 2022-06-28 11:34 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Pleading not guilty to the crimes I livestreamed Reply Thread Link January 6th taught him! Reply Parent Thread Link wasn't this creepy at January 6 too? ugh Reply Thread Link Were they ever legitimately dating or were they just friends who got married in Vegas? I get this marriage confused with Nikki Hilton's Vegas one. Reply Thread Link just old childhood friends iirc Reply Parent Thread Link Not unless they were dating in secret. I generally got the impression he was a childhood friend who came on the trip, they hooked up and then it escalated Reply Parent Thread Link Basically. He was on some Britney podcast last year (I still side-eye them for doing an episode on him) and tried to make it sound like ~two people deeply in love~ were split apart by her family and management but it's such bull shit. She was young, lonely, and infatuated with the idea of being a normal early 20-something, he was from her hometown and probably triggered some feelings and "what could have been" thoughts. Dude needs to let it gooooooooooo Reply Parent Thread Expand Link they were friends who, iirc, married for fun in Vegas because Britney wanted to do something silly/funny that wasn't controlled by her father/family. this was pre-conservatorship but it definitely unfortunately prob contributed to her heinous pig of a father doubling down on his abuse of her :( Reply Parent Thread Link Wait, how can they plead not guilty to this when he was literally live streaming while he was breaking into her house? Is this some legal magic I don't understand? Reply Thread Link I mean you can plead whatever you want, lol, doesn't make it a good idea Reply Parent Thread Link I mean fair enough yes lol but it just seems to goddamn stupid as we literally KNOW its true :) Reply Parent Thread Link You can shoot someone in broad daylight in front of 100s of people and still plead not guilty. Just because there is evidence he obviously did it doesn't mean he can't plead not guilty. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is the same freak that was married to Britney for a day in Vegas?? Get OVER her!! Reply Thread Link Kinda OT, but she looks soooooo good in that pic. Reply Thread Link I wonder why her front door was unlocked. He walked right up and opened the door. I am a door locker no matter what. Reply Thread Link probably because she had a security team and a bunch of people on the property finalizing wedding stuff that wasn't her front door fwiw Reply Parent Thread Link That's true! I was not thinking that maybe for that day, they had to leave it that way because people going in and out. Reply Parent Thread Link Same, I lock my front door even when I'm just going to and from my car to bring in my groceries. All it takes is a few seconds for a creep man to get inside. Reply Parent Thread Link So it's even worst than we thought. Fuck Jason and every delusional racist asshole that hyped him up Reply Thread Link Pleading not guilty? Didnt he live stream the whole thing? What an idiot Reply Thread Link I had no idea she was there or in the room! bless her heart. fuck this dude forever and i'm so glad her security team all got axed. they should have tazed that fucker instantly. Reply Thread Link I bet Britney's dad told him to crash the wedding Reply Thread Link What a fucking lunatic. Im so glad she still had an amazing time at her wedding and that this lowlife didnt completely dampen her day Reply Thread Link Trash. I hope he does time for this. Reply Thread Link yee haw, baby Reply Thread Link GIVE IT TO ME!! Goody and Billy were two of the best things about The Magnificent Seven! Reply Thread Link Pedro Pascal in a gay cowboy movie? Tumblr is going to be absolutely insufferable Reply Thread Link Seriously I look forward to this https://youtu.be/rvrZJ5C_Nwg (forgot how to embed in mobile)Seriously I look forward to this Reply Thread Link Lol, that's immediately what I thought of too Reply Parent Thread Link Appropriate icon! I love Gyro Reply Parent Thread Link was hoping we'd get a happy gay cowboy movie this time but doesn't look like this is it lmao Reply Thread Link Seems that's the only way Hollywood will allow gay cowboys. Tragedy only Reply Parent Thread Link sigh!! gonna go rewatch god's own country for my gay ranching needs I guess Reply Parent Thread Link Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck ahhh Reply Thread Link Bronco Henry shades a tear Yeehaw Agenda Reply Thread Link bronco henry deserved an oscar. no character has given us more despite actually giving us nothing Reply Parent Thread Link im fuckign here for this Reply Thread Link Manu Rios will co-star alongside Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke in Pedro Almodovars 30-minute western Strange Way of Life, which he describes as his answer to Brokeback Mountain. (https://t.co/fOu1Ok3NLm) pic.twitter.com/ms6SbjEeri Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) June 28, 2022 and apparently this dude from elite is also gonna be there Reply Thread Link lmao the pictures selection A+ Reply Parent Thread Link Oh shit which one is getting spit-roasted? Reply Parent Thread Link i h8 ethan hawke for no reason i watched the black phone and he was the worst part of it (not that i was a fan of the movie, anyway) Reply Thread Link There are reasons to hate Ethan. Just ask Uma. Or google him on Howard Stern. Reply Parent Thread Link i can't find anything beyond the regular white douchebag shit but i am ready to believe the worst, i've hated him forever Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm with you - can't stand this foo and hate how he's become a horror staple lately T_T Reply Parent Thread Link i hate him too but i never remember why Reply Parent Thread Link He was really shitty to staff when he visited the art museum in Houston a few years ago and acted like he was above talking about Reality Bites- one of the most beloved and important films to be shot here. Reply Parent Thread Link One time I heard from a co-worker who had to chauffeur Ethan Hawke around for an event that Hawke was snotty about the old beat-up nature of said dudes car. Have held a grudge since 2004. On the other hand during Me Too I remember reading a piece where someone was like, you know, one time Ethan Hawke invited me over to his place to drink whiskey and talk about art with some friends, and I went, and thats what we did. Now, I know not being a rapist one time isnt really a ringing character endorsement. And being a classist donk-nozzle one other time cant exactly define someones whole personhood either. And yetfor me they do, sorry Ethan Hawke, for me thats it for you Reply Parent Thread Link nate jacobs euphoria that shit was so homophobic season 2 episode 7 pic.twitter.com/bw0k4JESQB erin cinematic universe (@obvryns) February 21, 2022 God forbid to cast actual queer folks. And during Pride Month? Reply Thread Link it always feels like when the project about queer characters is supposed to be high profile and award baity suddenly the main roles are all given straight people. god forgot a gay dude gets an oscar (or insert any award here) for playing a gay dude. Reply Parent Thread Link I did not realize how absolutely gargantuan this man is Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah this kinda stunt castings can stay in the 10s - they're enough prolific gay actors this could have gone to Reply Parent Thread Link I hate that you have a point. I want to believe Pedro is bi. Also Manu is gay confirmed no? Reply Parent Thread Link i am 100% sure Pedro is bi tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I mean...Pedro Pascal. Edited at 2022-06-28 08:08 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Pedro is, at the very least not straight lol Edited at 2022-06-28 08:41 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link it's odd for Almodovar Reply Parent Thread Link The relation between them is animalistic, and for me it was impossible to have that in the movie because it was a Hollywood movie. You could not have these two guys fucking all the time. So one of the things I don't like about how masculine gays are portrayed in movies is that the physicality of the relationship is very rough - push and pull kind of stuff. I'm just like if you have feelings for one another and are intimate, wouldn't you be gentle with each other? It would be fine if its specified that it's a kink, but it usually isn't, which is the problem & my issue w/brokeback mtn. It seems like these kind of choices in film perpetuate toxic masculinity stereotypes; men can't be gentle with each other, etc. I hope that isn't where Almodavar is gonna go with this and it'll have more nuance when he says "animalistic" Edited at 2022-06-28 06:57 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Pedro looked so hot in that Kingsman movie so I'm excited for this. Reply Thread Link Your icon always brings great joy to me Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you! I love yours too, Javi was so damn fine <3 Reply Parent Thread Link lawd, i would've done ANYTHING to be choked by that whip. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link They should replace Ethan Hawke with Oscar Isaac and have them both speak just Spanish, then it'd be perfect Reply Thread Link We wouldnt survive Reply Parent Thread Link We as a community would collectively explode and the surge would destroy LJ Reply Parent Thread Link They should replace the both of them with actual queer actors Reply Parent Thread Link Facebook Twitter Google RAMBLER&Co ID By logging in to LiveJournal using a third-party service you accept LiveJournal's User agreement Safety 2022 is Just Getting Started in Chicago The American Society of Safety Professionals Safety 2022 Professional Development Conference & Exposition started with a bang Monday, June 27 in Chicago. Nearly 4,000 safety professionals packed the halls of McCormick Place listening in on educational sessions, seeing innovations on the expo floor and networking and connecting with one anothersome for the first time in a long time. For those unable to join ASSP in Chicago, the Society offers a virtual version of the PDC online where General and Plenary Sessions are livestreamed. According to ASSP, over 1,000 safety professionals have chosen to engage with the show virtually this year. While the first day of the show may be over, there is still plenty to look forward to. On Tuesday, June 28, the Society will be showcasing PPE for women at the end of the 200 aisle on the expo floor. The event will happen at 9:15 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. in case you cannot make the first viewing. On Wednesday, June 29, there will be a special session featuring a Q&A with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Doug Parker. Parker will discuss important safety and health topics such as impending regulation for extreme heat, commentary around the Covid-19 ETS that was blocked by the Supreme Court and more. It will be an informative conversation, thats for sure! Finally, make sure you attend the Closing Session with Devin Harris, an Olympian known for being a founding member of the Jamaican Bobsled team. Harris knows the power and pain of overcoming inertia and pushing beyond. Devon's incredible story brings a whole new perspective on the quality of persistence and will close out the time together at Safety 2022. To learn more about ASSPs Safety 2022, visit safety.assp.org or follow OH&S coverage at the event at ohsonline.com/live. The number of completed wells at OPEC producers dipped by 280 compared to 2020 and stood at 1,588 wells completed in 2021. This was the lowest number of well completions since at least 2017. All major producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait, saw the number of completed wells drop last year. Well completions rose in Venezuela and Libya, two producers exempted from the OPEC+ production cuts. While well completions at OPEC producers fell in 2021, the number of total world well completions rose last year by 5,619 to 51,924, according to OPECs bulletin. The number of active drilling rigs at OPEC members, however, rose by 47 in 2020 to 489 last year, with OPECs share in world active rigs numbers at 27.7 percent. Globally, the number of active rigs averaged 1,766 last year, up by 460 compared to the slump of 2020, OPECs statistical bulletin showed. In 2021, OPECs crude oil production still rose by 700,000 bpd, or by 2.7 percent, compared to 2020. OPECs output averaged 26.363 million bpd in 2021. The volume of OPECs average crude oil exports, though, dropped last year, by 40,000 bpd to 19.66 million bpd, remaining below pre-pandemic levels. Most OPEC exports, or 72.4 percent, headed to Asia, followed by Europe, which imported 3.27 million bpd of OPEC crude last year. The value of OPECs petroleum exports was nearly as high as in the pre-pandemic year 2019, when the cartels members saw their combined oil exports hit $561.85 billion, according to data in the bulletin. The value of petroleum exports of the 13 members of OPEC surged by 77 percent annually to $560.6 billion in 2021 as oil prices increased, OPECs Annual Statistical Bulletin 2022 showed on Tuesday. The value of exports from Saudi Arabia, the worlds top crude oil exporter, jumped from $119 billion in 2020 to $202 billion in 2021. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The UAE and Saudi Arabia's oil production is nearing their limit, French President Emmanuel Macron told his U.S. counterpart during the G7 meeting this week. The French president was referring to a conversation he had with the rule of the Emirates, as caught by Reuters. According to the cited conversation, the UAE was already "at maximum," Macron told Biden. Whether that was referring to the maximum as allowed by OPEC quotas or maximum capacity remains unclear. "And then he [Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan] said (the) Saudis can increase by 150 [thousand barrels per day]. Maybe a little bit more, but they don't have huge huge capacities before six months' time," Macron also said, as quoted by Reuters. Saudi Arabia's production quota was raised 114,000 bpd in June and will be raised another 170,000 bpd in July, but the OPEC quota expires well before six months, at the end of Augustafter which time Saudi Arabia would be free to ramp up production as it sees fit. Bloomberg later quoted the UAE's oil minister, Suhail al Mazrouei, as saying that the UAE was in fact pumping close to the baseline set for it by the OPEC+ agreement. This baseline for the Emirates was 3.168 million bpd. "In light of recent media reports, I would like to clarify that the UAE is producing near to our maximum production capacity based on its current OPEC+ production baseline," Al Mazrouei said, as quoted by Reuters. The news about Saudi Arabia is potentially more worrying as the Kingdom is believed to have more than 1 million bpd in spare capacity that can be tapped within three months. If it can indeed only add 150,000 bpd to current levels of production as dictated by capacity, this means the world's spare oil production capacity is much smaller than previously believed by every big energy agency, including the EIA and the IEA. The Kingdom is currently producing around 10.5 million bpd. According to OPEC's latest monthly production report, its average for May was 1.424 million bpd, and this month's should be higher in keeping with the production recovery deal in OPEC+. OPEC's number-one has a nameplate production capacity of 12 million barrels daily and plans to boost this by about a million barrels daily. The UAE's nameplate capacity, according to Reuters, is 3.4 million bpd, and the Emirates are planning to expand this to 4 million bpd. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Leftist candidate Senator Gustavo Petro emerged victorious from Colombias June presidential run-off as the strife-torn countrys president elect. On 7 August 2022 Petro will be sworn into office becoming the 34th president of the Republic of Colombia. This has roiled Colombian financial markets and the Andean countrys currency the peso. Since Petro beat multimillionaire businessman Rodolfo Hernandez the Colombian peso has tumbled by almost 6% while the domestic stock market has shed 6.1%. The president-elects proposed policies of reforming the economy, boosting taxation, and ending extractivist industries, including ending contracting for petroleum exploration have unnerved financial markets and investors. Petro has also made it clear (Spanish) that hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, and the exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon deposits will not be permitted in Colombia. Colombias highest administrative tribunal, the State Council, has already placed a moratorium on fracking, although pilot projects are allowed. That, along with Petros intention to end the development of offshore hydrocarbon deposits spells the end of Colombias oil industry, which even before his victory was facing an extremely uncertain future. Petros policies have sparked a frenzied debate in Colombia about the future of the Andean countrys oil industry which is a key driver of the economy. For the first four months of 2022 petroleum exports (Spanish) generated $6.6 billion, making crude oil responsible for 36% of all export earnings for that period. Total petroleum and derivative products exported represent around 70% of Colombias petroleum production. During 2019 Colombias oil industry was responsible for (Spanish) 3.4% of the Andean countrys gross domestic product, while for the last four quarters from the second quarter of 2021 that fell to 2.7% despite the latest oil price rally. According to Colombias peak hydrocarbon industry body, the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP -Spanish initials) crude oil is responsible for nearly a fifth of the central governments fiscal income. Those numbers emphasize how critical the oil industry is to Colombias economy and for ensuring the crisis-driven countrys energy security. For these reasons, Petros plans to end contracting for oil exploration have triggered considerable conjecture that it will significantly impact government revenues, preventing the president-elect from implementing his economic reforms. It is estimated that the president-elects plans will be impacted by a massive budget black hole which will worsen if Petro ends extractivist industries in Colombia. Petros plans essentially mean Colombias petroleum industry will gradually wind down as proven reserves are depleted. At the end of 2021, it was calculated that Latin Americas third largest oil producer only had meager proven reserves of 2 billion barrels, which at the current rate of production will only last for a further seven years. That production life falls to less than six years if Colombias oil output returns to one million barrels per day, which was last witnessed in 2015. While Colombias 23 basins are under-explored for the presence of hydrocarbons there has been a notable absence of significant oil discoveries over the last two decades. That points to the Andean country not possessing the substantial oil potential required to sustain production of 700,000 barrels per day or more, nor the long-term operation of its petroleum industry. For these reasons, the future of Colombias oil industry, even without Petros policy to end contracting for hydrocarbon exploration, is questionable. That uncertainty is only magnified by the looming arrival of peak oil demand, which analysts expect to trigger a sustained decline in oil prices, and the intensifying push to decarbonize the global economy. The main crude oil grades extracted in Colombia are heavy and sour. There is Castilla which has an API gravity of 18.8 and 1.97% sulfur content, Magdalena with an API of 20 and 1.6% sulfur, and Vasconia with an API of 24 and sulfur of 0.83%. Those characteristics coupled with elevated levels of metals and other contaminants make them more difficult, carbon intensive, and costly to refine compared to lighter sweeter crude oil such as that produced in offshore Guyana and Brazil. Such attributes, along with high breakeven prices averaging $40 to $45 per barrel, which are some of the highest in South America, act as a deterrent to foreign energy companies investing in Colombias oil industry. A key aspect of Petros plan for Colombias oil industry that is often overlooked is his plan to allow existing contracts to continue operating for as long as Colombias proven reserves are sufficient to justify commercial operations. That means, over the short to medium term, there will likely be little to no material impact on Colombias oil production. Data from Colombias Ministry of Mines and Energy shows for April 2022 (Spanish) that the Andean country pumped an average of 751,322 barrels of crude oil and 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, giving Colombia total hydrocarbon output of 940,956 barrels of oil equivalent daily. While that represents the most oil pumped by Colombia since December 2020 production is still well below pre-pandemic volumes. In 2019 the Andean country produced 885,863 barrels per day which were 2.4% greater than a year earlier and significantly higher than the 745,530 barrels per day produced on average for the first four months of 2022. Indeed, there are signs that with the oil rally driving greater investment in Colombias industry that production will expand even after Petro takes office on 7 August 2022. The ACP stated at the start of 2022 that forecast investment in oil and natural gas production will reach $4.4 billion during the year, which is 42% greater than a year earlier. According to the industry body spending on hydrocarbon exploration during 2022 will reach $1.1 billion, which is 2.2 times greater than in 2021 and the highest since 2014. This is reflected by the forecast 2022 budgets of drillers operating in Colombia. National oil company Ecopetrol, which is 88.5% owned by the state, announced plans to invest up to $5.8 billion in 2022, which represents a 45% increase over 2021. Colombias largest privately owned oil producer Parex Resources boosted 2022 capital spending by 98.6% year over year to $550 million with most of that amount directed to exploration and development drilling. That marked increase in exploration and development drilling is reflected by the latest Baker Hughes rig count, which shows that at the end of May 2022 there were 29 operational drill rigs in Colombia. While that is one less than a month earlier it is significantly higher than the 16 operational rigs for the same period a year earlier and the 25 rigs operating at the end of May 2019. Those numbers indicate Colombias oil production will grow over the immediate future, even once Petro takes office and is able to successfully implement his plan to end contracts for oil exploration. It is likely that Colombias crude oil output will return to over 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day at some time in the immediate future. While Petros electoral victory has, rightfully so, unnerved financial markets, investors, and Colombias petroleum industry, his plans to end oil exploration the immediate fallout is likely to be minor because of his intentions to allow existing contracts to continue operating. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Australia is experiencing an energy crisis despite its reputation as a top gas exporter, as regulators struggle to deliver electricity. A combination of challenges has led to severe energy shortages and high consumer prices in Australia, leaving the new government to face greater energy uncertainty than the country has previously seen. Federal energy minister Chris Bowen is blaming the previous government for the current energy challenges being faced in Australia. He stated that the coalition government left a bin fire, making the country ill-prepared for the challenges we are facing today. Meanwhile, the previous government is blaming the inexperienced incumbent labor party for the crisis. But rising energy prices and Australias ongoing reliance on coal have not helped the situation. Energy prices have been gradually rising on a global level since 2021. The increase in demand following the pandemic has been difficult to meet, as oil-producing states work to ramp up their crude output after two years of curbs, driving up energy prices. More recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and subsequent sanctions imposed on Russian oil, have caused even greater shortages and sent prices soaring. And despite high hopes for Australias continued coal output under the coalition government, coal prospects are starting to look less favorable as the country responds to international pressure to switch to green. Australia still relies heavily on coal for its electricity production. It also continues to export the fossil fuel to several countries across Asia, such as China and India, as they show no sign of decreasing their dependence on coal. But many of Australias major coal plants are aging due to a lack of investment linked with the uncertainty over the future of the energy source. In addition, the country has announced plans to shift many of its coal operations to renewable. The worlds largest coal port, the Port of Newcastle, is now expected to make up half its revenue from non-coal business by 2030, as it becomes powered by green energy. Meanwhile, in Queensland, there are plans to convert one port export terminal into a renewable hydrogen facility within the next few years. The combination of challenges the global increase in energy costs, the Russian invasion, coal outages, and the colder winter weather coming earlier have all hit Australia at the same time, causing a major energy crisis. But perhaps this seems somewhat surprising for a country that has the reputation of being a top oil and gas exporter. Australias coal reserves are thought to be one of the worlds largest, with around 89,707 million tonnes (mt) of black coal and 85,634 Mt of brown coal recorded in 2019. In 2019-20, Australia exported around 90 percent of its black coal production, 74 percent of its natural gas, and 78 percent of its crude oil. However, in the last month, Australia has faced domestic shortages, forcing the country to look elsewhere for its energy supply. These shortages followed months of increased gas exports to countries that were looking to replace their Russian gas supplies. But as the cold weather came around earlier than anticipated, many states started to face energy shortages. Further limitations were experienced in the coal sector, as flooding earlier in the year in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, as well as technical problems, led to a reduction in coal output. This caused the energy minister to ask the state of NSW to restrict its energy use during evening peak hours to prevent power outages, last week. The Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) also faced a difficult decision last week when it was forced to suspend the wholesale market for the first time in a decade and a half when it was unable to force generators back on. Aemos CEO Daniel Westerman explained, The market wasnt working. We had generators withdrawing from the market in preference to being directed by Aemo [to return]. It was impossible to operate it, he added. The energy minister of NSL, Matt Kean, even obtained special powers from the NSW governor to treat coal supplies as an essential service should it be required. The precautionary and proactive plans would have allowed Kean to transport coal between plants if there were shortages, as well as to manage the use of the resource. One expert communicated the sentiment of many in Australia, stating Its funny. Weve had people saying, were exporting all the gas. And now its were exporting all the coal, they added. This opinion is not surprising given the large percentage of gas and coal output that is exported each year, although Australia is not typically prone to such severe energy crises. But this has led some to suggest the introduction of a gas export tax to help boost investment in the renewable energy sector to ensure the future of the countrys energy security. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Canada could expand its energy infrastructure in order to help Europe cut off Russian gas dependence in the medium term, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the G7 summit in Germany. We will be there in the short term with any support we can, Trudeau said, referring to possible Canadian support in energy supply to Europe. Asked about discussions between Germany and Canada for possible liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals, the Canadian prime minister said that LNG infrastructure is the same type of infrastructure that will be needed as we transition to hydrogen. Canada is looking in the medium term at expanding some infrastructure, but in a way that hits that medium term and long term goal of accelerating the transition not just off Russian oil and gas, but off of our global dependence on fossil fuels because of the impacts of climate change, said Trudeau. The Russian invasion of Ukraine highlighted the emergency of not only weaning Europe off Russian oil and gas, but reducing overall dependence on fossil fuels, the Canadian PM added. In the short term, Canada cannot really help Europe with LNG supply as it doesnt have any operational LNG export facility yet. Several projects have been proposed, discussed, and advanced in recent years, but none has progressed to an operational stage yet. Europe, for its part, is desperate for LNG, or any gas thats not coming from Russia, in order to replace as much Russian pipeline supply as soon as possible. The need for additional deliveries has become even more urgent in recent days after Russia slashed supply to major consumers in Europe, including Germany and Italy. Last week, Germany even triggered the second phase of its three-phase gas emergency plan as it braces up for the possibility of a complete halt of gas supplies from Russia via the Nord Stream pipeline. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has set out plans for two LNG import facilities, at Brunsbuettel and Wilhelmshaven, in a bid to diversify supply from Russia, which accounted for around 40% of German gas consumption before the war. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil from Iran and Venezuela needs to return to the global market to make up for the loss of supply from Russia, an official at the French presidency said on Monday while G7 leaders are meeting in Germany to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a price cap on Russian oil. France also seeks the G7 group of the worlds leading industrial nations to adopt a price cap on oil that would be broad and not limited to Russian oil only, according to Reuters. The leaders of the G7 group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the United States, are meeting in Germany for a three-day summit between June 26 and 28 and are discussing capping the price of Russian oil. According to a senior official at the French presidency, cited by Bloomberg, a discussion with all oil producers regarding a price cap should be held. Diversification of supply and an increase in oil production in the short to medium term will also help lower prices, according to France. While Iran and Venezuela can, in theory, offer additional supply, there is a knot to be untied for Iran to return to the oil market, the French official was quoted by Bloomberg as saying. The U.S. has reportedly eased some sanctions on Venezuela to allow Europe to buy some volumes of Venezuelan crude as European refiners scramble for alternatives in the wake of the EU embargo on Russian seaborne imports, expected to officially kick in at the end of this year. Getting Iran on the market would be easier said than done, considering the stalemate in the so-called Iran nuclear talks. Last week, Iran blamed the U.S. for the stalled talks on the revival of the nuclear deal. If the world powers and Iran somehow manage to save the deal, the flow of Iranian oil abroad could increase by between 500,000 bpd and 1 million bpd, according to analysts. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The G7 leaders have agreed to study ways to put a cap on the price of Russian oil sold internationally and are seeking support among "like-minded" nations. "We invite all like-minded countries to consider joining us in our actions," G7 said in a communique cited by Reuters today. The Russian oil price cap was one of the main items on the G7 agenda during this week's meeting, and initial reports from the event suggested the leaders of the world's biggest economies would produce an actual plan for capping prices. Instead, they are delaying these actions until they get more importers on board. The G7 leaders also agreed to keep "working to make sure Russia does not exploit its position as an energy producer to profit from its aggression at the expense of vulnerable countries," per a Financial Times report. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is putting pressure on European countries to join the oil price cap to reduce Russia's income from energy exports without substantially affecting the availability of oil, Bloomberg reported. Yellen met with the finance minister of Cyprusa major maritime transport hubearlier this week, during which they "spoke about the goal of placing a price limit on Russian oil to deprive the Kremlin of revenue to finance their war in Ukraine while mitigating spillover effects for the global economy," according to a Treasury statement. According to energy analysts, however, effecting a price cap that will have the desired effect would be tricky. Citing Tamas Varga from PVM, Reuters noted in a report from earlier today that the fact that such a cap is being discussed shows that banning Russian oil outright has had the opposite effect of what it sought to do. More than that, however, Russia's reaction should a cap be agreed upon is far from certain. Russia could decide to reduce oil and gas exports instead of playing along, Varga told Reuters, adding, "It is a nightmare scenario - both for Europe and Russia." By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iran has applied to join the BRICS group of major emerging economies, which includes China, Russia, and India, Reuters reported on Tuesday, a move that would help to secure an alternative alliance to the West. Iran is a major oil and gas resource holder, as is Russia, while China is the world's top oil importer and one of the biggest gas importers. BRICS, an acronym of its members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is what China and Russia pitch as the emerging markets alternative to the West. The term for the informal group of emerging economies was originally coined in 2001 as "BRIC" by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in his report, Building Better Global Economic BRICs. The group in its current form represents 41 percent of the global population, accounts for one-fourth of global GDP, and 16 percent of world trade. Iran has held close ties with China and Russia in recent years, and China is the main market for Iranian oil exports. Iran, under sanctions from the United States since 2018, has continued to export part of its oil to China, which generally rejects U.S. sanctions. Russia, for its part, is also looking to strengthen relations with countries it considers "friendly" such as China and Iran as the "unfriendly" countries, including the U.S., the EU, the UK, Australia, and other U.S. allies, impose sanctions on Russia's economy, banking industry, and oil exports over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. If Iran joins BRICS, this "would result in added values for both sides," a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry told Reuters. Apart from Iran, Argentina has also applied to join the BRICS group, Russia says. According to Russia, the enlargement of BRICS is evidence that the West cannot isolate Moscow. "While the White House was thinking about what else to turn off in the world, ban or spoil, Argentina and Iran applied to join the BRICS," Reuters quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying on Tuesday. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Senior U.S. officials have visited Venezuela without the trip being widely publicized as Washington again tries to improve relations with the Maduro government amid the continuing energy squeeze. The AP quoted a State Department official as saying the visit was focused on releasing several U.S. citizens who have been detained in Caracas, including oil executives. The report also noted that the Venezuelan president had confirmed the visit, saying the delegation met with the President of the National Assembly, a close ally of Maduro. The purpose of the visit, according to Maduro, was to "give continuity to the bilateral agenda between the government of the United States and the government of Venezuela." Below the official narrative, however, there is the urgency of securing enough crude oil for a market where demand has yet to show any marked signs of slowing down. Venezuela has been a natural focus of attention for Washington, which earlier this year signaled that it was willing to lift some sanctions against Caracas in exchange for oil. In May, Washington said it would lift restrictions on Chevron in order for the company to return to its business in the South American country, letting the supermajor negotiate terms directly with PDVSA. Then, in June, Washington also eased restrictions for two European companies, Eni and Repsol, so they could restart their business relations with PDVSA and export some Venezuelan crude to energy-starved Europe. Most recently, France called on Western leaders to consider the return of Venezuela and Iran to world oil markets as a squeeze on Russian oil exports by Europe, the UK, and the U.S. limits global supply. "There are resources elsewhere that need to be explored," a French government official said on the sidelines of the G7 meeting, as quoted by Reuters. "So there is a knot that needs to be untied if applicable... to get Iranian oil back on the market. "We have Venezuelan oil that also needs to come back to the market." By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: ELMAU, Germany (AP) Leaders of the worlds biggest developed economies said Tuesday they would explore far-reaching steps to cap Russia's income from oil sales that are financing its invasion of Ukraine and struck a united stance to support Kyiv for as long as it takes" as the war grinds on. The final statement from the Group of Seven summit in Germany underlined their intent to impose severe and immediate economic costs on Russia. It left out key details on how fossil fuel price caps would work in practice, setting up more discussion in the weeks ahead to explore ... the feasibility" of measures to bar imports of Russian oil above a certain level. That would hit a key Russian source of income and, in theory, help relieve the energy price spikes and inflation afflicting the global economy as a result of the war. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our unprecedented coordination on sanctions for as long as necessary, acting in unison at every stage," the leaders said. The G-7 leaders representing the U.S., Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., Canada and Japan on Monday pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes after conferring by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The G-7 has sought to assuage those concerns. Leaders also agreed on a ban on imports of Russian gold and to step up aid to countries hit with food shortages by the blockade on Ukraine grain shipments through the Black Sea. We agree that (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin must not win this war, and we will continue to keep up and drive higher the economic and political costs for President Putin and his regime, said the summit host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. For that, it is important to stand together -- including in the long haul that we certainly still face. French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia cannot and should not win the war in Ukraine as its terrible toll was on full view the day after a Russian missile strike hit a shopping mall in the town of Kremenchuk, killing 18 people. The price cap pushed by U.S. President Joe Biden would in theory work by barring service provides such as shippers or insurers from dealing with oil priced above a fixed level. That could work because the service providers are mostly located in the European Union or the U.K. and thus within reach of sanctions. To be effective, however, it would have to involve as many consuming countries as possible, in particular India, where refiners have been snapping up cheap Russian oil shunned by Western traders. Details on how the proposal would be implemented were left for continuing talks in coming weeks. The U.S. has already blocked Russian oil imports, which were small in any case. The European Union has decided to impose a ban on the 90% of Russian oil that comes by sea, but the ban does not take effect until the end of the year, meaning Europe continues to send money to Russia for energy even while condemning the war. Meanwhile, higher global oil prices have softened the blow to Russia's income, even as Western traders shun Russian oil. Energy themes were front and center at the summit throughout. Europe is scrambling to find new sources of oil and fresh supplies of gas as Russia dials back gas supplies in what leaders say is a political move. Meanwhile high energy prices are a headache for G-7 countries' consumers. Scholz defended the G-7s decision to soften commitments to end public support for fossil fuel investments, saying the war in Ukraine means time-limited support for new natural gas extraction projects may be necessary. The group showed wide-ranging concern about China. The leaders stressed that it is necessary to cooperate with China on shared global challenges but underlined their stance that China should urge Russia to halt the war, respect human rights in Hong Kong, refrain from military action against Taiwan, and improve its non-transparent trade and economic practices. From the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps, the G-7 leaders will move to Madrid for a summit of NATO leaders, where fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine will again dominate the agenda. All G-7 members other than Japan are NATO members, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to Madrid. While the group's annual gathering has been dominated by the war, Scholz has been keen to show that the G-7 also can move ahead on pre-war priorities. Members pledged Tuesday to create a new climate club for nations that want to take more ambitious action to tackle global warming. The move, championed by Scholz, will see countries that join the club agree on tougher measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of keeping global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) this century compared with pre-industrial times. Countries that are part of the club will try to harmonize their measures in such a way that they are comparable and avoid members imposing climate-related tariffs on each others imports. Scholz said the aim was to ensure that protecting the climate is a competitive advantage, not a disadvantage. He said details of the planned climate club would be finalized this year. Follow APs coverage of the G-7 summit at https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit and of Russia's 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. NEW ORLEANS Judges temporarily blocked abortion bans Monday in Louisiana and Utah, while a federal court in South Carolina said a law restricting the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy would take effect there immediately as the battle over the fall of Roe v. Wade shifted from the nations highest court to courthouses around the country. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for a wave of litigation, as one side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures. Much of Mondays court activity focused on trigger laws, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last weeks Supreme Court ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old anti-abortion laws that were left on the books in some states and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play. Rulings to put trigger laws on hold came swiftly in Utah and Louisiana. A Utah judge blocked that states near-total abortion ban from going into effect for 14 days, to allow time for the court to hear challenges to the states trigger law. Planned Parenthood had challenged the law, which contains narrow exceptions for rape, incest or the mothers health, saying the law violates the equal protection and privacy provisions in the state constitution. I think the immediate effects that will occur outweigh any policy interest of the state in stopping abortions, Utah Judge Andrew Stone said. In Louisiana, a judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of that states trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing. At least one of the states three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures Tuesday. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judges ruling and enforce the law. In South Carolina, a federal court lifted its prior hold on an abortion restriction there, allowing the state to ban abortions after an ultrasound detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. There are exceptions if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Planned Parenthood said after the ruling that it will continue to perform abortions at its South Carolina clinics within the parameters of the new law. Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions to save a mothers life or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality, but no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The ACLU of Florida argued that the law violates the Florida Constitution. A ruling on that is expected Thursday a day before the law is scheduled to take effect. Abortion rights activists also went to court Monday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Gaza's Hamas rulers on Monday said the condition of one of the Israelis it is holding captive has deteriorated. The announcement marked a rare piece of information about the Israelis in Hamas captivity. The Islamic militant group has given no details on the conditions or whereabouts of its prisoners, and it has never allowed the Red Cross to visit them. Hamas is believed to be holding the remains of two soldiers killed during a 2014 war. Israel has pronounced the soldiers dead, though Hamas has never confirmed this. Hamas is also believed to be holding two Israeli civilians who wandered across the frontier into Gaza, and who rights groups say suffer from mental illness. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said the latest announcement proved that Hamas is a cynical and criminal terrorist organization that holds mentally ill civilians in violation of all international conventions and laws." Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including people convicted in deadly attacks, in exchange for the captive Israelis. Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, announced a deterioration in the health of one of the enemy prisoners. He said more details were expected to be released later Monday. Israel and Hamas are bitter enemies that have fought four wars and dozens of smaller skirmishes since Hamas seized control of Gaza 15 years ago. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory throughout that time. Israel says the closure is needed to prevent Hamas from building up its military capabilities, while critics say the policy amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's 2 million Palestinian residents. Israel says there can be no major moves toward lifting the blockade until the soldiers' remains and captive civilians are released. The prime minister's office said Israel would continue working through Egyptian mediation to bring about the release of the captives. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Gaza's Hamas rulers on Tuesday released a video of a captive Israeli citizen it has held incommunicado since 2015, showing the man lying in a hospital bed while wearing an oxygen mask. It was the first image of Hisham al-Sayid to be released since he wandered across the frontier from southern Israel into Gaza. Its release came a day after Hamas said the condition of one of the Israelis it is holding captive had deteriorated. In the video, al-Sayid, 34, is seen lying in bed with a mask over his mouth and nose and what appears to be an oxygen canister next to him. He appears tired and dazed, but does not speak and there is no audio. Other parts of the video show an intravenous drip next to the bed as well as an image of al-Sayid's Israeli identification card. Al-Sayid is a member of Israel's Bedouin Arab minority. The video is titled, Footage of the soldier in the army of occupation, Hisham al-Sayid, detained by the Qassam Brigades. There is no date on the video. But a TV screen in the video showed images of the Qatar Economic Forum, which was held in Doha last week. Hamas is believed to be holding the remains of two soldiers killed during a 2014 war. Israel has pronounced the soldiers dead, though Hamas has never confirmed this. Hamas is also believed to be holding two Israeli civilians who wandered across the frontier, including al-Sayid. Rights groups say that both civilians suffer from mental illness. The Islamic militant group has given no details on the conditions or whereabouts of its prisoners, and it has never allowed the Red Cross to visit them. Israel's prime minister, Naftali Bennett, condemned the video's release, saying that Hamas was holding two mentally ill people in complete contravention of international law. Distributing a video of an ill person is abhorrent and deplorable," his office said in a statement. It described al-Sayid as a civilian with mental illness who had crossed the border into Gaza a number of times previously. The actions of Hamas prove it is a cynical and reprehensible terrorist organization," it added, saying Hamas was delaying any chance of a deal. Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including people convicted in deadly attacks, in exchange for the captive Israelis. Israel and Hamas are bitter enemies that have fought four wars and dozens of smaller skirmishes since Hamas seized control of Gaza 15 years ago. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory throughout that time. Israel says the closure is needed to prevent Hamas from building up its military capabilities, while critics say the policy amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's 2 million Palestinian residents. Israel says there can be no major moves toward lifting the blockade until the soldiers' remains and captive civilians are released. Israel and Hamas have held numerous rounds of Egyptian-mediated talks on a possible swap, but those talks have failed to yield a breakthrough. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ISTANBUL (AP) Turkish security forces have detained a Greek citizen accused of spying for Athens intelligence service, the state-run Anadolu news agency said Saturday. The man, identified as Muhammed Amar Ampara, was allegedly involved in gathering information about the deployment of Turkish military border units, as well as information on Turkeys Syrian population and Turks who fled to Greece after a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Anadolu, which cited unnamed security sources, published a photograph of a bearded, balding man in handcuffs. He appeared to be in his 50s or 60s. He was captured as a result of an investigation by Turkeys National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the news agency reported, without giving any information about where or when he was detained. An official from the Greek Embassy in Ankara declined to comment on the allegations. The arrest comes amid renewed tensions between Turkey and Greece. The neighbors and NATO allies have a history of disputes over a range of issues, such as mineral exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and rival claims in the Aegean Sea. Recent quarrels have focused on the Greek islands off Turkeys Aegean coast, with Ankara accusing Athens of building a military presence in breach of treaties. Greece maintains it is acting according to international law and is defending the islands in the face of Turkish hostility. Turkey hosts the worlds largest refugee population, including some 3.7 million Syrians. Their presence has become a major political issue in the lead-up to national elections due over the next 12 months. Following a failed coup in July 2016, some members of a group tied to a U.S.-based cleric whom Ankara accuses of organizing the attempt to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fled abroad, including to Greece. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Voters in Nebraskas revamped 1st Congressional District head to the polls Tuesday for a rare special election to decide who will represent them for the rest of the year in the U.S. House. Only one race is on the ballot, between State Sen. Mike Flood, a Republican from Norfolk, and State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, a Democrat from Lincoln. The winner will replace former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who resigned in March after being convicted of three felonies. Heres a primer to help 1st District voters prepare for the states first House special election since 1951, after 3rd District Rep. Karl Stefan died: Who gets to vote? Registered voters in all of Butler, Cass, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Lancaster, Madison, Platte, Seward and Stanton Counties, along with voters in parts of Polk and Sarpy Counties, make up Nebraskas 1st Congressional District. Whats changed? Most of Papillion and La Vista have been moved into the Lincoln-centric 1st District. Saunders County has been moved out of the 1st District, into the Omaha-based 2nd District. Where to vote? Check your polling place on the Nebraska Secretary of States website. Just enter your name and address: https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview/ When to vote? Polling places in Nebraskas 1st District are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Tuesday. What if I got an early ballot? Early voting ballots must be returned before the polls close Tuesday. They must be taken directly to your county election office or dropped in an approved early-ballot drop box in your home county by 8 p.m. CDT. An employee or volunteer will ensure that every ballot returned on time is counted. People casting early ballots can check the status of their ballots on the Nebraska Secretary of States website: https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview/ What if I have a problem while voting? Call your local county election office. The Nebraska Secretary of States Office says every polling place should have information posted with the phone number of the local election office. How to check results? The first results will start rolling in at 8 p.m. CDT Tuesday. The best place to look for results in the special election is likely the Nebraska Secretary of States website: https://sos.nebraska.gov When will final results be available? Officials expect certification of the special election vote to take two to three weeks, instead of the typical five weeks, because the election is limited to one race in a dozen counties. Provisional ballots must be counted by July 8. That means Nebraska could send a certified result to Washington, D.C., in July. The new home of the Anthonys Steakhouse steer statue probably couldnt have a more appropriate name. The behemoth black bovine which lost its perch above the popular Omaha restaurant earlier this year now will reside at the T-Bone Truck Stop in Columbus, Nebraska. Bill Lehr, a cattle feeder whose family owns the T-Bone, paid $45,000 for the steer in an online auction that ended Monday. Backes Commercial Auctioneers of Raymond, Iowa, conducted the sale, which included more than 1,200 other items from Anthonys, which closed in January after more than 50 years of business. An 81-year-old cattle feeder won the auction, Lehr said Monday. It will put Columbus on the map. He bought the 8-foot-high, 14-foot-long black steer statue partly because he wanted it to remain in the state. He said he had heard rumors that it was getting interest beyond Nebraskas borders. Between 30 and 40 bidders participated in the steer auction, said Rod Backes, who owns the auction house with brother Randy. Of the final three serious bidders, he said, two were from Nebraska and one was from Boone, Iowa. He hadnt determined if any other states were represented. The steers new landlord was also motivated to help the fight against cancer. Restaurant owner Anthony Fucinaro is donating proceeds from the steers sale to Scare Away Cancer, a nonprofit that helps parents with cancer and those who have kids with cancer to pay bills, buy groceries and handle other expenses. Fucinaros son, also named Tony, founded the charity. Lehr said he knows a number of people who are fighting the disease. There was a viewing for the steer on Sunday before the end of the auction Monday, Fucinaro said. Lehr was there. We had gone to Omaha and looked at it to make sure everything was up to snuff, he said. He met Fucinaro at the event, and the restaurateur said the two men talked for about an hour. It was enough time for the steers longtime owner to figure out the icon would be in good hands. Hes an amazing guy. He raised cattle all his life, Fucinaro said. Im glad he got it. The T-Bone Truck Stop is at the corner of U.S. Highways 81 and 30 on the south side of Columbus. We have got the best truck stop in Nebraska, Lehr said. The volume of business tells you that. Because of the junction and the close proximity of the Behlen Manufacturing Co. plant the steer will have lots of company. Fucinaro plans to visit his former tenant and, of course, its new landlord with a bottled housewarming gift. I told him, Im going to come up and were going to have a beer, Fucinaro said. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In the U.S., mass shootings have continued to take lives, young and old, but elected officials have only just begun to act. President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which is considered as the most significant gun control bill in three decades. However, it is a very modest bill. It had to be an extremely limited bill to win the backing of 15 Republican senators, who usually oppose all gun bills. After the wave of bloodshed, they were feeling the pressure to make it look like they cared, so they were willing to compromise as long as the bill didn't do much. The most important thing the bill does is make it slightly harder for violent ex-boyfriends and dating partners to purchase guns, which they might use to threaten the woman they were dating. Before, the law did not do much at all to limit unmarried abusers from purchasing guns, even if they had been convicted of a misdemeanor. Anyone convicted of any kind of felony was banned from owning guns (although the background check system is not strong enough). Still, this bill extends that ban to domestic violence convictions of a lesser degree than a felony. Senators who support the bill say it "closes the boyfriend loophole," but the reality is that more than half of all domestic violence cases are not reported to the police. Even worse, when cases are reported, many do not result in convictions. Judges and juries sometimes ignore the evidence. In fact, in the city of Cleveland in 2018, 66% of cases were dismissed without even a trial, according to an analysis of local records by ABC News-Cleveland. The "boyfriend loophole" in domestic violence cases was narrowed, but it was hardly closed. Many violent boys will never face justice for their crimes and will still be able to purchase lethal firearms. Next, the bill encourages states to enact "red flag laws" to prevent people who are dangerous to society from purchasing guns. The theory is that if someone with a violent nature makes threats online, a court can deem them unfit to possess a gun. The reality is that some states already have red flag laws on the books, and in many cases, the inconsistent courts are more concerned about the "rights" of the psychopath to own an assault rifle than they are about the rights of the public to live. In Indiana, authorities never even bothered bringing a civil confiscation case against a gun-hoarding man who was reportedly suicidal by his mother; later, that man used the guns he was hoarding to kill eight staff at his workplace. In 2021, Pew Trusts published an article claiming that red flag laws "are saving lives," but "they could save more." The focus should be on the second half of that sentence. The article only cited a few hundred cases in the country of red flag orders stopping people from owning guns. That is a drop in the bucket compared to all the murders in the U.S. that happen yearly. The new gun bill will not cause red flag laws to expand across the nation. Instead, it just gives states funding to enact such laws if they choose to. But politicians in many radically right-wing states will reflexively oppose those laws. Finally, the bill also includes enhancements in the background check system for people age 21 and younger who try to buy assault rifles. So as long as a potential killer is over 21, they can buy the assault rifle with less scrutiny. This modest bill was passed by the Senate on the same day when the Supreme Court struck down a New York state law requiring people to get a permit for concealed handguns. This ruling presumably applies to all 50 states that might have considered such a permit system, which is now deemed invalid. In other words, the court dynamites gun laws while the Senate fills the hole with gravel. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.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. WEDNESDAY, June 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It's an icky truth: Everyone has millions of tiny mites living and mating on their skin. Not to worry, though -- Demodex folliculorum skin mites actually help keep your pores clean and your skin healthy, stressed Alejandra Perotti, an associate professor of invertebrate biology with the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. However, her team's recent research suggests the helpful mites might be on the verge of extinction. The first-ever genome sequencing study of Demodex mites has revealed that their isolated existence has caused them to shed so many unnecessary genes and cells that they're now wholly dependent on humans for their existence, Perotti said. "It will likely happen that we will lose them within several human generations," Perotti noted. Researchers say that if they do survive, it will be because they transition from external parasites to internal symbionts organisms that survive wholly off their hosts, essentially becoming one with them. The bacteria in your gut are one example of a human symbiont. These mites are about 1/64 of an inch long, and are found in hair follicles on the face and eyelashes, the researchers said in background notes. It would take several of them to cover the head of a pin. Most of these mites have a life cycle of around two weeks, leading a nocturnal existence during which they hatch, migrate, feed and mate before dying off, experts say. "During the day, they [are] inside the pores," Perotti said. "So when we are awake, they are sleeping. When we are sleeping, they are awake." More than 90% of humans carry these mites on their faces, and the mites generally maintain a peaceful co-existence with humans, she noted. You inherited your skin mites from your mother, and new moms pass them on to their children, Perotti explained. The density of mites on your skin peaks in your 20s and 30s, when your skin is typically at its oiliest. Keeping pores clean "They are present in all people with healthy skin. They are helpful because they maintain the health of the pores of our skin," Perotti said. Demodex mites only cause skin problems in rare instances for people who are immune-suppressed or have other skin conditions. The weakened immune system allows the mites to multiply out of control, and the heavy mite populations produce skin irritation. To learn more about these tiny passengers on your body, Perotti and her colleagues examined hundreds of Demodex mites collected from the forehead and nose of a single person with the help of a blackhead remover. The mites were put under a microscope to make sure they were Demodex, and then cleaned and prepared for DNA analysis. The researchers found that because the mites lead an isolated existence, they have evolved to become incredibly simple organisms. For example, their eight tiny legs are powered by just three single-cell muscles. Evolutionary gene reduction also explains why they're nocturnal, the researchers noted. They lack protection against the UV rays in sunlight and have lost the gene that causes animals to be awakened by daylight. They also are unable to produce melatonin, a biochemical that promotes nighttime activity in small invertebrates but causes mammals like humans to nod off. Luckily for them, they have your melatonin to fuel their nocturnal pursuits. "They depend more on us than we on them," Perotti said. "For example, they take the melatonin they need from their host. We secrete melatonin massively at dusk, which puts us to sleep, and the mites use ours because they are no longer able to produce it." The new study also found that Demodex mites have gotten a bum rap when it comes to skin problems. Earlier research had thought that the mites lack an anus and, given that, accumulate feces throughout their two-week life cycle. The assumption was that the mites release a lifetime's worth of feces upon death, causing skin inflammation. However, this new study discovered that Demodex mites do indeed have anuses, and so have been unfairly blamed for many skin problems. Programmed for extinction? The findings were published June 21 in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. Whether you see Demodex as creepy or clever, you might not have these little mites to kick around for much longer, the researchers concluded. Because they have evolved to depend so heavily on humans and have a lack of exposure to potential mates from other hosts, the mites appear to be on course for potential extinction. Perotti doesn't think losing the mites would necessarily impact human health, but she's still unhappy about the prospect. "We probably can survive without them," Perotti said. "But I'm not sure. I would like to keep them. They keep your skin healthy, and that's why I would like to keep them with us." Skin expert Dr. Christopher Bunick doesn't necessarily agree that Demodex are wholly benign. "One of the most common dermatologic diseases is rosacea, and rosacea has long been linked to humans having a robust immune response to the Demodex," said Bunick, an associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Conn. Bunick estimated that between 3% and 10% of people have rosacea potentially linked to the skin mites. "The idea that it never causes a problem is just not true. It can cause lots and lots of issues for people in terms of their skin," Bunick said. So, the idea of Demodex mites either going extinct or becoming more symbiotic with humans isn't a bad thing to Bunick. "Over time, the human body may learn to accept the Demodex more, so this subset of people that tend to develop inflammation in reaction to the Demodex, maybe that reaction continues to diminish as Demodex continues to have whatever selective pressure to become more symbiotic," Bunick said. "This data suggests the Demodex will become less problematic in triggering rosacea and other diseases." More information The Cleveland Clinic has more about Demodex mites. SOURCES: Alejandra Perotti, PhD, associate professor, invertebrate biology, University of Reading, United Kingdom; Christopher Bunick, MD, associate professor, dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.; Molecular Biology and Evolution, June 21, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. SAN ANTONIO (AP) Desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America frantically sought word of their loved ones as authorities began the grim task Tuesday of identifying 51 people who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer without air conditioning in the sweltering Texas heat. It was the deadliest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico. The driver of the truck and two other people were arrested, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas told The Associated Press. He said the truck had passed through a Border Patrol checkpoint northeast of Laredo, Texas, on Interstate 35. He did not know if migrants were inside the truck when it cleared the checkpoint. Investigators traced the trucks registration to a residence in San Antonio and detained two men from Mexico for possession of weapons, according to criminal complaints filed by the U.S. attorneys office. The complaints did not make any specific allegations related to the deaths. The bodies were discovered Monday afternoon on the outskirts of San Antonio when a city worker heard a cry for help from the truck parked on a lonely back road and found the gruesome scene inside, police Chief William McManus said. Hours later, body bags lay spread on the ground. More than a dozen people their bodies hot to the touch were taken to hospitals, including four children. Most of the dead were males, he said. The death count was the highest ever from a smuggling attempt in the United States, according to Craig Larrabee, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio. This is a horror that surpasses anything weve experienced before, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. And its sadly a preventable tragedy. President Joe Biden called the deaths horrifying and heartbreaking. Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry, Biden said in a statement. Authorities did not know the home countries of all of the migrants, nor how long they were abandoned on the side of the road. By Tuesday afternoon, medical examiners had potentially identified 34 of the victims, but they were taking additional steps, such as fingerprints, to confirm the identities, said Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores. Among the dead, 27 are believed to be of Mexican origin based on documents they were carrying, according to said Ruben Minutti, Mexico consul general in San Antonio. Several survivors were in critical condition with injuries such as brain damage and internal bleeding, he said. At least seven of the dead were from Guatemala and two from Honduras, Roberto Velasco Alvarez, head of the North America department in Mexicos Foreign Relations Department, said on Twitter. About 30 people had reached out to the Mexican Consulate looking for loved ones, the officials said. Authorities confirmed that one of the surviving Mexicans from the trailer was Jose Luis Guzman Vasquez, 32, from San Miguel Huautla in the southern state of Oaxaca, according to Aida Ruiz Garcia, director of the Oaxacan Institute for Migrant Attention. He was dehydrated and receiving car at a San Antonio hospital, Mexico's foreign affairs said. A cousin, Alejandro Lopez, told Milenio television that the family worked in farming and construction and migrated because we dont have anything but weaving hats, palms and handicrafts. Attempts to cross the U.S. border from Mexico have claimed thousands of lives in both countries in recent decades. U.S. border authorities are stopping migrants more often on the southern border than at any time in at least two decades. Migrants were stopped nearly 240,000 times in May, up by one-third from a year ago. Comparisons to pre-pandemic levels are complicated because migrants expelled under a public health authority known as Title 42 face no legal consequences, encouraging repeat attempts. Authorities say 25% of encounters in May were with people who had been stopped at least once in the previous year. South Texas has long been the busiest area for illegal border crossings. U.S. authorities discover trucks with migrants inside pretty close to daily, Larrabee said. Migrants typically pay $8,000 to $10,000 to be taken across the border and loaded into a tractor-trailer and driven to San Antonio, where they transfer to smaller vehicles for their final destinations across the United States, he said. Conditions vary widely, including how much water passengers get and whether they are allowed to carry cellphones, Larrabee said. Authorities think the truck discovered Monday had mechanical problems when it was left next to a railroad track in an area of San Antonio surrounded by auto scrapyards that brush up against a busy freeway, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the top elected official in the county that includes San Antonio. San Antonio has been a recurring scene of tragedy and desperation in recent years involving migrants in semitrailers. Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck parked at a San Antonio Walmart. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of the city. More than 50 migrants were found alive in a trailer in 2018, driven by a man who said he was to be paid $3,000 and was sentenced to more than five years in prison. Other tragedies have occurred long before migrants reached the U.S. In December, more than 50 died when a semitrailer rolled over on a highway in southern Mexico. In October, Mexican authorities reported finding 652 migrants packed into six trailers stopped at a military checkpoint near the border. Some of the 16 people taken to hospitals with heat-related illnesses remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical condition. Those taken to the hospital were hot to the touch and dehydrated, and no water was found in the trailer, said Fire Chief Charles Hood. They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion," Hood said. "It was a refrigerated tractor-trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig. Temperatures in San Antonio on Monday approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. Before that, people paid small fees to get across a largely unguarded border. As crossing became much more difficult after the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S., migrants were led through more perilous terrain and had to pay thousands of dollars. Some advocates drew a link to the Biden administrations border policies. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, wrote that he had been dreading such a tragedy for months. With the border shut as tightly as it is today for migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, people have been pushed into more and more dangerous routes, he wrote on Twitter. During a vigil held Tuesday evening in the rain at a San Antonio park, many of the more than 50 people who attended expressed sadness, frustration and anger at the deaths and what they described as a broken immigration system. I see this happen, and it didnt have to happen. If we had a better way for brown and Black people to enter safely, they wouldnt go through these desperate measures, said San Antonio resident Debbie Ponce. Migrants largely from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have been expelled more than 2 million times under the pandemic-era rule in effect since March 2020 that denies a chance to seek asylum. The Biden administration planned to end the policy, but a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the move in May. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 557 deaths on the Southwest border in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Most were related to heat exposure. Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press reporters Eric Gay in San Antonio, Acacia Coronado in Austin, Terry Wallace in Dallas and Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. THURSDAY, June 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- When breast cancer patients sleep, tumor cells may "awaken" and spread through the bloodstream, a surprising study out of Switzerland reveals. Circulating cancer cells that later form new growths (metastases) do not arise continuously as previously assumed, according to researchers at ETH Zurich, the University Hospital Basel and the University of Basel. "When the affected person is asleep, the tumor awakens," said study leader Nicola Aceto, a professor of molecular oncology at ETH Zurich. Lead study author Zoi Diamantopoulou, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich, added, "Our research shows that the escape of circulating cancer cells from the original tumor is controlled by hormones such as melatonin, which determine our rhythms of day and night." About 2.3 million people worldwide develop breast cancer each year. When their cancers are detected early, patients usually respond well to treatment, the authors noted. But treatment is more difficult if a cancer spreads, which occurs when cells break away from the original tumor and travel through the blood vessels to other spots in the body. The new study included 30 breast cancer patients and mouse models. The researchers discovered that tumors generate more circulating cells when the host is asleep. Cells that leave the tumor at night also divide more quickly and thus have a higher potential to form new tumors than circulating cells that leave the original tumor during the day. As such, the time of day when tumor or blood samples are collected for diagnosis may also influence findings. This was discovered by accident when colleagues worked unusual hours, Aceto said in an ETH Zurich news release. Another clue about the impact of sleep was the surprisingly high number of cancer cells found per unit of blood in mice compared to humans, the researchers noted. As nocturnal animals, mice sleep during the day, which is when scientists collect most of their samples. "In our view, these findings may indicate the need for health care professionals to systematically record the time at which they perform biopsies," Aceto said. "It may help to make the data truly comparable." The researchers next need to figure out how these findings can be used to get the most from existing cancer treatments. Aceto also wants to investigate whether different cancers behave like breast cancer and whether existing therapies can be made more successful if patients are treated at different times. The findings were published June 22 in Nature. More information The American Cancer Society has more on breast cancer. SOURCE: ETH Zurich, news release, June 22, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a woman's right to have an abortion marks a "very dark day in health care" that will leave patients at risk and doctors afraid to act, leaders of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) said Friday. "It is a dark day indeed for the tens of millions of patients who have suddenly and unfairly lost access to safe, legal and evidence-based abortion care," said ACOG President Dr. Iffath Abbasi Hoskins. "It is dark for the thousands of clinicians who now -- instead of focusing on providing health care to their patients -- have to live with the threat of legal, civil and even professional penalties while providing health care for the patients when they need it most," Hoskins said. ACOG leaders spoke during a media briefing just hours after the high court voted 6-to-3 to uphold a Mississippi law to ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court voted 5-to-4 to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had protected a woman's right to undergo an abortion in the United States for five decades. "The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion ... and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives," the high court said in its opinion on the Mississippi case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Center. In that case, Mississippi's sole abortion provider, Jackson Women's Health Organization, sued the state in 2020 after lawmakers banned abortions past 15 weeks, with no exceptions for rape and incest. Dr. Thomas Dobbs has been the state's chief health officer since 2018. "All patients should have autonomy in their own lives to determine whether pregnancy is right for them at that specific moment in their lives," Hoskins said. "Any abortion is an essential abortion to the person who needs it, and every person should be able to access the medical care needed when they need it, including abortion care." ACOG CEO Dr. Maureen Phipps said that the decision also will affect a doctor's ability to care for patients. "It will leave physicians looking over our shoulders, wondering if a patient is in enough of a crisis to permit an exception to the law," Phipps said. "It leaves them fearing that the evidence-based care they are providing leaves them susceptible to discipline, punishment, lawsuits, loss of license and criminal penalty." Doctors might hesitate to provide lifesaving care For example, doctors practicing in states with strict abortion laws may choose to hesitate rather than dive in and take heroic measures to save a woman's life during an incomplete miscarriage that's causing her to bleed out, Hoskins said. Clinicians may be thinking that they have to wait, Hoskins said. They may be needing to get additional opinions, whether it's a legal opinion or another medical opinion. It's going to have a devastating effect on every aspect of a womans health care, including if she is spontaneously miscarrying." Doctors will also struggle to manage serious and life-threatening complications during pregnancy, including preeclampsia, which in some cases requires abortion to save the mother's life. "Maternal mortality is going to be more common because of this law," Hoskins said. "We have got to think of the mothers and the hit that the mothers will take to their own health and their own well-being and own outcome in these various aspects of pregnancy." Phipps also predicted that the decision will have a "dire" impact on ob-gyn training. "Medical education should be comprehensive, and our trainees must be prepared to meet all patient needs with confidence," Phipps said. "When 44% of our obstetrics and gynecology residents are trained in states that are now empowered to ban abortion, patients will have to question whether their ob-gyn doctor has had access to the quality of training that we have all come to expect." The decision also means that the quality of a person's health care will depend on where they live in the United States, said Dr. Jen Villavicencio, ACOG's lead for equity transformation. "Depending on what your zip code is, depending on what state you live in and where you live, your access to essential health care is going to be different," Villavicencio said. This specifically calls into question a woman's access to medication abortion using the FDA-approved abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, Villavicencio said. President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland both said Friday that the Supreme Court's ruling will not allow states to ban access to medications approved by the FDA. Medication abortion may be next target "In particular, the FDA has approved the use of the medication mifepristone," Garland said in a statement. "States may not ban mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA's expert judgment about its safety and efficacy." But Villavicencio said it "remains to be seen" whether state bans on medication abortion will wind up trumping the FDA's authority. "It is absolutely a concern" that medication abortion "could be and will be banned in some of these states," Villavicencio said. ACOG is committed to protecting the rights of patients in abortion-restricted states to travel for essential health care, said ACOG Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Molly Meegan. "We are going to be advocating very strongly that states do not have extraterritorial jurisdiction to reach beyond the edges of their state, the territory of their state, and try to enforce laws against physicians that are in haven states or in states where abortion is less restricted," Meegan said. "We will do the same with respect to fighting to protect people that travel." However, research has indicated that many women -- particularly those of limited financial means -- will not be able to travel to another state to get a needed abortion, said ACOG fellow Dr. Nisha Verma, who practices in Georgia. "We're already seeing people traveling for care from surrounding states that already have more restrictive laws, and we have seen that these deserts are going to get worse," Verma said. "People have predicted that some will have to travel over 500 miles to access abortion care, and that's just not going to be doable for many people." Georgia has a 2019 six-week abortion ban on the books that had been held up in the courts awaiting the Supreme Court ruling, which now is expected to take effect soon. "I will say despite this decision from the Supreme Court, I am very committed to returning to Georgia and returning to the South, which is my home, and I know many of my colleagues are," Verma said. "We are going to stay in these restrictive areas and will continue to support people in whatever way we can." More information Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health has more about abortion access in the United States. SOURCES: Media briefing, June 24, 2022, with: ACOG President Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG; ACOG Chief Executive Officer Maureen G. Phipps, MD, MPH, FACOG; ACOG Lead for Equity Transformation Jen Villavicencio, MD, MPP, FACOG; ACOG Darney-Landy Fellow Nisha Verma, MD, MPH, FACOG; ACOG Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Molly Meegan, JD Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Israels parliament has voted to dissolve itself, triggering the countrys fifth election in just over three years. The vote Thursday thrusts veteran politician Yair Lapid into the role of interim prime minister. He will try to persuade a deeply polarized nation to embrace his centrist vision. Polls indicate it will be a difficult road for Lapid to defeat his main rival, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is a divisive figure who is at the heart of Israels protracted political crisis. Lapid is a former author, newspaper columnist and TV host, and was the architect of the outgoing coalition government. As with the previous four elections, the upcoming vote promises to be another referendum on Netanyahu. The election is set for Nov. 1. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Before he became a leading voice for conservative causes on Capitol Hill, U.S. Senator James Lankford spent more than a decade as the director of youth programming at the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, a sprawling campground about 80 miles south of Oklahoma City that attracts more than 50,000 campers in grades six through 12 each year. The Republican lawmaker's tenure at the camp is a prominent feature of his political profile, noted in the first paragraph of his official Senate biography. That experience is also coming under renewed scrutiny as the Southern Baptist Convention, which is affiliated with the group that owns the camp, faces a reckoning over its handling of sexual abuse cases. In 2009, while Lankford worked at the camp, the family of a 13-year-old girl sued a 15-year-old boy who was alleged to have had sex with her at the camp. Lankford, who was not in Congress at the time, is not alleged to have had any direct knowledge of the alleged assault, has not been accused of any wrongdoing and was not a defendant in the lawsuit, which was settled for an undisclosed amount before it was scheduled to go to trial. But in a 2010 deposition in the case, given a week after he was elected to his first term in the U.S. House, Lankford testified that he believed a 13-year-old could consent to sex. Yes, I think they can, Lankford told Kenyatta Bethea, a lawyer for the girl's family, according a 155-page transcript of the deposition obtained by The Associated Press. The age of consent in Oklahoma is 16, and although there is an exception in the law for minors between the ages of 14 and 17 who have sexual contact, there is no provision under which a 13-year-old could consent to sex. When Bethea pressed if his answer was still the same if I ask you that question in terms of your position as a father, Lankford maintained his stance. Yes, they can, he said. Under additional questioning about whether he would allow his two daughters to consent to sex at the age of 13, Lankford gave a more expansive answer. No, I would not encourage that at all," he said. "Could she make that choice? I hope she would not, but I would not encourage that in any way with my own daughter. Its unclear whether Lankford, who has no formal legal training, was aware of the legal age of consent at the time of his deposition. It's also uncertain whether any criminal charges were filed against the 15-year-old boy. Telephone messages left with Murray County District Attorney Craig Ladd were not returned. The testimony is surfacing before Tuesday's primary for the GOP Senate nomination that would allow Lankford to seek another term. After early concerns that he could be vulnerable to a challenge from the right, he enters the election in a strong position. The primary winner will head into the fall general election as the overwhelming favorite in this deeply Republican state. Aly Beley, a spokeswoman for Lankfords reelection campaign, declined to comment for this story. The revelation of Lankfords testimony comes at a difficult moment for the Southern Baptist Convention. A scathing investigative report, conducted by an independent firm, found that top SBC leaders stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse while seeking to protect their own reputations. In response, the SBC voted overwhelmingly earlier this month to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse and launch a task force to oversee further reforms in the nations largest Protestant denomination. This is not the first case of alleged sexual assault at Falls Creek, a 400-acre campground nestled in the Arbuckle Mountains. The camp is owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, which is now called Oklahoma Baptists and is part of the SBC. Benjamin Lawrence Petty pleaded guilty in 2018 to raping a 13-year-old Texas girl at the camp. Petty, who was a cook at the camp, tied a rope around the girl's wrists, raped her and threatened to hurt her if she told anyone, according to investigators. Petty was ultimately sentenced to probation in the case, and a civil case filed by the girl's family against the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma was settled. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Lankford no longer worked at the camp when the attack occurred. Court records show that Rev. Lori Walke, an attorney and senior minister at Mayflower Congregational Church in Oklahoma City, served as a guardian ad litem for the Texas girl during the civil case. Walke declined to talk about details of the case, but said she attended Falls Creek as a young girl and has serious concerns about how the camp operates. Even as a kid, you recognize some things that feel off," Walke said. This real obsession with the purity culture is overwhelming. The rules around clothing, particularly for girls, were just obsessed over." And then, the real lack of oversight, generally speaking, in all other matters," she added. "It was absolutely due to the fact that theres just not enough adults around." Oklahoma Baptists did not respond to questions about how many cases involving sexual misconduct at Falls Creek have been settled. In a statement, Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher said the recent vote to approve recommendations from the SBCs task force will bring about needed national reforms. I am thankful Oklahoma Baptists already made significant steps toward preventing abuse in Oklahoma, implementing a number of best practices in all areas of our ministries, including at our encampments, Fisher said. Oklahoma Baptists spokesman Brian Hobbs said some of those best practices for Falls Creek include mandatory background checks for anyone 18 and older, increased security, professionally developed safety training for all camp staff and church leaders bringing groups to the camp and protocols for reporting abuse or suspected abuse. During his deposition, Lankford said he had no problem sending his daughters to the camp, including in instances when he was not present, though he acknowledged that supervision wasn't perfect. I know that our adults are watching out for our kids, but the process of that, obviously I can't guess for every adult how they're going to handle it, Lankford said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The union that represents Omaha Public Schools security guards is filing a motion to stop the districts implementation of their employee contract, which union officials say was not accepted before it was approved by the school board Thursday. State Sen. Justin Wayne, the unions attorney, announced the Eastern Nebraska School Security Union Local No. 28 was at an impasse with OPS in a press release that was distributed Thursday, about 15 minutes before the board meeting began. Wayne said in the release that the union and district have failed to come to an agreement during contract negotiations and a petition was filed with the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations to seek mandatory mediation. During Thursdays board meeting, members passed a resolution to implement the districts last, best and final offer for a new security guard employee contract. The district says in the resolution that OPS and the union entered contract negotiations for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years on Sept. 23, 2021. After multiple bargaining sessions, the union told the district on Feb. 23 it believed an impasse had been reached. OPS attempted to continue to engage in bargaining and presented the union with its final offer on April 29, according to the resolution. On or about June 2, Local 28 responded to the district with its proposed final offer, which the district has taken as a rejection of the districts last, best and final offer which puts the parties at impasse, the resolution said. In the resolution, the district said there was no pending matter before the Commission of Industrial Relations and it recommended the school board implement the districts last offer, which the union had previously rejected. We dont know what that means because we are still not accepting that (contract), LeKeith Richardson, the unions president, said about the contract that was approved Thursday. They shouldnt have passed it because a motion was filed with CIR. It should have been taken off the agenda. Richardson said the district was notified before the school board meeting that a petition had been filed with the commission. District officials said in an official statement that the petition was filed at 4 p.m. the day of the meeting, after the agenda was finalized. When asked if the employee contract the board approved Thursday would still go into effect even though the parties are at an impasse, officials said the board has authorized the implementation of the offer. Wayne said on Monday that the union is working on a motion to be filed with the commission this week to stop any implementation of the approved employee contract except for pay. In the contract the board passed Thursday, the district raised the base pay for an OPS security guard from $15.80 per hour to $17.94 per hour for the 2022-23 school year. Richardson said in Thursdays press release that what the union is asking for is just plain common sense. We cannot accept this compensation package with the current threats to our safety, the increased non-security duties and the potential for unpaid work days whenever OPS is remote, he said. We put ourselves at risk every day to protect our schools, staff and students. We deserve to be treated with respect for the dedication and professionalism we provide to our students and teachers. In the districts final contract offer, security guards get two days of paid leave if school is canceled or a remote learning day is declared. But if more than two days of school are called off by the district in one calendar year, security guards will have to use their sick days or personal leave to get paid when their building is closed. If you do a month of remote days because of a pandemic, or teacher shortage, you cant maintain security? Wayne said. With the overall environment that we are seeing nationally, such as school shootings, its amazing to me that this district doesnt want to invest in security at OPS. There are about 45 open security guard positions across the district, according to OPS website. Richardson said the district had 35-40 open security guard positions throughout the past school year. Richardson said the continuing staff shortage has caused security guards to have increased workloads, additional job duties and more dangerous working conditions due to escalating student misbehavior. Imagine sending your child to school, day after day, and not having adequate security in the building, or a high school without any security, he said in the release. Every time there is an issue at school, whether it be in the classroom, hall or on the bus, the security officer shows up. We are OPS first responders within the building. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Nearly 48 million Americans are expected to travel during the Fourth of July holiday, making it the second-busiest Independence Day travel period since 2000. The volume of travelers expected over Independence Day is a definite sign that summer travel is kicking into high gear, said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA. Earlier this year, we started seeing the demand for travel increase, and its not tapering off. People are ready for a break and despite things costing more, they are finding ways to still take that much-needed vacation. AAA projects that despite high gas prices, car travel will set a record during the holiday. Over the five-day holiday period, 47.9 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home. Of those, 89%, or 42 million people, will travel by automobile. The travel group expects 3.55 million will travel by airplane while 2.42 million will take a train, bus or boat. In 2021, 46.2 million people traveled for the July Fourth holiday, with 41.8 million going by car. The record was set in 2019, when 49 million Americans traveled for the Fourth of July. The top destinations for the holiday weekend in Nebraska are expected to be Lake McConaughy/Lake Ogallala, Ponca State Park, Mahoney State Park and Fort Robinson State Park, a Nebraska Game and Parks spokeswoman said. But all state parks are well attended during holidays and on summer weekends, Shawna Richter-Ryerson said. AAA said gas prices for the holiday will be the highest in history. Pump prices are 64% higher than a year ago. Monday, the national average was $4.89 for regular unleaded. The Nebraska average was $4.70. During recent years, the Nebraska average on July 4 was $2.95 (2021), $2.10 (2020) and $2.59 (2019). The previous high was $4.02 in 2008. Traveling by car does provide a level of comfort and flexibility that people may be looking for given the recent challenges with flying, Haas said. But not all destinations are within driving distance, which doesnt mean you have to abandon your vacation plans. Although air travel volume is forecast to be close to 1.5% higher than last year, domestic traveler volumes are expected to remain well below pre-pandemic levels, Haas said. Recent issues with air travel and ongoing concerns about cancellations and delays are likely the catalyst. AAA said travelers should be prepared to alter their plans during the busy holiday. AAA offers the following advice: Be prepared to alter your plans. Flights, car rentals, accommodations, tours, cruises and other activities are in high demand and availability may be limited, which will impact pricing. AAA expects to respond to over 446,000 calls for roadside assistance over the holiday. Get a full vehicle inspection ahead of any long trip but especially for the vehicles battery, engine and tires. Travel on off-peak times. Based on AAA booking data, July 1 is shaping up to be the busiest day for air travel during the holiday (June 30 to July 4), with Monday, July 4, being the lightest. June 30 and July 1 are expected to be the peak traffic days for road warriors. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SAN ANTONIO (AP) Forty-six people were found dead after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer on a remote back road in San Antonio in the latest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico to the U.S. Sixteen people were hospitalized, including four children. A city worker heard a cry for help from the truck shortly before 6 p.m. Monday and discovered the gruesome scene, Police Chief William McManus said. Hours later, body bags lay spread on the ground near the trailer and bodies remained inside as authorities responded to the calamity. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the 46 who died had families who were likely trying to find a better life. This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy, Nirenberg said. Its among the deadliest of the tragedies that have claimed thousands of lives in recent decades as people attempt to cross the U.S. border from Mexico. Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck parked at a Walmart in San Antonio. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of San Antonio. The home countries of the immigrants and how long they were abandoned on the side of the road were not immediately known. South Texas has long been the busiest area for illegal border crossings. Migrants ride in vehicles through Border Patrol checkpoints to San Antonio, the closest major city, from which point they disperse across the United States. Officers arrived to find a body on the ground outside the trailer and a partially opened gate to the trailer. Three people were taken into custody, but it was unclear if they were definitively connected with human trafficking, McManus said. Of the 16 taken to hospitals with heat-related illnesses, 12 were adults and four were children, said Fire Chief Charles Hood. The patients were hot to the touch and dehydrated, and no water was found in the trailer, he said. They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion," Hood said. "It was a refrigerated tractor-trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig. Those in the trailer were part of a presumed migrant smuggling attempt into the United States, and the investigation was being led by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, McManus said. Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas, which were then the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. Before that, people paid small fees to mom-and-pop operators to get them across a largely unguarded border. As crossing became exponentially more difficult after the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S., migrants were led through more perilous terrain and paid thousands of dollars more. Heat poses a serious danger, particularly when temperatures can rise severely inside vehicles. Weather in the San Antonio area was mostly cloudy Monday, but temperatures approached 100 degrees. Some advocates drew a link to the Biden administrations border policies. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, wrote that he had been dreading such a tragedy for months. With the border shut as tightly as it is today for migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, people have been pushed into more and more dangerous routes. Truck smuggling is a way up, he wrote on Twitter. Stephen Miller, a chief architect of former President Donald Trumps immigration policies, said, Human smugglers and traffickers are wicked and evil and that the administrations approach to border security rewards their actions. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican running for reelection, was blunt in a tweet about the Democratic president: These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. Migrants largely from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have been expelled more than 2 million times under a pandemic-era rule in effect since March 2020 that denies them a chance to seek asylum but encourages repeat attempts because there are no legal consequences for getting caught. People from other countries, notably Cuba, Nicaragua and Colombia, are subject to Title 42 authority less frequently due to higher costs of sending them home, strained diplomatic relations and other considerations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 557 deaths on the southwest border in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Most are related to heat exposure. CBP has not published a death tally for this year but said that the Border Patrol performed 14,278 search-and-rescue missions in a seven-month period through May, exceeding the 12,833 missions performed during the previous 12-month period and up from 5,071 the year before. Spagat reported from San Diego. Reporter Terry Wallace contributed from Dallas. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Delayed flights add to airport congestion Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi are increasingly congested these days. On Monday evening, VietJet Flight VJ149, scheduled to depart at 7 pm at Noi Bai for HCM City, was delayed until 10:30 pm. Flash A Chinese envoy on Monday voiced deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, and called on the international community to take urgent and decisive actions to prevent the Palestinian-Israeli issue from being totally derailed. It is concerning that the continued expansion of Israeli settlements "has encroached upon Palestinian land and natural resources, undermines the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told a Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. "Every brutal inch of expansion of settlement is making the prospect of a two-state solution much harder to achieve. We urge Israel to stop its contempt for Resolution 2334, stop all settlement activities, and stop further undermining the foundation for the two-state solution," Zhang said. Noting that recently the security situation in the occupied territory has continued to be volatile, Zhang said China strongly condemns the continued violence by Israeli security forces and the settlers, which has resulted in heavy Palestinian casualties, including children. The envoy urged Israel to launch as soon as possible a criminal investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and release its findings in order to ensure accountability. "The question of Palestine is a litmus test of the international justice and fairness," Zhang said, stressing that piecemeal crisis management cannot substitute for a comprehensive and just settlement. He added that limited economic and humanitarian measures cannot erase political and security deficit, and individual national policies cannot replace long established international consensus and multilateral process, including resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly one after another. "What is needed for the time being is urgent and decisive actions, so as to prevent the train of Palestinian-Israeli situation from totally falling off the track," he said. Zhang said that China calls upon the international community, especially those having key influence on the parties concerned, to make genuine efforts for the peace process in the Middle East. This would mean promoting the two-state solution with the utmost urgency, he said, rather than waiting for so-called conditions for dialogue to mature. "This would mean adhering to the concept of indivisibility of security, giving equal importance to the security concerns of both Palestine and Israel, rather than allowing tacitly that the security of one side be built on the insecurity of the other," he said. "This also means persevering in a responsible attitude, rather than allowing policy flip-flop to further complicate the peace process," he said, emphasizing that it also means to ditch the double standard and uphold an objective and impartial position, rather than being engaged in long-term practice of setting roadblocks for the Security Council's handling of the Palestinian-Israeli question. As a responsible member of the international community, China will be always on the side of peace and justice, on the side of human conscience and fairness, and on the right side of history, he said. "We will firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and will continue to make unremitting efforts for achieving comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East," said Zhang. Aide: Trump dismissed Jan. 6 threats, wanted to join crowd WASHINGTON (AP) The latest testimony about the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has Donald Trump rebuffing his own securitys warnings about armed protesters in the crowd gathering for a rally near the White House. A former White House aide also tells the House committee investigating the attack that Trump desperately attempted to join his supporters as they marched to the Capitol. In her testimony Tuesday, Cassidy Hutchinson described an angry, defiant president who grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential SUV when the Secret Service refused to allow him go to the Capitol. Trump has dismissed her as a total phony. Trump painted in testimony as volatile, angry president WASHINGTON (AP) A former Trump White House aide has painted a portrait of a volatile commander-in-chief who lashed out at advisers as his grasp on power was extinguished. Though accounts of the former presidents temper are legion, Cassidy Hutchinson offered previously unknown details about the extent of Trumps rage in his final weeks of office, his awareness that supporters had weapons with them and his ambivalence as rioters later laid siege to the Capitol. The testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee deepened questions about whether Trump himself could face criminal charges for his conduct and came as Trump weighs running for reelection in 2024. 1/6 Takeaways: Angry Trump, dire legal warnings and ketchup The House Jan. 6 committee held a surprise hearing Tuesday delivering alarming new testimony about Donald Trumps actions that day. Witness Cassidy Hutchinson is a lesser-known former White House aide who had proximity to power as an adviser to the then-president and his chief of staff Mark Meadows. She rebuffed Trumps team warnings against testifying and provided firsthand knowledge of what she saw and heard in the run-up to the insurrection. She described an angry and defiant Trump who ignored repeated warnings against summoning the mob to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and then refused to intervene to stop the violence as rioters laid siege. Colorado GOP deals blow to election denial movement DENVER (AP) Colorado Republicans have rejected two prominent election deniers in primaries Tuesday night. It's a setback for the movement to install backers of former President Donald Trump's election lies in positions with power over voting. Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters lost the Republican primary for secretary of state to Pam Anderson, a former clerk in suburban Denver. Peters was indicted for her role in a break-in of her county's election system. An ally, State Rep. Ron Hanks, lost his bid for the GOP Senate nomination. Hanks attended the Jan. 6 protests. He was beaten by businessman Joe O'Dea, a rare GOP backer of some abortion rights. Takeaways from first primaries since Roe v. Wade overturned NEW YORK (AP) A rare Republican who supports abortion rights found success in Colorado in the first primary elections held since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, New Yorks first female governor positioned herself to become a major voice in the post-Roe landscape. In Illinois, Democrats helped boost a Republican gubernatorial candidate loyal to former President Donald Trump in the hopes that he would be the easier candidate to beat in November. And in at least two states, election deniers were defeated, even as pro-Trump lightning rods elsewhere won. 51 migrants die after trailer abandoned in San Antonio heat SAN ANTONIO (AP) Desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America are seeking word of their loved ones as authorities begin identifying 51 people who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer without air conditioning in the sweltering Texas heat. It was the deadliest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas told The Associated Press that the driver of the truck and two other people were arrested. The bodies were discovered Monday afternoon on the outskirts of San Antonio when a city worker heard a cry for help from a truck parked on a lonely back road. Ukrainian survivor: Only a 'monster' would attack a mall KREMENCHUK, Ukraine (AP) The shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was nothing extraordinary, but in the middle of war it offered an escape for some residents. In a few moments on Monday, it suddenly became a hellish inferno after it was hit by a Russian airstrike. Authorities say at least 18 people are dead, more than 20 are missing and scores are wounded. The Kremenchuk mall is now the latest addition to the allegations of war crimes levied against Russia in the Ukraine war. One mall employee who said he had stepped outside for a cigarette when the air raid siren went off estimated 1,000 people had been in the mall, contradicting Russias claim it was empty. Turkey lifts its objections to Sweden, Finland joining NATO MADRID (AP) Turkey has agreed to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders summit in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent talks, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Russias invasion of Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had blocked the move, insisting the Nordic pair change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told the AP that the membership should be completed the sooner the better. Drug killings leave agony, savage facet to Duterte's legacy MANILA, Philippines (AP) The thousands of killings under Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes campaign against illegal drugs have left families in agony and a savage side to his legacy. Duterte ends his turbulent six-year presidency Thursday after building a reputation for expletives-laced outbursts and a disdain for human rights and the West. He's seen as a human rights calamity not only for the deaths in his drug crackdown, but also for his brazen attacks on critical media, the Catholic church and his political opponents. He's still an endearing, popular character to many Filipinos, however, and state-run TV has been highlighting infrastructure and poverty-alleviating projects of his administration. But in the homes of those lost in the drug war, an air of indignation and mourning permeates. EXPLAINER: Abortion, tech and surveillance With abortion now or soon to be illegal in over a dozen states and severely restricted in many more, Big Tech companies that vacuum up personal details of their users are facing new calls to limit that tracking and surveillance. One fear is that law enforcement or vigilantes could use data troves from Facebook, Google and other social platforms against people seeking ways to end unwanted pregnancies. History has repeatedly demonstrated that whenever peoples personal data is tracked and stored, theres always a risk that it could be misused or abused. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Abortion foes, supporters map next moves after Roe reversal CHARLESTON, W. Va. (AP) A day after the Supreme Courts bombshell ruling overturning Roe v. Wade ended the constitutional right to abortion, emotional protests and prayer vigils are turning to resolve as several states enact bans and both supporters and foes of abortion rights map out their next moves. A Texas group that helps women pay for abortions has halted its efforts while evaluating its legal risk under a ban it says will disproportionately hurt poor and minority women. Mississippis only abortion clinic is continuing to see patients while awaiting a 10-day notice that will trigger a ban. Some elected officials are vowing to protect womens access to abortion, while opponents of the procedure say their fight is far from over. Supreme Court conservatives flex muscle in sweeping rulings WASHINGTON (AP) Sweeping Supreme Court rulings on guns and abortion this past week have sent an unmistakable message. And that message is that conservative justices hold the power and aren't afraid to use it to make transformative changes in the law. It was never clearer than when the court took away a womans right to abortion that had stood for nearly 50 years. The conservative majority said no more half measures when they overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to outlaw abortion. And the day before, they ruled for the first time that Americans the right to carry handguns in public for self-defense. The decisions are the latest and perhaps clearest manifestation of the court's control by an aggressive conservative majority. Biden signs landmark gun measure, says 'lives will be saved' WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden has signed the most sweeping gun violence bill in decades. The bipartisan compromise seemed unimaginable until a recent series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. The House gave final approval Friday, following Senate passage Thursday, and Biden acted just before leaving Washington for two world leader summits in Europe. The legislation will toughen background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and help states put in place laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous. Most of its $13 billion cost will help bolster mental health programs and aid schools Russia fires missiles across Ukraine, cements gains in east KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces are seeking to swallow up the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Luhansk region while pressing their momentum following the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the charred ruins of Sievierodonetsk. The military said Moscow-backed separatists were now in full control of the chemical plant that was the last Ukrainian holdout in the city. Russia also launched dozens of missiles Saturday on several areas across the country far from the heart of the eastern battles. Ukraine's air command says some of the missiles were fired from Russian long-range Tu-22 bombers deployed to Belarus for the first time. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow plans to supply Belarus with the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile system. 'Mitt Romney Republican' is now a potent GOP primary attack SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Mitt Romney isnt up for reelection this year, but his name is surfacing in Republican primaries throughout the nation. Candidates are using the label Mitt Romney Republican to frame opponents as insufficiently conservative and enemies of the Trump-era GOP. Candidates have employed the concept in attack ads and talking points in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In Romney's home state Utah, Republican challengers taking on incumbent congressmen are using the attack, even though Romney won overwhelmingly only four years ago. The fact that Romney remains potent attack fodder reflects his singular position in politics and ongoing divisions within the Republican Party. Pope hails families, blasts 'culture of waste' after Roe ROME (AP) Pope Francis is urging families to shun selfish decisions that are indifferent to life as he closed out a big Vatican family rally a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion.Francis didnt refer to the ruling or explicitly mention abortion in his homily Saturday. But he used the buzzwords he has throughout his papacy about the need to defend families and condemn the culture of waste that he believes is behind the societal acceptance of abortion.Francis has strongly upheld church teaching opposing abortion, equating it to hiring a hitman to solve a problem. At the same time, he has expressed sympathy for women who have had abortions and has made it easier for them to be absolved of the sin of abortion. Guns and abortion: Contradictory decisions, or consistent? They are the most fiercely polarizing issues in American life: abortion and guns. And two momentous decisions by the Supreme Court in two days have done anything but resolve them. Instead, they've fired up debate about whether the courts conservative justices are being consistent to history and the Constitution or citing them to justify political preferences, To some critics, the rulings represent an obvious and deeply damaging contradiction: How can the court justify restricting the ability of states to regulate guns while expanding the right of states to regulate abortion? To supporters, the courts conservatives are staying true to the countrys founding principles and undoing errors of the past. Guns in paradise: Ruling could undo strict Hawaii carry law HONOLULU (AP) A U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down a New York gun law could mean big changes thousands of miles away in Hawaii, which has strict restrictions on carrying firearms. In 2020, Hawaii had the nations lowest rate for gun deaths. Chris Marvin is a Hawaii resident with the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety. He's concerned minor scuffles over things like surf spots could escalate if more people are carrying guns in public because of the high court decision. As Marvin says, Guns and aloha don't mix." Hawaii and California are among states with strict laws limiting carrying guns in public. Those laws will now need to be loosened. WHO panel: Monkeypox not a global emergency 'at this stage' LONDON (AP) The World Health Organization said the escalating monkeypox outbreak in more than 50 countries should be closely monitored but does not warrant being declared a global health emergency. In a statement, a WHO emergency committee said many aspects of the outbreak were unusual and acknowledged that monkeypox, which is endemic in some African countries, has been neglected. WHO nevertheless pointed to the emergency nature of the outbreak and said controlling its spread requires an intense response. The committee said the outbreak should be closely monitored and reviewed after a few weeks. Norway shaken by attack that kills 2 during Pride festival OSLO, Norway (AP) A gunman who opened fire in Oslos nightlife district has killed two men and left more than 20 other people injured during the LGBTQ Pride festival in Norway's capital. The Norwegian security service called the attack early Saturday an Islamist terror act and raised the country's terror alert level from moderate to extraordinary, the highest level. A suspect was arrested. Investigators identified him as a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran. The security service's acting chief says the gunman had a long history of violence and threats, as well as mental health issues. A defense lawyer cautioned against speculating on on a motive but says the suspect hasnt denied carrying out the attack. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ATLANTA (AP) A British filmmaker who shot interviews with Donald Trump and his inner circle in the final months of the former president's administration has been subpoenaed to testify in a Georgia investigation into whether Trump and others illegally tried to influence the 2020 election in the state. Footage shot by Alex Holder includes interviews from the campaign trail, as well as footage shot before and after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His lawyer, Russell Smith, confirmed Holder will appear before a special grand jury in Atlanta. Alex is cooperating, and he is to appear to testify on July 12, Smith said in an email. The special grand jury is part of an investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. In a letter sent to top state elected officials in February 2021, Willis said she was looking into potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud, the making of false statements to state and local government bodies, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath of office and any involvement in violence or threats related to the elections administration. The subpoena, which is dated Tuesday, also demands: All video footage and other materials related to the docuseries Unprecedented. The U.S. House committee investigating the Capitol attack also subpoenaed Holder's footage, and he said last week that he had complied with the congressional subpoena. Smith said last week that Holder sat for a two-hour deposition with the committee. Holder has said his series had been bought by a streaming service and was to be released in three parts this summer. The hours of video footage includes exclusive interviews with Trump, his children and then-Vice President Mike Pence while on the campaign trail, Holder has said. Willis, the prosecutor, began investigating possible illegal attempts to interfere in the state's general election shortly after she took office in January of last year. She asked earlier this year for a special grand jury to help the investigation. The panel was seated in May and this month began hearing from witnesses, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Willis has confirmed that her team is looking into a January 2021 phone call in which Trump pushed Raffensperger to find the votes needed for him to win the state. She has also said they are looking at a November 2020 phone call between U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Raffensperger, the abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta on Jan. 4, 2021, and comments made during December 2020 Georgia legislative committee hearings on the election. Trump has repeatedly called his conversation with Raffensperger perfect and has denied any wrongdoing. Graham has also said he did nothing wrong. Amiri reported from Washington. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ELMAU, Germany (AP) The Indonesian presidency of the Group of 20 nations has ruled out in-person participation by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the November meeting of the group in Bali, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said Tuesday. The Nov. 15-16 summit had risked awkward diplomatic encounters if Putin were to have come, or the specter of Western leaders not even showing up given Russia's war in Ukraine. The issue was a topic at the smaller Group of Seven summit in Germany that wrapped up Tuesday and included leaders from five major emerging democratic economies India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina which don't all share the G-7's views on the war in Ukraine or on sanctions against Russia. But Draghi, whose country held the G-20 presidency before handing it off to Indonesia, said Tuesday the G-7 had rallied to support Indonesian President Joko Widodo to organize a successful summit. He was asked about comments from Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov that Putin had accepted Widodo's invitation to attend the Bali summit. President Widodo excludes it. He was categorical: Hes not coming," Draghi told reporters in Elmau, Germany. "What might happen I dont know what will happen but what might happen is perhaps a remote intervention. We'll see. Ushakov shot back Tuesday that its not Draghi who decides that. We have received an invitation and responded positively, he said. Widodo is scheduled to travel to Russia and Ukraine after the G-7 meetings. Putin, along with several other leaders, participated via video at the G-20 summit in Rome last October, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking around the same time as Draghi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz didnt address whether or not Putin would attend. But he said that he and his fellow G-7 leaders agreed that we dont want to drive the G-20 apart. Scholz added: Viewed from today, the decision of the states that were gathered here would be that they go there. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Nebraska state Sen. Mike Flood won a special election Tuesday to replace former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a fellow Republican who was sentenced to two years of probation earlier in the day for a conviction on charges that he lied to federal agents. Flood beat Democratic state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks in the states Republican-leaning 1st District, which includes Lincoln and dozens of smaller, mostly conservative towns in eastern Nebraska. Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, will serve the rest of what would have been Fortenberrys ninth term. Hell be a strong favorite to win a new term in November, when he faces Pansing Brooks again. In a brief interview after his win, Flood promised to be a conservative advocate for the district and a champion for local infrastructure projects and agriculture. Throughout the campaign, he sought to blame President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for rising inflation, and pledged to fight Biden administration policies. Flood acknowledged that he needs to do more to boost his support in the Lincoln area, one of the only pockets of Democratic strength in the district. Flood's victory was narrower than in previous elections, when Fortenberry would easily beat Democratic challengers with more than 60% of the vote. I recognize that I have work to do, Flood said. In a statement, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said the narrower-than-expected margin shows the need for more national party support in rural areas that are often viewed as unwinnable. Sen. Pansing Brooks connected with voters and started to change the political landscape of Nebraska, Kleeb said. Both candidates were nominated by their parties leaders in April to run in the special election. The next month, Nebraska primary voters picked them to run in the general election. In court Tuesday, Fortenberry sat quietly as U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld ordered him to serve probation, pay a $25,000 fine and perform community service. Blumenfeld rejected prosecutors request for a six-month prison sentence, saying the ex-congressman's behavior in the case was out of character. Fortenberry later said he planned to appeal, arguing that prosecutors never should have brought the case and accusing them of taking advantage of his trust. This has been very traumatic and weve got a way to go, he said outside the courthouse. But I am grateful that ... the judge recognized that the pattern of what I wanted to do with my life was simply to serve in public office and to try to help people. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Jenkins said prosecutors disagreed with the decision not to impose prison time, but noted the judges comments endorsing the jurys decision. Fortenberry resigned in March shortly after a California jury found him guilty in the corruption case. He has maintained his innocence and said he plans to appeal. Before he was indicted in October, Fortenberry was expected to sail to an easy win. Prosecutors alleged Fortenberry lied to federal agents multiple times about $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions he received from a foreign national at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Federal law bars donations from foreign nationals. At trial, prosecutors played phone recordings between Fortenberry and a donor-turned-informant, who warned the congressman that the donations had likely been funneled to him from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent. Fortenberrys attorneys argued that he didnt hear the warning due to bad cellphone reception. Fortenberry maintained his innocence, going so far as to release a preemptive denial of the charges before they were announced in a video that he filmed inside a 1963 Ford F-150 pickup, with his wife and dog at his side. He also continued to campaign, decrying his prosecution as politically motivated and airing attack ads against Flood. But as more details of the case became public, Fortenberry quickly lost support among top Nebraska Republicans. Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman dealt him a major blow when they endorsed Flood. Flood stayed mostly positive, airing several lighthearted ads, including one where he described himself as a conservative nerd who would get things done in Washington. Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte Melley reported from Los Angeles. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean prosecutors granted ex-President Lee Myung-bak a three-month release from prison over health concerns Tuesday after he served less than three years of a 17-year sentence for corruption. Lee, 80, could be sent back to prison at the end of that period, barring further health setbacks, but there is also the possibility that he might be pardoned before then by President Yoon Suk Yeol, a fellow conservative who recently expressed a reluctance to keep him behind bars. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office said in a statement to The Associated Press it decided to suspend the execution of Lees sentence for three months after a committee acknowledged the risk of a significant deterioration in his health. The office didn't elaborate on the health of Lee, who submitted a request for a stay of sentence earlier this month. Lee was sent to prison after the Supreme Court confirmed his sentence in October 2020, but he has regularly received outside hospital treatment for various health problems including diabetes. Lee did not immediately issue any statement regarding his temporary release. He is reportedly receiving treatment at Seoul National University Hospital, which did not comment on his health problems, citing privacy rules. Yoon told reporters earlier this month that it would be inappropriate to keep Lee imprisoned for 20-something years, inaccurately describing his prison term while citing the precedent of former presidents who were released early from their sentences following criminal convictions. Theres speculation that Lee could be considered for a presidential pardon ahead of an Aug. 15 holiday celebrating Koreas liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II. If the Yoon government is considering a pardon for Lee, a temporary stay of sentence would be the most convenient political setup, much less burdensome than granting a parole, said Han Sang-hie, a law professor at Seoul's Konkuk University. Lee, a CEO-turned-conservative hero before his fall from grace, was convicted of taking bribes from big businesses including Samsung, embezzling funds from a company that he owned, and other corruption-related crimes before and during his presidency from 2008 to 2013. A Seoul district court initially sentenced Lee in 2018 to 15 years in prison. He was released on bail several months later but was taken back into custody in February 2020 after an appellate court handed down a 17-year term and canceled his bail. Lee was released days later after he appealed his bail cancelation, but he was sent back to prison in October 2020 after the Supreme Court upheld the lower courts ruling. Lee, a former Hyundai CEO, won the 2007 presidential election on a promise to reinvigorate the countrys economy. But his five years in office were marred by the global financial crisis, massive public protests over a resumption of imports of U.S. beef amid fears of mad cow disease, and animosities with rival North Korea, including two attacks blamed on the North that killed 50 South Koreans in 2010. Lees corruption case erupted after his conservative successor, Park Geun-hye, was removed from the presidency and jailed in 2017 over a separate corruption scandal that sparked massive protests. Park served less than a quarter of her 22-year sentence before former President Moon Jae-in, a liberal, pardoned her last December, citing her health problems and a need to promote unity in the politically divided nation. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LONDON (AP) Scotland's leader told lawmakers in Edinburgh Tuesday that she plans to hold a fresh referendum on Scotland's independence on Oct. 19, 2023 even though U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson maintains it wasn't the right time for such a vote. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the question to be asked will be the same as that in Scotlands first independence vote in 2014: Should Scotland be an independent country? The U.K.-wide government of Johnson opposes a new referendum and has repeatedly said the issue was settled in 2014, when 55% saying they wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Scotlands government requires a special order from Johnson to legally hold a referendum. Sturgeon said she will ask the U.K. Supreme Court to rule on the Scottish governments right to hold the vote if Johnson does not give the go-ahead. Scotlands most senior law official has referred the matter to the top court on Tuesday, she said. She added that she would be writing to Johnson to inform him of her plans. Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party and the devolved government in Scotland, insists its time to revisit the matter of independence, not least because of Britains exit from the European Union a move opposed by a majority of Scots. My determination is to secure a process that allows the people of Scotland, whether yes, no or yet to be decided, to express their views in a legal, constitutional referendum so the majority view can be established fairly and democratically, she said Tuesday. Johnson said he would study Sturgeons plans for a second referendum, but stressed that the focus of the country should be on building a stronger economy." We will study it very carefully and we will respond properly ... I certainly think that well be able to have a stronger economy and a stronger country together," he told reporters. A spokesman for Johnsons office said his position is unchanged and he continues to think its not the time to be talking about a referendum. The spokesman said the government will not be drawn into hypotheticals about whether it would open negotiations for Scottish independence if Scots vote for it in a referendum next year. Even if the referendum does go ahead as proposed, a majority vote will not by itself make Scotland independent from the rest of the U.K. For Scotland to become independent following a yes vote, legislation would have to be passed by the U.K. and Scottish Parliaments, Sturgeon stressed. Sturgeon maintains that her party's success in local elections last year gives her a mandate for a fresh referendum. While the Scottish National Party did not win overall control in the Scottish Parliament, the election of a record number of Scottish Green lawmakers means there is a majority for a new independence vote. Sturgeon said that if there was no lawful way for the Scottish government to hold a referendum, and if Johnsons government refused to grant permission for such a vote, she would fight the next U.K. general election on the single issue of independence. Opposition parties have criticized Sturgeon for her obsession with holding a new independence vote and say she should instead be focused on more practical matters such as tackling the soaring cost of living. A potentially illegal referendum next year is the wrong priority for Scotland, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said. We wont play Nicola Sturgeons games. We wont take part in a pretend poll when there is real work to be done." Like Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland has its own parliament and devolved government and makes its own policies on public health, education and other matters. But the U.K.-wide government in London controls matters such as defense and fiscal policy. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Flash The Chinese government on Monday handed over an additional 10 million Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia. The latest batch of the 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses is expected to further boost Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 vaccination efforts while playing a crucial role in combating the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. The handover ceremony was attended by senior Ethiopian government officials and members of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse said during the handover ceremony that the latest donation, which is the seventh batch of vaccine donations from China to Ethiopia, would propel Ethiopia's anti-pandemic efforts. "Including today's donation the government of China has donated a total of 14 million doses of vaccines to Ethiopia to fight the virus, restore the economy and protect people's health," Tadesse said. "Where there is unity and cooperation there is always victory. I hope Ethiopia, China and the rest of the world will fight the pandemic in a solidarity mindset to beat the virus." According to the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, China has to date been committed to donating 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia, while facilitating Ethiopia's procurement of vaccines from China. Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan said since the start of the pandemic, Ethiopia and China have continued to provide mutual support, adding a new chapter to the China-Ethiopia friendship. "China and Ethiopia are good friends and good partners with a shared future," the Chinese ambassador said. He said China stands ready to promote the China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to an even higher level. "The Chinese side stands ready to work with Ethiopia to make good use of vaccines as a powerful weapon, and jointly defeat the pandemic through closer health cooperation, so as to truly make contributions for the health and wellbeing of our peoples and for the friendship between our two countries," Zhao said. According to the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, the latest arrival of 10 million vaccine doses demonstrates that China is turning its commitments into visible and tangible outcomes. Throughout the fight against COVID-19, China, Ethiopia and many African countries have consistently put life first and worked in solidarity. LOS ANGELES Flanked by his wife, trailed by a priest, a former staffer and five of his attorneys, Jeff Fortenberry descended a hill outside the federal courthouse downtown. It was a much different place, and a much different vibe, than just three months ago, when Fortenberry defiantly strode into that courthouse to challenge charges that he lied to federal agents investigating the injection of foreign money into his campaign. For one, the courthouse with its L.A. courtyard nouveau design, complete with gleaming glass and babbling brook water features had transformed into a fortress. An imposing green fence akin to those surrounding a construction zone or a jails exercise area lined its perimeter, erected to keep abortion-rights protesters out and courtgoers in. For another, Fortenberry entered through the makeshift gate a convicted felon. Three times over. He faced up to five years of prison or five years of probation on each count. Andy Braner, Fortenberrys former chief of staff, kept his chin lowered as he followed his one-time boss through metal detectors. Asked how he was doing, Braner said: Its the worst. It doesnt get any worse. As it turns out, it could have. U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld declined to give Fortenberry prison time. Instead, Blumenfeld gave the 61-year-old former congressman two years of probation, a $25,000 fine and 320 hours of community service. And a bit of a tongue lashing. What is clear is that Mr. Fortenberry turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the information he was clearly provided, Blumenfeld said. The evidence clearly supports the finding by the jury that Mr. Fortenberry was not blind and he was not deaf He chose the wrong path. He decided to respond with dishonesty rather than honesty. And lying, especially in this context, is certainly a serious matter. Prosecutor Mack Jenkins, an assistant U.S. attorney, said its so serious that it deserved six months in prison. Jenkins urged the judge to reconsider the probation sentence, noting that Fortenberry lied to federal agents about his relationship with Dr. Eli Ayoub, a former Creighton doctor who held a dirty fundraiser for him in an LA suburb in February 2016. Then, he lied again when Jenkins himself met with Fortenberry and an attorney. During that interview, Fortenberry asserted that he knew Federal Election Commission regulations backward and forward and denied that Ayoub had ever told him that the money he received was cash funneled through a Nigerian billionaire. Without prison, Jenkins told the judge, other elected officials wont be deterred. Fortenberry had choice after choice after choice to live up to his oath, Jenkins said. Each time, he chose the wrong way. Blumenfeld said he appreciated the need for deterrence. However, an analysis of the past three years showed that more than 80% of federal defendants of the same age and with the same education as Fortenberry have received probation for the same class of crimes, the defense said. And the judge argued: I find it difficult to believe that anyone fully familiar with the facts of this case will think that its worth taking the risk that Mr. Fortenberry took here. Blumenfeld said he also had to consider Fortenberrys conduct against his overall character. Fortenberrys defense team submitted 64 letters on his behalf. Of them, Blumenfeld said he found the letters from Fortenberrys wife, Celeste, and his five daughters particularly compelling. By all accounts, one thing that every witness impressed upon is that he is a person of good, honest, moral character, Blumenfeld said. Even (a Democratic congresswoman) testified that Fortenberry is a man whose word can be counted upon and is generally trusted in the halls of a place where trust is not always something that can be relied upon. This does not mean that the path he took was appropriate or that the court is in any way condoning it. It simply is measuring the conduct in the context of his history and his characteristics. Even without prison, it was an incredible fall from grace for Fortenberry, a 17-year Republican representative from Lincoln whom a staffer once described as Americas last great statesman. Now, Fortenberry will go down in history as Nebraskas first felonious congressman. He had faced up to 15 years in prison after a jury swiftly convicted him in March of two counts of lying and one count of concealing the source of illegal campaign donations. A Nigerian billionaire had steered $30,000 in cash to Fortenberrys campaign at a fundraiser in suburban Los Angeles. It is illegal for foreigners to donate to U.S. politicians. Despite several warnings that the money was dirty, Fortenberry didnt disgorge it from his campaign until 40 months later. Fortenberry declined to address the judge in court but asked to address him afterward. Observers couldnt hear what Fortenberry said, but Blumenfeld told the courtroom that Fortenberry thanked him for reading the 64 letters submitted in support. All I wanted to do was serve my country, Fortenberry said, according to the judge. Post sentencing, Fortenberry walked outside holding his wifes hand. He called the whole ordeal, including his resignation from Congress, traumatic. Asked if he had slept the night before, Fortenberry chuckled and searched for his words. We slept like a baby, Celeste Fortenberry chimed in. When you have a clean conscience, you sleep well. Randall Adkins, a University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor, said Tuesday was historic. In Nebraskas 155-year history, Fortenberry is the only federally elected official to be convicted of a felony, let alone three of them. The only similar case in the states 155-year history was the 1985 perjury conviction of a Nebraska attorney general who tried to cover up his dealings with an insolvent bank. His legacy is one of scandal, Adkins said of Fortenberry. The thing I think thats dangerous about that is this: Were in a time where trust in elected officials is at an all-time low. If thats how we remember a member of Congress, it doesnt bode well for our future. The future is clear for Fortenberry. He vowed to appeal, though overturning a jury verdict is the longest of long shots, especially in federal court. Both the sentencing hearing and eve-of-trial briefs revealed some new nuggets about U.S. vs. Fortenberry: Countering the defenses image that Fortenberry is circling the drain financially, the U.S. Probation Office indicated that Fortenberry has a net worth in the neighborhood of $1.1 million. And prosecutors noted that, even post-conviction, Fortenberry is now in a job making $144,000 a year ($12,000 a month). The report didnt specify the job, though Fortenberry worked for Sandhills Publishing in Lincoln before his congressional career. It is not clear whether Fortenberrys felony conviction has cost him his federal pension. The defense wrote that he might end up losing it, but prosecutors say the government has given no indication that it has stripped him of it. Fortenberry ignored even more warning signs than originally reported. Followers of the case already knew that Fortenberry didnt act on several suggestions, even his own instincts, that something was amiss with the $30,000 in donations he received at that Los Angeles fundraiser in February 2016. Add this to the picture: In 2017, a year after the fundraiser, Fortenberry texted Toufic Baaklini, the man who helped set up the fundraiser. Baaklini responded curtly that he had hired a criminal defense attorney and Fortenberry ought to hire one, too. And then the four of them could get together and talk about options. Despite that dire text, Fortenberry didnt seek out an attorney or a meeting with Baaklini to find out what was up. Instead, the congressman sought to set up another fundraiser. Fortenberry could have avoided charges if he had purged the dirty money. An FBI agent testified that they kept checking to see if Fortenberry had cleansed his campaign war chest. Prosecutors noted in their sentencing brief that Fortenberry could have avoided charges had he sent the money away. In the end, 40 months passed before he finally got rid of the dirty money. By then, he had told too many lies and given the feds too many misdirections. Adkins, the political scientist and associate dean at UNO, said disgraced politicians seem to fall into three categories: those who are corrupt to begin with, those who make a mistake and admit it, and those who simply cant admit they do anything wrong. Adkins said Fortenberry falls into that last camp, along with former President Donald Trump. How else to explain why Fortenberry wouldnt just get rid of the $30,000, especially when he had a campaign war chest around $2 million? He couldnt admit he was wrong, Adkins said. He still hasnt. Adkins said there are a few reasons why denial works for Trump but not Fortenberry: Fortenberry is not as skilled an orator as Trump. Nebraska doesnt have a history of embracing or forgiving personal, moral wrongdoing in local leaders. Adkins said Nebraska is not unique in this. Beyond Chicago and Illinois politicians, upper Midwestern states have largely been occupied with moralistic, populist leaders. No matter what some may think about their politics, Adkins said, todays Nebraska Republicans typically quickly dispatch with wrongdoers. As proof, Adkins pointed to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts railing against a man Trump supported, Charles Herbster, in the governors race this year. Eight women have accused Herbster of groping. He lost the Republican primary. Similarly, Ricketts dispatched with Fortenberry after this case first emerged. The governor threw his support behind State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, who on Tuesday took on State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks in a special election to replace Fortenberry. Lies, even misdirections, dont fly with federal agents, and they dont fly in court. That last reason is perhaps the most important factor in Fortenberrys fall. Fortenberry dug himself deeper and deeper with his denials and the bumbled way he handled his interviews with federal agents. Fortenberry became incensed that FBI agents had shown up to his Lincoln house unannounced in March 2019. He pulled rank, called then-Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister to make sure the federal agents were who they said they were. Once he found out who they were, he compounded the mistake. Any lawyer will tell you to not talk to police without an attorney present, except in cases where youre a victim. Instead of calling an attorney, Fortenberry insisted that the Lincoln police officers stay at his home during the interview. And then he proceeded to deny knowing the man in the photo that FBI agent Todd Carter held up for him: Ayoub, the former Creighton doctor now practicing in Los Angeles. Ayoub had held a fundraiser for Fortenberry at a suburban L.A. home in February 2016. People at the dinner had raised $36,000 and Fortenberry called it a rousing success. While Fortenberry initially was oblivious to it, the fundraiser followed the A, B and C of a scandal: Ayoub had taken a bag of cash provided by Baaklini, the founder of In Defense of Christians, a group set up to protect Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. That bag of cash arrived in L.A. via the son of Gilbert Chagoury a billionaire linked to one of the most corrupt regimes in Nigerian history. Fortenberry sensed something was wrong, noting to his fundraising consultant that the bulk of the checks came from people with the same last name. He didnt act on that instinct. His Republican colleagues did. Chagoury also had attempted to funnel money to the campaigns of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska and current California congressman Darrell Issa. Upon learning the donations were from a foreigner, those three disgorged the money from their campaign coffers by donating it to charity. Fortenberry took more than three years and two FBI interviews to do so. That led prosecutors and FBI to wonder: Was Fortenberry just oblivious? Or was there something more sinister? Did he want the donations as validation for his help in a cause that he had long been concerned with? And: Did he plan to do it again? In 2018, Fortenberry called Ayoub about a second fundraiser. During that phone call, Ayoub told him they could do it, but it wouldnt be as lucrative because the cash from the first fundraiser probably came from Chagoury. From there, FBI agents kept checking Fortenberrys campaign forms to see if he had disgorged the money. He hadnt. On the eve of sentencing, prosecutors essentially acknowledged in a 30-page indictment that Fortenberry could have avoided all of this, including maybe even charges, if he had simply come clean. They came to think that Fortenberry not only knew the money was questionable, but also that he embraced it as validation for his work with In Defense of Christians. Fortenberry had helped to secure passage of a resolution of condemnation of ISIS for genocide in the Middle East which Baaklini described as an important milestone for the movement to protect religious minorities. Photos showed him beaming beside Baaklini and Anna Eshoo, a California Democratic congresswoman, after being presented with plaques from IDC. He was a featured speaker at IDC fundraising dinners, once asking for a show of hands for anyone who had been able to say no to Baaklini. Seeing none, he joked that the only person who could say no to Baaklini was Baaklinis wife. Staffers have said that Fortenberrys work with IDC was part of efforts to protect human dignity. Fortenberry was one of the few congressional members who had constituents directly affected by persecution in the Middle East. Lincoln is home to one of the largest resettlements of Yazidis, a religious sect from Iraq. Over the past decade, ISIS members have abused the Yazidis, raping, torturing and killing them. Many of them settled in Lincoln and other U.S. cities. Fortenberry attended one of their first rallies in Lincoln, where he met a bright teenager who spoke little English. Despite her language limitations, Fortenberry hired the young woman as an intern in his Lincoln office. She said she was forever grateful for Fortenberrys involvement in what advocates referred to as the cause. The cause had perks, causing prosecutors to look sideways at Fortenberrys advocacy. He twice had dinner with the billionaire Chagoury once in Washington, D.C., and once in Paris. He constantly asked Baaklini to pass along fond greetings to Gilbert. The weekend of the dirty fundraiser, the Lebanese Catholic community in L.A. bestowed an award on Fortenberry that gave him lifetime permission to, of all things, ride a horse into any Lebanese Catholic church. Again, Fortenberry could be seen beaming in pictures. Prosecutors pointed to Fortenberrys lack of remorse and accountability. Jenkins, Jamari Buxton and Susan Har said Fortenberrys refusal to come clean caused them to have to track down and interview at least three Fortenberry associates they wouldnt have interviewed. They also suggested that Fortenberry tried to throw them off the scent by suggesting he already had told staff to call off plans for a second fundraiser. He even showed them an email he said proved it, but predated a phone call in which he asked for the second fundraiser. With his public comments and public relations strategy to make himself the purported martyr of a political hit job by California prosecutors and a biased FBI agent, it remains to be seen what lessons defendant has taken from his prosecution and convictions, Jenkins wrote. Fortenberrys defense primarily focused on character testimony including Eshoos assertion that Fortenberry is a man of integrity and a person devoid of arrogance. Supporters said Fortenberrys forte was in his efforts to protect human dignity. Hence his bill to provide funding for support for those afflicted with ALS, Lou Gehrigs disease. Hence his desire to help religious minorities who have been oppressed in the Middle East, including the Yazidis. Several refugees from that small religious sect have relocated to Lincoln. One of those refugees testified at trial that Fortenberry listened to them and fought for them. The conviction in this case devastatingly impacted Mr. Fortenberrys life, attorney John Littrell said. Once a public servant, Mr. Fortenberry resigned from Congress. Stripped of the rights to vote and possess a firearm, Mr. Fortenberry cannot even participate in our democracy. Outside court after sentencing, Fortenberry maintained his innocence and said his appeals will ensue. Asked if he had been worried that he was going to prison, Fortenberry paused. Well, you dont know the outcomes here, Fortenberry said. Were in a very strange place here, arent we? He put his palms up and motioned toward the bustling city. Its not Nebraska. When he reaches Nebraska, the former congressman will check in with the probation office to begin serving his two years. With that, Fortenberry, his wife and his lead attorney walked the marble steps away from the courthouse. They exited the same green gate he had entered Tuesday morning. In a sense, free. Except for the felonies. Except for the legacy. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LOS ANGELES Flanked by his wife, trailed by a priest, a former staffer and five of his attorneys, Jeff Fortenberry descended a hill outside the federal courthouse downtown. It was a much different place, and a much different vibe, than just three months ago, when Fortenberry defiantly strode into that courthouse to challenge charges that he lied to federal agents investigating the injection of foreign money into his campaign. For one, the courthouse with its L.A. courtyard nouveau design, complete with gleaming glass and babbling brook water features had transformed into a fortress. An imposing green fence akin to those surrounding a construction zone or a jails exercise area lined its perimeter, erected to keep abortion-rights protesters out and courtgoers in. For another, Fortenberry entered through the makeshift gate a convicted felon. Three times over. He faced up to five years of prison or five years of probation on each count. Andy Braner, Fortenberrys former chief of staff, kept his chin lowered as he followed his one-time boss through metal detectors. Asked how he was doing, Braner said: Its the worst. It doesnt get any worse. As it turns out, it could have. U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld declined to give Fortenberry prison time. Instead, Blumenfeld gave the 61-year-old former congressman two years of probation, a $25,000 fine and 320 hours of community service. And a bit of a tongue lashing. What is clear is that Mr. Fortenberry turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the information he was clearly provided, Blumenfeld said. The evidence clearly supports the finding by the jury that Mr. Fortenberry was not blind and he was not deaf He chose the wrong path. He decided to respond with dishonesty rather than honesty. And lying, especially in this context, is certainly a serious matter. Prosecutor Mack Jenkins, an assistant U.S. attorney, said its so serious that it deserved six months in prison. Jenkins urged the judge to reconsider the probation sentence, noting that Fortenberry lied to federal agents about his relationship with Dr. Eli Ayoub, a former Creighton doctor who held a dirty fundraiser for him in an LA suburb in February 2016. Then, he lied again when Jenkins himself met with Fortenberry and an attorney. During that interview, Fortenberry asserted that he knew Federal Election Commission regulations backward and forward and denied that Ayoub had ever told him that the money he received was cash funneled through a Nigerian billionaire. Without prison, Jenkins told the judge, other elected officials wont be deterred. Fortenberry had choice after choice after choice to live up to his oath, Jenkins said. Each time, he chose the wrong way. Blumenfeld said he appreciated the need for deterrence. However, an analysis of the past three years showed that more than 80% of federal defendants of the same age and with the same education as Fortenberry have received probation for the same class of crimes, the defense said. And the judge argued: I find it difficult to believe that anyone fully familiar with the facts of this case will think that its worth taking the risk that Mr. Fortenberry took here. Blumenfeld said he also had to consider Fortenberrys conduct against his overall character. Fortenberrys defense team submitted 64 letters on his behalf. Of them, Blumenfeld said he found the letters from Fortenberrys wife, Celeste, and his five daughters particularly compelling. By all accounts, one thing that every witness impressed upon is that he is a person of good, honest, moral character, Blumenfeld said. Even (a Democratic congresswoman) testified that Fortenberry is a man whose word can be counted upon and is generally trusted in the halls of a place where trust is not always something that can be relied upon. This does not mean that the path he took was appropriate or that the court is in any way condoning it. It simply is measuring the conduct in the context of his history and his characteristics. Even without prison, it was an incredible fall from grace for Fortenberry, a 17-year Republican representative from Lincoln whom a staffer once described as Americas last great statesman. Now, Fortenberry will go down in history as Nebraskas first felonious congressman. He had faced up to 15 years in prison after a jury swiftly convicted him in March of two counts of lying and one count of concealing the source of illegal campaign donations. A Nigerian billionaire had steered $30,000 in cash to Fortenberrys campaign at a fundraiser in suburban Los Angeles. It is illegal for foreigners to donate to U.S. politicians. Despite several warnings that the money was dirty, Fortenberry didnt disgorge it from his campaign until 40 months later. Fortenberry declined to address the judge in court but asked to address him afterward. Observers couldnt hear what Fortenberry said, but Blumenfeld told the courtroom that Fortenberry thanked him for reading the 64 letters submitted in support. All I wanted to do was serve my country, Fortenberry said, according to the judge. Post sentencing, Fortenberry walked outside holding his wifes hand. He called the whole ordeal, including his resignation from Congress, traumatic. Asked if he had slept the night before, Fortenberry chuckled and searched for his words. We slept like a baby, Celeste Fortenberry chimed in. When you have a clean conscience, you sleep well. Randall Adkins, a University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor, said Tuesday was historic. In Nebraskas 155-year history, Fortenberry is the only federally elected official to be convicted of a felony, let alone three of them. The only similar case in the states 155-year history was the 1985 perjury conviction of a Nebraska attorney general who tried to cover up his dealings with an insolvent bank. His legacy is one of scandal, Adkins said of Fortenberry. The thing I think thats dangerous about that is this: Were in a time where trust in elected officials is at an all-time low. If thats how we remember a member of Congress, it doesnt bode well for our future. The future is clear for Fortenberry. He vowed to appeal, though overturning a jury verdict is the longest of long shots, especially in federal court. Both the sentencing hearing and eve-of-trial briefs revealed some new nuggets about U.S. vs. Fortenberry: Countering the defenses image that Fortenberry is circling the drain financially, the U.S. Probation Office indicated that Fortenberry has a net worth in the neighborhood of $1.1 million. And prosecutors noted that, even post-conviction, Fortenberry is now in a job making $144,000 a year ($12,000 a month). The report didnt specify the job, though Fortenberry worked for Sandhills Publishing in Lincoln before his congressional career. It is not clear whether Fortenberrys felony conviction has cost him his federal pension. The defense wrote that he might end up losing it, but prosecutors say the government has given no indication that it has stripped him of it. Fortenberry ignored even more warning signs than originally reported. Followers of the case already knew that Fortenberry didnt act on several suggestions, even his own instincts, that something was amiss with the $30,000 in donations he received at that Los Angeles fundraiser in February 2016. Add this to the picture: In 2017, a year after the fundraiser, Fortenberry texted Toufic Baaklini, the man who helped set up the fundraiser. Baaklini responded curtly that he had hired a criminal defense attorney and Fortenberry ought to hire one, too. And then the four of them could get together and talk about options. Despite that dire text, Fortenberry didnt seek out an attorney or a meeting with Baaklini to find out what was up. Instead, the congressman sought to set up another fundraiser. Fortenberry could have avoided charges if he had purged the dirty money. An FBI agent testified that they kept checking to see if Fortenberry had cleansed his campaign war chest. Prosecutors noted in their sentencing brief that Fortenberry could have avoided charges had he sent the money away. In the end, 40 months passed before he finally got rid of the dirty money. By then, he had told too many lies and given the feds too many misdirections. Adkins, the political scientist and associate dean at UNO, said disgraced politicians seem to fall into three categories: those who are corrupt to begin with, those who make a mistake and admit it, and those who simply cant admit they do anything wrong. Adkins said Fortenberry falls into that last camp, along with former President Donald Trump. How else to explain why Fortenberry wouldnt just get rid of the $30,000, especially when he had a campaign war chest around $2 million? He couldnt admit he was wrong, Adkins said. He still hasnt. Adkins said there are a few reasons why denial works for Trump but not Fortenberry: Fortenberry is not as skilled an orator as Trump. Nebraska doesnt have a history of embracing or forgiving personal, moral wrongdoing in local leaders. Adkins said Nebraska is not unique in this. Beyond Chicago and Illinois politicians, upper Midwestern states have largely been occupied with moralistic, populist leaders. No matter what some may think about their politics, Adkins said, todays Nebraska Republicans typically quickly dispatch with wrongdoers. As proof, Adkins pointed to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts railing against a man Trump supported, Charles Herbster, in the governors race this year. Eight women have accused Herbster of groping. He lost the Republican primary. Similarly, Ricketts dispatched with Fortenberry after this case first emerged. The governor threw his support behind State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, who on Tuesday took on State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks in a special election to replace Fortenberry. Lies, even misdirections, dont fly with federal agents, and they dont fly in court. That last reason is perhaps the most important factor in Fortenberrys fall. Fortenberry dug himself deeper and deeper with his denials and the bumbled way he handled his interviews with federal agents. Fortenberry became incensed that FBI agents had shown up to his Lincoln house unannounced in March 2019. He pulled rank, called then-Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister to make sure the federal agents were who they said they were. Once he found out who they were, he compounded the mistake. Any lawyer will tell you to not talk to police without an attorney present, except in cases where youre a victim. Instead of calling an attorney, Fortenberry insisted that the Lincoln police officers stay at his home during the interview. And then he proceeded to deny knowing the man in the photo that FBI agent Todd Carter held up for him: Ayoub, the former Creighton doctor now practicing in Los Angeles. Ayoub had held a fundraiser for Fortenberry at a suburban L.A. home in February 2016. People at the dinner had raised $36,000 and Fortenberry called it a rousing success. While Fortenberry initially was oblivious to it, the fundraiser followed the A, B and C of a scandal: Ayoub had taken a bag of cash provided by Baaklini, the founder of In Defense of Christians, a group set up to protect Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. That bag of cash arrived in L.A. via the son of Gilbert Chagoury a billionaire linked to one of the most corrupt regimes in Nigerian history. Fortenberry sensed something was wrong, noting to his fundraising consultant that the bulk of the checks came from people with the same last name. He didnt act on that instinct. His Republican colleagues did. Chagoury also had attempted to funnel money to the campaigns of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska and current California congressman Darrell Issa. Upon learning the donations were from a foreigner, those three disgorged the money from their campaign coffers by donating it to charity. Fortenberry took more than three years and two FBI interviews to do so. That led prosecutors and FBI to wonder: Was Fortenberry just oblivious? Or was there something more sinister? Did he want the donations as validation for his help in a cause that he had long been concerned with? And: Did he plan to do it again? In 2018, Fortenberry called Ayoub about a second fundraiser. During that phone call, Ayoub told him they could do it, but it wouldnt be as lucrative because the cash from the first fundraiser probably came from Chagoury. From there, FBI agents kept checking Fortenberrys campaign forms to see if he had disgorged the money. He hadnt. On the eve of sentencing, prosecutors essentially acknowledged in a 30-page indictment that Fortenberry could have avoided all of this, including maybe even charges, if he had simply come clean. They came to think that Fortenberry not only knew the money was questionable, but also that he embraced it as validation for his work with In Defense of Christians. Fortenberry had helped to secure passage of a resolution of condemnation of ISIS for genocide in the Middle East which Baaklini described as an important milestone for the movement to protect religious minorities. Photos showed him beaming beside Baaklini and Anna Eshoo, a California Democratic congresswoman, after being presented with plaques from IDC. He was a featured speaker at IDC fundraising dinners, once asking for a show of hands for anyone who had been able to say no to Baaklini. Seeing none, he joked that the only person who could say no to Baaklini was Baaklinis wife. Staffers have said that Fortenberrys work with IDC was part of efforts to protect human dignity. Fortenberry was one of the few congressional members who had constituents directly affected by persecution in the Middle East. Lincoln is home to one of the largest resettlements of Yazidis, a religious sect from Iraq. Over the past decade, ISIS members have abused the Yazidis, raping, torturing and killing them. Many of them settled in Lincoln and other U.S. cities. Fortenberry attended one of their first rallies in Lincoln, where he met a bright teenager who spoke little English. Despite her language limitations, Fortenberry hired the young woman as an intern in his Lincoln office. She said she was forever grateful for Fortenberrys involvement in what advocates referred to as the cause. The cause had perks, causing prosecutors to look sideways at Fortenberrys advocacy. He twice had dinner with the billionaire Chagoury once in Washington, D.C., and once in Paris. He constantly asked Baaklini to pass along fond greetings to Gilbert. The weekend of the dirty fundraiser, the Lebanese Catholic community in L.A. bestowed an award on Fortenberry that gave him lifetime permission to, of all things, ride a horse into any Lebanese Catholic church. Again, Fortenberry could be seen beaming in pictures. Prosecutors pointed to Fortenberrys lack of remorse and accountability. Jenkins, Jamari Buxton and Susan Har said Fortenberrys refusal to come clean caused them to have to track down and interview at least three Fortenberry associates they wouldnt have interviewed. They also suggested that Fortenberry tried to throw them off the scent by suggesting he already had told staff to call off plans for a second fundraiser. He even showed them an email he said proved it, but predated a phone call in which he asked for the second fundraiser. With his public comments and public relations strategy to make himself the purported martyr of a political hit job by California prosecutors and a biased FBI agent, it remains to be seen what lessons defendant has taken from his prosecution and convictions, Jenkins wrote. Fortenberrys defense primarily focused on character testimony including Eshoos assertion that Fortenberry is a man of integrity and a person devoid of arrogance. Supporters said Fortenberrys forte was in his efforts to protect human dignity. Hence his bill to provide funding for support for those afflicted with ALS, Lou Gehrigs disease. Hence his desire to help religious minorities who have been oppressed in the Middle East, including the Yazidis. Several refugees from that small religious sect have relocated to Lincoln. One of those refugees testified at trial that Fortenberry listened to them and fought for them. The conviction in this case devastatingly impacted Mr. Fortenberrys life, attorney John Littrell said. Once a public servant, Mr. Fortenberry resigned from Congress. Stripped of the rights to vote and possess a firearm, Mr. Fortenberry cannot even participate in our democracy. Outside court after sentencing, Fortenberry maintained his innocence and said his appeals will ensue. Asked if he had been worried that he was going to prison, Fortenberry paused. Well, you dont know the outcomes here, Fortenberry said. Were in a very strange place here, arent we? He put his palms up and motioned toward the bustling city. Its not Nebraska. When he reaches Nebraska, the former congressman will check in with the probation office to begin serving his two years. With that, Fortenberry, his wife and his lead attorney walked the marble steps away from the courthouse. They exited the same green gate he had entered Tuesday morning. In a sense, free. Except for the felonies. Except for the legacy. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON Harriet Wilson voted as a Democrat in past primary elections, but this year's slate of options caused her to choose a different route. Wilson, of Bloomington, said she chose a Republican ballot during Tuesday's election because there were more races in contention. She planned to vote for secretary of state candidate John Milhiser and McLean County Board candidate Lyndsay Bloomfield, a decision she said was motivated in part by a desire to see their opponents were not elected. "I was more voting against people than I am voting for them," Wilson said. "I think with any election, people should participate." Illinois primary elections require voters to choose whether to vote for Republican or Democratic candidates, and the selection is public information. Several Central Illinois election judges who spoke to The Pantagraph on Tuesday attributed that issue as one of the drivers of historically low turnout in such elections. A lot of people dont like voting in the primary due to having to choose a party affiliation, said Kari Harris, chief deputy to the DeWitt County Clerk. They wait for the general, until it gets narrowed down, then cast their votes that way. She added: But whether its the primary or general, I wish people would get out more in the primaries and vote. Voters choosing a Republican ballot on Tuesday had the opportunity to choose from among six candidates for governor, including frontrunners Darren Bailey, a state senator from Xenia, and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin. Several congressional races, including the 15th and 16th districts, were only contested by Republican candidates. Another heated race was the Republican contest for the 11th Judicial Circuit judge seat, which saw Associate Judge Amy McFarland face McLean County State's Attorney Don Knapp. Bailey won the vote of Jim Browning, who was voting in Hudson on Tuesday. Browning said Bailey was the most conservative candidate and he felt their values aligned. "My general attitude about politics is smaller the government the better," Browning said. "We've got way too much government in the state and way too much government at the federal level right now." Election results were not available by press time. Visit pantagraph.com for full coverage, and look for election analysis in Thursday's print edition. In Clinton, a steady stream of voters had arrived by midday at the First Christian Church. Carole Wylander, an election judge for the third precinct, was there waiting for them. Its a primary, so a lot of people dont want to declare (a party), she said. Its never as busy as the general election. Wylander has been an election judge for nearly 10 years. The judges have learned to occupy their time during slower elections. We eat, she said. And Ive got my Bridge books. DeWitt County and the city of Clinton have limited categories on the ballot. Many candidates were unopposed, she said. But its still important for everyone to get out and vote, she said. In Bloomington and across McLean County, voter turnout started out low and slow but was expected to grow in the mid-afternoon and early evening. "It's a primary and usually during a primary, we don't have a high turnout," said Suzanne Fahnestock, executive director of the Bloomington Election Commission. "People usually come out and vote after they get off work, and we hope to see a lot of them stop by." As of noon Tuesday, there were 5,697 votes submitted throughout the city, including early voting and mail-in ballots, Fahnestock said. That's out of a total 53,365 registered voters. Glen Wetzel, an election judge for Bloomington's second precinct, said a lot of people had either voted early or mailed in their ballots, but the turnout was still more than he expected. "We didn't expect it to be super slow or super busy," Wetzel said. "I've just enjoyed the people that I've worked with here the past four years." Approximately 62,000 people are registered to vote across McLean County, with 1,334 voting early in person, County Clerk Kathy Michael said. A total of 720 mail ballots were received, she said. Michael said that all polling places opened on time Tuesday morning. No serious problems had been reported by midday, she said. "We really haven't had any issues this morning," said Wayne Dillow, an election judge for Normal Precincts 12, 13 and 23. "We've had a couple of rushes where people had to stand and wait a minute but were able to get everybody in within about two minutes at the most." An election judge for over 35 years, Dillow has witnessed a dramatic evolution in voting technology. Before electronic voting systems, he had to record voter registration cards in a ledger book. The process later required a small laptop, and now tablet-styled terminals have greatly cut down on the work for election judges. Linda Conder, election judge for the first and second precincts in Hudson, said turnout had been steady. Around 1,000 voters were expected there by the end of the day. Conder, who has been election judge for 20 years, said she lives outside of Hudson but knows a lot of the residents and has worked in the community. "I just keep coming back to see the same people every election and renewing friendships," she said. Sophie Lampert was acting as an election judge years before she could vote herself. The Normal West High School junior said her government teacher had offered the opportunity to her class, and she decided to take the election judge training back in March. On Tuesday, she was able to see how everything works behind the scenes with helping people register to vote and making sure that they received the correct ballot. "From a younger perspective, I think it's important to vote but at the same time I'm not completely sure because I can't really vote yet," Lampert said. "I feel like as I get older I'll learn the importance more and more." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Donnette Beckett Central Illinois Food and Drink Reporter Food and drink reporter for Lee Enterprises Central Illinois. Follow Donnette Beckett Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Medication abortions were the preferred method for ending pregnancy in the U.S. even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. As more states seek abortion limits, demand is expected to grow. They involve using two prescription medicines days apart _ pills that can be taken at home or in a clinic. The drug mifepristone is taken first. It blocks the effects of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to sustain a pregnancy. Misoprostol is taken 24 to 48 hours later. It cause the womb to contract, expelling the pregnancy. Use of the pills has been increasing in recent years. BLOOMINGTON Another cannabis dispensary will be making its way to Bloomington after city council members approved a special use permit for a location off West Market Street after a lengthy discussion. Five council members approved the proposed adult-use dispensary to be opened by Project Equity Illinois, Inc., at 1006 JC Parkway, near Walmart. Several council members, however, said they felt they had been discouraged by city staff from giving the issue full consideration. "The impression that I was getting from staff, and it might be an incorrect impression, but the impression I was getting from staff is that we shouldn't be really discussing and talking about this this evening, we should just go along and vote, and vote for it, and not bring up any new concerns or anything like that," Ward 1 Alderman Grant Walch said. He was among three council members who voted against the measure, along with Sheila Montney (Ward 3) and Nick Becker (Ward 5). It had previously been recommended for approval by the city's zoning board, which held a public hearing in May. Alderwoman Mollie Ward (Ward 7) was not present at the meeting. What Im saying there is that I think this process needs to be evaluated as to whether or not this is what this council wants, Montney said. To have underlying appointed boards and commissions make decisions that we are then in effect disallowed to discuss in detail in the presence of the public. Corporation counsel Jeff Jurgens told council members that their role was to look at the zoning board's recommendation and see if the factors by which proposals are evaluated had been met. The council could vote yes or no, or decide to remand the measure back to the zoning board. City Manager Tim Gleason said it is not uncommon for staff to get last-minute questions as they prep for a council meeting, and the back-and-forth was meant to put the council on firm ground as they make a tough decision on any given topic. The biggest reason that staff provided the very strict rules is because we do not want to expose the city to any liability or litigation, where we overstep or we do not do something properly, Gleason said. The item thats before council tonight is to simply vote yes or to vote no. Ultimately, Montney motioned to suspend the rules, which Jurgens said could allow for further questioning before the vote. This will be the citys second adult-use dispensary location following the Beyond/Hello dispensary, 118 Keaton Place, which is owned by global cannabis and hemp operator Jushi Holdings Inc. Jushi also owns the former Green Solutions at 501 W. Northtown Road in Normal. It has since changed its name to Beyond/Hello and expanded from solely selling medical cannabis to offering recreational sales. Project Equity Illinois will purchase the existing 13,760-square-foot retail space and build a 3,840-square-foot retail facility within the vacant property. The remaining space would then be leased out. We joke that this is Boomington, this city is really taking off, said Conor Johnston, a partner with Project Equity Illinois. Rivian is exciting with the economic growth here and were excited to find a vacant multi-unit retail building on the west side of the city that we can help reinvigorate, bring new foot traffic, to bring new eyes on the ground, cameras, security, economic activity and we will now be (incentivized) to make that the other retail spaces in that building are filled. The dispensary will sell a variety of cannabis flower, pre-rolled joints, concentrates, vape cartridges and disposables, edibles and beverages, tinctures and topicals, according to city council documents. According to council documents, Project Equity Illinois also plans to add 20 jobs with benefits for full-time employees and anticipates bringing in $300,000 in additional tax revenue each year. The company currently has seven existing retail locations in other regulated markets. Montney asked Johnston about the six business partners involved with Project Equity Illinois, including him, and whether or not any of those partners reside in Illinois. Currently, Johnston said, only the majority owner, John Rushing, lives in Illinois, but four of the six partners are originally from the state, with one from the Bloomington-Normal area. Referencing the volatility of the cannabis industry and the businesses surrounding it, Walch asked whether the company could sell in a year or so, leaving the city to deal with another company. It is hard to make predictions, Johnston said, but he noted that such transactions would be challenging because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, making traditional bank loans hard to come by. He sought to offer reassurance on a few key points. One is the primary point of contact and the leader for our stores is the general manager whos local and is a responsible, salaried employee, Johnston said. Two is our stores always have a full-time person who is the community liaison, so that persons email address and phone number is available to you, to every neighborhood group, every merchant, and every member of the council. Those things, we would hope would not change at any point. Any new owners would have to show that they can live up to the standards set by the state or local municipality, he said. We dont have plans at this point to sell ownership; that generally is not our model, he said. Our model is more like a hotel developer that gets the entitlements, the approvals, raises the money, builds the hotel, and maybe makes a branding agreement. Ward 2 Alderwoman Donna Boelen said the city council previously had "robust conversations" about cannabis before allowing the city's first dispensary. She noted that the state government has a process for evaluating and licensing dispensary operators, leaving city officials left to decide whether they would allow cannabis sales, zoning requirements for such businesses and local taxes on the products. At this point in time, everything is in order, Boelen said. In other words, the decision and recommendation from the zoning board is within the parameters that we have in place. The dispensary will be located further than 500 feet from any protected use areas, such as churches, daycares, schools and parks, including the Constitution Trail. It will be located at least 250 feet from any residential zoning district, with the nearest one being over 1,000 feet away. The proposed location is also almost five miles from the Beyond/Hello dispensary operating in Bloomington, which is well over the 1,500-foot separation required for cannabis dispensaries. Currently, the city has a limit of two adult-use cannabis dispensaries. For another to open, city officials would need to change that limit, or one of the two dispensaries would need to close. Bus stops, sidewalk renewal The council approved a redevelopment project in the Empire Street Corridor that will include Connect Transit Bus Stops on IAA Drive. If youre all familiar with that site, its not a great place to wait on public transit, said Economic and Community Development Director Melissa Hon. This will be a huge improvement for the community and for the riders. Connect Transit will construct two new bus shelters, associated ADA-accessible concrete landing pads and ramps, and a public sidewalk along a portion of the 500 block of IAA Drive near the McDonalds, Bandanas Bar-B-Q, and Verizon retail properties. Currently the existing bus stops in this area are positioned in grass areas, and there is no marked crosswalk for riders of northbound buses to cross to the other side of IAA Drive. The public sidewalk to be constructed by Connect Transit will also tie into the recently constructed public sidewalk adjacent to the Sleep Number retail center, which the developer was required to build as part of the recent development of the retail strip. Hon said once the redevelopment project is completed, Connect Transit will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the bus stops and the pads, while the city will assume responsibility for the long-term maintenance of the sidewalks and ramps. The proposed project also qualifies for public works investment as part of the Empire Street Corridor TIF District, which was established by the city council in 2016. The TIF district was created with the intent to induce development within this area and to fund improvements to public infrastructure like this redevelopment project. The redevelopment project will enable the use of TIF funds up to $135,000. This project will also further the goals outlined in the redevelopment plan for the area including the plans goal to provide for safe and efficient traffic circulation, Hon said. Dispatch contract The council approved a new labor contract for public safety dispatchers which includes raises of 3.5% each year for the next three years, retroactively beginning on May 1, 2022. Additional salary steps are included each year of the contract with a 1.5% differential between steps and a $750 signing bonus for each employee in the bargaining unit. Other changes included modifying the tuition reimbursement language for eligibility to be six months of service, adding a quality assurance officer role and changing the probation period for dispatchers to 18 months, as well as modifying shift and vacation bids to reflect the change. The financial impact of the wage increase and new steps added in 2022 will be $55,516. The additional cost of the 3.5% increase over the prior year's increase will be $35,731 in 2023 and $36,981 in 2024. In other news, the council: Approved a resolution repealing resolution and rescinding approval of the Energy Efficiency Program Agreement; Authorized the renewal of a joint agreement with the Town of Normal and the Ecology Action Center for an Energy Efficiency Program; Observed a presentation of the 2021 Annual Fire Department Report Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON Primary Election Day has finally arrived in Illinois, and as early voting wrapped up, election officials were deep in preparations for a busy Tuesday. Its set-up day, kind of like D-Day, McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said on Monday. But so far so good. The polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m. The Republican primary for governor is among the key races to watch across Illinois as the follow candidates vie for the chance to take on incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker in November: Darren Bailey of Xenia Richard C. Irvin of Aurora Gary Rabine of Bull Valley Paul Schimpf of Waterloo Max Solomon of Hazel Crest Jesse Sullivan of Petersburg Additionally, the statewide races for Secretary of State pit state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington against John C. Milhiser on the Republican ballot. Four Democrats are vying to succeed longtime incumbent Jesse White: Alexi Giannoulias of Chicago; David H. Moore of Chicago; Sidney Moore of Homewood; Anna M. Valencia of Chicago. In McLean County, a judgeship vacancy in the 11th Judicial Circuit is on the table following the retirement of Judge Paul Lawrence in November 2021. McLean County States Attorney Don Knapp and Associate Judge Amy McFarland face off on the Republican ballot with no Democratic candidates filed for the primary. Newly-drawn state and congressional districts have brought out a slew of candidates in Central Illinois. Four Republican candidates are up for the 16th Congressional District of Illinois: Darin LaHood of Dunlap, who currently represents the 18th Congressional District; Walt Peters of Rockford; Michael Rebresh of Minooka; JoAnne Guillemette of Rockford. Farther south, two incumbents U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis of Taylorville and Mary Miller of Oakland will go head-to-head on the Republican ballot for the new 15th Congressional District. Two Republicans and two Democrats will appear on primary ballots for the 91st District of the Illinois House: Karla Bailey-Smith, D-Bloomington Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington James S. Fisher, R-Hudson Scott Preston, R-Normal Three Republicans hope to win a seat for the 87th District of the Illinois House: Mary J. Burress of Pekin William E. Hauter of Morton Joe Alexander of Clinton The 105th District of the Illinois House also has a slate of Republicans in the running: Kyle Ham of Bloomington Mike Kirkton of Gridley Dennis Tipsword, Jr. of Metamora Donald Ray Rients of Benson Early voting By early Monday afternoon, the McLean County County Clerks Office had collected approximately 1,334 early vote ballots and 720 vote-by-mail ballots, and the Bloomington Election Commission had collected approximately 1,845 early vote ballots and 776 vote-by-mail ballots, according to their respective websites. Early voting, which has been open since May 19, has been really slow, except for the last two or three days, Michael said. Voter turnout for primary and gubernatorial elections is typically lower than in presidential elections, and the same is true for this one, the County Clerk said. It certainly doesnt indicate there will be a big turnout could be wrong, Michael said. Everybody could show up tomorrow, but it seems like it will be 26% (like in 2018) or a little bit less. But thats a pure guess. She also noted vote-by-mail has accounted for more ballots than previous primaries, with the expectation that those will increase with each election cycle as voters become more comfortable with voting that way. When the polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, the early votes and vote-by-mail ballots will be counted first for the McLean County Clerks Office, followed by the day-of ballots. The Bloomington Election Commission could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 100 years ago June 28, 1922: The city of Bloomington's legal counsel said it has no authority under existing state law to purchase a plot of land in Park Hill cemetery for the graves of soldiers, despite a request by the Louis E. Davis post of the American Legion. Legion officials were told the city would grant the request if they found a legal means by which it could be done. 75 years ago June 28, 1947: Leslie Burton of Normal saved his 9-year-old son, Duane, from drowning in water that was in a deep ditch dug for the new sewer in the 700 block of Sudduth Road. Burton was summoned from a nearby field where he had been working after the boy, in the company of his brother, had slipped into the water-filled ditch, it was reported. 50 years ago June 28, 1972: McLean County's monstrous Photostat machine was dismantled in the office of County Recorder Mae Deane and its remains taken to the Bloomington city dump. The machine's demise was wrought by advancements in photocopying technology which permit copying to be done by a machine approximately one-tenth the size of the Photostat. 25 years ago June 28, 1997: Bloomington police say "Operation Broken Crown" probably crippled a Latin King drug distribution ring responsible for moving large quantities of cocaine and an estimated 300 pounds of marijuana each week through the Twin Cities. The five-month investigation resulted in the arrests of about 20 alleged drug dealers, police said. Compiled by Pantagraph staff An Aviation Expert based in the United States, Mr Sean Mendis, has said that Ghanas presidential jet, the Falcon, is not the ideal jet for long journeys. He said it may embark on such journeys however, that will require a higher technical support and also with less luggage and passengers onboard. He said these when asked whether the Falcon is suitable for long hour trips, while speaking in interview with TV3s Komla Adom on the mid day news on Monday 27. No, he answered. He added that the Falcon is not the ideal jet for long haul travel. It is optimally suited for trips from Ghana to anywhere in Africa , maybe some parts of Europe. If you are going to Asia, if you are going to North American, the Falcon will be able to do it but will require higher technical stuffs. Optimally, it can probably do around 3000 miles which is about 6 hours. It is capable of flying further with less luggage, with less people on board. The interview was based on the criticisms against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for what he believes is the Presidents seeming extravagance with regard to the flights chartered for his trips abroad. The Director of Communications at the Presidency Mr Eugene Arhin said he was hoping that Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa would back up his claim that President Akufo-Addo travelled to Brussels aboard a chartered plane but he has failed to do so. Mr Arhin dismissed the claims and further said that unashamedly, Mr Ablakwa has refused to make mention of it, let alone apologise for it. Again, after being caught out on the Accra-Brussels-Kigali lie, the Honourable Member of Parliament tries to justify the so-called 21-hour cost of the flight with some voodoo charges. What is shocking, in his Friday statement, is the admission of the fact that he does not know for a fact the cost of the charter. The so-called 480,000 cost he is bandying about is the result of guess work, and on the reliance of a generous 21-hour cost analysis. He provides no evidence or documentary proof whatsoever to back up his 480,000 cost claim, because he has none. Once again, it is obvious that the Honourable Ablakwa finds these attacks on the President to be his pathway to political prominence through negative propaganda, and is determined to pursue this course, no matter how ridiculous and insulting his statements are. He further states that, if Brussels Airport was closed due to the strike, President Akufo-Addo could have arrived in Kigali through the many (other) busy transit routes, for example Paris. For Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the President, sitting in a cafe at the train station in Paris, with practically no official security around him, and waiting to board a train, is of no moment. The State owes it a duty to be fussy about these things, even though the President may not be fussy about them. Is it acceptable to Ablakwa that the President cannot attend engagements that he is spending his valuable time to make because connecting flights get cancelled? Or that he has to wait around airports because flights have been delayed? Or, as happened in his last trip, he arrives at his destination from an overnight flight without any luggage of his arriving with him, such that he cannot even have a change of clothes to make the appointment he travelled for in the first place? It is a shame that an honourable Member of Parliament has no regard, whatsoever, for the security and safety of his President. Mr Arhin, earlier indicated that President Akufo-Addo travelled to Brussels on a commercial means of transport. First of all, Mr Arhin explained, President Akufo-Addo travelled from Accra to Paris on Sunday, June 19 on a commercial flight. He said even the Air France flight made a stopover in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso before proceeding to the French capital. In fact, all of President Akufo-Addos 12-member delegation travelled commercial, Mr Arhin said in the statement on Friday, June 24. Upon arrival in Paris, President Akufo-Addo and his delegation travelled via train to Brussels to attend the European Development Days event, where, on Tuesday, 21st June 2022, he was a keynote speaker, and later held meetings with the President of European Investment Bank on two key subject areas. The statement admitted that the presidents next trip on Sunday, June 26 will be by the use of the Presidential Jet. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanas ability to take advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been dealt a major blow after a baseline study found that only 5 percent of the countrys Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) export their products. This was after surveying 84,592 MSMEs in 245 out 261 districts in Ghanas 16 administrative regions with most of the surveyed firms from the Ashanti (23,123, equivalent to 27.3 percent and Greater Accra (18,856, representing 22.3 percent) respectively. The survey found that only 4,177 MSMEs from the 84,592 representing a paltry 5 percent of the enterprises export their products and/or services. According to the survey- which was sanctioned by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) under the GEA-Mastercard Foundations Young Africa Works Project and conducted by Palladium Group Ghana Limited of the significant proportion of the MSMEs in all the 16 regions, 86 percent are operating in the informal sector; with the Western North Region recording the least. The study further found that a significant majority (87 percent) of the enterprises are micro-sized. Again, the majority of micro- (33 percent), small (35 percent) and medium-sized (24 percent) enterprises operate within the handicraft sector; while majority of large firms are in the agro-processing, textiles and garments sectors. The baseline study of the Ghanaian MSME landscape indicates that Ghanas MSME sector shows very minimal growth spurts as firms start at a particular size and remain so throughout their lifetime, indicating that not much changes over time, Professor Ebo Turkson, an economist at the University of Ghana, explained this when he presented the findings. These findings generally suggest that although Ghana has a very vibrant MSME sector, a large majority are micro-sized not innovative, highly informal, constrained by access to credit and do not grow in higher size thresholds. If policy can enhance the productivity of MSMEs through innovative activities, it will encourage their participation in the export markets and partly address the issue of access to credit, he stated. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEA, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, welcomed the surveys findings, saying in an interview with the Business and Financial Times (B&FT) that the baseline study has given the agency a better picture of the countrys MSME sector; and that will lead to the creation of bespoke interventions which ensure rapid scale-up with a focus on heightening exportation into other markets. It shows potential, it shows opportunity; and this is a great time for us to enhance more people to exportbuild their capacity to export and take advantage of the continental free trade area, she stated. Source: B&FT 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 Flash Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Monday said that, to call China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) a debt trap is a false narrative, and it is the United States that should be held responsible for creating the "debt trap." Zhao made the remarks at a daily news briefing when responding to U.S. accusations against BRI. "To call the BRI a debt trap is a false narrative," said Zhao. He stressed that, for nine years since its inception, the BRI has followed the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and delivered tangible benefits to partner countries and their peoples. According to World Bank forecast, if all BRI transport infrastructure projects are carried out, by 2030, the BRI will generate 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars of revenues for the world, or 1.3 percent of global GDP. Up to 90 percent of the revenues will go to partner countries, said Zhao. The BRI could contribute to lifting 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty from 2015 to 2030, he said. "In fact, no BRI partner has agreed to the so-called 'debt trap' accusation. Rather, it is the United States that should be held responsible for creating the 'debt trap'," said the spokesperson. Zhao said that the U.S.'s expansionary monetary policies, financial innovation with lax supervision and ill-intended short-selling are weighing down developing countries with debt burden and the very reason some countries have fallen into the debt trap. With regard to the new initiative put forward by G7, China always welcomes initiatives that promote global infrastructure. Such initiatives do not have to cancel each other out, Zhao said. "What we oppose is moves to advance geopolitical calculation and smear the BRI in the name of promoting infrastructure development," he added. "I also noticed that a year ago, it was also at a G7 Summit that the United States put forward the B3W Initiative. The United States committed then to developing global infrastructure in a different way from the BRI. Whether it is B3W or any other initiative, the world wants to see real investment and projects that will truly deliver for the people," Zhao said. Fidelity Bank, the largest privately-owned Ghanaian bank, has recorded a 32% increase in profit before tax (PBT) for 2021. This came to light at the Banks recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held virtually for its shareholders to review the performance of the bank for the year ended December 31st, 2021. Within the period under review, the Bank posted a strong growth in key financial metrics across its various business segments. In addition to the record increase in PBT, the bank also recorded a revenue of GH 1.1 billion, 14% above the 2021 figure. Addressing shareholders at the AGM, Board Chairman of Fidelity Bank Ghana, Edward Effah, stated that despite significant external and domestic challenges, the bank remained resilient, turning in a strong performance in 2021. He further indicated that this buoyant performance was largely underpinned by the Banks all-encompassing transformation journey which has seen Fidelity leverage cutting edge technology to enhance convenience and deliver superior customer experience across the Banks various touchpoints. Mr. Effah stated that, the Groups balance sheet remained robust with a significant year-on-year increase of 44% to close the year at GH 13.36 billion, an increase from GH 9.28 billion in 2020. The growth was funded mainly from an increase in customer deposits and short-term borrowings that financed corresponding short-dated investments. Mr. Effah further asserted that Looking ahead, I have great confidence in the future of our Bank. Regardless of market conditions, our focus will always remain on what has sustained Fidelity Bank over the last 15 years: our people, our culture, and above all, our response to the evolving needs of our clients. In doing so, we are well-positioned to compete even better in the years ahead and to deliver higher, more sustainable returns for our shareholders and other stakeholders. At the AGM, the Bank reiterated the significant impact of its investments in digital innovations during the year under review in line with its transformation agenda. Consequently, by the end of 2021, 89% of all transactions were carried out via the banks digital channels. This impressive feat bears testament to Fidelitys leadership in digital banking and its remarkable success in migrating customers unto digital platforms. In his report at the AGM, the Managing Director of the Bank, Julian Opuni, stated that, 2021 marked the Banks fifteen years of existence as a commercial bank. Fifteen (15) years down the line, we are pleased with the successes we have chalked over the years with support from all our stakeholders and we believe that we are well positioned to continuously serve our customers better. He added that, the banks ambition of becoming a top 3 bank in Ghana by 2024 is on course with a focus on some key areas to achieve this mandate: digital innovation, data insights, value chain optimization, fit for future technology and talent optimization. He also stated that the banks transformation journey has already yielded some significant gains for the bank. Through the efforts of the Transformation Office, Fidelity achieved 113% of its revenue target for the year and mobilized low-cost deposits in excess of GH 240 million. The Bank also gave shareholders an overview of their notable accomplishments and honors received during the fiscal period under consideration. Consequent to the Banks remarkable business performance in 2021, the Bank and its leadership were duly recognized and accorded several laurels by reputable local and international organizations within the period. These include: The Bank of the Year Award at the Ghana Business Awards, Best Bank in Ghana by EMEA Finance, Best Treasury & Cash Management Bank in Ghana Award by the Global Finance Magazine, Agency Banking Bank of the Year Award by Instinct Business Finance Innovation, Outstanding response to COVID-19 and SME Loans Award by the Middle East and Africa Retail Innovation Banking Awards among others. The remarkable growth of Fidelity Bank over the last 15 years is testament to the vision and resilience of the leadership and staff of the bank, both past and present. Fidelitys story shows that the indomitable Ghanaian entrepreneurial spirit is still alive and demonstrates that it can be done in Ghana by Ghanaians. Fidelity Bank Ghana is optimistic that in 2022 and beyond, buoyed by the impact of its ongoing Transformation Agenda, it will continue to leverage on technology and the Banks strategy, people, and systems to give customers a satisfying banking experience and enhance shareholder value. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited has been named the Most Safety and Security Conscious Company of the Year, Best Company in Data Security Management and Best Company in Fire Safety and Security Management at the 2022 Health, Environment, Safety & Security (HESS) Awards held recently at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra. The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Ghana, Julian Opuni emerged winner of the HESS Exemplary Leadership Award (Banking & Finance), while the Environment, Health & Safety Manager of the Bank, Ebenezer Gbolonyo, was adjudged the HESS Male Personality of the Year. The HESS award seeks to identify and celebrate health, safety and security-conscious companies who exhibit exceptional leadership and innovation in occupational Health, the Environment and Employee Stakeholder Safety and Security. Speaking on the awards garnered, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Julian Opuni stated that these awards are a testament to the Banks commitment to safety in all spheres of their business. Winning five awards in an award scheme that recognizes the efforts of organizations in prioritizing health, safety, security and the environment is something Fidelity Bank is most proud of. This is a validation of all the work we do to ensure the safety of all stakeholders. We wish to express our appreciation to the organizers for this enormous recognition. I have no doubt that these awards will spur us on to do better than we already have. I also wish to dedicate these awards to all hardworking staff of Fidelity Bank and our loyal customers whose support and loyalty continues to urge us on to greater heights the Fidelity MD added. Fidelity Bank was adjudged winner in these categories taking into consideration its periodic security awareness training for all staff and partner agents, the recent upgrade of its electronic systems as well as steps the bank has taken to put in place a remote backup for CCTV footage with AI functionality. Additionally, the Banks initiative to train staff on general Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) issues including emergency preparedness and procedures with respect to first aid and use of appropriate HSE signs as well as fire, flood and other occupational disasters were factored into the awards. The banks capacity to monitor their full branch network, office ATMs and other collection points in real time through an internet protocol from a central monitoring station, among other things were also major factors leading to the recognition. Fidelity Bank's attainment of globally standardized ISO and PCI-DSS certifications were also acknowledged and contributed to the accolade of Best Company in Data Security Management. The Bank continues to validate its positioning as an indigenous business with global standards and a pacesetter in innovation. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu, has sided with the Paramount Chief of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, for returning a sum of GHc365,392 paid him as ex-gratia for serving as a member of the Council of State. The former mayor argued that it is time to review payments of ex-gratia to Council of State members and Article 71 Office holders as a measure to protect the public purse. He suggested a possible reduction of the colossal amounts which is giving to people as end of service benefits because Ghanaians are angry about situation especially when the said beneficiaries received wages for their services rendered. I agree with him [Togbe Afede], he is right. If he feels it [the ex-gratia] is huge, he should return it. Thats his mindset. Nobody forced him to do so and so if he has returned it, he is right [and] I support it, opined on Angel FMs Anopa Bofo Morning Show. When asked if the Constitution needs to be reviewed, especially the portion on ex-gratia, Mr. Kojo Bonsu replied that what Im saying is that its a constitutional mandate and so lets review it and slash it down. "Lets all discuss it and come to the realization that when we reduce it, it would benefit Ghana because people get upset when they hear these huge figures [as ex-gratia]. Togbe Afede recently returned GHC365,000 paid him as ex-gratia describing the payment as inappropriate. I did not think the payment was made to trap me, as is being speculated. I believe it was paid to everybody who served on the Council of State. However, I thought that extra payment was inappropriate for a short, effectively part-time work, for which I received a monthly salary and was entitled to other privileges. So, I was very uncomfortable with it, Togbe Afede clarified. He added that I want to add that my rejection of the payment was consistent with my general abhorrence of the payment of huge Ex Gratia and other outrageous benefits to people who have by their own volition offered to serve our poor country, 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 Peacefmonline.com can confirm that there is simmering tension at the ongoing demonstration by ARISE Ghana group after Police personnel fired tear gas on the agitated protestors. The pressure group is currently protesting the harsh economic conditions in the country and some unfavourable policies of government. PeaceFM's Odenhufuor Jackson who witnessed the scene reports that the incident was triggered when some of the protesters decided to veer off approved routes outlined by the police and use an alternative one. In the course of the standoff, some of the protestors attempted to breach the human barricade of policemen and force their way through, but were fiercely resisted. Their intention, according to PeaceFm's Jackson was to head towards the direction of the seat of government; the Jubilee House. Seeing their action had been repelled, the frustrated protestors started pelting the police with stones, forcing the police resort to the firing of tear gas and the use of water cannons against the demonstrators. Approve Route & Protest Duration Arise Ghana had earlier announced its intention to demonstrate in front of the Jubilee House on the night of June 28 and 29. But the police sought a court ruling on the time and location of an intended protest. An Accra High Court on Monday ruled that the demonstration could only be staged between the hours of 8 am to 4 pm. The court additionally directed that the protest should commence at the Obra Spot in Accra and end at the Independence Square. The group claimed they had filed a stay of execution against that particular ruling so there was no way the police should alter their planned route, but the security agency would have none of it. Tuesday's incident could perhaps be seen as an enforcement of the court's orders by the police. Why The Protest? Dubbed #KromAyeShe, the purpose of the 2day demonstration, is to protest against persistent and astronomical hikes in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that has imposed excruciating economic hardships on Ghanaians. It is also to protest against the imposition of the obnoxious E-Levy on the already-burdened Ghanaian people by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. Demand a full scale and bi-partisan parliamentary probe into COVID-19 expenditures; Protest against the grabbing of State lands by officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, particularly the de-classification of huge portions of the Achimota Forest reserve. Protest against the increased rate of police brutalities and state-sponsored killing of innocent Ghanaians, as well as the growing culture of human rights abuses under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia. Meanwhile, the Police administration has described the pelting of stones incident as shameful and unacceptable, so their presence was only to ensure the safety of the demonstartors.In a tweet on its officialhandle, it said; Attack on Police in the Ongoing Arise Ghana Demonstration What a shame, we were there to protect you and ensure your safety, but you throw stones at us, injure and hurt us. This behaviour is unacceptable and must be condemned. pic.twitter.com/8FGeycExJD Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) June 28, 2022 More soon.... Source: Peacefmonline.com/GHANA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has reprimanded the Ghana Police Service for using the court to frustrate demonstrators in the country. Organizers of the FixtheCountry Movement who were to hold a protest against the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration on June 4, 2022 were stopped by the Police after perusing their conditions to embark on the demonstration. Although the Police was praised by many people because the June 4th demo was thought to be a ploy to stage a coup, the security service was however advised to renegotiate with the organizers and allow them to demonstrate but not with the guns and private security among other ridiculous demands they made. Another group called "Arise Ghana" who are to start a demonstration today, June 28 to highlight economic and governance challenges under the Akufo-Addo regime have also been opposed by the Police. The pressure group, in a statement, indicated that they "shall move through the Nima Police Station street to the Arko-Agyei inter-change and end at the Frontage of the Jubilee House where we will picket until 10PM but the Police has filed a case in court against them due to a disagreement on the time frame and the location. According to a Police statement, "in the interest of Public Order and safety, we entreated the organizers to reconsider the time frame and start the demonstration early in the day and end before night falls" but "on June 22, 2022, the Police received a verbal response from the organizers to the effect that they are unable to change the time of the demonstration". Due to the lack of agreement between the Police and the organizers on the time for demonstration and location for their planned picketing, the Police have had no option but to submit the process to the court for a determination. This was duly communicated to Arise Ghana in a letter on June 20, 2022," the statement further read. Touching on the issue on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Kwesi Pratt advised the Police to stop deliberately preventing people from embarking on demonstrations in the country. He noted that it is every person's right to go on demonstration provided it doesn't threaten the country's security. Mr. Pratt appealed to the Police "not to do those things that they sometimes deliberately do. This time they shouldn't do it. They must stop their deliberate way of impeding demonstrators". He also asked them to review their stance on the Arise Ghana demonstration. "I think that it's important that this demonstration is allowed to be held, you know, with all the changes which can be through dialogue between the organizers and the security officials, especially the Police", he stressed. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to do everything possible to avoid payment of about $50 million judgment debt to Beijing Everyway Company for wrongful termination of contract. Government in 2020 terminated the $100 million Accra Intelligence Traffic Management Project with the company and awarded it to Huawei. Currently, Management of the Beijing Everyway is in arbitration with the government in London demanding $50 million payment in damages. Addressing the media, the Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Transport , Governs Kwame Agbodza, urged the government to immediately settle with the company to avoid such payment. Mr Agbodza, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu, however, warned officials involved that any future NDC government would make them to answer for the decision to abrogate the valid contract without basis. Background He said somewhere in 2012 the government entered into a China Development Bank agreement with the Chinese Government to improve traffic management in Accra. Mr Agbodza said subsequently, Parliament approved a commercial agreement for Beijing Everyway Company to be the contractors of that component of the project, which cost about $100million, and when there was a change in government the project was still ongoing. "We are told that the developers have been working together with the Ministry of Roads and Highways and a control centre was built and duly inaugurated", he said. He stated that from 2019, it appeared that there were some challenges which led the government to take the unilateral decision in 2020 to change the contractor from Beijing Everyway to Huawei. "The interesting thing was that when they came to Parliament, it was the Ministry of National Security that brought a new bill. We were surprised because initially it was the Ministry of Roads and Highways that introduced the bill and we passed it for the implementation to start. The results was that despite all the arguments that were made by civil society, the media and MPs, the Majority in Parliament insisted that it was the right thing to do", he said. Mr Agbodza said the Minority insisted in finding out what the Attorney-General's opinion was and were told that the Attorney-General okayed the abrogation . "It turned out that as we speak, Huawei has taken over the project but nothing is happening. Secondly, Beijing Everyway Company has sued the Government of Ghana and as we speak, they are in arbitration in London and from what I know, they are demanding something close to $50million in damages, loss of revenue and legal cost, among other things", he stated. The MP for Adaklu questioned the reasons why the government unilaterally terminated the contract knowing very well that the consequences would lead to the government losing revenue, which it badly needed currently. Judgment debt "I am just taking the opportunity to just caution the government to tread cautiously with what it has done with this. My information is that you are heading towards a judgement debt of almost $50 million and a further $25million wiaver that we have granted Huawei so government needs to be cautions with this," he reiterated. The project He said the project was basically to synchronise 257 traffic lights in Accra to be able to coordinate where there are traffic bottlenecks and from a central location that could be directed to give better flow of traffic at anytime. "It would have been a very wonderful thing, if we did and I am told they have installed one at Kanda and around Castle as a way of showing what they are capable of doing. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Humanity dumps some eight millions tons of plastic into the ocean every year. A major UN conference on how to restore the faltering health of global oceans kicked off in Lisbon this week with a flurry of promises to expand marine protected areas, ban deep-sea mining, and combat illegal fishing. UN chief Antonio Guterres set the tone Monday for the five-day meet by warning that the world's oceans are in deep crisis. "Today we face what I would call an ocean emergency," he told thousands of policymakers, experts and advocates, detailing how seas have been hammered by climate change and pollution. "The ocean is not a rubbish dump. It is not a source on infinite plunder. It is a fragile system on which we all depend." Surangel Whipps, Jr., president of the Pacific island state of Palau, asked world leaders to join a moratorium on extracting rare Earth metals from the ocean floor. "Deep sea mining compromises the integrity of our ocean habitat and should be discouraged to the greatest extent possible," he said, flanked by Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. Indigenous leader Debbie Ngawera-Packer, a member of New Zealand's parliament, told conference participants she had submitted a bill calling for such a moratorium in her country's waters. Companies seeking to mine so-called polymetallic nodules containing manganese, cobalt and nickel say they are a greener source of minerals needed to build electric vehicle batteries. At least one-third of wild fish stocks are overfished, said Kathryn Matthews, chief scientist for US-based NGO Oceana. Scientists counter that seabed ecosystems at depth are fragile, and could take decades or longer to heal once disrupted. "Mining, wherever it occurs, is well known to have environmental costs," said former US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief scientist Sylvia Earle. 'No-take' zones "On the land at least we can monitor, see and fix problems, and minimise the damage. Six thousand metres (20,000 feet) beneath the surface, who's watching?" A so-called high ambition coalition, meanwhilebacking a proposal to set aside 30 percent of the planet's land and ocean surface by 2030 as protected areasgrew to 100 nations, UK minister of state Zac Goldsmith announced in a side event. Currently, less than 10 percent of global oceans are protected. The "30 X 30" plan could be the cornerstone of a treaty slated for completion at a UN biodiversity summit to be held in December in Montreal. Nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in government, development bank and philanthropic funding to lock-in protection of marine and land ecosystems in Colombia, announced last week, could be the template for other countries. Currently, less than 10 percent of global oceans are protected. "Working with scientists, we decided to get 30 percent of our maritime area as protected, and we did it," outgoing Colombian President Ivan Duque told AFP. More than half of newly protected marine areas will be "no-take" zones off-limits to fishing, mining, drilling or other extractive activities, he said. The United Sates, European Union nations, Mexico, Canada, Japan and India have joined the 30 x 30 drive, while China, Russia, Indonesia and Brazil have yet to do so. Steps were also taken Monday to fight illegal fishing, another topic on the table at the long-delayed UN Ocean Conference, originally set for April 2020. In Washington, US President Joe Biden issued a national security memorandum to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related labour abuses. Wreaking havoc The aim is to "make sure that the seafood products that are coming into the US market are caught in accordance with international rules and national rules," a senior administration official told journalists. A report by the International Trade Commission found that the United States imported $2.4 billion worth of seafood derived from IUU fishing in 2019. Microplastics are estimated to kill more than a million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals each year. "The ocean is the most underappreciated resource on our planet," Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told the conference, flanked by co-host Portuguese President Antonio Costa. Oceans harbour 80 percent of life on Earth and generate 50 percent of the oxygen in the atmosphere. They also absorb a quarter of CO 2 pollution and 90 percent of excess heat from global warming, keeping the planet livable for life on land. But these services rendered come at a cost. Sea water has turned acidic, threatening aquatic food chains and the ocean's capacity to absorb carbon. Global warming has spawned massive marine heatwaves that are killing off precious coral reefs and expanding dead zones bereft of oxygen. "We have only begun to understand the extent to which climate change is going to wreak havoc on ocean health," said Charlotte de Fontaubert, the World Bank's global lead for the blue economy. Making things worse is an unending torrent of pollution, including a garbage truck's worth of plastic every minute, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Explore further Ailing oceans in state of 'emergency', says UN chief 2022 AFP Bear Valley Creek is a tributary of Idahos aptly named Salmon River. With its lazy meanders, rushing water, and limited human impact, this is as good as it gets for salmon, Crozier said. Its salmon population has been robust, but even here, climate change is beginning to affect chinook habitat. Credit: James A. McKean Salmon famously travel hundreds of miles upstream to reach their home waters to spawn, but climate change is shrinking their destination. A new study offers high-resolution details on how Chinook salmon habitats are being lost on Bear Valley Creek, a headwater stream of the Salmon River in central Idaho. The study, published today in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters, suggests lower water volumes and warming temperatures are dramatically shrinking spawning beds and nurseries for the culturally and economically important fish. Researchers predict salmon here could lose nearly half their total habitat in this river as soon as 2040 due to an estimated 50% decrease in river discharge. Daniele Tonina, lead author of the new study and a professor of ecohydraulics at the University of Idaho, and colleagues examined a 14-kilometer stretch of Bear Valley Creek, which is known for hosting a robust population of Chinook salmon. With a wide valley, meandering main river and cozy side-streams, the site is representative of ideal salmon habitats in the Pacific Northwest. The team mapped the river's channels and floodplain using a kind of remote, 3D laser scanning, or LiDAR, that uses green-wavelength lasers to see into shallow aquatic environments. They then used 60 years of historical stream-flow data, from 1957 to 2016, from stream gauges at eight nearby streams to calculate trends in the annual summer discharge, a critical time for fish survival. Using three different hydrologic models to combine the river features and predicted discharge until 2090, they estimated changes to salmon habitat both in the past and over the coming decades. Over the historical study period, summer stream flow volume dropped by 19%, and it slowed by 17%. That means less overall area suitable for salmon nests and a loss of off-channel havens for fingerlings as side-streams get cut off from the main channel. About 20% of this critical off-channel habitat was already lost over the 60-year period, the study estimated. The salmon lost 23% of their spawning habitat as well. "This really allowed us to understand how the environment will change at different discharges, which hasn't really been done before. Now we can say the impact will be that the habitat gets smaller and more fragmented, meaning even the parts that are still good [quality] might be too small to be useful," Tonina said. "Still, this is a glass half-full, half-empty result. At least it's not a total loss of habitat yet." "A huge limitation has been our ability to study the landscape at a scale that's biologically relevant for salmon," said Lisa Crozier, a research ecologist at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center who was not involved in the study. "We know the overall pattern is that low flows are bad for fish, but we don't know exactly why or what life stages are most impacted. But here, we can see very specifically they're losing off-channel and spawning habitat. It really helps to know those details." Saving salmon streams Salmon have exacting requirements for their nests. Each female can use up to six square meters of riverbed real estate to lay her eggs; the gravel must be just right, the water must be cold and rushing, there must be calm side streams for fingerlings to grow. And of course, there must be enough water flowing in the streams to let the salmon arrive in the first place. Each requirement is threatened. Smaller salmon habitats of poorer quality could reduce the success of spawning and increase struggles for young salmon, which already face a host of human-caused barriers. More female salmon may be competing for shrinking nest sites, and young salmon will compete for dwindling space and resources as well. Breeding salmon whose home waters are cut off or disappear altogether may expend too much energy searching for a new spot and die of exhaustion before laying their eggs. Studies like this one help ecologists and conservationists figure out what areas are most likely to remain suitable habitats for salmon and other species, and can therefore be targeted for protection, Tonina said. Other cold-water fish, such as trout and steelheads, would be impacted in similar ways. Chinook salmon serve as a useful "indicators of enormous ecosystem change," Crozier added, but "every single species will be affected by these changes. It's uncharted territory." "This will inform restoration efforts, helping us select streams that are likely to remain accessible for the salmon," Tonina said. "We want to find the areas that will serve as refugia in the future." Explore further Up to 85 per cent of historical salmon habitat lost in Lower Fraser region More information: Daniele Tonina et al, Climate Change Shrinks and Fragments Salmon Habitats in a SnowDependent Region, Geophysical Research Letters (2022). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters Daniele Tonina et al, Climate Change Shrinks and Fragments Salmon Habitats in a SnowDependent Region,(2022). DOI: 10.1029/2022GL098552 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Increased flooding in the U.S. is exposing more people to industrial pollution, especially in racially marginalized urban communities, according to new research from Rice University, New York University and Brown University. Thomas Marlow, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Abu Dhabi, said industrial activity has not only contributed to climate change, but also left behind enormous amounts of land-based contamination that will continue to put people at risk when floodwaters rise. Marlow is the lead author of "Future Flooding Increases Unequal Exposure Risks to Relic Industrial Pollution," published today in Environmental Research Letters. "We wanted to investigate where those dynamics will affect different communities in the years ahead," he said. The scholars focused on six different U.S. cities (Houston; Philadelphia; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; New Orleans; and Providence, Rhode Island), combining historical data on former hazardous manufacturing facilities with future flood risks projected down to the address level. They found that more than 6,000 former industrial sites likely still to be sources of significant ground pollution are at elevated flood risk over the next 30 years. These sites are disproportionately located in lower-income communities of color. "We found that the sites of highest concern cluster and create zones of increasing risk in areas where more than 560,000 residents currently live," said Jim Elliott, professor and chair of sociology at Rice. "Analyses further indicate that racial minorities, those with lower incomes and those residing in multiunit housing disproportionately live in these areas, regardless of the city in question." Scott Frickel, professor of sociology at Brown, said the findings show an urgent need for new cleanup strategies. "Specifically, we need to rethink site-based strategies for cleaning up urban lands polluted by past industrial activities," he said. "This work must engage and include residents of historically marginalized communities in planning efforts as government agencies at all levels work to make their cities more resilient and environmentally just in the age of climate change." "The good news is that if we act now, we can not only tackle the problem but also help build more just and resilient cities," Elliott concluded. The researchers plan to build on this work by assisting local for-profit and nonprofit organizations to address the challenges of urban flooding. Explore further Flood buyouts disproportionately benefit whitest at-risk neighborhoods in cities More information: Thomas Marlow et al, Future flooding increases unequal exposure risks to relic industrial pollution, Environmental Research Letters (2022). Journal information: Environmental Research Letters Thomas Marlow et al, Future flooding increases unequal exposure risks to relic industrial pollution,(2022). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac78f7 Images of carbon microcrystals taken with (a) optical and (b)(d) scanning electron microscopes. Credit: The European Physical Journal Plus (2022). DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-02768-7 Unusually shaped microcrystals formed of pure, graphite-like carbon were discovered in the dust of the 21st-century's largest meteorite. They are likely to have grown in layers from complex carbon nuclei such as fullerene. The largest meteorite observed so far this century entered the Earth's atmosphere above Chelyabinsk in the Southern Urals, Russia on February 15, 2013. Unusually, dust from the surface of this meteorite survived its fall and is being extensively studied. This dust includes some unusually shaped microcrystals of carbon. A study of the morphology and simulations of the formation of these crystals by a consortium led by Sergey Taskaev and Vladimir Khovaylo from Chelyabinsk State University, Russia is now published in the journal The European Physical Journal Plus. Meteorite dust is formed on the surface of a meteor when it is exposed to high temperatures and intense pressures on entering the atmosphere. The Chelyabinsk meteor was unique in its size, the intensity of the air burst in which it exploded, the size of the largest fragments that fell to earth and the damage that it caused. More relevantly, it fell onto snowy ground and the snow helped to preserve its dust intact. Taskaev, Khovaylo and their team first observed micrometer-sized carbon microcrystals in this dust under a light microscope. They therefore examined the same crystals using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and found that they took up a variety of unusual shapes: closed, quasi-spherical shells and hexagonal rods. Further analysis using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography showed that the carbon crystals were, actually, exotically-shaped forms of graphite. Most likely, these structures will have been formed by repeatedly adding graphene layers to closed carbon nuclei. The researchers explored this process through molecular dynamics simulations of the growth of a number of such structures. They found two "likely suspects" as nuclei for microcrystal growth: the spherical fullerene (or buckminsterfullerene), C 60 ,and the more complex hexacyclooctadecane (C 18 H 12 ). In conclusion, Taskaev and Khovaylo suggest that classifying these crystals could help identify past meteorites. Explore further Microscopic view on asteroid collisions could help us understand planet formation More information: Sergey Taskaev et al, Exotic carbon microcrystals in meteoritic dust of the Chelyabinsk superbolide: experimental investigations and theoretical scenarios of their formation, The European Physical Journal Plus (2022). Sergey Taskaev et al, Exotic carbon microcrystals in meteoritic dust of the Chelyabinsk superbolide: experimental investigations and theoretical scenarios of their formation,(2022). DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-02768-7 Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit which will be held in Indonesia November 15-16, according to the Kremlin. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov Monday told the media that the format of Putin's participation is still being specified. "I do not know. For now, they have invited to participate personally, but there is much time left. I hope that the pandemic situation will permit to hold this important forum face to face. I'd like to avoid guessing," he said. Indonesia holds the rotating presidency of the G20 this year and has been pressured by Western countries, led by the United States, to exclude Russia from the meeting. Indonesian President and G20 Chairman Joko Widodo, however, did not rescind the invitation to Russia. While earlier in April, he announced he had called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and invited him to join world leaders at G20 summit as a guest. Widodo also planned to visit Russia and Ukraine and meet with the countries' leaders to urge peace talks this week. The Indonesian president has refused to send weapons to Ukraine in response to a request from Zelenskyy, instead offering humanitarian aid. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday that he would take a decision nearer to the time whether to attend the G20 if Putin also attends. While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Monday said Putin's presence at the summit shouldn't be a reason for Western leaders to block the meeting. "We have to consider very carefully whether we paralyze the entire G20; I don't advocate that. In my opinion, G20 is too important, also for the developing countries, the emerging countries, that we should let this body be broken by Putin," said von der Leyen. "I think it's better if he does come to tell him to his face what we think. And then he should also take a stand," she added. Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University found ways to make the hot electrons last longer so that photocatalysis can be used to produce hydrogen peroxide in a safer, cleaner production process. Credit: Nano Technology, Tsinghua University Press Hydrogen peroxide is used in many industries for a variety of purposes, including bleaching, sewage treatment, sterilization, and even as rocket fuel. Because hydrogen peroxide's byproduct is water, it has been lauded as a "green," environmentally friendly chemical, but a closer look at hydrogen peroxide's production process reveals a more complicated story. Problems like the amount of energy used for the production process and mining for the required chemicals have dramatic environmental impacts. As demand increases for hydrogen peroxide globally, researchers are trying to find new ways to produce hydrogen peroxide that are safer and better for the environment. Previous research has identified techniques using photocatalysis, the use of light to start a chemical reaction, and hot electrons, which are high-energy electrons that have been charged through visible and infrared light, as alternative solutions to hydrogen peroxide production. Both photocatalysis and hot electrons have been used in green energy alternatives, such as solar power, in the past, but limitations on both processes have prevented them from being implemented for hydrogen peroxide production. To address some of these limitations, researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University found ways to make the hot electrons last longer so that photocatalysis can be used to produce hydrogen peroxide in a safer, cleaner production process. The findings were published on June 25 in Nano Research. Paper author Xinhao Li, a professor in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, explained some of the limitations of using hot electrons in the production of hydrogen peroxide. "The lifetime of hot electrons, typically on a time scale of 0.4 to 0.3 picoseconds, could not be matched well with the time scale of typical chemical reactions, including the oxygen reduction reaction to hydrogen peroxide. Because of this, it is appealing to develop powerful methods to prolong the lifetime of thermalized hot carriers over cheap photocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide production using only water, air, and solar light," Li said. The method to maintain the energy of the hot electrons proposed by researchers is straightforward. A heterojunctiona combination of two different layers of semiconductorsof rutile titanium dioxide and graphene is made to harvest the hot electrons. First researchers explored ways to synthetically produce rutile titanium dioxide quickly and efficiently. It takes 24 hours for the phase transfer process by milling method to convert anatase titanium dioxide to rutile titanium dioxide, but researchers were able to reduce this to 5 minutes. The combination of rutile titanium dioxide and graphene forms an elevated Schottky barrier, which is essential for prolonging the lifetime of hot electrons. A Schottky barrier forms between a metal and semiconductor and acts as a barrier for electrons. Because the Schottky barrier between rutile titanium dioxide and graphene is high, it facilitates the hot electron injection and prevents the electrons from flowing backwards through the barrier. The elevated barrier is achieved because of the quick phase transfer between anatase titanium dioxide and rutile titanium dioxide. The quick phase transfer and elevated barrier allows for a long fluorescence lifetime and better efficiency, boosting hydrogen peroxide production using visible and near infrared light. Researchers suspect that the graphene/rutile titanium dioxide can be reused for at least six cycles of standard reactions, making it even more efficient for producing hydrogen peroxide. As for what's next, researchers are looking ahead to how to simplify the process. "In the follow-up work, we hope to develop simpler strategies to optimize the heterostructure of photocatalysis to further improve the utilization of photogenerated hot electrons. This photocatalytic system driven by photogenerated hot electrons on cheap noble-metal-free heterojunctions shows significant potential as a new artificial photosynthesis system," said Li. Explore further How gold nanoparticles could improve solar energy storage More information: Weiyao Hu et al, Rapidly and mildly transferring anatase phase of graphene-activated TiO2 to rutile with elevated Schottky barrier: Facilitating interfacial hot electron injection for Vis-NIR driven photocatalysis, Nano Research (2022). Journal information: Nano Research Weiyao Hu et al, Rapidly and mildly transferring anatase phase of graphene-activated TiO2 to rutile with elevated Schottky barrier: Facilitating interfacial hot electron injection for Vis-NIR driven photocatalysis,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4624-8 Provided by Tsinghua University Press Four children in Mexico were buried in the years after the Spanish Conquest with rituals and grave offerings that suggest that pre-Hispanic customs lived on for some time after the Aztec empire fell. The National Institute of Anthropology and History said Monday the burials of children ranging from a newborn, to a girl aged between 6 and 8, were found in a working-class district just north of Mexico City's historic center. When the Spanish conquered the Aztec capital in 1521, they quickly expelled the Indigenous Mexica population to the city's edges, reserving the center for the homes of only Spaniards. Archaeologists estimate the children were buried in a layer of earth that dated to between 1521 and 1620. Even though the Spaniards quickly outlawed most pre-Hispanic ceremonies and religious practices, researchers found evidence the children were buried with Aztec style grave goods. The youngest, the newborn, was buried inside a pot, with other pots around it. The bulbous shape of the pot was thought to imitate the form of a uterus, and it was not clear if the child died before or after birth. Another offering found at the site included the bones of a bird in ceramic pot with blue coloring, associated with water. The older girl was buried with a large clay Aztec-style figurine depicting a female figure holding a child. Her skull showed signs of possible anemia, malnutrition or infection, signs that suggest life was hard for the Indigenous population in the years following the conquest. In December, archaeologists announced they had discovered another house site on the outskirts of the city's center where 13 large clay ceremonial Aztec incense burners had been carefully buried, again after the Conquest, suggesting that pre-Hispanic beliefs and customs lasted on for some time. The incense burners had been carefully buried in a pattern that may refer to the Aztec calendar, and were covered with adobe bricks, as if to hide them. Explore further Aztec allies ritually disfigured captured Spaniards' remains 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Interdisciplinary researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign performed MRI scans on bearded dragons, like the one shown here, to generate a first-of-its-kind brain atlas: a high-resolution map of regions in the creatures' brains. Credit: Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. They're not too cuddly, but bearded dragons are working their way into the hearts and homes of American families. And now, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are ensuring that these scaly companion animals receive the same medical care as Fluffy, Stripes, and Snowball. Interdisciplinary researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and the College of Veterinary Medicine performed MRI scans on bearded dragons to generate a first-of-its-kind brain atlas: a high-resolution map of regions in the creatures' brains. Currently, there no standardized protocol for performing MRIs on America's No. 1 companion reptile. "It is challenging to get spatial resolution sufficient to see disease in the brain of a bearded dragon using a clinical MRI machine designed for humans," said Brad Sutton, a professor of bioengineering and the technical director of the Biomedical Imaging Center at the Beckman Institute. "It is important to understand what a healthy bearded dragon's brain looks like, and to understand the variation across different animals." Bearded dragons are America's No. 1 companion lizard. Dr. Krista Keller and "B" the bearded dragon discuss why they are creating an MRI brain atlas for these amazing reptiles. Keller is an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "B" is a bearded dragon with swag. Credit: Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Anesthesia is routinely used for animals during MRI scans. Because the scanner contains a strong magnet, specialized metal-free anesthetic monitoring equipment is also required. "There are several instances when a bearded dragon would benefit from an MRI exam. However, a strong consideration prior to ordering this diagnostic would be the risks associated with anesthesia," said Krista Keller, an assistant professor of veterinary and clinical medicine and the service head of zoological medicine at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Interdisciplinary researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign performed MRI scans on bearded dragons, like the one shown above, to generate a first-of-its-kind brain atlas: a high-resolution map of regions in the creatures' brains.This image depicts a bearded dragon mid-sagittal slice and was generated using a 3 Tesla MRI scanner located in the Biomedical Imaging Center at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. The bearded dragon is facing left, with the top of its head corresponding to the top of the image. Credit: Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. The researchers' work appeared in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. It identified a predictable and safe anesthetic protocol that can be used in future clinical cases. Data from this study also expands the clinical information available to researchers performing high-resolution MRI scans of bearded dragons in the future. To compile their data, the team used a 3 Tesla MRI scanner located in Beckman's Biomedical Imaging Center to image seven bearded dragons safely and non-invasively. The bearded dragons came from a research and study colony and represent the most common lizard species encountered in veterinary medical practice. The researchers used an image averaging strategy to compile the scans into a single idealized model of a bearded dragon brain; the resulting atlas will be used as a standard reference material in the event that a bearded dragon may be diagnosed with or treated for a neurological disease. Anatomical atlases of reptiles including the tawny dragon, the tokay gecko, and the garter snake were also used for reference. While bearded dragons could certainly benefit from MRI exams, the risks associated with anesthesia are significant, according to assistant professor of veterinary clinical medicine Krista Keller (pictured with a bearded dragon at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine). Photo courtesy of L. Brian Stauffer. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer. "Our goal for this study was to not only provide clinicians with an anatomic reference of the bearded dragon brain, but to also establish a safe and efficient MRI and sedation protocol that can be utilized in practices with access to either a 1.5 or 3 Tesla MRI," said Kari Foss, an assistant professor of veterinary and clinical medicine. The researchers identified nine anatomic structures in the bearded dragon brain including the thalamus, optic nerve, optic tectum, lateral ventricles, medulla, telencephalon, tectal ventricle, cerebellum, and the olfactory lobe and stalk. Explore further Climate change may be making bearded dragons less intelligent More information: Kari D. Foss et al, Establishing an MRI-Based Protocol and Atlas of the Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) Brain, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2022). Kari D. Foss et al, Establishing an MRI-Based Protocol and Atlas of the Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) Brain,(2022). DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.886333 In this photo released by Rocket Lab, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket sits on the launch pad on the Mahia peninsula in New Zealand on May 17, 2022. NASA plans to send up a satellite to track a new orbit around the moon which it hopes to use in the coming years to once again land astronauts on the lunar surface. Credit: Rocket Lab via AP NASA wants to experiment with a new orbit around the moon that it hopes to use in the coming years to once again land astronauts on the lunar surface. So it is sending up a test satellite from New Zealand. The initial stages of the launch went according to plan late Tuesday, with the rocket carrying the satellite reaching space. If the rest of the mission is successful, the Capstone CubeSat satelliteonly about the size of a microwave ovenwill be the first to take the new path around the moon and will send back vital information for at least six months. Technically, the new orbit is called a near-rectilinear halo orbit. It's a stretched-out egg shape with one end passing close to the moon and the other far from it. Imagine stretching a rubber band back from your thumb. Your thumb would represent the moon and the rubber band the flight path. "It will have equilibrium. Poise. Balance," NASA wrote on its website. "This pathfinding CubeSat will practically be able to kick back and rest in a gravitational sweet spot in spacewhere the pull of gravity from Earth and the Moon interact to allow for a nearly-stable orbit." Eventually, NASA plans to put a space station called Gateway into the orbital path, from which astronauts can descend to the moon's surface as part of its Artemis program. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket waits on the launch pad on the Mahia peninsula in New Zealand, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. NASA wants to experiment with a new orbit around the moon which it hopes to use in the coming years to once again land astronauts on the lunar surface. Credit: Rocket Lab via AP For the satellite mission, NASA teamed up with two commercial companies. California-based Rocket Lab launched the rocket carrying the satellite, which in turn is owned and operated by Colorado-based Advanced Space. The mission came together relatively quickly and cheaply for NASA, with the total mission cost put at $32.7 million. Getting the 25-kilogram (55-pound) satellite into orbit will take more than four months and be done in three stages. First, Rocket Lab's small Electron rocket launched from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula. Just nine minutes later, the second stage called Photon separated and went into orbit around Earth. Over the next five days, Photon's engines are scheduled to fire periodically to raise its orbit further and further from Earth. Six days after the launch, Photon's engines will fire a final time, allowing it to escape Earth's orbit and head for the moon. In this photo released by Rocket Lab, a technician works on a component of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket ahead of the launch on the Mahia peninsula in New Zealand on March 10, 2022. NASA plans to send up a satellite to track a new orbit around the moon which it hopes to use in the coming years to once again land astronauts on the lunar surface. Credit: Rocket Lab via AP In this photo released by Rocket Lab, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket sits on the launch pad on the Mahia peninsula in New Zealand on May 10, 2022. NASA plans to send up a satellite to track a new orbit around the moon which it hopes to use in the coming years to once again land astronauts on the lunar surface. Credit: Rocket Lab via AP Photon will then release the satellite, which has its own small propulsion system but which won't use much energy as it cruises toward the moon over four months, with a few planned trajectory course corrections along the way. "Perfect Electron launch!" Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck tweeted Tuesday. "Lunar photon is in Low Earth Orbit." Rocket Lab spokesperson Morgan Bailey said it was the most ambitious and complex mission it has undertaken so far and comes after more than two years of work with NASA and Advanced Space. She said it will be the first time Rocket Lab has tested its HyperCurie engine that will be used to power Photon. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is successfully launched on the Mahia peninsula in New Zealand, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. NASA wants to experiment with a new orbit around the moon which it hopes to use in the coming years to once again land astronauts on the lunar surface. Credit: Rocket Lab via AP "Certainly lots of hard problems to solve along the way, but we've ticked them off one by one, and made it to launch day," Bailey said. Bailey said one of the advantages of the orbit is that, theoretically, a space station should be able to maintain continuous communication with Earth because it will avoid being eclipsed by the moon. Explore further NASA wraps up moon rocket test; to set launch date after fix 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Every day, millions of Americans rely on natural gas to power appliances such as kitchen stoves, furnaces, and water heaters, but until now very little data existed on the chemical makeup of the gas once it reaches consumers. A new study finds that natural gas used in homes throughout the Greater Boston area contains varying levels of volatile organic chemicals that when leaked are known to be toxic, linked to cancer, and can form secondary health-damaging pollutants such as particulate matter and ozone. The research by the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, PSE Healthy Energy, Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER), Gas Safety Inc., Boston University, and Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) was published in Environmental Science & Technology. "It is well-established that natural gas is a major source of methane that's driving climate change," said Drew Michanowicz, Visiting Scientist at Harvard Chan C-CHANGE and Senior Scientist at PSE Healthy Energy. "But most people haven't really considered that our homes are where the pipeline ends and that when natural gas leaks it can contain health-damaging air pollutants in addition to climate pollutants." Researchers conducted a hazard identification study, which evaluated whether air pollutants are present in unburned natural gas, but did not evaluate human exposure to those pollutants. Between December 2019 and May 2021, researchers collected over 200 unburned natural gas samples from 69 unique kitchen stoves and building pipelines across Greater Boston. From these samples, researchers detected 296 unique chemical compounds, 21 of which are federally designated as hazardous air pollutants. They also measured the concentration of odorants in consumer-grade natural gasthe chemicals that give gas its characteristic smelland found that leaks containing about 20 parts per million methane may not have enough odorant for people to detect them. The samples were taken from the territories of Eversource Gas, National Grid, and the former Columbia Gas, who together provide service to 93% of Massachusetts gas customers. Key findings: Consumer-grade natural gas supplied to Massachusetts contains varying levels of at least 21 different hazardous air pollutants, as defined by the U.S. EPA, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and hexane. Concentrations of hazardous air pollutants in natural gas varied depending on location and time of year, with the highest concentrations found in the winter. Based on odorant concentrations, small leaks can be undetectable by smellleaks up to 10 times naturally occurring levels may be undetectable, equating to a methane concentration of about 20 parts per million. When gas leaks occur, even small amounts of hazardous air pollutants could impact indoor air quality because natural gas is used by appliances in close proximity to people. Persistent outdoor gas leaks located throughout the distribution system may also degrade outdoor air quality as precursors to particulate matter and ozone. "This study shows that gas appliances like stoves and ovens can be a source of hazardous chemicals in our homes even when we're not using them. These same chemicals are also likely to be present in leaking gas distribution systems in cities and up the supply chain," said Jonathan Buonocore, co-author and Research Scientist at Harvard Chan C-CHANGE. "Policymakers and utilities can better educate consumers about how natural gas is distributed to homes and the potential health risks of leaking gas appliances and leaking gas pipes under streets, and make alternatives more accessible." The researchers share actions that policymakers and individuals can take to mitigate health risks posed by natural gas used in homes. Policy Actions: Gas pipeline companies could be required to measure and report more detailed information on the composition of natural gas, specifically differentiating non-methane volatile organic compounds such as benzene and toluene. Gas utility providers could be required to routinely measure and report natural gas odorant content to customers similar to informational postings often produced by interstate gas pipeline companies. State regulations could require direct measurement of leaked, unburned natural gas in ambient air to be included in emissions inventories and to better determine public health risks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has the authority to set performance standards for gas stoves and ventilation hoods to limit air pollutant emissions. Home inspectors and contractors could be required to perform natural gas-appliance leak detection surveys or to measure for ppm-range methane, similar to radon tests done prior to the completion of a real estate transaction. Given the importance of odorants in detecting gas leaks, federal natural gas odorization regulations could be updated so that natural gas is odorized to meet much lower detection levels than the current 1/5th the lower explosion limit (detectable at ~1% methane). Individual Actions: Because small leaks may evade our sense of smell, getting an in-home natural gas leak detection survey performed by a licensed plumber or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor can verify that no small leaks are present. Increasing ventilation is one of the most accessible and important actions to reduce sources of indoor pollution. Opening windows and turning on a vent that exhausts to the outside when cooking are simple steps that can lower the risk of indoor exposure. If you smell gas, exit the building and then immediately call your gas company to assess whether there is a leak in or nearby your home. Explore further Scientists find the climate and health impacts of natural gas stoves are greater than previously thought More information: Home is Where the Pipeline Ends: Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Present in Natural Gas at the Point of the Residential End User, Environmental Science & Technology (2022). Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology Home is Where the Pipeline Ends: Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Present in Natural Gas at the Point of the Residential End User,(2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08298 COVID-19 has highlighted gaps in funding for critical air navigation service providers, according to a new report. Credit: Moto Club4AG/Wikimedia Commons The global pandemic has exposed some structural flaws in the funding models for air navigation service providers (ANSP), a critical component in the safety of the civil aviation industry, according to a new international study involving Western professor Geraint Harvey. COVID-19 has had huge, negative financial impact on airlines but also on ANSPs, said Harvey, who co-authored the report, "Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis: Air Traffic Charging Models and Financing of Air Navigation Service Providers." Harvey was part of an international research that included professor Peter Turnbull of the University of Bristol, and Huw Thomas at University College Dublin. The team spent the past two years researching the impact of COVID-19 on ANSPs, organizations that provide air traffic control for the global civil aviation industry. "We began by looking at the business model, in particular the funding models of air navigation service providers. This study spanned 17 countries around the world, including the U.K., the U.S. and Canada," said Harvey, Dancap Private Equity Chair in Human Organization. "We've considered how the crisis has impacted the funding of this public good." For ANSPs that are now funded from "user chargers" levied on airlines, revenues dried up while costs accumulated and key investments in new technology were put on hold, the study found. Due to the drastic decline in passenger traffic caused by the global pandemic, airlines were forced to park aircraft and lay off staff. Despite the reduction in commercial aviation, however, many other planes continued to fly for military, emergency and repatriation flights, domestic travel, general cargo and medical supplies. And ANSPs continued to operate and kept the skies open for these aircraft. "It's incredibly important to commercial navigation, it's important to safety. Irrespective of how many aircraft fly, you still need to coordinate the skies to ensure safe travel," Harvey said. "The impact of the crisis on civil aviation has been catastrophic. It has led to a reduction in passenger numbers around 70%. It has had a huge, negative financial impact on airlines and a huge financial impact on air navigation services providers, especially those that rely on the airline user-pays model. The cost worldwide is in the region of $13 billion U.S. dollars for 2020." There have long been concerns about the commercialization of ANSPs and the user-pays system that funds ongoing operations, future investment in equipment, and the training of staff. The report demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural flaws in the commercialized provision of air navigation services. "I think what the pandemic has done is shown us just how problematic some of the business models have been, particularly the commercialized business models for air navigation services provision, which are, under usual circumstances, effective." Harvey said. "These organizations have managed to achieve cost savings and efficiencies, but of course when we have a downturn in demand and airlines aren't flying, there's a problem in terms of where that financing comes from." The report's authors argued ANSPs that provide a public good should receive funding from the government to provide essential levels of services and staffing. Beyond this minimum level of service and staffing, the report suggested, users can be charged directly for air navigation services. "What is important about what we've done is to highlight the importance of a threshold funding modela government funding modelwhich can then be supported by commercial payments made by customersthat would be airlineson top of the baseline threshold funding from government," said Harvey. Policy-makers must then determine who the "users" are and how they pay for "what is ultimately an invaluable but invisible service," the report said. Explore further Slash airline emissions to meet Paris targets: report More information: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis: Air Traffic Charging Models and Financing of Air Navigation Service Providers. Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis: Air Traffic Charging Models and Financing of Air Navigation Service Providers. www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar ement/documents/2022 %20NAVIGATING%20THE%20COVID19%20CRISIS%20Turnbull%20Thomas%20Harvey%202022.pdf Positron scattering from a carbon 60 molecule. Positrons can be an important probe of the quantum properties of larger molecules. Credit: Robert Lea New research looks at positron scattering from rare gas atoms encapsulated in carbon 60 to investigate quantum properties that can't be tested with electrons. Particle scattering is an important test of the quantum properties of atoms and larger molecules. While electrons have historically dominated these experiments, their positively charged antimatter counterparts positrons can be used in promising applications when the negatively charged particles aren't suitable. A new paper published in The European Physical Journal D examines the scattering of positrons from rare gas atoms stuffed inside the fullerenes so-called "rare gas endohedrals." The paper is authored by Km Akanksha Dubey from the Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihta, India, and Marcelo Ciappina, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, China. "Our focus was to investigate positron scattering processes with rare gas endohedrals. As a reference to the endohedral system, we also considered positron scattering from bare C 60 targets," Ciappina says. "In our study, we chose rare gas atoms for encapsulation inside carbon 60 (C 60 ), as they are probably the most popular and studied endohedrals. Rare gas endohedrals are very stable formations; the encapsulated atoms find their equilibrium position at almost the geometrical center of the C 60 ." The study builds upon the findings of previous studies involving the collision of positrons with giant targets like C 60 and rare gas endohedrals. The major difference being that the resonance scattering with different sizes of the encaged atoms is elucidated in comparison to the bare C 60 scattering; resonances are also tested under the different scattering fields of the projectile-target complex. "To our surprise, resonance formations in the rare gas endohedrals are altered as compared to the case of positron-C 60 collision, despite the dominant scattering field in positron scattering being repulsive in nature," Ciappina says. The resonances at the lower energy are significantly affected by various scattering fields considered alternatively. "Thus, scattering resonances in the positron scattering find their natural abode in the C 60 and rare gas endohedrals, and the resonance states can be favorably manipulated by keeping the rare gas atoms inside it." With insights into many aspects of such collision processes, potential applications for the findings of the paper could range from positron beam spectroscopy to the investigation of nanomaterials. Explore further Researchers develop complete theory to describe high-energy vortex scattering More information: Km Akanksha Dubey et al, Positron scattering from C 60 and rare gas endohedrals, The European Physical Journal D (2022). Journal information: European Physical Journal D Km Akanksha Dubey et al, Positron scattering from Cand rare gas endohedrals,(2022). DOI: 10.1140/epjd/s10053-022-00390-x Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The latest census results are out and the number of Australians who selected "no religion" has risen again to 38.9%, up from 30.1% in 2016. This makes them the second-largest "religious group" after Christians, who make up 43.9% of the population, down from 52.1% in 2016. Australia is often described as a secular country and this ongoing movement from religion to "no religion" is one way this manifests. The numbers are interesting but, as a legal academic, I am more interested in what they mean in practice and how this ongoing shift in Australia's religious demographics plays out in our laws. Marriage equality, euthanasia and abortion Perhaps the most obvious example is marriage equality. I began teaching law and religion at the University of Western Australia just over a decade ago. At the time, we were teaching students about the arguments for and against same-sex marriage. However, this was a purely theoretical concept. True, the campaign for same-sex marriage was advanced even then. But repeated refusals at the time by political leaders such as John Howard, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd to even consider legalising same sex marriage made it seem like marriage equality was still decades away. At the time of the 2016 census, marriage equality was still theoretical. How quickly things change. In the five years between the 2016 census and 2021 census, Australia saw a monumental shift in what might broadly be considered moral laws. In December 2017 the definition of marriage was officially changed to being the union of two persons voluntarily entered into for life, regardless of gender. But marriage equality is just the tip of the iceberg. Euthanasia and abortion laws have also been reformed in the five years between the censuses. Victoria, WA and Tasmania all passed laws to legalise euthanasia. Queensland and New South Wales have also passed similar laws since the 2021 census. Abortion has been decriminalised in all states, with South Australia, NSW, the Northern Territory and Queensland all making reforms to their laws. An ongoing debate about freedom of religion Given this legal shift away from what are sometimes referred to as "traditional moral laws", it may seem strange that, concurrently, there has also been an ongoing debate about freedom of religion. The debate has been the fiercest, and most painful, in relation to discrimination by religious schools. On one hand, some religious schools claim they need to be able to maintain their unique faith identity, especially where this is out of step with mainstream beliefs. On the other, LGBTQ+ groups in particular argue discrimination is harmful and no longer acceptable in modern Australia. It is tempting to argue that, given the number of Australians who don't have a religion, religious belief should give way to the secular. However, it is important to remember that a large portion of the population still identify with a religion. It is also important to note that Australia's religious diversity is increasing. As I noted back in 2017: "In the battle for supremacy between the "nones" and Christianity, we must also be conscious of minority faiths which in 2016 made up 8.2% of the Australian population. For small and emerging faith groups, whose beliefs and practices may not be well understood in Australia, there is always a real risk of policy decisions affecting their religious beliefs and practices unintentionally or as the result of misunderstanding." It is therefore more important than ever to have a robust and respectful debate about freedom of religion and the place of religion in secular Australia. Part of the answer may lie in a balanced Religious Discrimination Act. It will also lie in respectful conversations about law reform. This must include those of minority faiths, those of the majority Christian faith, and those of no faith. Explore further Domestic violence goes unrecognized in faith communities This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The position of star-forming molecular cloud Sgr B2 close to the central source of the Milky Way, Sgr A* (Background Image: GLOSTAR). The isomers propanol and iso-propanol were both detected in Sgr B2 using the ALMA telescope. Credit: GLOSTAR collaboration (background image). Wikipedia/public domain (molecule models). An international group of researchers led by Arnaud Belloche (MPIfR, Bonn, Germany) reports the first identification of iso-propanol in interstellar space, a substance which is used as a sanitizer on Earth. Iso-propanol is the largest alcohol detected so far, demonstrating the increasing complexity of members of one of the most abundant classes of molecule that can be found in space. The identification was made possible thanks to observations of the star forming region Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) close to the center of our galaxy where many molecules have already been detected. It is the target of an extended investigation of its chemical composition with the ALMA telescope in Chile. The search for molecules in space has been going on for more than 50 years. To date, astronomers have identified 276 molecules in the interstellar medium. The Cologne Database for Molecular Spectroscopy (CDMS) provides spectroscopic data to detect these molecules, contributed by many research groups, and has been instrumental in their detection in many cases. The goal of the present work is to understand how organic molecules form in the interstellar medium, in particular in regions where new stars are born, and how complex these molecules can be. The underlying motivation is to establish connections to the chemical composition of bodies in the Solar system such as comets, as delivered for instance by the Rosetta mission to comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko a few years ago. An outstanding star-forming region in our galaxy where many molecules were detected in the past is Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2), which is located close to the famous source Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole in the center of our galaxy. "Our group began to investigate the chemical composition of Sgr B2 more than 15 years ago with the IRAM 30-m telescope," says Arnaud Belloche from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn/Germany, the leading author of the detection paper. "These observations were successful and led in particular to the first interstellar detection of several organic molecules, among many other results." With the advent of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) ten years ago, it became possible to go beyond what could be achieved toward Sgr B2 with a single-dish telescope and a long-term study of the chemical composition of Sgr B2 was started that took advantage of the high angular resolution and sensitivity provided by ALMA. So far, the ALMA observations have led to the identification of three new organic molecules (iso-propyl cyanide, N-methylformamide, urea) since 2014. The latest result within this ALMA project is now the detection of propanol (C 3 H 7 OH). Propanol is an alcohol, and is now the largest in this class of molecules that has been detected in interstellar space. This molecule exists in two forms ("isomers"), depending on which carbon atom the hydroxyl (OH) functional group is attached to: 1) normal-propanol, with OH bound to a terminal carbon atom of the chain, and 2) iso-propanol, with OH bound to the central carbon atom in the chain. Iso-propanol is also well known as the key ingredient in hand sanitizers on Earth. Both isomers of propanol in Sgr B2 were identified in the ALMA data set. It is the first time that iso-propanol is detected in the interstellar medium, and the first time that normal-propanol is detected in a star forming region. The first interstellar detection of normal-propanol was obtained shortly before the ALMA detection by a Spanish research team with single-dish radio telescopes in a molecular cloud not far from Sgr B2. The detection of iso-propanol toward Sgr B2, however, was only possible with ALMA. "The detection of both isomers of propanol is uniquely powerful in determining the formation mechanism of each. Because they resemble each other so much, they behave physically in very similar ways, meaning that the two molecules should be present in the same places at the same times," says Rob Garrod from the University of Virginia (Charlottesville/U.S.). "The only open question is the exact amounts that are presentthis makes their interstellar ratio far more precise than would be the case for other pairs of molecules. It also means that the chemical network can be tuned much more carefully to determine the mechanisms by which they form." The ALMA telescope network was essential for the detection of both isomers of propanol toward Sgr B2, thanks to its high sensitivity, its high angular resolution, and its broad frequency coverage. One difficulty in the identification of organic molecules in the spectra of star forming regions is the spectral confusion. Each molecule emits radiation at specific frequencies, its spectral "fingerprint," which is known from laboratory measurements. "The bigger the molecule, the more spectral lines at different frequencies it produces. In a source like Sgr B2, there are so many molecules contributing to the observed radiation that their spectra overlap and it is difficult to disentangle their fingerprints and identify them individually," says Holger Muller from Cologne University where laboratory work especially on normal-propanol was performed. Thanks to ALMA's high angular resolution, it was possible to isolate parts of Sgr B2 that emit very narrow spectral lines, five times narrower than the lines detected on larger scales with the IRAM 30-m radio telescope. The narrowness of these lines reduces the spectral confusion, and this was key for the identification of both isomers of propanol in Sgr B2. The sensitivity of ALMA also played a key role: it would not have been possible to identify propanol in the collected data if the sensitivity had been just twice worse. This research is a long-standing effort to probe the chemical composition of sites in Sgr B2 where new stars are being formed, and thereby understand the chemical processes at work in the course of star formation. The goal is to determine the chemical composition of the star forming sites, and possibly identify new interstellar molecules. "Propanol has long been on our list of molecules to search for, but it is only thanks to the recent work done in our laboratory to characterize its rotational spectrum that we could identify its two isomers in a robust way," says Oliver Zingsheim, also from Cologne University. Detecting closely related molecules that slightly differ in their structure (such as normal- and iso-propanol or, as was done in the past: normal- and iso-propyl cyanide) and measuring their abundance ratio allows the researchers to probe specific parts of the chemical reaction network that leads to their production in the interstellar medium. "There are still many unidentified spectral lines in the ALMA spectrum of Sgr B2 which means that still a lot of work is left to decipher its chemical composition. In the near future, the expansion of the ALMA instrumentation down to lower frequencies will likely help us to reduce the spectral confusion even further and possibly allow the identification of additional organic molecules in this spectacular source," concludes Karl Menten, Director at the MPIfR and Head of its Millimeter and Submillimeter Astronomy research department. The imaging spectral line survey ReMoCA performed with ALMA at high angular resolution and the results of a recent spectroscopic study of propanol were used to search for the iso and normal isomers of the propanol molecule in the hot molecular core Sgr B2(N2) in the neighborhood of the galactic center. The interferometric spectra were analyzed under the assumption of local thermodynamical equilibrium. The reaction network of the astrochemical model MAGICKAL was expanded in order to explore the formation routes of propanol and to put the observational results in a broader astrochemical context. The associated studies were published in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Explore further FDA warns of hand sanitizers tainted with 1-propanol More information: A. Belloche et al, Interstellar detection and chemical modeling of iso-propanol and its normal isomer, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2022). A. Belloche et al, Interstellar detection and chemical modeling of iso-propanol and its normal isomer,(2022). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202243575 O. Zingsheim et al, Rotational spectroscopy of n-propanol: Aa and Ag conformers, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2022). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202243571 Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics A new study is the first to show that classroom seat assignments have important implications for children's friendships and the enormous influence that teachers wield over the interpersonal lives of children. Credit: Florida Atlantic University Most teachers focus on academic considerations when assigning seats. A new study by Florida Atlantic University psychology researchers is the first to show that these classroom seat assignments also have important implications for children's friendships. Results of the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, revealed that friendships reflect classroom seat assignments. Students sitting next to or nearby one another were more likely to be friends with one another than students seated elsewhere in the classroom. Moreover, longitudinal analyses showed that classroom seating proximity was associated with the formation of new friendships. After seat assignments changed, students were more likely to become friends with newly near-seated classmates than with those who remained or became seated farther away. "The students in our study spent most of every day with the same 15 or so classmates. By the middle of the school year, there were no unfamiliar peers," said Brett Laursen, Ph.D., senior author and a professor of psychology in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. "Yet when seat assignments changed, new seatmates were apt to become new friends, consistent with claims that exposure alone is not a sufficient condition for friendship. Apparently, proximity transcends familiarity by providing new opportunities for the kind of exchanges that form the basis of a friendship." Participants in the study included 235 students (129 boys, 106 girls) in grades 35 (ages 811) who nominated friends at two time points (13 -14 weeks apart). Children attended a public primary school in South Florida that reflected public school students in the state in terms of ethnicity and family income. For the study, teacher seating charts were used to calculate three forms of proximity for each pair of students in a classroom. Neighbor proximity described classmates seated directly beside one another in a row or at a table, and those seated directly across from one another at a table. Group proximity included classmates identified as neighbors as well as those who were near neighbors; the latter were either one seat away in the same row or diagonal to one another at the same table. Findings for group proximity were the most robust, suggesting that children are willing (and able) to overlook their nearest neighbors in favor of those seated close enough for sustained communication. "Of course, students were not glued to their seats; interactions with far-seated peers undoubtedly occurred during lunch, recess and (in some classes) free time activities," said Laursen. "The fact that new friends tended to emerge among the newly near-seateddespite opportunities for engagement with other classmatesunderscores the power of proximity in friendship formation." Classroom proximity assumes outsized importance during the elementary school years because children this age have few other sustained opportunities to meet (and engage with) friends and because companionship is central to the definition of friendship. It has long been known that most children report that most of their friends are in the same classroom. We now know that they are probably seated nearby. Elementary school children spend most of their days in assigned seats, in the company of classmates. In most elementary school classrooms, teachers decide who sits next to whom and, by extension, who interacts with whom. "Taken together, our findings highlight the enormous influence that teachers wield over the interpersonal lives of children. With great power comes great responsibility," said Laursen. "We urge teachers to exercise their power judiciously. Unintended social consequences have been known to arise when adults meddle in the social lives of children." Explore further Assigned classroom seats can promote friendships between dissimilar students More information: Sharon Faur et al, Classroom Seat Proximity Predicts Friendship Formation, Frontiers in Psychology (2022). Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology Sharon Faur et al, Classroom Seat Proximity Predicts Friendship Formation,(2022). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.796002 You are here: World Flash More than 40 people were found dead on Monday inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, U.S. state of Texas, local media reported. The truck was found next to railroad tracks in a remote area on the city's southern outskirts, according to the reports. Forty-six suspected undocumented migrants died from heat in the 18-wheeler, said the reports, citing local fire department authorities. About 15 others were rescued and transported to area hospitals. At least five of them were in critical conditions, said the reports. "There are about 46 migrants dead in San Antonio ... They hoped for a better life. Lord after Uvalde and now this, help us!" Archbishop Gustavo tweeted. "More than 40 hopeful lives were lost. I urge you to think compassionately, pray for the deceased, the ailing, and their families at this moment," Ron Nirenberg, mayor of San Antonio, which is ranked as the 7th largest city in the United States, tweeted on Monday night. "Migrants seeking asylum should always be treated as a humanitarian crisis, but this evening we're facing a horrific human tragedy," the mayor lamented. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking reelection in November, put the death toll to at least 42, slamming U.S. President Joe Biden for the tragedy. "At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies," the governor tweeted. The bodies were discovered at an intersection near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas Tribune reported, citing local officials on condition of anonymity. KSAT-TV reported that ambulances and law enforcement officials, including agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, had swarmed the scene. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain White supremacists are using the debate around women's reproductive rights to promote racist and extremist agendas, finds a new study released today, following news on Friday that millions of women in the US will lose the constitutional right to abortion. US white nationalists are heading on to a neo-Nazi website, "Stormfront," in order to recruit more people to their way of thinking. Online they describe abortions by white women as "murder" and look to "weaponize" the procedure. However, the extremists reason abortion by non-white women is "acceptable" or even "desirable," because, they argue, the procedure could solve threats to white dominanceincluding the "urgent need to limit third world populations." The findings, published in the journal Information, Communication & Society, come following a detailed computer-aided analysis of more than 30,000 posts, spanning over two decades on the site. The study authors warn that their evidence highlights how white extremists "weaponize" abortion arguments to attract recruits, using the political debate as a gateway argument that invites them to dive deeper into white male supremacy ideology. "Our study shows that science, medicine, and conspiracy theories meet on the dark corners of the internet," says lead researcher Dr. Yotam Ophir at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, U.S.. "The result is the creation and spread of dangerous racist and misogynistic ideas. These are often born in extremists' platforms, but have spilled over into mainstream politics and discourse." Abortion rights are a fiercely contested issue in the US. On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned its 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision, in a judgment that therefore entitles individual states to ban the procedure. Specifically, in this research, Dr. Ophir and his team wanted to better understand how white nationalists not only use abortion debates online to further their cause, but also apply different moral standards to whites and non-whites. By analyzing posts made between 2001 and 2017 on Stormfronta discussion board founded by former Ku Klax Klansman Don Blackthe authors found a marked difference in the way far-right extremists conceptualized abortions for whites versus non-whites. Abortions among white women were described as "murder." Using an entire topic labeled "avoid abortions," Stormfront users accused white women considering terminations as being "deeply unethical" and even "treasonous" to the white race and their gender role. For example, talking about abortions among white women, a user stated that "abortion is the worst thing of all, it is killing a child. Killing a child is worse than bringing him/her up without a father. Adoption is always an option." Whereas with non-white women, posts often excused abortion in order to limit non-white populations. The authors say that such discourse could be used to recruit members and to "normalize extreme, racist ideologies." To protect the public, Dr. Ophir says people, including children, need better tools to navigate the "misleading information environment that is the 21st century." Additional themes identified on Stormfront included "The Great Replacement conspiracy theory"a supposed plot to replace white people with non-white immigrants that is said to have inspired the Buffalo grocery store killings suspect. This is something Dr. Ophir and colleagues argue needs more attention from the mainstream press, as they are concerned there is a spread of the "great replacement conspiracy." "Potential solutions should not end with social media and the internet. We also need to pay more attention to the rise of such conspiratorial thinking among television channels like Fox News and prominent political figures," he says. Stormfront posts analyzed by the team were supplied to the researchers by the Southern Poverty Law Center and by other academics. The site is focused on propagating white nationalism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, as well as anti-Hinduism, anti-feminism, homophobia, transphobia, Holocaust denial, anti-Catholicism, and white supremacy. As of 2015, the website was estimated to have than 300,000 registered members. Explore further US abortion trends have changed since landmark 1973 ruling More information: Weaponizing Reproductive Rights: A Mixed-Method Analysis of White Nationalists' Discussion of Abortions Online, Information Communication & Society (2022). Weaponizing Reproductive Rights: A Mixed-Method Analysis of White Nationalists' Discussion of Abortions Online,(2022). DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2022.2077654 An example of partial unfolding of tRNA under heat stress. The image on the left shows the natural three-dimensional conformation of a portion of the tRNA with the D-loop (blue) and T-loop (yellow) connected in what is referred to as kissing loops. The two images on the right show the transition in structure that occurs upon heat stress. D- and T-loops retain their blue and yellow coloring. There is partial unfolding of the acceptor stem and the kissing loops no longer kiss. Credit: Bevilacqua Lab, Penn State A new method allows researchers to determine the structure and abundance of "transfer RNAs" (tRNA)small, highly structured and chemically modified RNAs involved in protein productionin living cells. Misfolding of tRNAs has been linked to human diseases ranging from cancer to type 2 diabetes and neurological disorders. The new method, which also shows how tRNA structure can change when the cells are stressed by high temperatures, a common stressor faced by plants, bacteria, and even humans, could potentially inform the development of therapeutics for RNA-linked diseases and is applicable to other small, highly modified types of RNA. A paper describing the method, developed by researchers at Penn State, appears this week in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "About eight years ago, our team developed a method called 'Structure-seq' that uses chemical modifications and high-throughput sequencing to determine the structure of messenger RNAs in vivo," said Philip Bevilacqua, distinguished professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State and a leader of the research team. "We've expanded that method here to overcome the challenge of working with smaller RNAs that have very stable structures and are naturally highly modified with chemical tags, like tRNA." RNA is similar in many ways to DNA. Both are long molecules composed of small units called "bases" or "nucleotides," represented by A, T, C, and G in DNA (the T is replaced by U in RNA). But where DNA is double-strandedtwo long molecules that run alongside each other connected by hydrogen bonds between complementary unitsRNA is just a single strand. This difference is essential as RNA molecules get their structure by folding back on themselves forming short sections where the units bond like double-stranded DNA but interspersed with single-stranded segments that form loops and bulges. The general structure of tRNA was determined in the 1960s and 70s and is classically described as a cloverleaf with three loops connected by double-stranded segments around a central hub. There are dozens of types of tRNA that vary only slightly in their sequence. Each type of tRNA corresponds to a specific amino acidthe building block units of proteinsand their structures are vital to their function in delivering the amino acids to the site of protein production in the cell. "We can predict the structure of RNA molecules based on their sequence and by modifying the molecules with the chemical dimethyl sulfate (DMS), which adds a different chemical tag to certain nucleotides that are exposed in the structure," said Ryota Yamagami, a postdoctoral researcher at Penn State at the time of the research and now an assistant professor at Ehime University in Japan. "Because tRNAs are small and already highly modified, which can cause problems for sequencing, we had to develop methods to ensure that we captured the full-length molecules." Change in tRNA structure abundance due to heat stress. The image shows two potential configurations of a specific tRNA molecule. The image on the left shows the natural, functional cloverleaf structure, the image on the right shows a misfolded rod-like configuration. When grown under natural conditions at 37 degrees Celsius, only 10% of the molecules misfold, but when grown at high temperatures (47C) this increases approximately 4-fold to 41% misfolded. Credit: Bevilacqua Lab, Penn State Yamagami explained that in their method, live cells are treated with DMS, then RNA is extracted from the cells and selected by size to isolate the tRNA. For sequencing, DNA copies of the RNA molecules must be made. To do this, small segments of DNA, called primers, are first attached to one end of the RNA molecules, which prevents the loss of any information from the short RNA sequence. DNA copies are then made using a special version of the enzyme, "reverse transcriptase," which is not stopped by chemical modifications to the nucleotides when used under certain conditions, but instead often introduces errors when it comes to a modified nucleotide. The researchers then use these errors to identify which nucleotides are modifieda process called "mutational profiling"to help with their structure predictions. "With this method we get highly accurate structure predictions at the level of individual molecules," said Bevilacqua. "This also allows us to determine the abundance of each type of tRNA in the cell and the presence of some natural modifications, which can be important for the efficient production of proteins and the overall health of the cell." Identification and abundance of natural modifications was worked out by Jacob Sieg, a chemistry graduate student in the Bevilacqua lab, through experiments in the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences Metabolomics Core Facility. The researchers performed these experiments in bacterial cells that were cultured in normal temperatures, in cells that were cultured at high temperature (heat stress) and in cells that were given a short burst of high temperature (heat shock). In both heat stress and shock conditions several types of tRNA molecules misfolded and the relative abundance and shape of different tRNAs changed. "The concept that even a highly structured RNA such as tRNA is conformationally responsive to environmental conditions is an exciting finding from this study," said Sarah M. Assmann, Waller Professor of Biology and an author of the study. "It expands our basic understanding of how cells respond to their environment and stress and this knowledge could help inform the development of novel interventions." The new method, called "tRNA structure-seq," could be used to study the structure of small RNAs related to human diseases and is not limited to tRNA. "Seeing how tRNA molecules respond to these stresses and beyond will help us better understand how cells respond to stress and could also help us understand diseases linked to tRNA misfolding," said Bevilacqua. "This new method overcomes the difficulties of working with small, highly modified RNA molecules and can be applied to any organism and to other small RNAs." Explore further Mim-tRNAseq: A method that accurately measures the abundance and modification status of different tRNAs More information: Ryota Yamagami et al, Genome-wide analysis of the in vivo tRNA structurome reveals RNA structural and modification dynamics under heat stress, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Ryota Yamagami et al, Genome-wide analysis of the in vivo tRNA structurome reveals RNA structural and modification dynamics under heat stress,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201237119 The intense radiation stemming from the TDE debris disk around the black hole (centre) heats surrounding dust until it begins to radiate brightly in the infrared. This process is called a dust echo. Credit: Science Communication Lab and DESY. High-energy neutrinos are highly fascinating subatomic particles produced when very fast charged particles collide with other particles or photons. IceCube, a renowned neutrino detector located at the South Pole, has been detecting extragalactic high-energy neutrinos for almost a decade. While many physicists have examined the observations gathered by the IceCube detector, the origin of most of the high-energy neutrinos it detected has not yet been determined. These neutrinos were detected beyond our galaxy and could result from various cosmological events. Researchers at Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron DESY, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin and other academic institutes in Europe and the U.S. have recently carried out a study focusing on a specific violent cosmological event, which is referred to as AT2019fdr. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, shows that this event could be the origin of a high-energy neutrino. "Our team has been conducting a systematic study for 3 years, where we used the optical survey telescope of the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) to scan the sky region of each new high-energy neutrino that we can observe," Simeon Reusch, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. "Our recent paper examines a possible source for one of these neutrinos, a huge optical outburst in a very distant galaxy, which has been called AT2019fdr." AT2019fdr, the optical outburst examined by Reusch and his colleagues, is a transient event, which means that it changes over time. The researchers studied this event in great depth, trying to determine its possible source. Based on their analyses, they concluded that AT2019fdr was most likely a tidal disruption event (TDE). TDEs occur when a star approaches the supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy and is close enough to be affected by it. "As the star approaches the black hole, the gravitational pull in front of the star is much stronger than at its back, ripping the star apart," Reusch explained. "Around half of the mass of the star is then accreted around the black hole, causing the debris to shine brightly for months." Reusch and his colleagues also tried to determine whether AT2019fdr could be the possible origin of the high-energy neutrino they observed. To do this, they teamed up with theoretical physicists who could model the source and make theoretical predictions based on their models. "We tried to gather as much electromagnetic data on AT2019fdr as possible, spanning a wide range of wavelengths," Reusch said. "We observed the location and gathered preexisting data for it in radio, infrared, optical, UV, X-ray and gamma-ray wavelengths." In their analysis, the researchers assessed both the AT2019fdr event and other possible sources for the high-energy neutrino they observed, all of which were situated within a reasonable proximity. Interestingly, they ruled out all sources except for AT2019fdr, due to their light curve (i.e., brightness profile over time) or due to the optical spectra they took. "The strong dust echo we detected is in the infrared range, tying AT2019fdr to a subclass of dust echo sources in the center of galaxies," Reusch said. "The actual 'echo' is produced when the intense radiation from the TDE heats surrounding dust, which then starts to glow in the infrared range. The huge size of the system causes time delays due to light travel times, which is the reason why the peak of the dust echo is delayed with respect to the flare." Reusch and his colleagues also observed a late-time X-ray signal with the eROSITA aboard the SRG satellite, with an extremely soft spectrum. Overall, both their measurements and theoretical analyses point to AT2019fdr as the source of the high-energy neutrino they observed. In addition, the team's findings suggest that AT2019fdr is a TDE and not a superluminous supernova, a "regular" flare stemming from the center of the galaxy, or another type of cosmological event. "Our findings are noteworthy, as a previous paper by our group had already identified a TDE (AT2019fdr) as the likely source of another high-energy neutrino," Reusch added. "If indeed these TDEs were both neutrino sources, they must be quite efficient in producing high-energy neutrinos. Multi-messenger studies like the one presented in our paper provide insights into cosmic particle accelerators like TDEs or AGN that are not possible based on photons alone." In their next studies, the researchers will conduct more analyses to further validate their findings. In addition, they plan to seek for other TDEs within the large cosmological event dataset compiled by ZTF so far. More information: Simeon Reusch et al, Candidate Tidal Disruption Event AT2019fdr Coincident with a High-Energy Neutrino, Physical Review Letters (2022). Simeon Reusch et al, Candidate Tidal Disruption Event AT2019fdr Coincident with a High-Energy Neutrino,(2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.221101 Robert Stein et al, A tidal disruption event coincident with a high-energy neutrino, Nature Astronomy (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-01295-8 Journal information: Physical Review Letters , Nature Astronomy 2022 Science X Network Employees and their organisations can gain from union membership, research shows. Credit: SFIO CRACHO/Shutterstock Over the past century, unions have successfully campaigned for a minimum wage, holiday and sickness pay, equal opportunity rights, maternity and paternity rights and a two-day weekend for British workers, among other benefits. With more than 40,000 U.K. rail workers participating in the recent very visible strike action, discussions about why people might want to join a trade union have tended to focus on improving pay and working conditions. But unions can do much more for employees and even for employers. In fact, research shows their benefits can extend beyond individual organizations, boosting sectors and even the economy by reducing staff turnover, providing or promoting training and encouraging innovation. Research from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 35 countries shows that individuals working in organizations where unions engaged in firm-level collective bargaining enjoy higher wages. And, when pay and conditions are protected, employees are less likely to change jobs, certainly in the U.K. Data published in 2021 by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows 47% of unionized workers worked for the same employer for ten years or more, compared to 29% of all employees. A 2017 analysis of the national Work Employment Relations Survey (WERS) data, commissioned by the Trades Union Congress, similarly found that staff were less likely to voluntarily leave unionized organizations. While more recent survey evidence would be helpfuland the WERS analysis points out that data in this area can be sparseit makes a number of other noteworthy conclusions. These relate to a positive correlation between innovation, attitude to work-life balance and off-the-job training at unionized organizations. Other research shows the benefits of training in relation to worker retention and productivity. All for one So how have unions been able to have this kind of impact on working life? Collective bargaining is a major factor. The interests of employers and workers conflict and/or converge to varying extents at different points in time. And while unions attend disciplinary and grievance meetings with individual members, they also engage in collective bargaining on behalf of their members by negotiating with employers on pay and conditions. If negotiations break down and unions meet the Trade Union Act balloting thresholds, members can organize strike action. It is at such times that union densitythe percentage of employees who are union membersis key, particularly when it comes to collective bargaining. High union density within an organization can be a powerful bargaining tool when strikes are threatened. The impact of collective bargaining varies depending on the type of system adopted, according to OECD research . It shows that the best outcomes for employment levels, productivity and employee wages are achieved via collective bargaining that aligns wage and working conditions agreements across sectors, but also allows agreements to be adapted at the organization level. This is known as "organized decentralization" and is used in countries such as Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Germany. On the other hand, the U.K. uses a fully decentralized system that limits the benefits of collective bargaining for workers, organizations and the wider economy. There is no pay coordination across sectors and bargaining units, very little if any government influence, and collective bargaining happens at the organization level only rather than across sectors. The transport and storage sector is one of four U.K. industries with the highest union density. Credit: Blue Planet Studio/Shutterstock Further strikes by rail workers could happen in coming weeks and there is growing discontent among other workers, including British Airways staff, teachers and NHS workers. Unions will be at the forefront of any negotiations between these workers, their employers and the government. Industries with higher union density will bring more power to the negotiating table. The percentage of unionized workers varies across sectors, industries and age groups in the U.K., however. About half (50.1)% of U.K. public sector employees and 12.8% of private sector employees were unionized in 2021. The four industries with the highest union density are education (49.4%), human health and social work activities (39.2%), public administration and defense (38.6%) and transport and storage (36.6%). Employees over 35 years of age made up 63% of the UK's overall employees and 76% of unionized employees in 2021. Only 4.3% of union members were aged between 16 and 24 years old and 19.8% were aged between 25 and 34 years old. One reason for lower membership levels among younger workers is that they are more likely to be in precarious employment with less access to unions. For example, one-third of those aged between 18 and 34 years old returned to the workforce after the pandemic via the "gig economy." ONS data also shows that 15.1% of workers in temporary positions are unionized compared to 23.7% of workers in permanent positions. Yet, a June 2022 YouGov poll shows 49% of respondents aged between 18 and 24 years old support the rail strikes, with older age groups showing less support. The potential for strike action across several industries in coming months relates to societal issues such as decreasing real income. Dialogue between unions, employers and government could help address these concerns without the need for strike action. In fact, research shows that collective bargaining by unions can benefit both sidescompanies and employeesas well as society. But, as we have seen in recent weeks, its failure can create significant disruption in workplaces with strong union membership. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Democratic congressional candidate Matt Castellis campaign is circulating nominating petitions to establish an independent Moderate Party line in the 21st Congressional District race, an action that would guarantee him a spot on the November general election ballot, regardless of the outcome of the Democratic primary. Thats been an effort going on for the last several weeks, said Washington County Democratic Chairman Alan Stern. Stern said the Washington County Democratic Committee collected well over 500 signatures on Castellis behalf on the independent nominating petitions. Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official from the town of Saratoga, is running against Matt Putorti, a lawyer from Whitehall, in the Aug. 23 primary for the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, in the November general election. Putorti, responding to Castelli establishing an independent ballot line, criticized Castellis depiction as a moderate. Im a proud Democrat. Ive always been a proud Democrat starting when I registered at 18 in Whitehall, Putorti said in a statement. I am running for the nomination of the party that represents the values I will fight for in Congress: an economy that works for everyone, equality for all Americans, voter enfranchisement, a womans right to abortion, and commonsense gun safety. I wont moderate any of those beliefs to try to win an election. Thats not how were going to defeat Elise Stefanik. Putortis campaign said Putorti will not run on an independent ballot line. The Castelli campaign had not returned email and voicemail messages seeking comment for this report, as of 8:15 p.m. Monday. Stern said Castellis independent line is primarily intended to place Castelli on par on the ballot with Stefanik, who is running on two party lines Republican and Conservative. He was looking for a second ballot line, Stern said. Alex Degrasse, senior adviser to Stefanik, said the congresswoman will present her record to Republicans, Democrats and independents in the district alike. Far Left New York City Democrat Matt Castelli launched his campaign shamefully comparing 9/11 to January 6th, Degrasse said, in a written statement. Castelli supports gun control, the largest tax increase and largest spending bill in our nations history, and supports Joe Biden. There is nothing moderate about his positions; he is running as a Far-Left Democrat in the Far-Left Democrat Party. Stern said he expects that Castelli will continue to actively campaign, even if he loses the Democratic primary. I expect that he will, but thats something you should probably ask the campaign, Stern said. The filing period for independent nominating petitions began June 27 and ends July 5, according to the state Board of Elections. Maury Thompson covered local government and politics for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He continues to follow regional politics as a freelance writer. Love 5 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 The former Aluminum Shapes in South Jersey, a manufacturing complex caught in an international tax scandal and liquidated through bankruptcy in 2021, is back from the dead. Instead of being turned into just another warehouse, two companies bought the equipment and melting furnace in what amounted to an industrial yard sale and will restart the factory, officials with the companies and the real estate firm that owns the complex said this month. Almag Aluminum Inc., in Canada, and Western Extrusions Corp., in Texas, will lease the plant. The location off I-95 enables easy access to East Coast markets, and the companies can quickly reutilize the industrial equipment as the U.S. economy deals with pandemic-related supply-chain nightmares, executives said. At one time, Aluminum Shapes, which was founded in Philadelphia in 1954, employed 3,000 in Pennsauken. By late last year, the complexs workforce had dwindled to 110 workers who lost their jobs in the bankruptcy. The new aluminum companies could hire a combined 300 workers over the next few years, the executives at the family-owned firms said in separate interviews. They dont compete directly with each other and will operate in separate areas of the subdivided complex. Available and skilled former Aluminum Shapes employees also were a benefit in a tight labor market, the executives said. The Aluminum Shapes plant appeared destined to become an Amazon-style distribution center. We are ready to start right away, said Bennett McEvoy, president of Western Extrusions. We already have 20 employees, and once we get the permits we will have greater hiring. Western bought a 16-inch aluminum extrusion press, one of the largest in the United States, and the complexs scrap-melting furnace. Officials said the former owner let the permits to operate an aluminum-manufacturing plant expire. They expect new permits to be issued within a couple months. A new plan Velocity Venture Partners in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, a real estate investment firm that specializes in acquiring older industrial buildings and that owns about 6.5 million square feet of space, is leasing to the aluminum companies. Velocity bought the Aluminum Shapes property and equipment for $32 million in a bankruptcy auction last November. Velocity then sold off the office and manufacturing equipment. Other firms bidding in the auction saw it as a scrape-and-redevelop site for warehousing or nonmanufacturing uses, said Velocity founding partner Tony Grelli. He also spoke about the site as a potential warehouse earlier this year. But there was so much irreplaceable infrastructure there such as a high-amp electric supply into the complex powered partly by methane gas and solar, and an on-site wastewater treatment plant that Velocity believed it could remain a viable manufacturing site with the proper tenants, Grelli said. We thought we would capitalize on the buildings history rather than run away from it, Grelli said. These guys are leaders in their industry, and we did a ton of research on them before we leased to them. Grelli said the terms of the leases are five years with significant extension options. The aluminum manufacturing operations will occupy about two-thirds of the complex, Grelli said. Velocity is still seeking tenants for the remaining space. That tenant could be a manufacturer, warehouse operator or distributor. Site had role in trade fraudThe last owner of Aluminum Shapes was Chinese aluminum kingpin Zhongtian Big Boss Liu, who headed the largest aluminum extrusion company in Asia, China Zhongwang. Lius companies were accused of devising an elaborate scheme to avoid paying punitive U.S. tariffs from 2011 to 2014. Aluminum pallets were imported as finished products, a distinction that would enable Lius firms to dodge a whopping 374% tariff. The pallets were stored in warehouses in California and Mexico and in Pennsauken, and ultimately remelted into other products. At Lius direction, defendants would stockpile and cause to be stockpiled aluminum extrusions in the form of pallets ... at the Irvine, Ontario, Fontana and Riverside warehouses [in California] and at Aluminum Shapes in New Jersey, the indictment said. Last August, a California jury found six companies tied to Liu guilty of defrauding the U.S. of $1.8 billion in duties on the aluminum pallets. The companies were based in California. Neither Aluminum Shapes nor its South Jersey executives were charged in the 2019 indictment. A fresh start McEvoy, 39, is the second generation to run Western Extrusions, which began operations in Carrollton, Texas, in 1980 under a circus tent because construction of its plant wasnt finished. Early on, the firm manufactured residential and commercial window frames. It now has 1 million square feet of space in Carrollton, employs 850 workers, and has diversified into truck-trailer, solar and other markets. Pennsauken will be its first location outside of Carrollton. The company had been looking to expand. When the Texas ice storm in February 2021 shut the Carrollton plant for about three weeks, the need became more urgent, McEvoy said. He did not disclose what the company paid for the Aluminum Shapes equipment. But he said that Western Extrusions would put millions of dollars into upgrades. Almag opened in 1953 and has three plants in the Toronto area and two in Alabama, with combined employment of 550 workers. The company sells extrusions for the architectural lighting, office furniture, store fixture and signage markets, said Joe Jackman, the company president. At Aluminum Shapes, Almag bought two smaller presses, the anodizing line for coating and fabrication equipment. Almag considered trucking the Pennsauken equipment to Canada or Alabama but decided to keep it in South Jersey after conversations with Velocity, Jackman said. Almag signed the lease for the manufacturing space about two weeks ago. Almag also could melt waste aluminum, a manufacturing by-product, at Western Extrusions foundry without shipping it outside Pennsauken. Jackman called the cost savings a huge benefit. Commenting on the Aluminum Shapes saga, Jackman said this could be a good movie. The latest testimony about the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has Donald Trump rebuffing his own securitys warnings about armed protesters in the crowd gathering for a rally near the White House. A former White House aide also tells the House committee investigating the attack that Trump desperately attempted to join his supporters as they marched to the Capitol. In her testimony Tuesday, Cassidy Hutchinson described an angry, defiant president who grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential SUV when the Secret Service refused to allow him go to the Capitol. Trump has dismissed her as a total phony. CAPE MAY City Council unanimously said yes to an increase in starting pay for rookie lifeguards, who will see a wage bump to $15 per hour from $12 per hour. The city cited a lifeguard shortage this year. Most businesses report that its been a tough summer to find workers, and the citys resolution also says the issue has been exacerbated by conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cape May Beach Patrol has 36 to 40 guards on the beach every day, but heading into the Independence Day holiday, the city is still short about 10 full-time guards, city manager Michael Voll told council on June 21. He asked council to approve the increase. That will be a help, Voll said. So far this summer, there had been 12 water rescues, he told council as of Tuesday, and 14 first aid calls that required a response form the Cape May Fire Department. This has already been a difficult summer, with multiple ocean drownings reported at the Jersey shore already, including three in a brief period in Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. The raise is not retroactive, according to the new agreement reached with the Cape May Lifeguard Association, dated June 21. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three Ventnor police officers wont face charges for fatally shooting a 30-year-old Black man in August 2020, a state grand jury ruled Monday. The officers, Michael Arena, Pierluigi Mancuso and Robert Scarborough, shot 30-year-old Amir Johnson, of Wilks-Barre, Pennsylvania, during a confrontation at Wellington and West End avenues Aug. 6. Police Chief Joseph Fussner could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon. Johnson can be seen on body camera footage released by the state Attorney Generals Office a month after the shooting holding a broken glass bottle, demanding the officers shoot him. The officers tried calming Johnson down, offering him assistance. Johnson, who had noticeable self-lacerations on his neck, quickly advanced toward the officers with the bottle. After disobeying commands to drop the bottle, the officers fired several rounds at Johnson. Six shots can be heard on video before Johnson falls to the ground groaning in pain and cursing at officers while they work to handcuff him. He was pronounced dead at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, about 6 p.m., about two hours after police responded to calls about Johnson acting erratically in the roadway. Sarah Johnson, Amir Johnsons cousin, said in a 2021 interview that the 30-year-old was in Atlantic City with friends, trying to enjoy himself following the death of his fiancee. The Attorney Generals Office, as it does with all police-involved shootings, directed its Office of Public Integrity and Accountability to investigate the encounter to determine whether officers actions were justified. After testimony from witnesses, presentations of forensic evidence, examinations of body camera footage and reviewing autopsy results, a grand jury completed deliberations Monday and voted no bill, finding the officers actions did not meet the criteria needed for charges to be handed down, the Attorney Generals Office said Tuesday. State law enables police officers to use deadly force when they reasonably believe it is immediately needed to protect the lives of themselves or others, or if theres an imminent risk of severe injury, according to the Attorney Generals Office. A conflicts check was conducted under the Independent Prosecutor Directive, and no actual or potential conflict of interest was found involving any individual assigned to the investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by OPIA Executive Director Thomas Eicher, the Attorney Generals Office said. Once these investigations finish, OPIA determines whether any principal should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review under the attorney generals Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. OPIA monitors any resulting review and takes such necessary actions to ensure the review is completed quickly, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review, the Attorney Generals Office said. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The stories of Holocaust survivors from South Jersey will be told next month in original short play performances sponsored by the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University. The series of three plays in The Manya Project will be presented in three free performances at Stocktons John F. Scarpa Academic Center, 3711 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City. Performances are scheduled as follows: Rella, Rose, and I: Elizabeth Ehrlich Roths Story of Survival will be performed at 7 p.m. July 7. Try to Survive: Rose Ickowicz Rechnics Memory of the Holocaust will be performed at 7 p.m. July 14. Girl in a Striped Dress: The Holocaust Story of Rosalie Lebovic Simon will be performed at 7 p.m. July 28. Stockton student teacher among New Jersey's distinguished clinical interns GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP A student teacher recognized by the state Department of Education credit The plays were created from the memoirs of Holocaust survivors Ehrlich Roth, of Vineland; Lebovic Simon, of Margate; and Ickowicz Rechnic, of Atlantic City, who died in 2006. The project is a collaboration with Anthony Hostetter, an assistant professor in the theater department at Rowan University in Glassboro. Hostetter worked with the Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton to highlight life stories of Holocaust survivors who had written memoirs through the Stockton Centers Writing as Witness Project. It is essential that we take advantage of every opportunity to tell the stories of our Holocaust survivors, said Gail Rosenthal, executive director of the Stockton Holocaust Center. It is especially poignant that these are stories of local survivors. Each play will be performed by recent graduates of Rowan, who performed the plays as their capstone projects. I hope these plays do justice to these heroic women who experienced so much tragedy but went onto show the world that humanity, compassion and love is ultimately stronger that violence and hate, Hostetter said. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 609-652-4699. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three Ventnor police officers wont face charges for fatally shooting a 30-year-old Black man in August 2020, a state grand jury ruled Monday. The officers, Michael Arena, Pierluigi Mancuso and Robert Scarborough, shot 30-year-old Amir Johnson, of Wilks-Barre, Pennsylvania, during a confrontation at Wellington and West End avenues Aug. 6. Police Chief Joseph Fussner could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon. Johnson can be seen on body camera footage released by the state Attorney Generals Office a month after the shooting holding a broken glass bottle, demanding the officers shoot him. The officers tried calming Johnson down, offering him assistance. Johnson, who had noticeable self-lacerations on his neck, quickly advanced toward the officers with the bottle. After disobeying commands to drop the bottle, the officers fired several rounds at Johnson. Six shots can be heard on video before Johnson falls to the ground groaning in pain and cursing at officers while they work to handcuff him. He was pronounced dead at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, about 6 p.m., about two hours after police responded to calls about Johnson acting erratically in the roadway. Sarah Johnson, Amir Johnsons cousin, said in a 2021 interview that the 30-year-old was in Atlantic City with friends, trying to enjoy himself following the death of his fiancee. The Attorney Generals Office, as it does with all police-involved shootings, directed its Office of Public Integrity and Accountability to investigate the encounter to determine whether officers actions were justified. After testimony from witnesses, presentations of forensic evidence, examinations of body camera footage and reviewing autopsy results, a grand jury completed deliberations Monday and voted no bill, finding the officers actions did not meet the criteria needed for charges to be handed down, the Attorney Generals Office said Tuesday. State law enables police officers to use deadly force when they reasonably believe it is immediately needed to protect the lives of themselves or others, or if theres an imminent risk of severe injury, according to the Attorney Generals Office. A conflicts check was conducted under the Independent Prosecutor Directive, and no actual or potential conflict of interest was found involving any individual assigned to the investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by OPIA Executive Director Thomas Eicher, the Attorney Generals Office said. Once these investigations finish, OPIA determines whether any principal should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review under the attorney generals Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. OPIA monitors any resulting review and takes such necessary actions to ensure the review is completed quickly, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review, the Attorney Generals Office said. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. People turned in more than 300 guns during the Moline Police Department/Crime Stoppers gun buyback event. The event Saturday was at the department's headquarters, 1640 4th Ave., Moline. The exchanges were to be no questions asked, and organizers offered $100 cash for a qualifying handgun or shotgun and $200 cash for a qualifying semi-automatic rifle that used a magazine, according to the police. The money was raised by donation. A total of 305 guns were turned in, police said. The money, $22,500, was gone in about 50 minutes. The firearms were still being inventoried as of Monday. Unwanted guns left unsecured and unwatched often are used in crimes, police said in the weeks before the event. The goal of the event is to reduce gun crimes by taking such firearms out of circulation. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A judge on Monday sentenced a Moline man in relation to a fatal 2021 hit-and-run crash. The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office charged Jayden M. Jackson, 19, with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The charge resulted from the death of Dawn White, who was killed on Nov. 6 at 60th Street and John Deere Road. Authorities stated White, 43, of Moline, was a pedestrian struck by a dark-colored Ford passenger car. The car did not stop after the collision. Prosecutors accused Jackson, driving the Ford Fusion, of leaving the scene and not contacting the authorities about the collision within a half hour. During a morning hearing, Rock Island County Chief Circuit Judge Frank Fuhr sentenced Jackson to four years in an Illinois Department of Corrections prison, according to court records. Once his term is complete, he must also serve two years of mandatory supervised release. Jackson will get credit for the time he served and is eligible for day-for-day credit depending on his behavior in prison, according to court records. These credits could mean he serves about half of the four years. He pleaded guilty to the charge in May after negotiations with prosecutors, according to court records. Before deciding the sentence, Fuhr also heard arguments from the prosecution and defense about what they thought the sentence should be and victim impact statements from Whites loved ones, court records state. Officials also developed a presentence investigation report ahead of Mondays hearing, court records state. Such reports provide background about a defendant that a judge can use to help determine the appropriate sentence. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Another couple hundred people protested for abortion rights midday Monday in the Quad-Cities, four days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and continued a weekend of protests in the Quad-Cities and across the country. Starting in Schwiebert Park in Rock Island, demonstrators marched across the Centennial Bridge to downtown Davenport, stopping at the police station. The route was symbolic of connecting the Iowa and Illinois Quad-Cities in a well-traveled location, said organizer Savanna Means. She grew up in Davenport and now lives in Moline. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned several federal protections for abortion, reversing the 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, and allowing states to put restrictions on abortion before the point of "fetal viability." Nothing changes immediately to abortion access in Iowa and Illinois after the high court's ruling, but lawmakers in charge of the two states are trending in opposite directions on the abortion debate. Iowa Republicans praised the ruling, and have pressed for additional bans and restrictions on the procedure. Illinois has gone the other direction, repealing a decades-old trigger law that would've reverted the state to a pre-Roe abortion ban. Means told a couple of hundred attendees Monday that she had an abortion at age 18, when both she and her partner at the time used meth. Now, she said, she's five years sober, owns a home, has a child, and is actively trying to become pregnant with her fiance. "We all need the right to choose because I can almost guarantee you if I had not had an abortion, I don't even think I'd be alive today," Means said. " That's the truth, and that angers some people, but I am sure glad I'm f---ing here today." Davenport Alderwoman Marion Meginnis told the crowd at nearly 72 years old, she "can't believe we're still dealing with this matter." She encouraged attendees to register and vote in elections for candidates that support abortion access the Illinois primary, for example, is Tuesday. "It isn't about choice, it's about control of our bodies, and some people who feel we shouldn't have this control," Meginnis said. Another woman, who did not identify herself, said she'd attended and worked in Catholic schools in the Quad-Cities and decided from an early age she didn't want to have kids after being pushed to door knock to oppose abortion. She said she fostered seven children and adopted two. The protest follows one in Davenport at Vander Veer Park, in which several Democratic candidates for county and legislative offices told attendees to get involved and vote for candidates that supported access to abortion. Pregnancy Resources, an anti-abortion social services agency reacts to ruling Executive Director of Pregnancy Resources of the Quad-Cities Trisha Wilson, said Friday was "pretty much a normal business day" for the agency, which provides ultrasounds and other pregnancy care. "We didn't have a lot of people from the general public calling," Wilson said. The agency already had appointments with women who'd decided to continue their pregnancy, she added. The agency does not perform abortions or make any kind of referrals to clinics that provide abortions, she said. Since last fall, Wilson said, the agency has seen roughly a 25% increase in the volume of clients and added staff to accommodate. Right now, she said the agency employs four nurses and 45 volunteers, and is open six days a week. "We're seeing a trend of more people coming to figure out: 'How far along am I? What is my next step?' in probably the last six months." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The pedestrian and bike path on the I-74 bridge was built without restrictions against motor-vehicle access because it was deemed safer to go without, state transportation officials said Monday. A woman is accused of drunken driving and entering the pedestrian path of the Interstate 74 bridge in Bettendorf in a Cadillac Escalade around 2 a.m. on May 22. She continued into Moline, police said, striking three young men who were walking near the Illinois-side entrance.Ethan Gonzalez, 21, and Anthony Castaneda, 18, both of Moline, died as a result. Charles Bowen, 22, was seriously injured. Chhabria Harris, 46, of East Moline, is charged with two counts of reckless homicide, three counts of aggravated DUI and three counts of failing to stop after the crash, among other charges. Neither of the path entrances had concrete barriers, also called bollards, or any type of barrier to prevent vehicles from driving onto it. It is connected to the Illinois-bound span of I-74. Officials from the Iowa Department of Transportation, IDOT, which was the lead agency for the new bridge and related construction, said Moline and Bettendorf didn't want any barriers to block the paths. "The communities expressed their desire for a path that allows easy access for maintenance and emergency vehicles so they may respond swiftly to weather conditions and emergency situations on the mile-long path," IDOT officials said Monday. After the fatal crash, barriers were placed on both ends of the path, despite warnings by a national transportation group that urged IDOT against them. "Bollards are not standard practice on bike and pedestrian paths in the U.S. and are discouraged by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)," according to IDOT's explanation for failing to add barriers at I-74. However, ASSHTO acknowledged in guidance supplied by the Iowa DOT that bollards are "routine." In many locations along Quad-City bike paths, bollards are used to prevent vehicles from entering. "The routine use of bollards and other similar barriers to restrict motor vehicle traffic is not recommended," according to ASSHTO guidelines. "Bollards should not be used unless there is a documented history of unauthorized intrusion by motor vehicles." Officials from IDOT were asked whether bollards will be added, given the now-documented history of "unauthorized intrusion," but they did not immediately respond. Both sides of the I-74 path now are blocked by large planters and/or cones. A fence was added to a neighboring city-owned property in Moline. "Barriers such as bollards, fences, or other similar devices create permanent obstacles to path users," ASSHTO warns. "Bollards on pathways may be struck by bicyclists and other path users and can cause serious injury. Approaching riders may shield even a conspicuous bollard from a following riders view until a point where the rider lacks sufficient time to react. "Furthermore, physical barriers are often ineffective at the job they were intended for keeping out motorized traffic. People who are determined to use the path illegally will often find a way around the physical barrier, damaging path structures and adjacent vegetation. Barrier features can also slow access for emergency responders." The family of Anthony Castaneda has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the City of Bettendorf, saying his death was the result of the citys negligence. They are seeking damages in excess of $75,000, according to court records. Lawyer for man struck, killed on I-74 pedestrian path says case is 'in the early days' The attorney who has filed a lawsuit against the City of Bettendorf in connection with the SUV-pedestrian crash on the I-74 pedestrian and bike path said the trio of young men who were walking on the path on May 22 had every right to be there. He declined to say whether more defendants will be named. The city spent municipal funds to design, build and open the walkway, the suit states. Bettendorf participated in the design and construction and controlled the entrance and opening date of the walkway. On Monday, the Iowa DOT reiterated their position that the path, "meets all federal and state requirements for safety and separation from traffic, including at the entrances where the path is separated from traffic with a curb and gutter." In other legal action, Harris, the accused driver, has filed a motion seeking to keep news cameras out of the courtroom during proceedings related to her case. No ruling has yet been entered. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Republican candidate for a Davenport House seat attended a rally on the U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021, which Scott County Democrats called a sign the candidate, Luana Stoltenberg, has an "alliance with the radical right extremist movement." Stoltenberg is running against Craig Cooper, a Democrat from Davenport, for the Iowa House seat, which covers northwest Davenport. It's a sign the Nov. 8 general election race is already heating up soon after the June 7 primary election. Stoltenberg posted on social media on Jan. 5, 2021, that she was "on assignment" in Washington, D.C., and posted pictures on the grounds in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and Capitol buildings the following day. When reached by phone, Stoltenberg said she was there as part of a prayer group with Women for a Great America, a political nonprofit formed by Andrea Lafferty. Lafferty is the daughter of the founder of the Traditional Values Coalition, a now-defunct group that was labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center as anti-LGBTQ and anti-Muslim. Stoltenberg said they'd set up a small stage with a piano keyboard, sang songs and prayed. She said she did not enter the Capitol building and did not attend former President Donald Trump's speech on Jan. 6. "I was there to pray for my nation because I love my nation," Stoltenberg said. "And pray that there would be peace and there would be truth." Stoltenberg does not face any federal charges connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection, when hundreds of protesters overtook capitol police officers to storm the Capitol building. A U.S. House committee investigating the day's events has held a series of hearings this month with testimony from top White House aids and law enforcement officers. Stoltenberg posted photos in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and Capitol buildings on Facebook on Jan. 6, 2021 writing: "WE THE PEOPLE are simpl(y) exercising our constitutional right to assemble and tell the government officials they are not representing us and there is fraud. Why do they refuse to investigate or look at the evidence. That is our right as the people. Stand up before we become a communist country." All credible evidence has found the 2020 election to be fair and secure. Judges, elected officials and investigators have repeatedly said there is no evidence of widespread fraud, and audits and recounts, including a Republican-led audit in Arizona, have confirmed the result and debunked claims of fraud. Dozens of lawsuits brought by former President Trumps campaign were dismissed by state and federal judges, several of whom were appointed by Trump, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite that, a Washington Post/University of Massachusetts at Amherst poll conducted in December found just 21% of Republicans nationwide thought Joe Biden was legitimately elected. Some Iowa Republicans have campaigned on that falsehood, including Jim Carlin, a Republican challenger for U.S. Senate who lost to longtime incumbent Chuck Grassley in Iowa's primary elections. Matt Trimble, chair of the Scott County Democrats, said, according to a press release: "Her claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent is contributing to a dangerous moment in our country's history." Trimble continued: "It is terrifying that the intent of Jan. 6, 2021, by Luana Stoltenerg and thousands of others was to overturn the results of a free, fair election and overturn our government. These were not patriots, as Stoltenberg has suggested. They were anarchists. We must identify her and all who support this un-American activity as dangerous to democracy." For her part, Stoltenberg said: "I dont believe anybody thought they would overturn the government. We were there to represent the people. We were there praying for our nation that people would be represented and heard. Period." Stoltenberg said she could see and hear what was going on but did not participate. From her vantage point, she said she saw police officers being friendly with protesters, high-fiving them and backing away. She hung up mid-interview and didn't say whether she still believed the 2020 election was fraudulent. "The primary is barely over, and were attacking?" Stoltenberg said of Democrats. "Good grief." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When Davenport resident Karen Orozco Gutierrez began researching the life of her great-grandfather Milton Howard, she quickly learned how a singular event can impact a persons life and the lives of their descendants forever. Gutierrez marked Juneteenth, a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of African-American slaves, earlier this month by sharing the remarkable story of her great-grandfather who went from being a kidnapped slave to a celebrated community member. Born in Muscatine County, Iowa, in 1851, Howard was a free child but was kidnapped and sold into slavery at just 2 years old, along with his family. To this day, his family knows him only by his enslavers surname. After working for Albert James Pickett on his plantation in Alabama for just shy of a decade, Milton Howard was separated from his family and sold to a planter in Arkansas by the name of Howard. During the onset of the Civil War, Howard escaped his enslavement and went back to Iowa with an unknown Union soldier. At age 13, Howard enlisted in the First Iowa Colored Regiment, Company F, beginning as a drummer boy and eventually joining battle. At the end of 1865, Howard left the army and returned to Iowa. He began an impressive 50-year career at the Rock Island Arsenal. Howard was a ward alderman, and civic leader and was, according to Gutierrezs research, an ordained minister. He also learned to speak French, German and Italian. Howard was known as a positive, selfless man in the community. As Gutierrez put it, Milton Howard, not born with advantages, took whatever God gave him and made a life for himself and his family, and was thankful and grateful for this. So one hundred years later, what can be taken away from Milton Howards legacy? For one, his story serves as a critical example of why the preservation of Black lineage is so important. Black American history, although we may have been told otherwise, is not impossible to document. Perhaps challenging, but not impossible, Gutierrez said. I can almost guarantee you can find anything about any Black person back to 1870 without any difficulty at all for the most part. Before 1870, it becomes more challenging because we were not considered human. The 1870 U.S. census was the first census to include African-Americans, so tracing lineage that dates back before 1870 requires more digging. That didnt stop Gutierrez. Taking a trip to Montgomery, Ala., Gutierrez obtained slaveholder records, allowing her to gain more insight into Howards life as a slave. Despite Gutierrezs extensive knowledge on Howard, there are still many unknown details of his life. If Milton had not been kidnapped, he would have been allowed to learn to read and write, he would have attended school, perhaps even graduated from college, Gutierrez said. We would know Miltons real surname, and not the surnames of enslavers. We would know the names of Miltons parents and siblings, and perhaps his grandparents and great grandparents, and so on. We may have been able to know where in Africa Miltons ancestors came from. We may have been able to know the history and legacy of Milton Howard. Gutierrez pointed out that while the African-American experience is often viewed as a collective one, every individuals experience as a Black person in America is unique, composed of distinct challenges. Gutierrez maintained, If you dont know where you came from, you dont know where youre going. And it is up to each individual person [to do their own research] because every family is different. David Brodnax is a professor of history at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill. He is also an expert on Iowas Black Civil War regiment, the 60th U.S. Colored Infantry. He emphasized the importance of connecting with ones ancestry. No living person has direct memory of slavery or the Civil War or Reconstruction, and it will not be long before there are no remaining World War II veterans. There are, though, many people left who remember the Second World War, the Civil Rights Movement, etc. We have to talk to those elders so that we can hear, record and pass down their stories, Brodnax said. But Brodnax believes there is work to be done on a governmental level as well. He pointed to the 1930s-era Federal Writers Project where scholars were sent by the government to interview former slaves, Civil War veterans and others who remembered the U.S. prior to the war in order to collect accurate accounts of the countrys history. Brodnax believes a similar initiative could be effective today. Although some of those scholars engaged with elderly Blacks in a patronizing or even dismissive way, we still have those transcripts and recordings, he said. We are now at or near a similar stretch of time when it comes to the Civil Rights Movement and WWII. The government could again send federally funded scholars to speak with the elderly about their experiences. Whether on an individual or governmental level, there are resources that can be exhausted to ensure Black lineage is safeguarded. The full story of the Quad Cities, Iowa and America, both good and bad, must be preserved, remembered, discussed, contested by people of goodwill and sincere motives and used to make the future better than the past, Brodnax said. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kennesaw State University Associate English Professor Regina Bradley, Ph.D., Wins Georgia Writers Associations Author of the Year Award KENNESAW, Ga. (Jun 28, 2022) Regina Bradley, Ph.D., won the Georgia Author of the Year award in the essay category for her work titled, Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South. The Georgia Writers Associations (GWA) Georgia Author of the Year Awards (GAYA) is the longest-running literary award in the Southeastern United States said KSUs associate chair of the Department of English, Dr. Ralph Wilson. The Department of English is very proud and happy to hear of Dr. Regina N. Bradley's latest accomplishment as a winner of the 58th Georgia Author of the Year Awards in the Essay Category, said Wilson. She is an extremely talented writer, and the recognition is well deserved. John Havard, chair of the English Department said, Dr. Bradley is among the most notable scholars in the new southern studies, doing work that deftly defies boundaries between literary and popular culture. First presented in 1964, the awards celebrate the best literature by Georgia writers. The Georgia Writers Association has managed the GAYA event since 1994. Held virtually in 2022, the event honored winners and finalists from 113 nominees in 14 categories. The awards presentation is available on YouTube and the GWA website in its entirety. As an author with deep insight into Georgia culture, she is an ideal recipient for a Georgia Author of the Year Award. Dr. Bradley and her work represent some of the best the English Department has to offer: creativity, solid scholarship, and social and community engagement, Dr. Havard added. Literary judge Megan Volpert said of Bradleys essay, Bradley is a defining voice of the new southan engrossing one that blends academic analytical chops with the personal narrative of lived experience as a Black woman who grew up after the civil rights movement. Her argument, that hip-hop culture since the Eighties represents concerns and methodologies of the next wave of contemporary southern Black identities, is clear and persuasive and without alternatives. She went on to say, Chronicling Stankonia begins with a close philosophical reading of Outkast and ends with an exhortation to invigorate cultural studies through attention to the popular arts and letters made by Black southerners. Regina N. Bradley is Associate Professor of English and African Diaspora Studies at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA. Her research interests include southern hip hop, the contemporary Black American South, race and sound studies, and southern studies. Bradleys award-winning essay is based on her book of the same title published by the UNC Press. Dr. Bradley recently completed a semester as a Harvard Research Fellow in Spring 2022 and will be teaching at KSU in the fall. A proposed South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks shooting range in Meade County hit another roadblock Tuesday after the county's Board of Commissioners unanimously denied relocating a section line near the property. The denial ended up being based on a legal interpretation from Meade County Deputy State's Attorney Kenneth Chleborad after GF&P submitted a modified design for the section line relocation after the legal notice for the public hearing was published featuring a different map. "The petition is for this particular plat (as originally presented). We can certainly discuss the other but you cannot take action on it," Chleborad said. Officials with GF&P attended Tuesday's meeting and presented an alternative section line plat after there were concerns voiced over the original design. The GF&P representatives said the maps for the alternative plan were devised over the previous 24-48 hours prior to the meeting. "I do not like to be surprised at commission meetings with a whole new plan and not a lot of answers in response," Commissioner Doreen Creed said. "Something that is this controversial on its own, I would recommend that the GF&P go back and get some of these questions answered because I do not believe we have all the information in which to make an educated decision." The GF&P originally came to the Meade County Commission with the proposed section line relocation in May. Commissioners and members of the public questioned why GF&P took so long to come up with the section line plat, advertise it for the legal notice, and then change the design again so close to Tuesday's meeting. Additional questions arose about the last-minute design change related to encroachment on surrounding property owners, a lack of water engineering and that an environmental study has not yet been published. Based on the state's attorney's position that GF&P could not change the design without another legal notice, the commissioner's voted 5-0 to deny the petition. The proposed shooting range in Meade County, just north of the Pennington County line, has been embroiled in controversy. GF&P agreed March 3 to purchase 400 acres of ranch land in rural Meade County, approximately 10 miles north of Rapid City, to build a 175-bay shooting range. They were seeking $2.5 million from the state's general fund and a $2.5 million authorization to use "other funds" to build the range. The total cost of the range is projected to be $12 million to $14 million. Secretary Kevin Robling testified March 2 before the State Legislature that GF&P will build the range with or without funding from the state, but development would be scaled down and potentially delayed if the state funding is not approved. The Meade County land for the GF&P shooting range was first sought by Rapid City businessman Jim Scull, who told the Journal that the realization of building a new range near Rapid City was years in the making. Scull initiated a purchase agreement for the property and then transferred the agreement to the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The foundation held the deed to the land with the expectation that GF&P would purchase the property by April of this year. Supporters of the range said it is a needed amenity for West River residents. However, the shooting range met opposition from area ranchers and landowners. Members of the House of Representatives also opposed using the state's general fund for the range, after Robling's testimony that GF&P would build the facility anyway. Several attempts to use the state's general fund to pay for a portion of the gun range were denied throughout the 2022 legislative session. The funding request was first denied on Jan. 25. The funding bill was resurrected on Feb. 1 and initially passed the State Senate. When the resurrected bill was heard by the House Appropriations Committee on March 3, it was defeated again. An attempt to "smoke out" the bill on March 7 before the full House of Representatives did not receive enough votes to proceed. A last-ditch attempt to secure general funding from the state failed in conference committee on March 11. Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Russian court upholds nationwide ban on Meta MOSCOW, June 20 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court upheld on Monday the prohibition of Meta Platforms Inc in Russia for extremist activity, RAPSI learnt from the courts press service. The court declared a lower instances ruling legal and reasonable, and dismissed the U.S. corporations appeal. The ban thus came into effect. In March, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow barred Metas Instagram and Facebook social network as extremist platforms upon a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia. The prosecutors move was triggered by the U.S. media holdings policy permitting its users from certain countries to publish information containing calls for force and violence against Russian nationals, including military servicemen. According to the Prosecutor Generals Office, doing so, the company backs terrorism and incitement to hatred and hostility against Russian people. The Investigative Committee earlier opened a criminal case over calls for violence and murder of Russians over the Meta employees actions. The U.S. media company in turn denied extremism on its social networks and called the prosecutors demands disproportionate. A U.S. official says at least 40 people have been found dead inside a tractor-trailer in a presumed migrant smuggling attempt in South Texas. The official says 15 others in the truck were taken to hospitals in the San Antonio, where the bodies were found Monday. It may be the deadliest tragedy among thousands who have died attempting to cross the U.S. border from Mexico in recent decades. All of the victims were believed to have crossed into the United States illegally, the New York Times reported. Officers from the San Antonio Police Department were searching for the driver of the vehicle. Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas, which were then the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. High temperatures in the San Antonio area ranged from the high 90s to low 100s, according to the National Weather Service. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Updates: Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A total of 738 vehicles were reported stolen in Richmond last year, Richmond police Maj. Rick Edwards said. In the first three months of 2022, auto thefts in the city increased by 54%, and thefts from vehicles increased by 50%. To date, there have been 442 reported thefts, a 36% increase from the same time last year, Edwards said. Multiple law enforcement officials spoke Tuesday about rising trends in vehicle thefts and the best methods to prevent them from occurring. The multiagency collaboration dubbed the Love My Ride campaign is meant to encourage and educate Virginians to protect themselves from auto thefts. Edwards said often, these vehicles are stolen while the car is still running. Gone are the days where people are hot-wiring cars and were finding our cars with bogus steering wheels and screwdrivers, Edwards said. These cars are almost exclusively stolen with the keys that belong to the car. Edwards recalled an April incident in Richmond in which a car was stolen near Richmond Highway. He said an SUV was unlocked and left running while the owner entered a nearby convenience store. Days later, that same car was used in connection with a shooting at an apartment complex in South Richmond. Video evidence captured four gunmen exiting the vehicle and unloading their weapons at a group of people, Edwards said. That car was later recovered by police. Their investigation is still ongoing. Thankfully and miraculously, no one was hit in that exchange, but you can imagine how you would feel if your car were to be used in a crime like that, Edwards said. Protecting your vehicle is a step toward the safety of our entire community. Jeffrey Katz, Chesterfield Countys chief of police, recalled a similar incident where a Mercedes SUV was stolen and used in a burglary. Police said a male driver drove the white SUV through the front of a store. That same person entered the building, broke a number of display cases and stole an undetermined number of firearms. As you can see, a car can be used in a very destructive way and for destructive purposes, Katz said. And heres a fun fact in this particular story, and that is that was actually stolen from someone else who had stolen this car. Henrico County Police Chief Eric English told another story in which a stolen truck with a towing attachment was used to pull an ATM from the exterior of a Chase bank. English said there have been 266 vehicles stolen in Henrico in 2022, compared with 194 vehicles last year. This is the most auto thefts weve seen even over the last five years, English said. As people have mentioned, its not just the thefts of motor vehicles that have created problems, but these stolen vehicles are used to commit other crimes. A total of 11,470 vehicles were stolen across Virginia in 2021, said Virginia State Police Superintendent Gary Settle. Settle said that as auto thefts continue to increase, state police have expanded their vehicle theft prevention through VSPs Help Eliminate Auto Theft program. HEAT was founded in 1992 and will celebrate its 30th anniversary in July, which is also Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. Earlier this month, HEAT notified local chiefs and sheriffs that additional funding is now available to assist them with their local efforts aimed at deterring vehicle and catalytic converters thefts, Settle said. Local law enforcement agencies are now eligible to receive up to $10,000 from HEAT to help cover the cost of investigative equipment related to vehicle and catalytic converter thefts. But Settle said the best way to prevent theft is to follow the simple steps shared through the Love My Ride campaign. Lock your vehicles, he said. Keep valuables especially cellphones, laptops, purses, wallets out of sight. Park in protected well-lit locations when possible, and probably the most simple recommendation we can give you is dont leave the keys in your car. The Love My Ride campaign kicks off in July, when residents can learn more about vehicle theft prevention through outreach events such as having vehicle identification numbers etched on vehicle glass windows. Participating agencies include the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and New Kent; the cities of Richmond, Hopewell and Petersburg; and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles as well as the nonprofit Drive Smart Virginia and the State Corporation Commissions Bureau of Insurance. Richmond city employees who have been calling for the right to unionize over the past year may have to wait until September to see whether the City Council will adopt legislation to let them do so. While some city officials and union advocates had expected the introduction of an amended bill Monday, the council instead delayed action again in front of about 100 city workers and labor organizers eager to collectively negotiate for better wages and working conditions. Its time to do it, said Maurice Black, a 23-year veteran of the citys Public Works department who spoke in favor of union legislation during the council meeting. We cant keep working on these slave-mentality wages. It has to change. City Council President Cynthia Newbille said that she expects an amended bill based on feedback from the public and council members will be formally introduced next month. While an updated ordinance could be introduced as soon as next Tuesday at the councils Organizational Development Standing Committee meeting, further delay could prevent the council from voting before the end of summer as the governing body typically takes a recess in August. We are committed to moving this down the road. And when I say moving, I dont mean kicking [the can down the road,] she said. What were talking about is doing this in a way thats in the best interest of city employees and the organization as well. City officials have delayed voting on two competing bills multiple times as Mayor Levar Stoneys administration has argued for limiting the right to employees in the departments of Public Works and Public Utilities. Six of the councils nine members have signed on as co-patrons for another bill that would allow social workers, library workers, police, firefighters and other employees to unionize. Still, the majority on council who say they support it have failed to bring it to a vote. Standing with fellow members of an organizing committee with the labor union SEIU 512 during the council meeting, Department of Social Services employee Felicia Boney told the City Council that the debate is about expanding the rights of workers. Were seeing a reversal of rights in our country right now. So it matters a lot that city of Richmond workers are fighting to expand our rights to a union and collective bargaining, she said. Our working conditions are your living conditions. We want a strong collective bargaining ordinance passed immediately. While Mayor Levar Stoney says he is supportive of allowing local government workers to unionize, he and other top city officials have pushed to limit an initial ordinance to a smaller band of workers because of the administrations lack of experience negotiating union contracts and the costs that it could incur. The Administration continues to work with City Council to reach a resolution on collective bargaining, Jim Nolan, the mayors spokesperson, said in an email just before the start of the council meeting. Dwayne Johnson, an organizer with Teamsters Local 322, another labor union working with city employees, said the city should not narrow the ordinance to only a few workers. I think the biggest hurdle is for the council members to understand the sky is not going to fall if they pass a broader ordinance, Johnson said in an interview. Nolan added that the administration has tried to focus on employee satisfaction recently by raising the minimum wage for city employees to $17 per hour, boosting police and firefighter salaries with raises of at least 10% and granting a 5% wage increase for all other city employees. While few city employees have said they are pleased with the raises, Black said he feels that it still isnt enough for some older employees whose wages are still low. A person who is making $125,000, a 5% raise for him looks excellent, he said. A person like me who is making $32,000 the only thing it does is put me in a higher tax bracket, and I take home less money. Other workers and labor organizers said that a strong collective bargaining ordinance would also enable them to address other work issues, such as shift durations, caseloads, safety precautions and health regulations. Local government employees are eligible to unionize and negotiate labor contracts under legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2020. The state bill, however, requires local governing boards to pass local legislation to grant the right in each locality. Richmond Public Schools teachers, for example, gained the ability to collectively negotiate work contracts after a School Board vote in December. In March, four months after the introduction of two collective bargaining bills for city employees, the Richmond City Council voted to form a working group to review the legislation. Administration and council officials at the time gave little detail about the composition of the panel and whether it would meet publicly. Union advocates who said they were invited to participate said the group never met, giving the impression that it was a stall tactic. The council and one of its standing committees have reviewed the legislation three times in open meetings since then, each time declining to vote on whether to approve either bill. Speaking to city workers and organizers with SEIU 512 after the council discussion about the legislation, city library worker Ben Himmelfarb said the introduction of an updated collective bargaining ordinance was pulled after a few organizers who saw the draft felt it was inadequate. The city attorney seems to be working with the mayor and [chief administrative officer] to subvert the kind of strong ordinance that we want to see done, Himmelfarb said. There was a moment where we thought tonight we would see a strong ordinance and we would all go, vote yes. We then saw the ordinance and it was crap. In an interview after the meeting, Councilwoman Reva Trammell, the chief sponsor of the councils favored union bill, said officials need more time to review the proposed amendments. Trammell also noted that one of the chief co-sponsors, Councilwoman Kristen Nye, was absent, which made her and others feel uncertain about how to proceed Monday. We want to get it right, she said. I think all of us have not been on the same page. Theres been so much miscommunication out there. In a room on the second floor of the Sheltering Arms Institute in Goochland, two women were talking near a window. One was recounting the day she had a stroke and was left on the floor of her home alone for 16 hours. Kim McCue, who had been at the hospital for about a week, was telling her story to Eleanor Angle, a woman who had had a stroke two years ago and became one of the first patients at Sheltering Arms Institute. Angle, 53, listened thoughtfully while McCue talked about her stroke and recounted how the last few days of recovery had gone. I'm here to be a voice of encouragement and support and to tell you that life after stroke is richer and more meaningful at least to me, Angle told McCue. You've got a wonderful journey that will unfold one day at a time. The pair was part of the Stroke Peer Program at Sheltering Arms Institute, a joint venture between Sheltering Arms and Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Health System. In addition to serving stroke patients at the physical rehabilitation hospital, they have programs for spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and more. The in-house mentoring program was modeled after successful programs the Institute had implemented with people who had experienced spinal cord injuries and amputations. The opportunity for me to be a mentor allows me to pay back to the community at-large and other survivors, Angle said. Peer mentors are volunteers that are required to complete a six-hour training course taught by clinicians in psychology and speech-language pathology, according to a release from the hospital. About once or twice a week, the mentors meet one-on-one with patients at the Institute. Its just an incredible organization, said Sandra Romeo, another patient who met with Angle that day. Im glad to be here because I feel like Im recovering a lot faster. Romeo, 59, had just finished therapy at the Institutes core gym, a larger physical therapy space on the first floor. Among loads of equipment and natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, patients practiced walking. Romeo herself had been walking through the gym with bright pink one pound dumbbells and an ankle weight on her right leg. She also practiced stepping over neon green hurdles that were lifted six inches off the floor. Lets try stepping over them sideways now, Kate Hogue, her therapist, said. With a sigh and an eye roll, Romeo turned to the side to complete the exercise successfully. Today, four mentors, including Angle, are mentoring stroke patients within Sheltering Arms Institute. The mentoring program itself is seen as part of the recovery process there, said Melissa Banta, the therapy program manager for strokes. Sometimes mentors can help explain to patients what theyre going through better than clinicians. Having them stay motivated and engaged is just so important, Banta said. And they can really work with that patient. Not only is stroke one of the leading causes of death in the United States but its also one of the leading causes of serious disability in adults. Aside from having had a previous stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and sickle cell disease are all health conditions increasing ones risk of stroke. In 2021, stroke was the fifth leading cause of death in Virginia. They feel like they have hope [at Sheltering Arms], Alison Clark, the community engagement manager, said. And the other thing I've heard a lot of is that it's motivating them to see that there is life after they leave here, and that they might not be where they want to be when they leave, but that doesn't mean that they don't continue to make progress. In her second floor room, McCue said she was proud of her recovery so far. On Friday, she was walking backwards for the therapists and throwing a ball at the same time something she couldnt do before she had her stroke. I just met Eleanor today, but for me, its really refreshing to talk to somebody whos back out there, and been there, done that, Romeo said. Its just encouraging to hear somebody talk about what theyve been through and know that you can recover. ELMAU, Germany (AP) The Indonesian presidency of the Group of 20 nations has ruled out in-person participation by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the November meeting of the group in Bali, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said Tuesday. The Nov. 15-16 summit had risked awkward diplomatic encounters if Putin were to have come, or the specter of Western leaders not even showing up given Russia's war in Ukraine. The issue was a topic at the smaller Group of Seven summit in Germany that wrapped up Tuesday and included leaders from five major emerging democratic economies India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina which don't all share the G-7's views on the war in Ukraine or on sanctions against Russia. But Draghi, whose country held the G-20 presidency before handing it off to Indonesia, said Tuesday the G-7 had rallied to support Indonesian President Joko Widodo to organize a successful summit. He was asked about comments from Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov that Putin had accepted Widodo's invitation to attend the Bali summit. President Widodo excludes it. He was categorical: Hes not coming," Draghi told reporters in Elmau, Germany. "What might happen I dont know what will happen but what might happen is perhaps a remote intervention. We'll see. Ushakov shot back Tuesday that its not Draghi who decides that. We have received an invitation and responded positively, he said. Widodo is scheduled to travel to Russia and Ukraine after the G-7 meetings. Putin, along with several other leaders, participated via video at the G-20 summit in Rome last October, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking around the same time as Draghi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz didnt address whether or not Putin would attend. But he said that he and his fellow G-7 leaders agreed that we dont want to drive the G-20 apart. Scholz added: Viewed from today, the decision of the states that were gathered here would be that they go there. SAN ANTONIO (AP) Fifty people have died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer in the sweltering Texas heat, one of the worst tragedies to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico to the U.S. More than a dozen people had been taken to hospitals, including four children. A city worker heard a cry for help from the truck on a lonely San Antonio back road shortly before 6 p.m. Monday and discovered the gruesome scene, Police Chief William McManus said. Hours later, body bags lay spread on the ground near the trailer and bodies remained inside as authorities responded to the calamity. Forty-six people were found dead near the scene, authorities said. Four more later died after being taken to hospitals, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the county's top elected official, Among the dead were 39 males and 11 females, he said. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said those who died had "families who were likely trying to find a better life." "This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy," Nirenberg said. It's among the deadliest of the tragedies that have claimed thousands of lives in recent decades as people attempt to cross the U.S. border from Mexico. Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck parked at a Walmart in San Antonio. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of San Antonio. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One that President Joe Biden was "closely monitoring the absolutely horrific and heartbreaking reports" from San Antonio. Jean-Pierre pushed back against some Republican lawmakers who blamed the administration for the deaths and said it was focused on the victims and holding human smugglers accountable. "The fact of the matter is, the border is closed, which is in part why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks," she said. "Our prayers are with those who tragically lost their lives, their loved ones as well as those still fighting for their lives. We're also grateful for the swift work of federal, state and local first responders." Full story here: *** A state senator who is working on Gov. Glenn Youngkins legislative effort to bar most abortions after 15 weeks says enforcement could target the licenses of doctors who violate such a ban. There could be physicians whose licenses could be at stake, Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, said in an interview with Washingtons WTOP radio. The state licensing process is most likely the best way to go about enforcement. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed abortion rights for nearly 50 years. Richmond Gospel group, the Legendary Ingramettes, awarded a National Heritage Fellowship Over the years, at least 14 artists with Virginia connections have received the honor. The Legendary Ingramettes are the first from the Richmond area. Youngkin said Friday that he will seek to ban most abortions after 15 weeks. Youngkin said during his campaign for governor that he backs exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when a womans life is in jeopardy. Youngkin said he has asked Sens. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, and Newman and Dels. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, and Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland, to join us in an effort to bring together legislators and advocates from across the commonwealth on this issue to find areas where we can agree and chart the most successful path forward. The 13 states with abortion bans triggered by the overturning of Roe v. Wade have enforcement mechanisms that include felony charges for people who perform or try to perform abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Republicans hold a 52-48 edge in the House of Delegates and Democrats hold a 21-19 edge in the state Senate. Senate Democratic leaders pledge to oppose further abortion regulations. For example, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, tweeted this week that in 2012, some Senate Republicans backed a bill that would have required women getting abortions to submit to a transvaginal ultrasound. The sponsor withdrew the bill. So no I will NOT be listening to them on abortion regulation, Lucas tweeted. Newman told WTOP that it will not be easy to get a 15-week bill through the legislature next winter, but he thinks proponents have a good chance of passing the bill. We will need to get the conservatives and also some moderates and some of the more conservative Democrats, he said. Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, said in a statement Friday that he supports legal abortion only up to the moment a fetus can feel pain. If he sides with the Senates 19 Republicans next year, GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears would be a tie-breaking vote to pass abortion restrictions. As many know, I am personally opposed to abortion, just like Senator Tim Kaine, Morrissey said in a statement Friday. Still, I defend the position that women should have safe access to the procedure, at the very least, up to the moment a fetus can feel pain which many agree is 20 plus weeks of a pregnancy; in cases when a mothers health or life is at risk; in cases of rape that result in a pregnancy; and in cases of incest that result in a pregnancy. Just to be very clear: I do not believe the government, whether Federal or State, should be telling women what to do with their bodies. Newman said proponents favor a 15-week bill, but a 20-week standard could be a fallback position. Ten states bar abortion at 20 weeks post fertilization, according to the Guttmacher Institute. With the summer fishing season in full swing, Virginias coastal fishing economies have reason to cheer or do they? With recent announcements of new or expanded businesses coming to Virginia, it is clear Gov. Glenn Youngkin is serious about his pledge to support small businesses. Now, it is time to help hundreds of small businesses that rely on recreational fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Over the past 15 years, fishermen have witnessed the decline and near-collapse of our iconic striped bass fishery. These fish are the largest marine recreational fishery in the United States, contributing $382 million to the commonwealths economy in 2009. In recent years, this value has declined by well more than 50%, with a corresponding loss of jobs impacting charter boats, bait shops and the like. Gone are the big tournaments that drew thousands of people from all across the commonwealth, filling coastal marinas, hotels and restaurants during the fall season. The striped bass population has struggled to recover partly due to high fishing mortality (which is why anglers and fishing groups supported harvest reductions); and partly due to localized depletion from decades of industrial fishing of menhaden (a vital food source for striped bass and other species). In fact, the latest science shows striped bass populations are directly tied to industrial menhaden fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. Menhaden reduction fishing contributed to a nearly 30% decline in striped bass numbers coastwide. More than 110 million pounds of menhaden are removed every year from the most important striped bass nursery on the East Coast the Chesapeake Bay by a single foreign-owned company: Omega Protein. These inedible menhaden are reduced to fish meal and other byproducts, and they often are exported for animal feed. This industrial reduction fishery has been controversial for decades and is outlawed by every other East Coast state. This one company gets to harvest 75% of the entire East Coast menhaden quota in Virginia waters, leaving fewer and fewer fish for predators that rely on them most notably striped bass but also other fish, mammals and sea birds. Standard No. 4 of Section 28.2-203 of the Code of Virginia requires that conservation and management measures shall not discriminate among user groups. Yet that is exactly what is happening, as industrial menhaden fishing has been given priority over recreational fishing groups and conservation interests. Industrial menhaden fishing is undermining the recreational fishing economy and small businesses throughout the commonwealth, along with conservation efforts that anglers and boaters have been supporting in good faith for years. By allowing one company to catch one-third of its total quota from the bay versus the ocean (where operating costs are higher), Virginia in effect is subsidizing this fishery. What about the costs to the bay and its associated small businesses? Youngkin clearly is a sporting advocate who sees the benefits of expanded access to public resources for users and for our states economy. Now, the governor should look to give anglers those same opportunities. Move industrial menhaden fishing out of the bay so the striped bass population can recover, and anglers and businesses alike can enjoy a rejuvenated ecosystem. A coalition of organizations including the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association, the American Sportfishing Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Marine Retailers Association of America and the Coastal Conservation Association has started a petition. It calls on the governor to move industrial reduction fishing out of the bay until science can show it is not causing harm. Lets give Virginias 320,000 saltwater anglers and our coastal economy something to cheer about. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Someone is sending Genevieve Gwynne $1,800 mystery checks in the U.S. mail. The Blacksburg woman has received three in the past two weeks, purportedly from two different companies. Two appeared to be from a consumer lender in Maryland, HFS Financial. Its a legitimate outfit that specializes in home-improvement loans and has a A rating by the Better Bureau. Those checks were drawn on M&T Bank in New York, and the memo line notes Approved. They arrived at Gwynnes home in a priority mail envelope, with a purported tracking number, supposedly from the Southern Co., an electric utility based in Atlanta. The third check purports to be from a real personal injury law firm, Herman & Wells PA, in Pinellas Park, Florida. It arrived in a separate priority mail envelope, ostensibly sent by a company called Veco Shopper Inc in Dallas, Texas. That check was drawn on OZKBank, a real financial institution in Arkansas. The memo line noted, Full final payment for Genevieve M. Gwynne. Gwynnes husband, retired Virginia Tech professor Stefan Jaronski, told me the couple was not expecting $5,600 worth of checks from anyone. Moreover, neither he nor Gwynne has ever heard of the two banks or the four companies listed as writing the checks or mailing them. The tracking on one package indicated it originated in Puerto Rico, Jaronski said. He called the law firm in Florida, and ended up talking to Clifford Wells, one of its partners. He was astonished. They did not issue the check, nor do they bank with the BankOZK that presumably issued the check, Jaronski told me. Wells later contacted Jaronski and said hed been notified of four other fake checks issued to people besides Gwynne, supposedly from the law firm. Monday, I called HFS Financial in Reisterstown, Maryland, and spoke with Vice President Adam Heath. While we were on the phone I emailed him a copy of Gwynnes check, purportedly from his company. We dont bank with M&T Bank, Heath told me. That definitely is not one of our checks, I can tell you that. Heath noted that the street address listed on two checks purportedly from his company is incorrect. That says 1000 Owings Ct., but the actual actress is 100 Owings Ct. Moreover, the third zero in 1000 appears to be a typed O rather than a zero, which would normally appear narrower. I havent seen anything like this before, Heath added. But nothing in this world would surprise me. Whos sending the checks, and why? Thats what Gwynne and Jaronski would like to know. He contacted me about the apparent scam last week, after the couple reported it to Blacksburg police. They havent deposited the checks and they dont intend to, Jaronski told me. But Jaronski knows, based on his conversation with the lawyer in Florida, that his wife isnt the only phony check recipient. Weve got to publicize this, Jaronski told me, to warn others not to fall for it. I contacted the Better Business Bureau of Western Virginia. Its president, Julie Wheeler, told me those checks are almost certainly a scam. Con artists have been using different iterations of fake check scams for years. Often they begin with an unexpected check, sometimes from a sweepstakes the victim doesnt remember entering. There are different ways scammers use those to take unsuspecting victims money, such as the refund scam. One attempted victim of that ploy was John Long, a Roanoke Times columnist, when he sold a used car back in 2016. A buyer who said he was in New Jersey agreed to pay $200 over the asking price for Longs then 20-year-old used car, and sent him a check for nearly double that price. The scammer told Long part of the excess funds would cover shipping the car from Virginia to New Jersey. The shipper would inform Long of the transportation costs; Long would then wire the excess back to the buyer. The scammer informed Long he could keep $100 of the money for his trouble. Although the purported buyer was in New Jersey, the check was drawn on a Roswell, New Mexico, bank. The account was purportedly owned by a Roswell insurance agency. Long didnt fall for the scheme otherwise, he could have been out both his money, and potentially, the car. Long instead sold the car to someone local. Wheeler said fake tenants also use the refund scam on legitimate landlords, by overpaying a rental deposit and then requesting excess funds be wired back. Overpayment by check, followed by a refund request, is a classic hallmark of check scams, Wheeler said. Under normal circumstances, federal banking regulations require banks to credit customer accounts with funds from deposited checks within a day or two of a deposit. Thus, it appears a phony check may be legitimate before it actually clears the banking system. If the check shows up later as phony, the recipients bank will take the funds back out of their account. And the account owner might be on the hook if theyve spent any of that money in the meantime. Jaronski said the scam on his wife might be related to items she sells on a website called Poshmark. Before any of the checks arrived at their home, a recent Poshmark customer told Gwynne she would pay for items she was purchasing by sending Gwynne her weekly paycheck, drawn on her employers account. Gwynne warily declined to accept that type of compensation and canceled the transaction before any of the three checks turned up in the mail. But after they did, the customer contacted Gwynne and asked if shed gotten a check, Jaronski said. Wheeler said it sounded like a not uncommon version of the fake check/refund scam. Another type of scheme is known as the secret shopper scam. In that one, victims receive a real-looking check from a known retailer. The victim is supposed to deposit the check and buy items with the money, at the retailer, supposedly so the retailer can measure customer-service at its stores. Wheeler said its unclear to her how the scammers expected to profit off Gwynne. But its possible that merely depositing the check in the Gwynnes account could create access for later electronic withdrawals from that account. Fake check schemes are huge. Theyre done in a variety of ways, from different angles, Wheeler said. The victim may not know theyve been victimized until the checks clear. Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter: @dancaseysblog . Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Companies in Maryland and Florida are purportedly trying to pay Genevieve Gwynne with three $1,800 checks drawn on banks in New York and Arkansas. Those banks are real, but the companies say the checks are phony. Gwynn doesn't understand why they would be sending her money at all. She suspects it's a scam. A wave of retirements is rearranging Virginia's public finance agencies, taking decades of institutional knowledge from one of the most stable, least conspicuous operating arms of state government. Last week, Treasurer Manju Ganeriwala retired after more than 13 years in the job under five governors overseeing investment of public funds and managing debt and more than than 30 years in state government. John Layman, chief economist and director of revenue forecasting at the Department of Taxation, will retire on Aug. 1 after 33 years in state government. The department already has lost Bill White, its assistant commissioner for tax policy, to retirement this year, and the leaders of the Department of Planning and Budget and the Department of Accounts also retired earlier this year after long careers in state government. Those four agencies - Treasury, Tax, Planning and Budget, and Accounts - have been the cornerstones of Virginia's government finances, guiding elected and appointed officials through the ups and downs of the economy, public revenues, tax policy and budget choices. "The continuity within state government itself has been key over the years," said Emily Walker, vice president of advocacy at the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, which advocates on tax policy in the General Assembly. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has moved quickly to replace leaders at the finance agencies, which are central to his political agenda of reducing taxes and controlling government spending. He replaced Ganeriwala as state treasurer this month with David L. Richardson, who had retired after nearly 44 years at McGuireWoods law firm in Richmond, specializing in tax-exempt bond financing for public entities and nonprofit organizations. "Manju was a dedicated public servant and the governor thanks her for her service," spokesperson Macaulay Porter said last week. "Virginia's state treasurer plays a critical role in providing statewide finance services." When Comptroller David Von Moll retired in April after 21 years leading the Department of Accounts, Youngkin appointed Deputy Comptroller Randy McCabe to the top job. Longtime budget analyst Michael Maul replaced Dan Timberlake as director of the Department of Planning and Budget. Kirstin Collins, who had been director of policy development at the tax department and its public face in dealing with General Assembly money committees, is replacing White as assistant commissioner for tax policy. Youngkin reappointed Craig Burns as tax commissioner, a job he has held for 12 years. Only Layman, whose economic analyses were critical to charting state budget revenues, has not yet been replaced. Burns will appoint replacements for Layman and White. "We tend to lose some institutional knowledge from time to time, but we've got some very fast learners," said House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach. Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings has reshaped his own office with the recent retirement of Deputy Secretary June Jennings, an accountant who had served in state government for more than 30 years. Youngkin recently appointed John Markowitz as deputy finance secretary. Markowitz previously had worked for Transurban North America, a private transportation company that partners with Virginia and other states on public-private transportation partnerships. The governor also appointed Dan Kowalski, a former official in the U.S. Treasury Department under then-President Donald Trump, as a special adviser to Cummings. The wave of retirements comes in the first six months of a new administration under Youngkin, the first Republican to serve as Virginia's governor since Bob McDonnell left office at the beginning of 2014, but Knight said, "I think a lot of it is generational." Former Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne, a retired CPA who oversaw all of the finance agencies under then-Gov. Ralph Northam, said he probably would have had to cope with the retirements if he were still secretary. "I think it's just going to be a time for a reset," Layne said. I got on the waitlist for my dream day care service at the end of 2020 when I was eight weeks pregnant. Today, as I celebrate my daughters first birthday, I still am waiting for that day care service, or any of the dozens of other providers I contacted before she was born, to call back with an opening. I since have learned that my family is suffering through a nationwide crisis, along with countless others who cant find the child care they need to be able to work. In July 2021, my husband and I welcomed our daughter, Virginia, at St. Marys Hospital in Richmond. Her birth came after a long labor, an unplanned cesarean section and Hurricane Elsa creating a surge of babies born ahead of their due dates. We prepared for diaper changes and sleepless nights, and planned for a peaceful parental leave together, afforded by a combination of maternity leave, short-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave Act time off between our jobs. Adjusting to parenthood was hard, but going back to work was harder. Forget the emotional, hormonal and sentimental aspects of being a brand-new working mom. Consider tactically how a family can manage with two parents employed full time. I got on several day care lists before most of my family even knew I was pregnant, thinking I would have no issues returning to work. Our first choice fell through; then our second; and then my mom, my mother-in-law and a neighbor had to play nanny so I could maintain my career. We finally found an opening this March, as Virginia turned 8 months old. Housed in the basement of an old church, it wasnt perfect, but it was something. That solution worked for one month before three teachers resigned, and we were given 10 days to find alternative child care. Many centers we called then told us there was no availability until 2023, if they answered the phone at all. Through this process, we were shocked to learn that early-childhood educators currently are paid only $12 an hour on average not even enough to provide for their own families needs. Its unacceptable and unsurprising that they would seek other, better-paying jobs that probably dont involve changing diapers all day. The system is failing. My mother arrived in the United States when she was 7 years old. Her family emigrated from Poland in search of the American dream. What is that dream in 2022? This crisis is just one of many that parents are faced with in todays America. Lucky mothers are given three months to recover before being forced back to work. They then learn how tenuous and expensive quality child care is. Our children get older and our worries quadruple as they enter elementary school. Its a rude awakening from that so-called dream. Its exasperating for me, but Im fortunate to have a flexible job and supportive family to help. Think about what its like for a single parent, an underemployed family, or someone already living on the margins and getting assistance just to eat or pay rent. I cant imagine the sacrifices they have to make to provide for their children or someone elses. Questions with no answers haunt us. Why are we losing time and money trying to secure what families in other countries are guaranteed? I was raised believing our country was the best one. Why, then, do families continue to suffer here? Without action, each generation of parents will learn about these issues, and feel as lost as I did seeking solutions that dont yet exist. Raising children is exhausting enough without the burden of taking a stand. Educators and parents are doing everything they can to hold up this fragile infrastructure, but small fixes dont help. Its time for Congress to pass substantial, long-term investments in child care. The U.S. Senate is considering a proposal, led by Tim Kaine of Virginia and Patty Murray of Washington State, that would: Triple the existing Child Care and Development Block Grant; Provide grants to all states to expand supply, improve facilities and raise compensation for educators; and Invest in establishing and expanding High-Quality Preschool Grants. The only alternative is to stand by and see more program closures, more educators abandoning the field, more women leaving the workforce and more children suffering for all of it. In Virginia, weve spent many years reckoning with our history. Now, its time to focus on our future babies like mine who should be proud to bear the name of our state. Brittany Klug Jobes is a marketing professional and new mom living in Richmond. Contact her at: bkjobes@gmail.com Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A lawyer who aided former President Donald Trumps efforts to undo the 2020 election results says in a federal court filing that FBI agents have seized his cell phone IMDEA Networks researchers have taken a new step in their studies on, after the work published in January , together with the University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) and Orange Innovation, on the so-called "usage gap", which refers to how individuals belonging to different social classes, due to diverse digital skills, have contrasting capability to benefit from novel technologies and, therefore, from the services that those technologies enable. This is an emerging cause of social inequality, in the face of which research is striving to provide better understanding and to provide directions for solutions. The publication 'Second-level Digital Divide: A Longitudinal Study of Mobile Traffic Consumption Imbalance in France', by Sachit Mishra, Marco Fiore and Zbigniew Smoreda (Orange Labs Paris), presented in April 2022 at the prestigious 'ACM Web Conference', shows the results of the study of the interaction between the consumption of digital services through mobile devices and levels of urbanization across France. The data demonstrates, as the study highlights, that there is "an emerging behavior whereby people living in increasingly large and populated urban areas tend to generate higher individual consumption of mobile traffic than those in smaller towns". While such a pattern is not unexpected, the research allowed to quantify for the first time the phenomenon in a precise way: as Marco Fiore, Research Associate Professor at IMDEA Networks, highlights, "we have shown, for example, that an inhabitant of a city of one million inhabitants generates, on average, about twice as much mobile data traffic as a person in a town of 10,000 inhabitants". A critical finding of the study is that the imbalance in per capita mobile data traffic usage between cities of different sizes has grown steadily and substantially over the 2014-2019 period in a developed country like France. "One might expect that the spread of 4G mobile broadband connectivity to less urbanized regions would have helped close the gap, but our data shows the opposite." The fact that the digital usage gap increases over time despite similar accessibility conditions for users is a phenomenon that call for further investigations. The results are the fruit of years of data collection and of the analysis on a massive amount of mobile traffic, including per-service information on the consumption of the likes of Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok that showed how also individual apps are affected by the same disparity in usage. "We explored multiple potential confounding factors, such as income, education or age of people residing in larger and smaller cities in France, but none is sufficient to explain the difference we observed," Dr. Fiore notes. Dr. Fiore also highlights the great effort involved in this research: "The big challenge we faced and had to solve was the scale of the study. We used terabytes of data on thousands of cities and tens of thousands of radio sites, and we had to merge these data while dealing with measurement errors, inconsistencies and outliers. The research group's competencies in the big data processing platform and data analytics were key to addressing these issues." This research paves the way for further study and provides valuable clues for intervention by public administrations, shedding light on an interesting area for reflection on the so-called 'second digital divide'. Provided by IMDEA Networks Institute BATON ROUGEFaculty from LSU, The Ohio State University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have each been awarded a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to solve the widening gap between computational processing and storage, thereby increasing high-speed data processing and enabling computational storage to address critical challenges in increasingly more data-centric applications. The project"A New Direction of Research and Development to Fulfill the Promise of Computational Storage"is led by Ohio State Computer Science Professor Xiaodong Zhang, who is joined by LSU Computer Science Associate Professor Feng Chen and RPI Electrical, Computer & Systems Engineering Professor Tong Zhang. "The main research issues we will study focus on how to effectively exploit the computing capabilities and efficiently utilize the limited resources on device hardware," Chen said. "We will adopt a system-oriented methodology to investigate these issues. The key is to consider the system as a whole, rather than trying to optimize each component individually." Indeed, their project takes a cohesive approach to turn computational storage into a cooperative component in the system as a whole. Specifically, it will examine multiple aspects in order to systematically integrate computational storage into existing computing ecosystems (i.e., users, applications, operating systems, and device hardware), such as designing an interface that makes on-device features available to applications, optimizing system-level resource utilization, leveraging proximity and mitigating memory resource contention in device hardware, and adapting core data structures and algorithms of applications to fully exploit various computing resources. The project will also provide LSU students with opportunities to be involved in the related research. "We'd like to provide students some early experience in academic research and attract them to this domain," Chen said. "We plan to introduce advanced topics related to this project in classroom teaching, invite interested students to visit our lab, and encourage them to participate in research via activities such as independent studies, undergraduate projects, etc." For more information on the LSU College of Engineering, visit https://www.lsu.edu/eng/. Provided by Louisiana State University A customer who reportedly was upset because his sandwich contained too much mayonnaise opened fire and killed a Subway employee on Sunday in Atlanta, Georgia. Fox5 Atlanta reported that police said the shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. at a Subway located at a gas station on Northside Drive Southwest. The owner of the Subway says the reason for the shooting was something small: a customer was mad about mayo. Believe it or not, it was about too much mayonnaise on his sandwich, owner Willie Glenn said. Police reported another employee also was shot and being treated at a hospital. The store manager reportedly fired back at the customer but did not hit the person. Glenn told Fox5 that the dead womans son was in the store at the time of the shooting. The owner told 13NewsNow that he and his partners are evaluating whether the Subway there will remain open. Because of what happened tonight, my partners and I are reevaluating whether or not were going to continue to do this, in this neighborhood anyways, the store owner said. The victims have not been identified. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The South Carolina General Assembly is returning to Columbia on Tuesday to consider nearly $53 million in local projects that Gov. Henry McMaster wants out of the $13.8 billion state budget. All the money went toward items put in by lawmakers for local concerns, like $25 million to help pay for a quantum computer facility in Columbia, $7 million for a cultural welcome center in Orangeburg and $500,000 to improve the stadium at Summerville High School. McMaster allowed projects where lawmakers detailed exactly who got the money and where it was going. Without sufficient context, description, justification or information regarding the project and how the recipient intends to spend the funds, the public cannot evaluate the earmarks merit, McMaster wrote in his vetoes on Wednesday. Some other items McMaster also struck from the budget, which goes into effect July 1, were $5 million for a park in Myrtle Beach, $2 million for a community center in west Orangeburg and $750,000 for a library in Turbeville, In all, McMaster issued 73 vetoes. Ten were policies that did not involve money and 29 were budget lines that spent $1 procedural moves so the House and Senate can negotiate a final spending plan. The General Assembly meets Tuesday. To override any of the governors vetoes, a two-thirds vote is needed in the House and Senate. There were only a few votes against the budget when the Legislature approved it earlier this month. McMaster again said instead of giving lawmakers the power to control money for local projects, it should be put into one pot for a public grant process and awarded by merit, with the entire system open for transparency. The states $13.8 billion budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 sets aside $1 billion to send hundreds of dollars of rebates to many South Carolina taxpayers. It also spends $600 million to cut the states top income tax rate from 7% to 6.5% and combine other rates to 3%. Lawmakers eventually plan to cut the top rate to 6%. The spending plan also raises the minimum salary for teachers from $36,000 to $40,000, puts $1 billion extra into road repair and expansion and gives state employees a 3% raise and $1,500 bonus. The budget also raises a number of state law enforcement salaries and sets aside about $1 billion in case this is the year the economy craters. McMaster praised lawmakers for most of the budget and thanked them for putting more than 250 of his proposals into the final spending plan. Firefighters work quickly to put out the flames that damaged 20 recreational vehicles at San Antonio RV on Monday, June 27, 2022 in Seguin. Officials say it appears the fire was sparked by a lightning strike in the storm that blew through the area on Monday. Le Calendrier du gouvernement Mali La visite du mediateur de la CEDEAO, Goodluck Jonathan, semble porter ses fruits. Dapres le journaliste Serge Daniel, le gouvernement malien a propose un chronogramme en vue dorganiser des elections. Il sagit concretement dorganiser un referendum en mars 2023. Ce referendum sera suivi delections pour les collectivites territoriales en juin de la meme annee, enfin des elections legislatives entre octobre et novembre 2023. Natalie Portman revealed that her Thor franchise costar Chris Hemsworth had to hide behind a tree while picking up his kids from school to avoid attracting too much attention. The actor, who next appears in Thor: Love and Thunder (out 7 July), was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Saturday (25 June) and spoke about filming the fourth movie in the series in Hemsworths native Australia. Portmans two children, son Aleph, 11, and daughter Amalia, 5, accompanied her on the film shoot and were able to attend a local school along with Hemsworths children. Hemsworth has three children with wife Elsa Pataky, daughter India Rose, 10, and twin boys Sasha and Tristan, both 8. "One day, we ended up at school pick up at the same time and I just felt so bad for him," Portman told guest host Sean Hayes. "Because I'm small and can kind of camouflage with the moms. And then he comes in, he's like a Greek god walking through." She continued: "He's really famous everywhere but especially in Australia, he's so, so well-known. "So to see him kind of by the tree, hiding it felt like some weird sitcom of the superheroes at school pickup." Thor: Love and Thunder is out 7 July. 1.6%2% SPAC 0.59% 5% 27.73 1.87 (9961) ETF 1% 15%7% 2022 0.77% 30%8% 8% 6.64 74 69.5 10 319 8888% 18838 Geifman family donates to local food bank The Geifman family, owners of local property management and development company, Geifman First Equity) pledged in April to provide $25,000 in a matching gift to inspire the community to support River Bend Food Banks capital campaign EXPANDING to End Hunger. The community responded in a big way, raising a total of over $96,000 as of June 1. Now, the Geifmans have committed a bonus $18,000 in matching funds. Any donations made to support the campaign between now and June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $18,000. We hope this will inspire additional support toward expanding the Food Bank to ensure that anyone facing crisis can rely on us now and in the future. As of June 1, 2022, the campaign has exceeded the goal and raised a total of $96,653! We are humbled by the incredible outpouring of support weve received from the Geifman family match, said Jenny Brinkmeyer-Colvin, chief development officer for River Bend Food Bank. We have a very giving community, and its inspiring to see everyone coming together to make this crucial project a reality. Anyone wishing to make a gift of any size to the campaign can visit riverbendfoodbank.org/endhunger or can send a donation to: River Bend Food Bank Geifman Match Campaign, 4010 Kimmel Dr., Davenport, IA 52802 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Iowa American Water employees reach 12-year safety milestone Employees at Iowa American Waters East River Station Treatment Facility in Davenport celebrated a safety milestone Friday. Production and water quality employees at the companys East River Station Treatment Facility have worked 12 consecutive years, or 4,380 days, without experiencing any OSHA recordable incidents. This is a true testament to the professional and safety-conscious team we have, Brad Nielsen, vice president, said. Our East River Station team is committed not only to providing reliable, high-quality water service to our customers in the Iowa Quad-Cities but also to following all safety regulations and procedures to keep themselves, their co-workers and our neighbors and service communities safe. DETROIT (AP) The Michigan Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out charges against former Gov. Rick Snyder and others in the Flint water scandal, saying a judge sitting as a one-person grand jury had no power to issue indictments under rarely used state laws. Its an astonishing defeat for Attorney General Dana Nessel, who took office in 2019, got rid of a special prosecutor and put together a new team to investigate whether crimes were committed when lead contaminated Flints water system in 2014-15. State laws authorize a judge to investigate, subpoena witnesses, and issue arrest warrants as a grand juror, the Supreme Court said. But they do not authorize the judge to issue indictments, the court said in a 6-0 opinion written by Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. She called it a Star Chamber comeback, a pejorative reference to an oppressive, closed-door style of justice in England in the 17th century. The challenge was filed by lawyers for former health director Nick Lyon, but the decision also applies to Snyder and others who were indicted. The cases now will return to Genesee County court with requests for dismissal. This wasn't even a close case it was six-zip. ... They couldnt do what they tried to do," said Lyon attorney Chip Chamberlain. Snyder's legal team described the court's opinion as unequivocal and scathing. These prosecutions of Governor Snyder and the other defendants were never about seeking justice for the citizens of Flint, Snyder's lawyers said. Rather, Attorney General Nessel and her political appointee Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud staged a self-interested, vindictive, wasteful and politically motivated prosecution. Hammoud, however, released a statement, insisting the cases weren't over, based on her interpretation of the opinion. There was no immediate response to a request for additional comment. The saga began in 2014 when Flint managers appointed by Snyder dropped out of a regional water system and began using the Flint River to save money while a new pipeline to Lake Huron was under construction. State regulators insisted the river water didnt need to be treated to reduce its corrosive qualities. But that was a ruinous decision: Lead released from old pipes flowed for 18 months in the majority-Black city. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission said it was the result of systemic racism, doubting that the water switch and the brush-off of complaints would have occurred in a white, prosperous community. Snyder, a Republican, has long acknowledged that his administration failed in Flint, calling it a crisis born from a breakdown in state government. He was out of office in 2021 when he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty. Lyon and Michigans former chief medical executive, Dr. Eden Wells, were charged with involuntary manslaughter for nine deaths related to Legionnaires disease when Flints water might have lacked enough chlorine to combat bacteria. Six others were also indicted on various charges: Snyders longtime fixer, Rich Baird; former senior aide Jarrod Agen; former Flint managers Gerald Ambrose and Darnell Earley; former Flint public works chief Howard Croft; and Nancy Peeler, a state health department manager. Nessel assigned Hammoud to lead the criminal investigation, along with Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy, while the attorney general focused on settling lawsuits against the state. Hammoud and Worthy turned to a one-judge grand jury in Genesee County to hear evidence in secret and get indictments against Snyder and others. Prosecutors in Michigan typically file charges after a police investigation. A one-judge grand jury is extremely rare and is mostly used to protect witnesses, especially in violent crimes, who can testify in private. It seems that the power of a judge conducting an inquiry to issue an indictment was simply an unchallenged assumption, until now, the Supreme Court said Tuesday. Lyon, the former state health director, was accused of contributing to Legionnaires deaths by failing to timely warn the public about an outbreak. His lawyers, however, said he had ordered experts to investigate the illnesses and notify Flint-area health officials. He had no role in Flint's water switch. State employees should not be prosecuted or demonized for just doing their job, Lyon said after the court's decision. Residents were disappointed. So everyone who was involved in this manmade disaster by the government is walking away scot-free? said Leon El-Alamin, a community activist. "We lock people up every day for petty crimes. Something like this has killed people. People died from the Flint water crisis. Former Mayor Karen Weaver said the result was unfair. One of the things we had been told over and over was justice delayed has not been justice denied. But thats not true for the people of Flint," said Weaver, referring to the years that have passed. The water switch and its consequences have been investigated since 2016 when then-Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Republican, appointed Todd Flood as special prosecutor. Schuette pledged to put people in prison, but the results were different: Seven people pleaded no contest to misdemeanors that were eventually scrubbed from their records. Flood insisted he was winning cooperation from key witnesses and moving higher toward bigger names. Nonetheless, Nessel, a Democrat, fired him and pledged to start over following her election as attorney general. Separately, the state agreed to pay $600 million as part of a $626 million settlement with Flint residents and property owners who were harmed by lead-tainted water. Most of the money is going to children. There is no dispute that lead affects the brain and nervous system, especially in children. Experts have not identified a safe lead level in kids. Flint in 2015 returned to a water system based in southeastern Michigan. Meanwhile, roughly 10,100 lead or steel water lines had been replaced at homes by last December. Associated Press writer Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this story. Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY Sioux City School Board President Dan Greenwell said Monday the search for an interim superintendent and associate superintendent did not lack transparency, in spite of recent comments from fellow board members suggesting the opposite. Greenwell presented a timeline, spanning from February to June, of the superintendent and associate superintendent search process, specifically highlighting when information was presented to the entire board. Greenwell said there hasn't been enough information communicated on the timeline, but it has been a transparent process. "It has been complete and transparent this whole time both in the closed sessions and in public," he said. Board members Perla Alarcon-Flory and Monique Scarlett previously claimed that Rod Earleywine's selection for the interim superintendent position lacked transparency. Scarlett and Alarcon-Flory accused a committee of board members of not following an agreed-upon plan. The pair said the board never agreed on a single candidate before it was presented to the board for approval. When a contract to hire Earleywine was presented to the board, the two dissented. Alarcon-Flory and Scarlett said they could not approve Earleywine's contract because district staff and the public weren't given an opportunity to offer input into the potential candidates and the agreed process was not followed. Alarcon-Flory also said the selection of an associate superintendent lacked transparency. Angela Bemus was approved on June 13 to serve as the districts new associate superintendent. The board approved Bemus as a senior director, beginning July 1, with the condition that she obtain her superintendent license by Aug. 13. After Bemus obtains her state license, the board will be asked to change her job title to associate superintendent. The senior director position was listed with hundreds of other job changes in a human resources report as part of the board's consent agenda. Alarcon-Flory asked for more discussion about the associate superintendent job, admitting she did not realize earlier that the position had been included in the human resources packet. This is a chief academic officer and I think we need to be very transparent with the community about it, Alarcon-Flory said. On May 9, Greenwell read a letter in which Earleywine recommended Bemus as the associate superintendent. Greenwell has disagreed with Alarcon-Flory and Scarlet's assertions that the processes lacked transparency. He said the comments and discussions have told him that overcommunication is key in the future. In March, the board approved a $15,000 contract with the Omaha firm of GR Recruiting, which specializes in recruiting for educational leadership roles, to help with the search for a new superintendent. At the same time the board also decided to appoint an interim superintendent to give time to community and district input on the selection of a permanent superintendent. In the future, GR associates presented a projected timeline to board members that laid out the dates and times for the superintendent search, Greenwell said. Greenwell said the process will start in early or mid-September and the board will decide how to proceed with community input. He said the future process has not been changed due to the transparency comments. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ESTHERVILLE, Iowa -- The city of Estherville came together Monday to rescue a bulldog from a sinkhole. Estherville police officers responded to a report of a missing elderly bulldog named Tupelo at 3:10 a.m. According to a statement from the police department, the caller said she could hear her dog barking in a ravine behind a house in the 20th block of Orchard Lane. The officers and the dog owner searched the area and eventually found Tupelo in a cement drainage tile. The area around the tile had created a sinkhole approximately 3 feet in diameter and about 3 feet deep. The statement said the dog was wedged into the cement tile. Estherville Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Travis Sheridan, Estherville firemen, the City of Estherville's electricians and street department, Emmet County's secondary roads department, Dr. Arlen Omtevdt from the Estherville Veterinary Clinic, and neighbors assisted in the efforts to dig around the tile to free Tupelo. At 6:24 a.m., Tupelo was successfully removed from the tile and found to be in "great condition." He was returned to his very happy owners, according to the statement. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council unanimously voted Monday to adopt an ordinance that will require after-hours clubs within city limits to be licensed. Over the past several years, these types of clubs, which operate between 2 and 6 a.m., have been the site of multiple shootings and other criminal activity. Under the ordinance, after-hours club owners will be required to pay $175 to apply for or renew a license, which will be valid for one year. As a condition of the application, owners will consent to allowing the city's inspection services and fire departments to inspect the premises to confirm compliance with city code standards. Police officers will be allowed to enter the clubs during operating hours to confirm that alcoholic beverage laws are being complied with. "This shows that you prioritize our citizens' safety. That's something that's truly important," Councilman Matthew O'Kane told Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller and Assistant City Attorney Steven Postolka before the vote. O'Kane asked Postolka how many clubs are currently operating in the city and if they will be notified about the ordinance. "To my knowledge, there's one after-hours club currently operating. I suppose we could send them a notification sometime," said Postolka, who noted that clubs have 180 days after the ordinance goes into effect before needing to be in compliance with it. No one under 21 will be permitted in an after-hours club during hours of operation. The clubs can not be located in areas of the city that are zoned residential or operate within any premises that has a liquor license. Under the city code, consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises accessible to the public is prohibited from 2 to 6 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 2 to 8 a.m. on Sundays. An after-hours club in violation of the ordinance will be declared a "nuisance," and the owner of the premises at which it operates at will be guilty of a municipal infraction, according to the proposed ordinance. Its license will be suspended if the licensee or the licensee's employee, agent or contractor committed a "specific criminal incident" at the club or "recklessly allowed" one to occur there, or was ordered to abate a nuisance at the club. An after-hours club's license will be revoked if the licensee or the licensee's employee, agent or contractor committed or knowingly allowed another to commit murder or voluntary manslaughter. The license will also be terminated if the club's license had been suspended within the previous 12 months and the licensee or the licensee's employee, agent or contractor once again committed a criminal incident or knowingly allowed one to occur there. The city manager will issue a letter of intent to deny, suspend or revoke an after-hours club's license. Licensees will be allowed to request a hearing to contest any denial, suspension or revocation within 20 days of the date of the letter. In the early morning hours of Oct. 10, officers were dispatched to a shots fired call at an after-hours club at 427 Pierce St., where they found a male victim with a life-threatening gunshot wound to his upper body. A short time later, three other victims arrived at hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting was the result of a dispute between two groups of people at the club, which has since closed, according to police. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES Abortions would be illegal in Iowa once a fetal heartbeat can be detected at six weeks, often before a woman knows shes pregnant under a pair of requests Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she plans to submit to Iowa courts. The Republican governor announced that, in the wake of last weeks U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and repealed a womans right to have an abortion under the federal constitution, she will ask the Iowa Supreme Court to rehear a recent case on abortion regulations so the state court can establish what legal standards can be applied to abortion restrictions in Iowa. And Reynolds said she will ask the state courts to lift an injunction on the so-called fetal heartbeat law that was passed in 2018 but immediately stopped by the courts. The legal landscape for abortion regulations has been rewritten over the past two weeks in Iowa and across the country. On June 17, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned its own 2018 decision that had declared the right to an abortion was protected by the Iowa Constitution. Exactly one week later, on June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 decision that had made abortion access a federal right. Those rulings cleared the way for Iowa Republicans to enact stronger abortion restrictions in the state. Now is the time for us to stand up and continue the fight to protect the unborn, Reynolds said in a statement. The (U.S.) Supreme Courts historic decision reaffirms that states have the right to protect the innocent and defenseless unborn and now its time for our state to do just that. As governor, I will do whatever it takes to defend the most important freedom there is: the right to life. For now, abortion remains legal in Iowa until 20 weeks of pregnancy. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, announced he will not be involved with the states request to the courts, citing his support for the legal rationale that the U.S. Supreme Court applied to Roe v. Wade in 1973 and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992, which reaffirmed Roe. Miller also recused himself from arguing the states defense of the 2018 fetal heartbeat law that Reynolds is now asking the courts to allow to be enforced. In that case, I stated that I could not zealously assert the states position because of my core belief that the statute, if upheld, would undermine rights and protections for women, Miller said in a statement. In my nearly 40 years in office, I have declined to represent the state in only one other similar situation. I do not take lightly my responsibility to represent the state. Reynolds said the state will instead be represented by Alan Ostergren, a conservative lawyer and president and chief counsel of the Kirkwood Institute, a think tank. Reynolds office said Ostergren will be retained at no cost to Iowa taxpayers. The top Republican leaders in the Iowa Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver from Ankeny and House Speaker Pat Grassley from New Hartford, added statements of support for Reynolds requests to the court. In 2018 the heartbeat bill created significant momentum across the country for conservative states to initiate legislation to protect the unborn. One of those state laws led to the historic Dobbs (v. Jackson Womens Health Organization) decision by the U.S. Supreme Court last week, opening the path for the 2018 law to be implemented in Iowa, Whitver said in a statement. I support the decision to put these laws back in front of the Court to protect life in Iowa. Zach Wahls, leader of the Iowa Senate Democrats from Coralville, in a statement warned that Republicans actions will be dangerous to the health of Iowa women. Iowa Republicans will not stop until they have completely banned abortion without exception. This is an incredibly dangerous action that threatens the health, safety, and future of Iowa women, Wahls said. Reynolds request to rehear Planned Parenthood v. Reynolds is designed to get the Iowa Supreme Court to rule what standard, if any, should be applied to abortion regulations under the Iowa Constitution. In its momentous June 17 ruling, the state court failed to establish such standards, citing a desire to first wait for the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling on Dobbs. The Iowa Supreme Court in its June 17 ruling said the undue burden standard that was the previous standard would remain in effect until the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling, which came a week later. Reynolds noted the undue burden standard was used by the Iowa Supreme Court in 2015 when it struck down a law banning telemedicine abortion services. Thus, while the Iowa Supreme Courts decision was a step in the right direction, it left more work to be done in Iowas courts to fully protect the life of the unborn, as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs that states have an important interest in doing, Reynolds said in a news release. Gov. Reynolds fully intends to do that work. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MENDON, Mo. (AP) An Amtrak passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago struck a dump truck Monday in a remote area of Missouri, killing three people and injuring dozens more as rail cars tumbled off the tracks and landed on their sides, officials said. Two of those killed were on the train and one was in the truck, Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Justin Dunn said. It was not immediately clear exactly how many people were hurt, the patrol said, but hospitals reported receiving more than 40 patients from the crash and were expecting more. Amtrak's Southwest Chief was carrying about 207 passengers and crew members when the collision happened near Mendon at a rural intersection on a gravel road with no lights or electronic controls, according to the highway patrol. Officials were still trying to determine the exact number of people aboard. Seven cars derailed, the patrol said. Rob Nightingale said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth. It was like slow motion. Then all of a sudden I felt it tip my way. I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust, Nightingale told The Associated Press. Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didnt hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying. Nightingale was unhurt and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window. The collision broke the dump truck apart, he said. It was all over the tracks, said Nightingale, an art gallery owner from Taos, New Mexico, who said he rides Amtrak regularly to Chicago. It's too early to speculate on why the truck was on the tracks, said National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. A team of NTSB investigators will arrive Tuesday, she said. Trains won't be able to run on the track for a matter of days while they gather evidence, she added. At one point, KMBC-TV helicopter video showed rail cars on their side as emergency responders used ladders to climb into one of them. Six medical helicopters parked nearby were waiting to transport patients. Close to 20 local and state law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, fire department and medical helicopter services responded, Dunn said. The first emergency responders arrived within 20 minutes of receiving a 911 call, he said. Passenger Dian Couture was in the dining car with her husband celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when she heard a loud noise and the train wobbled and then crashed onto its side. The people on our left-hand side flew across and hit us, and then we were standing on the windows on the right-hand side of the car," Couture told WDAF-TV. Two gentlemen in the front came up, stacked a bunch of things and popped out the window and literally pulled us out by our hands." Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, after a backcountry excursion at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. No one in the group was seriously injured, said Scott Armstrong, director of national media relations for the Boy Scouts of America. The Scouts administered first aid to several injured passengers, including the driver of the dump truck, Armstrong said. High school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago, were also aboard, Superintendent Tim Beying told The Kansas City Star. Cheryl Benjamin was on her way home to East Lansing, Michigan, after an Alasksan cruise and a trip to Disneyland. She said she felt a bump, then heard a squeal, then looked out the window and saw the cars in front of her falling to the right. Then her car fell, the last to derail. It all took about 45 seconds. Benjamin told The Associated Press that the passengers organized themselves to escape the cars. Some of the Boy Scouts on board helped her climb out of the train and onto the ground. She was spending Monday evening in a local high school gym, where community members had brought in food for the passengers as they waited for buses to take them to hotels. Republican state Rep. Peggy McGaugh was at the high school. She said locals heard about the crash and started frying chicken, making sandwiches and delivering pallets of water. Being the small community this is, nobody wants to be the hero but everyone wants to help," McGaugh said. Mike Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on the land surrounding the intersection where the crash occurred, said everyone in Mendon understands that the intersection is dangerous, especially for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment. The approach to the tracks is on an inclining gravel road and its difficult to see trains coming in either direction, he said. Spencer said he had contacted state transportation officials, Chariton County commissioners and BNSF Railway, which owns the track, about the potential danger. Spencer, who is on the board of a local levy district, said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levy on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple days. Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. It was the second Amtrak collision in as many days. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between. Mendon, with a population of about 160, is about 84 miles (135 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City. Associated Press reporters Margaret Stafford in Liberty, Mo., Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, S.D., Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb., and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report. This story has been corrected to show that the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SAN ANTONIO (AP) Desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America frantically sought word of their loved ones as authorities began the grim task Tuesday of identifying 51 people who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer without air conditioning in the sweltering Texas heat. It was the deadliest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico. The driver of the truck and two other people were arrested, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas told The Associated Press. He said the truck had passed through a Border Patrol checkpoint northeast of Laredo, Texas, on Interstate 35. He did not know if migrants were inside the truck when it cleared the checkpoint. Investigators traced the trucks registration to a residence in San Antonio and detained two men from Mexico for possession of weapons, according to criminal complaints filed by the U.S. attorneys office. The complaints did not make any specific allegations related to the deaths. The bodies were discovered Monday afternoon on the outskirts of San Antonio when a city worker heard a cry for help from the truck parked on a lonely back road and found the gruesome scene inside, police Chief William McManus said. Hours later, body bags lay spread on the ground. More than a dozen people their bodies hot to the touch were taken to hospitals, including four children. Most of the dead were males, he said. The death count was the highest ever from a smuggling attempt in the United States, according to Craig Larrabee, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio. This is a horror that surpasses anything weve experienced before, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. And its sadly a preventable tragedy. President Joe Biden called the deaths horrifying and heartbreaking. Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry, Biden said in a statement. Authorities did not know the home countries of all of the migrants, nor how long they were abandoned on the side of the road. By Tuesday afternoon, medical examiners had potentially identified 34 of the victims, but they were taking additional steps, such as fingerprints, to confirm the identities, said Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores. Among the dead, 27 are believed to be of Mexican origin based on documents they were carrying, according to said Ruben Minutti, Mexico consul general in San Antonio. Several survivors were in critical condition with injuries such as brain damage and internal bleeding, he said. At least seven of the dead were from Guatemala and two from Honduras, Roberto Velasco Alvarez, head of the North America department in Mexicos Foreign Relations Department, said on Twitter. About 30 people had reached out to the Mexican Consulate looking for loved ones, the officials said. Authorities confirmed that one of the surviving Mexicans from the trailer was Jose Luis Guzman Vasquez, 32, from San Miguel Huautla in the southern state of Oaxaca, according to Aida Ruiz Garcia, director of the Oaxacan Institute for Migrant Attention. He was dehydrated and receiving car at a San Antonio hospital, Mexico's foreign affairs said. A cousin, Alejandro Lopez, told Milenio television that the family worked in farming and construction and migrated because we dont have anything but weaving hats, palms and handicrafts. Attempts to cross the U.S. border from Mexico have claimed thousands of lives in both countries in recent decades. U.S. border authorities are stopping migrants more often on the southern border than at any time in at least two decades. Migrants were stopped nearly 240,000 times in May, up by one-third from a year ago. Comparisons to pre-pandemic levels are complicated because migrants expelled under a public health authority known as Title 42 face no legal consequences, encouraging repeat attempts. Authorities say 25% of encounters in May were with people who had been stopped at least once in the previous year. South Texas has long been the busiest area for illegal border crossings. U.S. authorities discover trucks with migrants inside pretty close to daily, Larrabee said. Migrants typically pay $8,000 to $10,000 to be taken across the border and loaded into a tractor-trailer and driven to San Antonio, where they transfer to smaller vehicles for their final destinations across the United States, he said. Conditions vary widely, including how much water passengers get and whether they are allowed to carry cellphones, Larrabee said. Authorities think the truck discovered Monday had mechanical problems when it was left next to a railroad track in an area of San Antonio surrounded by auto scrapyards that brush up against a busy freeway, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the top elected official in the county that includes San Antonio. San Antonio has been a recurring scene of tragedy and desperation in recent years involving migrants in semitrailers. Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck parked at a San Antonio Walmart. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of the city. More than 50 migrants were found alive in a trailer in 2018, driven by a man who said he was to be paid $3,000 and was sentenced to more than five years in prison. Other tragedies have occurred long before migrants reached the U.S. In December, more than 50 died when a semitrailer rolled over on a highway in southern Mexico. In October, Mexican authorities reported finding 652 migrants packed into six trailers stopped at a military checkpoint near the border. Some of the 16 people taken to hospitals with heat-related illnesses remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical condition. Those taken to the hospital were hot to the touch and dehydrated, and no water was found in the trailer, said Fire Chief Charles Hood. They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion," Hood said. "It was a refrigerated tractor-trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig. Temperatures in San Antonio on Monday approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. Before that, people paid small fees to get across a largely unguarded border. As crossing became much more difficult after the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S., migrants were led through more perilous terrain and had to pay thousands of dollars. Some advocates drew a link to the Biden administrations border policies. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, wrote that he had been dreading such a tragedy for months. With the border shut as tightly as it is today for migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, people have been pushed into more and more dangerous routes, he wrote on Twitter. During a vigil held Tuesday evening in the rain at a San Antonio park, many of the more than 50 people who attended expressed sadness, frustration and anger at the deaths and what they described as a broken immigration system. I see this happen, and it didnt have to happen. If we had a better way for brown and Black people to enter safely, they wouldnt go through these desperate measures, said San Antonio resident Debbie Ponce. Migrants largely from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have been expelled more than 2 million times under the pandemic-era rule in effect since March 2020 that denies a chance to seek asylum. The Biden administration planned to end the policy, but a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the move in May. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 557 deaths on the Southwest border in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Most were related to heat exposure. Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press reporters Eric Gay in San Antonio, Acacia Coronado in Austin, Terry Wallace in Dallas and Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Strengthen sharing of Chinas experience in poverty reduction to boost the Global Development Initiative 17:24, June 27, 2022 By Li Xiaoyun, Xu Xiuli ( People's Daily Online During the past 100 years, the international community has provided a wealth of global public goods in the course of poverty reduction and development, including relatively systematic global poverty reduction governance frameworks, standard systems for measuring poverty, data systems for monitoring poverty, and policy toolkits with targeting measures for eliminating poverty, bringing down global incidence of extreme poverty from nearly 40 percent in the 1990s to less than 10 percent in 2020. In recent years, however, global poverty reduction has faced severe challenges due to the impact of climate change, the global epidemic, regional conflicts and financial crisis. Data from UNDP show that by 2030, the total number of people living in extreme poverty is expected to rise by more than 200 million, totaling more than 1 billion. In this context, supply and governance of global public goods face an urgent need to be transformed. In 2020, China achieved Goal 1 of eradicating extreme poverty set in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ten years ahead of schedule, contributing to over 70 percent of the global poverty reduction, which offers useful inspiration for the global poverty reduction course. China, a learner, beneficiary and innovator of the worlds experience in poverty reduction, is increasingly becoming a proponent, practitioner and promoter of poverty reduction in the world. China, as its experience in poverty reduction and development becomes an important asset for the international community in poverty eradication, provides a diverse, applicable and accessible portfolio of public goods for global poverty reduction to improve the global governance system for poverty reduction and contribute to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. To better promote the international exchanges and cooperation based on Chinas poverty reduction experience, it is necessary to build on Chinas poverty reduction practices since reform and opening up, especially the successful experience of targeted poverty alleviation, and summarize the modes of international exchanges and implementation of Chinas poverty reduction experience in the past decade, so as to better share Chinas experience with other countries and contribute to the implementation of Global Development Initiative. I. Ideas on international sharing of China's poverty reduction experience: parallel experience sharing Chinas vivid practices in poverty reduction have fostered rich poverty reduction studies in China, at the core of which are the goal of common prosperity, precise means, a market benefiting the poor where the government, the market and society make concerted efforts, measures to unleash the productivity of the poor, and a guideline of making them not only beneficiaries of distribution, but also contributors to growth, so as to promote the social development in a more balanced and equitable manner. However, how to effectively share experience in poverty reduction with other countries has remained a concern of all countries and the international community. When sharing poverty reduction experience, China adopts a parallel experience sharing theory which is different from Western countries, which has three core elements. First, experience shared should be practical and accessible in line with the development stages of the time and place, rather than highly abstract, values-oriented, or ahead of the local development stage. Second, modes shared are the products of mutual learning and inspiration, rather than unilaterally prescribing medicine and providing fixed patterns and templates. Third, the relationship between the sharing parties is a partnership featuring equality and mutual benefit, rather than a one-way give and take relationship. Autonomy and sense of ownership of partners are respected, with focus on innovation and win-win result. II. International sharing model of Chinas poverty reduction experience: uniting global partners to focus on development China has established extensive cooperation and exchange platforms with countries in different regions of the world, including China-Africa, China-ASEAN, China-Latin America, China-Arab states, China-Europe and other platforms established by the 1+N mechanism, as well as global or regional exchange and sharing mechanisms established in cooperation with the UN, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and other international organizations. Through these frameworks and platforms, China has carried out fruitful exchanges and cooperation on poverty reduction for more than a decade, issuing a wealth of knowledge products on the progress and experience of poverty reduction in China and specific regions, such as the Global Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development, FOCAC Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference, CELAC-China Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development, ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction, ASEAN+3 village official exchange program, and China-East Asia Poverty Reduction Demonstration Cooperation Technical Assistance Project. In different regions, China has promoted practical cooperation in economic development, such as trade, investment and aid that meet the needs of both sides through long-term collective dialogue and discussion. In this process, China has tried to demonstrate its experience in poverty reduction and development in other developing countries, integrating its successful practice with the local realities of poverty reduction and development to accelerate the local poverty reduction. While uniting countries and partners from different regions of the world to focus on development, and guided by a global multilateral system based on the United Nations, China has shared experience of development based on the realities of different regions, contributing to the progress of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. III. New mechanism for international sharing of Chinas poverty reduction experience: Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development China has put forward the Global Development Initiative, giving to priority to poverty reduction. China, despite the pandemic, successfully eliminated absolute poverty. This achievement, combined with Chinas actions and results of consolidating the achievements of the fight against poverty and advancing rural revitalization after 2020, has drawn wide attention from the international community. To better study, exchange and share Chinas experience in poverty reduction and development in the new context, promote mutual learning, and provide the international community with public goods for poverty reduction and development, China announced the establishment of the Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development. It is hoped that relevant international organizations, government agencies, think tanks, social organizations and enterprises committed to global poverty reduction will join China in the cause to build consensus, put forward proposals, exchange experience, and promote cooperation. The Alliance will continue with parallel experience sharing, unite global partners, promote localization of international experience and international demands through extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and push international sharing of Chinas poverty reduction and development experience. In this way, the Alliance will pool forces to jointly promote the building of a global community of shared future for poverty reduction and development, contributing to the implementation of the Global Development Initiative. The authors are professors from College of Humanities and Development/College of International Development and Global Agriculture, China Agricultural University (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) A global look at some of the deadliest incidents involving trafficked migrants in trucks or shipping containers: June 27, 2022: 53 migrants died after being abandoned in a sweltering tractor-trailer on a remote back road in San Antonio. October 23, 2019: 39 Vietnamese migrants were found dead in a truck trailer in Essex, England. Four men were jailed for manslaughter. July 23, 2017: Eight immigrants were found dead in a sweltering trailer at a San Antonio Walmart parking lot. Two others died later in hospitals. The driver was sentenced to life in prison. Feb. 20, 2017: 13 African migrants suffocated inside a shipping container while being transported between two towns in Libya. A total of 69 migrants, most from Mali, were packed into the container, according to the local Red Crescent branch. Aug. 27, 2015: Austrian police discovered an abandoned truck containing the bodies of 71 migrants, including eight children, from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. The truck, found along a highway, had crossed into Austria from Hungary. April 4, 2009: 35 Afghan migrants suffocated inside a shipping container in southwestern Pakistan. Authorities said that more than 100 people were packed inside the container. April 9, 2008: 54 Burmese migrants suffocated in the back of an airtight refrigerated truck in Ranong, Thailand. May 14, 2003: 19 migrants died inside a sweltering tractor-trailer while they traveled from South Texas to Houston. June 18, 2000: 58 Chinese immigrants were found dead inside a truck in the English port town of Dover. The Dutch truck had transported the immigrants across the English Channel from Belgium. Two people survived. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump said Tuesday he will lead the legal fight on behalf of Randy Cox, a Black man who was seriously injured in the back of a police van in Connecticut when the driver braked suddenly. Crump also called for a federal civil rights investigation into the treatment of Cox, 36, who was being taken June 19 to a police station in New Haven, Connecticut, for processing on a weapons charge when his head struck the back wall of the van. Crump said police mocked Cox's cries for help and later dragged him by his feet from the van and placed him in a holding cell before he was taken to a hospital. Cox, whose legal first name is Richard, is in intensive care, paralyzed from the chest down, Crump said. At a news conference Tuesday in front of New Haven Superior Court, Crump, who has been called Black Americas attorney general for his work on civil rights cases, led a crowd in chants of Justice for Randy Cox. His co-counsel, Jack O'Donnell, said the legal team expects to file a federal lawsuit within 60 days, once it has reviewed all the evidence, including more than two hours of video. Some of that, including footage from a camera that recorded the moments when Cox was injured, has been released publicly. I am here because when I looked at that video, it shocked my conscience, Crump said. And I believe when you all see that video, it's going to shock your conscience. The only question is, why, when the police look at Randy Cox saying, I cant move,' why doesn't it shock their conscience? Five members of the New Haven police department have been put on leave while the episode is investigated. Cox was handcuffed when he was in the back of the New Haven police van, which was not equipped with seat belts. He flew headfirst into a wall when Officer Oscar Diaz braked hard; he said it was to avoid a collision, police said. Diaz resumed driving to the police department, despite Cox calling for help and saying he was injured and couldnt move, according to the video and officials. A few minutes later, Diaz stopped the van to check on Cox, who was lying motionless on the floor. Diaz then called paramedics but told them to meet him at the station instead of waiting for them where he was, police said. At the station, officers dragged Cox out of the van by his feet and put him in a wheelchair, video shows. Police then booked Cox, took him out of the wheelchair and dragged him into a cell, where he was left on the floor, video shows. Paramedics arrived minutes later and took Cox to a hospital, officials said. Crump said Cox was accused of lying and told to get up several times by police. Wheres the first aid training? Wheres the on the job training? Wheres the accountability? said Latoya Boomer, Crumps sister, who attended the news conference with several other family members. I want to know, wheres the person who sees whats going on and says, Maybe hes not joking. Maybe hes not drunk. Maybe he is in distress. Scot Esdaile, the president of the Connecticut branch of the NAACP, said he is not convinced the hard braking of the van was an accident. People from the community have been coming to us for years talking about how they torture people in the back of paddy wagons, he said. They put people in the back of the paddy wagon; they go real fast and then they slam the brakes. New Haven Mayor Justin said last week that prisoner transport vans not equipped with seatbelts have been taken out of service and that the police department is working to install seatbelts in them. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) A former Air Force sergeant linked to an extremist movement and convicted last month in the 2020 killing of a federal security officer in the San Francisco Bay Area pleaded guilty to killing a sheriff's sergeant a week after he attacked a federal building. Steven Carrillo, 33, pleaded guilty Monday to all nine counts, including murder and special circumstances, for the killing of Santa Cruz County Sheriff Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller on June 6, 2020, the Santa Cruz District Attorneys Office confirmed Tuesday. Carrillo is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26 and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors said Carrillo ambushed sheriffs deputies in Santa Cruz County who were responding to a report of a van containing firearms and bomb-making materials. Gutzwiller, 38, was killed and several other law enforcement officials were wounded. Carrillo was arrested after he ambushed the officials in the community of Ben Lomond. Earlier this month, Carrillo was sentenced to 41 years in prison for killing David Patrick Underwood while he and a colleague guarded a federal building in Oakland amid large protests against police brutality following the May 2020 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. In February, Carrillo admitted to posting messages on Facebook a day before the Oakland shooting asking anyone if they were down to boog and saying he was ready to act and not just talk. He also admitted firing 19 rounds from a homemade AR-15 rifle from the back of a white van being driven by a man he connected with online. I aligned myself with the anti-government movement and wanted to carry out violent acts against federal law enforcement officers in particular, Carrillo said then. Prosecutors said Carrillo, of Santa Cruz, had ties to the boogaloo movement a concept embraced by a loose network of gun enthusiasts and militia-style extremists. Experts say the group started in alt-right culture on the internet with the belief that there is an impending U.S. civil war. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW YORK (AP) Ghislaine Maxwell, the jet-setting socialite who once consorted with royals, presidents and billionaires, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The stiff sentence was a victory for a group of women who spent years fighting for justice after an earlier generation of prosecutors failed to pursue the predatory power couple. Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14. Prosecutors said he couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion. Maxwell, wearing a blue prison uniform and a white mask to conform with coronavirus rules, looked to one side as the sentence was announced, but otherwise did not react. She wore leg shackles that could be heard rattling when she walked into the courtroom. The sentence was shorter than the term sought by prosecutors, but Epstein's accusers still expressed relief. Its been an incredibly long road to justice for myself and for many other survivors," said Sarah Ransome, one of Epstein's accusers. "This is for the girls that didnt have their say, the ones that werent here. A jury in December convicted Maxwell, 60, of sex trafficking, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts and two conspiracy charges. Judge Alison J. Nathan noted as she imposed the prison term and a $750,000 fine that Maxwell never expressed remorse for her crimes. The judge said she wanted the sentence to send an unmistakable message" that nobody was above the law. Addressing the court earlier, Maxwell stood at a lectern and said she empathized with the survivors and hoped her punishment would bring them peace. But she did not admit culpability and laid blame for the abuse on Epstein, saying meeting him was the greatest regret of my life. She called him a manipulative, cunning and controlling man who lived a profoundly compartmentalized life." The judge said Maxwell was being punished for her heinous and predatory crimes, not Epstein's. She criticized Maxwell's pattern of deflection and blame." Four survivors at the sentencing described their sexual abuse, including Annie Farmer, who was briefly overcome with emotion as she addressed the judge. She said she and her sister tried to go public with their stories about being abused by Epstein and Maxwell two decades ago, only to be shut down by the powerful couple through threats and influence with authorities. We will continue to live with the harm she caused us, Farmer said. Inside a courtroom crowded with reporters, three of Maxwell's siblings sat in a row behind her. Outside the courthouse, Kevin Maxwell said that his sister wont give up on her legal battle, and we as a family will be solidly behind her. Defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim promised to appeal. She said Epstein left Maxwell holding the whole bag. We all know that the person who should have been sentenced today escaped accountability, avoided his victims, avoided absorbing their pain and receiving the punishment he truly deserved, she said. Over the past 17 years, scores of women have accused Epstein of abusing them, with many describing Maxwell as the madam who recruited them. The allegations against Epstein first surfaced in 2005. The FBI and local police had, at the time, amassed evidence of sexual misconduct with many underage girls. But under a deal with federal and state prosecutors in Florida, later criticized as lenient, Epstein pleaded guilty to prostitution-related charges involving just one girl and served 13 months in prison, much of it in a work-release program. Afterward, he was required to register as a sex offender. In the years that followed, many women sued Epstein over alleged abuse. One, Virginia Giuffre, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had also pressured her into sexual trysts with other powerful men, including Britain's Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations, and Giuffre ultimately settled a lawsuit against Andrew out of court. Federal prosecutors in New York revived the case against Epstein after stories by the Miami Herald in 2018 brought new attention to his crimes. He was arrested in 2019, but killed himself a month later. Eleven months after his death, Maxwell was arrested at a New Hampshire estate. Since then, she has been jailed in a federal facility in New York City. Epstein and Maxwells associations with some of the worlds most famous people were not a prominent part of her trial, but mentions of friends such as Bill Clinton and Donald Trump showed how the pair exploited their connections to impress their prey. The trial revolved around allegations from only a handful of Epstein's accusers. Four testified that they were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins mansions in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Three were identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, an ex-model from the U.K.; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Farmer, the sole accuser to identify herself in court by her real name, after speaking out publicly. They described how Maxwell charmed them with conversation and gifts and promises that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to help fulfill their dreams. Then, they testified, she led them to give massages to Epstein that turned sexual and played it off as normal. Carolyn testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epsteins Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to massage him in exchange for $100 bills in what prosecutors described as a pyramid of abuse. Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. Maxwell's lawyers fought to have her conviction tossed out on the grounds of juror misconduct. Days after the verdict, one juror gave media interviews in which he disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child something he hadn't told the court during jury selection. Maxwell's lawyers said she deserved a new trial. A judge disagreed. During Maxwell's sentencing hearing Tuesday, the juror sat quietly among other spectators. At least eight women submitted letters to the judge, describing the sexual abuse they said they endured. Anne Holve and Philip Maxwell, her eldest siblings, wrote to the court to ask for leniency and said that their sister's relationship with Epstein began soon after the 1991 death of their father, the British newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell. Robert Maxwell, they wrote, subjected his daughter to frequent rapid mood swings, huge rages and rejections, which "led her to becoming very vulnerable to abusive and powerful men who would be able to take advantage of her innate good nature. Ransome an accuser whose allegations werent included in the trial testified about the lasting harm to her life, gazing directly at Maxwell several times. You broke me in unfathomable ways," said Ransome, who twice tried to die by suicide. "But you did not break my spirit. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Nebraska state Sen. Mike Flood won a special election Tuesday to replace former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a fellow Republican who was sentenced to two years of probation earlier in the day for a conviction on charges that he lied to federal agents. Flood beat Democratic state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks in the states Republican-leaning 1st District, which includes Lincoln and dozens of smaller, mostly conservative towns in eastern Nebraska. Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, will serve the rest of what would have been Fortenberrys ninth term. Hell be a strong favorite to win a new term in November, when he faces Pansing Brooks again. In a brief interview after his win, Flood promised to be a conservative advocate for the district and a champion for local infrastructure projects and agriculture. Throughout the campaign, he sought to blame President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for rising inflation, and pledged to fight Biden administration policies. Flood acknowledged that he needs to do more to boost his support in the Lincoln area, one of the only pockets of Democratic strength in the district. Flood's victory was narrower than in previous elections, when Fortenberry would easily beat Democratic challengers with more than 60% of the vote. I recognize that I have work to do, Flood said. In a statement, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said the narrower-than-expected margin shows the need for more national party support in rural areas that are often viewed as unwinnable. Sen. Pansing Brooks connected with voters and started to change the political landscape of Nebraska, Kleeb said. Both candidates were nominated by their parties leaders in April to run in the special election. The next month, Nebraska primary voters picked them to run in the general election. In court Tuesday, Fortenberry sat quietly as U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld ordered him to serve probation, pay a $25,000 fine and perform community service. Blumenfeld rejected prosecutors request for a six-month prison sentence, saying the ex-congressman's behavior in the case was out of character. Fortenberry later said he planned to appeal, arguing that prosecutors never should have brought the case and accusing them of taking advantage of his trust. This has been very traumatic and weve got a way to go, he said outside the courthouse. But I am grateful that ... the judge recognized that the pattern of what I wanted to do with my life was simply to serve in public office and to try to help people. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Jenkins said prosecutors disagreed with the decision not to impose prison time, but noted the judges comments endorsing the jurys decision. Fortenberry resigned in March shortly after a California jury found him guilty in the corruption case. He has maintained his innocence and said he plans to appeal. Before he was indicted in October, Fortenberry was expected to sail to an easy win. Prosecutors alleged Fortenberry lied to federal agents multiple times about $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions he received from a foreign national at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Federal law bars donations from foreign nationals. At trial, prosecutors played phone recordings between Fortenberry and a donor-turned-informant, who warned the congressman that the donations had likely been funneled to him from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent. Fortenberrys attorneys argued that he didnt hear the warning due to bad cellphone reception. Fortenberry maintained his innocence, going so far as to release a preemptive denial of the charges before they were announced in a video that he filmed inside a 1963 Ford F-150 pickup, with his wife and dog at his side. He also continued to campaign, decrying his prosecution as politically motivated and airing attack ads against Flood. But as more details of the case became public, Fortenberry quickly lost support among top Nebraska Republicans. Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman dealt him a major blow when they endorsed Flood. Flood stayed mostly positive, airing several lighthearted ads, including one where he described himself as a conservative nerd who would get things done in Washington. Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte Melley reported from Los Angeles. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Forty-six people have been found dead after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer on a remote back road in Texas. It's the latest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico to the U.S. Sixteen people were hospitalized, including four children. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said a city worker was alerted to the situation by a cry for help shortly before 6 p.m. Monday. Fire Chief Charles Hood said 12 of those taken to hospitals were adults and four were children. He said they were hot to the touch and dehydrated, and no water was found in the trailer. NEW YORK (AP) Nine months after she stepped into the job of New York governor as a relative unknown, Democrat Kathy Hochul easily locked up her party's nomination Tuesday, setting her on an expected glide path to win the office in November. Hochul was serving as an under-the-radar lieutenant governor under the shadow of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo until last year, when he resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, catapulting her into office. Hochul beat back primary challenges Tuesday from New York Citys elected public advocate, Jumaane Williams, and U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate from Long Island. She now turns her eyes to becoming the first woman to win election to the New York governors office this fall. In a nod to the barrier-breaking campaign, Hochul gave an election night speech Tuesday on a stage underneath a glass ceiling at an event space in Manhattan. Im also here because I stand on the shoulders of generations of women, generations of women who constantly had to bang up against that glass ceiling. To the women of New York, this ones for you," Hochul said. Hochul enters the general election campaign with a big advantage, running as the incumbent with a heavy fundraising advantage in a state that has more than twice as many registered Democrats than Republicans and has not had a GOP governor in 16 years. She faces U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who won the Republican Partys nomination Tuesday. Zeldin is a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and was among the Republicans in Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Are we ready to fire Kathy Hochul? Zeldin said to cheers as he spoke at a victory party on Long Island. The Long Island congressman will try to become the first Republican elected governor in New York since Gov. George Pataki was reelected in 2002. This November, in the state of New York, one-party rule will end," he said. "Kathy Hochul will get fired. We will restore balance and common sense to Albany again. Hochul's prospects are expected to be even stronger this fall after the U.S. Supreme Court last week overturned the Roe v. Wade decision establishing abortion rights. She has made bolstering abortion rights a key plank of her campaign. Hochul repeated that in her Tuesday night speech, proclaiming that the state had gone on offense to protect abortion rights" and "making the world know that New York State is a safe harbor for Americas women. Since taking office in August, Hochul has sought to step out from Cuomo's shadow, promising a clean break from his administration. She has said she was not close to the former governor, who has denied wrongdoing, and was not around to witness any alleged misbehavior. Still, Cuomos presence loomed over her campaign early on when he began making public appearances this past spring, criticizing Hochul and Democrats in Albany over their approach to crime and suggesting he might run for his old job. Despite suggesting he might run as an independent, the former governor ultimately did not file to run. Zeldin is an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who has represented eastern Long Island in Congress since 2015. He defeated primary challenges from former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, businessman Harry Wilson and Andrew Giuliani, the son of New York Citys former mayor Rudy Giuliani, who frequently campaigned for his son. He has focused his campaign on rising crime and criticized Hochul for not toughening the states bail laws, for imposing COVID-19 mitigation mandates and for rising costs. And despite Hochul seeking to project a fresh start from Cuomo, Zeldin has referred repeatedly to the Cuomo-Hochul Administration. New Yorkers are hitting their breaking point. Theyre deciding whether or not to stay here or head to other places," he said. He will have to persuade the states independent voters, which outnumber Republicans, along with Democrats in order to win the general election. Democrats are expected to focus on Zeldins vocal defense of Trump during both of his impeachments and objection to the election results. Hochul is also likely to focus on Zeldins statements praising the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and his comment that, as governor, he would appoint an anti-abortion state health commissioner. We must answer one question, she said Tuesday night. Are we going to move New York forward, or let the far-right extremist drag our state backwards? Hochul focused her campaign on steps she took to bolster abortion rights and moves to toughen the states gun laws after a racist mass shooting in Buffalo. Suozzi and Williams criticized her for her endorsement a decade ago from the National Rifle Association and over her plan to spend more than $1.1 billion in state and county funds on building and maintaining a new stadium for her hometown Buffalo Bills. She also faced questions about her choice for lieutenant governor, Brian Benjamin, who was arrested on federal corruption charges in April related to his campaign funds. Benjamin pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Hochul pointed to the short time frame she had to pick a No. 2 and said she had been assured that any questions previously raised about Benjamins campaign fundraising had been resolved. Hochul replaced Benjamin with Antonio Delgado, who stepped down from his seat in Congress to accept the role. Delgado, also Hochul's choice for a running mate, won his primary Tuesday. Zeldin's running mate Alison Esposito is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Tuesdays election in New York covered statewide offices and state Assembly races, but primary elections for U.S. House seats and the state Senate will be held Aug. 23. Those elections were delayed because of a redistricting lawsuit that led a court to throw out new political maps. Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Kearney Police Department is the first in Nebraska to test out some of the latest technology for investigating crime: automated license plate reading cameras. Kearney is working with Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company that offers the technology known as ALPR aimed at helping law enforcement agencies with crime prevention and investigation. Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh said he came across the company while at an FBI National Academy conference in Omaha, and had heard from other law enforcement officers that the technology had aided their investigation capabilities. Through a pilot program, Kearney is testing out 25 of Flocks ALPR cameras for 60 days at no cost, said Holly Beilin, public relations specialist for Flock. Were OK with doing these pilots, because we know that citizens and the Police Department are going to see it works pretty quickly, and are going to see the value of the technology, she said. Waugh said the pilot program was approved by the Kearney City Council and the city will be installing the cameras in the next eight to 10 weeks. Specific camera locations havent been selected yet, he said. After the 60-day trial, police and city officials will decide whether to pay to continue to use the cameras. Flock offers plans for both law enforcement agencies and neighborhood organizations like homeowners associations, according to the companys website. Flocks solar-powered, motion-sensor cameras capture still images of passing vehicles and record vehicle make, type, color, license plate and state, according to the companys website. The captured data is uploaded to the cloud, where law enforcement agencies can use the data for identifying vehicles involved in a hit-and-run and identifying when a stolen or wanted vehicle has entered a community, Beilin said. The technology can also be used in tracking down vehicles associated with alerts for missing and endangered children and seniors. Because most instances of crime involve a vehicle, Waugh said he thinks the cameras will help the Kearney Police Department with investigations. Its kind of like a police multiplier, he said. We cant be everywhere at once, so it adds this extra set of eyes, so if were not in the area we can follow up on it using that technology. The use of ALPR technology has spurred controversy in some communities outside Nebraska due to concerns about surveillance and the potential for misuse. The City Council in Austin, Texas, canceled the police departments ALPR contracts over such concerns in 2020, according to reporting by the nonprofit news outlet the Austin Monitor. In California, the Marin County Sheriffs Office recently settled a lawsuit that will limit the sharing of data gathered by ALPR, according to reporting by the Marin Independent Journal. The suit alleged the Sheriffs Office was sharing data with with outside agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Beilin said Flock doesnt consider its ALPR cameras to be surveillance technology. The cameras only take still photos, never any video, Beilin said, and do not capture speed or information that can be used for traffic violations. The technology also doesnt capture information about the vehicles driver and can only be searched using vehicle information characteristics like car type and color, Beilin said. The data is also owned by the law enforcement agencies who capture it, not by Flock, Beilin said. Any data for a vehicle that isnt connected with a criminal investigation is automatically deleted after 30 days and the data retrieval system requires officers to enter a reason for retrieving data. We always think about data, because we are capturing a lot of data, Beilin said. We want to make sure were being really good stewards of that data. Nebraskas Automatic License Plate Reader Privacy Act, which was established in 2018, also sets parameters for how Nebraska law enforcement agencies can use this data. The American Civil Liberties Union has raised concerns about the potential applications of Flocks data, such as the ability for HOAs to create their own hot lists of vehicles and the ability for immigration agencies to use the data to conduct deportations. Flock Safety is building a form of mass surveillance unlike any seen before in American life, a March 2022 report from the ACLU stated. Over 1,500 communities have installed Flocks cameras so far, and Flock reports that communities have seen crime reduction rates of up to 70% after installing the cameras, Beilin said. Law enforcement are constantly telling us about cases they solve using Flock, she said. Beilin said Flock hopes to expand to other agencies in Nebraska, such as the Lincoln and Omaha Police Departments. Were starting with a mid-sized agency, but we certainly hope to grow in the state, she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An inmate died on Saturday in Lincoln at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Clyde Hicks, 91, had been serving a 15- to 20-year sentence for first-degree sexual assault of a child out of Hall County. Officials from the Nebraska Correctional Services said Hicks began his sentence on Sept. 15, 2016. The cause of death has not been determined. As is the case whenever someone in law enforcement custody dies, a grand jury will conduct an investigation. As is the case whenever an inmate dies in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, a grand jury will conduct an investigation. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or emejia@journalstar.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 GRUNDY CENTER A Grundy Center man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing an Iowa State Patrol trooper during a 2021 standoff. Under Iowa law, Michael Thomas Lang, 42, will not be eligible for parole on a charge of first-degree murder. He was also sentenced to a consecutive 30 years for attempted murder and assault on an officer. He was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of Sgt. Jim Smith. Judge Joel Dalrymple handed down the sentence Monday morning in Grundy County District Court. It came after the judge dismissed a defense motion for a new trial. In May, a jury found Lang guilty of first-degree murder in Smiths death as well as attempted murder for shooting at another trooper who was driving an armored vehicle at the end of the standoff and assault on an officer for fighting with a Grundy Center police officer during a traffic stop that sparked the incident. Eluding charges were dismissed. Authorities said Lang refused to pull over for an April 9, 2021, speeding stop and instead lured the police officer into a rural area where he knocked away his Taser and began struggling with him. A passerby and a sheriffs deputy intervened, and Lang drove home and refused to come out for police. Smith was shot in the chest and leg with slugs from a shotgun when he and others attempted to enter the kitchen to apprehend Lang. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX FALLS Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, in his first public comments since being removed from office last week, appeared before a state ethics board Monday to press for an investigation of fellow Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, the person he blames for his impeachment over his conduct surrounding a 2020 fatal car crash. As attorney general, Ravnsborg last year filed a pair of complaints against Noem to the state's Government Accountability Board alleging she abused the powers of her office by interfering in a state agency as it evaluated her daughters application for a real estate appraiser license and by misusing state airplanes. The board, which is comprised of retired judges, has not decided whether to investigate Noem and is working with an attorney to evaluate the merits of the complaints. Ravnsborg appeared at the Government Accountability Boards meeting for the first time since he initiated the complaints last year and said he was ready to provide additional information. He made it clear he thinks an investigation could have far-reaching consequences for Noem, who is running for reelection after a first term that vaulted her to national prominence. She's widely considered to be a White House aspirant in 2024. Im not going to let this just drop. I think that they should pursue it and I do believe that, ultimately, the House will pursue it, Ravnsborg told The Associated Press, suggesting that Noem could also face impeachment for her actions. The former attorney general denied that he was out for revenge against Noem, although he blames her for his removal. Noem and Ravnsborg became political enemies after he struck and killed a pedestrian in 2020. Noem publicly called for Ravnsborg to resign and later pressed the Legislature to impeach him. The House eventually did, and the Senate last week convicted him of two charges: committing a crime that caused someones death and malfeasance for misleading investigators and misusing his office. Ravnsborg blamed emotion and political pressure for tilting the Republican-controlled Senate against him and said Noem sought his removal because he had filed the complaints to the Government Accountability Board. I think that among these two complaints and theres other scandals that shes involved in that she did not want the information to come to light," he said. Noem's spokesman Tony Mangan declined to comment on the board's proceedings or Ravnsborg's remarks. The board has tapped Sioux Falls attorney Mark Haigh, who primarily specializes in business and health care law, to help evaluate Ravnsborg's complaints. Haigh also has experience arguing before juries, administrative boards and licensing agencies. The Associated Press reported last year that the governor held a meeting in July 2020 that included her daughter and key decision-makers in her application for an appraiser license just days after the agency moved to deny the license. A Republican-controlled legislative committee concluded that Noem's daughter, Kassidy Peters, got preferential treatment. Noem has rejected that finding, saying her daughter followed the same process as other applicants. But the agencys former director, Sherry Bren, told the legislative committee last year that she felt intimidated at the July 2020 meeting, where she said Peters unsuccessful application was discussed in detail and a plan was formed to give her an unprecedented, additional chance to show she could meet federal standards. Noems office has said the plan was in the works before the meeting. Peters got her license four months later. Shortly after that, Bren retired under pressure from Noem's cabinet secretary. She eventually received a $200,000 settlement to withdraw an age discrimination complaint. Ravnsborg's other complaint was sparked by a report from Raw Story, a news website. Noem in 2019 used state airplanes to travel to events held by political organizations including the National Rifle Association and the Republican Jewish Coalition, even though South Dakota law bars their use for anything other than state business. Noem defended the trips as part of her work as an ambassador for the state. The boards consideration of the complaints began last year and has happened entirely in private meetings. It could either investigate the complaints and potentially hold hearings or dismiss them entirely. The judges will meet next on Aug. 3. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Few issues within Americas dysfunctional healthcare system are more pressing than the astronomical price of insulin access to which is, for millions of Americans, literally a matter of life or death. Congress is finally moving toward approving legislation that would partially address the problem. But passage will rely on the willingness of some hesitant Republicans to set aside their free-market absolutism and acknowledge that the apparent price-gouging going isnt what markets are supposed to do. Almost two million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, which typically requires daily insulin shots. More than 30 million more have Type 2 diabetes, which often requires insulin therapy. In the past decade alone, the cost of that lifesaving insulin has tripled. Today, even insured patients, depending on the terms of their policies, can end up paying $300 or more monthly for their insulin, while uninsured patients can face monthly costs of well over $1,000. The situation has spawned horror stories of diabetics self-rationing with less insulin than theyre supposed to take, with sometimes tragic outcomes. The reasons for the price explosion are complicated and contentious, with the pharmaceuticals, insurance companies and wholesalers essentially blaming each other. An investigation by the Senate Finance Committee in 2020, headed by then-Chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, blamed them all. This industry is anything but a free market because of anti-competitive practices between those various players, Grassley said in a statement accompanying the committees report in early 2021. He called for bipartisan legislation and oversight to address this problem. The reins of the Senate have changed, but the bipartisan legislation Grassley called for has finally arrived. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., this week unveiled a measure that would cap the monthly insulin costs for insured diabetics at $35. It doesnt cap costs for those who are uninsured a more complicated issue that would have to be addressed in broader legislation but its a start. The bill is similar to one the House passed earlier this year, but in addition to capping out-of-pocket patient expenses, it also targets distribution issues that are partly blamed for the price hikes. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, told The Washington Post this month that he wont rule out the bill until he sees it, but that generally Im not supportive of price controls Im supportive of competition and things that encourage competition. That may sound a solid free-market stance, but this particular market has clearly colluded to the detriment of its consumers some of whom have died because of it. We encourage Blunt and others with reservations to consider that when a given market becomes detrimental to its customers health, a hands-off approach by political leaders isnt conservatism, but abdication of responsibility. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Soon after the constitutional right to an abortion was ended with the overruling of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, elected officials in states that are set to ban the procedure were discussing the possibility of trying to prevent women who reside in those states from traveling to another state where abortion is legal to undergo the procedure. Therell be a debate about that, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said when asked about the possibility of her state trying to implement a travel ban. Any such effort is almost certainly doomed to failure, though. Advertisement One big reason is that the key vote in Dobbs was Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who ruled out travel bans in a concurring opinion. Kavanaugh wrote that such a ban would fail based on the constitutional right to interstate travel and described the question as not especially difficult as a constitutional matter. That view was echoed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in a post-Dobbs statement: under bedrock constitutional principles, women who reside in states that have banned access to comprehensive reproductive care must remain free to seek that care in states where it is legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign Up for the Surge The most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Indeed, the Supreme Court has actually ruled on the issue before in a 72 decision in the 1975 post-Roe case Bigelow v. Virginia. The defendant in Bigelow ran a newspaper in Virginia and published an ad for abortions in New York, where they were legal, when they were still illegal in Virginia. The court ruled that Virginia could not prevent its residents from receiving information about services that were lawful where they were to be performed. If Texas or any other state attempts to make it a crime for a woman to travel to another state to obtain an abortion that is still lawful there, Justice Harry Blackmun wrote in Bigelow that states cannot apply their laws to conduct undertaken outside their borders. Advertisement Advertisement The Virginia Legislature could not have regulated the advertisers activity in New York, and obviously could not have proscribed the [abortion] activity in that State. Neither could Virginia prevent its residents from traveling to New York to obtain those services or, as the State conceded, [at oral argument], prosecute them for going there. As the court continued, A State does not acquire power or supervision over the internal affairs of another State merely because the welfare and health of its own citizens may be affected when they travel to that State. In other words, what a South Dakota resident does in another state, regarding an abortion or anything else, is none of South Dakotas business. That is true if the person traveled to another state to be married at an age when their home would not issue that person a marriage license or to obtain a divorce on a ground not recognized in their prior state. Similarly, if South Dakota banned all gambling, it could not make it a crime for its citizens to fly to Las Vegas and toss away their life savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The courts other right-to-travel cases more typically involve situations in which the state to which the individual has gone imposes a barrier to receiving a service or obtaining a benefit, such as welfare payments, for those who have recently arrived. In general, the court has allowed states to ensure that the traveler is in fact a bona fide resident of their new state, but not much more. The right to travel to obtain an abortion is the opposite side of these earlier cases, which were cited in Bigelow, but the principlethat states generally cannot prevent or penalize interstate travelis the same. Still, after Dobbs, it is unclear that any prior precedent in this area of law should be considered a settled issue, whatever Kavanaugh says. Ideally, Congress would enact a law codifying the right to travel generally, and for abortions specifically, but it would be very difficult to avoid an almost certain Senate filibuster on that subject. But if a state like South Dakota decides to charge a woman who travels elsewhere to obtain an abortion where it is legal, or charges someone who takes her there as an aider or abettor, the Justice Department should intervene and make it clear that those extraterritorial reaches are unconstitutional. Last Friday, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion and overruling Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey. Justice Samuel Alito, who penned the majority opinion, wrote that [t]he Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. In overruling Roe and Casey, the court returned the regulation of abortion back to the people and their elected representatives. Advertisement In the wake of Dobbs, the battle over the future of abortion access has migrated from the Supreme Court to state courts across the country. Judges in Utah and Louisiana, where the states trigger laws were set to take effect after Roe fell, temporarily blocked those laws. And in Florida, health care providers filed a lawsuit to block a 15-week abortion ban that was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in the spring from going into effect on July 1. The plaintiffs argue the ban on abortion violates individual privacy rights that are enshrined in the state constitution. A state judge is likely to rule this week on the plaintiffs request for a temporary pause of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their case hinges on an understanding of Floridas privacy rights. At the federal level, Roe was based on an implicit right to privacy that the court found in the federal constitution. By contrast, Floridas state constitution contains an explicit, freestanding, and broadly worded right to privacy. Article I, Section 23, of the Florida Constitution states: Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the persons private life except as otherwise provided herein. In previous rulings, the Florida Supreme Court found the right to abortion within that right to privacy even though the provision does not explicitly mention abortion. Advertisement Advertisement But the courts makeup has changed. Since 2019, the court has become more conservative. It formally weakened the doctrine of stare decisis and has overruled many prior precedents. Can the court revisit its abortion precedents? It will soon have the opportunity as the lawsuit over the states abortion ban, which has no exceptions for incest, rape, or human trafficking, moves forward. The key question the Florida courts will have to answer is: Does the presence of an explicit privacy right in the state constitution mandate a different holding in Florida than that in Dobbs? In this regard, the Dobbs decision holds a clue for interpreting Florida law. Advertisement The Constitution makes no express reference to a right to obtain an abortion, and therefore those who claim that it protects such a right must show that the right is somehow implicit in the constitutional text. Advertisement The right to an abortion is implicit in Floridas privacy right. But the analysis isnt that straightforward. To understand why abortion is protected under Floridas privacy provisions, we have to take a closer look at legal history of abortion and privacy within the state. Advertisement Advertisement In 1978, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, which meets every 20 years to propose changes to the constitution, placed a proposed amendment on the ballot to add a privacy right. The amendment was presented as a pack of changes; voters rejected them all. But in 1980, the Legislature placed the privacy-right amendment back on the ballot, this time as a stand-alone amendment, which voters approved. In the Legislature, the understanding was that the amendment would protect decisional and informational privacy rights. Advertisement Advertisement As the lead sponsor of the amendment later wrote about the debate in the state House: The existence of Roe v. Wade muted debate on issues like abortion and gay rights. Proponents suggested that the resolution had no effect on current law since the federal right was assured under the United States Supreme Courts decision. As far as I can tell, the public debate in 1980 on the proposed amendment did not mention abortion, but further research may turn something up. Advertisement Advertisement It is also true, however, that Roe was part of the general background. Not only that, but as Republican state Rep. Mike Beltran observes in an otherwise completely wrong column, the 1980 Amendment to the Florida Constitution was enacted less than a decade after Roe, while pro-lifers were actively attempting to reinstate protections for the unborn, and less than a decade before they succeeded in Casey, and yet it contains no mention of abortion whatsoever. It cannot be seriously disputed that the public knew of Roe and the attempts to undermine it at the time it approved Floridas privacy right. Advertisement Sign Up for the Surge The most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. So how might todays conservative court interpret the privacy protections in light of the absence of abortion from the text of the privacy right and the presence of abortion as background when the right was ratified? It is not a given that the current Florida Supreme Court would conclude that the right to an abortion is implicit in the privacy right. Thats partly because conservatives preferred mode of constitutional interpretation is original public meaning. In their eyes, the meaning of the text is the objective meaning the words would have had to a reasonable listener at the time of adoption. Advertisement Advertisement Yet the debate does not end there. In 1989, not long after Florida adopted the privacy right, the Florida Supreme Court decided In re T.W. There, the court applied the privacy right to strike down a parental consent statute that required parents of minors seeking an abortion to consent to the procedure unless the minor was granted a waiver by a judge. The court determined that the amendment embraces more privacy interests, and extends more protection to the individual in those interests, than does the federal Constitution. Later in the opinion, the court held: Floridas privacy provision is clearly implicated in a womans decision of whether or not to continue her pregnancy. This right also extended to minors. Two justices wrote separate opinions where each concluded that, in light of Roe, the people necessarily included the right to an abortion within the privacy right. Advertisement Since In re T.W., the court has reaffirmed that the right to privacy protects the right to an abortion. In one significant 2003 case, North Florida Womens Health Services v. State, the court struck down a parental notice statute requiring physicians to notify the parents when a minor seeks an abortion. This is where history subsequent to the privacy rights adoption becomes important. Responding to the North Florida Womens decision, the Legislature placed a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2004 ballot that would overrule the decision. The electorate approved the amendment, reinstating the parental notification law. The next year, the Legislature reenacted the parental notice statute. Advertisement Advertisement In 2012, the Legislature placed another proposed amendment, Amendment 6, on the ballot that would have added a section to Article I of the state constitution that spells out Floridas privacy rights. The relevant part of Amendment 6 stated: This constitution may not be interpreted to create broader rights to an abortion than those contained in the United States Constitution. The amendment would have overruled the Florida Supreme Courts decisions protecting abortion, as the ballot summary given to voters in the voting booth explained: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This proposed amendment provides that the State Constitution may not be interpreted to create broader rights to an abortion than those contained in the United States Constitution. With respect to abortion, this proposed amendment overrules court decisions which conclude that the right of privacy under Article I, Section 23 of the State Constitution is broader in scope than that of the United States Constitution. The proposal was the subject of robust public debate. Although proponents argued that Amendment 6 was limited to overruling In re T.W.an embarrassingly false claimthey conceded that, under their reading of the amendment, it would still protect an adults right to abortion. The language of the proposal was also forward-looking. It clearly anticipated that, one day, the U.S. Supreme Court could overrule Roe, which would mean no more state constitutional right to an abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the electorate rejected Amendment 6, with 55 percent of the voters voting against it. This rejection is critical to understanding the post-Dobbs landscape in Florida. When voters rejected Amendment 6 in 2012, the people of Florida adopted or incorporated the Florida Supreme Courts prior judicial constructions of the privacy right under the established rule of construction. Put another way: the 1989 and 2003 decisions upholding the right to abortion as embedded in the right to privacy are reaffirmed. Voters could not have been clearer: Our state constitutions explicit, freestanding, and broadly worded privacy right protects the right to an abortion. And the protection of the right is in no way affected by the federal constitution or how it is interpreted. Advertisement Whats more, the people fixed the dimensions of the state right to an abortion to those that existed in 2012. Under the fixed meaning canon, Justice Antonin Scalia and Bryan A. Garner wrote in their book Reading Law, Words must be given the meaning they had when the text was adopted. Approval of Amendment 6 would have rewritten the privacy right as it relates to abortion. In a very real sense, the rejection of the amendment was a readoption of the privacy righta readoption that incorporated the Florida Supreme Courts abortion precedents up until that point in time. The issue, then, is not whether the Florida Supreme Court can recede from its prior abortion precedents under the now-weakened doctrine of stare decisis. By rejecting Amendment 6 in 2012, Floridians codified that precedent into the constitutions privacy right. To return to Dobbs, the people decided that the right [to abortion] is somehow implicit in the constitutional text. Should the Florida Supreme Court purport to overrule its precedent to hold that the privacy right doesnt include the right to an abortion, it would be doing nothing less than nullifying the will of the people of the state of Florida. If anti-abortion activists want to take away Floridas constitutional right to an abortion, theyll have to put that question to the people. On June 22, federal agents raided former DOJ assistant attorney general Jeff Clarks house in Northern Virginia in the early hours of the morning and reportedly forced Clark to wait outside in his pajamas while federal agents seized his electronic devices. On Monday, we learned that on the same day, federal agents also seized the devices of Trump attorney John Eastman as he was leaving a restaurant in New Mexico. Coming on the heels of weeks of damning testimony before the Jan. 6 committee that these two men were integral to Donald Trumps scheme to try to overturn the 2020 election, what can we discern? Advertisement Its important to consider how both of these searches were conducted. First, why didnt the federal agents simply ask Clark and Eastman to turn over their devices? Or simply provide either of them with a subpoena compelling them to turn the devices over? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agents who were the affiants on the affidavits for both searches would have had to explain in detail to a federal magistrate or judge just why neither of the above options could be pursued before a raid on Clarks premises and search of Eastmans person could be approved. The judiciary would have needed to hear a good reason for the use of what is considered an extreme investigative technique in pursuit of evidence in a criminal investigation. Advertisement Thats right, criminal investigation. The feds cannot execute a search warrant in a civil investigation. Raiding a residence in early morning hours can only be done via a criminal investigation. Investigating Clarkwho Trump attempted to elevate to attorney general in the waning days of his presidency because Clark, according to testimony, promised to meddle in the election on his behalf in particular would likely require the convening of a grand jury which would in this case also likely require the approval of Attorney General Merrick Garland. We dont yet know what is in the affidavit for the search warrant for Clarks residence. But we can surmise that there was enough factual information to persuade a federal magistrate that there was probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime or crimes would be found in Clarks residence. And that no other investigative technique would likely yield that same evidence. The agent in the Eastman search had to know that he carried on his person at all times the electronic device that was the subject of the search and would have so testified before the New Mexico Magistrate who approved the search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the federal agents/affiants submitted the affidavits to a magistrate it is extremely likely that Garland, or other top DOJ officials, were convinced that appropriate probable cause was included in the affidavits. Advertisement Advertisement What might have led to all of the above? Would the fact that Clark pled the Fifth more than 100 times when testifying before the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in February enter into it? Probably not. Everyone has the right to assert their constitutional protection against self-incrimination and taking the Fifth is not evidence of a crime. (Ironically, Trump has made his position on this issue crystal clear in the past. The mob takes the Fifth, Trump told a campaign crowd during the 2016 campaign. If youre innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?) Advertisement Advertisement Then what explains the search? Probable cause usually emanates from a third party that is closely associated with the subject of the search warrant. Someone has to possess specific knowledge with regard to the likelihood that there would be evidence contained on devices subject to the search. Not only would someone need some knowledge that there was likely damning evidence contained on the electronic devices, but that there existed reasonable certainty that those devices were in fact located inside the Clark residence or on Eastmans person. (No other searches were known to have occurred with regard to Clark or Eastman.) Advertisement Advertisement We can only surmise that the digital evidence of interest would be communications of interest: email, text messages, encrypted communications, voicemail, photos, video, and/or documents pertaining to the events surrounding the allegations of Clarks and Eastmans involvement in Trumps scheme to overturn the election. Advertisement Since Clark would claim to be just doing his job as an attorney employed by the DOJ and at the direction of the commander-in-chief, though, would he not be afforded attorney-client privilege? And couldnt the same privilege be expected by Eastman? Attorney-client privilege contains a crime/fraud exception, so if Clark and Eastman were violating the law while representing their clients, they could not claim privilege. (Trump wasnt Clarks client, the U.S. government was.) The Jan. 6 committee has presented extensive testimony that Clark was warned what he was doing was illegal and potentially criminal by his superiors at the Department of Justice and White House lawyers. Meanwhile, a federal judge as part of his rulings in a separate civil suit has already accused Eastman of likely engaging in a crime related to his work on the election.) Advertisement Advertisement What possible crimes could have justified such a search, though? Advertisement We can only speculate here, but the Jan. 6 committee has clearly honed in on two types of potential criminal conspiracies that Trump and his allies may have committed as part of the plot to obstruct the electoral count on Jan. 6: 1. Klein Conspiracywherein multiple people would have conspired to corruptly obstruct, impair, and impede lawful functions of government, in this case, certification by Congress of the presidential election results. 2. Seditious Conspiracysame as above but including the use of force to attain the desired results. Conspiracy requires evidence of an agreement by two or more people to commit a crime. Evidence of conspiratorial agreements can be demonstrated by emails, text messages, encrypted messages, Signal communications, voicemails, and a multitude of other digital evidence of communications between conspirators. Advertisement Its possible federal agents already had one side of a communications chain (which would have provided probable cause for the search) between Clark or Eastman and other potential co-conspirators. They now may very well be in possession of another side. As already noted, on Monday we learned that Eastman also had his phone seized by federal agents later in the same day as the morning raid at Clarks house in Virginia. Could that have just been a coincidence? Maybe not. The Jan. 6 committee in its hearing last week made significant effort to suggest that Clarks proposed letter that would have instructed the Georgia state legislature to reconsider its electoral college vote due to fraud and award its electors to Trump was similar to the legal work product Eastman was producing for Trump. This possibility raises other potent questionsare there other potential search warrant targets that we havent learned about yet? Is there a source of information cooperating with federal agents and DOJ with regard to any of the above potential conspiracies? And what would such a source, or sources, possibly gain in return for hypothetical cooperation? Its possible we may learn more at Tuesdays surprise hearing of the Jan. 6 committee. Even if not, its only a matter of time until we learn the results of this DOJ probe. The state of Mississippi has just one abortion clinic: Jackson Womens Health Organization, better known as the Pink House. And this very clinic was at the center of the recent Supreme Court decision that overruled Roe v. Wade: After Mississippi had passed a law banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the clinic sued a state health official, with the case going to the high courts docketand the conservative majority ruling in favor of the state, and against abortion. How did Mississippi in particular become the state that would scuttle the constitutional right to an abortion? To find out, I spoke with Ashton Pittman, senior reporter for the Mississippi Free Press, on Tuesdays episode of What Next. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Harris: Gov. Tate Reeves said Fridaythe day the ruling came downwas a joyous day and that he welcomed the beginning of a new pro-life agenda. I wonder what you thought when you heard that. Ashton Pittman: Well, Mississippi has the nations highest infant mortality rate. We also have the highest fetal mortality rate. It sounds like youre calling bullshit. Its hard to call this a pro-life state when we rank so low in so many things. We have these extremely high uninsurance rates: people who dont have health care or access, and live in counties where they dont even have a hospital because those hospitals have shut down. There was actually a state Supreme Court case last November in which a woman sued her employer because, she said, they fired her after they found out she was pregnant. The court basically said the employer can fire you for getting pregnant and you cant do anything about it. So, we have not built any kind of infrastructure in this state for a pro-life agenda. We have not built infrastructure to deal with kids being born to mothers who dont have the resources to care for them. Weve done none of that work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in 2015, when you were still in college, you wrote this short opinion piece for the New York Times saying the most important issue for you was the makeup of the Supreme court. I look back at it now and think it was really prescient. It seems like you got that idea because from a very young age, in your church youth group, you were being told that this is the most important thing. You realized there was this incredible momentum to swing the court. Did it feel like people outside of the evangelical space didnt quite understand that? Advertisement Advertisement Yes, it did. In the evangelical church, I was given a strong appreciation for what the Supreme Court can do, because I knew abortion wasnt going to be outlawed by Congress. Later on, once I left evangelicalism, I still saw the Supreme Court as so pivotal when it comes to voting rights and civil rights. And Im a gay man: I knew Congress wasnt going to legalize gay marriage, but I knew that my future rights, my right to marry, depended on who sat on the court. I had assumed that liberals and Democrats were talking just as much about how important it was to have their people on the court, and then I found out, once I got into college and talked to people who werent evangelicals or Republicans, I learned this isnt as big of an issue on the other side of the aisle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On election night 2016, I was like, OK, Roe v. Wade will be overturned, and theres a chance marriage equality is also gonna be overturned. Because I knew that the next president, as I wrote in that 2015 article, was going to have the power to appoint at least two justices, possibly three. People in 2016 actually responded to that article, I was fearmongering in favor of one candidate or the other. I hadnt mentioned a candidate in that article, I just said this is the most important Issue, because it affects every right, every piece of legislation Congress passes. Politicians in Mississippi have been trying to poke holes in the constitutional right to abortion for a long time, and not just through the courts. Back in 2011, when you were a student journalist, you covered an attempt to pass a personhood amendment to Mississippis constitution and interviewed anti-abortion activists who actually moved to the state thinking that if giving fetuses rights was going to happen anywhere, it would happen here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They saw Mississippi as a ripe opportunity because were a conservative state with only one abortion clinic. They saw Mississippi as really ripe for pushing anti-abortion legislation and testing anti-abortion laws, and setting the groundwork to challenge Roe v. Wade. Advertisement The idea at the time with a personhood amendment was basically that if you define a fetus or a fertilized egg as a person, they should have 14th Amendment rights to equal protection under the law. What the process actually showed was that Mississippi voters did not want this extreme kind of abortion ban: There were a lot of people who considered themselves anti-abortion who, once they understood what was in the personhood amendmentthat it wouldnt allow exceptions for rape or incest or for the life of the motherjoined a ground well of opposition to it. Voters rejected the amendment by almost 60 percent. But a bill is in Congress, called the Life at Conception Act, that would do something very similar. It has 168 Republican sponsors between the House and Senate, with a majority of house Republicans, I believe so. So, theres a continuity with this stuff, and I think youre gonna see a bigger push for that nationwide now. Advertisement Youve reported deeply about the origins of the Dobbs case, specifically its origins in a law that was not born necessarily in the Mississippi Legislature, but first drafted by a group known as the Alliance Defending Freedom. Im wondering if you can lay out how a group like the ADF joined forces with Mississippi politicians there, and what that meant. Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, we had three Mississippi lawmakers introduce identical 15-week abortion bans. The exact same wording: banning abortion at 15 weeks. no exceptions for rape. A few weeks before the lawmakers introduced these bans, ADF leaders were at this anti-abortion rally and announced that they had this plan to either make Roe irrelevant or completely reverse it: They explained that they had drafted laws that would ban abortions at 15 weeks. They had also drafted some other options that they were shopping to lawmakers and states, and they explained that, with Trump changing the Supreme Court, they believed they could get one of these abortion bans to the court and either overturn or seriously weaken Roe v. Wade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So just a few weeks after they explained this plan, the bills they wrote are introduced in Mississippi by these lawmakers. Within two months, Gov. Phil Bryant was signing the 15-week abortion ban into law, and I believe that same day, Jackson Womens Health Organization filed a lawsuit. The ADF has this idea that it wants a Christian worldview in every area of the law. Its not exaggerating: It wants Christian ideas and evangelical views to be a part of the law, to make them part of the way the national government is run. Its motivated by this idea that its religion and views should dominate. Advertisement It sounds like this group that wants to establish a theocracy is steering policy in this country through the Supreme Court. Advertisement Thats exactly whats happening. If you look at the Trump administration, he had a lot of people surrounding him who were what you would call Christian Dominionists. They were a big part of Jan. 6. The next few days are going to be critical in Mississippi. The Mississippi attorney general certified the states trigger law earlier this week, meaning abortions are supposed to be banned within 10 days. But Jackson Womens Health has sued to stop the law from taking effect. So in Mississippi, abortion is still being argued about in court. I think youre going to see the people at Jackson continuing to do what they do. Theyre going to continue trying to get patients in and help as many as they can, while protesters are out there trying to run people off. My impression is that the clinic is not going to remain open for any services after this trigger law goes into effect, but there already reproductive rights activists who have worked to teach people how to self-manage their own abortions. Looking at the language of the trigger law, something I couldnt quite figure out is whether abortion pills will still be legal in Mississippi,. It seems clear to me that they shouldnt be illegal, but then Im also seeing quotes from activists like this woman, Michelle cologne, who youve spent a lot of time with over the years, shes a clinic defender. And she basically said, Were gonna be giving out the abortion pill, right under peoples noses. Like we are not going away. And that seems to be where this battle is headed. Weve talked to, to lawmakers who have said that they would like to come back and pass legislation to try to prevent people from being able to get the pills. Im not sure what thats gonna look like though. I think youre gonna see some of these activists move on to things like fighting plan B, but I would be surprised LGBTQ rights didnt become one of their next targets. And I dont think were gonna have lawmakers in Mississippi eager to protect us. They certainly havent tried to protect LGBTQ rights in the past. Its a scary time to be in. Read more of Slates coverage on abortion rights here. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. On Slates Amicus podcast this week, Dahlia Lithwick and Mary Ziegler, a professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law and author of Dollars for Life: The Anti-Abortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment, discussed what the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, the case overturning Roe v. Wade, will mean in the short, medium and long term for reproductive and other freedoms. Their conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: Walk me through what it means in states that have trigger laws, states that have laws that need to be ratified by elected officials, and states in which laws go into effect today. Is it true that right now there are clinics closing; patients who were on the table at 10:10 on Friday when the decision came down, not being able to procure an abortion. To the extent that you can project what this meansin the very near term, in the medium term and in the longer term. Can you just walk us through how this dominoes out across the country? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Zeigler: Well, we know that in the states with trigger laws, many of these laws will go into effect very quickly. There are some states that have sort of delay mechanisms. There has to be certification by the attorney general, for example, and then 30 days have to go by. Many states, even Friday have already been banning abortion. I think South Dakota was the latest, but Im sure there are more that have been happening in the immediate aftermath of the decision. That number will grow. In other states theres more complexity. For example, Michigan has abortion on the ballot before voters directly. Theres also state constitutional litigation unfolding in Michigan. So therell be some states that are in a holding pattern in the near term. Then of course this issue will be politically contested in a variety of places. Those include states that once had state constitutional protections for abortion, but now no longer do. Well, Im jumping the gun a little bit, but in Iowa and likely Florida. There will be states that have complicated politics on abortion where well see money pouring in nationally. Thatll especially be true of states that have been regional outliers, where people have been traveling to get abortions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We may see conflicts. I think President Joe Biden flagged these potential conflicts in remarks in the aftermath of the decision, essentially saying that the right to travel is at stake. So itll be interesting to see, once trigger laws go into effect, how far are states willing to go to enforce abortion laws? How far are they willing to go in terms of surveillance? How far are they willing to go in terms of regulating the conduct of people out of state? How far are they willing to go in regulating the line between speech and conduct? For example, people posting websites about how to perform an abortion at home or advertising abortion medication. Advertisement Advertisement We dont know the answers to these questions. I think its fair to assume that contrary to what Justice Brett Kavanaugh is telling us this is Pandoras box, right? So we have no idea where this is going to take us other than to imagine that its going to be polarizing and its going to be difficult for people who had not lived through the pre-Roe era to imagine. Advertisement One of the things we can say for certain about the pre-Roe era is that more likely than not the person who was targeted in jurisdictions where abortion was prohibited was the physician. Were in a different world now, right? Where it can be somebody who puts medication abortion pills in the mail. It can be somebody who The famous hypothetical from the S.B. 8 context is the Uber driver who takes somebody to a clinic, or somebody who drives someone across state lines. So I think one of the things that I see as materially different in Dobbs that maybe we havent fully wrapped our heads around is that the pregnant people themselves are going to be the targets, as you say, of surveillance and of some of these vigilante schemes that are being put into effect in ways that really dont map onto the reality pre-Roe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absolutely. The availability of medication even puts in play punishment for pregnant people. Thats not happening now and I think decent amount should be said about the fact that the mainstream anti-abortion movement does not at this moment want to punish pregnant people. Theyve actually been fighting state legislators who want to do that, saying no, no, dont do that. The people who do want to punish pregnant people though, have more influence in the anti-abortion movement than they have historically. I chalk much of that up to self-managed abortion because those people are saying essentially, okay, you dont want to punish pregnant people. You dont think you should, granted, but what are you going to do when someone in Oklahoma gets abortion medication from a doctor in Europe and a pharmacist in India? Are you going to just let that go? Advertisement Advertisement I think thats going to be a difficult answer for many people, for Republican lawmakers and people in the anti-abortion movement. So I think its not only the case that were seeing surveillance of a kind that was impossible in the pre-Roe era, although its worth emphasizing that pregnant people were surveilled then too and forced to testify. But were also, I think, going to see at least more of a push to punish pregnant people themselves. I dont know if thats going to work yet. I think thats a conflict that is very unpredictable, but its going to happen. The conversations about punishing pregnant people directly are not over. Advertisement Advertisement Its also worth emphasizing that the folks who are being defined as aiders and betters by many in the anti-abortion movement is a much larger group of people than we wouldve seen in the pre-Roe era. The National Right to Life Committee, for example, recently put out a model bill that would define lots of things as criminal aiding and abetting. Abortion doulas, websites encouraging people to use abortion medications. Lots of things that come close to free speech or advocacy being defined as aiding or abetting. So the stakes of this are going to be high for a broader group of people. The absolutely banging serialized narrative that is the Jan. 6 hearings took a turn Sopranos-ward with the sensational testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson on Tuesday. In her closing statement, co-chair Liz Cheney read the statements of anonymous witnesses called by the panel reporting ominous messages theyd received from Trump World emissaries, telling those witnesses that an unnamed man knows how loyal they are and urging them to keep in mind all the fine opportunities potentially awaiting them after they spoke to the committee. In other words: Nice career youve got there. Would be a shame if something bad were to happen to it. Advertisement An unnamed witness describes how there is a culture of fear around testifying against Donald Trump because he might punish them: pic.twitter.com/nUeUZ3nmzo The Republican Accountability Project (@AccountableGOP) June 28, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a good reminder that Donald Trump thinks of himself, and tries to behave, as a Mafia don, but he cant quite pull it off. For starters, unlike the real deal, Trump doesnt actually provide for his loyalists in exchange for their obediencenone of the people who asked for pardons for their complicity in the events of Jan. 6 actually got them. Advertisement Advertisement Framed and lit like a Medieval painting of a martyred saint, Hutchinson testified to one damning outburst after another. The president petulantly flinging his dinner at the wall upon learning that Attorney General William Barr had finally found enough integrity to disagree with him on whether the 2020 election had been stolen is the most cinematic image. But Trump trying to physically wrest the steering wheel of the Beast from a Secret Service agent so that he could join his followers at the Capitol was pretty vivid, too. Possibly the most legally weighty dime that Hutchinson dropped, however, was her eye-witness testimony that Trump ordered armed rioters who had been barred from his rally to be admitted so that the crowd would look bigger, then said, They can march to the Capitol from here. Advertisement Advertisement [Read: The Genuinely Shocking Bombshells From Cassidy Hutchisons Jan. 6 Testimony] The son of successful New York real estate developer, an incompetent New York real estate developer himself, and the owner of an eventually bankrupt casino in Atlantic City, Trump has surely rubbed shoulders with more than his fair share of mobsters. And, like the rest of us, hes seen plenty of them on screen. But is it really fair to compare Trump to a mob boss? Sure, hes unprincipled, immoral, and completely indifferent to the rule of law. Sure, he demands complete loyalty from his underlings no matter how badly he treats them. But while actual mob bosses have to be good at their jobs to keep themits a fierce, competitive environment!this has never been the case with Trump. First, he had his fathers money to squander, and then he used his bizarre appeal to the most witless segment of the Republican Party to hold the rest of the GOP hostage to his mad-king whims. As dangerous as Trump is, especially when backed by his Republican enablers, hes also ignorant, capricious, unfocused, recklessin the words of his own former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a moron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, Trump is no Vito Corleone. Hes not even Tony Soprano, really. And while he does sometimes carry on like a mafia capo, and almost certainly enjoys styling himself as one, calling him a mob boss is an insult to mob bosses. That Trump was fully comfortable with seeing his riled-up troglodyte followers lynch his second-in-command for not showing a sufficient amount of that loyalty became crystal clear with Hutchinsons testimony. She said that she heard her boss, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, explain that Trump initially refused to talk the rioters down, remarking, He doesnt want to do anything, and He thinks Mike deserves it. Of course Mike deserved it, for as every mob boss knows, anything less than total obedience must be punished with extreme prejudice if you want to keep your perch at the top. Or, as Trumps father drummed into his sons from an early age, Youre a Trump. Youre a killer. Its just that most mob bosses either do the killing themselves or hire a professional to get it done, instead of relying on a mob of unpredictable Nazis, easily duped Fox News zombies, and a face-painted shaman. Thats the chilling yet undeniable proof that though Trump may fancy himself a mob boss, he isnt one: If he were, Mike Pence would not still be around to refuse to testify about how it feels to hear the president wants you hanged. As millions of their constituents mourned and raged at the loss of womens right to reproductive autonomy on Friday, most Democratic leaders didnt seem to have much to say. It wasnt because they were surprised: The overturning of Roe was in the cards the moment Donald Trump became president more than five years ago; Roe had been functionally dead since the Supreme Court allowed the Texas vigilante ban to stand last September; and a draft of Samuel Alitos decision had leaked to the public nearly two months ago. Advertisement But even with a yearslong runway to create a response to imminent forced breeding, the best House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could do is read aloud a poem about Israel that shed also read after the Capitol assault on Jan. 6, 2021. When asked whether Joe Biden planned to do any kind of listening tour for young people and women who are now grappling with the knowledge that they could be forced to sacrifice their own lives for a fetus that will not survive outside their bodies for the first time in almost half a century in this country, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration did not yet have a strategic strategy around the decision that it was ready to share. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a pre-planned event meant to commemorate the historic gun control legislation that passed final congressional approval on the same day the Supreme Court overturned Roe, dozens of congressional Democrats sang along to God Bless America on the Capitol steps. One block away, demonstrators protested a decision by six unelected justices that will impose a religious fundamentalist vision of patriarchal control on half the country. Invoking God in such a moment was the wrong choice, especially as most of the Democrats constituents would be more inclined to agree with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright than with a sappy unity song. Perhaps the most infuriating response from elected Democrats was the idea that all people had to do now was continue to elect Democrats. Kamala Harris, for example, lamented the demise of the right for each person to make intimate decisions about heart and home (what?) and then offered: You have the power to elect leaders who will defend and protect your rights, Harris said in her speech. And as the president said earlier today, with your vote, you can act, and you have the final word. Advertisement Advertisement The problem is that right now, so many Americans do not feel like they have the final word, or any word, when it comes to the Supreme Court. The U.S. government is not structured by majority rule, and that is part of what has gotten us to this place, where justices who were seated by presidents who won elections from minorities are stripping away rights. And very few Democrats seem equipped, prepared, or willing to say directly what is going on, nevermind offer solutions to the problem. If you were looking for some catharsis, it was celebrities who had the most to offer. Olivia Rodrigos deliberate naming of each justice who voted to overturn Roe, a reminder that there is blame to be dealt, felt more direct than what most elected officials had to say: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So did Danny DeVitos elegant rejoinder, Supreme Court my assa nod to the illegitimacy of a partisan court, populated by one ideologue in a stolen seat and two accused sex criminals. Advertisement Megan Rapinoe identified the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization as a turning point in our democracy, worthy of wielding power in defense of those whose lives hang in the balance by whatever means necessary. And Kendrick Lamar, performing at the same festival as Rodrigo, made his statement about the ruling in the blood-soaked ending of his show. Why are celebrities doing a better job of understanding the stark horror of this moment than the people elected to do just that? The answer to that might have less to do with celebrities competence in this momentpeople are full of emotion, and artists know how to express thatand more with the incompetence of a party that sat back and waited until we got here. Hannah Docter-Loeb contributed reporting. New trans law allows teens in Spain to change their gender on ID documents The draft bill on transgender rights in Spain aims to depathologise identity recognition. The draft decree was approved by cabinet ministers on Monday June 27 but still has to go through Congress for final approval. Under the new law, teenagers aged 16 and over will be allowed to change their name and gender on Spanish Ids without restrictions, once they reaffirm their decision after three months before the Civil Registry. Children aged between 14 and 16 must have parental consent or can apply to a judge while the courts must be involved in all decisions regarding minors between the ages of 12 and 14. Children under the age of 12 will be permitted to change their name but not their gender. The so-called trans law was brought to the table a year ago and the document hasnt seen too many changes since, but once novelty gives non-nationals living in Spain the option of changing their name and gender, if in their country of origin their rights are not guaranteed. Up until now, transgender teenagers had to undergo two years of hormone therapy or provide several medical reports confirming they were suffering from gender dysphoria if they wanted to change their sex. Announcing the approval of the decree, Spains Minister for Equality, Irene Montero, celebrated the fact that the country is once again at the forefront of LGTBI rights as it joins a handful of European countries that have depathologised identity recognition. The trans law also bans conversion therapy and removes the marriage requirement for female couples to co-parent their child. Also of interest: Spain approves abortion law which included paid menstrual leave Image: Pixaby Two contracts were concluded during Smer governments. News: Receive notifications about new articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled During the the second and third Smer governments, the nuclear and decommissioning company JAVYS made dubious deals with nuclear waste imported from Italy. Tenders between JAVYS and Italian company Nucleco were to be concluded without a public competition. Nucleco processes nuclear waste from Italy. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The Italian daily Il Giornale broke the story. According to JAVYS, the company was approached by Nucleco and subsequently submitted a standard price offer. Related article Related article Enviro Ministry greenlights extension of radioactive waste treatment facility in Jaslovske Bohunice Read more Payment for empty containers The first of two contracts for the import of the Italian nuclear waste to Slovakia was concluded in 2014 during the second government of Robert Fico (Smer). JAVYS belongs to the Economy Ministry. Until July 2014, Tomas Malatinsky was the minister, followed by Pavol Pavlis. Both were Smer nominees. JAVYS spokeswoman Miriam Ziakova explained the first contract was a 600,000 pilot project, allegedly intended to verify the ability of both companies to carry out a larger project. Palestinian agricultural engineers Amna Afifi (L) and Mohsen Ahmed work on extracting the wood vinegar product in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on June 16, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) by Sanaa Kamal GAZA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- About a year ago, Amna Afifi and Mohsen Ahmed, two agricultural engineers in the Gaza Strip, embarked on a research into the potential soil problems with the besieged Palestinian enclave when they learned that some of their farming relatives had suffered harvest failures. "There are many reasons for such problems, mainly water salinity and the excessive use of unnatural pesticides to eliminate agricultural pests, which negatively affect soil quality and health in the long run," Afifi, 29, told Xinhua. In face of the soil pollution that has changed the taste of vegetables and fruits and may cause cancer, the two engineers found by trial and error that vinegar "extracted from the residues of tree pruning" is a possible solution. "So my colleague and I decided to produce wood vinegar to help eliminate such problems," Afifi said. The production, however, was initially hampered by the lack of a special device banned by Israel from entering Gaza. Israel has been blockading Gaza since Hamas violently seized control of the the Palestinian coastal enclave in the summer of 2007. Despite the odds, the two engineers found a way to make the device with simple tools available, which consists of two iron barrels, one used for decomposition and the other for distillation. They have also simplified the production procedures by burning the wood to make it decompose into smoke and steam which pass through an iron tube into the other barrel linked to a small tube for distillation, according to Afifi. "During the production process, we should check the salinity, temperature, and acidity of the produced vinegar through a measuring device, to ensure the validity and feasibility of its use," Ahmed told Xinhua. "After that, we can filter the distilled vinegar to extract the exhaust and impurities for pure vinegar suitable for fertilizing agricultural land," the engineer added. Adham al-Basiouny, spokesman of the Gaza agricultural ministry, praised the engineers' wood vinegar research as a useful initiative to help local farmers address their harvest problems, because "the high level of salinity along with soil pollution is one of the major hazards to agricultural crops in the Gaza Strip." "The product has proven effective, which may lead the ministry to allow the farmers to use it for high-quality agricultural crops free from the problems that harm human health," Basiouny said. Palestinian agricultural engineers Amna Afifi (front) and Mohsen Ahmed work on extracting wood vinegar product in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on June 16, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinian agricultural engineer Amna Afifi works on extracting wood vinegar product in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on June 16, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinian agricultural engineer Mohsen Ahmed works on extracting wood vinegar product in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on June 16, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinian agricultural engineers Amna Afifi (R) and Mohsen Ahmed work on extracting wood vinegar product in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on June 16, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Hey Livvy set all of the speed in Monday evenings $38,500 Open Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park , but it was Forbidden Trade who enjoyed all of the glory in the featured affair. With Bob McClure at the controls, the odds-on favourite got away fourth while Hey Livvy shot to the top and carved out panels of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.1. Patriarch Hanover made a sharp move from first-over around the final turn, and he generated enough speed to grab the lead as the field entered the stretch. Forbidden Trade, who sat fourth for the first three-quarters of the contest, angled off the rail in the lane and used a :27.2 closing quarter of his own to nail Patriarch Hanover by a head in 1:52.2. Pikachu Hanover rallied late to finish third. Luc Blais trains the six-year-old son of Kadabra-Pure Ivory for Determination of Montreal, Que. It was the third straight tally for the 24-time winner who pushed his lifetime earnings to $2,187,082 with the victory. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse (2nd L) and Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan (2nd R) sign documents during a handover ceremony of the Chinsese COVID-19 vaccine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 27, 2022. The Chinese government on Monday handed over an additional 10 million Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Monday handed over an additional 10 million Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia. The latest batch of the 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses is expected to further boost Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 vaccination efforts while playing a crucial role in combating the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. The handover ceremony was attended by senior Ethiopian government officials and members of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse said during the handover ceremony that the latest donation, which is the seventh batch of vaccine donations from China to Ethiopia, would propel Ethiopia's anti-pandemic efforts. "Including today's donation the government of China has donated a total of 14 million doses of vaccines to Ethiopia to fight the virus, restore the economy and protect people's health," Tadesse said. "Where there is unity and cooperation there is always victory. I hope Ethiopia, China and the rest of the world will fight the pandemic in a solidarity mindset to beat the virus." According to the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, China has to date been committed to donating 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia, while facilitating Ethiopia's procurement of vaccines from China. Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan said since the start of the pandemic, Ethiopia and China have continued to provide mutual support, adding a new chapter to the China-Ethiopia friendship. "China and Ethiopia are good friends and good partners with a shared future," the Chinese ambassador said. He said China stands ready to promote the China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to an even higher level. "The Chinese side stands ready to work with Ethiopia to make good use of vaccines as a powerful weapon, and jointly defeat the pandemic through closer health cooperation, so as to truly make contributions for the health and wellbeing of our peoples and for the friendship between our two countries," Zhao said. According to the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, the latest arrival of 10 million vaccine doses demonstrates that China is turning its commitments into visible and tangible outcomes. Throughout the fight against COVID-19, China, Ethiopia and many African countries have consistently put life first and worked in solidarity. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse (L) and Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan exchange documents during a handover ceremony of the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 27, 2022. The Chinese government on Monday handed over an additional 10 million Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months old are now available in the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children and adolescents should be vaccinated to protect them against COVID-19 as soon as possible, according to a health department release on Tuesday. Children who have contraindications, or health conditions that make a vaccine treatment potentially harmful, should first consult their doctor before being vaccinated. The CDC on June 24 approved Modernas COVID-19 vaccine for children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years. With this additional vaccine available, there are now two options to protect children from COVID-19, according to the release. This includes the already-approved Pfizer vaccine, given in two shots 21 days apart. Children younger than 5 will require a third shot of Pfizer eight weeks after the second shot, according to RRHD. The Moderna vaccine for children is administered in two shots 28 days apart. Common side effects are mild and may include fever, headache, irritability, drowsiness, and redness or soreness at the injection site, and usually last only a few days. Vaccines for 6 months to 5 years have begun in the RRHD area, and shots are available at doctors offices or the health department for this age group. The vaccine prevents severe disease and death. Since 2020, 442 children aged 0-4 have died from COVID-19 in the U.S., and COVID-19 is now one of the top 10 leading causes of death for kids, according to RRHD. Among children, the highest rates of hospitalizations were in those under age 5, and one in four ended up in the ICU. More than half of hospitalized children in this age group had no underlying conditions, according to the health department. To find a nearby vaccination site see Vaccinate Virginia. To schedule an appointment at the local health department, see rrhd.org or call 540/308-6072. Residents may walk-in without an appointment to receive COVID-19 vaccines at: Culpeper Health Department8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays at 650 Laurel St. Fauquier Health Department8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays at 330 Hospital Drive in Warrenton. Madison Health Department8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at 1480 N. Madison St. Suite A Orange Health Department1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at 450 N. Madison Rd. Rappahannock Health Department1 to 4 p.m. first and third Friday of each month at 338A Gay St. in Washington, Virginia. According to Tuesdays health department update, COVID-19 Community Level was at Medium in Culpeper, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock and at Low in Fauquier County, as of June 28. Culpeper County Sheriffs Office and state police personnel have been staying busy cracking down on drug crimes, recently seizing hundreds of suspected deadly fentanyl pills as well as guns and cash. CCSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team and the Virginia State Police Blue Ridge Drug Task Force collaborated on the most recent investigation, resulting in an arrest Monday. Dirale Woodson, 24, of Culpeper was pulled over June 27 by sheriffs deputies after leaving his home as a passenger in a 2006 Toyota. The traffic stop followed police surveillance of his basement apartment on Magnolia Circle in the Town of Culpeper. Woodson was taken into custody without incident after a search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of two guns and around 200 suspected Fentanyl pills disguised to look like Percocet pills, according to a CCSO release. Woodson was arrested for possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I or II controlled substance, possession of a firearm while in possession of a schedule I or II substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition, he was was wanted by Manassas Police for assault and battery of a family member, CCSO said. Two others in the vehicle were also arrested, including the driver, 19-year-old Mariah Renee Haley, of Bealeton. She was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, driving without a license and using marijuana while in a vehicle on a public highway. Tyrese Barber, 22, of Manassas was a rear seat passenger charged with carrying a concealed firearm. Woodson was ordered held without bail at Culpeper County Jail while Haley and Barber were released on bail, according to the release. A subsequent search warrant on Woodsons apartment yielded a black powder rifle, handgun ammunition and approximately half an ounce of suspected crack cocaine, leading to more gun and drug charges. The work of detectives and help from citizens makes a big impact on stopping the flow of this poison, said Sheriff Scott Jenkins in a statement. I wish we could share many more of these stories without jeopardizing the ongoing investigations, but I hope this will encourage citizens to continue working with us to protect our community, he said. In another recent drug arrest and joint investigation with the CCSO, a State Police SWAT Team executed a search warrant on June 17 at a home on Spring Meadow Lane in The Meadows. Seized in the search were 200 suspected fentanyl pills (pressed to look like Percocet pills), nearly $6,000 in cash, an AK-47 pistol, AR-15 Style pistol, another pistol, and ammunition, according to a CCSO release. The warrant was authorized after agencies received information that 29-year-old Kimberly Jacobs, of Culpeper, was selling illicit substances at Virginia Commons Apartments. She was arrested for possession with intent to distribute a schedule I or II controlled substance and possession of a firearm while in possession of this controlled substance. Jacobs was held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information into this matter is asked to contact the Culpeper County Sheriffs Office at 540/727-7900, or anonymously to Culpeper Crime Solvers at 540/727-0300. Children at least 6 months old can now receive COVID-19 shots after the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions endorsement of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine has been approved for children ages 6 months to 5 years as of June 18. Following the announcement, Panhandle Public Health District released details about how families can get their children vaccinated. Medical and public health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children and adolescents age 6 months and older get a COVID vaccine to help protect them from contracting and spreading the virus, the press release reads. Scotts Bluff County Health Director Paulette Schnell told the Star-Herald that Scotts Bluff County will have a walk-in clinic that offers all COVID-19 vaccines for all ages at the Scotts Bluff County Immunization Clinic, located at 313 W 38th St. in Scottsbluff. The clinic is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For children ages 6 months to 5 years, those vaccines will likely be available starting Tuesday, July 5, Schnell said. Scientists have done a lot of research and theyve outweighed the vaccine safety concerns versus if someone gets COVID and how it could affect them, Schnell said. There has been a lot of review and scientific research done with this, so the safety is there. However, speaking to a health care provider or nurse at the clinic is advised for parents who have questions. As with earlier news about the COVID-19 vaccination, misinformation is a concern, so health officials encourage families to get information from reliable sources and to visit with their health care provider or pediatrician about options. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey in May, the majority of parents with children under 5 feel they dont have enough information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for children. Of those surveyed, nearly 40% also said they felt information released on the younger age group by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration to be confusing. However, the CDC website offers families useful resources to help navigate the available vaccines and risks. Throughout the trial process, experts determined what dosage and series would be safe and effective for children, making the review process longer than for adults. According to a CDC preliminary document on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine products, vials will continue to be labeled and color-coded by age. Current distribution of the vaccine for ages 12 years and older comes in a gray container and for ages 5 through 11 in an orange container. The proposed color for 6 months through 4 years is maroon. Scientists and medical experts have worked to ensure the vaccine is safe for children and adolescents ages 6 months to 17 years old, the release states. Before being authorized for children, these experts completed their review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials involving thousands of children. Whats more, 22 million children and adolescents ages 5-17 have already received the COVID vaccine. A similar document for the Moderna vaccine is being developed. When asked about the protocols for storing and administering the vaccine to this new age group, referred to as Tender Care, Schnell said they will have the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available soon. The public can call 308-630-1126 for more information about the vaccines ahead of next week. Health care providers encourage children and youth people to get the vaccine after a recent study posted to the medRxiv pre-print server found that COVID-19 was the ninth leading cause of death among children and youth, from birth to 19 years old, in the United States between March 1, 2020, and April 30, 2022. COVID also ranked as the top infectious respiratory-disease-causing death. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID, it is still possible, PPHD said in its release. The vaccine is the best way to protect children from becoming severely ill or having long-lasting health impacts due to COVID. Research has found the risk of a child having serious adverse reaction to the COVID vaccine to be very low. However, one rare complication linked to the COVID vaccine is myocarditis inflammation of the heart. Data found this complication to be a higher risk among young males. I would recommend for families with children who have health issues to discuss it with their provider, Schnell said. Ahead of the fall, Schnell said the news that the Tender Care group can become vaccinated will hopefully reduce COVID-19 numbers and transmission. She also hopes families sees this as an opportunity to prepare their children for the fall. Day care kids and school-aged kids are out and about around other children and in the community, so that day care setting and school setting makes them more exposed, she said. Sometimes they dont have severe symptoms, so they might be passing it to groups that are more immune compromised. Research has also shown that about half of kids hospitalized with COVID-19 in Nebraska did not have previous medical problems. I think a lot of people want to stop and think, 'Well, my kid's healthy, so they wont end up in the hospital with COVID. Thats not what weve seen. Its been about half and half, she said. We really need to consider that this is a vaccine like your other childhood vaccines that decrease the amount of disease in the community, Schnell said. Protect not only your children, but those around them because there are still those who arent able to get vaccinated children who are 6 months and younger. To find a local vaccine provider, visit https://tinyurl.com/37y7shhw. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SkyWest Charter, a new subsidiary of SkyWest Airlines, has filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin servicing more than two dozen airports, including Scottsbluffs Western Nebraska Regional Airport. Any time between now and Im thinking April of next year, they will come to us, offer this service and then offer us a contract to fly under that. Thats my understanding, Airport Director Raul Aguallo said. SkyWest had previously announced its intent to end service to Scottsbluff due to a lack of pilots. The new charter service would alleviate that problem. Earlier this month, the airline had asked the DOT to allow the subsidiary to apply for Part 135 regulations. Currently, Western Nebraska Regional Airport operates flights under Part 139 regulations. The new Part 135 regulations allow co-pilots to have fewer training hours. With the current pilot shortage, newer first officers will be able to get into a cockpit earlier in their careers. It makes what they do smaller. The intent of that, of course, is it allows them to fly with pilots that have less hours, Aguallo said. I think the captain still has to have 1,500 hours, but I think it allows the first officer to have 500. The charter company would use the same Bombardier CRJ200 jets the airport currently uses, just with 20 of the seats physically removed for a total of 30 seats per flight. It allows us to fly more like a charter service as opposed to a commercial airline service, Aguallo said. Its just the DOTs way of allowing them to continue to serve us and continue to make a living at it until the pilot shortage eases. Fewer passengers per flight would make the airline less money than before, he added, but it would make more money than keeping the planes grounded entirely. Its only a means to an end, Aguallo said. The hope is in 18 to 24 months when they get the pilot shortages eliminated and theyre back to full numbers, theyre going to want to fill that jet again. He added the airport would absolutely accept any contract SkyWest offered. It allows us not to have to worry too much about a replacement airline because the intent is for them to stay at this point, he said. Even with two 50-seat flights available per day, Western Nebraska Regional Airport was usually only boarding 50 to 60 passengers between them beforehand. The morning flights were usually significantly fuller than those in the afternoon. Two 30-seat flights would allow for around the same number of passengers. Aguallo said the hope is people will take advantage of the smaller flights to board more evenly between the morning and afternoon flights. He advised the flying public to stay confident and continue to book flights. Aguallo said SkyWest will institute its new charter service in chunks. Theyll start in a few cities, get the jets operational, offer contracts and then move on to another batch of cities. SkyWest had advised 29 communities of its intent to cancel service in March, but a DOT hold-in order required the airline to continue to provide flights until a replacement service could be found. This new charter service will continue to serve 25 of those locations. The Nebraska airports impacted by the decision were those in Scottsbluff, North Platte and Kearney. Flights between North Platte and Denver will be among those resuming, but Kearney was not selected as a location for the charter service. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX FALLS Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, in his first public comments since being removed from office last week, appeared before a state ethics board Monday to press for an investigation of fellow Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, the person he blames for his impeachment over his conduct surrounding a 2020 fatal car crash. As attorney general, Ravnsborg last year filed a pair of complaints against Noem to the state's Government Accountability Board alleging she abused the powers of her office by interfering in a state agency as it evaluated her daughters application for a real estate appraiser license and by misusing state airplanes. The board, which is comprised of retired judges, has not decided whether to investigate Noem and is working with an attorney to evaluate the merits of the complaints. Ravnsborg appeared at the Government Accountability Boards meeting for the first time since he initiated the complaints last year and said he was ready to provide additional information. He made it clear he thinks an investigation could have far-reaching consequences for Noem, who is running for reelection after a first term that vaulted her to national prominence. She's widely considered to be a White House aspirant in 2024. Im not going to let this just drop. I think that they should pursue it and I do believe that, ultimately, the House will pursue it, Ravnsborg told The Associated Press, suggesting that Noem could also face impeachment for her actions. The former attorney general denied that he was out for revenge against Noem, although he blames her for his removal. Noem and Ravnsborg became political enemies after he struck and killed a pedestrian in 2020. Noem publicly called for Ravnsborg to resign and later pressed the Legislature to impeach him. The House eventually did, and the Senate last week convicted him of two charges: committing a crime that caused someones death and malfeasance for misleading investigators and misusing his office. Ravnsborg blamed emotion and political pressure for tilting the Republican-controlled Senate against him and said Noem sought his removal because he had filed the complaints to the Government Accountability Board. I think that among these two complaints and theres other scandals that shes involved in that she did not want the information to come to light," he said. Noem's spokesman Tony Mangan declined to comment on the board's proceedings or Ravnsborg's remarks. The board has tapped Sioux Falls attorney Mark Haigh, who primarily specializes in business and health care law, to help evaluate Ravnsborg's complaints. Haigh also has experience arguing before juries, administrative boards and licensing agencies. The Associated Press reported last year that the governor held a meeting in July 2020 that included her daughter and key decision-makers in her application for an appraiser license just days after the agency moved to deny the license. A Republican-controlled legislative committee concluded that Noem's daughter, Kassidy Peters, got preferential treatment. Noem has rejected that finding, saying her daughter followed the same process as other applicants. But the agencys former director, Sherry Bren, told the legislative committee last year that she felt intimidated at the July 2020 meeting, where she said Peters unsuccessful application was discussed in detail and a plan was formed to give her an unprecedented, additional chance to show she could meet federal standards. Noems office has said the plan was in the works before the meeting. Peters got her license four months later. Shortly after that, Bren retired under pressure from Noem's cabinet secretary. She eventually received a $200,000 settlement to withdraw an age discrimination complaint. Ravnsborg's other complaint was sparked by a report from Raw Story, a news website. Noem in 2019 used state airplanes to travel to events held by political organizations including the National Rifle Association and the Republican Jewish Coalition, even though South Dakota law bars their use for anything other than state business. Noem defended the trips as part of her work as an ambassador for the state. The boards consideration of the complaints began last year and has happened entirely in private meetings. It could either investigate the complaints and potentially hold hearings or dismiss them entirely. The judges will meet next on Aug. 3. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form There are more tears shed over answered prayers than unanswered prayers, St. Teresa of Avila said. Republicans may soon learn just how that works. It used to be that Republican politicians with no fixed views on abortion could pray loudly for an end to Roe v. Wade. They knew that their stances would please abortion foes while not alarming the pro-choice majority. As long as Roe remained a law protecting the right to end a pregnancy, pro-choice voters open to other aspects of the Republican platform could shrug at such candidates. Abortion goes back to the people, says a Wall Street Journal editorial, as it puts on a brave face in the wake of the Supreme Courts striking down of a popular right. Theyve got that right. And President Joe Biden concurs. Roe is on the ballot, he announced right after the ruling. And Democrats whove been engaging in anticipatory grief over expected losses in the midterms have new hope for holding onto their legislative majorities. The GOP ought not take solace from a poll taken right after the ruling in which 78% of Republicans said they favored the decision. It really should worry about that 22% that, despite all, still identify as Republicans but want a constitutional right to an abortion. For not only has this ruling rattled the all-important suburban swing vote, but it has also unleashed right-wing radicals who are already launching threats at women who go to states where abortion remains legal. The nastiness is just beginning. No lesser an authority on curtailing of rights than Justice Clarence Thomas has come right out and said the Roe ruling puts same-sex marriage and even contraception back in play. It helps not that his wife is a prominent insurrectionist who has made common cause with the savages who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Chief Justice John Roberts has clearly lost control. The outcome of overturning Roe is not a simple matter of sending the issue back to the individual states. The civic culture is already dealing with the Texas law that waves bags of money at creeps willing to hound women they suspect of having abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. A six-week limit is a virtual ban; many, if not most, women dont know they are pregnant that early on. Interestingly, the Mississippi law that the Supreme Court upheld in the Roe case a 15-week limit on abortion would not have outlawed the procedure. The vast majority of abortions are done within 15 weeks. Mississippi, however, is one of many states that has passed another law triggering a real ban should Roe be thrown out. Nowadays, 54% of abortions are pill-based procedures. States that are prohibiting abortion, Louisiana, for example, are trying to outlaw the mailing of abortion medications from elsewhere. Good luck with that. And are they going to stop cars at the state line to inspect handbags? Some abortion foes want women ending their pregnancies charged with a capital crime, like murder. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says hes into that. The willingness to trample on Americans privacy has developers of apps that track menstrual cycles concerned that their users might get hacked and harassed over whether they give birth. These services, such as Apple Health, Flo and Clue, are used both by women who want to get pregnant and those who dont. Some pro-life activists want Congress to ban abortion nationwide. That, The Wall Street Journal opines, will strike many Americans as hypocritical after decades of Republican claims that repealing Roe would return the issue to the states. But that is something they will undoubtedly try. Answered prayers have their consequences. Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. Three Girl Scouts (Cadette level) from Troop 13036 in Mooresville earned their Silver Awards after completing community service projects in the area. The Silver Award, which requires a minimum of 50 hours of community service, is earned after a Scout identifies a need in the community, plans a project and leads the project (including any fundraising). While each Cadette worked on their own project independently, they joined together in the fundraising. Lucy ONeill and Zoey Mazzara, both 14, and Catherine McAdams, 13, began their projects by first reflecting on their community and what they might be able to do to contribute in a meaningful way. Lucy noticed the easy access to feminine hygiene products at school were problematic and wanted to address these issues. Zoey was passionate about creating a project involving law enforcement, and Catherine wanted to increase opportunities for book exchange in the community. The three held a fundraiser last fall in front of Lowes Home Improvement in Mooresville, where each prepared their own products to sell and raise money for their projects. Lucy made jewelry, Zoey sold paintings and Catherine sold baked goods. With these funds and donations, their projects to earn their Silver Award could be completed. Period Project Lucys project, Period Project, was dedicated to making girls feel more comfortable about their periods, while also aimed at helping those who might be in period poverty. Period poverty is when a girl does not have access to pads or tampons and has not had proper education about periods. Her family may not be financially able to purchase pads so she may have to free bleed until she can get another supply of pads. When planning her project, Lucy also considered that a girl may have been taught that her period is shameful, no one wants to be around her when she is on it, or she may feel embarrassed because she has to ask someone for tampons in front of others. Lucys passion was to make supplies easily available in the student bathrooms so that they do not have to go to the office to get supplies. Lucy was thoughtful in the needs of the students and provided a variety of sizes of pads and tampons so to have options and choose the one that works better for them. Lucy reached out to the principal, nurse and president of the PTO at The Brawley School to present the idea for her project. Once she had their approval, she purchased supplies, obtained containers for the supplies and placed them in the student bathrooms. A staff member attached the containers to the wall in the bathrooms to make space for the supplies. For Period Project to be sustainable, Lucy spoke with the nurse to assist. The nurse will choose three students one from each grade (sixth, seventh, and eighth) to monitor supplies and let her know when they are low. A flyer has also been created for the school to share requesting donations of supplies from other families or for them to share for future reference. Books in the Park Catherine noticed there was not a Little Free Library at Cornelius Road Park and with many people utilizing the park, thought it would be a good addition. She loves reading and wanted to create something for the community so that others can share and enjoy books with one another. After contacting the Mooresville Parks and Recreation Department to obtain approval for the project, she began planning. Catherine decided to build two libraries at the park, one for adults and one at a lower height for children. Catherine received a generous donation of materials from Lowes Home Improvement to build the libraries. She supplemented with the funds raised from the bake sale. Catherine identified that there were learning opportunities in leadership including coordinating the project as a whole, learning how to use tools not used before, and balancing school with project needs. She asked her father for help and guidance in building the libraries as this was a more complicated building project than she initially anticipated. Catherine happily explained that she is now able to use a drill, saw, chisel and work with concrete. Catherine has returned to the park a couple of times to fill the libraries. She purchased some books at Goodwill and received donations from others. Catherine will continue to monitor the needs of the Little Free Libraries at the park. She hopes the community will enjoy the leave-a-book/take-a-book exchange the Little Free Libraries provide for years to come. Paws on Patrol Zoey wanted to recognize the hard work and dedication of local law enforcement. Zoey is the daughter of a 20-year veteran New York City police officer, who is also a Trade Center Ground Zero first responder. It was important to Zoey to show her appreciation for officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. She raised money, gathered materials including blankets and fleece that she fashioned into rope toys for the Mooresville Police Department K-9 Unit. Zoey worked with Sgt. Dan Walther to present the gifts to the K-9s and their officer partners. Zoey raised funds for her project, made certain to choose cloth that was not toxic to dogs, and carefully prepared the items for the Mooresville Police Department K-9 Unit. Zoey enjoyed delivering the items to the K-9 Unit and interacting with the dogs as well. She shared, I am proud of the work I put into completing Paws on Patrol. One of the greatest successes was seeing the dogs enjoy the toys from the moment I gave the toys to them. I loved how they went crazy with the toys and how they loved them. I think it is nice to see them have some fun after working so hard all day. Zoey also reflected on the time it took to complete the project. She recognized the value of how we spend our time and balancing all aspects of life. She shared that she learned that making time for community service in addition to work/ school and luxuries is important. These three projects added something to the community that was not there previously. The leadership skills utilized also provided opportunities for personal challenge and growth for each Cadette. While their projects are different, Catherine, Lucy, and Zoey hope that what they have designed will be enjoyed by others. The Smyth County native died in 1904 in Kentucky. However, her image as a young girl continues to live on and is getting extra care now thanks to conservators in Richmond. Anna Chastain was born in the Saltville area and lived in the county until she was about eight years old when her family moved to Kentucky. While the details are limited, Betsy White, William King Museum of Art director, knows that she returned to Abingdon for her education, likely at one of the communitys private schools. During that time, the prolific portrait artist Samuel Shaver painted Chastain. Experts who have evaluated the painting believe the girl was 10 to 12 years old when the painting was done, likely between 1845 and 1850. Samuel Shaver was the nephew of Michael Shaver, who served on Abingdons town council and worked as a silversmith, jeweler, blacksmith, and even a dentist. White researched the Shavers for her book Backcountry Makers: An Artisan History of Southwest Virginia & Northeast Tennessee. In an article for A! Magazine for the Arts, White wrote, Samuel was only 22 when he utilized this Abingdon connection to place an ad alongside one of his uncles in Abingdons Virginia Statesman newspaper announcing himself available as a portrait and miniature painter. Samuel Shaver became well known as portrait painter of children, business tycoons, military leaders and politicians, White said. She believes Chastains family must have had some measure of wealth to afford having her painting done and sending her away for school. The museum has had Chastains portrait in its collection since 2002, but didnt know it was a Shaver painting, White said. She noted that he rarely signed his work. However, the museum was looking for a painting of a child to hang in the childrens bedroom of the Fields-Penn House, an 1860 Greek Revival style home on Abingdons Main Street that operated as a museum. There, White said, the painting hung over the mantelpiece and everyone loved Anna. When the painting was moved to the main museum, White said, it was recognized as Samuel Shaver work. The museum had it evaluated by experts with the Tennessee Historical Society, who confirmed it was one of his paintings. Samuel Shaver did most of his work in Tennessee. Now, the William King Museum of Art has received the 2021 Richmond Conservation Studio Grant for the conservation of the portrait. White explained that the grant isnt for a certain amount of money but whatever work is needed to preserve the painting. Samuel Shavers later paintings, like this one, featured a background landscape. After years of soot and dust are removed, White said, Who knows what theyre going to find. At the museum, she said, they joke that Anna has been sent to the spa. When she comes back, White said, it will be in all her glory. However, it could be up to a year before she returns. White said the Richmond Conservation Studio is much in demand and the work to restore a painting is painstaking. When they do bring Anna home, White said, shell go into William Kings permanent collection gallery and the museum will likely hold a reception for her homecoming. For the grant and this very special piece of art, White said, Were just delighted. The Conservation Grant is a joint project of the Richmond Conservation Studio and the Virginia Association of Museums. Rebecca Guest, Membership & Development Manager of the association, said in a press release, VAM is thrilled to once again work with the Richmond Conservation Studio on this exciting project. Congrats to the William King Museum of Art for being selected as the 2021 Conservation Grant recipient. While not a great deal is known about Chastain, White noted that she did marry and became the mother to five children. Anna Chastain Haynes died in 1904. William King Museum of Art is open seven days a week with free admission. For information on exhibitions or events, visit williamkingmuseum.org or call 276-628-5005 William King Museum of Art is at 415 Academy Drive, off West Main Street or Russell Road, in Abingdon. BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday urged the United States to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and cease any form of official exchanges with Taiwan. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to a query on the so-called U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. "China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction with the Taiwan region by countries having diplomatic ties with China, including negotiating or concluding agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature. This position is consistent and clear," Zhao noted. There is but one China in the world, Zhao said, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, he added. The spokesman said that the United States must abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, halt all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop negotiating agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. "We would also like to make it clear to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities that they need to give up at once on the idea that they could seek independence with U.S. support, because the more ambitious they are, the more bitter their failure will be," Zhao added. KALAMA Last week, Kalama city employees were recognized for their service to the community at the Kalama Chamber of Commerces annual awards presentation. At the Tuesday ceremony, Public Works employee Kim Sibley was awarded Citizen of the Year. Sibley has worked for the city as grounds and parks caretaker since 2017. Kim works hard throughout the city with a focus on our parks, rights of way and other maintenance and beautification efforts in the downtown area, according to a city press release. The Kalama Public Library and staff received the Totem Award, which recognizes an outstanding business or organization that benefits and contributes to the community. It is truly a privilege to be the Mayor of a city with so many talented and dedicated pubic servants, said Mayor Mike Reuter in a statement. Kalama residents can rest easy knowing that the hard-working city staff, police, public works, and library personnel are always putting the needs of the community first. The chamber also recognized Kalama Elementary School physical education teacher Charlie Newton as School Employee of the Year. The event was held at the Port of Kalamas Interpretive Center. Along with the ceremony, the event included a silent auction of items donated by local businesses, catering by Sherrie Mickelson, beverages served by the Kalama Lions Club, flowers from Jansens Floral Effects and music by 8 String Punch. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly led law enforcement on a high-speed chase from Kelso to Knappa, Oregon, with two children, unrelated to him, inside the vehicle. The 5-year-old and a 22-month-old were unharmed. Dakota Carras, 29, fled in his girlfriends car with her children after he was recognized by a Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office sergeant at 1:45 p.m. Sunday in Kelso for having outstanding warrants, according to the sheriffs office. Carras is not the childrens father and he didnt have permission to take them, the sheriffs office reports. The girlfriend told Carras to exit her car before he fled, driving recklessly through Lexington and Columbia Heights around 90 mph and crossing the bridge into Rainier, according to the department. While relaying information about the pursuit over the radio, the sergeant learned the Clark County Sheriffs Office also had probable cause to arrest Carras for robbery and kidnapping unrelated to the Sunday incident. Carras, who has lived in Longview and Battle Ground, was arrested about 45 minutes west of Cowlitz County in Knappa, Oregon, and booked into the Columbia County Jail. The Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office reports staff are requesting he be charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of reckless endangerment and attempting to elude law enforcement. The Daily News, Longview, Wash. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Longview Police Departments annual report paints a mixed picture for how the city was impacted by crime in 2021. Longview did not see an increase in crime last year. The rates for major offenses went down and police received fewer calls than they did in 2019. On the other hand, police answered an increase in calls involving people with behavioral health issues and the department will likely be short-handed through the rest of this year. Chief Robert Huhta presented the annual report to the Longview City Council during its meeting Thursday. The arrest rate for major offenses in 2021 was 77.7 arrests per 1,000 residents. The rate marks a 6% drop from the previous years arrest rate and is the third year in a row that the rate has decreased in Longview. I think that shows our staff is doing a great job with the staffing level we currently have, especially for the more serious offenders, Huhta said. One of the unique drivers of the decline this year is the Washington State Supreme Courts Blake decision in February 2021, which led to the state eliminating felony simple drug possession. Simple drug possession involves people possessing drugs for their own use, as opposed to selling narcotics. Since July the Longview police have issued referral cards for people caught with small amounts of hard drugs for the first two offenses. On the third offense the person is charged with a misdemeanor. Huhta called the change a huge pendulum swing during his presentation to the City Council. It sounds like theres going to be some changes. I think our community has felt the impacts of the drug stuff, Huhta said. Arrests for what the annual report called society crimes, which include felony drug arrests and issues like prostitution and weapons offenses, went down 43% between 2020 and 2021. The rates for people crimes and property crimes the other two categories of major offenses only changed slightly between the two years. Longview police received 34,913 total calls for service, including online reports. The number of calls increased from 2020 but remained below the roughly 42,000 calls the department received in 2019. Staffing challenges Of the 61 commissioned officers that the Longview police is budgeted for, 52 positions are currently filled. The department is also seeing a staffing shortage for noncommissioned roles, such as community service officers. Huhta said he had to pull officers away from traffic enforcement, the major crimes unit and police station desks to make sure there were enough officers on the street. Many days the police had the bare minimum number of officers out on patrol at one time: four officers and a command sergeant. It puts pressure on the rest of the department to reprioritize our calls. Theres not as much traffic enforcement, theres not as much patrol visible out there, Huhta said. There are changes in the works to address staffing. Seven incoming officers are at various stages of preparation through the police academy and field training and should be working in Longview by the end of the year. Huhta said he is hopeful the state Legislature would consider a bill in 2023 that would fund more local police officers. Right now it remains unclear how the crime rates have changed in 2022. Huhta expected Longview would mirror the increase in stolen vehicles and other property crimes that has occurred across Washington this year. Its always challenging with this report. People want to focus on what happened this year and its hard to shift back to how crime impacted them in 2021, Huhta said. During the City Council meeting Thursday, some Longview residents pushed the city to be more active in addressing current issues around crime. Many of the complaints came from residents of the Highlands neighborhood. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Starbucks and Samsung have released new cases for Galaxy S22 series and Galaxy Buds 2 earbuds. Check them out. Starbucks has certainly made a name for itself around the world for its coffee but this time, it wants to appeal to smartphone fans. In collaboration with Samsung, Starbucks has just released a bunch of cases for its Galaxy S22 series smartphones and the Galaxy Buds 2 earbuds. The idea is simple these Starbucks cases will let you dress up your Samsung S22 and the Galaxy Buds 2 earbuds ins cutesy cases that are bathed in the Starbucks green, and also help promoting the Starbucks brand. More than flaunting the Starbucks colours, we are excited to check out the cases for the Galaxy Buds 2, which are also compatible with the Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds Pro - after all, Samsung hasnt changed the case design between these models. The Galaxy Buds 2 cases appeal to two different kinds of customers one of them a rather simple green case with the Starbucks logo stamped on. The other one that looks unlike any other case we have seen a coffee cup. Starbucks cases for Samsung S22, Galaxy Buds 2 The coffee cup case makes the charging case look just like a Starbucks coffee cup, except that it is much smaller. Theres even a handle protruding out of the case, just in case you want to hold it like aerm cup. Whatever it is you want to do with it, the coffee cup is simply the most interesting accessory we have seen in a long time (This and the Macintosh-shaped charger for Apple devices!) Sadly, there is a caveat. Starbucks is releasing these cases only in South Korea and will be sold as a limited edition product. We dont know whether Samsung and Starbucks will bring the accessories to other markets, including India. The cases could work well with our market considering the vast number of Starbucks fans. Even the cases for the Galaxy S22 series look unique. The cases for the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus have a simple design with either a Starbucks logo or a Count the Stars in your Galaxy quote. The case for the Galaxy S22 Ultra has strap for holding, which either resembles the Starbucks receipt, or a simple belt. Neat. Xiaomi has today confirmed that it will be holding a launch event for its 12S Series smartphones on 4 July 2022 at 7pm local time in China. Three new models are set to be unveiled during the event, including the Xiaomi 12S, 12S Pro and 12S Ultra. Blasting out teasers of the smartphone lineup on its various social media pages, Xiaomi is touting the 12S Series as the new ear of mobile photography. The wording and teaser poster thus allude to the Chinese tech giants continued strategic partnership with Leica for its latest device lineup. Furthermore, on its official Weibo page, Xiaomi confirmed that there are three variants in the 12S lineup, with the addition of the 12S Ultra definitely something fans have been waiting for. The teaser poster on the post also revealed that all three variants will have exponentially bigger sizes, with the Ultra being the largest of them all (hence the name). Besides the name of the three 12S models as well as the collaboration with Leica, Xiaomi didnt reveal any other details on the smartphones. Hence, we just have to wait until this 4th of July to find out the specs and features. So, are you excited for the Xiaomi 12S Series? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news! Facebook and Instagram have started taking down posts that offer abortion pills to women who may not be able to get them after the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. These posts told women how to get abortion pills through the mail even in states that had banned them. Facebook and Instagram began deleting posts that mentioned abortion pills and specific versions of such pills as mifepristone and misoprostol, the Associated Press reported. These posts also spiked Friday morning on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and TV broadcasts, according to the media intelligence firm Zignal Labs. By Sunday, Zignal had counted more than 250,000 mentions, the AP reported. Posts for abortion pills on Facebook and Instagram were deleted moments after they appeared, the AP noted. A Facebook account was tagged with a "warning," when Facebook said it violated its standards on "guns, animals and other regulated goods." However, when an AP reporter made the exact same post but changed the words "abortion pills" to "a gun," the post remained untouched. The same thing happened to a post to mail "weed," the AP said. Abortion pills can be gotten through the mail after an online consultation from prescribers who have had certification and training. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone told the AP that company policies ban the sale of certain items, including guns, alcohol, drugs and pharmaceuticals. He did not explain the discrepancies in enforcing that policy, the AP said. "We've discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement and are correcting these," Stone acknowledged. On Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said states should not ban mifepristone. "States may not ban mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA's expert judgment about its safety and efficacy," he said in a statement. Some Republicans have tried to stop their constituents from buying abortion pills through the mail, with West Virginia and Tennessee banning doctors from prescribing the pills via telemedicine, the AP reported. Explore further Abortion pills to become next battleground in US reproductive fight More information: Visit the Cleveland Clinic for more on Visit the Cleveland Clinic for more on medication abortion Copyright 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Sudden big changes in river water levels threaten fish. Credit: Shutterstock, NTB "Why do we allow hydropower plants with outlets into rivers to operate with rapid water level changes when Norway has plenty of power plant outlets that flow into the sea?" asks NTNU researcher Jo Hallvard Halleraker. The month is May and the spring sun shines over the Otra River where it flows serenely for the last 15 kilometers before flowing into Kristiansand's eastern harbor. The riverbed gravel contains this year's production of salmon eggs, about to hatch. Hundreds of thousands of small salmon fry will soon see the light of day. But their survival is not a given. "When the water level drops in the spring and early summer, we can see the spawning redds teeming with fry. There's lots of feeding activity ensues as seagulls help themselves to the fry," says Jostein Mosby, head of the Otra laxefiskelag, the local salmon association. He has been following the river from the time when it was heavily polluted by industrial discharges until the present day. As the river's water quality improved, a viable salmon stock has returned. But now the power industry poses a danger to Norway's wild salmon, which were recently classified as near threatened. "Fish can't live on land. And they can't withstand rapid water level fluctuations. Salmon fry aren't mobile," says Mosby. Eggs and fry trapped in puddles When power plants farther up the watercourse cut back on production to save water, the downstream water level drops where the salmon spawned in November. The roe (eggs) or fry are left high and dry in their gravel spawning redds, and the fry become trapped in the gravel as the surrounding riverbed dries up. "The roe stay in the gravel depressions after spawning in November and until they hatch in April and May. The fry with their yolk sacs remain in the gravel beds. If their beds go dry due to reduced winter water discharge, they freeze. We're talking about fry with gills, so once the eggs have hatched, they need water to breathe. If you change the water level too fast, the fry don't have time to relocate. They can quickly get trapped in puddles that eventually dry up," says Mosby. Varying water levels have major consequences A study of Norwegian hydropower production conducted at NTNU now shows that far more rivers are exposed to the environmental consequences of so-called hydropeaking than previously thought. Hydropeaking is used to describe when a hydropower plant produces power to meet short-term variations in the market demand for power or to stabilize the power grid. Hydropower plants adjust their production to the varying market demand and power prices, so the amount of water discharged into the rivers below the power plants also fluctuates, with big peak flows (hence the name) but also periods when flows are suddenly stopped. "Several analyses show that the vast majority of power producers use price optimization. They ramp production up or down depending on price and the available water volume," says Halleraker. He is currently a guest researcher at NTNU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Hydropeaking changes a hydropower plant's operating pattern. Instead of steady flows, the power plant causes abrupt changes in water flow conditions. Hydropeaking intensity can vary greatly. More than 3,000 kilometers of river affected Halleraker and his fellow researchers have reviewed environmental risks associated with sudden water flow changes from all of Norway's hydropower plants. They have analyzed all of the production and water flow data that is publicly available. The study, which was recently published in the academic journal Science of the Total Environment, shows that more than 3,000 kilometers of river courses today are impacted by hydropeaking of different intensities from 802 hydropower plants. At the same time, half of the power plants in Norway (larger than 10 MW) have outlets into fjords or reservoirs, which normally dampen detrimental ecological effects. These power plants are located primarily along the coast of western and northern Norway. "Why do we allow hydropeaking by power plants with outlets into rivers, which can lead to major damage to freshwater ecology, when Norway has plenty of power plants with outlets other than rivers? Norway is sitting on a gold mine with more than 50% of Europe's regulated hydropower resources. More than 80 TWh of these power plants, or 57%, have direct outlets into fjords and lake reservoirs without the known downstream ecological impacts," says Halleraker. Eggs and fry are left high and dry in the gravel bed, and fry are caught in puddles when the riverbed around them dries out. Credit: Steven Philip Fluctuations also widespread in small power plants The study shows that the problem of sudden changes in river water levels due to hydropeaking is also widespread in many small power plants. "Hydropeaking is most often associated with the variable operating practices of large impoundment facilities. But a lot of small power plants engage in price optimization, which can be as serious for biological diversity as in larger watercourses," says Halleraker. He believes that the hydropower industry needs to adapt its power production to ensure ecological sustainability and incorporate more modern measures. "We need a better national strategy to optimize hydropeaking so that we can reduce the harmful ecological effects of watercourse operations by hydropower plants with outlets into rivers. Operating these power plants more for base load would be one way to achieve this. If we run into a socially critical need for hydropeaking to secure the energy supply in a given area, we can make it more ecosystem-based by establishing a damping reservoir between the power plant outlet and the river," says Halleraker. However, this is an expensive and space-consuming solution and has so far hardly been studied for Norwegian watercourses. Greater scope than scientists thought NTNU professor Tor Haakon Bakken concurs with Halleraker. "Halleraker's work shows that the extent of hydropeaking is greater than we thought," Bakken says. From 2009 to 2016, Bakken led the EnviPEAKEnvironmental impacts of hydropeakingproject. Researchers investigated how rapid and frequent changes in water level and water flow spread downstream into rivers when hydropower plants ramped production, and what ecological consequences these practices have. The project resulted in advisory guidelines to managers on how negative environmental effects can be reduced by implementing more ecosystem-based hydropeaking, such as by ensuring adequate minimum flow. "One of the rivers we studied was the Nidelva in Trondheim, where we have outlets from the Bratsberg and Leirfossene hydropower plants. They're located a few kilometers from the city center. The Nidelva uses a hydropeaking regime, but in a way that limits the environmental impacts. The main reason things are going relatively well there is that the minimum water flow is high, at 30 cubic meters per second. This establishes a relatively high minimum water level, so only limited areas dry up when the power plants stop production," Bakken says. "Some other places don't have any requirements for minimum flow. When a power plant abruptly stops power production, it's like a crane that is stopped quickly. Large areas of the riverbed can go dry, and fishall living organisms, actuallyget stranded. This is a major problem with hydropeaking," says Bakken. Energy reserve for Europe "I used to say that we could tell by looking at the river if it was windy in Denmark," says Mosby. Norwegian hydropower is expected to become increasingly important for the European power market. It could become key as a source of reserve power as the EU transitions energy production to more renewable energies like solar and wind. These sources produce power that varies with the weather conditions and have no way to "fill the reservoirs" like hydropower does. For the Otra river, the water level itself kills roe and fry as much as the rapidly changing flow reductions do. The river association has taken action to monitor whether the hydropower plants are complying with the regulations. "We've seen fewer of the rapid fluctuations in water flow in recent years, perhaps because we've been 'on it' and told regulators when we observe that the water level is starting to get alarmingly low. The Otra salmon association has its own water level logger. Along with a lot of our own investigations, this tool has given us important data," says Mosby. But he is still worried about this year's salmon fry in the river. High power production through the winter combined with little snowpack and precipitation means that the risk is high that the power plants will now need to save water. "Yes, we're worried about the salmon," says Mosby. The periodic draining and drying up of rivers is a problem. Credit: Jostein Mosby New conditions for rivers and water flow In the next few years, the authorities will be dealing with hundreds of cases as hydropower conditions are revised in the older watercourse regulations. One power plant that has already had its terms changed is the Trollheim power plant on the Surna river. The Surna holds national salmon river status. This river has been subjected to sudden draining several times due to halts in power production. In 2008, between 500,000 and one million fry died as a result of an accidental shutdown in the Trollheim Hydropower turbine that caused an abrupt drop in the Surna's downstream water level. Statkraft power company, owned by the Norwegian state, subsequently installed a bypass valve to counteract such abrupt reductions during minimum flow periods. On 5 March last year, the government adopted new licensing terms for the watercourse. However, the government has elected not to follow all of the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate's (NVE) proposals for ensuring environmentally safe hydropeaking operation in the river. "Hydropower plants with reservoirs and regulating capacity give the Norwegian power system great flexibility. Measures that limit this flexibility lead to challenging trade-offs between environmental benefits and the public interest in considering security for the electric power supply," said Tina Bru, then-Minister of Petroleum and Energy, when the new licensing conditions for Surna were announced. Potential power loss for 1,800 households The Trollheim hydropower plant is owned by Statkraft and is one of the key reservoir power plants in Central Norway. Statkraft says they are satisfied that flexibility and regulatory ability were adequately addressed when the government made its decision, even though the revisions have resulted in a power loss of around 36 GWh a year, amounting to electricity consumption equivalent to 1,800 households. "The new conditions include a discharge restriction that varies throughout the year. This is in line with how Statkraft already operates. We've developed this practice with researchers from NINA and SINTEF. We've made an impact using knowledge-based operating practices that we have followed for over 10 years. They ensure a secure supply of electricity in Mre og Romsdal county," says Knut Fjerdingstad, press spokesperson for Statkraft. He says Statkraft generally supports the aim of the term revisions and is positive about environmental improvements where the benefits outweigh the costs to society. "Statkraft believes it is important to take a holistic approach to trade-offs between environmental considerations and consequences for the social benefits that hydropower delivers through regulated, climate-friendly power and flood mitigation capacity. We have to look at the consequences of the condition revisions to the power system and power grid operations as a whole," says Fjerdingstad. He does not want to comment on Halleraker's research. But he states that Statkraft has been actively involved in research projects under the auspices of the Research Council of Norway. These projectswhich include the EnviPEAK projectare studying possible measures to mitigate the consequences of how power plants with outlets into rivers regulate their power. "Statkraft and the managing authorities have used the results from these research projects in their operational practices and in revising licensing conditions for a long time," says Fjerdingstad. Variation possible in some rivers Carsten Stig Jensen, NVE's section manager, tells Gemini that in some places power plants with outlets into rivers are acceptable to use in conjunction with variable flow patterns. "Environmental consequences of variable operating water flow are a topic in several ongoing revision cases where specific mitigating measures are being considered for each individual case. In new development cases, conditions are set to ensure that the power plant is operated in a way that doesn't cause significant negative environmental impacts. Where necessary, we require that all water level reductions take place with smooth transitions, preferably specified as a certain lowering rate. The limits for water flow that may be set are considered specifically for each individual case, both for new development and in the revised conditions for older concessions," Jensen says. Could lose reputation as sustainable Halleraker believes solving the dilemma between the need for enough power at the right time and the need for environmental adjustments to ensure a sustainable renewable energy industry is critical. These issues must be weighed in the upcoming revision cases in line with similar processes in Europe. He worries that Norwegian hydropower risks being branded as less sustainable in the EU context if we do not think in new ways. "Even renewable and clean hydropower needs environmental mitigation strategies so that we can refer to them as sustainable. This is spelled out in the EU taxonomy and referred to in the relevant Norwegian legislation that was passed just before Christmas last year," says Halleraker. More information: Jo Halvard Halleraker et al, Assessment of flow ramping in water bodies impacted by hydropower operation in NorwayIs hydropower with environmental restrictions more sustainable?, Science of The Total Environment (2022). Journal information: Science of the Total Environment Jo Halvard Halleraker et al, Assessment of flow ramping in water bodies impacted by hydropower operation in NorwayIs hydropower with environmental restrictions more sustainable?,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154776 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Lawmakers and investor advocates are ringing alarms over the idea of allowing cryptocurrency into 401(k) and other retirement plans, especially after a turbulent month that saw some projects implode and other cryptocurrencies go into free fall. The debate kicked off in March when the Labor Department posted a compliance release that said those in charge of 401(k) retirement plans should "exercise extreme care" when contemplating adding cryptocurrencies to investment options. A month later, one of the largest financial service providers, Fidelity Investments, said it would offer the option to invest part of 401(k) plans in bitcoin. ForUsAll, a 401(k) provider, sued the Labor Department this month, saying the warning violated the law that governs how federal agencies develop and issue rules. The California-based company said the department has no legal authority or existing precedent and said its guidance was issued suddenly and without public comment. ForUsAll argued in its suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, that the department's cautionary release sets a precedent and could embolden it to ban other investment types or strategies. "The DOL plays several important roles that serve American workersbut 'armchair financial adviser' shouldn't be one of them," Jeff Schulte, CEO at ForUsAll, said in a statement. "Congress never gave government officials the power to pick winners and losers, let alone the legal authority to arbitrarily restrict entire asset classes." Critics say cryptocurrency volatility can be particularly devastating for those saving for retirement. Supporters say it's another way to build wealth. Most 401(k) plans have a menu of pre-selected traditional investments such as mutual funds, or allow a self-directed brokerage window, which lets employees pick specific investments. The Labor Department said those responsible for overseeing cryptocurrency investments or allowing investments in cryptocurrencies through brokerage windows "should expect to be questioned." Labor Secretary Marty Walsh indicated that the department was looking at a possible rulemaking when he was grilled June 14 at a House Education and Labor Committee hearing about the department's decision to issue a warning on cryptocurrency. The department is trying to restrict the types of investments that Americans can choose to make when they don't have the legal authority to do so, said David Ramirez, chief investment officer at ForUsAll, said in an interview. The company manages 401(k) plans for small and many rapidly growing tech companies and is focused on providing access to alternative investments, including cryptocurrencies. "We feel that this is really a form of informal rulemaking that happened overnight," Ramirez said. "That creates a very dangerous slippery slope." This is bigger than cryptocurrency, Ramirez said, and is about whether Americans benefit from the Labor Department deciding which investments are best. "If downside volatility is the issue, what's next? Is the Department of Labor going to ban Netflix or Meta from self-directed brokerage windows?" Ramirez said. The company's suit seeks to require the department to retract its statement and prohibit it from enforcing it. Bills would block guidance Following the Labor Department's caution, lawmakers introduced bills to keep the pathway open for cryptocurrencies in retirement funds. Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville introduced legislation that would block the department from issuing a regulation or guidance that limits the type of investments that self-directed 401(k) account investors can choose through a brokerage window. Tuberville says his bill is not just about cryptocurrency. "This is about anything, whether it's about oil stocks or anything that might be seen by this administration as controversial," Tuberville said in an interview. "They should not have the opportunity to block the American citizens from investing in these open windows." Tuberville said he is not telling people to invest in cryptocurrency but that he just wants people to have the opportunity if they choose. "Nobody should have the ability to say, listen, we're going to try to protect you and keep you out of these certain avenues that you might want to get into, and that's not the federal government's business," Tuberville said. "It's none of their business at all, and the Department of Labor, I think, is really overstepping their boundaries here." Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., introduced a companion to Tuberville's bill in the House in late May. Donalds said cryptocurrency is a way for people to build wealth even as they need to be aware that cryptocurrency markets can be very volatile. "Some of your best rewards and your best gains in the financial industry also come in places where it's a volatile industry," he said in an interview. 'Stay away' On the other side of the issue are Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who criticized Fidelity for its decision to offer bitcoin in retirement plans in a letter to the company in May. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and speculative investments, Smith said in an email. "Cryptocurrencies are not subject to the same reporting and data integrity requirements as other investment products and it can be a challenge for even the most informed investors to evaluate these assets," Smith said. "As I wrote to Fidelity in May, I have deep concerns about financial institutions offering these products as part of retirement savings plans, which could put the savings of millions of Americans at risk." Bartlett Naylor, financial policy advocate at consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, likened investing in crypto in 401(k) plans to "throwing pennies against a wall to see what heads or tails comes up." "We are dismayed that firms such as Fidelity are allowing this," Naylor said in an interview. His advice to investors thinking about it: "Stay away." Charles Sizemore, principal of Sizemore Capital Management LLC, a registered investment adviser based in Dallas, said the general trend in retirement plans has been toward more choice. "In the abstract, I would say that is absolutely good," Sizemore said in an interview. He advocates for people to be able to invest their money as they want, though they should not be encouraged to take more risk than they understand. He said it's likely that some employers will offer crypto as an investment option in 401(k) plans. "If you're competing for workers with everybody else, and a prospective employee is between you and the next guy, and you say, well, our 401(k) allows you to buy crypto, that very well might make the difference," Sizemore said. The Labor Department and Fidelity did not respond to requests for comment. Explore further Amid crypto turmoil, senators propose sweeping oversight 2022 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Sky has announced new original drama The Lovers starring Johnny Flynn and Roisin Gallagher. The darkly comic romantic drama begins filming in Belfast at the end of the month, written by David Ireland and produced by Drama Republic in association with Sky Studios Advertisements A teaser shares: The series follows Janet (Gallagher), a foul-mouthed, hilarious, Belfast supermarket worker who couldnt give a shit about anything much at all, including her life, and Seamus (Flynn) a handsome, self-centred, political broadcaster with what looks to be a perfect London life and a celebrity girlfriend. So when Seamus unexpectedly drops into Janets world (literally over the wall and into her backyard) they instantly clash and yet also find themselves inextricably drawn to each other Set in Belfast, this is a sexy, funny, fight-y love story about two people who appear to be utterly wrong for each other yet may just be utterly right. The series also stars Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones, Holding) as Janets supermarket boss, Philip. Liz Lewin & Manpreet Dosanjh, Executive Producers, Sky Studios: We cant wait to start filming The Lovers and see our two brilliant leads, Johnny and Roisin, bring our love-struck odd couple to life. David has written the most unique, funny and heart-warming scripts and we look forward to shooting against the iconic backdrops of Belfast and London. Advertisements Roanna Benn and Rebecca de Souza, Executive Producers, Drama Republic, added: We are so excited that Davids beautifully crafted, romantic and subversive story is being brought to life by such a brilliant team and cast with the hugely talented Justin Martin at the helm. The series will run for six episodes with an air date to be announced. More on: Sky TV CHICAGO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- It is the interest of the whole world to see China growing, a U.S. scholar has said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Khairy Tourk, professor of economics with the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, named eradication of absolute poverty the greatest achievement China has made in the past decade. As an economist studying development for many years, Tourk said he has learned to accept that extreme poverty will always exist. Thanks to the vision on eradicating extreme poverty of the Communist Party of China (CPC), "I've changed my mind." Tourk said the leadership of the CPC is one of the major reasons behind China's success. Tourk has been a visiting scholar at Renmin University of China since 2013. During his summer teaching and research over the years, Tourk wrote a book titled "The Belt and Road Initiative -- Chinese solution to a deficient global order," published in January 2022. The initiative is essentially a connectivity project, connecting China with nations in Asia, Europe and Africa through building roads, rails, ports and bridges. "It's also connectivity between people. It was connectivity through dialogue of civilizations," Tourk said. Noting many developing nations lack infrastructure, the scholar said: "Here comes China. It has both the funds and experience to build infrastructure in a record time." Tourk said the initiative is "leading the foundation" for Africa's industrialization. Regarding his visits to China, Tourk said, "I really enjoy my stay at Renmin. The students were hard-working. I formed close friendships with my academic friends." "And these visits have allowed me to see firsthand how fast China is changing," he said. However, he said two things have not changed: "the kindhearted nature of the Chinese people and the delicious Chinese cuisine." WASHINGTON This is a legacy-making moment for Sen. John Cornyn. The Texas Republican leveraged his A+ rating from the NRA and his credibility within the Senate to shepherd the biggest gun violence prevention measure in a generation through an evenly divided Senate. Its also a moment of unusual political peril for the four-term senator. His collaboration with President Joe Biden and other Democrats has infuriated the most strident gun rights advocates and alienated grassroots activists. Texas Republicans drowned him out with boos at their state convention, though polling shows he retains broad support and has lost ground only among a segment of the partys base. Theres a lot of misinformation, Cornyn said during the final Senate debate. Insisting the bill will protect school kids and constitutional rights alike, he said, Unless a person is adjudicated mentally ill or is a violent criminal, no ones Second Amendment rights will be impacted by this legislation, period. On May 24, an 18-year-old with a newly purchased AR-15-style rifle killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde. The clamor for Congress to do something has rarely been as insistent as in the month since the attack. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tapped Cornyn, a trusted lieutenant, as the GOP point man on post-Uvalde talks. The deal he crafted with Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and a handful of others from both sides would keep legally purchased guns away from anyone convicted of domestic violence, leverage federal funds to encourage states to adopt and enforce red flag laws that let courts take guns from people deemed a danger to themselves and others, and add juvenile records to background checks to ensure that dangerous young buyers dont have a clean slate when they turn 18. From the White House down, Democrats wanted far more: bans on high-capacity ammunition magazines and semi-automatic weapons or, at the least, raising the age to buy such guns from 18 to 21. Theres also no mandatory waiting period or potentially unconstitutional requirement that gun owners store their weapons in a particular way, Cornyn said during the Senate debate, defending the proposal. Law-abiding gun owners are not the problem and that was a red line for me. ... This bill does not infringe on law-abiding citizens rights under the Second Amendment. Gun rights advocates acknowledge the deal Biden signed into law Saturday could have been worse. But for them, that doesnt absolve Cornyn. A compromise is when both sides give a little bit, and this is just gun control, said Aidan Johnston, director of federal affairs at Gun Owners of America, which positions itself as a more unbending defender of the Second Amendment than the NRA. Mental health reform and school security funding are uncontroversial, he said. The rest of the measure is absolutely outrageous, so to give Cornyn credit for rejecting a ban on AK-47s would be like forgiving the robber who steals a wallet but lets the victim keep $20. Senator Cornyn is engaged in the act of selling out his constituents constitutional rights. He has no authority to negotiate away the constitutional rights of Americans, Johnston said. There is no excuse for funding gun confiscation laws. Tucker Carlson called Cornyn far left on his Fox News show. Trump called him a RINO short for Republican in name only and asserted that the deal he spearheaded will go down in history as the first step in the movement to TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY. Others were more generous. The leadership youve shown is admirable. You come from a gun culture. I come from a gun culture. We know the challenges, Sen. Joe Manchin, a pro-gun Democrat from West Virginia who also worked on the bill, said on the Senate floor. To one group of people its not enough. To other people, anything is too much. ... This is a great piece of legislation for us to start protecting the children in America. The Senate approved Murphy-Cornyn (or Cornyn-Murphy the nickname hasnt fully taken root) on a 65-33 vote Thursday. Fifteen Republicans joined with Democrats. Texas junior senator, Ted Cruz, was not among them. He denounced the bill as a misguided attempt to disarm law-abiding citizens rather than take serious measures to protect our children. The House approved the measure 234-193 on Friday. The only Texas Republican who supported was Rep. Tony Gonzalez of San Antonio, who represents Uvalde. Lingering mistrust Among conservatives, the antennae were up, for several reasons. Early in his Senate years, Cornyn did support comprehensive immigration reform a package approach to allow eventual citizenship for millions of people in the country illegally, in exchange for beefing up border security and enforcement. Grassroots anger quashed several attempts, only some of which involved Cornyn. For the bulk of his tenure, he has shunned comprehensive reform in favor of a security-first approach more palatable to the GOP base. His change of heart has been a source of anger and mistrust among immigrant advocates ever since. Theres also mistrust on the right, some of it dating to Cornyns two terms running the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in the 2010 and 2012 elections. After he was elected by fellow Senate Republicans, his assignment was to protect incumbents and expand the caucus, just as the anti-Barack Obama tea party movement was bubbling up. Grassroots activists valued ideological purity more than majority-building. They didnt take kindly to meddling from establishment poohbahs. Things got ugly. In Florida, Cornyn promoted then-Gov. Charlie Crist over tea party darling and eventual winner Marco Rubio. After failing to win backing from the state GOP, Crist ran as an independent. He now serves in the U.S. House as a Democrat. In Delaware, Cornyn resisted tea party activist Christine ODonnell, best known for ads assuring voters she wasnt a witch. Cornyn tried to steer the nomination toward a former governor who could have cruised to victory, if hed gotten past ODonnell in the primary. She got trounced in the fall. The story was similar in Nevada, where Republicans squandered their best shot to topple then-Majority Leader Harry Reid by nominating a weak tea party candidate, Sharron Angle. Cornyn shrugged it off as stormy weather in primaries that presaged a fall tsunami. Eventually, he settled into a truce with tea party forces led by then-Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, whod been gunning for GOP incumbents deemed insufficiently conservative. Cornyn did well enough for promotion to party whip, the No. 2 leadership post. McConnell has kept him in his innermost circle long since the partys term limit rules forced him out of that role. Cornyn is a good soldier, a good lieutenant, said GOP strategist Brendan Steinhauser, who ran Cornyns 2014 reelection campaign after a stint at FreedomWorks, a group that helped to incubate the tea party. McConnell can trust that Cornyn is not going to get the caucus in trouble. ... Hes got good, broad political instincts and credibility within the Senate. Recruited by Rove A former trial court judge in Bexar County, Cornyn joined the Texas Supreme Court in 1990. Karl Rove, George W. Bushs political guru, saw potential. At Roves urging he ran for Texas attorney general in 1998, defeating Jim Mattox, a Democrat whod lost the job and was seeking a comeback. When Phil Gramm retired from the Senate four years later, Cornyn jumped in. Rove had been grooming him for just such an opportunity. With the even demeanor of a judge and hair already silver, Cornyn looked and sounded like a senator from central casting, as out-of-state news media loved to say. And he has a gift for framing conservative talking points in ways that convey affable grandpa more than hothead ideologue a sharp contrast with Cruzs incendiary style. Cornyn scored a 12-point win over Ron Kirk, Dallas first Black mayor and a future trade ambassador under Obama. He won his second term by the same margin, and coasted to a 27-point win in 2014. His 10-point margin in 2020 over MJ Hegar was significantly wider than Trumps in Texas. Support holding steady Despite carping over the gun bill, theres no provision that could lead to widespread confiscation of any sort of weapon. Cornyn ruled out such a step from the outset. That didnt protect him from a hostile reception when Texas Republicans gathered last weekend in Houston, as the deal was still coming together. Many flashed thumbs down. Cornyns speech was barely audible through the jeers and chants of No red flags! No red flags! Ive never given in to mobs and Im not starting today, he was overheard saying after he left the stage. The National Association for Gun Rights, another tougher-than-NRA group that says the better response to Uvalde is to arm educators and eliminate gun-free school zones, demanded an apology. The razzing didnt occur in a vacuum. Disapproval of Cornyns job performance has spiked since Uvalde among Texas Republicans, from 11% to 17% in Morning Consult Political Intelligence surveys. But positive sentiment about Cornyn has held steady: 68% among Texas Republicans before and since the massacre, and 43% among all Texas voters. In other words, Murphy-Cornyn hasnt dragged him down overall. But it did inflame parts of the GOP base whose support was tepid already. Bona fides Cornyns conservative rankings are strong: an 87 lifetime rating out of 100 from the American Conservative Union, well above average for Senate Republicans. Cruzs is 97. For Cornyns first decade in the Senate, Kay Bailey Hutchison held Texas other seat. She left office with roughly the same lifetime score he has now, but shed won her seat defending the right to terminate pregnancy into the third trimester. At the 1996 state convention, anti-abortion activists not only booed Hutchison, they tried to block her from serving as a delegate to the national convention, an extraordinary slap at a U.S. senator. When Hutchison retired and Cruz took the seat, Cornyn no longer looked like the more conservative Texas senator. The Trump era only sharpened the contrast. Cruz, after a nasty rivalry with Trump in the 2016 primaries, ended up a stalwart defender through two impeachments. Cornyn took a more nuanced approach. He distanced himself from Trumps most inflammatory comments. He opposed tariffs on Mexican goods theyre not great policy, he said and called Trumps border wall a flawed and naive idea. But he later defended Trump for sapping Pentagon funds to help pay for construction. Gun record Cornyns solid record on gun rights earned him an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association, and its endorsement in 2020. That gave him the credibility McConnell needed after Uvalde. Cornyn has been a master of threading the needle on gun violence, helping his party project seriousness of purpose without running afoul of the Second Amendment. After the church massacre that left 26 people dead in Sutherland Springs near San Antonio in November 2017, Cornyn partnered with Murphy to address the failure of the Air Force to enter the shooters criminal record into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Their Fix NICS law added many millions of records to the database used to flag ineligible gun buyers. That point of pride for Cornyn is a source of mistrust, too. Weve been monitoring Murphy-Cornyn discussions for quite some time, said Johnston of Gun Owners of America, which boasts that it quashed a deal last year much like the one approved last week. Weve been aware that the senator was looking to compromise with our rights for some time now and have been actively working to prevent that from happening. After a racist shooter at an El Paso Walmart killed 23 people in August 2019, Cornyn filed a bill to prod internet companies to share concerns about threats of mass violence, add funding for mental health and make it easier to prosecute unlicensed gun sales. At each juncture, demand was intense to ban or restrict certain weapons. And at each juncture, the push for alternatives from Cornyn, and others, relieved some of that pressure. Few have done more in Congress to defend the Second Amendment than Senator Cornyn, and this latest legislation is another example of that, said Rob Jesmer, his longtime strategist. Jesmer cited surveys showing overwhelming support for key elements of Murphy-Cornyn among the general public and, importantly, gun owners. A small minority of absolutists believe that gun ownership is unassailable regardless of mental health or criminal background issues, Jesmer said. But that is not the prevailing view in the courts or among Republicans. They are loud, but as evidenced by Senator Cornyns election history, (theyre) a small group of people, he said. Cornyns next primary is nearly four years away. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe HOUSTON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A wave of protests and lawsuits has swept the United States after the Supreme Court on Friday overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. A judge on Monday blocked southern state Louisiana from enforcing the abortion ban, while a governor signed an executive order to protect women seeking abortions in New Mexico and an attorney general was accused of illegally threatening abortion providers with criminal prosecution in Texas. Robin Giarrusso, an Orleans Parish civil district court judge, on Monday issued a temporary restraining order blocking Louisiana, one of 13 states which passed "trigger laws" to ban or severely restrict abortions once the supreme court overturned the 1973 ruling. The plaintiffs in the suit there do not deny that the state can ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana has multiple and conflicting trigger mechanisms in law, according to local media reports. A hearing to decide whether to further block enforcement of the ban has been scheduled on July 8. In a lawsuit filed on Monday in Houston on behalf of several health care providers, the American Civil Liberties Union accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of illegally threatening abortion providers before relative state laws take effect. Local media outlet KXAN reported that the lawsuit asked a state court to temporarily block Texas' pre-Roe laws on the books, which Paxton said are now enforceable after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. "Mr. Paxton's and the Texas Legislature's attempts to greenlight the immediate prosecution of abortion providers based on violations of the Pre-Roe Ban must not stand," the lawsuit said. Texas law banning most abortions will not take effect for approximately two months or longer since the trigger ban is scheduled to take effect 30 days after issuance of the judgment from the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, according to local media reports. The Supreme Court has only so far issued its opinion. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday signed an executive order aimed to protect women seeking abortions and providers of the service in the southwestern U.S. state. "We will not further imperil the rights and access points of anyone in New Mexico," the Democratic governor said at a news conference, "Residents seeking access will be protected, providers will be protected, and abortion is and will continue to be legal safe and accessible, period." Also on Monday, attorneys generals in 21 states and Washington, D.C. issued a joint statement promising to "leverage our collective resources" to help women in states where abortions are banned. "Abortion care is healthcare. Period," announced the statement, which was signed by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. "While the U.S. supreme court's decision reverses nearly half a century of legal precedent and undermines the rights of people across the United States, we're joining together to reaffirm our commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care nationwide," they said in the statement. Over the weekend, a branch of Planned Parenthood sued in Utah over a trigger ban while the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and an abortion-rights group filed an emergency motion in Arizona in a bid to block a state law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. Abortion rights advocates in Ohio also plan to challenge a ban on abortions after six weeks, which took effect on Friday, said local media, noting that a Florida ban on abortions after 15 weeks is also the subject of a request for a temporary block. As of Saturday, abortion providers had reportedly stopped services in at least 11 states. The United States was in a "national battle," New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told a news conference on Monday. Though the latest 6-3 ruling does not outlaw abortion but leaves the decision to states, 26 states are "certain or likely to ban abortion," while 16 states, including New York State, provide protection for abortion rights in law or in their constitutions, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. The overturning of Roe v. Wade also drew criticism from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who described the decision as "a huge blow to women's human rights and gender equality," and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said "the news coming out of the United States is horrific." The U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade spurred both excited reactions and angry protests in the Roanoke and New River valleys Friday. As politicians declared their distaste or support on social media, about 200 demonstrators took to the streets in front of the Poff Federal Building in downtown Roanoke. The Friday afternoon protest was led by Womens March on Roanoke, a women-led movement organized by Roanoke Indivisible and the Blue Ridge Resistance Alliance of Virginia. A crowd gathered on short notice in downtown Roanoke to protest a decision many knew was coming. Abort the Supreme Court, read one of the many signs brandished by protesters, who drew honks of support from traffic passing by. The gathering could be heard from blocks away chanting My body; My choice, and Keep your rosaries off my ovaries. Today, we join with the majority of Americans who have repeatedly affirmed their support for safe and legal abortion in decrying the Supreme Courts reckless decision to throw away fifty years of legal precedent, the organization said in a press release.We warn us all that this post-Roe world will be very different from a pre-Roe world. Virginias GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement that his administration is committed to protecting individuals constitutional rights and ensuring Virginians are safe. The truth is, Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions, Youngkin said. We can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life. Several other Virginian Republican representatives agreed with the governor, including State Sen. David Sutterlein, R-Roanoke County. Elected state governments will now have the ability to pass reasonable protections for innocent human life like those found in Europe, Sutterlein said in a tweet. The Dobbs decision is a critical victory for constitutional separation of powers, but most importantly a victory for innocent human lives. U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, also voiced his support on Twitter, calling Friday a historic day for America and the long fight to protect the unborn! The Courts decision leaves the debate over this important issue to the people of the fifty states and their elected representatives. Cline said in a second tweeted statement. With its ruling today, the Supreme Court is to be commended for its decision to finally heed the Constitution on this issue and return the abortion debate to the peoples elected representatives. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, agreed with Cline, calling Roe v. Wade a constitutional error that has produced decades of tragedy. The Supreme Court got the law right today in Dobbs. The Court has returned to the individual states the ability to make their own decisions on this issue, Griffith said in a statement. Our task going forward from this decision is to carry on the hard but rewarding work of building a culture that protects, respects, and cherishes life. Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick, said hes excited by the Supreme Courts decision. I didnt think that this would happen in my lifetime, Williams said in a telephone interview. Its such a contentious issue, but I think the Supreme Court got it right. I think this is a real blessing for the Commonwealth and the unborn across the nation. There will not be a guaranteed constitutional right to murder an unborn child. It blows my mind that that was ever stretched into law into the first place. Del. Marie March, R-Floyd, said she is similarly excited about pro-life legislation. She called the Supreme Court ruling a victory. Today the unborn have been recognized for their value, their potential, and their right to a chance at life, March said in a statement. Now, each state has the responsibility to protect the unborn at home. This is why I am proud to sponsor a bill in January that will protect life at conception in the Virginia House of Delegates. This is much more than a political issue. It is a moral obligation that we have to protect the most innocent among us. Del. Chris Head, R-Botetourt, said he was absolutely thrilled to hear about the decision to overturn Roe. I am a proud pro-life delegate and have been an ardent defender of the unborn since entering the House of Delegates in 2012, Head said in a statement. I remain committed to protecting the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all Virginians, born and unborn. But other Virginian politicians werent at all happy with the end of Roe. State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, said the decision to overturn it was devastating. The decision creates classes of citizenship, dependent on location, Deeds said in a tweet. It cannot stand! A statement from the office of Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, said he is deeply troubled by the Supreme Courts ruling. Roe has offered consistent precedent in privacy cases for 50 years, Rasoul said. The right to an abortion has been protected by the Court for five decades. Entire generations have had access to safe abortions as a right and are now experiencing this right to privacy being ripped away from them. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said in a tweet that the ruling flies in the face of decades of precedent protecting womens rights to make fundamental personal decisions without needless government interference. Congress must act now to protect those rights, Kaine continued. Were not going to give up on this. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said the ruling reflects a Court that has increasingly issued politicized rulings that undermine the fundamental rights of Americans. This decision will take control over personal health care decisions away from individuals and give it to politicians in state legislatures across the country, Warner said in a statement. I am heartbroken for the generations of women who now have fewer rights than when they were born, many of whom will be forced into life-threatening or prohibitively expensive circumstances to access health care as a result of this radical decision. Roanoke College political science professor Todd Peppers agreed with Warner, saying Supreme Court decisions are increasingly less focused on law. As I teach my students, when you get to the Supreme Court, you just dont look at the law. The judges personalities and preferences impact decision making, Peppers said in a telephone interview. With President Trumps appointments of Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, I dont know if the handwriting was on the wall, but certainly there was a strong suspicion that the court would pick a case and continue to whittle away at Roe, or it would be overturned. Peppers said the justices decision to overturn Roe was not a surprise to him. I think many court observers realized that there was a likelihood that Roe would be overturned. The the justices are supposed to value the norm of precedent. And certainly, Roes now been precedent for 50 years, Peppers said. You want consistency in the law, but there have been instances where the court has overturned precedent, and we agreed with it. Brown v. Board of Education overturned a precedent. So, its not a shock. Several states have trigger laws that will place restrictions on or ban abortion immediately. But Peppers said hes not sure what is in store for Virginia. I wish I had a crystal ball, the professor said. If the Virginia General Assembly moves to pass restrictive laws, are these going to be the type of laws where its a complete ban, where theres exceptions for the life of the mother for rape for incest? What happens next? I dont know. I really dont. Del. Williams said he hopes Virginia will start drafting abortion legislation in January. I would be very surprised if a special session is called. But I do believe that legislation will come in the next session in January, Williams said. We as state legislators, representing the people in our communities, we will get to have a say in this issue now. I know that the majority of people support a ban on abortion, no matter what the liberal left has to say about it. But Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, said that as long as Democrats remain in the majority of the state senate, they will continue to protect womens rights. The American people need to make their voices heard at the ballot box in November and return a Democratic majority to the United States Senate and the House of Representatives to correct this historic mistake, Edwards said in a statement. Peppers said the country might anticipate an investigation into the leak of the Supreme Courts decision that occurred in May. Leaking an entire Supreme Court decision, the whole text of it, is fairly unprecedented. And it represents a real rupture of the court in terms of institutional security and confidentiality, Peppers said. The justices themselves clearly are divided ideologically. But I think there is some mistrust in the court amongst the different offices. The long term impact on overturning Roe v. Wade is interesting, but also the impact of this decision being leaked so early from the court itself. Staff writer Laurence Hammack contributed to this story. Entities located in Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Pakistan are in the crosshairs of an attack campaign that targets unpatched Microsoft Exchange Servers as an initial access vector to deploy the ShadowPad malware. Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, which first detected the activity in mid-October 2021, attributed it to a previously unknown Chinese-speaking threat actor. Targets include organizations in the telecommunications, manufacturing, and transport sectors. "During the initial attacks, the group exploited an MS Exchange vulnerability to deploy ShadowPad malware and infiltrated building automation systems of one of the victims," the company said. "By taking control over those systems, the attacker can reach other, even more sensitive systems of the attacked organization." ShadowPad, which emerged in 2015 as the successor to PlugX, is a privately sold modular malware platform that has been put to use by many Chinese espionage actors over the years. While its design allows users to remotely deploy additional plugins that can extend its functionality beyond covert data collection, what makes ShadowPad dangerous is the anti-forensic and anti-analysis techniques incorporated into the malware. "During the attacks of the observed actor, the ShadowPad backdoor was downloaded onto the attacked computers under the guise of legitimate software," Kaspersky said. "In many cases, the attacking group exploited a known vulnerability in MS Exchange, and entered the commands manually, indicating the highly targeted nature of their campaigns." Evidence suggests that intrusions mounted by the adversary began in March 2021, right around the time the ProxyLogon vulnerabilities in Exchange Servers became public knowledge. Some of the targets are said to have been breached by exploiting CVE-2021-26855, a server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in the mail server. Besides deploying ShadowPad as "mscoree.dll," an authentic Microsoft .NET Framework component, the attacks also involved the use of Cobalt Strike, a PlugX variant called THOR, and web shells for remote access. Although the final goals of the campaign remain unknown, the attackers are believed to be interested in long-term intelligence gathering. "Building automation systems are rare targets for advanced threat actors," Kaspersky ICS CERT researcher Kirill Kruglov said. "However, those systems can be a valuable source of highly confidential information and may provide the attackers with a backdoor to other, more secured, areas of infrastructures." The Douglas County Health Department on Monday confirmed a case of orthopox in the county, which after further testing is expected to be the county and states first case of monkeypox. Monkeypox is a virus in the orthopox family, which also includes smallpox. Monkeypox is milder than smallpox. The person who is infected is a man in his 30s with a history of international travel, health department officials said. He is isolating at home. The health department is tracing his contacts to identify any people who may have been exposed. Just over 200 cases of monkeypox had been confirmed in the U.S. as of late last week, but more than 3,000 have been reported in more than 50 countries during the current outbreak. World Health Organization officials over the weekend called the cases unusual but did not declare a global health emergency. The illness usually begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and fatigue, according to department officials. Its often accompanied by a rash that looks like pimples or blisters. The incubation period for monkeypox is usually seven to 14 days but can range from five days to three weeks. Nebraska health officials recently urged residents and health care providers to be on the lookout for rashes associated with monkeypox. Monkeypox is being spread through close, intimate personal contact with people who have it, particularly through contact with one of the monkeypox lesions. Reports indicate that a disproportionately large number of cases so far have been among gay and bisexual men who have sex with other men. There is no specific treatment for monkeypox, but some antiviral drugs have been used effectively. Some people who have had close personal contact with an infected person may be candidates for a preventative dose of smallpox vaccine. Anyone who suspects he has monkeypox or that he has been exposed to the virus should contact a health care provider for guidance. Staff at the health departments information line at 402-444-3400 also can answer questions. The unique sounds and melodies of South Americas Andean peoples filled Grand Island Public Library Monday. Lincoln musician Oscar Rios Pohirieth hosted a special program titled Andean Folk Music and Cultures of South America. The program was made possible through Humanities Nebraska. Pohirieth brought more than 20 instruments to show and demonstrate from Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Chile. This includes wind instruments, flutes, percussion and clay instruments, and others he was not able to show during the one-hour program. Pretty much every instrument in the family of instruments (is) played in the Andes, he said. There is a special quality and joy of the music of the indigenous peoples of the Andes. The diverse sounds of the instruments resemble life, nature and just every day life of the people there, he said. They share a message to everyone saying, We are alive and we need to celebrate life. There are times when the music is slow and a little sad, but within that same tune, they switch into something more upbeat to remind us, yes, life has a balance. He added, We cant always be happy, but we cant always be sad. A large group of children watched, rapt and engaged, and even gently silencing each other as Pohirieth introduced one instrument after another. One small whistle flute, with water inside, perfectly replicates the tweeting sounds of a small bird, which he explained was a favorite of his childhood. What I would do, is just run around the neighborhood, pretending I was a bird, people thought I was crazy, but I didnt care, he told the children. Pohirieth invited children to join him in creating music. The children, on a flat drum of the indigenous Omaha, recreated the percussive rhythms he created on a tall Incan goatskin drum, called a bombo, which was introduced by African slaves brought there by the Spanish. Not only were they creating music, he said, but recreating a form of communication. Engaging youths is always a pleasure, said Pohirieth. When Im playing the instruments, I usually close my eyes so I can travel with them, so they can connect with me and the music, so I dont get distracted within the environment, he said. But sometimes I open my eyes, and I see a child with bright eyes, absorbing every sound these instruments are making, and traveling with me somewhere, it is a nice feeling, because I know they are learning, they are seeing, they are hearing something completely different. Unique for Pohirieth is the Grand Island audience. At the opening, he asked how many children were Spanish-speaking, and roughly one third of the children raised their hands, representative of the Grand Island community. I was hoping that we would bring our immigrant and refugee students and families to this type of event, because they need to be integrated, he said. I was glad to see them, because what Im telling them is, I look like you, I play these instruments, you should not be ashamed of your cultural perspectives. Laura Fentress with GIPL youth and family services said it was an honor hosting Pohirieth at the library. Weve had Oscar Rios Pohirieth at the library in years previous, so we were excited we could host him once again, said Fentress. The music was incredible. Its amazing how much you can evoke from the sound of a single flute. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Even though Stem: Camp Creation was held indoors Monday, participants still had a chance to get outside. The Parks and Recreation staff gives the kids 10 or 15 minutes before and after the camp to go outside and burn off some energy. Inside the building at Stolley Park, the kids spent the bulk of the two-hour time period putting their creative juices to work. Kelsie Scheel, a Parks and Recreation summer employee, oversaw 16 kids at the specialty camp Monday. It was the second of three sessions of Stem: Camp Creation. The first took place last Friday; the last one will be Wednesday. The camp is for kids 6 to 13. Its too late to sign up for Wednesdays session, though. All three filled up during preregistration. Its a good problem to have this summer. People are getting back to normal, said Tara Coon, one of the citys two recreation coordinators. In planning the specialty camps, Park and Recreation likes to use materials that are owned by other city agencies. All of the items used at Stem: Camp Creation are borrowed from Grand Island Public Library. Even though those items come from the librarys maker space area, the ones used Monday were low-tech. An electronic snap circuit kit was the only one not manually operated. That activity drew the attention of Braxton Rudolf, 6, and Alex Schneider, 9. Some of the kids were using plastic straws to build a giant tower. Other youngsters, including 8-year-old Zaden Lothrop, worked with Legos. Julian Saenz and Oakley Baker, both 7, were playing a Minecraft card game. Easton Hall, 7, Adam Bishop, 7, and Warren Rosacker, 6, were tinkering with a Space Explorers building set. Marlee Ulmer, 8, and her 7-year-old brother, Hendrix, were working with a stack of small red cups. Angelica Stienike, 10, was shuttling between the tower project and the electronics set. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. YORK A local registered sex offender has been charged with non-compliance for not registering his address as required by law. Nathan Kelley, 29, has been charged with a Class 3A felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison with 18 months of post-release supervision and/or a $10,000 fine. Kelley was ordered to be a lifetime registrant when he was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony, in February 2013, in Henry County, Illinois. This non-compliance case began when a deputy with the York County Sheriffs Department received an order from the York County Court to retrieve items from Kelley at an address in York. The deputy went to the address numerous times, but was unable to contact Kelley. He noted that it appeared no one had been at the residence. During a search to see if he had other residences, the deputy learned Kelley is on the sex offender registry and the address in the 500 Block of North Beaver Avenue was listed as his primary residence with no other changes since April of 2021. It was also discovered that he listed two vehicles as being in his use, on the registry but a further looked showed neither vehicle belonged to Kelley any longer and were registered now to someone else. He also reported a local business as being his employer, however that employer said he was no longer there and had said something about moving to Lincoln. The deputy was able to speak with a Lincoln business where he is currently employed. And the deputy spoke with the owner of the residence who confirmed Kelley no longer lives there. Because his registry information was false, the charge was filed. Arraignment proceedings were held in the matter, in York County District Court, during which Kelley pleaded not guilty. A jury trial has been set for late fall. YORK Richard Sandage, 53, of York (who is also classified as a transient in court documents), has been charged with seven felonies in a case where he is accused of possessing and dealing a large amount of meth in the vicinity of a daycare in York, while also possessing a deadly weapon. His arraignment has been set for July. According to court documents, local law enforcement was dispatched on the report of a reckless driver on Interstate 80 and that the driver had entered Yorks city limits. An officer with the York Police Department saw the vehicle in question in the area of East Second Street and Lincoln Ave. The officer saw the vehicle cross the center lane and a traffic stop was initiated in the area of Third and Grant Avenue. Sandage was a passenger in the vehicle. The driver, James Anthes, gave consent to search after admitting he had a marijuana pipe in his pocket. Court documents indicate Sandage consented to a search of his person, during which the officer found a bag and a knife. Dispatch told the officer Sandage is a felon and is considered dangerous, so the officer placed him in handcuffs. In the bag, the officer says there were seven individually packed bags containing methamphetamine. All totaled, the officer said there were 24 grams of methamphetamine. Sandage was charged with possession of 10-27 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 1D felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of 50 years in prison; delivery of a controlled substance near a school (daycare), a Class 2 felony which carries a possible maximum sentence of 50 years in prison; possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a Class 3 felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of four years in prison; possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony, a Class 3 felony; possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison; having no drug tax stamp, a Class 4 felony; and being a habitual criminal. Court documents indicate Sandage was earlier convicted of a Class 2C felony in Carter County, Missouri. Beijing's primary, middle schools reopen as COVID-19 wanes Xinhua) 08:11, June 28, 2022 Students enter the campus of Pinggu No.5 Middle School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. Campuses reopened with epidemic prevention and control measures in place. Students and teachers have to take nucleic acid testing twice a week, at least 48 hours apart for each test, according to the Beijing Municipal Education Commission. Meanwhile, key groups, such as security guards, canteen staff and cleaners, shall be tested in accordance with industry health regulations of the city. The campus environment will also be sampled regularly. "We should strike a balance between epidemic prevention and control and the quality of education, and try our best to timely restore schooling," said Li Yi, a spokesperson for the Beijing Municipal Education Commission. A handful of students still in closed-management areas and under home quarantine will continue to study at home, while kindergartens are scheduled to reopen on July 4, according to the commission. The Chinese capital reported three local confirmed COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic case on Sunday, according to the municipal health commission. A student answers a question during a maths class at the Pinggu campus of Beijing No. 2 Experimental Primary School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Students are having a maths class at the Pinggu campus of Beijing No. 2 Experimental Primary School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) A teacher gives a class at Pinggu No.5 Middle School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) A boy raises his hand to answer a question at Yuquan School Attached to Capital Normal University in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Students have a physical education class at the Pinggu campus of Beijing No. 2 Experimental Primary School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Students welcome their classmates at Pinggu No.5 Middle School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Students are having a Chinese class at the Pinggu campus of Beijing No. 2 Experimental Primary School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Faculty members hand masks to students at Yuquan School Attached to Capital Normal University in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A girl walks into the teaching building at Yuquan School Attached to Capital Normal University in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A teacher gives a class at Pinggu No.5 Middle School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Students are having a class at Pinggu No.5 Middle School in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) A girl waves to a faculty member at Yuquan School Attached to Capital Normal University in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2022. Beijing's primary and middle school students returned to campus on Monday after over 50 days of remote education due to a local COVID-19 resurgence. Students in the first two years of junior high and senior high schools, or grades 7, 8, 10 and 11, as well as those in primary schools, resumed in-person classes. Education for students in grades 9 and 12 concluded earlier. (Xinhua/Li Xin) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) NANNING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of China's first sea-rail intermodal automated container terminal went into operation Tuesday in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A ship loaded with goods from Indonesia became the first vessel to moor at the wharf in Qinzhou port. It left for Southeast Asia with China-made goods including auto parts, glass and chemicals on Tuesday. The first phase, including two 100,000-tonne container berths, was designed to handle 1.02 million standard containers per year. The second phase, including two 200,000-tonne container berths, is under construction. With a handling capacity of 1.6 million standard containers a year, it is expected to become operational in 2023. The Beibu Gulf Port, including the ports of Qinzhou, Fangcheng and Beihai, serves as an important transit point in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a trade and logistics passage jointly built by western Chinese provincial regions and Singapore. The corridor connects 14 provincial-level regions in China with 316 ports in 107 countries and regions around the world. The new container terminal was built to meet the transportation demand from the rapidly growing sea-rail intermodal service. The number of trains operating within the sea-rail intermodal service of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor had surged from 178 in 2017 to 6,117 in 2021. In the first five months of this year, imports and exports with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries via Qinzhou port grew 28.6 percent year on year to 26.25 billion yuan (about 3.9 billion U.S. dollars). The automated wharf and improved customs-clearance service will help facilitate trade with the RCEP members, said Zhu Kuirui, a customs official with Qinzhou port. President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The United States generally imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia's crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Gas prices have been rising for weeks due to the conflict and in anticipation of potential sanctions on the Russian energy sector. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. Should the US ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war? You voted: TUESDAY, June 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Deep-rooted bias may affect the way white patients physically respond to medical care provided by physicians of differing race or gender. Researchers assessed treatment reactions of nearly 200 white patients after they were randomly assigned to receive care from a male or female doctor who was either Black, white or Asian. White patients appeared to improve faster when treated by a white male -- the stereotypical doctor in the United States. But the experiment featured a twist: Each patient was unknowingly treated with a placebo medication, meaning it was drug-free. Their reactions suggest ingrained gender and race bias. The patients on average experienced demonstrably better physical results after being treated by a white male doctor, as compared with those who had been treated by a female or Black physician. "In the study, we had white patients come into a mock doctor's office, where the provider induced a mild allergic reaction by pricking the patients' skin with histamine," explained study lead author Lauren Howe. "All of the providers gave these patients the exact same treatment for their allergic reaction," noted Howe, an assistant professor of management at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. In this case, it was a placebo cream -- an "unscented hand lotion that the providers said was an antihistamine and would reduce their allergic reaction size." The result: Patients "who happened to receive this treatment from a woman or Black provider showed less of a decrease in the size of their allergic reaction over time," Howe said. The study team pointed out that the issue of race and gender bias is of great import. Historically, most doctors in the United States have been male and white, but the composition of the medical profession is changing. As of 2017, more than half of all accepted applicants to medical schools were people of color, and the majority of accepted applicants were women, according to background notes in the study. The participants in the study lived in the San Francisco Bay area. All were white. The 13 male or female physicians were Black, white or Asian. The patients underwent an allergy skin prick test, which induced a mild allergic skin reaction -- such as a raised bump. In turn, each doctor applied a cream, which had no medicinal properties, for their patient's allergic reaction. The skin of each patient was assessed 30 seconds after the placebo cream was applied, and then again three, six and nine minutes later. Patients treated by either a female or a Black doctor had a notably weaker response to the drug-free cream than patients who were treated by a male and/or white or Asian doctor. The finding, said Howe, suggests that "when a patient walks into a doctor's office, if their doctor doesn't look like the kind of person who has been in that role for most of history -- that is, if the doctor is not a white man -- then the patients may be less responsive to treatment from that doctor in terms of their immediate, physical response to the treatment." The white patients, said Howe, did not express any "implicit bias," meaning they didn't rate female or Black doctors as less warm or competent. Nor did they express "explicit bias," meaning they didn't express any more anxiety or nonverbal negative reactions to Black or female caregivers. "In fact, the white patients in this research were highly motivated to not be prejudiced," Howe noted. "They all reported caring about being non-biased, and tended to engage the most with woman providers and providers of color." All of which, she said, points to a deep-rooted bias issue, because "even when people report and show positive attitudes towards providers, they showed less strong of a response to the treatment administered by these providers." Andrea Roberts is a senior research scientist with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She said typical investigations into race dynamics in health care focus on how Black patient care is undermined. On that score, she said, "race and gender bias in medicine has been well-documented" over time. But Roberts, who was not involved in the study, cautioned that the current effort doesn't provide definitive insight into how white bias might affect how white patients fare. She characterized the study findings as "mostly conjecture on the part of the researchers," given that the research team's "own data did not indicate negative bias to women or Black providers." The findings are in the June 27 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More information There's more on racism and health care at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SOURCES: Lauren C. Howe, PhD., assistant professor, management, department of business administration, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Andrea L. Roberts, PHD, MPH, senior research scientist, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston; Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June 27, 2022 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. According to a media release from the state police, Mount Vernon Police officers responded to a potential home invasion on Wescott Avenue at approximately 11:54 p.m. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle which they saw leaving the scene. Following a crash near the intersection of 42nd Street and Veterans Memorial Drive, the suspect, identified as Terrell Burnham, 20, of Harvey, Illinois, ran from the vehicle with a firearm. An officer shot the suspect, who was transported to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Paint splatters the sidewalks in Marion after two generations partnered together to honor those who risk their lives to public safety. A retired Marine veteran who lost people in the Vietnam war has partnered with descendants of a long line of military folks to produce a mural memorializing the military and first responders. Whenever I got out of the Marine Corps in 1972 there was an entirely different attitude toward warriors then, toward the military, attorney Ronald Osman said. In fact, we were spit on, on occasion, and it's always bothered me. They deserve to be remembered. All of the first responders and the people that keep us safe day in and day out deserve to be remembered and deserve to be honored. Ronald Osman and his son, Blane Osman, were approached by Tim Barnett, the Marion Fire Department chief, earlier in the year about putting something on the building across from the fire station that honored the fireman. Especially those that died on 9/11. It hit home, because a lot of the guys were working that day, and we sent some guys there, Barnett said. Four-hundred and fifteen emergency responders died that day, and 343 of those 415 were firefighters. Ronald Osman, a former lieutenant in the Marine Corps, also wanted to do a project honoring those he lost in the Vietnam war. I did not go to Vietnam, but I had a lot of friends (who) did and people that I served with did, Ronald Osman said. Two in particular, one that was killed in Vietnam and the other is still (missing in action) in Vietnam. Theyre fine young men and they deserve to be remembered. Ronald Osman said he and Sgt. David Haake had studied together at the University of Illinois from 1965 to 1968. Captain Larry Fletcher Potts was shot down in the second OV-10 in the Easter Offensive of 1972, Ronald Osman said. It was his 25th birthday the day he was shot down and went MIA, said Ronald Osman. They served two years together. Ronald Osman was Potts' commanding officer throughout numerous positions, and this caused them grow very close, Ronald Osman said. The two ideas, born out of loss together, ultimately inspired the multipanel mural that spreads three building walls on North Court Street in Marion. The panels display Marines, firemen, police officers and EMS. However, in the next year, Ronald Osman hopes more branches of the military can be added to the remaining space, he said. As time and perceptions of the military and first responders have changed, Ronald Osman hopes people will keep a positive view of the people in those roles. First responders, whether you're a fireman, a paramedic, police officer, Army, Marine Corps, or the Navy, every day that they go to work on that job, there's a real potential for harm. They all do it willingly. Ronald Osman partnered with Maddie Deiters to make this mural possible. Deiters, 14 of Marion, comes from a line of military members. Her father was in the National Guard and his father was a veteran, Deiters said. Having grown up in a military family, Deiters had a special appreciation for the project. It's really important to support those who risked their lives for us, Maddie Deiters said. Even the first responders have to face danger every day. They go by this building all the time, saving other people. I would gladly spend eight weeks of my life painting this for them because they risked their life for ours. Nowadays I feel like some people have forgotten the other side of America, how we found this nation through the strength and courage of those who wanted this to happen, Maddie Deiters said. It was the first one of its kind and I think, memorializing those people who stood up for our rights, and why America is so different from any other country, was a great honor. This is only the second mural Deiters has ever done. It took her and her family roughly seven weeks to complete the mural, Deiters said. She was the sole design artist on the project. While most of the piece came from Deiters mind, she used real images in the mural. She colorized different photos from the Vietnam war for the Marines panel, Deiters said. While signing the mural, a retired Army veteran, Tony Kindrick, stopped by to tell Deiters what he thought of the mural. Not only does this beautify the city of Marion ... it also gives it hope, Kindrick said. It gives them the transparency that people care about the community, and they want to brighten their community up. As the holidays approach and many families get time off, Barnett said he would like to remind people that first responders and the military dont get that luxury. Thank them for their service, Barnett said. These people don't stop working on Christmas. They don't stop working on Thanksgiving. We have fires on Thanksgiving, the police have so many calls on Thanksgiving and Christmas. These people never stop. When we get to take off for the weekend there's always someone here, there's always somebody riding that rig of that ambulance, in that police squad car, or in that fire truck. You can check out Deiters art here. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Flying a drone was nothing new to JROTC Cadet Joseph Soto, but practicing his skills on the South Carolina State University campus got him thinking about how the technology works. "I was the kid who always took things apart, especially electronics, said Soto, a rising senior at Andrew Jackson High School in Kershaw. I used to buy typewriters and stuff at yard sales until my parents said no, because I always had so much junk built up in my room. So I want to go into college for computer hardware engineering, he said. Sotos curiosity about the mechanics behind drone technology is precisely what the inaugural Bulldog JROTC STEM Camp at SC State is all about. The weeklong event teaches cadets about the links between science, technology, engineering and mathematics and practical applications. Cadets from 46 high schools in North Carolina and South Carolina immersed themselves in the STEM areas of mechanical engineering, chemistry, nuclear engineering/physics, cyber security, electrical engineering and computer science. Cadets focused on one area of their choosing under the tutelage of an SC State professor. Alongside STEM instruction, the cadets develop group projects using related technology in the universitys labs, taking field trips to such STEM-related locations as the North Charleston Sewer Districts water treatment plant and learning archery, water safety and drone navigation. Retired Lt. Col. David Roberts, senior Army instructor for the Junior ROTC Battalion at Aynor High School in Horry County, said the drone exercises are intended to show students what a commercial-level drone can do in a variety of vocations. These drones have the capability of communicating with a satellite, so it knows exactly where it is within about 3 feet anywhere on the planet, so it makes it easier to control it, Roberts said. This is something they could use to make money if they choose to do so. This being a STEM camp, we want them to see not only the theory side of the science, but also the practical application of it. Thats really what these drones are. Its taking that theory and moving to the practical sphere of science, he said. And the U.S. military uses more advanced drones for numerous purposes in national defense applications that are likely to grow as the technology progresses. We use them in everything from surveillance intelligence collection to actually doing drone strikes, Roberts said, noting that he told cadets about the Ukrainian militarys use of drones as diversions to sidetrack the enemy in the war with Russia. As for Soto, he may get a chance to put his goals in computer engineering to use in the military. He plans to continue military training at the collegiate level perhaps at The Citadel in Charleston after having visited the school as part of Bulldog STEM Camp. I intend to make it a career for a good while, but I intend on going back to civilian life at some point, Soto said. If I enjoy it, though, Im just going to stay in it the whole time. His experience at SC State has been positive, as well. He said the universitys instructors have communicated the STEM theories and applications at a level the cadets can comprehend. Anybody can understand it -- even like a 5-year-old, Soto said. They are putting it in a way that its understood easily. I took a lot from it, especially how to set up for college. Ive been trying to take it to heart and use it in my real life. Bulldog STEM Camp is a joint project of SC States Division of Academic Affairs, the 4th JROTC Brigade, the U.S. Army, the SC State Bulldog ROTC Battalion, South Carolina Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The U.S. Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration will host a virtual job fair for the Nuclear Security Enterprise on Wednesday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The NSE is looking for the next generation of nuclear security professionals and working to hire over 3,500 new employees in 2022 to join its workforce of over 50,000 strong. The virtual job fair will include hiring officials from NNSA and its national laboratories, plants and sites, including: Kansas City National Security Campus (Missouri) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (California) Los Alamos National Laboratory (New Mexico) Nevada National Security Site Pantex Plant (Texas) Sandia National Laboratories (New Mexico and California) Savannah River Site (South Carolina) Y-12 National Security Complex (Tennessee) NNSA federal managers and NNSA Management and Operating (M&O) contracting partners will interview and hire professionals across a broad range of skills and in many locations to support the nations national security mission. Its a new year and we are eager to bolster our strong workforce across the Nuclear Security Enterprise, said Lewis (Lew) Monroe III, NNSAs director of human resources. Recruitment opportunities like these virtual job fairs help us connect with talented and mission-oriented individuals who are ready to utilize their skills and serve this great country. The positions available at the NSE include: General engineer Physical scientist Quality assurance engineer Fire protection engineer There are also contractor positions available at the NSE labs, plants and sites in several areas, including: Business Science Computer science Cybersecurity (IT/R&D) Skilled trades Electrical, mechanical and fire protection engineering Environment, safety and health Manufacturing Mathematics Nuclear facility and operations Technologists and technicians NNSA and its contractors are hiring in: Aiken, South Carolina Albuquerque, New Mexico Amarillo, Texas Kansas City, Missouri Las Vegas, Nevada Livermore, California Los Alamos, New Mexico Oak Ridge, Tennessee Washington, D.C. Germantown, Maryland During the online event, candidates will be able to have one-on-one message chats with hiring managers and human resources professionals regarding the NSEs open positions. Candidates can also visit virtual hiring booths, view information and videos about NSE locations, and apply directly for jobs of interest. Jobseekers can register and submit resumes up until the day of the event, but pre-registration is highly recommended. After the event, follow-up interviews may continue to take place for several days depending on the number of registrants and resumes received. For more information, visit: www.energy.gov/nnsa/nuclear-security-enterprise-hiring. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Orangeburg City Council is preparing to select a development partner for the Railroad Corner project as early as this fall. The city plans to revitalize Railroad Corner, which is situated at the intersections of Russell, Magnolia and Boulevard streets. Council learned last week that two development groups submitted full proposals and a third entity submitted a letter of interest during the application process that ended on June 10. JDH Development and Orangeburg District Partners were the two groups that submitted full proposals, according to Sonyia Turner, real estate development specialist with the Development Finance Initiative. Both firms are minority-owned According to Turner, JDH Development has local ties as the lead developer is from Orangeburg. Orangeburg District Partners is based in Virginia, Turner said. A letter of interest was also received from Odeidra Williams. During the application process, DFI had direct communication with 38 firms, Turner said. Twenty of the firms were based in South Carolina. Just over one-fourth of the firms were considered minority/women-owned business enterprises. This is a complicated project and we want to make sure that all of the details and interests that were outlined, that the city wants to see in the project, are clearly defined in that development agreement and all of the partnerships that are required to make this project work are also clearly defined, Turner said. Turner said over the next couple of months, DFI will be taking closer looks at the firms that submitted proposals and then present more information to city council in August. Then well come back before council with a side-by-side comparison and evaluation of these proposals, Turner said. But ultimately, council, you are going to decide, she added. We do not bring a recommendation, that is not our role. Our role is to do the due diligence to support your decision-making. DFI is currently evaluating the proposals and making sure the developers are who they say they are, Turner said. The group is reviewing articles and prior projects, to name a few. Turner hopes by the third quarter of 2023, that shovels will be in the ground for the Railroad Corner revitalization project. City leaders will address project costs as the process develops. DFI is a program of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hills School of Government that advises communities across the Southeast to attract private investment for projects. It provides real estate development and finance expertise. City leaders engaged DFI in December 2020 to evaluate the redevelopment feasibility of the Railroad Corner. Also during last weeks meeting: Orangeburg Assistant City Administrator John Singh provided an update on the facade grant process and application. R. Marc Wood, of Sheheen, Hancock & Godwin accounting firm, provided a financial update for the citys operations through April 2022. Wood noted that the city collected about 45 percent of its projected revenue, which is short of its 58 percent target. He noted thats about the same as last April. The city has made about 60 percent of its projected expenditures. Expenditures-wise, youre right on target, Wood told council. He expects the citys finances to be more in line once May and Junes figures become available. Council approved third reading of ordinances amending the Department of Public Utilities operating budget for the AMI water and Hampton Street sewer projects. Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds video talks with Erlan Koshanov, the speaker of the Mazhilis, or lower house, of Kazakhstan's parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Tuesday held video talks with Erlan Koshanov, the speaker of the Mazhilis, or lower house, of Kazakhstan's parliament. Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that under the strategic guidance and direct push of the two heads of state, China-Kazakhstan relations have continuously achieved leap-forward development and a new height in the two countries' permanent comprehensive strategic partnership has been reached. Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kazakhstan, Li said that China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue their friendship from generation to generation, and firmly promote bilateral cooperation. Li said it is crucial that the two countries continuously enhance political mutual trust. China supports Kazakhstan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and the two sides should continue to strengthen international cooperation. Facing the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has shown strong resilience, Li said, and China hopes that the two sides will continue to focus on high-quality belt and Road cooperation and tap into the potential of their cooperation. The legislative bodies of the two sides should strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and provide a fair, just, transparent and equal legal environment for pragmatic cooperation, Li said. Koshanov said Kazakhstan thinks highly of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and is ready to work with China to advance the Belt and Road Initiative and jointly implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Mazhilis is willing to strengthen exchanges with the NPC and contribute to promoting bilateral cooperation and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples, he said. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds video talks with Erlan Koshanov, the speaker of the Mazhilis, or lower house, of Kazakhstan's parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) A demonstration was held on Tuesday to protest against the US Supreme Court's decision last Friday to revoke the federal right to abortion. The Supreme Court's decision means that it is now up to each of the 50 US states to decide on abortion rights. Domingos Oliveira Doctors who perform abortions in states where the procedure has been banned will face long prison sentences. Without delay, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana have banned abortion even in cases of rape or incest. The decision marks a major setback for abortion rights, not only in the United States but worldwide. For this reason, Planned Parenthood, the Women's and Gender Information Centre, the National Council of Women, and the JIF platform organised a sit-in in front of the US embassy in Luxembourg at 12.30pm on Tuesday. About 150 people gathered in front of the building before sitting down to protest the decision taken by the US Supreme Court. A large majority of MPs reaffirmed the principle that abortion is legal in Luxembourg. MPs agreed that the legal framework authorising abortion is to be protected. A resolution in that regard was proposed by MP Carole Hartmann from the Democratic Party (DP) and passed with 56 votes in favour and four votes against. Nearly all parties welcomed the resolution, which is primarily symbolic in nature, following the decision of the US Supreme Court to repeal the right to abortion in the United States last Friday. On Tuesday, some 150 protesters staged a sit-in in front of the US Embassy in Luxembourg City. Only the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr) voted against the resolution. MP Fernand Kartheiser argued that the law from 2014 is "merely a decriminalisation" and does not represent a right to abortion. Kartheiser also stressed that the Grand Duchy's constitution does not mention a right to abortion. For this reason, the Left Party (Dei Lenk) demanded exactly that: MP Myriam Cecchetti called on the Chamber of Deputies to enshrine the right to bodily autonomy in the constitution. The Green Party (Dei Greng) spoke out in favour of a nomenclature in this context, i.e., a clear tariff for abortion. Five, six, seven, eight different kids walked through the door of the theater. The first Casper Childrens Theatre workshop of the summer drew in a wide range of dancers, all aged from seven to 14. Their footwear is just as broad: sneakers, ballet flats, black heeled shoes and of course, patterned socks. None of them seem quite sure what to expect, other than the fact that a full week of dance waits ahead for them. The first request was pretty simple though. Show me your jazz hands, Rising Star Tumbling and Dance Studios Amandie Campbell, better known as Miss AJ, told the kids. The workshop is based on late choreographer Bob Fosses style of dance. Audrey Egan, the program coordinator at Casper Childrens Theatre, said it was heavily requested by the kids after they watched Natrona County High Schools production of Chicago. A production that Campbell choreographed earlier in the year. I was like, lets do this. Ive loved Fosse since 2004 when I was in Chicago at Casper College, Campbell said. All ages can learn the Fosse style of movement Its not as rigid as far as you dont have to find this really strong, strict placement. Its more of making the movement work within your body. Back on the stage for warm-ups, the group practiced everything from their jazz squares to holding an imaginary fedora while making their way across the floor. A couple of the moves felt just awkward enough for the kids to laugh at the embarrassment between them. It was something Campbell told them to use in their dancing. Thats why were dancers and theater people, she said. Let that quirkiness embrace everything you do. That sort of positive outlook was what drew the company to Campbell in the first place, Egan said. But while it was Campbells first time hosting a workshop, this marks the fourth year of Egans time with the company. And shes watched the theatre go through a lot of changes. The Casper Childrens Theatre moved buildings in 2020 and when the pandemic hit, their curtains were temporarily closed. Two years later, the company remains selective for which programs they host, but the 2021-2022 was their first full season back on stage. The theatre plans to host four more workshops over the summer. Egan said that it felt great. Not only for the company, but for the kids too. So many of these kids think of this place as their home There are some of these kids who literally do every single show, they do every single camp, she said. For some kids, this is their thing. And really, its the only place in Casper where you can get this full time year round opportunity for kids to be kids on the stage. After the warmups, the kids moved onto the actual choreography that had been planned. Fittingly, their jazz hands were used a lot during the number Paint the Town Red from the musical Chicago. Each dancer moved differently, but as they were taught, that was the whole point of Bob Fosses style. Theatre is a unique outlet for human beings to experience human stories. Egan said. Telling a story like you do in theatre, you get to be someone else. You get to watch someone else and you get to live their life for an hour or two. At their two hour mark, the kids stood in a circle to share what they had learned that day. A few mentioned specific moves, others mentioned the dance style itself. Each of them had something different to add. Though, Campbell had one main goal for what she wanted them to walk away from the workshop with. I want them to find confidence in themselves and their ability to be a performer, Campbell said. I think thats one thing that I love to teach in dance is how to be a confident, positive person through movement. I think everybody can learn anything through movement, and some people have to have movement in order to learn something. If they gained a level of confidence that they didnt have before they came here, then my job is done. Even by day one, the kids were already showing more confidence in themselves as dancers, she said. And sure enough, a couple of them could be heard humming the tune as they left. Ready to come back tomorrow for three more days of dancing, singing and all that jazz. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Womens Health Center & Family Care Clinic of Jackson the only clinic in Wyoming that provides abortion services is feeling the regional impacts of abortion bans following the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade on Friday. Giovannina Anthony, the doctor who set up the clinics abortion services and has been providing medication abortions there for 17 years, said in a Monday text to the Star-Tribune that the clinic was being flooded with abortion requests from Utah. This has never ever happened before, she said. Utah enacted its trigger abortion ban late Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision on Roe v. Wade that overturned the constitutional right to abortion access. Roe v. Wade has been overturned. What does that mean for abortion in Wyoming? Wyoming is one of 13 states with a "trigger" bill in place, which is expected to ban nearly all abortions in the state within 35 days. The states ban is similar to Wyomings trigger law, but it includes additional exemptions for aborting fetuses with certain defects. (Wyomings trigger ban only has exemptions for rape, incest or when the mothers life is in danger). Katie Noyes, the other doctor at the clinic who provides abortion services, said the clinic first referred people from Utah to justthepill.com. On Monday, four Utahns still booked appointments to get abortions at the Jackson clinic, a clinic representative told the Star-Tribune. She said they typically see very few patients from the neighboring state. Thats somewhat of a reversal of roles; the Jackson clinic rarely refers abortion patients to other clinics, but when it does, it sometimes sends patients to Utah. Katrina Barker, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah Communications and Marketing Director, said about 1% of abortion patients served at Planned Parenthood clinics in Utah are from Wyoming. Planned Parenthood of Utah filed a lawsuit against the states trigger abortion ban on Saturday, arguing that the law violates Utahns rights under the states constitution. On Monday, a Utah judge granted Planned Parenthoods request for a temporary restraining order to block enforcement of the trigger law. The order will last two weeks. Abortion services in Utah resumed on Monday following the order, according to Barker. The block on Utahs trigger bill could extend longer than two weeks if the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah is granted a preliminary injunction, which would block the abortion ban from going into effect for the duration of the lawsuit. Barker said the association will ask for a preliminary injunction during its hearing on July 11. The Womens Health Center & Family Care Clinic in Jackson hasnt gotten any more abortion appointment requests from Utahns since Monday, according to the clinic representative. The four people from Utah who had scheduled appointments at the clinic actually ended up cancelling following the block on Utah's abortion ban. Providers say Roe decision is 'heartbreaking' The founder of a planned Casper abortion clinic says she is looking into the possibility of a lawsuit over Wyoming's trigger law ban. Western Wyomings other neighboring state, Idaho, is also poised to ban abortion. But its trigger law isnt in effect yet, so abortions there are still legal. A Planned Parenthood affiliate is also contesting that states trigger ban in a lawsuit. But there arent many abortion services in Idaho anyway. The clinic in Jackson actually serves quite a few patients from eastern Idaho, Anthony and Noyes said. Several other states, including Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky, are facing lawsuits over abortion access following Fridays Supreme Court decision. There isnt a lawsuit in Wyoming over abortion access right now. But there could be one in the future. Julie Burkhart, the Wellspring Health Access founder who planned to open an abortion clinic in Casper, said in a press conference on Friday that shes looking into a potential lawsuit over the states trigger abortion ban. People in western Wyoming those that the Jackson clinic primarily serves will be the farthest away from abortion services once the states trigger ban goes into effect, and if abortions in Utah and Idaho also become illegal. The closest clinics would be in Montana and Colorado. Wyomings trigger abortion law hasnt taken effect yet. Anthony and Noyes said they will continue to provide abortions at the clinic as long as its legal. This story has been updated. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Multiple agencies on Tuesday morning responded to a crash on Highway 220 west of Casper. A Star-Tribune employee near the area reported the Natrona County Sheriff's Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol and an air ambulance on scene around 11 a.m. The helicopter landed on the highway near Red Butte. The Star-Tribune employee also saw a bicycle laying in the road. Sgt. Jeremy Beck with the Wyoming Highway Patrol said agencies were responding to a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash. He said information is limited as the investigation is ongoing. All lanes in both directions were closed for a time to land the air ambulance on the road. The number of vehicles involved or if there were injuries sustained is unknown. This story will be updated. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 5 Sad 8 Angry 0 Rep. Liz Cheney released a new ad that features former Republican U.S. senator and Wyoming political linchpin Al Simpson endorsing her in Wyomings heated House race. Cheney is being challenged by Donald Trump-endorsed natural resources lawyer Harriet Hageman among others. This race is by far Cheneys toughest reelection challenge since she first ran for U.S. House in 2016. Join me in voting for Liz Cheney on August 16th, Simpson said at the end of the ad. Cheney recently made national headlines for instructing Wyomings registered Democratic voters how to change their voter registration to Republican to be able to vote for her in the August primary, a practice known as crossover voting. Despite the fact that hard-line conservatives detest crossover voting, it has not been shown to hand victory to more moderate candidates in Wyoming. Still, the 2022 House race is unlike any race the state has seen. There has been a concerted effort from the hard-liner state lawmakers to outlaw crossover voting, but they have not been successful to date. This past legislative session, a bill to outlaw crossover voting died despite endorsements from Trump and the state GOP. Simpson shot down criticism of Cheneys encouragement to Democrats on how to vote for her. That doesnt bother me a whip, thats been on the books in [Wyoming] through the decades, Simpson told NBC. Simpson represented Wyoming in the U.S. Senate for nearly two decades. Before that, he served in Wyomings House from 1965-1977 in the Cody area. He has a legacy of bi-partisan work, including serving as co-chair on a national commission that examined ways to address the national debt. The ad also features former Wyoming Republican Representative and former Corporations Committee co-chairman Pete Illoway. She has supported the military, he said. Shes a great supporter of Warren Air Force Base. After Cheney voted to impeach Trump and continually criticized him, the former president sought a challenger and ended up selecting Hageman who entered the race in September 2021 with Trumps endorsement in tow. Since then, national interest groups and big names have flocked to Wyoming in all sides of the race. Simpson has not been shy about his opposition to Trump, making Cheney a clear choice in this race for him. The former senator called him a spoiled brat who is at the root of a Machiavellian distortion of whatever this country stands for. I voted for him once, Simpson told NBC. Ill never vote for him again thats for goddamn sure. There are signs that Trump will run for president again 2024, making the Cheney-Hageman battle even more important. Many are labeling the race for Wyomings lone House seat a referendum on the former president and an indicator of how strong his grip is on the Republican party. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 7 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SUBLETTE COUNTY Natalie Strong took a moment outside of the All American Fuel convenience store in Big Piney to think back on Jan. 6, 2021, the day a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. Strong was a little embarrassed to say it, but she was drawing a blank. The working mother didnt have much of an opinion about U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, nor did she have much say about her congresswomans role as vice-chair of the congressional committee probing the insurrection that played out 1,700 miles away some 18 months prior. I couldnt even tell you what happened on Jan. 6, Strong said. I have so much going on in my life, I really just dont follow the news. Its not my thing. Strongs lacking interest in the events of Jan. 6, and the U.S. House committees examination of the attack, was widely shared among the 19 Wyoming voters that WyoFile spoke with this week in rural Sublette County high-desert gas-field country thats home to small communities like Bondurant, Hoback Ranches, Daniel, Marbleton and Pinedale. The majority of randomly selected interviewees nearly 80% have paid no attention to the hearings that some theorize could lead to the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump. The handful of residents who had tuned into or read about the committee were skeptical of its motives and legitimacy. They had to hire Hollywood, Valerie Wheeler, a bartender at the Den, said between serving customers at the Daniel Junction restaurant. Im serious, I dont believe a word that comes out of their mouths. A dim view of Cheney, a belief that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and a perception that the insurrection is being overblown to shine Cheneys star on the national stage were commonplace in Sublette County, where the population has slipped since a natural gas boom in the early 2000s. If such sentiments are as widespread as many observers believe, they jeopardize the electability of Cheney, who sailed to victories in previous House races, but now faces a formidable opponent hand-picked by Trump: Cheyenne attorney Harriet Hageman. Early polling from Hageman-aligned groups suggests the challenger is well in the lead. But Cheneys campaign and proponents have bet big on winning hearts and minds through the incumbents leadership role in the high-profile select committee hearings and the bodys revelations about the Capitol Building attack. That strategy, however, depends on Wyoming voters paying attention and not having made up their minds. The approach carries significant political risk. While the second-term congresswoman has occupied the national stage, interviewing witnesses and laying out a case against the popular-in-Wyoming former president, Hagemans been riding the states conventional campaign circuit for months. As you will see in great detail in our hearings, president Trump ignored the rulings of our nations courts, he ignored his own campaign leadership, his White House staff, many Republican state officials, he ignored the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, Cheney said in her opening remarks of the first hearing. President Trump invested millions of dollars of campaign funds purposely spreading false information, running ads he knew were false and convincing millions of Americans that the election was corrupt and that he was the true president. As you will see, his misinformation campaign provoked the violence on Jan. 6. The Jan. 6 committee has held five hearings since with more anticipated in July reportedly pushed back because of the emergence of new evidence. Theyve captured attention nationally. But not Natalie Strongs or most of her neighbors in Sublette County. While its unclear how many Wyoming residents are watching the Jan. 6 hearings, those who are tuning in arent catching it on the Public Broadcasting Service. WyomingPBS has opted to keep its normally scheduled programming, which includes shows like Curious George and Daniel Tigers Neighborhood. Station manager Terry Dugas told the Washington Post his outfit is airing the hearings instead on Create, a digital Wyoming PBS subchannel, because of cursing that sometimes occurs during testimony. We have a commitment to the parents in Wyoming to provide a safe harbor on our main channel for their children during the day, Dugas told the Post. Nevertheless, the Jan. 6 hearings are accessible to anyone with a broadband internet connection: Theyre broadcast live over YouTube and elsewhere. State Sen. Cale Case (R-Lander), whos been named to Cheneys leadership team, has tuned into at least parts of the first four hearings, and said hes talked to a number of Wyoming voters who are glued to the hearings. Its a small group of people and maybe an odd group, Case said. Case said there are facets of the Wyoming GOP, albeit not its leadership, who are pushing back on Trumps disproven claims, and the widely held belief, that large-scale, systematic fraud swung the election in favor of Joe Biden. I cant change it, Case said of Wyoming residents believing Trumps lie. I just know that if we let them say it over and over again, it does become true for a lot of people. The long-serving lawmaker, whos been censured by the Fremont County Republican Party for stances that depart from Wyoming Republican Party leadership, said that hes proud of Cheney for combating the misinformation and co-chairing the committee. There is right and wrong here, Case said. Im going to see it through to the end. Im staking my own reputation on it. So is Cheney, along with her job. Former five-term U.S. Sen. and Cody resident Al Simpson, another member of Cheneys leadership team, said he doesnt give a damn, even if she were polling 80 percentage points behind. The important thing, he said, is that Cheney is in the right. This is the worst thing thats ever happened to America. This destroys democracy, Simpson said of Trumps attempts to overturn the election. At some point in time, her words will go down in the books. At some point in time, [Trump] will be gone, and my Republican colleagues who are for him will be dishonored. In the meantime, Simpson isnt counting Cheney out. Theres still nearly two months to go until the Aug. 16 primary, and until then voters will learn more about Trumps role inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection. That information could change the equation for Cheney and her Trump-aligned challenger, he said. People in Wyoming are open-minded and closed-mouthed, Simpson said. Cheney spokesman Jeremy Adler declined an interview request for this story. So did the Hageman campaign. In an emailed statement, Adler said the committee expects to reveal many more facts that will provide a more complete picture of what happened leading up to Jan. 6 and on the day itself. Some Wyoming voters and politicos have already written the Jan. 6 committee off. There is clearly an agenda, and I say that because theyre not showing both sides, Lincoln County Republican Party Chairwoman Marti Halverson said. Its so choreographed I dont believe what Im seeing. Halverson, a former state representative, caught up with WyoFile last week at the Alpine Civic Center during a Donald Trump, Jr. visit to promote Hageman. A couple hundred Star Valley residents showed up on a Wednesday morning to attend, offering hearty applause in response to jabs directed at Cheney. Harriet will carry Lincoln County for sure, Halverson said, but Im not going to make any prediction as to by how much, because there are pockets of supporters of Representative Cheney. Just north in Teton County, where Cheney owns a home, Republican Party Chairwoman Mary Martin is keeping a neutral stance in the primary battle: Unlike Halverson, she didnt attend a Trump, Jr. event in Jackson the day prior. Among the Teton County GOP, there are two very distinct camps, she said. Some have been totally insulted with what she has said about the Republicans in the state of Wyoming, Martin said, and others will tell you shes the bravest person on the planet. Teton County conservatives reception of the Jan. 6 committee hearings is also evenly split, she said: Some are intently watching, while others think its a big propaganda advertisement for Cheneys political campaign. The dichotomy is tilted more toward skepticism in Sublette County, where nearly 80% of voters cast ballots to reelect Trump-Pence in the 2020 election. From the parking lot outside the Den at Daniel Junction, Cora rancher Pat Noble took a moment to share his views. Noble isnt one to watch TV he finds it too one-sided but has listened in on the committee hearings when he can over the radio. I try to get a well-rounded [presentation] of an issue before I base an opinion, Noble said, but its kind of hard to find it. As for the Jan. 6 events at the Capitol, Noble thought it was a shame it went that far, but he believes the insurrectionists cause was righteous and that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. He doesnt believe, from what hes heard listening to the committee hearings, that theyre giving the former president a fair shake. Theyre so head-bent on trying to get Donald Trump pinned on it, Noble said. Why are you focusing on that when theres so many things you can focus on? Of the 19 Sublette County residents WyoFile spoke with, only one openly stated that Joe Biden is the rightful president of the United States. Im a professional myself, so I trust the professionals on what they have to say, Pinedale resident Antolin Barraza said of the election results. Whether the outcome was what I wanted or not, Ill leave it up to them. Barraza, an engineer, voted for Trump. Like most of his fellow residents who agreed to talk, he was tuned out of the Jan. 6 committee hearings. In fact, he didnt even know they were happening. Almost irresponsibly, sometimes you dont pay attention to some of these things, Barraza said. Were too busy playing around in the mountains and living the life and enjoying whats around us. We have that privilege. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 A nonprofit government watchdog organization filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission last week against a brand new Wyoming-based limited liability company that made a $50,000 donation to a super PAC working to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney. The complaint alleges that Snow Goose LLCs donation to a pro-Harriet Hageman super PAC, Wyoming Values, is in violation of the straw donor rule, which prohibits companies and individuals from giving someone else money to make a political donation on their behalf. LLCs are legally allowed to donate to super PACs even if the true recipient of the cash is unknown, but Campaign Legal Center argues that because Snow Goose is so new and has little financial activity outside of this donation, it is in violation of the straw donor ban. In other words, they argue that the LLC was created for the sole purpose of a political donation to Wyoming Values. Basically [Snow Goose] has no activity, no commercial enterprise that would generate any income and no assets, said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal reform at Campaign Legal Center. Within 10 weeks of being organized its making a $50,000 contribution. This says to us that they didnt have the means to make a $50,0000 contribution until someone donated to it. And thats pretty much a textbook straw donor scheme. This complaint is another inflection point in the ongoing conversation about political donations from unknown but legal sources referred to as dark money in Wyoming and national politics. While Campaign Legal Center argues that it expressly violates the straw donor ban, others arent as convinced. Im not certain [the expenditure] was illegal. I think what happened might be legal, said Ken Chestek, a law professor at the University of Wyoming and the chair of Wyoming Promise, a cross-partisan group working to reduce the political influence of big money. If it was legal it should not be. Michael Beckel, the research director for Issue One, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that aims to increase public awareness of the campaign finance system, called it a violation of the spirit of the law. But the FEC has an inconsistent history of going after shadowy LLCs. We try to file complaints in any situation where we see straw donor schemes, Ghosh said. Whether the FEC moves forward or not isnt really the measure if we file or not. Super PACs are prohibited from donating money or communicating directly with political candidates and the complaint is not against Wyoming Values, but Snow Goose itself. Snow Goose was formed in December of 2021 and made a donation only a few weeks later, in February of this year. The party listed on the LLCs filing is a Jackson-based corporate lawyer, Matthew Kim-Miller, who often helps clients set up entities. Kim-Miller did not respond to the Star-Tribunes request for comment. Snow Goose also lists a virtual office address in Casper, meaning it does not have a physical location. Super PACs are defined in the fact that they can receive huge donations unlike campaign committees where donations have caps in the low thousands. Along with raising major sums of money, super PACs stand out in another way through them, its easy to conceal who and where the money is coming from. The single Snow Goose donation isnt a monumental donation when looking at the full picture. As of March 31, the end of the first fundraising quarter of 2022, Wyoming Values had raised just over $700,000 and had roughly $590,000 left in the bank. That said, $50,000 is in a three-way tie for the third largest donation to the super PAC so far. In the grand scheme of super PAC spending hundreds of thousands, $50,000 in and of itself might not sound like a lot, but I think this is a practice that is unfortunately very common, Ghosh said.Even if the donation isnt the biggest of the bunch, Ghosh and others say that dark money donations undermine voters ability to meaningfully participate in our election system. It dilutes the voice of ordinary people. It makes individual donors essentially powerless, Chestek said. These big donors can shout down the rest of us and we dont even know whos talking and thats very dangerous for democracy. Super PACS are an important, but new part of the dark money and big donor conversations in Wyoming politics t This complaint from Liz Cheneys liberal friends at CLC doesnt even allege any wrongdoing by our PAC. Wyoming Values has always fully complied with the law and will continue to do so, said James Blair, Strategist for Wyoming Values. When PACs and committees receive donations there are a few boxes donors need to check, like age and citizenship. But when it comes to LLCs and Super PACs, things get murkier. Theres nothing to verify, said Paul Kilgore, treasurer for Wyoming Values. Super PACs can accept LLC money. After Cheney voted to impeach Trump and continually criticized him, the former president sought a challenger and ended up selecting Hageman who entered the race on Sept. 9, 2021 with Trumps endorsement in tow. Since then, national interest groups have flocked to Wyoming in all sides of the race. In many respects, Wyomings 2022 House race is one of the most important in the nation as its being viewed as the ultimate referendum on Trump and his grip on the Republican Party. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the exhibit "vase with dragons among clouds" to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) HONG KONG, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), located in the West Kowloon Cultural District of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was inaugurated on June 22 and is scheduled to open to the public on July 2. More than 40,000 tickets were sold or reserved within eight hours on the first day of public sale, and all free visits on Wednesdays in July were fully booked. The HKPM, a new cultural landmark of Hong Kong, not only adds to cultural atmosphere in the city, but also provides a new site for local residents and visitors to learn about the development of Chinese civilization and culture. "This is a great gift from the motherland to Hong Kong," said Louis Ng, director of the HKPM. More than 900 pieces of treasures from the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing will be put on display at the opening exhibitions. From paintings and bronze wares to embroideries and ancient architectures, the exhibits span the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, covering all categories of the collection of the Palace Museum, including 166 pieces of first-class cultural relics of the country. This will be the largest and highest-level cultural heritage exhibitions of the Palace Museum outside of the mainland since its establishment in 1925. Preparatory work for the exhibitions began in 2018, with the Palace Museum fielding a team of leading experts and scholars, in collaboration with the curatorial team of the HKPM. "It is a great thing to display the pieces of cultural relics in Hong Kong, which reflects the central government's support to the development of Hong Kong's cultural undertakings," said Ng, adding that the exhibits from the Palace Museum will present a cultural feast to Hong Kong residents by telling them about the motherland's long history and splendid culture. The HKPM embodies the excellence of traditional Chinese culture, as can be seen from the design and construction of the building. The museum building is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The exterior walls are inlaid with 3,999 pieces of curved glazed tiles. The museum adopts the distinctive "Central Axis" concept, and traditional Chinese cultural elements such as red doors decorated with golden doornails are also presented. "Promoting traditional Chinese culture is one of our important tasks," said Betty Fung, chief executive officer of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, adding that it is also the original aspiration and mission of the establishment of the HKPM. She said the HKPM will actively push ahead with the publicity of the motherland's culture and history after its opening, enhancing Hong Kong residents' cultural confidence in the country, especially among youths. "When I was a child, I really wished that I could visit the magnificent palaces in Beijing," said Muk Ka-chun, a teacher at Pui Kiu Middle School in Hong Kong, adding that he looks forward to appreciating the cultural relics from Beijing's Palace Museum. He believes that a visit to the HKPM will enable Hong Kong youths to learn more about the time-honored history and rich civilization of the motherland, cultivate their cultural identity and confidence, and lay the foundation for them to become disseminators, inheritors and promoters of traditional Chinese culture. "I hope that I can bring my students to the museum once it opens," Muk said. Thirteen pieces of artifacts from the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, will also be exhibited in the HKPM after it opens. Ng believes that this reflects the rationale behind the establishment of the HKPM, which is not only to inherit and promote traditional Chinese culture, but also to promote cultural exchanges between the East and the West. Fung said that the HKPM will actively enhance cooperation with international museums, telling the world the stories of China, including the stories of Hong Kong. Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the exhibit "vase with flowers and poetic inscription" to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the exhibit "garlic-mouth bottle with dragon" to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the exhibit "Bodhidharma crossing the river" to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the exhibit "vase with dragons among floral scrolls" to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the exhibit "double-gourd-shaped vase with bats and ribbons" to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the chrysanthemum-shaped dishes to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the exhibit "headrest in the shape of a reclining boy" to be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2, with opening exhibitions jointly curated with the Palace Museum in Beijing. More than 900 treasures from the collection of the mainland's Palace Museum, including 166 first-class cultural relics of China, will be put on display on rotation at the opening exhibitions. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) The office of the Attorney General gave advice to the police during the criminal investigation into the Christian Chandler matter without any involvement, input or consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This was confirmed by DPP Roger Gaspard, SC, in an affidavit dated June 28, 2022, which was submitted to the High Court in a case arising out of an application for information from the DPP on this matter filed by social activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj, who was represented by former AG Anand Ramlogan, SC. The Prime Ministers shutdown of journalist Darren Bahaw at Saturdays news conference was misguided, based on factual errors, intemperate and unbefitting the leader of a democratic country. In a scene straight out of the Trump playbook for handling challenging media questions, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley shouted down the journalist as he attempted to question him about his due diligence prior to appointing Reginald Armour as Attorney General, saying I advise you, dont go any further. TEHRAN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian ambassador to Qatar said on Tuesday the country's negotiating team, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, has arrived in Doha for the resumption of the talks on the revival of the Iranian nuclear deal after a three-month pause. Hamidreza Dehghani made the remarks in a post on his Twitter account to welcome Bagheri Kani and his accompanying team to the Qatari capital, adding that "without any prejudgment and expressing unreal pessimism or optimism, I wish them success in accomplishing their important mission of safeguarding the interests of the great Iranian nation." Earlier on Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the nuclear negotiations will be held indirectly with the United States, and facilitated by the European Union (EU). The resumption of the talks was announced on Saturday at a joint televised press conference in Tehran by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and visiting EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell. Later in the day, in a post on his Instagram page, the Iranian top diplomat said the Islamic republic has never left the negotiating table and will continue the talks without giving up on the rights of the Iranian people. Amir-Abdollahian expressed hope that the United States would, this time, take "responsible and committed" measures "realistically and justly" in the path of the negotiations and reaching a final agreement, stressing that if the other sides demonstrate that they have the required will, Iran is determined to reach a "good, strong and lasting" agreement. Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015 accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on Tehran. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting Iran to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement in retaliation. The nuclear talks began in April 2021 in Vienna, but have been suspended since March over political differences between Tehran and Washington. SAN ANTONIO (AP) Desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America frantically sought word of their loved ones as authorities began the grim task Tuesday of identifying 51 people who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer without air conditioning in the sweltering Texas heat. It was the deadliest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico. The driver of the truck and two other people were arrested, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas told The Associated Press. He said the truck had passed through a Border Patrol checkpoint northeast of Laredo, Texas, on Interstate 35. He did not know if migrants were inside the truck when it cleared the checkpoint. Investigators traced the trucks registration to a residence in San Antonio and detained two men from Mexico for possession of weapons, according to criminal complaints filed by the U.S. attorneys office. The complaints did not make any specific allegations related to the deaths. The bodies were discovered Monday afternoon on the outskirts of San Antonio when a city worker heard a cry for help from the truck parked on a lonely back road and found the gruesome scene inside, police Chief William McManus said. Hours later, body bags lay spread on the ground. More than a dozen people their bodies hot to the touch were taken to hospitals, including four children. Most of the dead were males, he said. The death count was the highest ever from a smuggling attempt in the United States, according to Craig Larrabee, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio. This is a horror that surpasses anything weve experienced before, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. And its sadly a preventable tragedy. President Joe Biden called the deaths horrifying and heartbreaking. Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry, Biden said in a statement. Authorities did not know the home countries of all of the migrants, nor how long they were abandoned on the side of the road. By Tuesday afternoon, medical examiners had potentially identified 34 of the victims, but they were taking additional steps, such as fingerprints, to confirm the identities, said Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores. Among the dead, 27 are believed to be of Mexican origin based on documents they were carrying, according to said Ruben Minutti, Mexico consul general in San Antonio. Several survivors were in critical condition with injuries such as brain damage and internal bleeding, he said. At least seven of the dead were from Guatemala and two from Honduras, Roberto Velasco Alvarez, head of the North America department in Mexicos Foreign Relations Department, said on Twitter. About 30 people had reached out to the Mexican Consulate looking for loved ones, the officials said. Authorities confirmed that one of the surviving Mexicans from the trailer was Jose Luis Guzman Vasquez, 32, from San Miguel Huautla in the southern state of Oaxaca, according to Aida Ruiz Garcia, director of the Oaxacan Institute for Migrant Attention. He was dehydrated and receiving car at a San Antonio hospital, Mexico's foreign affairs said. A cousin, Alejandro Lopez, told Milenio television that the family worked in farming and construction and migrated because we dont have anything but weaving hats, palms and handicrafts. Attempts to cross the U.S. border from Mexico have claimed thousands of lives in both countries in recent decades. U.S. border authorities are stopping migrants more often on the southern border than at any time in at least two decades. Migrants were stopped nearly 240,000 times in May, up by one-third from a year ago. Comparisons to pre-pandemic levels are complicated because migrants expelled under a public health authority known as Title 42 face no legal consequences, encouraging repeat attempts. Authorities say 25% of encounters in May were with people who had been stopped at least once in the previous year. South Texas has long been the busiest area for illegal border crossings. U.S. authorities discover trucks with migrants inside pretty close to daily, Larrabee said. Migrants typically pay $8,000 to $10,000 to be taken across the border and loaded into a tractor-trailer and driven to San Antonio, where they transfer to smaller vehicles for their final destinations across the United States, he said. Conditions vary widely, including how much water passengers get and whether they are allowed to carry cellphones, Larrabee said. Authorities think the truck discovered Monday had mechanical problems when it was left next to a railroad track in an area of San Antonio surrounded by auto scrapyards that brush up against a busy freeway, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the top elected official in the county that includes San Antonio. San Antonio has been a recurring scene of tragedy and desperation in recent years involving migrants in semitrailers. Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck parked at a San Antonio Walmart. In 2003, the bodies of 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of the city. More than 50 migrants were found alive in a trailer in 2018, driven by a man who said he was to be paid $3,000 and was sentenced to more than five years in prison. Other tragedies have occurred long before migrants reached the U.S. In December, more than 50 died when a semitrailer rolled over on a highway in southern Mexico. In October, Mexican authorities reported finding 652 migrants packed into six trailers stopped at a military checkpoint near the border. Some of the 16 people taken to hospitals with heat-related illnesses remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical condition. Those taken to the hospital were hot to the touch and dehydrated, and no water was found in the trailer, said Fire Chief Charles Hood. They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion," Hood said. "It was a refrigerated tractor-trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig. Temperatures in San Antonio on Monday approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. Before that, people paid small fees to get across a largely unguarded border. As crossing became much more difficult after the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S., migrants were led through more perilous terrain and had to pay thousands of dollars. Some advocates drew a link to the Biden administrations border policies. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, wrote that he had been dreading such a tragedy for months. With the border shut as tightly as it is today for migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, people have been pushed into more and more dangerous routes, he wrote on Twitter. During a vigil held Tuesday evening in the rain at a San Antonio park, many of the more than 50 people who attended expressed sadness, frustration and anger at the deaths and what they described as a broken immigration system. I see this happen, and it didnt have to happen. If we had a better way for brown and Black people to enter safely, they wouldnt go through these desperate measures, said San Antonio resident Debbie Ponce. Migrants largely from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have been expelled more than 2 million times under the pandemic-era rule in effect since March 2020 that denies a chance to seek asylum. The Biden administration planned to end the policy, but a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the move in May. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 557 deaths on the Southwest border in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Most were related to heat exposure. Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press reporters Eric Gay in San Antonio, Acacia Coronado in Austin, Terry Wallace in Dallas and Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed during a fight on Tucsons west side early Sunday, Tucson police say. David Reyes was shot during a fight with a group of males shortly after 2 a.m. at a gathering in the 2400 block of North Jordan Drive, near West Grant and North Silverbell roads. Police said on Monday that first-responders tried to save Reyes but that the teen died soon after arriving at the hospital. Suspects in the shooting fled before police arrived. The investigation continues and there have been no arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME, the anonymous tipster line. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Aide: Trump dismissed Jan. 6 threats, wanted to join crowd WASHINGTON (AP) The latest testimony about the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has Donald Trump rebuffing his own securitys warnings about armed protesters in the crowd gathering for a rally near the White House. A former White House aide also tells the House committee investigating the attack that Trump desperately attempted to join his supporters as they marched to the Capitol. In her testimony Tuesday, Cassidy Hutchinson described an angry, defiant president who grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential SUV when the Secret Service refused to allow him go to the Capitol. Trump has dismissed her as a total phony. Trump painted in testimony as volatile, angry president WASHINGTON (AP) A former Trump White House aide has painted a portrait of a volatile commander-in-chief who lashed out at advisers as his grasp on power was extinguished. Though accounts of the former presidents temper are legion, Cassidy Hutchinson offered previously unknown details about the extent of Trumps rage in his final weeks of office, his awareness that supporters had weapons with them and his ambivalence as rioters later laid siege to the Capitol. The testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee deepened questions about whether Trump himself could face criminal charges for his conduct and came as Trump weighs running for reelection in 2024. 1/6 Takeaways: Angry Trump, dire legal warnings and ketchup The House Jan. 6 committee held a surprise hearing Tuesday delivering alarming new testimony about Donald Trumps actions that day. Witness Cassidy Hutchinson is a lesser-known former White House aide who had proximity to power as an adviser to the then-president and his chief of staff Mark Meadows. She rebuffed Trumps team warnings against testifying and provided firsthand knowledge of what she saw and heard in the run-up to the insurrection. She described an angry and defiant Trump who ignored repeated warnings against summoning the mob to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and then refused to intervene to stop the violence as rioters laid siege. Colorado GOP deals blow to election denial movement DENVER (AP) Colorado Republicans have rejected two prominent election deniers in primaries Tuesday night. It's a setback for the movement to install backers of former President Donald Trump's election lies in positions with power over voting. Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters lost the Republican primary for secretary of state to Pam Anderson, a former clerk in suburban Denver. Peters was indicted for her role in a break-in of her county's election system. An ally, State Rep. Ron Hanks, lost his bid for the GOP Senate nomination. Hanks attended the Jan. 6 protests. He was beaten by businessman Joe O'Dea, a rare GOP backer of some abortion rights. Takeaways from first primaries since Roe v. Wade overturned NEW YORK (AP) A rare Republican who supports abortion rights found success in Colorado in the first primary elections held since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, New Yorks first female governor positioned herself to become a major voice in the post-Roe landscape. In Illinois, Democrats helped boost a Republican gubernatorial candidate loyal to former President Donald Trump in the hopes that he would be the easier candidate to beat in November. And in at least two states, election deniers were defeated, even as pro-Trump lightning rods elsewhere won. 51 migrants die after trailer abandoned in San Antonio heat SAN ANTONIO (AP) Desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America are seeking word of their loved ones as authorities begin identifying 51 people who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer without air conditioning in the sweltering Texas heat. It was the deadliest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas told The Associated Press that the driver of the truck and two other people were arrested. The bodies were discovered Monday afternoon on the outskirts of San Antonio when a city worker heard a cry for help from a truck parked on a lonely back road. Ukrainian survivor: Only a 'monster' would attack a mall KREMENCHUK, Ukraine (AP) The shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was nothing extraordinary, but in the middle of war it offered an escape for some residents. In a few moments on Monday, it suddenly became a hellish inferno after it was hit by a Russian airstrike. Authorities say at least 18 people are dead, more than 20 are missing and scores are wounded. The Kremenchuk mall is now the latest addition to the allegations of war crimes levied against Russia in the Ukraine war. One mall employee who said he had stepped outside for a cigarette when the air raid siren went off estimated 1,000 people had been in the mall, contradicting Russias claim it was empty. Turkey lifts its objections to Sweden, Finland joining NATO MADRID (AP) Turkey has agreed to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders summit in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent talks, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Russias invasion of Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had blocked the move, insisting the Nordic pair change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told the AP that the membership should be completed the sooner the better. Drug killings leave agony, savage facet to Duterte's legacy MANILA, Philippines (AP) The thousands of killings under Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes campaign against illegal drugs have left families in agony and a savage side to his legacy. Duterte ends his turbulent six-year presidency Thursday after building a reputation for expletives-laced outbursts and a disdain for human rights and the West. He's seen as a human rights calamity not only for the deaths in his drug crackdown, but also for his brazen attacks on critical media, the Catholic church and his political opponents. He's still an endearing, popular character to many Filipinos, however, and state-run TV has been highlighting infrastructure and poverty-alleviating projects of his administration. But in the homes of those lost in the drug war, an air of indignation and mourning permeates. EXPLAINER: Abortion, tech and surveillance With abortion now or soon to be illegal in over a dozen states and severely restricted in many more, Big Tech companies that vacuum up personal details of their users are facing new calls to limit that tracking and surveillance. One fear is that law enforcement or vigilantes could use data troves from Facebook, Google and other social platforms against people seeking ways to end unwanted pregnancies. History has repeatedly demonstrated that whenever peoples personal data is tracked and stored, theres always a risk that it could be misused or abused. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. MADRID, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkey changed its position and agreed to support Sweden and Finland's NATO membership applications on Tuesday during the ongoing NATO Summit in Madrid, while conflicts within the military bloc still remain. After an extended meeting among leaders from the three countries together with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday afternoon, a trilateral memorandum addressing Turkey's security concerns was agreed and signed, paving the way for the two Nordic states' NATO membership applications. "I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that enables Sweden and Finland's membership in NATO," said Stoltenberg at a press conference on Tuesday night, explaining that the deal includes agreements on arms exports and a joint fight against terrorism. "This will strengthen NATO, and it will also strengthen Sweden and Finland", said Stoltenberg, adding that now is the time for the 30 different parliaments to make a decision. According to NATO, all 30 members must approve a country's bid for it to be accepted into the alliance. Although several NATO countries have already approved the two Nordic states' bid in mid-May to join the military alliance, the process has proven not to be as straightforward, as Turkey soon raised objections, citing Swedish and Finnish ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Syria's Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) Turkey labels as terrorist groups. Ankara has also voiced dissatisfaction with the Swedish arms embargo on Turkey. Rounds of talks have been held in the past weeks at both Ankara and NATO headquarters in Brussels which aimed to resolve differences among the two Nordic states and Turkey. Despite Turkey's green light on Tuesday, the NATO head admitted that conflicts within the military bloc still remain. "There will still be conflicts within the defense alliance, but we have shown the strength of our alliance ..." Stoltenberg concluded. NEW YORK (AP) Ghislaine Maxwell, the jet-setting socialite who once consorted with royals, presidents and billionaires, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The stiff sentence was the punctuation mark on a trial that explored the sordid rituals of a predator power couple who courted the rich and famous as they lured vulnerable girls as young as 14, and then exploited them. Prosecutors said Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, and couldn't have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion and onetime girlfriend who they said sometimes also participated in the abuse. In December, a jury convicted Maxwell of sex trafficking, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts and two conspiracy charges. U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who also imposed a $750,000 fine, said "a very significant sentence is necessary" and that she wanted to send an "unmistakable message" that these kinds of crimes would be punished. Prosecutors had asked the judge to give her 30 to 55 years in prison, while the 60-year-old Maxwell's defense sought a lenient sentence of just five years. Maxwell, wearing a blue prison uniform and a white mask to conform with coronavirus rules, looked to one side as the sentence was announced, but otherwise did not react. "We will continue to live with the harm she caused us," said Annie Farmer, one of the four accusers who testified against Maxwell at trial, inside the courtroom before the sentencing. When she had a chance to speak, Maxwell said she empathized with the survivors and that it was her "greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein." Maxwell called him "a manipulative, cunning and controlling man who lived a profoundly compartmentalized life," echoing her defense attorneys' assertions that Epstein was the true mastermind. Maxwell, who denies abusing anyone, said she hoped that her conviction and her "unusual incarceration" bring some "measure of peace and finality." Nathan refused to let Maxwell escape culpability, making clear that Maxwell was being punished for her own actions, not Epstein's. She called the crimes "heinous and predatory" and said Maxwell as a sophisticated adult woman provided the veneer of safety as she "normalized" sexual abuse through her involvement, encouragement and instruction. Several survivors described their sexual abuse, including Farmer, who said her sister and herself tried to go public with their stories about Epstein and Maxwell two decades ago, only to be shut down by the powerful couple through threats and influence with authorities. Inside the crowded courtroom, three of Maxwell's siblings sat in a row behind her. Most of the others in attendance were members of the media. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe recounted how Maxwell subjected girls to "horrifying nightmares" by taking them to Epstein. "They were partners in crime together and they molested these kids together," she said, calling Maxwell "a person who was indifferent to the suffering of other human beings." Epstein and Maxwell's associations with some of the world's most famous people were not a prominent part of the trial, but mentions of friends like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Britain's Prince Andrew showed how the pair exploited their connections to impress their prey. Over the past 17 years, scores of women have accused Epstein of abuse them, with many describing Maxwell as the madam who recruited them. The trial, though, revolved around allegations from only a handful of those women. Four testified that they were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein's mansions in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Three were identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, an ex-model from the U.K.; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Farmer, the sole accuser to identify herself in court by her real name, after speaking out publicly. They described how Maxwell charmed them with conversation and gifts and promises that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to help fulfill their dreams. Then, they testified, she led them to give massages to Epstein that turned sexual and played it off as normal. Carolyn testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epstein's Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to massage him in exchange for $100 bills in what prosecutors described as "a pyramid of abuse." Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. The allegations against Epstein first surfaced publicly in 2005. He pleaded guilty to sex charges in Florida and served 13 months in jail, much of it in a work-release program as part of a deal criticized as lenient. Afterward, he was required to register as a sex offender. In the years that followed, many women sued Epstein over alleged abuse. One, Virginia Giuffre, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had also pressured her into sexual trysts with other powerful men, including Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations and Giuffre ultimately settled a lawsuit against Andrew out of court. Federal prosecutors in New York revived the case against Epstein after stories by the Miami Herald in 2018 brought new attention to his crimes. He was arrested in 2019, but killed himself a month later. Eleven months after his death, Maxwell was arrested at a New Hampshire estate. A U.S., British and French citizen, she has remained in a federal jail in New York City since then as her lawyers repeatedly criticize her treatment, saying she was even unjustly placed under suicide watch days before sentencing. Prosecutors say the claims about the jail are exaggerated and that Maxwell has been treated better than other prisoners. Her lawyers also fought to have her conviction tossed on the grounds of juror misconduct. Days after the verdict, one juror gave media interviews in which he disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child something he hadn't told the court during jury selection. Maxwell's lawyers said she deserved a new trial. A judge disagreed. At least eight women submitted letters to the judge, describing the sexual abuse they said they endured for having met Maxwell and Epstein. Six of Maxwell's seven living siblings wrote to plead for leniency. Maxwell's fellow inmate also submitted a letter describing how Maxwell has helped to educate other inmates over the last two years. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. WASHINGTON (AP) Drowned in the Rio Grande. Murdered in Mexico. Perished in the Arizona desert. For migrants traveling to the United States, the journey has always been full of peril. A tragic reminder came this week when at least 51 people died after being abandoned in the back of a tractor-trailer in sweltering San Antonio. Authorities believe the vehicle was part of a human-smuggling operation. While the scale of the calamity was shocking, it's only the most recent example to illustrate how U.S. officials have struggled to find the right strategy for patrolling the border and preventing deaths. Lax enforcement can encourage more people to travel north in hopes of a better life. But clamping down is not always a deterrent. Instead, migrants may rely on riskier routes to avoid detection, or put themselves in the hands of smugglers who promise that they can evade authorities for a price. The San Antonio tragedy triggered familiar reactions across the U.S. political spectrum, indicating that a solemn record as the deadliest smuggling attempt in the nations history will do little or nothing to reshape a debate that has hamstrung Washington for decades. Finger-pointing began almost immediately. President Joe Biden, in Europe this week for international summits, said the deaths were "horrifying and heartbreaking." Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry, Biden said. The migrants were discovered on Monday when a city worker heard a cry for help from the abandoned truck that was parked on the side of a back road. Dozens were already dead; more died at nearby hospitals. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who is investing billions of dollars of state money on border security, tweeted within hours of the grisly discovery that the deaths were on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law," Abbott said. Immigration advocates disagreed with Abbott's criticism and said Biden was too focused on enforcement. A federal judge has kept in place a Trump-era policy that denies many migrants a chance to seek asylum on grounds of preventing spread of COVID-19. If the Biden administration continues to illegally turn away migrants and deny their chance to rightfully seek asylum, individuals and families escaping persecution, war, and climate disasters will continue to face violence and death, advocacy group RAICES Texas said in a statement. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden was flying between summits in Germany and Spain that the administration was focused on the victims and holding human smugglers accountable. The fact of the matter is, the border is closed, which is in part why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks, she said. The U.N. migration agency has reported that nearly 3,000 people went missing or died trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States since 2014. The San Antonio tragedy pushed the total to nearly 300 for the first half of this year. The International Organization for Migration, along with the U.N. refugee agency, called for a swift investigation. Without sufficient pathways to safety, vulnerable and desperate people will continue to be preyed upon by smugglers or forced to resort to desperate measures to cross borders," said Matthew Reynolds, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees' representative to the United States and Caribbean. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which counts deaths differently, reported 557 people perished on the southwest border in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Deaths became commonplace on the border after Operation Gatekeeper, launched in 1994, pushed migrant traffic to the Arizona deserts from San Diego. Despite billions of dollars spent every year on border security since then, neither Republican or Democratic administrations have been able to stem the loss of life. Migrants routinely take risks to cross into the United States. Jose Castillo, 43, left Nicaragua with his wife and 14-year-old son in January but didnt cross the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, until May, paralyzed with fear that they would drown. He and his wife finally decided that one of them could die, as long as their child made it safely. They took a chance and it worked. We can never return to Nicaragua, he said. Under Trump and Biden, Border Patrol agents have been stretched extremely thin because they spend long stretches of time processing cases for immigration court. Such responsibilities take them out of the field, making it easier for people to cross undetected. The Border Patrol recently began releasing tens of thousands of migrants on parole in hopes of freeing up more agents to be in the field to try to stop migrants. The number of people found crossing the border illegally is at or near the highest in about two decades. Decisions to migrate are complex, but it could be that many people are getting through undetected and encouraging others to come. Migrants who succeed sometimes tell their stories to family and friends back home, encouraging them to follow. At the same time, Title 42 has encouraged repeat attempts to cross the border because there are no legal consequences, such as criminal charges or records of deportation, for getting caught. Many people cross several times until they succeed. Its unclear whether any of the migrants who died in San Antonio had previously been expelled. Isis Pena, 45, fled Honduras with a friend, who urged her to cross the border illegally. Pena refused but began to regret her decision after the friend soon called from San Antonio to say she made it easily and U.S. authorities didnt even ask her any questions before getting released. The next day, Pena tried to cross. Although she made it across the river, she was expelled to Mexico under Title 42 authority. Spagat reported from San Diego. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A man acquitted by reason of insanity of murder in the 2013 stabbing death of his father in Austin has escaped from a state hospital to which he was committed, authorities said Monday. Staff at the North Texas State Hospital in Vernon, near the Oklahoma border and 190 miles (306 kilometers) northwest of Dallas, advised police that Alexander Scott Ervin, 29, was found missing from the hospital shortly after 7:30 a.m. Monday, the Vernon Police Department reported. A review of the hospitals security video revealed that Ervin left his dormitory room about 9 p.m. Sunday and scaled the hospitals 8-foot security fence before heading north on foot about 9:15 p.m. Ervin was to be considered armed and dangerous, police said. A Travis County jury in 2014 found Ervin, who is autistic, not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in Ray Scott Ervins death. Police and emergency medical personnel dispatched to the Ervins' home in west Austin found the suspect calm and quiet by scratched, beaten and covered in blood, the Austin American-Statesman reported. His brother, Maxwell Ervin, testified that his brother attacked their father with a pipe wrench and a folding knife, alleging that Ray Ervin was an imposter. Alexander Ervin claimed to be a trained member of the CIA on a mission to kill his father, Maxwell Ervin testified. Jurors deliberated for about 10 hours before acquitting the defendant. As recently as this April, a magistrate ordered Alexander Ervin's commitment to continue at a state mental hospital. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Bond has been set for Tiger King star Bhagavan Doc Antle on charges he laundered more than half a million dollars, money federal prosecutors have said that he believed to be the proceeds of an operation to smuggle people across the Mexican border into the United States. A federal judge in Florence, South Carolina, on Monday set a $250,000 secured bond for Antle, who was still listed as being held in jail as of Monday evening. Federal prosecutors said it would take a day to process his release, after which Antle will be confined to his 50-acre (20-hectare) wildlife tropical preserve in Socastee, outside Myrtle Beach. Prosecutors had argued in court filings that Antle should remain in custody prior to his trial because he is a flight risk, noting his significant financial resources and contacts that know how to make false identification documents." Arguing for his release, Antle's attorneys said the 62-year-old has no prior convictions and suffers from an irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure, which can exacerbate the symptoms of COVID-19 should Antle contract the disease while he is incarcerated. Charges against Antle and Andrew Jon Sawyer, one of Antles employees at Myrtle Beach Safari, were revealed during a federal court hearing earlier this month. According to federal prosecutors, Antle and Sawyer laundered $505,000 over a four-month period by doling out checks from businesses they controlled, receiving a 15% fee of the money that passed through their hands. The checks, prosecutors allege, falsely purported to be payment for construction work at Myrtle Beach Safari but were in reality intended to serve as evidence that the recipients had legitimate income. According to a federal complaint, Antle discussed his plan to conceal the cash he received by inflating tourist numbers at his wildlife preserve. Prosecutors also said he had previously used bulk cash receipts to purchase animals for which he could not use checks. According to authorities, Antle and Sawyer each face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Sawyer was released earlier this month on $100,000 bond, according to court records. Antle is featured prominently in Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, a 2020 Netflix documentary miniseries that focused on tiger breeders and private zoo operators in the U.S. The series focused heavily on Oklahoma zoo operator Joe Exotic, who also was targeted for animal mistreatment and was convicted in a plot to kill a rival, Carole Baskin. Animal rights advocates have accused Antle of mistreating lions and other wildlife. He faces multiple charges in Virginia, including animal cruelty, wildlife trafficking and 13 misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act. Federal prosecutors said Antle was on bond for those state charges when he committed his alleged crimes in South Carolina. In May, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked the IRS to probe Antles Rare Species Fund, a nonprofit raising money for wildlife conservation. PETA alleges he uses some of the funds money to subsidize his safari site. In a statement Monday, Michelle Sinnott, associate director of PETA's Captive Animal Law Enforcement Division, said that a federal agent who testified at Antle's detention hearing made it clear that additional federal charges are expected within the month. Antle has a history of recorded violations, going as far back as 1989, when he was fined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for abandoning deer and peacocks at his zoo in Virginia. Over the years, he has had more than 35 USDA violations for mistreating animals. Meg Kinnard can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. PHOENIX A planned mine at Oak Flat does not interfere with the ability of Native Americans to practice their religion, a federal appeals court has ruled. In an extensive opinion, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged that the plans by Resolution Copper to build the mine on property that is being conveyed by the federal government would affect the ability of members of the Apache Tribe to perform religious services on the site. And they said it might even keep tribal members off the land. But Judge Carlos Bea, writing for the 2-1 majority, said none of that violates the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act because it does not interfere with their right to practice their religion. And that means Apache Stronghold, a nonprofit formed to preserve and protect American Indian sacred sites, has no legal basis for its lawsuit, he said. The decision by the court to not immediately enjoin mine construction drew a dissent from Judge Marsha Berzon. She said her colleagues were imposing an overly restrictive test for determining the key issue in the case: whether the project imposes a substantial burden on religious exercise. In 2014 Congress directed the Secretary of Agriculture to convey 2,422 acres of federal land, including Oak Flat, to Resolution Copper in exchange for 5,344 acres of Arizona land owned by the company. While Resolution would not need to dig a mine on the surface, court records show the land over the mine eventually would subside, profoundly and permanently altering the landscape. There were some provisions put into the deal, including that there could be no mining on Apache Leap, with the goal of preserving the areas natural character and cultural and archeological resources and protecting the traditional uses of the area by Native American people. Apache Stronghold sued, arguing it would interfere with religious services, like a Sunrise Dance held on Oak Flat which the tribe calls Chichil Bildagoteel in 2014. And that, its attorneys argued, violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. That law says the federal government may not substantially burden a persons sincere exercise of religion unless than burden is both in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and that it is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. And in this case, Apache Stronghold argued that the mine would make it impossible to have religious exercise on Oak Flat, substantially burdening its members. Bea, however, said even if that is true, it does not violate the federal law. Under RFRA, the government imposes a substantial burden on religion in two and only two circumstances: when the government forces individuals to choose between following the tenets of their religion and receiving a government benefit, and when the government coerces individuals to act contrary to their religious beliefs by threat of civil or criminal sanctions, he wrote. The first prong does not apply, Bea said, because the transfer of the property does not deny anyone any government benefits. The land exchanges incidental effects on the religious exercise of Apache Strongholds members, as significant as they may be to the Apache, may make it more difficult for them to practice their religion, he said. But Bea said it will have no tendency to coerce the Apache into acting contrary to their religious beliefs. In fact, the judge said, that would be true even if the land exchange makes worship on Oak Flat impossible. The government makes exercises of religion more difficult all the time, Bea said. Doing so is not inherently coercive, he said The land exchange does not coerce the Apache to abandon their religion by threatening them with a negative outcome. The majority was no more sympathetic to arguments that the land exchange does in fact deprive its members of a benefit and subjects them to a penalty: They can no longer access government land for religious exercise and would subject to penalties for trespassing on private land. But here, too, Bea said the government does not substantially burden religion every time it ends a government benefit that at one time went to religious beneficiaries. There must be an element of coercion: the government must condition the benefit upon conduct that would violate sincerely held religious beliefs, he said. And that, said Bea, is not occurring here. The land exchange just incidentally keeps everybody Apache Strongholds members included from using Oak Flat, he said. And Bea also said that Apache Stronghold has not shown a sufficiently realistic fear of future criminal liability or even that Resolution Copper might bring civil trespassing charges. The ruling ignores the role of the site, said Wendeler Nosie Sr., founder of Apache Stronghold. Oak Flat is like Mount Sinai to us, our most sacred site where we connect with our Creator, our faith and our families, he said in a prepared statement. It is a place of healing that has been sacred to us since long before Europeans arrived on this continent. The ruling, unless overturned threatens people of all faiths, said Luke Goodrich, senior counsel at Becket, which represents plaintiffs in religious law cases. An appeal will go to the Supreme Court. Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on Twitter at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. CONCORD, N.C. (AP) Body-camera footage shows a North Carolina police officer shoot an unarmed man five times after a chase, pause to call dispatch, and then shoot him again, attorneys for the dead man's mother said Tuesday. Attorneys for Brandon Combs' mother, Virginia Tayara, said they were in utter disbelief after being shown the video of the February shooting last week, news outlets reported. The attorneys called on officials to release the footage to the public and charge the officer involved. Concord police had initially described the shooting as resulting from a physical confrontation at a car dealership where Combs, a 29-year-old white man, was trying to steal a truck. But Tayara's attorneys say the footage shows that no struggle ever occurred between Combs and Officer Timothy Larson before the officer opened fire. Instead, they said it shows a short foot chase that ended when Combs got into the drivers seat of Larsons police SUV. They said the officers shot Combs five times, called dispatch and then shot him again. They did not specify how much time elapsed between the fifth and sixth shots. A spokesperson for the Concord Police Department didn't immediately return a phone call or respond to an email seeking comment on Tuesday. He murdered him. He shot him in cold blood. I just want the officer held accountable and I want the city of Concord to make some changes to the way they do business, Tayara said. Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels told The Charlotte Observer that it was one of the worst police-shooting videos he has ever seen and that Combs death hasnt gotten the attention it deserves because police presented the shooting as an open-and-shut case. We didnt know anything until we saw (the video). We watched it in utter disbelief, Daniels said. The most disturbing thing is not the unjustified use of deadly force, but that (Larson) paused and then used deadly force again. The first five shots were bad enough. The last shot was overkill, man. It was overkill. I cant make sense of it. Daniels and the other attorneys representing Combs family called on Cabarrus County District Attorney Roxann Vaneekhoven to charge Larson with a crime or take the case before a grand jury for a possible indictment. The State Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the shooting, sent findings to Vaneekhoven earlier this month, according to SBI spokesperson Anjanette Grube. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Charlotte Observer. Charles Page High School graduate Jazmin Lopez Gonzalez doesnt know exactly what she wants to major in at Oklahoma State University in the fall, but thanks to a scholarship from the Hispanic American Foundation of Tulsa and the Lou and Connie Miller Foundation, paying for her college degree will be a little less of a burden. Lopez received a $3,000 onetime gift that can be used throughout her college years for any expenses she faces. She is one of 17 local-area high school and college students awarded scholarships totaling $60,000, according to the Hispanic American Foundation of Tulsa. I was so excited when I found out that I was one of the recipients, Lopez said last week. As for that college major, I have two things in mind right now, she said. The first is management for business sustainability, which Lopez said is about working with companies and corporations to make sure theyre being environmentally friendly and helping them figure out ways to do that. And those companies increasingly are seeing their environmental report cards influence their bottom lines. If theyre not as conscious about our world, then they (their customers) are not going to want to buy from them, Lopez said. She said she would like to work for a corporation because theyre the ones who least care about the environment. Another possibility for her major landscape architecture has some similarities. Its trying to combine human interactions with nature, and I think thats a big thing in the future, Lopez, 19, said. We cant fight against nature. We have to work with nature. Lopezs love of the natural world comes both through her family and through school. Her parents were born in the Mexican state of Jalisco, and her grandmother still lives in Jaliscos capital city, Guadalajara, a generally tropical area with a burgeoning environmental focus. Through Charles Page High School, I did cross-country in track, and cross-country just really helped me to appreciate nature, said Lopez, who moved with her family to Sand Springs when she was in the second grade. Even when it was, like, 100 degrees outside, it was just so beautiful. I got very tired of being indoors at seventh hour, she said. Lopez said she sometimes struggled with the fact that there are not a lot of Hispanic students at Charles Page because there wasnt really a community. But shes hopeful that things are changing. She said the scholarship from the Hispanic American Foundation is a great opportunity for immigrants, and it really brings hope to the Hispanic community, particularly girls. I know our minority population in Sand Springs is growing, Lopez said, but I want them to know there are opportunities, and you just have to take advantage of them and reach out for them, because you never know if you never try. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DOVER, Del. (AP) The chief investigator in the criminal corruption case against Delaware State Auditor Kathy McGuiness tried repeatedly under cross-examination Monday to deflect responsibility for false statements he made in a search warrant affidavit and which were later reiterated in an indictment. The testimony by Frank Robinson involved allegations that McGuiness orchestrated a no-bid communications services contract for My Campaign Group, a firm she had used as a campaign consultant when running for lieutenant governor in 2016, then deliberately kept the contract payments under $5,000 to avoid having to get them approved by the Division of Accounting. Robinson told a judge in a sworn affidavit in the fall of 2021 that payments to My Campaign Group were split in August 2020, and again in September 2020, to keep them under $5,000, the threshold at which payments by state agencies require approval from the Division of Accounting. In fact, before swearing to the truth of those statements, Robinson and lawyers in the attorney generals office had seen a Division of Accounting spreadsheet about two months earlier indicating that the contractor received only one payment each month, both above $5,000 and both approved by the Division of Accounting. Robinson also stated in the affidavit that the contract with My Campaign Group was the only no-bid contract of at least $45,000 entered into by McGuiness office in which all payments were made below the $5,000 reporting threshold. Under cross-examination by defense attorney Steve Wood, Robinson admitted, as he had done at an earlier evidence suppression hearing, that those prior statements were false. I have to admit that our understanding at the time was not accurate, Robinson said, adding that it would have been good to call the director of the Division of Accounting and seek clarification before making the assertions contained in the search warrant affidavit. Wood suggested that the reason Robinson didnt make that call was because he already had a theory that McGuiness was splitting payments in order to avoid scrutiny of the contract payments, and that the spreadsheet was ignored because it didnt fit that theory. While admitting that the statements were false, Robinson said they were not intentionally false. He also tried to deflect responsibility by noting repeatedly that he was part of an investigative team. That team consisted of Robinson who has more than two decades of experience as a police officer and as chief special investigator for Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust and attorneys associated with the division. I cant speak to the thought process, Robinson said when asked why statements were made in the search warrant affidavit that were contrary to what was contained in the accounting spreadsheet. Under earlier questioning by prosecutor Mark Denney, Robinson denied that he intentionally misled the court in obtaining a search warrant. He said he had misread the spreadsheet, confusing line splits with payments, and that other members of the investigate team were operating under that same misunderstanding. Robinson also testified that, after several employees in her office began talking to the attorney generals office about concerns they had with her conduct, McGuiness in December 2020 asked state information technology officials whether anyone other than her had requested access to email accounts of anyone in the auditors office since January 2019. Officials determined that, as an agency head, McGuiness would already be aware of email monitoring requests that were not otherwise confidential, and she would not be entitled to any information about confidential requests. McGuiness, a Democrat elected in 2018, is responsible as state auditor for rooting out government fraud, waste and abuse. She is being tried on felony counts of theft and witness intimidation, and misdemeanor charges of official misconduct, conflict of interest and noncompliance with procurement laws. McGuiness is the first statewide elected official in Delaware to face criminal prosecution while in office. Prosecutors allege, among other things, that the way McGuiness' office handled payments for My Campaign Group was a deliberate attempt to avoid regulatory scrutiny and amounts to illegal financial structuring of a contract. Prosecutors also allege that McGuiness hired her daughter and her daughters best friend as temporary employees in 2020, even though other temporary employees had left because of the lack of available work amid the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities allege that in hiring her daughter and exercising control over taxpayer money with which she was paid, McGuiness engaged in theft of state money and conflict of interest. Authorities also allege that when employees in her office became aware of McGuiness misconduct, she responded by trying to intimidate the whistleblowers, including monitoring their email accounts. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Voting precinct boundaries and polling stations may have changed. Many Tulsa County residents might find different information on newly distributed voter registration cards whether it be a precinct number, a polling location or a legislative district even if they havent moved in the past decade. To view the specific sample ballot for your election precinct, go to the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Voters' actual ballots will differ depending on their party affiliation and where they live (which dictates which candidates will appear on the ballot). To find your precinct and view a sample ballot, go to the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Previews of state and local races Meet the three Republicans challenging Gov. Kevin Stitt in the primary race for governor: Joel Kintsel, Mark Sherwood and Moira McCabe. In the Democratic primary for governor, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister (who recently swapped parties) and will challenge former state Sen. Connie Johnson. Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond is making his second attempt for the office, running against Tulsa attorney John OConnor, who is seeking his first full term in the office. The winner will face a Libertarian in the general election. The primary races for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. James Lankford have several candidates of both parties vying for the seat in Congress. Republicans John Cox, William Crozier, April Grace and Ryan Walters are on the state superintendent primary ballot, with the winner to face off with Democrat Jena Nelson. Republican voters in southeast Tulsas House District 79 will choose among two former local politicians and a retired engineer to challenge incumbent Democrat Melissa Provenzano. House District 76 incumbent Ross Ford will face off against Flippo Insurance agency partner Timothy Brooks on June 28 in the Republican race to represent parts of Broken Arrow and Tulsa. A former mayor, a business owner, a nurse and a former medical sales worker are competing for the House District 66 Republican nomination to represent the district in Osage County and northwestern Tulsa County. With Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, term-limited and now running for Congress, the race for Senate District 2 will come down to one of four Republicans from Claremore up against Democrat Jennifer A. Esau in November. House District 24 incumbent Logan Phillips faces Air Force veteran Chris Banning and Metropolitan Environmental Trusts Executive Director Bobby Schultz in the Republican primary to represent parts of Beggs, Bixby, Glenpool, Jenks, Liberty, Mounds, Sapulpa and Winchester. State Sen. John Haste, a vice president for a home furnishings company, is seeking a second term in Senate District 36. His opponent David Dambroso, 34, is a consultant, also from Broken Arrow. Previewing down-ballot state offices Other statewide offices besides the governor's race may be contested just as fiercely, usually with less money and more difficult explanations of what it is they do. Besides governor, Oklahoma elects 10 statewide officials: lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor and inspector, superintendent of public instruction, treasurer, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner, and three corporation commissioners. Another election cycle shows 'party switching' in Oklahoma holds little sway Every recent election cycle brings speculation that frustrated Democrats (or independents) in large numbers are migrating to the Republican Party in order to influence the GOP primary. With every election cycle comes scant evidence that that has happened. Far more Democrats switch to GOP than vice versa, and though it's hard to say why, "if you want a vote that matters, that's probably in the (Republican) primary," an OU political science professor says. Featured news video: Epic Charter School co-founders face criminal charges ADDIS ABABA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Urgent international funding is needed to assist communities in the Horn of Africa (HOA) experiencing the worst drought in 40 years and avert a major humanitarian crisis in the coming months, Concern Worldwide, an international campaigner, has warned. More than 23 million people are currently in need of humanitarian support in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan and South Sudan, after four failed rainy seasons over the last two years, Concern Worldwide said in a statement issued late Monday. "Worryingly, early forecasts indicate that the main rainy season this October-December will also fail," it said, adding that an estimated number of 5 million children in the region are malnourished, with 1.6 million experiencing severe malnutrition, putting their lives at risk. During the drought of 2011 in the region, 13 million people needed humanitarian support, in a famine which resulted in 260,000 deaths in Somalia. Currently, there are 17 million people in need of humanitarian support in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia -- and this figure is expected to rise to 20 million by September, according to the organization. On Monday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations appealed for 172 million U.S. dollars in assistance to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the Horn of Africa region. FAO, in a press release statement, said it needs 219 million U.S. dollars to prevent a deterioration of food security conditions in the region, but only 47 million U.S. dollars of the needed funds have been mobilized so far. It highlighted the funds appeal is, in particular, focused on four drought epicenters in the region that are Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Drought conditions, particularly across many parts of the Horn of Africa region, are crippling food production, depleting pastures, disrupting markets, and even causing widespread human and animal deaths, according to the United Nations. SAND SPRINGS Barbara Jackson was a little perplexed when she got a text message from someone wanting to buy her property. The white, single-story house that sits on the south side of Oklahoma 51 just half a mile west of Oklahoma 97 has been uninhabitable since May 2019, when it was inundated with floodwaters that rose nearly to the ceiling. The house had 7 feet of water in it, Jackson said. It was already sitting 3 feet off the ground, and the water was 7 feet high inside. Jackson ignored the text message. She didnt know at the time that the communication was only the first attempt to cheat her out of her rightful buyout offer from Tulsa County Although Jackson, 78, had lived her entire life before the 2019 flood on the acre-plus property land that has been her familys for about 95 years it was only partly sentimentality that made her so dismissive of the possible offer. She just couldnt imagine it would be worth anything to anyone else. About a half-mile west of Jacksons place is the Meadow Valley subdivision, and a little farther west of there, across the highway to the north, is the Town and Country Addition. Flooding woes along that section of Oklahoma 51 are no secret. Even so, two floods stand out above all the others. In my lifetime, there was only two the one in 86 and 2019, Jackson said. And 2019 was worse because it contaminated the land, she said, referring to the waste from septic tanks and other debris that washed eastward toward her place from other area homes. After that, the city said the only way to live there was to elevate the house 8 feet off the ground. I was angry very angry. Because it made no sense to me to elevate it that high at my age, she said, imagining out loud the elevator shed need just to get in her house. Although an elevator was never in the plan, Jackson had recently done some work on the house before that May 2019 flood. I had retired and remodeled the inside of the house, she said. I had paid off my car and truck and was getting ready to enjoy retirement. But in the flood, I lost my house and lost my truck. It was just devastating, she said. Jackson lived with a couple from her church for three months before moving into a house in Sapulpa. Its the same house where, one day recently, she looked out to see a man peering over her gate and looking around her yard. She asked him how she could help him, and he said he had been told that she owned the property along Oklahoma 51. He also claimed to know that the house was worth only about $9,000. He said the county was going to offer her only about $7,000 through a buyout but that if shed sell it to him, hed give her $40,000. Jackson wasnt born yesterday. Im going to wait to see what I find out from the buyout, she told the man. The encounter left her feeling vulnerable, and thats what has Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith and others working on the buyout program so upset that folks who already have lost so much are now in danger of losing even more to unscrupulous people trying to make a quick buck. Tulsa County officials announced in April that $14.7 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding would be made available in the form of buyouts for residents whose homes were damaged by the May 2019 catastrophic flooding. The floodwaters along the Arkansas River submerged hundreds of homes and businesses from west of Sand Springs east toward downtown Tulsa, as well as elsewhere across the metropolitan area and state. All told, the flooding wreaked havoc across a dozen counties in four states, with more than a thousand homes inundated, including more than 300 in and around Sand Springs. Losses totaled $3 billion, officials have reported. Lacie Jones, a project manager for Meshek & Associates, which is overseeing the flood buyout process for Tulsa County, said Jackson isnt the only flood victim to have been approached by someone not affiliated with the buyout, though the issue isnt widespread. Yet. I do think that theyre going to start coming out of the woodwork as we get further into the program, she said last week. Unfortunately, theres just bad people out there that want to take advantage of the system. And the system, unfortunately, is giving them plenty of time to scheme and scam. Officials held four public meetings in April to gauge interest in the voluntary buyout. For much of the rest of the year, the process will involve determining the projects scope, identifying applicants, acquiring cost estimates, prioritizing recipients and conducting any needed environmental reviews of property. Its uncertain exactly when homeowners could expect to receive offers on their properties, but project officials said in April that they were optimistic it would be within a year. Jones said last week the response to the buyout program was greater than what we expected. We were concerned that people would be leery and not interested. But at present, we have 158 voluntary participation applications, she said, adding that right now, the need appears to be over $33 million. She said the county is looking at all funding options and trying to supplement the $14.7 million currently in the kitty, adding that perhaps some FEMA money might become available. But in the meantime, Jones wants to keep rightful recipients from being scammed. If theyre not contacted by someone from Meshek & Associates really, that is the only entity that is going to initiate the program, she said. If they have not heard from us, then they should call and check with us. Jones said any agents from the firm attempting to communicate with homeowners will have badges and business cards identifying them. Were also going to try to keep the countys social media up to date so people can know what phase the process is in, she said. Jackson, meanwhile, said she felt like it was important to tell others what happened to her as a cautionary tale. I just would like other people not to be scammed, she said. I would certainly hope that other people dont take in some of this nonsense. I have been so stressed, and my (blood) pressures running so high, she added. I feel like I have a black cloud over my head, and its raining all the time. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Visiting Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has affirmed that her nation will continue promoting its strategic partnership with Vietnam and always attaches importance to the Southeast Asian country's role in the region. She was speaking at her talks with her Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on Monday as part of her three-day official visit to Vietnam from June 26 to 28 at Sons invitation. Wong told her host that Australia highly values Vietnams role and position in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the region and the world, and that the new Australian government in which she is a member will continue strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam to boost the bilateral ties to a new height. The diplomat also stated that her country highly values cooperation with ASEAN, appreciates its central role, and will continue to promote cooperation with the bloc for the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region. Commending Vietnams commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, Wong said she will work closely with Vietnam in this area. Foreign minister Son welcomed Penny Wong for choosing Vietnam as the first Southeast Asian country to visit after being appointed as foreign minister in the new Australian cabinet about a month ago. Son highly appreciated Wongs visit as a fresh impulse to the strategic partnership between the two countries towards the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023. This image shows Australias foreign minister Penny Wong received by Vietnams State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a reception in Hanoi on June 27, 2002, during which Phuc asked Australia to continue providing ODA to Vietnam. Photo: Minh Khang / Tuoi Tre He congratulated Australia on successfully holding the federal parliamentary elections, establishing a new government, effectively carrying out the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and fully opening for economic recovery and development. The Vietnamese diplomat also thanked the Australian government for its promptly providing COVID-19 vaccine and medical equipment for Vietnam during the fight against the pandemic, particularly 14.4 million doses for local children, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) cited Son as saying. Given that both Vietnam and Australia have opened up their economies, the host and guest agreed that the two nations should speed up cooperation in the fields strongly affected by the pandemic such as tourism, education and labor, besides strengthening traditional ties in trade, investment, security, defense and others. In addition, Vietnam and Australia should also bolster cooperation in new and potential fields of cooperation such as climate change, green and sustainable growth to deal with non-traditional security challenges. The two officials also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern, in which Son suggested that Australia continue to make positive contributions to regional cooperation based on respect for the central role of ASEAN and for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is seen receiving Australias foreign minister Penny Wong in Hanoi on June 27, 2022 in this image. Photo: Minh Khang / Tuoi Tre Regarding the East Vietnam Sea issue, the Australian FM underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, and respecting international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). As part of her visit schedule, Wong had separate meetings with State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Monday, centering on measures to further deepen the strategic partnership between her country and Vietnam. On the occasion, President Phuc and PM Chinh asked the minister to convey their respective invitations to the Governor-General of Australia David Hurley and Australian PM Anthony Albanese to visit Vietnam at convenient time. In an interview with the VNA before her Vietnam visit, she commented that the strength of the relationship between the two countries is based on family and community links. Presently, more than 300,000 Vietnamese people living in Australia and Vietnamese is the fifth most spoken language in Australian homes, the diplomat said. Vietnam and Australia set up diplomatic relations in 1973 and promoted their relationship to strategic partnership in 2018. The two countries posted a two-way trade of US$12.4 billion in 2021, nearly 50 percent more than in 2020. Both sides have targeted to be among each others top 10 trade partners and to double their investment capital in each other by 2025. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visited Albertirsa City on Sunday, where he had talks with Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian parliament Istvan Jakab, concentrating on agricultural cooperation, as part of his ongoing visit to Hungary. Hue arrived in Budapest late on Saturday afternoon (local time) for an official visit from June 26 to 28, at the invitation of Hungarian National Assembly Speaker Laszlo Kover, Nhan Dan (People) newspaper reported. In his meeting with Deputy Speaker Jakab, Hue thanked him for spending time accompanying the Vietnamese delegations visit to Albertirsa and a processing factory of Mirelite Mirsa Co. Ltd., an outstanding local enterprise in clean and green agriculture. The host and guest affirmed that the two sides should focus on promoting cooperation in agriculture, especially when Hungary has strengths in such fields as cultivation, processing, marketing, and distribution. They agreed that there remains ample room for the two countries cooperation, and shared the belief that Hues visit will certainly contribute to promoting the Vietnam-Hungary bilateral comprehensive partnership, in which the ties between the two parliaments are a significant pillar. Given the long-standing cooperation and friendship between the two countries, Hungary is ready to continue sharing its development experience with Vietnam, despite fluctuations in the world and regional situations, Jakab said. While visiting the factory of Mirelite Mirsa, which processes deep frozen fruits, vegetables, and pastry products, Chairman Hue stressed that agriculture and rural development are among the strategic issues for Vietnam. Despite accounting for just 12 percent of Vietnams economy, agriculture is a pillar of the national economy, Hue told his host. The country exported more than US$48.5 billion worth of agricultural products last year, but the value added of Vietnamese farm produce remained low because of the low rate of processing, he said. Later the same day, Chairman Hue visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Budapest and met the Vietnamese community there. The official said the Party and state always consider overseas Vietnamese communities as an integral part of the nation and an important factor to foster Vietnams cooperation and friendship with other countries. He also met with representatives from the Vietnamese entrepreneur community in Budapest and affirmed that Europe-based Vietnamese enterprises play an important role in marketing and distributing Vietnamese goods to foreign markets. Vietnam and Hungary enhanced bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership in 2018, when Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited the eastern European country, national radio station Voice of Vietnam reported. Hungary was the first EU member to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and has actively pushed for the approval of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Last year saw two-way trade between Vietnam and Hungary hit $1.1 billion despite COVID-19. Hungary donated more than 250,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and 100,000 test kits to Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic that struck Vietnam in early 2020. It is committed to providing soft loans of 440 million euros ($464 million) for Vietnam to implement projects that are given priority by both countries. In addition, the European country has granted 200 scholarships to Vietnamese students every year since 2018. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ho Chi Minh City Greenery Parks Company Limited has cut down nine large trees on the streets around Ho Con Rua (Turtle Lake) in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 3, as they are at risk of being uprooted and pose danger to road users. Some of the trees are at the site for a subproject to upgrade sidewalks in the area, part of a broader project to upgrade Turtle Lake, but the company claimed that their removal was not related to the sidewalk renovation. The nine trees were chopped down as per permits issued by the municipal Department of Construction and the Infrastructure Management Center. Of the nine trees, two hopea odorata trees had rotten roots and seriously damaged trunks. An ancient Dipterocarpus alatus tree on Vo Van Tan Street was severed due to the impact of the sidewalk upgrade subproject in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre The felling of the trees is aimed at ensuring safety for local residents during the rainy season as the streets where these trees had been planted have a high traffic density. According to the company, apart from these nine trees, a dipterocarpus alatus tree was also cut down as the sidewalk revamp was expected to affect the solidity of the tree. At the site of the project, there are systems of electric wires, water pipes, and cables buried about 30 centimeters underground. Some residents voiced their concern over the impact of the area facelift on the trees there, saying that the excavation of sidewalks may directly affect the trees roots. Earlier, the Peoples Committee of District 3 submitted the Turtle Lake upgrade project proposal, funded by private sources, and received approval from the municipal government. Turtle Lake, after being revamped, is expected to become a favorite destination of local residents and tourists, following the newly renovated Bach Dang Wharf in downtown District 1. The Turtle Lake revamp project includes two subprojects: upgrading the central part of the lake which will be conducted by the city government, specifically the Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Management Center, and improving the sidewalks of the streets surrounding the lake, including Pham Ngoc Thach, Tran Cao Van, and Vo Van Tan Streets, which will be executed by the District 3 administration. As designed, each street will feature a particular function, such as culture, cuisine, art performances, and outdoor exhibitions. The Turtle Lake area has a tangled underground technical infrastructure system. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre At first, District 3 will renovate and upgrade 3,500 square meters of sidewalks and 2,900 square meters of green spaces, while tripling the current area and bettering drainage systems. The subproject is expected to finish on September 2 after four months of construction. Work on the subproject to upgrade sidewalks around Turtle Lake started on April 29. The subproject was projected to cost some VND15 billion (US$646,500), funded by Sunny World Design and Management Corporation. There are many restaurants, bars, and coffee shops around the lake, but sidewalks in the area have deteriorated, posing dangers to pedestrians and affecting the cityscape. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on Monday as part of her visit to Vietnam from June 26 to 28. COVID-19 Updates -- The Ministry of Health documented 637 COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the national tally to 10,744,085, with 9,656,467 recoveries and 43,084 deaths. -- Vietnam has recorded the appearance of the Omicron BA.5 subvariant, the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the health ministry confirmed on Monday. Society -- The Peoples Court in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on Monday sentenced a defendant to death and another to life in prison for transporting 77 kilograms of narcotics in early 2021. -- The Hanoi People's Committee has decided to establish a specialist team to support the repair and renovation of Long Bien Bridge as the over 100-year-old structure has been seriously damaged. -- The number of dengue fever cases in Ho Chi Minh City continues to rise, but hand, foot, and mouth disease cases have started to decline, the citys Center for Disease Control said on Monday. -- A worker was killed and another severely injured after being hit by a collapsing wall at a house construction site in Nha Trang City, located in south-central Khanh Hoa Province, on Monday morning. -- A low-pressure zone currently situated in the Philippines is expected to enter the East Vietnam Sea on Tuesday night and later developed into a tropical depression or storm. -- Authorities found the bodies of three eighth graders along a river in north-central Quang Binh Province early on Tuesday morning after they had gone missing since Monday afternoon. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A pregnant woman intended to end her life by jumping into water at the Ho Bridge in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam due to a conflict with her boyfriend, but she was saved by police last weekend. The woman was identified as Vang Thi D., aged 28, who lives in Ha Giang Province. A team of waterway police officers from the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security said Monday that they had successfully rescued a woman who intended to commit suicide at the Ho Bridge spanning the Duong River in Tien Du District in the province on Sunday. At around 3:20 pm on that day, the team dispatched four waterway guards, ships, and vehicles to the scene for rescue efforts after being notified of the case. The rescuers managed to talk the woman into giving up her suicidal thoughts. D. said that she got pregnant with her boyfriend, who resides in Gia Binh District, Bac Ninh. However, a conflict with him made her intend to commit suicide. After taking her to a safe place, the officers persuaded D. to call her family to take her home. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Hanoi Peoples Committee decided to establish a specialist team to support the repair and renovation of Long Bien Bridge because the structure has been seriously damaged over time. The team, comprising both Vietnamese and French experts, will be led by Do Viet Hai, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport, to implement the Long Bien Bridge rehabilitation project financed by the French government. The team is in charge of collaborating with the French Embassy in Vietnam in studying the renovation of the bridge, detailing the project, and executing it in line with regulations. Completed in 1902, Hanois historic and iconic Long Bien Bridge bears the wear and tear not only of time but also of thousands of vehicles that use it every day. The 120-year-old bridge crossing the Red River currently serves three national rail routes -- Hanoi-Hai Phong, Hanoi-Dong Dang, and Hanoi-Lao Cai. Its road section is reserved for bicycles and motorbikes. Every day, tens of thousands of vehicles, trains, motorcycles, and bicycles cross the bridge, leading to its deterioration despite several rounds of repairs and reinforcement. The rails that separate the rail tracks from the road have been damaged in several sections. The wooden cross beams on the railway track are rotting but have not been replaced. As a safety measure, trains cannot travel at more than 15 kilometers per hour when crossing the bridge. During rush hours in the morning and afternoon, two-wheeler traffic slows down to a crawl and the bridge bears the weight of thousands of vehicles. In several places, iron plates have been used to cover cracks in the road. Most recently, a large hole, about one square meter, appeared on the surface of the bridge on Tuesday morning, letting pedestrians clearly see the Red River through it. As a quick fix, relevant agencies erected barriers on the two sides of a road leading to the bridge to prevent vehicles transporting voluminous items and overweight trucks from crossing it. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! When Mark Coles Smith was close to signing on for the prequel series Mystery Road: Origin, he was fielding calls from Shaun Micallefs Mad as Hell to please return for more sketches of Curiosity Cul de Sac. After all he had been so convincing in the cheeky parodies of ABC drama Mystery Road. But if life was coming full circle, then not everybody at ABC knew what was to come. I had to stop doing one so I could do the other. Theres only so much suspension of disbelief and emotional distance that audiences can be expected to make! he tells TV Tonight. Personally, I think Shaun is a genius. If I hadnt been snapped up for Origin Id probably still be doing those comedy skits, because theyre just so much fun. I heard a rumour Id made one half of Bunya Productions grumpy about it long before I was involved, and the other half thought it was extremely amusing. Its been one of the more unusual flight paths in the series. Ive got no explanation for how I managed to pull it off. Its just a vehicle. Get in it and drive In adopting the role of young police detective Jay Swan, Coles Smith did get the blessing of the man who had created the role -Aaron Pedersen. Aaron called me when the announcement was made last year to pass the torch and tell me that he was proud of me and hoped I would really enjoy the experience. Its just a vehicle. Get in it and drive, he recalls. I went back to the films to look at the body language and looked at everything he was doing. When it came time to shoot, I think there was there was enough understanding about what all those character traits were, so that I was able to just let everything go. A little bit cockier, a little bit more uncertain, a bit more vulnerable I just wanted to not be thinking about any of that. To just have enough understanding about the timeline of Jay, which we built with Dylan (River, director), about where he ends up and who he is as and being clear about the freedoms of what he could do as a younger person. He can be a little bit cockier, a little bit more uncertain, a bit more vulnerable, he can smile a bit. Thats kind of woven through, while at the same time retaining the core that continues to grow The six-part series will explore how a tragic death, an epic love, and the brutal reality of life as a police officer straddling two worlds, form, Detective Jay Swan. The series is set in 1999 in his first posting in a mining town, Jardine.[/caption] Coles Smith, whose body of work includes The Circuit, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Halifax: Retribution, Hard Rock Medical, The Gods of Wheat Street, Sweet As and Last Cab to Darwin, now takes centrestage in his biggest series so far. This is definitely the first of this scale mainstream television, an established series with with a lead role performance by one of Australias best male actors. Aaron Pedersen has done such an incredible job forming and shaping Jay Swan into an iconic status. I was super nervous with the whole proposal to step in. It took a bit of discussion with our director Dylan River, who has done such an amazing job, about why it was warranted to go back, what we were going to do, what was going to be distinct about it, and how it was going to be its own thing, so that I wasnt stepping on toes while trying on boots. Bunya Productions, and two thirds of the crew, had done the previous seasons I was really lucky in the sense that regardless of the fact that it was not just a very significant lead role for me, but a lead role for a franchise already well established. But I was really lucky in the sense that predominantly, the production team that I was working with, had done all of this before. Bunya Productions, and two thirds of the crew, had done the previous seasons. It was a well-oiled machine. For me it was just a matter of trusting the process and caring about the character. The series also features Toby Leonard Moore, Daniel Henshall, Lisa Flanagan, Clarence Ryan, Steve Bisley, Caroline Brazier, Hayley McElhinney, Serene Yunupingu and Kelton Pell. With Dylan River and cinematographer Tyson Perkins the show is also in the hands of young First Nations creatives, fitting given the origin themes of the piece. Yet it still aims to retain the hallmarks of the two previous and critically acclaimed seasons (S2 was co-directed by Rivers father Warwock Thornton). Theres definitely a slow burn quality to it. Theres a lot of breathing space and I really enjoyed a quirky daginess which bubbles to the surface and then sort of disappears back into this kind of heavier Gothic Outback atmosphere, Coles Smith explains. I really enjoyed having the space for reflection. The space of curiosity and wondering. I said that I only wanted to do one season of this But if it is anything like the success of its predecessors, is there room for another origin tale? I said that I only wanted to do one season of this and I wanted to be able to achieve an origin story for Jay that took place in a single season, he insists. But theres a lot more here that we can do. We were having some big discussions as we came to the finish line in Kalgoorlie last year about what could be next and how far we could take everything thats potentially about to happen. Mystery Road: Origin screens 8:30 Sundays on ABC. ACCRA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank Group seeks to double its funding for education in the Western and Central African region by 2025 to accelerate the work of educational reforms, a senior official of the bank said here late Monday. Ousmane Diagana, the World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa, said this at a press briefing after a one-day strategy meeting of education and finance ministers from the region. "Currently, our educational portfolio for the region is 3.1 billion dollars, but we intend to double this amount by 2025, making it a minimum of 6.2 billion dollars," said Diagana. The vice president said there was the need to accelerate the bank's support for educational reforms in the region, given the challenges ahead and the challenges imposed by the demography of the continent, and the need to reduce poverty in the region. As the bank will meet with African leaders in Senegal in July to discuss the new program of financing for the region, Diagana said education would be at the center of these discussions. Strategically, he said the discussions would focus on energy, food, agriculture, education, health, and digitalization. The one-day meeting attracted more than 40 finance and education ministers from Western and Central Africa. The meeting concluded with an urgent call to advance reforms in education and deliver better access to quality education for young people across the region. During the meeting, the World Bank unveiled its new regional education strategy titled "From School to Jobs: A Journey for the Young People of Western and Central Africa" for the region. The strategy provides a roadmap for investments to improve learning and equip young people with the right skills to access productive jobs. Here we go again A media report suggests Network 10 could be sold by its owners but not for another 2 years. The Australian speculates Paramount could divest its interest after then-CBS paid about $250m for the business five years ago. It suggests the purchase was tied to launching Paramount Plus streaming service in Australia. As to future buyers, a merger with Southern Cross Media (coincidentally headed by former 10 CEO, Grant Blackley) is one idea floated, to make it more attractive to a potential buyer. Before CBS puchased 10 in 2017, administrators recommended an offer from Bruce Gordon & Lachlan Murdoch be rejected. Creditors comprising the network employees did just that, in favour of a CBS acquisition. Updated: 10 has denied the story. Design & Architecture streaming platform Shelter will feature an exclusive live-stream event on the making of Follies in July. Also this month, peek inside a Gothic tower that doubled as a nuclear fallout bunker, and ascend the inspiration for Sarumans Orthanc and marvel at the extraordinary art & buildings of the religions of the East. Live Stream Event: In Conversation with Rory Fraser & Andrew Spicer 8pm AEST July 15 Join the creative team behind the new Shelter Originals series Follies for the first-ever Shelter live streaming event on July 15 at 8pm AEST. Director Andrew Spicer and Writer / Presenter Rory Fraser join Shelter, live from the UK, for an exclusive insight into the history, creation and production of the Shelter Original Series FOLLIES. This event is available exclusively to Shelter subscribers. Shelter Originals: Follies Ep 3: Broadway Tower (15 mins) United Kingdom 2022 4 July Floating high above the Cotswolds, Broadway Tower is the breathtaking embodiment of a new style of 18th Century architecture that revolutionised Western design: the Gothic. Inspired by the search for a more authentic English style, the Gothic is a homage to the bygone mythology of castles, battles and chivalry of medieval England. In this episode, Rory guides us through the towers many owners, from William Morris to the Ministry of Defence, celebrating Broadway as an unyielding bastion of patriotism, ideas and romance. Ep 4: Faringdon Tower (15 mins) United Kingdom 2022 11 July The final stop on Rorys journey, Faringdon Tower introduces us to one of the 20th Centurys greatest eccentrics: Lord Berners. Although it was only built to save a small patch of woodland that Berners liked, Faringdon has become a much cherished local landmark. In this episode, Rory dives into the roaring twenties and investigates not only how the tower has made its way in the hearts of the local population, but also the mind of one of Englands greatest authors: J.R.R. Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings. Art Of Faith Season 2 (3 x 55 mins) United Kingdom 2010 18 July Art Of Faith II explores the architecture and art of Buddhism, Hinduism and Religions of the Tao presented and narrated by the broadcaster John McCarthy. These three 55-minute films travel the Eastern world, visiting the greatest and most significant religious buildings, exploring how the passions and complexities of religious beliefs have been expressed in architecture. Filmed for Sky Arts and looking back over the last 3000 years, the series provides an insight into how we have celebrated art through faith. With contributions from architects, scholars and worshippers, each episode explains the buildings genesis, laying down the brush strokes of the sites design, whilst looking at the shared elements and contrasts between religions and the aesthetics of the places of worship. Openings 52 mins) Italy 2021 25 July Openings explores the world of the architectural elements that embody the concept of threshold, of openness, and of the relationship between inside and outside, through the voices of Italian and international architects, but also by listening to the voices who speak the language of music, sports, art, and territory. Addressing the theme of the threshold, the film investigates the close relationship between art and life, between necessity and creative effort, between philosophy and civil thought. Along the Via Emilia, the geographical threshold par excellence, this journey is made of stops, crossings and wanderings. The guides include Davide Cassani (Italian national cycling team coach), Guido Guidi (photographer), Fiorenzo Valbonesi and Simone Sfriso (architects), as well as Raoul Casadei, the king of ballroom dancing, and Alvaro Siza, one of the great masters of contemporary architecture. University of Dayton President Eric F. Spina announced today that Vice President of Advancement Jennifer Howe has accepted a position with Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia, effective July 31. Spina named Christopher Morrison, associate vice president and director of campaign operations, to succeed Howe as vice president. "Jen Howe has been a tremendous asset to the University," Spina said. "Our advancement division has grown and developed into a first-rate team that has been extremely successful deepening our engagement with all facets of the Flyer family -- alumni, parents, students and friends of the University. I will miss Jen personally as well as professionally, and I wish her all the best 'back home' in Georgia. I know, however, that what Jen and her advancement team have built will continue to thrive and make a difference for UD." Through her leadership, the University is on track for near-record fundraising this year and well-positioned to move from the leadership phase into the public phase of a major fundraising campaign next year, Spina said. Spina also pointed to the success of One Day, One Dayton, the University's annual giving day first held in 2019, which grew this year to involve 6,634 donors from all 50 states and more than 800 volunteers, raising $2.2 million. Howe, a Georgia native who has led UDs division for six years, said she looks forward to returning to her home state to lead development efforts for a large, public research university, but leaves with great gratitude to the advancement team and the University's close-knit community. "From the very beginning, I have been welcomed so openly and warmly," she said. "Despite the pandemic and a host of other challenges, it's been an amazing experience and I'm extremely proud the division is positioned strongly, not only for the campaign, but for many years to come. We have such an experienced team, wonderful volunteers, and passionate students, alumni and donors." Morrison, a 1985 UD graduate who joined the University's advancement division nearly 10 years ago after 27 years of experience in sales leadership, said he's confident the division will build on the success and momentum of the past few years. "We have been developing and strengthening the entire advancement infrastructure for six years and I know that will lead to the success of UDs first comprehensive campaign in the past 20 years," Morrison said. "We have a dedicated team that I am looking forward to working with as we advance this great University and its students into the future." Spina said Morrison is known and respected across the University and is well-positioned to lead the division through a seamless transition. "A UD alum and parent with great passion for UD, Chris has an innate understanding of our identity and mission, and deep knowledge of advancement operations and staff," Spina said. "I am excited about his leadership and know that the commitment of the entire advancement division will be key to making the transition and having a successful campaign." Read the Georgia Tech announcement here. ADDIS ABABA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Tuesday disclosed the deployment of an election experts' mission to observe the integrity of Kenya's forthcoming general elections. The AU in a statement issued Tuesday said the pan African bloc is deploying an international election expert mission to Kenya comprising eight core team experts. "The deployment of an election expert mission is part of the African Union's comprehensive and long-term engagement in the 2022 general elections in Kenya," an AU statement read. The move followed an invitation from the government of Kenya to the continental bloc to observe the forthcoming general elections slated in August this year. The core team experts will follow up on the electoral preparations, assess the political dynamics and genuine competitiveness and fairness of the electoral campaign, as well as maintain regular contact with national and international stakeholders before, during and after the elections, the AU said. The work of the core experts team will be complemented by long term observers, who will be deployed a few weeks before the polls, and short term observers, who will be deployed a week before election day, it said. The AU, in partnership with regional blocs COMESA and EAC, had deployed a joint high level pre-election assessment mission to Kenya from May 14 to 21 so as to promote free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in the country. According to the AU, the joint AU-COMESA-EAC mission recommended continued engagement in the electoral process to ensure violence free, fair and credible elections. The East African nation will go to the polls on August 9 to elect a new president and national lawmakers, as well as the governors and assemblies of its 47 counties. In March, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated his call to Kenyans to embrace peace and live together in harmony as the country gears toward the August 9 general elections. Kenyatta who is due to retire after completing his two-term in office emphasized that the forthcoming elections should not divide Kenyans. (Bloomberg) -- Ever since Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, China has blamed NATO for antagonizing Russia and accused the US of seeking to set up a similar alliance in the Asia-Pacific. The presence of four leaders from the region in Spain this week will only make Beijing more paranoid. Most Read from Bloomberg For the first time, the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand will all attend a summit of the 30-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization. At the meeting starting Tuesday in Madrid, the alliance is set to label China a systemic challenge in new policy guidelines for the coming decade, reflecting shifts in the geopolitical landscape as President Xi Jinping increasingly joins hands with Putin in opposition to the worlds democracies. While the US has dismissed the idea that an Asia-Pacific NATO is in the works, the Biden administration has strengthened ties with partners in the region to both push back against Chinas assertiveness over disputed territory and sanction key officials over alleged human-rights abuses in places like Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Fears are also growing that Xi will look to invade Taiwan in the coming years, potentially triggering a wider war in Asia. At a virtual BRICS summit last week attended by Putin, Xi accused the US of seeking to expand military alliances and split the world economy into mutually exclusive zones. He warned that those who obsess with a position of strength would only fall into a security conundrum. The new development certainly will make China feel uneasy, encircled and threatened, Vivian Zhan, an associate professor specializing in Chinese politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said of NATOs focus on China. Story continues On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said NATO had become a tool for certain countries to uphold their hegemony. He said China follows an independent foreign policy of peace, and called the growth of the worlds second-biggest economy an opportunity for the world. After disrupting Europe, NATO should not try to destabilize Asia and the whole world, Zhao said. US allies and security partners in Asia arent convinced Chinas rise is peaceful. In recent years, Beijing has increased military activity around Taiwan and become more assertive over disputed territory off its coastline from Japan to the Philippines. It has boosted security cooperation with Pacific Island states near Australia and sparked the deadliest border fight with India in decades. Still, the Asian leaders attending the NATO summit must walk a fine line with Beijing. China remains the biggest trading partner of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand, and has used that leverage to inflict pain in geopolitical disputes. About a decade ago, a dispute over East China Sea islands claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing led to a boycott by Chinese consumers of goods that prolonged a recession in Japan. Its impossible for Japan to stand up to China by itself, either economically or militarily, said Kyoko Hatakeyama, a professor specializing in security at the University of Niigata Prefecture. America is backing us, but even so, its a bit difficult, so we must have Europe take an interest. For more stories: China Warns U.S. Over Forming Pacific NATO, Backing Taiwan Chinas Fears of an Indo-Pacific NATO Are More Myth Than Reality How Putins Spooking Japan Further Away From Pacifism: QuickTake US Makes Asia Inroads by Playing Down Need to Oppose China Chinas actions have prompted a vow from Japan under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to upgrade its military, in a departure from the pacifism it embraced under a US-drafted constitution after its defeat in World War II. That includes boosting defense spending beyond a longtime cap set at 1% of gross domestic product. South Korea is in a similar position. President Yoon Suk Yeol, a newly elected conservative, has sought to align his country more closely with the US and its allies in Europe. Linking up with NATO may protect South Koreas interest against that of Beijing in case of the decline of US influence in the Pacific region in the long term, said Cheon Seong-whun, a former security strategy secretary for South Koreas presidential office. The heavily controlled state media in North Korea, which has a longstanding partnership with China and Russia, published an opinion piece Wednesday from a local academic who accused NATO of turning ``its sinister eyes toward Asia. ``NATO is nothing but a perpetrator of the U.S. hegemonic strategy, its Korean Central News Agency, which often acts as a proxy for the state, quoted political researcher Kim Hyo Myong as saying . ``It is simply a tool for local invasion. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who took office last month, warned China this week to learn lessons from Russias strategic failure in Ukraine when weighing what to do with Taiwan. The Ukraine invasion brought democratic nations together, whether they be members of NATO, or non-members such as Australia, Albanese said in an interview with the Australian Financial Review. Yet while Asian countries are more interested in linking up with NATO, theres little prospect of them joining in a similar collective defense arrangement. The US and other colonial powers once sought to form the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization as a regional NATO to fight communism, but it suffered from organizational problems and eventually disbanded in 1977. All of the US mutual defense treaties in Asia with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Australia are bilateral and have been around for decades. Southeast Asian nations in particular have no interest in picking sides, and Japan and South Korea remain at odds over disputes stemming from Japans past colonization of the Korean Peninsula. Only a regional crisis like a Chinese invasion of Taiwan might prompt Asian nations to overcome their differences and form a security bloc, according to Japanese lawmaker and former vice defense minister Akihisa Nagashima. If China tried to unify with Taiwan by force, I dont think other Asian countries could accept it, and they might consider creating an Asian NATO, he said. But at this point, no one would join. And even if it was somehow created it wouldnt function. (Updates with comment from North Korea.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. A firefighters union leader is warning of strikes after reacting angrily to a 2% pay offer. The executive of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is recommending rejection of the offer, which it said is well below the soaring rate of inflation. Between 2009 and 2021, firefighters real pay has been cut by 12%, or nearly 4,000, the FBU said. Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: This is utterly inadequate and would deliver a further cut in real wages to firefighters in all roles in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis. This latest insulting proposal follows 12 years of government-imposed reductions in real wages. This proposal will anger firefighters, those working in emergency fire controls, and those in all uniformed roles in fire services across the UK. It is galling to be insulted in this way, especially after our contribution to public safety during the pandemic. Firefighters will now inevitably begin to discuss reactions, including industrial action. The Fire Brigades Union and our members do not consider or take industrial action lightly or without ensuring that all efforts to resolve the issue have been exhausted. To that end, we will be writing to the national fire employers to inform them of the anger and frustration their proposal will create. We will also seek confirmation that they have written to and met with the Westminster fire minister to request additional funding in order to make a realistic offer which meets the urgent needs of firefighters, respects their workforce and has some prospect of being accepted by firefighters. Similarly, we will be writing shortly to the ministers and/or government departments responsible for fire and rescue services in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to seek urgent additional funding to enable fire and rescue employers to make a reasonable offer. Our members will now begin to discuss this offer and the executive council will reconvene shortly to discuss our next steps. We will now consider all options, including strike action. A woman buys fruit at the Marche Barbes, an outdoor market located in a neighbourhood in Paris with a large amount of Muslim residents. (Photo by Frederic T Stevens/Getty Images). Discretion Faiza Guene Trans Sarah Ardizzone Saqi, 12.99 Review: Rosemary Goring NEXT month marks the 60th anniversary of Algerias independence. It was a hard-fought liberty, and to this day tensions remain with France, its former coloniser. After the Algerian war (1954-62), a referendum returned an overwhelming 99.72% in favour of independence. Despite this victory, there was a wave of emigration to France, because after the long-running conflict, the country lay in ruins. As one of the central characters in Discretion reflects, when her family tries to pick up their old life, The land is parched. The countrymen have lost everything The return to their country has come as a shock. Freedom has cost them dear. Hence the mass exodus to the place of which they had been so eager to be shot. As a result, a high proportion of French citizens today were either born in Algeria or are of Algerian descent. As one of this community, Faiza Guenes work illustrates that theirs is not an easy lot. Often, their adopted country can feel less like home than a hostile state. Guene is one of Frances literary superstars. She was 19 when she published her debut novel, Kiffe Kiffe Demain (Just Like Tomorrow) in 2004, which became an international best-seller. Since then she has written several more novels, along with directing films and creating a Disney series. The liveliness of her writing is perhaps a reflection of the energy and passion that propels her. One of Guenes great strengths is to write from her own background, having been raised in Seine-Saint-Denis, one of the citys most infamous banlieues. Another priceless asset is her humour. However unhappy or difficult the situations she depicts, they are leavened with a bubbling wit. She mines all but the bleakest scenes for a spark of comedy. The result is fiction that glitters and beguiles even when dealing with disturbing truths. In the years since the War of Independence, Algerians in France have been the butt of derision and dread. Jean Le Pen campaigned for election with the slogan Two million immigrants. Two million unemployed. Even before the National Front made life for all the countrys ethnic minorities dangerous as well as tough, there were humiliating proscriptions on African Muslims. Considered a source of disease, they were stereotyped as violent and thieving, becoming a scapegoat for societys fears. For every Zinedine Zidane there are a thousand viewed with fear and dislike. So much for liberte, egalite, fraternitie. Story continues It is against this painful background that Discretion unfolds. At its heart is Yamina Taleb, who as a child witnessed the trauma done to her homeland by war. Now living in Seine-Saint-Denis with her aged husband and three grown-up children the fourth has made a bid for freedom and is living at exorbitant cost in Paris proper where she works in a shop she is a natural peace-maker. Yamina never complains. It is as if that option was excised at birth. In any case, she feels forever grateful to France for the life it has allowed her and her family, after the deprivation they faced in Algeria. As she approaches 70, she worries more for her children than herself. The thread on which this understated but haunting novel hangs is the idea that, even if one generation smothers its rage, it will re-emerge in the next. It is prefaced by a quote from James Baldwins The Fire Next Time: It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an ever greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate. With what follows, Guene demonstrates that despite their best intentions, and all the sacrifices theyve made, Yamina and her husband Brahim have ended up raising overburdened children. Guene tells her story in bite-sized scenes, giving the location of each with sat-nav precision, as if her characters are butterflies, pinned in a bureaucratic album: Commune of Aubervilliers, Department of Seine-Saint-Denis (93300), France, 2018. Yamina and Brahims only son Omar is an Uber driver, waiting for real life to begin; his story takes place mainly in a Renault Talisman Business, DCI 1.5 Eco2 Energy (Leather Interior). He particularly dislikes young American passengers, who ooh and aah at everything Paris has on offer, but yearn for a hamburger dripping with cheese and ketchup. Also still living at home though less pampered than her brother is Hannah. It is she who sees most clearly how her family is treated, and she frequently rails against the intolerance and ignorance they endure: Them and us, Im telling you, its like an organ transplant that wont take. An older sister, Malika, whose divorce brought shame on the family, remains a more shadowy figure. Its as if her failed marriage has rendered her less visible, or she prefers to keep herself out of sight. Invisibility, Guene suggests, is a female survival tactic. Weaving fragments about each of her characters, Guene anchors Discretion in Yaminas childhood in Algeria, where French soldiers misbehaved like an occupying army. In vivid flashbacks those years of terror and hardship unfold. Despite its lightness of tone, Discretion is suffused in sorrow and confusion as well as enduring love. Clear-eyed but tender, every page is filled with insight. A searching portrait of the desire for identity and acceptance, its recognition of bone-deep discrimination and injustice is biting. When Hannah hears a doctor patronising her mother, she squirms: Come on, lets take off our little burka, shall we, to show our little ears? Yamina, in contrast, is not offended. Yet perhaps her response is not as passive as it appears. Since her father was a resistance fighter, Guene writes, what if refusing to give in to resentment were, in itself a form of resistance? Thus the legacy of colonisation corkscrews down the generations. It might take different shapes, but it will never be erased or forgiven. Only with difficulty can it be overcome, but in an age when to be Arab in Europe is automatically to rouse suspicion, Guene offers little hope. As Yamina reflects: today we can no longer really say who we are. Who we are has become too risky. FILE - Riot police officers cordon off the area after migrants arrive on Spanish soil and crossing the fences separating the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco in Melilla, Spain, on June 24, 2022. Spain's prime minister on Monday, June 27, 2022, Spain's prime minister has defended the way Moroccan and Spanish police repelled migrants last week as they tried to cross the shared border into the North African enclave of Melilla. He depicted the attempt in which at least 23 people died as "an attack on Spain's borders". "We must remember that many of these migrants attacked Spain's borders with axes and hooks," said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during an interview with The Associated Press. "We are talking about an attempt to assault the fence that was evidently carried out in an aggressive way, and therefore what Spain's state security forces and Moroccan guards did was defend Spain's borders." Authorities in Morocco have blamed the deaths on a "stampede" of people that formed on Friday as hundreds attempted to scale or break through the 12-metre iron double fence. The barrier surrounds Melilla, a town of 85,000 separated from the Spanish mainland by the Strait of Gibraltar. Non-profit groups working in northern Africa and human rights organisations have deplored the treatment the migrants received from police on both sides. But they have also directed their blame at Spanish and European Union officials who they say have essentially outsourced border controls to Morocco and other states. Mr Sanchez, whose left-to-centre government is trying to improve ties with Morocco following an acrimonious diplomatic dispute over Western Sahara, has refused to criticise the crackdown. Speaking at the palace on the outskirts of Madrid that hosts his office and residence, Mr Sanchez told AP that his thoughts were with the families of those who died. But he blamed the tragedy on "international human trafficking rings who are profiting from the suffering of human beings who only want to seek a better life". "I insist, these are international mafia groups that are not only damaging the territorial integrity of Spain but also that of Morocco, which is a country suffering that irregular migration," he added. Story continues Mr Sanchez spoke to AP on the eve of hosting Nato leaders in a summit that aims to redraw the defence alliance's strategy for the next decade. While Russia's invasion of Ukraine will take centre-stage at the two-day meeting, the group will also debate its posture on Africa, where Russian mercenaries are adding to concerns about migration, extremism and the impacts of poverty and climate change. Footage uploaded to social media shows how a large number of migrants approached a section of the fence and began scaling it. Some of the migrants hurled rocks at Moroccan anti-riot police trying to stop them. At one point, the fence collapses, sending many of the migrants to the ground from a height of several metres. In at least one video released by a Spanish online news website, Spanish guards can also be seen escorting migrants back to the Moroccan side, a practice that human rights activists say denies the right of refugees to apply for asylum on European soil. At least 76 civilians and 140 security officers on the Moroccan side, and 60 National Police and Civil Guard officers on the Spanish side, were injured, according to their respective governments. A small group of African men who did make it across the fence were taken to a migrant holding centre in Melilla. While Moroccan authorities say 23 people died in addition to scores of injuries both among the migrants and border guards, activists claim that the death toll is higher and denounce the EU's policy of striking deals with Morocco and other states such as Turkey to control migration flows. A group of 51 human rights groups said on Monday in a joint statement distributed by Spanish NGO Walking Borders that the deaths "are the tragic example of the European Union's policies of externalising its borders, with the complicity of a southern country, Morocco". "The death of these young Africans at the borders of 'Fortress Europe' is a warning of the deadly nature of the security co-operation on immigration between Morocco and Spain," the statement added. Taiwan has condemned mainland Chinese authorities for blocking its experts from taking part in a United Nations sustainability event in yet another diplomatic snub from Beijing, which claims sovereignty over the self-ruled island. Three Taiwanese experts were originally set to attend the five-day United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, from Monday as part of Tuvalu's delegation. But Beijing, which sits on the UN credentials committee, opposed the inclusion of the Taiwanese on the grounds that the island was not a UN member. It threatened to revoke the entire delegation's accreditations if Tuvalu did not comply. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Taiwan has been excluded from the United Nations since 1971, when the global body admitted Beijing as the sole representative of China. As a result, the island and its citizens are unable to attend UN events. Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe bowed out of a UN conference that opened Monday after mainland Chinese authorities blocked Taiwanese attendees from joining the South Pacific island country's delegation. Photo: Reuters alt=Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe bowed out of a UN conference that opened Monday after mainland Chinese authorities blocked Taiwanese attendees from joining the South Pacific island country's delegation. Photo: Reuters> The move prompted Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe to cancel his trip to show "solidarity with Taiwan", Radio New Zealand reported on Monday. The Pacific island country, which established formal ties with Taiwan in 1979, is one of 14 states to officially recognise Taipei. Taiwan's foreign ministry thanked Tuvalu for its strong support and for helping the island take part in international events. It also condemned Beijing for "randomly exerting pressure on UN members", an act that "once again revealed its malicious nature". Story continues "It has long been a practice for each UN member state to decide who may join its delegation for a UN event, and members of the UN credentials committee have no right to decide who should be in the delegation," ministry deputy spokesman Tsuei Ching-lin said in Taipei on Tuesday. "The government will continue to work with allies and like-minded countries to jointly counter the growing malign influence of China in the United Nations." On Monday, mainland foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian underlined Beijing's position that Taiwan was a part of China and that the one-China principle was a basic norm governing international relations and the consensus of the international community. "Taiwan authorities are accustomed to resorting to such gambits in the context of international affairs. Stooping to join the entourage of a foreign country in order to tag along and wedge into the United Nations Ocean Conference can only bring disgrace," Zhao said. Beijing has for decades engaged in a campaign to bar Taiwan from taking part in global events, especially those involving the UN. It has also stepped up efforts to poach Taiwan's diplomatic allies since Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle. The UN Ocean Conference, last held in 2017, is convened to discuss oceanic conservation and sustainability efforts. The rest of the delegation from Tuvalu, which is forecast to be submerged by the end of the century, attended the event without Kofe. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Supreme Court Abortion Public Opinion (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) President Joe Biden encapsulated what he hoped Democratic voters would understand after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade: This fall, Roe is on the ballot. There is some evidence that this message is sticking. A new CBS News/YouGov poll found that 50 per cent of Democratic voters said that the decision makes them more likely to vote compared to 77 per cent of Republicans who say it will have no effect on their likeliness to vote, though that might be due to the fact Republicans are already motivated to vote this midterm election to win back the House and Senate. The bad news for Democrats and good news for Republicans is that 61 per cent of independents say that it will have no effect on how likely they are to vote. But a majority of voters 64 per cent altogether say they want to keep abortion legal in either all or most cases and 51 per cent say the courts decision will make life worse. FiveThirtyEight shows that the generic ballot, which measures whether voters would support a generic Democrat or Republican to represent them in Congress, shows Republicans have a slight advantage. But even if Democrats manage to hold onto their House majority, which is increasingly unlikely, Democrats real challenge to protect abortion rights comes in the Senate. Last month, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia who opposes abortion rights voted against the Womens Health Protection Act, which would have codified Roe v Wade. His and Senator Kyrsten Sinemas opposition to changing the filibuster also means Democrats need to gain two more seats to even have a shot at passing legislation to protect abortion rights. Republicans only need to gain one seat to win the majority. Here are the states most likely to flip, the least likely to flip and the reach states. Republican opportunities: Georgia, Nevada and Arizona are the states most likely to flip from Democratic to Republican. Senator Mark Kelly faces a full slate of candidates running against him and former president Donald Trump endorsed venture capitalist Blake Masters in the primary. Meanwhile, former University of Georgia running back Herschel Walker is running against Senator Raphael Warnock in a nail-biter and polls show they are in a dead heat. Upon the decision, Adam Laxalt, who is running against Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, said that the people Nevada have voted to make abortion rights legal in our state and the Courts decision on Roe doesnt change settled law. As Democratic election modeler Lakshya Jain said, if the race turns into a referendum on it, he loses in a landslide. Story continues The potential Democratic pickups: Democrats best chance to flip a seat is in Pennsylvania where Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman leads Dr Mehmet Oz by six points. In North Carolina, Civitas, a conservative group, showed Republican Representative Ted Budd in the lead by five points but a WRAL poll showed former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley with a four-point lead. Wisconsin poses the toughest challenge for Democrats because unlike the other two states where they are running for open seats, Senator Ron Johnson is seeking a third term. A Marquette University Law School pollone of the more accurate polls in the Badger stateshows Mr Johnson in tight races against all of his potential Democratic challengers. Reach states: In every election, at least one candidate pulls off a stunner. The Dobbs decision makes Republican chances to beat Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire all the harder, since the state overwhelmingly supports abortion rights and the fact that Republican Governor Chris Sununu passed on running. In Ohio, Republican JD Vance and Representative Tim Ryan are running neck and neck, but its still likely favored to the GOP given the states rightward tilt. Lastly, in Missouri, former Governor Eric Greitens, who resigned in disgrace after allegedly sexually blackmailing a woman and whose ex-wife accuses him of abusing her and their children, is running in a crowded primary for Senate. If he wins the primary, it could make the seat at least possible for Democrats. Out of the question: Despite the fact Representative Val Demings, a Democrat running against Senator Marco Rubio in Florida, told your dispatcher Im mad as hell and every woman and man who supports women should be mad as hell and hit Mr Rubio on his record on abortion, the state is still largely Republican. Conversely, the decision likely means Republicans will be unable to beat Senators Michael Bennet of Colorado or Patty Murray of Washington given the support for abortion rights in the state. Slaven Popov Crowned 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event Champion June 28 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor Slaven Popov is on cloud nine today after becoming a live poker champion for the first time. Popov triumphed in the 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event and walked away with 35,000 plus a package to a future 888poker LIVE event. According to his Hendon Mob profile, Popov has eight runner-up finishes to his name, in addition to a brace of six-figure hauls. The Bulgarian finished eighth in the 2014 EPT Barcelona Main Event for 121,300 and fifth in the 2015 EPT Prague Main Event for 226,330. While the 35,000 he won in Bucharest is a fraction of those scores, the fact he has finally won a live poker tournament more than makes up for it. 2022 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Slaven Popov 35,000* 2 Alexandru Arnautu 33,000* 3 Patrick Bueno 19,330 4 Jamie Thomson 15,680 5 Valentin Piraiala 12,400 6 Alexandru Stoian 9,320 7 Bogdan Berinde 6,880 8 Levente Pal 5,030 *reflects a heads-up deal 888poker LIVE Looks to the Future After Successful Return of Live Events The 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event saw 272 players buy in and create a 192,670 prize pool, of which 137,000 was dished out to the eight finalists. Levente Pal was the first of the finalists to receive some prize money, namely a 5,030 score, the second-largest haul of the Romanian's live poker career. Pal opened to 85,000 with pocket kings, with the big blind costing 40,000, and Valentin Piraila called in the big blind with nine-trey of clubs. The flop fell four-seven-ten all clubs. Pirailia checked, Pal bet 210,000 and called when Pirailia check-raised all-in for 670,000 in total. Pal held the king of clubs, but the turn and river bricked to leave Pal nursing a ten big blind stack. Pal committed the last of his chips with queen-seven after Alexandru Stoian opened from the hijack with king-ten. Stoian called and turned a Broadway straight to send Pal to the showers. Berinde Busts With a Bluff Bogdan Berinde was the next to bust, his seventh-place finish coming with 6,880. Berinde opened to 135,000 from the hijack with pocket jacks and Patrick Bueno called in the small blind with ace-ten. Both players checked the nine-ace-queen flop, before checking another nine on the turn. The river was an offsuit ten, and Bueno led for 160,000 into the 390,000 pot. Berinde paused for a few moments before jamming for 1,200,000, which Bueno snapped off. Sixth-place and 9,320 went to Stoian. Jamie Thomson opened to 175,000 on the button with pocket nines, Stoian three-bet all-in for 600,000 from the small blind, and Bueno asked for a count before folding ace-eight of hearts in the big blind. Thomson instantly called and discovered he was flipping against king-queen. A ten-high board reduced the player count by one. The final five became four with the elimination of Piraiala, who moments prior to busting lost all but four big blinds to Popov when the latter's nine-seven of hearts rivered a flush to beat his ace-jack. Piraiala moved all-in from under the gun with seven-five of clubs, and Thomson looked him up with queen-ten. Bueno also called with ace-six in the small blind. Both active players checked the board down, and Thomson won the pot courtesy of a turned Broadway straight. TEANfilas Takes Down 888poker Sunday Sale Main Event It Just Wasn't Thomson's Day Thomson was the next player heading for the cashier's desk despite winning that pot. The Canadian, who has been travelling through Europe for the past year, came unstuck in a couple of key hands. First, his ace-king lost to the ace-seven of Popov. He then lost another sizable pot to Popov before a huge hand occurred. Bueno opened to 285,000 from under the gun with pocket tens, Alexandru Arnautu called in the small blind with king-queen of diamonds, only for Thomson to squeeze all-in for 3,800,000 with ace-eight of diamonds from the big blind. Only Bueno called, and the tens flopped a set before turning a full house. That hand left Thomson nursing a 1,700,000 stack with blinds at 50,000/100,000/100,000a. Those chips went into the middle from under the gun with king-jack, only for Popov to wake up with pocket kings in the small blind. Thomson was drawing dead by the turn, and the Main Event was down to only a trio of hopefuls. Heads-up was set when Bueno busted in third at the hands of Popov. Bueno three-bet all-in for 24 big blinds with pocket fours after Popov had opened with ace-jack. Popov called, flopped a jack, turned another, and sent Bueno home with a brick on the river. The heads-up duo were evenly stacked so it was no surprise when they eventually struck a deal. They each agreed to take home 33,000, leaving the trophy, 2,000 and an added 888poker LIVE package to play for. Popov got his hands on the extras when Arnautu check-jammed with six-four on a seven-six-queen-deuce board and Popov snap-called with queen-eight. A nine on the river sent Arnautu home in second place, and ensured a delighted Popov finally got to enjoy his maiden victory. Action was picked up in a pot of roughly 30,000,000 on the turn of a board showing . Jordan Pelon in the small blind checked to Sam Laskowitz in the big blind who bet 16,500,000 which was called. The river came the and Pelon checked again. This time Laskowitz put the maximum pressure on by moving all in for 130,000,000, covering Pelon's stack. Pelon went deep in the tank, thinking for several minutes. Eventually Pelon released his hand and the massive pot was shipped to Laskowitz, increasing his lead even more. The African Union Commission chief has voiced his shock at the "violent and degrading" treatment of African migrants trying to cross from Morocco into Spanish territory after 23 people died, and has called for an investigation into the incident. On Friday, approximately 2,000 migrants stormed the heavily fortified border between the Moroccan region of Nador and the Spanish enclave of Melilla. At least 23 migrants died and 140 police officers were wounded in the ensuing violence, according to Moroccan authorities. It was the heaviest death toll in years of such attempts to cross the frontier into Melilla. In a statement via Twitter on Sunday, AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said: "I express my deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants attempting to cross an international border from Morocco into Spain." "I call for an immediate investigation into the matter and remind all countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritise their safety and human rights, while refraining from the use of excessive force," he added. Spain blames human traffickers Moroccan authorities say the individuals died as a result of a stampede of people who attempted to climb the iron fence that separates the city of Melilla and Morocco. Moroccos Interior Ministry said 76 civilians were also injured. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned what he described as a violent assault and an attack on the territorial integrity of Spain. Spanish officials said 49 Civil Guards sustained minor injuries. If there is anyone responsible for everything that appears to have taken place at that border, it is the mafias that traffic in human beings, Sanchez said. Rights groups condemn alleged brutality His remarks came as the Moroccan Association for Human Rights shared videos on social media that appeared to show dozens of migrants lying on the ground, many of them motionless and a few bleeding, as Moroccan security forces stood over them. Story continues They were left there without help for hours, which increased the number of deaths, the human rights group said on Twitter. It has called for a comprehensive investigation. In a statement released late Friday, Amnesty International expressed its deep concern over the events at the border. The International Organization for Migration and UN refugee agency UNHCR also weighed in with a statement that expressed profound sadness and concern over what happened at the Morocco-Melilla border. The mass crossing attempt was the first since Spain and Morocco mended relations after a year long dispute related to Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1976. The thaw in relations came after Spain backed Moroccos plan to grant more autonomy to the territory, a reversal of its previous support for a UN-backed referendum on the status of Western Sahara. Ghislaine Maxwell with paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein (PA Media) Virgina Giuffre has told how Ghislaine Maxwell opened the door to hell by grooming victims for abuse by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In an emotional victim impact statement to be read in court for Maxwells sentencing, Ms Giuffre described her pain and anguish of being procured for abuse by Epstein by the 60-year-old. The British socialite, who was labelled dangerous by the prosecution during her three-week trial last year, helped entice vulnerable teenagers to the disgraced financiers various properties for him to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004. She is being sentenced on Tuesday afternoon and faces up to 55 years behind bars for her crimes. In the statement, released ahead of the court hearing, Ms Giuffre opened up about the long-lasting impact the abuse has had on her, saying the unthinkable things still have a corrosive impact on me to this day. Addressing Maxwell directly, she said: I want to be clear about one thing: without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it. When you did that, Ghislaine, you changed the course of our lives forever. You joked that you were like a new mother to us. As a woman, I think you understood the damage you were causing - the price you were making us victims pay. The statement adds that despite the almost indescribable pain, I will never give up. Maxwell was found guilty by a federal jury in New York on December 29 on five charges, including sex trafficking for the recruitment and grooming of four girls between 1994 and 2004 for Epstein. Read Virginia Giuffres victim impact statement in full: Virginia Roberts Giuffre (NBC) Your honour, my name is Virginia Roberts Giuffre. For more than two years, from age 16 to 19, I was abused by Ghislaine Maxwell. Before I begin, I want to acknowledge and profusely thank the police, FBI investigators, prosecutors and judges who have invested their time and integrity in this case to hopefully set a precedent for victims and the hunters who prey upon them. Story continues Now, if it pleases the court, I would like to address my victim impact statement directly to Ghislaine Maxwell. Ghislaine, 22 years ago, in the summer of 2000, you spotted me at the Mar-a-Lago Hotel in Florida, and you made a choice. You chose to follow me and procure me for Jeffrey Epstein. Just hours later, you and he abused me together for the first time. Together, you damaged me physically, mentally, sexually, and emotionally. Together, you did unthinkable things that still have a corrosive impact on me to this day. I want to be clear about one thing: without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it. When you did that, Ghislaine, you changed the course of our lives forever. You joked that you were like a new mother to us. As a woman, I think you understood the damage you were causing - the price you were making us victims pay. You could have put an end to the rapes, the molestations, the sickening manipulations that you arranged, witnessed and even took part in. You could've called the authorities and reported that you were a part of something awful. I was young and naive when we met, Ghislaine, but you knew that. In fact, you were counting on it. My life as a young person was just beginning. You robbed me of that by exploiting my hopes and ambitions. Ghislaine, the pain you have caused me is almost indescribable. Because of your choices and the world you brought me into, I don't sleep. Nightmares wake me at all hours. In those dreams, I relive the awful things you and others did to me and the things you forced me to do. Those memories will never go away. I have trouble meeting new people without questioning if somehow they are going to hurt me, too. I don't allow my children to stay over at friends' houses, or to walk down the street alone. I don't trust anyone to be near them without me or my husband close by. I am hyper-vigilant, because I know that evil exists. You taught me that. There is not a day that goes by that I don't ask "Why?" Why, Ghislaine, did you enjoy hurting us so much? I worry every single day and night that you will get away with it and evade being punished. I will worry about that until you are brought to justice. And what should that justice look like? Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell. You deserve to be trapped in a cage forever, just like you trapped your victims. But, Ghislaine, I want you to know that, while you tried to break me, you didn't succeed. Despite you, I have grown into a woman who tries to do good in the world - a woman who, on her best days, feels like she is making a difference. My promise to you is as follows: As long as you and perpetrators like you continue to prey upon the vulnerable, I will not stop standing up and speaking out. Together, with so many others you abused, we will do all we can to keep predators from stealing the innocence of children. I will never give up. I will never go away. If you ever get out of prison, I will be here, watching you, making sure you never hurt anyone else again. CAIRO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Ten members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group were sentenced to death on Tuesday for murdering security men and sabotaging public properties in Egypt, official news agency MENA reported. Egypt's Emergency Supreme State Security Criminal Court gave a life sentence, which is 25 years in Egypt, to 56 militants and a 15-year-jail term to 52 others convicted of the same crimes. The court acquitted 43 defendants as innocents. The convicted militants were members of "Helwan Brigades," which is a group formed after the ouster of the late President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 for targeting security men and premises. The perpetrators killed, on different occasions from 2013 to 2015, six policemen and wounded 25 officers, security men, and civilians, as well as exploded 11 police vehicles and destroyed three police stations, the court verdict read. Most brotherhood leaders, members and supporters are serving time in jail. Many of them have received appealable death sentences and life imprisonment on charges varying from inciting violence and murder to espionage and jailbreak. Remember Dunkaroos? Sure you do. They were once the most coveted snack of school cafeterias everywhere. The single-serve cookies-and-icing combo appeared in the early 90s, but by 2012, they had vanished. So, what ever happened to Dunkaroos? We did some deep investigation in PureWow's nostalgic pop culture podcast, 'What Ever Happened To...?'where we come together to relive pop culture history and uncover what became of the snacks, celebrities and trends that defined our adolescence. Lets dive into all the sweet nostalgia, shall we? RELATED: What Ever Happened to Dream Street, the Boy Band Only Millennials Remember? What are Dunkaroos? Dunkaroos came in a turquoise rectangular package with cookies on one side and a little tub of icing for dunking on the other. Back in the early 90s, the cookies came in a bunch of different shapes: kangaroos with hats on, hot air balloons, motorcycles, capital Ds (for Dunkaroos, of course)the list goes on. The icings came in multiple flavors, too. In the States, we could dip our cookies into Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon, Peanut Butter and the fan-favorite, Rainbow Sprinkles. Australia even had Strawberry and Hazelnut icings. Why were Dunkaroos discontinued? While Canada still sold Dunkaroos until 2017, the product was discontinued in the United States in 2012but why? General Mills Chief Brand Officer for North America, Brad Hiranaga, explained to The New York Times, We run our businesses kind of by geography. In the U.S., our focus back in 2012, in snacking, was really trying to build out more of our healthy, nutritious snacking portfolio. And so there was a lot of work to put investment behind that. Things like Larabar, different iterations of Nature Valley there was a big push. But, once the product had been MIA from the U.S. for a few years, it became clear that devoted snackers wanted them back. So, General Mills launched a campaign called "Smugglaroos, which encouraged Canadians traveling to the U.S. to bring the snack across the border to Americans. According to Teen Vogue, the company even set up a website (sadly, it no longer exists) where wannabe snack traffickers could sign up and wax nostalgic about big hair, VHS tapes, and hammer pants. Story continues RELATED: 21 of the Best 90s Cartoons, Ranked Do they still make Dunkaroos? Were happy to report that, yes, Dunkaroos are back. In 2020, Dunkaroos finally made a comeback, with the triumphant return of the most requested flavor: Vanilla Cookies and Vanilla Frosting with Rainbow Sprinkles. Then, in 2021, chocoholics prayers were answered with the return of the Chocolate Frosting and Vanilla Cookie pairing. General Mills even came out with Dunkaroos cereal and partnered with Yoplait to release Dunkaroos Go-Gurtessentially, Dunkaroos with yogurt instead of icing. The brand also sells Dunkaroos sugar cookie mix and cans of icing. Looks like a '90s-themed baking night is in your future. According to the official Dunkaroos website, there have been no updates to the ingredients or taste, so they should taste just as we remember. Where can I buy Dunkaroos? Dunkaroos are once again available at places like Walmart and Amazon. So thats what ever happened to Dunkaroos. Happy snacking! Want more nostalgia? Tune in to 'What Ever Happened To...?' every Tuesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Dont forget to send your "What Ever Happened To's" to info@gallerypodcasts.comor just comment on one of our TikToks @WhatEverHappenedToPod. RELATED: Your Complete Menu for a Totally Bodacious '90s-Themed Dinner Party (Adult Capri Suns Included) LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is providing technology to ensure that any wheat stolen from Ukraine by Russia does not make it to the global market, Britain's environment minister George Eustice said on Monday. Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine and blockade of its Black Sea ports has prevented the country, traditionally one of the world's top food producers, from exporting much of the more than 20 million tonnes of grain stored in its silos. Last week Turkey said it was investigating claims that Ukrainian grain had been stolen by Russia and shipped to countries including Turkey, but added the probes had not found any stolen shipments so far. Russia has previously denied allegations that it has stolen Ukrainian grain. "Russia, it appears, are stealing some wheat from those stores," Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, told Sky News. "What the UK government is doing is making available the technology that we've got to be able to test the provenance of wheat. We're working with other countries including Australia on this so that we can ensure that stolen Ukrainian wheat does not find a route to market." Eustice said Britain was also looking at what it could do to help Ukraine repair its railways to get the wheat out of Ukraine via land. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Kate Holton) FILE PHOTO: A power-generating windmill turbine and the church of the village are pictured during sunset at a wind park in Ecoust-Saint-Mein By Nora Buli OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian state-owned energy firm Statkraft on Tuesday presented its expanded renewables growth strategy out to 2030 seeking to capitalise on stronger European green energy ambitions and lift power generation by up to 50%. "We have an ambition to lead the green shift in Norway and play a significant role in Europe," chief executive Christian Rynning-Toennesen told Reuters. More renewable energy is needed to meet net zero targets, cover new power consumption in Norway and strengthen European energy security, with the CEO highlighting the European Union's 210 billion euro REPowerEU plan to end its reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027. Current high power prices have also increased Statkraft's investment capacity, although Rynning-Toennesen was reluctant to name a specific annual investment target. Statkraft now plans for 4 gigawatt (GW) of annual onshore wind, solar and battery storage growth, up from a 2.5-3 GW target in 2025, the end of its previous strategic planning horizon. "We have a good project backing until 2025 and after that we are dependent on getting access to more projects," Rynning-Toennesen said. Combined with plans for major Norwegian hydropower upgrades and ambitions to build offshore wind farms in Norway and Ireland at industrial scale, this could see Statkraft's annual power generation rise by up to 50% from today to around 100 terawatt hours (TWh) by the end of the decade, it said. As part of its plans, Statkraft will also change its corporate structure into geographical business areas for Nordic, Europe and International markets and add a New Energy Solutions unit covering new technologies including hydrogen. By 2030, Statkraft eyes production capacity for 2 GW of renewables-derived hydrogen, predominantly in Norway and Sweden. (Reporting by Nora Buli; Editing by Sandra Maler) Scottish shopping centre unveils clutch of new brand openings BRAEHEAD Shopping Centre has announced a string of new openings including a US sports retail giant, a jeweller and a menswear store. The Renfrewshire centre, owned by property company SGS and asset managed by Global Mutual Properties, said fashion and home furnishings retailer Laura Ashley has opened a new section in the NEXT Home store, selling a range of furniture and homeware products. The brand has taken over 2,500 sq ft of space and the offer is the first for any NEXT in Scotland. READ MORE: Braehead Shopping Centre hails new fashion giant store Worldwide jewellery retailer Lovisa is set to open in the summer in a 780 sq ft unit, selling its range of accessories Lids, described as the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, which sells fan and fashion-oriented headwear and apparel across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, has signed on a 1,000 sq ft space, as the brand pushes ahead on plans to increase its international presence. The store is set to open later this summer. Suit Direct, the menswear retailer, has also signed on a 3,500 sq ft store and will open its doors in July. ADDIS ABABA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian federal government has disclosed the appointment of a seven-member negotiating team to "peacefully resolve" the conflict in the northern part of the country. The newly appointed negotiating team will be led by the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported late Monday. Other members of the negotiating team included Gedion Timothewos, the Ethiopian minister of Justice and Redwan Hussien, the national security advisor to the Ethiopian Prime Minister with a rank of a minister, according to the FBC report. Meanwhile, Gedion Timothewos, who is also a member of the Central Committee of Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party (PP), said that the executive and central committees of the ruling party in their meetings during the past days had deliberated upon the options of peaceful resolution of the conflict. A committee, established by the Executive Committee of the ruling party, presented a study report of peaceful options to the Central Committee of the party, which then had extensive deliberation, the state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted Timothewos as saying. "Accordingly, a decision has been made to give peaceful options a chance," ENA quoted Timothewos as saying. Timothewos said the decision has taken several issues into consideration, including the importance of peace to the country's development and ensuring the successful implementation of the inclusive national dialogue. Noting that "enormous efforts" have been made by the federal government after the conflict erupted, the Ethiopian minister of justice said halting further human and material losses and prevention of additional "bloody conflict" as well as rehabilitating the victims were also issues considered by the ruling party. Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, has seen a devastating conflict as forces loyal to the rebel TPLF and the Ethiopian National Defense Force, backed by allied forces, engaged in a 19-month conflict since November 2020. The conflict has left millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian aid is recently heading to the Tigray region after the Ethiopian government and the rebel forces agreed to a conditional cessation of hostilities and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid into the region. The Ethiopian parliament designated the TPLF as a terrorist organization in May 2021. BUDAPEST As part of his official visit to Hungary, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue met with entrepreneurs with business operations in Viet Nam on Tuesday. During talks with the heads of multinational companies Gedeon Richter and Egis, the NA Chairman said that pharmaceuticals had great potential for cooperation in Viet Nam with multiple preferential policies. Specialising in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, Gedeon Richters products entered the Vietnamese market in 1954 and officially established a representative office in 1995. Egis set up an office in Viet Nam in 2000 and is planning to expand its local operation by upscaling this establishment to be the representative office for ASEAN. Taking into consideration the suggestions from the entrepreneurs, NA Chair Hue said that the health sector and other industries in Viet Nam were focusing on administrative reform in order to streamline procedures, reduce costs and create favourable conditions for businesses. The countrys NA also had plans to adjust and amend the Law on Pharmacy in accordance with international laws and commitments. In regard to the procedures of granting, extending, and adjusting licences for drug registration, Chairman Hue emphasised that there was no difference in pharmaceutical quality management in the local and international businesses, which is stated in the laws. Speaking to the leaders of the two companies, the NA Chairman said that the significant potential of the Vietnamese market not only lay in its 100-million population but also in the access to the 600 million people in the ASEAN region. At the meeting with Robert Forintos, co-chairman of Hungarian Water Partnership (HWP), Hue said he gave high regard to the companys role in water supply and treatment in Viet Nam. In 1992, the company opened its representative office in the Asian country, and in 1996, it was the largest business in Hungary with investment projects in Viet Nam. The company has completed a project in Quang Binh Province, which provides clean water to 120,000 people in the Quang Trach District. HWP is now working on phase two of the clean water project in Quang Binh and another one in Vinh Long Province. According to NA Chairman Hue, Viet Nam has a strong commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the past, and now the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, especially on the goals of ensuring clean water supply and controlling pollution sources of wastewater. At present there is a high demand for water treatment devices in the country, especially in the suburbs and the Mekong Delta region. Therefore, advanced technology transfer in the water industry is very welcomed. VNS TSA PreCheck The Transportation Security Administration will host TSA PreCheck enrollment through Friday at Waco Regional Airport. TSA PreCheck is an expedited screening program that allows travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case, and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids and gels bag in a carry-on. To register and schedule an appointment, go to tsa.gov/precheck. Applicants must bring proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. The application fee is $85. Climate movie Waco Friends of the Climate will screen the BBC documentary Life at 50 C at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the South Waco Library, 2737 S. 18th St. As the world gets hotter, survival gets harder. The film details the extreme hardships of people suffering heat waves at multiple sites around the globe. Refreshments will be provided, all are welcome and the event is free. For more information, email anorthc@aol.com. WFD collecting fans The Waco Fire Department is kicking off its Cool the Heat program, benefiting Wacos most vulnerable residents during extreme heat emergencies. New fans may be donated at any fire station. Fans will be distributed by Mission Waco to individuals and families who need them most. Call 254-750-1740 for more information. Field of Flags Williams Creek Baptist Church presents the ninth annual Fourth of July Field of Flags event Monday, July 4, at 12525 Elk Road, at the intersection of Highway 84 and F.M. 939 between Axtell and Mart. There will be a flag ceremony at 11:30 a.m., followed by a hot dog meal with homemade ice cream at 12:15 p.m. The event ends at 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 254-863-5755 or 254-715-2309. Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com. MADRID (AP) President Joe Biden opened his three-day visit to a NATO summit Tuesday by pledging to beef up the American military presence in Europe as he denounced Russias Vladimir Putin for trying to wipe out Ukrainian culture in the ongoing war in eastern Europe. Biden, in talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, detailed plans to increase the number of Navy destroyers based in Rota, Spain, from four to six. Biden said the move was one of multiple announcements that he and NATO allies would make during the summit to help bolster the alliance in the region. Biden arrived in Spain for the summit amid an intense barrage of Russian fire across Ukraine including a horrific missile attack on a shopping mall in Kyiv on Monday and growing weariness over the grinding war that is battering the global economy. Sometimes I think Putins objective is just to literally change the entire culture -- wipe out the culture of Ukraine (with) the kinds of actions hes taking, Biden said after meeting with Sanchez. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the destroyers' move will help increase the United States' and NATOs maritime presence." He said Biden would announce additional moves on Wednesday. The president said before the war started that if Putin invaded Ukraine, the United States and NATO would enhance the force posture on the eastern flank, not just for the duration of the crisis, but to address the long-term change in the strategic reality that that would present, Sullivan added. Biden is looking to use this week's NATO summit to shore up allies amid signs of fractures in the western alliance. After heaping an avalanche of sanctions on the Russian economy and funneling billions of dollars of weaponry into Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, NATO partners are showing signs of strain as the cost of energy and other essential goods has skyrocketed. As the U.S. president departed for the NATO meeting from the German Alps, where he met this week with leaders of the Group of Seven leading economies, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the prices are putting European economies in an untenable situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed the G-7 on Monday, has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of the war. The U.S. has been building up its presence since shortly before the Russian invasion in late February, adding about 20,000 troops to the 80,000 who were previously in Europe. And the U.S. has signaled that the Russian invasion will have reverberations on its and NATO allies' defense posture for years to come. The U.S. and Spain, in a joint statement following the Biden-Sanchez meeting, said the invasion fundamentally altered the global strategic environment and that the aggression constitutes the most direct threat to transAtlantic security and global stability since the end of the Cold War. Sullivan suggested that other moves Biden is set to announce will involve positioning additional forces on NATO's eastern flank in a steady state." He declined to say if some U.S. forces that serve there on a rotational basis would become permanent. The U.S. president praised Spain for taking in tens of thousands of Ukrainian migrants who have fled the war. Our people have stood together," Biden said during a meeting with Spain's King Felipe VI. Theyve stood up and theyve stood strong. Biden attended a dinner on Tuesday with other NATO leaders at the 18th Century Royal Palace of Madrid, hosted by Spain's king and queen, Letizia. Biden is set to meet with Turkish President Erdogan on Wednesday, a day after Turkey lifted its objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The two countries made the historic step of applying for NATO membership in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. Sullivan said the U.S. did not have a role to play in negotiations between Turkey and the Nordic nations, which were being brokered by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. A senior administration official said Tuesday that the U.S. offered no concessions to Turkey to coax it to accept a deal and drop its opposition to membership for Finland and Sweden. The official said Biden told Erdogan when they spoke earlier Tuesday that closing the deal with the Nordic countries that night would set up a good opportunity for their own talks on Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss administration strategy. Biden will also look to highlight progress made by NATO members at meeting the alliances goal of spending 2% of gross domestic product on their defense budgets. Sullivan said a majority of members would report that they have met the benchmark or are on track to by 2024. He described it as a substantial shift in the intensity and commitment of NATO allies in terms of putting their money where their mouth is. Biden's predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, fiercely criticized NATO partners who failed to hit the target. The president will also hold a rare joint meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss North Korea's nuclear program. U.S. and South Korean officials say that North Korea has all but finished preparations for its first nuclear test since September 2017, when it claimed to have detonated a thermonuclear warhead designed for intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea may use its next nuclear test to claim that it has acquired the ability to build small nuclear warheads that can be placed on short-range missiles or other new weapons systems it has demonstrated in recent months, analysts say. Madhani reported from Washington. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. At the G7 summit, French President Emmanuel Macron informed his American counterpart, Joe Biden, that OPEC's two largest oil exporters are already producing close to their maximum capacity. Crude oil prices increased once more on Tuesday as G7 leaders investigated the possibility of a price ceiling for Russian crude oil. Supply concerns intensified, and optimism for increased demand was buoyed by an easing of COVID curbs in China. The price of crude gained ground after it was reported that French President Emmanuel Macron was overheard telling U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit in Germany that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had little room to boost crude output in the near term. These comments were said to have occurred in Germany. Macron informed Biden that he had been told by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the leader of the United Arab Emirates, that the country was at maximum production capacity and that the Saudis could increase production by 150,000 barrels a day or slightly more, but "don't have huge capacities before six months." Macron also told Biden that he had been informed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the leader of the United Arab Emirates. It has been speculated that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the only two countries in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that have spare capacity to increase worldwide deliveries, which might decrease prices. On the margins of the G7 summit, Emmanuel Macron was overheard telling Vice President Joe Biden of the United States of America, "I had a call with MbZ," where "MbZ" is an abbreviation for Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the leader of the United Arab Emirates. "He shared two things with me. I'm at a maximum (production capacity). This is what he asserts, anyway." "After that, he stated that Saudi Arabia's population may expand by 150 percent (thousands of barrels per day). Perhaps a little bit more, but they won't have a large capacity for at least the next six months, "Macron added. The top energy official in the United Arab Emirates released a statement at the end of Monday saying that his country is producing the 3.168 million barrels per day allotted to it by OPEC+ (bpd). Energy Minister Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei made this statement in response to recent reports in the media: "In light of recent media reports, I would like to clarify that the UAE is generating near to its maximum production capability based on its current OPEC+ production baseline." Because there is a shortfall of supply and a comeback in demand after the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, the price of oil on a global scale has been slowly climbing over the past few months. Since Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine in late February, prices have increased even further. After Reuters reported Macron's comments, the benchmark crude oil price climbed on Monday. The West is looking for methods to minimize its reliance on Russian oil imports as a form of economic punishment for Moscow, contributing to a 1.7 percent increase in Brent oil prices to above $115 per barrel. Saudi Arabia now produces 10.5 million barrels per day and has a nameplate capacity of 12.0 million-12.5 million barrels per day. This means that it should be able to expand output by 2 million barrels per day. The United Arab Emirates now produces around 3 million barrels per day, can produce 3.4 million and has been making progress toward increasing production to 4 million barrels per day. Before the Ukraine conflict, Europe imported approximately 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and approximately 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of refined products from Russia. Currently, Europe is looking at alternative ways to replace these imports. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies, including Russia, are known as OPEC+. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the only members of this group that are believed to be capable of considerably increasing output. Later this week, officials from OPEC and other countries will meet, and Vice President Biden will visit Saudi Arabia the following month. Because spare capacity is minimal, "we think Saudi Arabia will seek to be judicious about how it deploys its remaining barrels and will likely incrementally increase output rather than simply dumping all the barrels at once and risk losing control of the market," Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, stated in a note. "We think Saudi Arabia will seek to be judicious about how it deploys its remaining barrels and will likely incrementally increase According to Reuters, the heads of state for the seven developed nations that make up the Group of Seven have reached an agreement to investigate the possibility of placing price caps on imports of Russian oil and gas to reduce the amount of money that Moscow has available to spend on its conflict with Ukraine. This year, Russia is on course to reach $285 billion in energy revenue, a 20 percent increase from 2021. Macron Warns Biden on UAE, Saudi Arabian Oil Capacity Editor's note: This story has been updated to include videos from the Eight Over 80 luncheon. CEDAR FALLS Family and friends gathered Tuesday for a luncheon and awards ceremony honoring The Couriers 2022 Eight Over 80 winners. This is our 13th class of honorees. These are individuals who have spent a lifetime making a difference in their communities as business and community leaders and volunteers. Their efforts, commitment and dedication have inspired and motivated others. About 185 people gathered to see the latest group of recipients accept their honors. Janet Johnson, president of the North Iowa Media Group, which includes The Courier, welcomed the honorees and their guests to the event, which took place at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls. This is now one of my favorite events. To hear what awesome things these seniors have accomplished with such humility is absolutely inspiring, Johnson said afterwards. Western Home Communities Chief Operating Officer Jerry Harris delivered opening remarks at the gathering. Enrique Ochoa, director of spiritual care at Western Home Communities, delivered the opening prayer. Sponsors of the event included Western Home Communities, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and Cedar Valley Hospice. Here are this years Eight Over 80 recipients: Marlene Behn, 80, served for years on the Cedar Falls school board, Family and Childrens Council and numerous philanthropic organizations. She and her husband, Parke, were named Cedar Falls Representative Citizen of the Year in 1996 for extraordinary community involvement. Diana Blake, 80, began teaching music in 1965 at Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools. She is a member of both the Cedar Falls and Waterloo municipal bands, director and member of the UNI New Horizons Band and founded an area bassoon band. Eileen Kruse, 92, a retired registered nurse, created the first school nurse position at Ackley-Geneva schools, was a nurse supervisor for Hardin County Homemaker Health-Aide program and began missionary work with the Partners of the Americas organization, traveling across the world on medical missions. Louise McGinnis, 84, worked as a nurse at Cedar Falls Lutheran Home, now NewAldaya Lifescapes, earned a speech pathology degree from the University of Northern Iowa and worked as a speech pathologist consultant for Head Start, AEA 7 and the Franklin, Butler, Bremer Counties Association. She served five years on the Cedar Falls Planning and Zoning Commission. Nyle McMartin, who soon turns 81, is a retired John Deere skilled tradesman and U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran who has grown into one of Buchanan Countys leading conservationists. He served on the Buchanan County Conservation Board for 10 years and previously worked with Iowa State University Extension after retiring from Deere 27 years ago. Paul Rider, 81, taught chemistry for more than 41 years at the University of Northern Iowa and served as assistant provost. A self-taught musician who plays 20 instruments, Rider was a driving force behind the Cedar Basin Jazz Festival and leads the Saints Dixieland Jazz Band. Joan Stigler, 83, graduated at age 52 from Upper Iowa University with a bachelors degree in social work. She mentored teen parents and children in the juvenile probation system and volunteered in schools with low-income and at-risk students. She also chaired the Black Hawk County Board of Health. Lois Wishmeyer, 92, has volunteered at Sartori Memorial Hospital (now MercyOne) and at the Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau for the past 15 years. In 2020, she received the Mayors Volunteer Award for commitment to her community. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WATERLOO The United States Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade has locals in the pro-life camp celebrating and feeling like they're prepared to support pregnant mothers and future families. Its a step in the right direction for all the future mothers, fathers and babies, said Megan Yturriaga, executive director of Alternatives Pregnancy Center. But there is still much to do, and its why our organization is here to support those who have an unplanned pregnancy. City Council first removes funding, then fails to adopt Cedar Falls Resilience Plan I think approving and adopting today could put the city on the hook for things that we are not ready to tackle just yet. The organization doesnt support abortion. Instead, she noted, it offers resources like the newly rolled-out "All Pro Dads" support group that prepares male clients to be good parents as they struggle with the daunting reality of the role. The Rev. Scott Bullock, pastor at St. Edward Catholic Church, views the ruling as a call to continue supporting new mothers and fathers. Thats our biggest concern, he said. When were not protecting our weakest, thats bad for society. Before the ruling, his parish had organized a committee in hopes of launching a Walking with Moms in Need program. Churches learn how to help moms in difficult circumstances and, in turn, support local pregnancy centers, develop their own programs and share other community resources. Bullock emphasized he never tried to force his opinion on anyone, but if someone came to him contemplating an abortion, hed counsel that person to preserve the life of the child. If someone came to him for a confession after getting an abortion, hed remind them they are beloved children of God, and that God still loves them, and wants them to heal." Having a child, he said, brings joy and the opportunity for love and devotion. Thats why we were created, after all, Bullock said. John Wood, one of Bullocks parishioners and a family law attorney, was born after his mother decided to give birth to him despite facing health complications. Im very glad she didnt follow through with the medical advice she was given and instead followed her heart, he said. Whats missed a lot, he said about the news of the court's ruling, is this returns the decision of abortion to the states. Wood feels those who reference this as the decision of an extremely radical court" are misguided. The justices could have gone further than this," he said. They could have guaranteed the unborn the constitutional rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Local residents react to Supreme Court abortion ruling Cedar Valley residents demonstrated in downtown Cedar Falls in reaction to a United States Supreme Court ruling Friday that overturned Roe v. Wade. But Wood says Democrats' calls in recent years for safe, legal and rare abortions has gone a step too far, and disingenuous organizations like Planned Parenthood don't present all available solutions to a crisis pregnancy and have become profit centers." I think the Vatican's response got it just right, said Dave Cushing, associate adult faith formation/team leader with Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation, in a statement. The challenge now is to see if anti-abortion advocates will be just as passionate about other pro-life issues, including the rights of women, the welfare of families, and the safety of children outside the womb. The ideological constraints of partisan politics have narrowed the focus to just one issue; the time has come to broaden the perspective to all of human life. This story was updated Wednesday to clarify Bullock's opinion. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ONAWA, Iowa -- An Onawa teen could face up to 30 years in prison after a judge found him guilty of sexually assaulting two girls. District Judge Zachary Hindman ruled Jay Lee Neubaum guilty of three counts of third-degree sexual abuse for raping and assaulting one of the girls and raping the other. However, Hindman found Neubaum, 19, not guilty of seven other counts of third-degree sexual abuse that alleged he had sexually assaulted five other girls. "Evidence presented at trial by the state leaves the court with a reasonable doubt on each of those counts," Hindman said Friday as he read portions of his verdict in front of some of the girls, their families and supporters in Monona County District Court. Some of the families and the girls left the courthouse in tears, appearing shocked by the ruling. None of those present, or their families or supporters, wished to comment, a victims advocate said. Monona County Attorney Ian McConaughey also declined to comment until Neubaum's sentencing, which will be scheduled at a later date. Each of the three charges of which Neubaum was found guilty carries a 10-year prison sentence. Neubaum was charged with sexually assaulting six of the girls and forcing sexual contact with the seventh from August 2019 through March 2020 in and around Mapleton, Iowa, where Neubaum attended school. At trial, the girls, who ranged in age from 13-16 at the time the alleged incidents occurred, described how Neubaum forced himself on them. Neubaum denied the allegations. Neubaum waived his right to have a jury hear his case, and Hindman presided over his three-day trial in December. Hindman said that in the cases of the three guilty verdicts, the victims provided credible trial testimony and details of their accounts of the assaults "make intuitive sense," Hindman said. Neubaum's semen was found on the blanket of one of the victims, consistent with her testimony. At trial, McConaughey had argued the alleged assaults all followed a similar pattern, and each of the girls described how Neubaum got them alone, started kissing them against their will, pushed them down, forcibly removed their pants and underwear and sexually assaulted them. During her closing arguments at trial, Neubaum's attorney, Theresa Rachel, said the girls and other witnesses gave conflicting or inconsistent testimony, suggesting that one of the girls may have persuaded the others to make up their stories. Hindman said he did not find the girls colluded against Neubaum. But the judge agreed there were numerous inconsistencies in the testimony and statements given by the girls and other witnesses. "The question here is not whether the court suspects, or even strongly suspects, that Neubaum committed the offenses alleged in these counts," Hindman said in his 74-page ruling. "Rather, the issue that the court must resolve is whether the state has proven that he committed those offenses, and has so proven beyond a reasonable doubt. "... aspects of Neubaum's defenses to these charges ... are sufficient to leave the court with a reasonable doubt about each of those counts," Hindman said. Neubaum was not personally present at Friday's hearing but participated via video from the Anamosa State Penitentiary, where he is serving a 50-year prison sentence for second-degree murder for the Jan. 31, 2020, shooting death of 16-year-old Joseph Hopkins in Mapleton. A Monona County jury convicted him of the crime in May 2021. Hopkins, of Mapleton, was shot once in the forehead with a 12-gauge shotgun while he, Neubaum and two other teenage boys were working on a demolition derby car in a garage at the home of Neubaum's grandmother, with whom he was living at the time. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New channel of China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line launched between Italy, Slovenia Xinhua) 08:39, June 28, 2022 TRIESTE, Italy, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A block train service for facilitating transportation of products from Chinese home appliances manufacturer Hisense was launched here on Monday. Operated by China's COSCO SHIPPING, the first train on the new line set off from the port of Trieste, northeast Italy. The train, loaded with 32 containers, is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday in Velenje, Slovenia, the seat of the European headquarters of Hisense. The freight train service is part of the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line, which combines sea and land transportation, and stretches from the Greek port city of Piraeus to the hinterland of Europe. At the launch ceremony of the Hisense train in Trieste, Executive Vice President of COSCO SHIPPING Lin Ji said that in the future, "the electrical products produced by Hisense in Velenje will also be transported to Trieste by the block train, loaded on container vessels of COSCO SHIPPING," and shipped to other destinations in Europe and beyond. Noting that Trieste Maritime Terminal "represents the gateway to Central and Eastern Europe," Stefano Selvatici, managing director of the terminal, said he is "confident that this new rail connection will represent a crucial milestone able to innovate a traditional logistic system into a more performing and suitable one." Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia autonomous region where Trieste is situated, thanked COSCO SHIPPING and Hisense for recognizing the potential of the port of Trieste, adding that he hopes opportunities for commercial collaborations will continue to grow. Trieste is the fourth channel to be opened on the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line in Europe, after the main channel of Piraeus Port, the channel of Rijeka in Croatia, and the Valencia-Madrid-Bilbao channel in Spain, according to COSCO SHIPPING. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) ALGIERS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- An Algerian official praised a Chinese-built highway project on Tuesday for its high quality and contribution to local social and economic development. Mohamed Khaldi, director general of Algeria's National Highway Agency, said the 53-kilometer project undertaken by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), has effectively facilitated social and economic development, saved transportation costs, and improved travel convenience for locals. Khaldi made the remarks when he joined members of the Trans-Saharan Highway Liaison Committee to tour a portion of the 53-kilometer entrance section of the Trans-Saharan Highway, a continental-scale project that links six African countries, namely Algeria, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Tunisia. With a total length of more than 9,000 km, the main line of the highway is the Algiers-Lagos section, which has a length of about 4,500 km. The ambitious project seeks to provide Sub-Saharan African nations with access to the Mediterranean Sea. It also intends to boost pan-African economic cooperation and trade exchanges, as well as accelerate regional and global integration. Due to steep terrain and projects including the construction of a 9.6-km-long tunnel and 2.7-km-long bridge, the 53-km-long portion of the highway connecting the northern Algerian towns of Chiffa and Berrouaghia is regarded as one of the most challenging and complicated parts of the entire highway. To build the section, CSCEC has created more than 10,000 jobs in Algeria and trained more than 2,000 professionals in the construction sector, according to figures released by the company. About 100 people some of whom carried signs while others stood silently to show their support gathered Friday evening at the corner of 15th Street and 3rd Avenue in Rock Island to protest the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to strike down the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion. Among them were Jennifer Ziegler, of Rockford, Ill., and Destany Metcalf, of Rock Island. Asked why she had come to the rally, Ziegler said, An intense anger, and outrage. Furious outrage. Thats what brought me down here. Metcalf said she was experiencing a wide mix of emotions regarding the ruling. Anger, obviously, Metcalf said, adding that she was scared for her future. Am I going to be able to marry my future partner who is the same sex as me, she said. Are we going to have access to contraceptives, which is a basic right, a basic need? I just want to show the world this isnt right, Metcalf said. The high court's ruling does not outlaw abortion, but it does leave the decision to the states, some of which have moved to allow legal abortion services, while others have moved to outlaw abortions. Gregg Johnson, one of three Democratic candidates vying to be the state representative for Illinois 72nd District, said Illinois had done a phenomenal job of protecting the reproductive rights for women. But while states scramble to determine their own abortion laws, Johnson said Congress should take action to protect abortion rights at the federal level. While states that maintain abortion services likely would be willing to let anyone come for such services, the reality is it likely wont work well. The reality is not everybody is going to be able to afford to come to Illinois, Johnson said. You have rural areas where they might have to drive eight to 10 hours, so its just not realistic, he said. Im certain that some states are going to try and stop people from crossing state lines for an abortion. And lets face it, this disproportionately affects people of color, Johnson said. Anytime they take these sorts of actions it disproportionately affects people of color. Not everybody is going to have the means to go to other states. Teresa Carlton of Davenport said she showed up at the rally to support the cause for women. I sure hope that we maintain pro-choice because I think everyones body is a choice, Carlton said. I truly believe that. Do I believe in abortion? I dont. But I do believe in a womans choice, she said. I would never have an abortion because thats me, Carlton said. But thats my choice and my free will, and I dont think anyone should mess with that. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By the time Julian Voss-Andreae 04 arrived in Portland, he was 29 years old, spoke some English but not fluently and would soon become a father. Hed just immigrated from Germany. His background was steeped in physics, but as he sought to pursue his longtime interest in art, he didnt fully fall in either discipline. He had no idea what he wanted to do. But his first year design class at Pacific Northwest College of Art nudged him in the direction of the quantum sculptures that have since become his signature: large-scale, stainless steel human figures that can weigh thousands of pounds yet simultaneously disappear into thin air, works that have become public landmarks in 30 locations and enchant viewers everywhere from Taiwan to Azores and Minnesota to Miami. Bridging the worlds of art, technology and science has broadened his reach. A scholar and writer as well, Voss-Andreae has captured the interest of dozens of art magazines, academic papers, and science and technology books throughout his career. Even so, he said he only became truly sought after about three years ago. A Reddit post on his sculpture, A Disappearing Act, went viral and led to a 2018 Insider feature that drew millions of views. I was a complete outsider, he said. But I made my own niche and I was able to make a name for myself in unusual ways. Early and critical acclaim Voss-Andreae didnt fully appreciate the value of uniting his interests in science and art until his first 3D design assignment, when he saw another student chop up a 10-foot piece of lumber and form it into a small, tight ball. It was an epiphany: Voss-Andreae was struck by its similarity to the behavior of protein chains as they twist into three-dimensional configurations, so he wrote a software program that could turn protein structural data into cutting instructions that would allow him to build sculptures of proteins. I like to work with my hands, and I was really intrigued, he said. With the technology available now, like 3D printing and scanning, I realized it was a new day for sculpture. Among his early works is a red alpha helix sculpture dedicated to Linus Pauling, the famed Portland chemist and two-time Nobel Prize winner. Realizing Paulings connection to Portland and his discovery of the spiral protein structure was so exciting to Voss-Andreae, he reached out to the owners of Paulings childhood home on Hawthorne Boulevard and proposed the sculpture. All I wanted to do is make this piece, he said. They paid for the materials, mostly the steel and the powder coating. I donated my labor. It was 10 feet tall and that became part of my thesis project. By the time Voss-Andreae graduated, his work had appeared in several locations in the Portland area, Washington state and even Art Basel in Miami. He began working full time in his garage-turned-studio, grinding out new sculptures for a growing number of exhibitions with a welder his wife bought for his birthday. Eventually, his projects outgrew the space. One work, a three-stranded steel rope structure based on the collagen protein, was so tall he had to hook it on the top of a street pole to work on. Eight hours of welding and grinding every day drove his neighbors nuts, so he rented a cheap studio nearby, he said. Achieving success and a thick skin Demand for Voss-Andreaes work began to grow, but he had to push himself hard to keep reaching out. Shy and terrible at networking, he struggled with the marketing side of art competition is so high, and its so hard to get your foot in the door, he said. You have to be so thick-skinned, he said. What I learned after a few years of heartbreak is that the only trick is to keep applying to new things. Be in the future where do you want to go with art? You cant look back on the opportunities you didnt get. It will devastate you. His first major breakthrough happened in 2006. A sculpture of sliced stainless steel he created for a gallery in Sun Valley, Idaho, led to Quantum Man, an 8-foot-tall walking man composed of more than 100 vertical steel sheets, and similar works he continues to create today. Now he has some help a team of seven employees grind, sand and shape the steel sheets for him in his 6,000-square-foot Sellwood studio while he manages the designs and paperwork. Serious stress has dogged him throughout his career, from not feeling confident about his math skills to wondering if his sculpting abilities were strong enough, but he kept pushing and pushing, and he never compromised on his determination to work full time as an artist. At 51, hes not sure what his next steps are. Hes developed interests beyond sculpture and art, in what can be called spirituality, he said. Until then, the projects keep coming: a commission for a Moscow museum, two gallery sculptures and back orders that can finally move forward along with interest in public works. Last year, when the world was locked down, he recorded his best financial year ever. It can be such a mixed bag, he said. Im incredibly grateful. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine. Successful joint action of Russian troops, units of peoples militia of the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics cause critical losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Attacks launched by Russian Aerospace Forces at a base of Azov Nazi group located in Kharkov and of one of the battalions of 92nd Mechanised Infantry Brigade deployed near Pokotilovka (Kharkov region) have resulted in the elimination of over 100 Ukrainian servicemen, foreign mercenaries and up to 15 armoured and motor vehicles. The low training level of the Ukrainian citizens mobilised for being involved in operations and foreign mercenaries increasingly causes friendly fire. Recruits who had come for replenishing the personnel of 97th Battalion from 60th Infantry Brigade suffered a mortar attack from their units. A similar situation occured in 28th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU where foreign mercenaries launched a fire attack at a reconnaissance group of the abovementioned unit. This attack has resulted in losing 4 servicemen dead and 3 wounded. Russian Federation Armed Forces continue launching attacks at military facilities located in Ukraine. On June 27, in Kremenchug (Poltava region), Russian Aerospace Forces launched a high-precision air attack at hangars with armament and munitions delivered by USA and European countries at Kremenchug road machinery plant. High-precision attack has resulted in the neutralisation of west-manufactured armament and munitions concentrated at the storage area for being delivered to Ukrainian group of troops in Donbass. Detonation of the storaged munitions caused a fire in a non-functioning shopping centre next to the facilities of the plant. In addition, Russian Aerospace forces have destroyed 2 command posts near Spornoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), AFU manpower and military equipment in 28 areas towards Lugansk and Donetsk. Within the counter-battery warfare, high-precision attacks launched by Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in neutralising 4 Ukrainian plattoons armed with Grad multiple rocket-launching systems (MRLS) near Leninskoye, Selidovo and Dzerzhinsk that had been shelling the settlements of the Donetsk Peoples Republic, as well as 2 artillery plattoons near Kirovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Zaychevskoye (Nikolayev region). Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised: 24 command posts, artillery and mortar units in 58 areas, as well as manpower and military equipment in 304 areas. Russian air defence means have shot down 3 Su-25 airplanes and 1 Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Pervomayskoye (Nikolayev region). 9 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Dibrovnoye, Shevchenkovo, Dementiyevka, Dmitrovka (Kharkov region), Yelenovka, Luganskoye, Troitskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Loskutovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). 7 Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles have been intercepted near Stakhanov, Alchevsk, Lozovsky (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and 10 MRLS near Sukhaya Kamenka, Ternovaya (Kharkov region), Donetsk, Yasinovataya, Troitskoye and western suburbs of Avdeyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In total, 218 airplanes and 133 helicopters, 1,382 unmanned aerial vehicles, 350 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,837 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 690 combat vehicles equipped with multiple rocket-launching systems, 3,037 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 3,889 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. #MoD #Russia #Ukraine @mod_russia_Enjoy WtR There, some regular idiot, a former minister from Latvia, sent a signal that NATO and the European Union were taking Kaliningrad from us. Looks like he drank or ate something bad. Proposes to start a third world war. He will come to himself he will be afraid of every rustle at the door. And rightly so. We have a good memory Medvedev Nuff Said, except Kaliningrad is Russia and attacking it, is the same as attacking Moscow As Dirty Harry said Youve Gotta Ask Yourself A Question. Do I Feel Lucky? Well, Do YaPUNK? WtR We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form CAPE TOWN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's power utility Eskom on Tuesday announced that it will enhance the level of load shedding from the current Stage 4 to the more severe Stage 6 in certain periods on Tuesday and Wednesday, citing unlawful and unprotected wage-related labor action that caused disruption to the utility's power plants. This is the worst power outage since 2019. Eskom has only implemented Stage 6 load shedding once, in December 2019. Stage 6 load shedding will be implemented from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, while Stage 4 or Stage 2 will be implemented during other hours, it said in a statement. Eskom said the labor action has caused widespread disruption to its power plants, which compels it to continue taking precautionary measures to conserve generation capacity and safeguard plants from damage. Before the latest announcement, Eskom last Friday said it would raise the load shedding from Stage 2 to Stage 4 most of the time from Friday to Sunday due to "unprotected labor action", following a deadlock in wage negotiations. On Sunday, it extended Stage 4 until this Wednesday after labor action at power stations impacted planned maintenance and repairs. Eskom currently has 3,218 megawatts (MW) on planned maintenance, while another 17,621MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns. Trade unions have been demanding a 10 percent wage increase while Eskom only offered a 5.3 percent increase. A major South African trade union representing workers at Eskom, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), told Xinhua on Monday that it doesn't know when the negotiations will resume. Another union, Solidarity, also said it doesn't know the date for the resumption of the talks, and denied involvement in the labor action. Proposed acquisition - Market Update Sydney, June 28, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - JGY Holdings Limited ( NSX:JGY ) refers to its announcement dated 10 December 2021, and wishes to provide a market update on the proposed acquisition. In particular, the Company advises that it had:(1) completed its due diligence on International Wines & Spirits Trading Sdn. Bhd. (Target Company) and its two operating subsidiaries, namely:(a) Guizhou Bainian Lai's Liquor Co., Limited; and(b) Guizhou Lai's Liquor Co., Limited; and(2) submitted a suitability for listing submission (Suitability Submission) pursuant to Practice Note 20 in relation to Target Company and its operating subsidiaries, and responded to all the Exchange's comments on the Suitability Submission.Therefore, the Company will lodge with ASIC a full form prospectus in accordance with section 710 of the Corporations Act in relation to, amongst others, shares which it will issue as consideration for the acquisition of Target Company.The Company further advises that the notice of extraordinary general meeting (together with explanatory notes) to convene a general meeting to seek shareholders' approvals for and relating to the proposed acquisition of Target Company and for the change of its name to "Laishi Liquor Limited" will be dispatched to Shareholders in accordance with its Constitution shortly.About JGY Holdings LimitedListed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia.Issue Code: JGYIssue Name: JGY Holdings Limited - FPOIssue Type: 01 - OrdinaryISIN: KYG650141057Industry: Consumer StaplesNominated Adviser: Biztrack Consultants Private Limited Room 703 Kowloon Building 555 Nathan Road Hong KongListed Date: Thursday, 21 December 2017 LONDON Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the Bolshevik Revolution more than a century ago, further alienating the country from the global financial system following sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine. Moscow owed $100 million in interest on one bond priced in dollars and one priced in euros, which was originally due May 27. A 30-day grace period expired Sunday. On Monday, the rating agency company Moodys declared the country in default. Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department ended Russias ability to pay its billions in debt back to international investors through American banks. In response, the Russian Finance Ministry said it would pay dollar-denominated debts in rubles and offer the opportunity for subsequent conversion into the original currency. Before Moodys declaration, it was largely believed that Russia was in default. For all practical purposes, Russia is in default, said Jay S. Auslander, a sovereign debt lawyer at the firm of Wilk Auslander in New York. The 30-day grace period has expired. Bondholders do not have their money. Russia says it has the money to pay its debts but Western sanctions created artificial obstacles by freezing its foreign currency reserves held abroad. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that there are no grounds to call this situation a default, saying Russia has paid but it could not be processed because of sanctions. The other side argues that this happened because of sanctions, but sanctions were fully in your control, Auslander said. All of this was under your control, because all you had to do was not invade Ukraine. Here are key things to know about a Russian default: ___ HOW MUCH DOES RUSSIA OWE? About $40 billion in foreign-currency bonds, about half of that sold to foreigner buyers. Before the start of the war, Russia had around $640 billion in foreign currency and gold reserves, much of which was held overseas and is now frozen. Russia has not defaulted on its international debts since the Bolshevik Revolution, when the Russian Empire collapsed and the Soviet Union was created. Russia defaulted on its domestic debts in the late 1990s but was able to recover from that default with the help of international aid. Russia has effectively been in default for months in the eyes of bond investors, said Liam Peach, an economist specializing in emerging European markets at Capital Economics. Insurance contracts that cover Russian debt have priced a 80% likelihood of default for weeks, and rating agencies like Standard & Poors and Moodys have placed the countrys debt deep into junk territory. ___ HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A COUNTRY IS IN DEFAULT? Rating agencies are typically the entities that will declare default in Western financial markets, which happened on Monday. A court also can decide the issue. Bondholders who have credit default swaps contracts that act like insurance policies against default can ask a committee of financial firm representatives to decide whether a failure to pay debt should trigger a payout, which still isnt a formal declaration of default. The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committees an industry group of banks and investment funds would likely flag a credit event, Peach said. Auslander agreed that the panel will declare Russia in default in due time. It ruled June 7 that Russia had failed to pay required additional interest after making a payment on a bond after the April 4 due date. But the committee put off taking further action due to uncertainty over how sanctions might affect any settlement. ___ WHAT CAN INVESTORS DO? The formal way to declare default is if 25% or more of bondholders say they didnt get their money. Once that happens, provisions say all Russias other foreign bonds are also in default, and bondholders could then seek a court judgment to enforce payment. In normal circumstances, investors and the defaulting government typically negotiate a settlement in which bondholders are given new bonds that are worth less but that at least give them some partial compensation. But sanctions bar dealings with Russias finance ministry. And no one knows when the war will end or how much defaulted bonds could wind up being worth. In this case, declaring default and suing might not be the wisest choice, Auslander said. Its not possible to negotiate with Russia and there are so many unknowns, so creditors may decide to hang tight for now. Investors who wanted out of Russian debt have probably already headed for the exits, leaving those who may have bought bonds at knocked-down prices in hopes of profiting from a settlement in the long run. And they might want to keep a low profile for a while to avoid being associated with the war. Once a country defaults, it can be cut off from bond-market borrowing until the default is sorted out and investors regain confidence in the governments ability and willingness to pay. But Russia has already been cut off from Western capital markets, so any return to borrowing is a long way off anyway. The Kremlin can still borrow rubles at home, where it mostly relies on Russian banks to buy its bonds. ___ WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF RUSSIAS DEFAULT? Western sanctions over the war have sent foreign companies fleeing from Russia and interrupted the countrys trade and financial ties with the rest of the world. Default would be one more symptom of that isolation and disruption. A default would not affect the Russian economy right now because the country has not borrowed internationally in years amid sanctions and is making lots of money from exporting commodities like oil and natural gas, said Chris Weafer, a veteran Russian economy analyst at consulting firm Macro-Advisory. But longer term, when the war has resolved and Russia tries to rebuild its economy, this is where the legacy of default will be a problem. Its a bit like if an individual or if a company gets a bad credit score, it takes years to get over that, he said. Investment analysts are cautiously reckoning that a Russia default would not have the kind of impact on global financial markets and institutions that came from an earlier default in 1998. Back then, Russias default on domestic ruble bonds led the U.S. government to step in and get banks to bail out Long-Term Capital Management, a large U.S. hedge fund whose collapse, it was feared, could have shaken the wider financial and banking system. Holders of the bonds for instance, funds that invest in emerging market bonds could take serious losses. Russia, however, played only a small role in emerging market bond indexes, limiting the losses to fund investors. The spillovers to the rest of the world should be limited, Peach said. But a Russian default could have a ripple effect by adding pressure on global debt markets and making investors more risk averse and less willing to advance money, which very well could lead to further defaults in other emerging markets, Weafer said. ___ Sweet and Choe reported from New York. AP reporter Aya Batrawy contributed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque police arrested a man they said killed his father after, they said, his father shot at him and killed his mother Sunday morning. But the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office has prepared a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice meaning it can be refiled. Lauren Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the office, said the motion states that based on newly discovered video evidence and medical evidence, the State finds that further investigation is required. An Albuquerque Police Department spokesman said detectives have to do more investigating into both deaths, citing the discovery of new evidence and the results of an autopsy. Raymond David Barreras III, 23, was booked into the county jail and charged with murder Sunday afternoon. An APD spokesman said he will be released. Around 9:20 a.m. Sunday, officers were called to the Circle K on 98th, just north of Central, for reports of a shooting. When they arrived they found a man dead from a gunshot wound to the head. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, video camera security footage showed a man later identified as 50-year-old Barreras Jr. get out of a black SUV and approach a maroon Honda. As the Honda entered the gas station parking lot, Barreras Jr. who is referred to as Raymond Jr. in the complaint could be seen sprinting toward it. Raymond (Jr.) is observed taking a shooting stance while advancing towards the Honda which then exits the parking lot on the east side, the detective wrote in the complaint. It appears from this video that Raymond Jr. is firing a handgun at the Honda. Casings were located in the parking lot consistent with Raymond Jr. shooting at the Honda. Video footage from a nearby car wash showed Barreras Jr. walking back to his SUV after shooting at the Honda. The Honda leaves the parking lot. After the Honda drives past Raymond Jr., Raymond Jr. is observed dropping to the ground as if he had instantly been incapacitated, the detective wrote in the complaint. I believe this to be the moment that Raymond Jr. was shot in the head. Barreras III, meanwhile, called 911 to say his father had shot at him and his girlfriend after finding them sleeping in the Honda. He expressed hatred for his father and said he was worried about his mother, 48-year-old Melissa Barreras, since his father had been using drugs and alcohol. When officers went to the Barreras home a couple of miles away they found Melissa Barreras dead from a gunshot wound to the head. The homes security camera footage did not show anyone but Barreras Jr. entering the front door that morning. As he summed up the case, the detective wrote that the gunshot wound to Barreras Jr.s head does not appear to be self-inflicted. He said Barreras III had a reasonable opportunity to leave the area but instead drove back to where his father was. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Taking care of two children alone and during the COVID-19 pandemic, no less is no small task. Thats why Melissa Martinez, a single mother of a 3-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter, says more support for early childhood education is important. Its very hard to raise children alone. It takes a village, it takes dedicated early childhood educators to support me, she told a crowd of early childhood education advocates Monday morning. Committed school funding means the opportunity that all children will get this education that they need. Parents like Martinez are part of why U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said hes asking voters for approval and seeking congressional authorization of the New Mexico Education Enhancement Act. The act would open the door for more Land Grant Permanent Fund dollars to be invested in early childhood education. Opponents have argued the proposal would hurt the funds health in the long term, and that pulling too much out now would lead to a future generation of children being shortchanged. A crowd of children and adults packed into the headquarters of OLE, which is short for Organizers in the Land of Enchantment. Many listened in through audio devices that provided live interpretation, and some waved posters written in Spanish that demanded more for early childhood educators. This is obviously about every single child that benefits from early childhood education, but its also about the future of our state, Heinrich said. Every child who shows up to kindergarten knowing their letters, knowing their numbers knowing how to behave as part of a group that child thats on that (track) makes an enormous amount more money over the course of their lives. Heinrich said that other states that have invested in early childhood education have seen their economies grow, making it the biggest economic development opportunity of our lifetimes for New Mexico. The bill comes as a follow-up to House Joint Resolution 1, which the state Legislature passed over a year ago. That came after similar legislation was approved by the House but died in the Senate five years in a row. That resolution will propose to voters and Congress a state constitutional amendment to allocate an additional 1.25% from the land grant fund, 60% of which estimated around $126.9 million per year would go to early childhood education, according to a fiscal impact report. Jessa Cowdrey, director of public policy and marketing for CHI St. Josephs Children, said itll be up to the Legislature to decide how exactly to spend the money through legislation. She added that there will be opportunities for community input in that process. Heinrich said investing in early childhood education will also impact student achievement, adding that thats been the case in every other state thats made similar investments. I think well see a marked difference in achievement in everything measurable from test scores to also social outcomes in our schools, he said. ADDIS ABABA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday appealed for 42.6 million U.S. dollars life-saving aid to help millions affected by the catastrophic drought in the Horn of Africa (HOA). The UN Refugee Agency, in a statement issued Tuesday, said the funding will deliver life-saving assistance and protection to some 1.5 million refugees, internally displaced people (IDP) and local host communities affected by the drought in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. "The drought, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the global climate crisis, is the worst in the region in four decades and is the culmination of four consecutive failed rainy seasons," the statement attributed to UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo read. The UNHCR said food shortages have been further exacerbated by rising food and commodity prices due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict, as the cost of food staples, including grain and cereal prices, has risen significantly. "Food ration cuts for refugees are also imminent as humanitarian needs multiply around the world, while funding struggles to keep pace. An estimated 18.4 million people in the Horn of Africa, now face severe hunger," the statement read. As the crisis worsens, hundreds of thousands of people have also been forced to flee their homes in search of life-saving aid. To date, more than 800,000 people in Somalia have been internally displaced and nearly 16,000 have crossed the border into Ethiopia, UNHCR figures indicated. As of May 2022, over 286,000 people in Ethiopia's Somali and Oromia regions, the hardest hit by the drought, have also been similarly displaced and hosted within existing settlements for the internally displaced, it said. The UNHCR said the urgent appeal will cover critical humanitarian needs in refugee and IDP settlements until the end of the year, including water, sanitation facilities, nutrition, healthcare and protection. Out of the 42.6 million U.S. dollars appeal, 22 million U.S. dollars is intended to support the needs of IDPs in Ethiopia. Another 11.1 million U.S. dollars would help UNHCR support refugees and their hosts in Kenya's Kakuma and Dadaab camps. An estimated 9.5 million U.S. dollars would also meet the needs of both IDPs and refugees in Somalia, where the multi-agency humanitarian response has already shifted to famine prevention and mitigation due to the intensity of the drought as well as constraints in humanitarian access to affected populations. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico lawyer who played a key role in trying to keep Donald Trump in office after he lost the presidential election in 2020 was confronted by federal agents last week as he was leaving a restaurant with his wife. FBI agents, apparently acting at the behest of the U.S. Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General, seized John Eastmans iPhone, according to a motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque by attorneys for Eastman. Eastman, who lives in Santa Fe, is now demanding that his phone be returned. Eastman and his attorneys did not immediately respond Monday to phone and email requests for comment. The Jan. 6 committee has focused on Eastman as a central figure in Trumps campaign to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to block certification of Joe Bidens election victory. The committee used Eastmans own emails to show that he had been the architect of a scheme to push Pence to reject electors from contested states in an effort to overturn the election. Witnesses told the Jan. 6 committee that besides designing it, Eastman pushed the plan to Trump despite insistence from top lawyers in the administration that it was not sound legal advice. In the court motion, Eastman claims that he was not provided with a copy of the search warrant until after agents frisked him, seized his iPhone Pro 12, and demanded that he unlock the phone. He argues that he was never provided a copy of the affidavit establishing probable cause for the seizure and that, because he never worked for the Justice Department, the Office of Inspector General has no jurisdiction over him. He also contends that information on his phone is privileged. The same day that Eastmans phone was seized, federal agents executed a search warrant on the home of former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, whom Trump tried to install as attorney general in the days before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. In addition, Thomas Lane, who worked on behalf of the Trump campaign in Arizona and New Mexico, was one of several people served with grand jury subpoenas last week as part of a Justice Department probe into the Trump teams plan to overturn the 2020 election results, the Washington Post and New York Times have previously reported. Eastmans motion asks a federal judge to order the Department of Justices Office of the Inspector General to return the phone and all data it contained and to destroy any information removed from the device. It also claims that agents forced Eastman to provide biometric data required to unlock the phone. A federal warrant filed with the motion said the phone would be taken to a Department of Justice forensic laboratory in Virginia. The motion contends the data on Eastmans phone has been the subject of litigation and found to be protected by the First Amendments freedom of association, by attorney-client privilege and attorney work-product protections. The cell phone that was seized contains access to (Eastmans) email accounts, including emails that have been the subject of an intense, five-month privilege dispute between movant and the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, the motion states. That litigation has received extensive media attention, so it is hard to imagine that the Department of Justice, which apparently submitted the application for the warrant at issue here, was not aware of it, the motion states. Eastman is a registered Republican in New Mexico who has cast ballots in every local and statewide election here since November 2018, including the June 7 primary election this year. The motion states that Eastman was walking to his car on Wednesday after dining with his wife and a friend when he was confronted by about six FBI agents who stopped him from entering his car and demanded his cellphone. The court documents dont specify where he dined. I asked to see the warrant, but the agent refused, Eastman wrote in a declaration filed with the motion. He demanded that I hand him my cell phone several times, and each time I requested first to see the warrant. The agents conducted a pat down search and seized the phone, he contends. Only after the seizure did the FBI executing officer provide me with a copy of the warrant, he wrote. Eastman was forced to provide biometric data to open the phone, the motion claims. It did not specify what kind of biometric data Eastman was required to provide. A search warrant filed with the motion authorized federal agents on June 17 to search Eastman and seize any electronic and digital devices including computers, cellphones, tablets and USB devices. The affidavit said agents were to transport the devices to Washington, D.C., or a Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General forensic laboratory in Northern Virginia. In two years, the 100th anniversary of Zozobra will take place. On Monday, Hutton Broadcasting announced its collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe to produce a documentary for the centennial celebration. Ray Sandoval, the Zozobra event chairman, said, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is proud to again partner with Hutton Broadcasting. This time to commemorate Zozobras 100th anniversary with a film that will be as grand as Zozobra is tall, Sandoval said. According to Sandoval, the documentary will be produced over the next two years and will include interviews with many New Mexico influencers, historians, and dedicated Zozobra fans. The film will be produced and directed by Elisa Bourget Hutton and McCall Sides will serve as director of photography. We are incredibly honored to work with the Kiwanis Club to produce the 100th-anniversary documentary, Hutton said. Will Shusters Zozobra connects deeply with New Mexico heritage, and we are excited to share those stories. Santa Fe artist Will Shuster and a group of his friends burned the first incarnation of Zozobra in 1924 in Shusters backyard. The tradition continued and grew, as did Zozobra himself, with Shuster building the marionette larger and larger. In 1963, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe officially became involved and the following year, Shuster signed over all rights to the nonprofit organization. In 2019, 64,000 spectators gathered at Fort Marcy Park to watch the spectacle. In 2020, the burning took place as usual, but without the crowds, and was streamed online with people worldwide watching his destruction having sent in their woes and worries to be burned along with him. For years Hutton has generously provided sponsorships for the Burning of Zozobra to help us in our mission to make the lives of kids in Santa Fe better, Sandoval said of the longtime collaboration. The proceeds from the event are granted to local nonprofits that aid underserved kids. We could think of no one other than Hutton Broadcasting to work with to document this monumental anniversary. Zozobra is burned on the Friday before Labor Day each year and is scheduled to again meet his fate Friday, Sept. 2. ELMAU, Germany Leaders of the worlds biggest developed economies said Tuesday they would explore far-reaching steps to cap Russias income from oil sales that are financing its invasion of Ukraine and struck a united stance to support Kyiv for as long as it takes as the war grinds on. The final statement from the Group of Seven summit in Germany underlined their intent to impose severe and immediate economic costs on Russia. It left out key details on how fossil fuel price caps would work in practice, setting up more discussion in the weeks ahead to explore the feasibility of measures to bar imports of Russian oil above a certain level. That would hit a key Russian source of income and, in theory, help relieve the energy price spikes and inflation afflicting the global economy as a result of the war. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our unprecedented coordination on sanctions for as long as necessary, acting in unison at every stage, the leaders said. The G-7 leaders representing the U.S., Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., Canada and Japan on Monday pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes after conferring by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The G-7 has sought to assuage those concerns. Leaders also agreed on a ban on imports of Russian gold and to step up aid to countries hit with food shortages by the blockade on Ukraine grain shipments through the Black Sea. We agree that (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin must not win this war, and we will continue to keep up and drive higher the economic and political costs for President Putin and his regime, said the summit host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. For that, it is important to stand together including in the long haul that we certainly still face. French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia cannot and should not win the war in Ukraine as its terrible toll was on full view the day after a Russian missile strike hit a shopping mall in the town of Kremenchuk, killing 18 people. The price cap pushed by U.S. President Joe Biden would in theory work by barring service provides such as shippers or insurers from dealing with oil priced above a fixed level. That could work because the service providers are mostly located in the European Union or the U.K. and thus within reach of sanctions. To be effective, however, it would have to involve as many consuming countries as possible, in particular India, where refiners have been snapping up cheap Russian oil shunned by Western traders. Details on how the proposal would be implemented were left for continuing talks in coming weeks. The U.S. has already blocked Russian oil imports, which were small in any case. The European Union has decided to impose a ban on the 90% of Russian oil that comes by sea, but the ban does not take effect until the end of the year, meaning Europe continues to send money to Russia for energy even while condemning the war. Meanwhile, higher global oil prices have softened the blow to Russias income, even as Western traders shun Russian oil. Energy themes were front and center at the summit throughout. Europe is scrambling to find new sources of oil and fresh supplies of gas as Russia dials back gas supplies in what leaders say is a political move. Meanwhile high energy prices are a headache for G-7 countries consumers. Scholz defended the G-7s decision to soften commitments to end public support for fossil fuel investments, saying the war in Ukraine means time-limited support for new natural gas extraction projects may be necessary. The group showed wide-ranging concern about China. The leaders stressed that it is necessary to cooperate with China on shared global challenges but underlined their stance that China should urge Russia to halt the war, respect human rights in Hong Kong, refrain from military action against Taiwan, and improve its non-transparent trade and economic practices. From the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps, the G-7 leaders will move to Madrid for a summit of NATO leaders, where fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine will again dominate the agenda. All G-7 members other than Japan are NATO members, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to Madrid. While the groups annual gathering has been dominated by the war, Scholz has been keen to show that the G-7 also can move ahead on pre-war priorities. Members pledged Tuesday to create a new climate club for nations that want to take more ambitious action to tackle global warming. The move, championed by Scholz, will see countries that join the club agree on tougher measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of keeping global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) this century compared with pre-industrial times. Countries that are part of the club will try to harmonize their measures in such a way that they are comparable and avoid members imposing climate-related tariffs on each others imports. Scholz said the aim was to ensure that protecting the climate is a competitive advantage, not a disadvantage. He said details of the planned climate club would be finalized this year. ___ Follow APs coverage of the G-7 summit at https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit and of Russias war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine WASHINGTON A conservative lawyer who aided former President Donald Trumps efforts to undo the 2020 election results and who has been repeatedly referenced in House hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol said in a court filing Monday that federal agents seized his cell phone last week. John Eastman said the agents took his phone as he left a restaurant last Wednesday evening, the same day law enforcement officials conducted similar activity around the country as part of broadening probes into efforts by Trump allies to overturn the election. The move underscores federal investigators interest in the unsuccessful schemes advanced by Trump advisers to help keep the Republican president in power in the period between the November 2020 election and the riot at the Capitol two months later, when Trump loyalists stormed the building to halt the certification of the election results. Eastman said the agents who approached him identified themselves as from the FBI but appeared to be serving a warrant on behalf of the Justice Departments Office of Inspector General, which he contends has no jurisdiction to investigate him since he has never worked for the department. He said the cell phone that was seized contains emails that have been the subject of a months-long dispute between him and the House panel. That litigation has received extensive media attention, so it is hard to imagine that the Department of Justice, which apparently submitted the application for the warrant at issue here, was not aware of it, wrote his lawyers, Charles Burnham and Joseph Gribble. The action was disclosed in a filing in federal court in New Mexico in which Eastman challenges the legitimacy of the warrant, calling it overly broad, and asks that a court force the federal government to return his phone. He says the warrant does not specify any particular crime for which evidence from the phone might be relevant. The filing does not specify where exactly agents seized his phone, though the warrant was signed by a federal magistrate judge in New Mexico and footage of the seizure aired by Fox News on Monday night describes it as having occurred in the city of Santa Fe. Lawyers for Eastman did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Federal agents investigating the run-up to the Jan. 6 riot last week served a raft of subpoenas related to a scheme by Trump allies to put forward alternate, or fake, slates of electors in hopes of invalidating the election won by Democrat Joe Biden. Also that day, agents searched the Virginia home of Jeffrey Clark, a Trump Justice Department official who encouraged Trumps challenges of the election results. A spokeswoman for the inspector generals office declined to comment. Eastman, who last year resigned his position as a law professor at Chapman University, has been a central figure in the ongoing hearings by the House committee investigating the riot at the Capitol, though he has not been among the witnesses to testify. The committee has heard testimony about how Eastman put forward a last-ditch, unorthodox proposal challenging the workings of the 130-year-old Electoral Count Act, which governs the process for tallying the election results in Congress. Eastman pushed for Vice President Mike Pence to deviate from his ceremonial role and halt the certification of the electoral votes, a step Pence had no legal power to take and refused to attempt. His plan was to have the states send alternative slates of electors from states Trump was disputing, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With competing slates for Trump or Biden, Pence would be forced to reject them, returning them to the states to sort it out, under the plan. A lawyer for Pence, Greg Jacob, detailed for the committee at a hearing earlier this month how he had fended off Eastmans pressure, and another witness, retired federal judge Michael Luttig, has called the plan from Eastman incorrect at every turn. The panel played video showing Eastman repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination while being interviewed by the committee. Eastman later sought to be on the pardon list, according to an email he sent to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, shared by the committee. ___ Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP MENDON, Mo. The chief elected official in the Missouri county where an Amtrak train slammed into a dump truck said Tuesday that residents and county leaders have been pushing for a safety upgrade at the railroad crossing for nearly three years. Meanwhile, the toll from the accident rose to four deaths and 150 injuries. A day after the deadly crash on Monday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said people were taken to 10 hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious. By Tuesday afternoon, at least 15 people remained hospitalized. The dead three passengers and the truck driver have not been identified. Amtraks Southwest Chief was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it struck the rear of the truck. Two locomotives and eight cars derailed. Amtrak officials said about 275 passengers and 12 crew members were aboard. National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer L. Homendy said at a news conference that the truck was owned by MS Contracting of Brookfield, Missouri, and was transporting material to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project nearby. Homendy said investigators will download recorder information to determine the speed of the train, when the horn was blown and if the emergency brake was deployed. She said some of that information could be released as early as Wednesday. The speed limit at the crossing is 90 mph (145 kph). The crossing in a rural area near Mendon in western Missouri has no lights or other signals to warn of an approaching train. Chariton County Presiding Commissioner Evan Emmerich said in an email to The Associated Press that resident Mike Spencer first brought his concerns about the crossing to a Dec. 2, 2019, commission meeting. He was told to contact the Missouri Department of Transportations Railroad Safety division. A week later, commissioners spoke with officials from the state agency and were told it is on their plans to repair, Emmerich said. After that, Emmerich cited other efforts by the commission. They included a March 2021 meeting with a state Railroad Safety division engineer at the crossing site; an email sent to the Railroad Safety division on May 23 to address concerns about visibility at the crossing; and a May 31 call to BNSF Railway, which owns the track, to express our concerns with the visibility issue at the crossing. In January, the Missouri Department of Transportation submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration its State Freight & Rail Plan plan. It included a proposal to install lights and gates, along with roadway improvements. The project was estimated at $400,000. Typically, the federal government would pay 80% and the county 20%. MoDOT spokeswoman Linda Horn said that with limited funds available, it takes a while to get these prioritized. She said the project has received approval in a four-year plan that runs through fiscal year 2026. BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent declined comment on specific conversations about upgrades to the crossing, citing the NTSB investigation, however, I can tell you that BNSF has a proactive vegetation management program across our network, she said. Spencer told The Associated Press that he is among several people who have complained that the overgrowth of brush and the steep incline from the road to the tracks makes it hard to see oncoming trains from either direction. Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on land surrounding the intersection, said the crossing is especially dangerous for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment. Spencer is on the board of a local levee district. He said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levee on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple of days. Earlier this month, Spencer posted a video on Facebook of the crossing that shows the steep gravel incline leading up to it. We have to cross this with farm equipment to get to several of our fields, Spencer wrote with the posting. We have been on the RR for several years about fixing the approach by building the road up, putting in signals, signal lights or just cutting the brush back. Homendy said passive crossings like the one near Mendon make up about half of all crossings in the U.S. She said there are 130,000 passive crossings nationwide and 3,500 in Missouri. The NTSB has for years recommended actions such as closing passive crossings or adding gates, bells and other upgrades at passive crossings, Homendy said. She said the agency also has recommended technology to alert drivers to the presence of an oncoming train at crossings such as the one at Mendon that are on an incline. Lives could be saved, she said. Kyle Bullard, a 21-year-old student at Lindenwood University in suburban St. Louis, was traveling from a friends home in Kansas City, Missouri, to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for a wedding. He fell 10 feet onto his back when his cab tipped over. Bullard and his friend escaped and returned to help others out of the train, but he said hes still bothered by the image of a woman buried in rubble. He said someone was holding her hand, and he realized he couldnt do anything to help her. We were grateful because we made it out alive, but were also sad because some people didnt. Were sorry for those families, Bullard said. Yeah, I survived the train crash and I helped people, but its like, I did also see someone die. So its just like, it is what it is. And Im gonna have to move on from it. But its just gonna be always in the back of my head. The incident in Missouri was among three fatal Amtrak accidents since Sunday. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said. Also, on Monday in Detroit, two people died when their vehicle collided with an Amtrak train. Police Chief James White said officers were dispersing drag racers and one vehicle sped away and tried to beat the train. People have been injured or killed in at least six other accidents involving Amtrak trains since 2015. Last year, three people died and others were injured when an Amtrak derailed in north-central Montana as it traveled from Chicago to Seattle. Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between. ___ Ballentine reported from Columbia, Missouri. Associated Press reporters Margaret Stafford in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jim Salter in OFallon, Missouri, contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Enticing retired teachers to come back may be an answer to New Mexicos teacher shortages or at least thats what lawmakers hope with a bill they passed earlier this year. Some 48,000 retired educators will be able to return to work without losing their retirement benefits via the new law known as the Educational Retirees Returning to Work Act, or House Bill 73, the Governors Office said in a Tuesday news release. The law went into effect May 18, spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett wrote in an email. This is a win-win for New Mexico teachers and New Mexico students, as retired educators can now go back into classrooms without losing their hard-earned retirement benefits, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who signed the bill into law in March, said. I thank the dedicated professionals who go back to the classroom. The act garnered bipartisan support in the Roundhouse, passing the state House with 62 votes in favor and only one against, according to the Legislatures website. The act unanimously passed the state Senate. A big motivation for the bill was the huge teacher shortage in the state, said Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque. That fire was fueled during the pandemic, she said, when many teachers retired early or switched jobs partly because of a lack of good support. There were 1,048 teacher vacancies across school districts as of September 2021, according to a report by New Mexico State Universitys Southwest Outreach Academic Research Evaluation & Policy Center. There were 1,727 educator vacancies total when including staff like educational assistants and counselors. Were kind of in trouble with our educational system, Stewart, who herself is a retired educator, said. Legislators wanted to help. Legislators care about their schools and so both parties came together. Stewart said the significant increase in teacher pay, which lawmakers also passed this year, will sweeten the pot. Union leaders, like American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Whitney Holland, have also supported the act, noting that it will ease restrictions for retired educators to return to work while maintaining the financial security of our educational pension fund. House Bill 73 is a great example of proactive legislation addressing New Mexicos urgent need to staff our schools with quality educators, she said. We already know this legislation is working, with many of our retired members actively pursuing a return to the classroom, which is a win for our students, our communities, and our profession. About 4,000 members have used the return to work programs in the last four years, Sackett said. Previously, retired educators who wanted to return to the classroom were forced to suspend their retirement or work quarter time and earn less than $15,000, according to the release. The updated program lets retired teachers go back to work while still being able to draw their full salaries and pensions, Rep. Ryan Lane, R-Aztec, who sponsored the bill, said. They can go back to work without work hour limits as well, he said. Its a way to try to tackle some of the teacher shortages by taking advantage of our experienced teachers, Lane said. Applicants for the program will need to observe a 90-day layout period before they can be eligible. The bill is a temporary provision, Stewart said, designed to encourage retired educators to return to work for a maximum of a combined three years to try to stretch past these times. To participate, retirees need to apply with the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board. The ERB opened applications for the updated program in June, Sackett said. MADRID Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, ending an impasse that had clouded a leaders summit opening in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades, triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent top-level talks with leaders of the three countries, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. He called it a historic decision. Among its many shattering consequences, President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status and apply to join NATO as protection against an increasingly aggressive and unpredictable Russia which shares a long border with Finland. Under NATO treaties, an attack on any member would be considered an attack against all and trigger a military response by the entire alliance. NATO operates by consensus, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to block the Nordic pair, insisting they change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. After weeks of diplomacy and hours of talks on Tuesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the three leaders had signed a joint agreement to break the logjam. Turkey said it had got what it wanted including full cooperation in the fight against the rebel groups. Stoltenberg said leaders of the 30-nation alliance will issue a formal invitation to the two countries to join on Wednesday. The decision has to be ratified by all individual nations, but he said he was absolutely confident Finland and Sweden would become members, something that could happen within months. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said the agreement was good for Finland and Sweden. And its good for NATO. She said completing the process of membership should be done the sooner the better. But there are 30 parliaments that need to approve this and you never know, Andersson told the Associated Press. Turkey hailed Tuesdays agreement as a triumph, saying the Nordic nations had agreed to crack down on groups that Ankara deems national security threats, including the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its Syrian extension. It said they also agreed not to impose embargo restrictions in the field of defense industry on Turkey and to take concrete steps on the extradition of terrorist criminals. Turkey has demanded that Finland and Sweden extradite wanted individuals and lift arms restrictions imposed after Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northeast Syria. Turkey, in turn, agreed to support at the 2022 Madrid Summit the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. Details of exactly what was agreed were unclear. Amineh Kakabaveh, an independent Swedish lawmaker of Kurdish origin whose support the government depends on for a majority in Parliament, said it was worrisome that Sweden isnt revealing what promises it has given Erdogan. Andersson dismissed suggestions Sweden and Finland had conceded too much. Asked if the Swedish public will see the agreement as a concession on issues like extraditions of Kurdish militants regarded by Ankara as terrorists, Andersson said they will see that this is good for the security of Sweden. U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the three nations on taking a crucial step. Amid speculation about a U.S. role in ending the deadlock, a senior administration official said Washington did not offer any concessions to Turkey to coax it to accept a deal. But the official said the U.S. played a crucial role in helping bring the two parties closer together, and Biden spoke with Erdogan Tuesday morning at the behest of Sweden and Finland to help encourage the talks. The agreement came at the opening of a crucial summit, dominated by Russias invasion of Ukraine, that will set the course of the alliance for the coming years. The summit was kicking off with a leaders dinner hosted by Spains King Felipe VI at the 18th-century Royal Palace of Madrid. Top of the agenda in meetings Wednesday and Thursday is strengthening defenses against Russia, and supporting Ukraine. Moscows invasion on Feb. 24 shook European security and brought shelling of cities and bloody ground battles back to the continent. NATO, which had begun to turn its focus to terrorism and other non-state threats, has had to confront an adversarial Russia once again. Biden said NATO was as united and galvanized as I think we have ever been. A Russian missile strike Monday on a shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was a grim reminder of the wars horrors. Some saw the timing, as Group of Seven leaders met in Germany and just ahead of the NATO gathering, as a message from Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is due to address NATO leaders by video on Wednesday, called the strike on the mall a terrorist act. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko traveled to Madrid to urge the alliance to provide his country with whatever it takes to stop the war. Wake up, guys. This is happening now. You are going to be next, this is going to be knocking on your door just in the blink of an eye, Klitschko told reporters at the summit venue. Stoltenberg said the meeting would chart a blueprint for the alliance in a more dangerous and unpredictable world and that meant we have to invest more in our defense, Stoltenberg said. Just nine of NATOs 30 members meet the organizations target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Spain, which is hosting the summit, spends just half that. Stoltenberg said Monday that NATO allies will agree at the summit to increase the strength of the alliances rapid reaction force nearly eightfold, from 40,000 to 300,000 troops. The troops will be based in their home nations, but dedicated to specific countries on NATOs eastern flank, where the alliance plans to build up stocks of equipment and ammunition. Beneath the surface, there are tensions within NATO over how the war will end and what, if any, concessions Ukraine should make to end the fighting. There are also differences on how hard a line to take on China in NATOs new Strategic Concept its once-a-decade set of priorities and goals. The last document, published in 2010, didnt mention China at all. The new concept is expected to set out NATOs approach on issues from cybersecurity to climate change and the growing economic and military reach of China, and the rising importance and power of the Indo-Pacific region. For the first time, the leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand are attending the summit as guests. Some European members are wary of the tough U.S. line on Beijing and dont want China cast as an opponent. In the Strategic Concept, NATO is set to declare Russia its number one threat. Russias state space agency, Roscosmos marked the summits opening by releasing satellite images and coordinates of the Madrid conference hall where it is being held, along with those of the White House, the Pentagon and the government headquarters in London, Paris and Berlin. The agency said NATO was set to declare Russia an enemy at the summit, adding that it was publishing precise coordinates just in case. ___ Associated Press Writers Aritz Parra, Ciaran Giles, Sylvie Corbet and Zeke Miller in Madrid, Karl Ritter in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany and Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul contributed. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Are you a business owner looking for additional sources of funding? The states Economic Development Department has something for you. This month the department launched the Business Finance Finder tool, designed to help businesses connect with financial institutions that can help fund their projects. Owners of businesses can upload basic information about a project that they are looking to get funded and, through that, can be matched with a local lender. Financial institutions, meanwhile, can use the tool to filter through projects to find one they are looking to potentially fund. The department said it created the tool in hopes of helping small businesses gain easier access to potential funding. Funding isnt guaranteed, as it is up to financial institutions to decide on what they want to fund. In order to have a healthy ecosystem for our businesses to thrive, we need a level playing field to access capital, Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia Keyes said in a news release. This tool can help make important connections so New Mexican business owners can focus on running and growing their businesses. The department said the Business Finance Finder has security audits and infiltration testing, among other data protection tools, to help keep information from businesses and financial institutions secure. The department funded the creation of the Business Finance Finder through a grant from the Economic Development Administration CARES Act. The funds are meant to help create programs that mitigate barriers and increase access to capital for business, according to the release. SANTA FE New Mexico closed the books for the most part on a primary election cycle marked by conspiracy theories and legal warnings, as top state officials on Tuesday certified election results that showed 25.2% of eligible voters cast a ballot in the June 7 primary. Unlike during recent county commission meetings, the meeting did not feature any vocal protesters and members of the state Canvassing Board moved quickly to approve the election results and automatic recounts in six local-level races around the state. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, one of three members of the state Canvassing Board, told reporters after Tuesdays meeting at the state Capitol that possible changes in state law could be considered to make sure county commissions can not effectively block voting results from being certified. Otero County commissioners initially balked at approving the primary election results, but two of the countys three commissioners voted to certify on June 17 after the state Supreme Court ordered them to do so. Meanwhile, commissioners in several other New Mexico counties also faced political pressure, including jeers and insults in some cases, not to certify election results due to distrust over Dominion vote-tabulating machines and other misgivings before eventually doing so. County commissions do not have the ability to make state election law the state Legislature does and its my job to carry out the law and the Supreme Courts job to make sure its being carried out, Toulouse Oliver said. She also said the Secretary of States Office would continue trying to educate voters and encouraged state residents to volunteer as poll workers. If you have concerns about the integrity of the election, put your money where your mouth is and go work at the polls and be part of making sure the election is run legally, Toulouse Oliver said. Since 2006, New Mexico has used a paper ballot system that requires most voters to manually mark ballots and feed them into electronic vote tabulating machines. The system allows elections officials to recount paper ballots if necessary but not by hand count, Toulouse Oliver said. Of the 263,337 registered voters who cast ballots in this years primary election, slightly more than half voted on Election Day, while 40% took advantage of early voting and 9% cast absentee ballots, according to the Democratic secretary of state. The overall turnout marked the highest figure by number but not by percentage for a primary election in recent New Mexico history. Toulouse Oliver and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who are both seeking reelection this year, voted to certify the statewide canvass. The boards third member, Supreme Court Chief Justice Shannon Bacon, did not attend due to a scheduling conflict, according to a spokesman for the state Administrative Office of the Courts. The present members of the state Canvassing Board also voted Tuesday to order state-paid vote recounts in six races in which the candidates are separated by narrow vote margins. Those recounts will begin July 11 and are expected to be finished in just one or two days. The races include a Mora County commission contest in which the top two vote-getters Democrats George Trujillo and Trinnie Cordova were separated by just five votes in a race with more than 1,250 votes cast. The other races set for recounts include judicial races in Valencia and Catron counties, county commission races in Otero and Rio Arriba counties, and a Democratic primary race for Colfax County assessor. Meanwhile, this years primary election cycle also played out with large wildfires burning in several parts of New Mexico. The fires prompted early voting in Mora County to be temporarily shifted to Wagon Mound instead of Mora, but did not ultimately lead to election disruptions or delays. WASHINGTON A year and a half after the deadly U.S. Capitol insurrection, the most memorable recounting of former President Donald Trumps behavior that day came from a young woman who had graduated from college just a few years earlier. Cassidy Hutchinson gave two hours of testimony on national television that cast Trump as enraged by efforts to keep his armed supporters from attending his speech before many marched to the Capitol and her boss at the time, chief of staff Mark Meadows, as unwilling to confront Trump and staring unresponsively at his cellphone during key moments. Having once shed tears of joy after getting a White House internship, Hutchinson, now in her mid-20s, described how she grew disgusted by Trumps refusal to stop the rioters. And in a single afternoon, she went from being a former junior White House staffer, to high-profile star witness, with the scrutiny that comes with it. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie, she said. The testimony helped fill in several key gaps about Trumps level of direct involvement that day, and placed Meadows and other key Trump officials at the center of events critical to investigations by the House committee and the Justice Department. It amplified calls for Meadows to drop his fight against the committees subpoena and raised new questions about whether officials around Trump could face criminal charges. I knew her testimony would be damning, tweeted Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former White House communications official who said she was friends with Hutchinson. I had no idea itd be THIS damning. I am so grateful for her courage & integrity. Hutchinson showed her familiarity with better-known officials in the White House, referring at times to Meadows, security official Tony Ornato, and national security adviser Robert OBrien by their first names. Meadows, in turn, called her Cass, in her retelling of one story. Her voice never broke as she recounted quotes from Trump and Meadows in her video depositions and under questioning from the committees Republican vice chairman, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Both women embraced after the hearing. Cheney, a 55-year-old former State Department official and daughter of a vice president, spent decades in public life before her criticism of Trump led many in the GOP to turn against her. Hutchinson, meanwhile, became Trumps focus for the first time. He pumped out harsh attacks on Truth Social, the website he created after Twitter banned him following the insurrection. I hardly know who this person, Cassidy Hutchinson, is, other than I heard very negative things about her (a total phony and leaker), he wrote. He continued to post throughout the afternoon, accusing Hutchinson of lying, saying her body language is that of a total bull. artist, and describing her handwriting as that of a Whacko? Allies of Trump and Meadows questioned some details of her testimony, which included stories she said she heard second-hand. One story that drew pushback was her allegation that Trump lunged for the steering wheel and assaulted a Secret Service agent when his detail wouldnt take him to the Capitol on Jan. 6. Meadows attorney, George Terwilliger, told The Associated Press that Hutchinsons testimony could not withstand even five minutes of fundamental cross-examination. Most of it is based on hearsay, lack of first-hand knowledge and even just pure speculation as to what others were thinking, said or did, he said. Several high-profile Republicans said Tuesday that Hutchinson was known to be close to Meadows and often accompanied him in meetings. The committee early in her testimony showed photos of her with Trump and other top officials. Mick Mulvaney, who preceded Meadows as Trumps chief of staff, tweeted during the hearing that things just got a lot more interesting. He added that if the President knew the protesters had weapons, and still encouraged them to go to the Capitol, that is a serious problem. Although the White House is perhaps the worlds most prestigious office building, much of the staff is young, sometimes even fresh out of college like Hutchinson. They often previously worked on the presidents campaign or the national party, and theyre distinguished by their ambition and willingness to work long hours for little pay. Theyre also critical to any administrations machinery. They help with the logistics of media coverage, prepare for public events and answer the phones. Because theyre often within earshot as the countrys most powerful people gossip and plan, discretion is expected. Young aides often go on to bigger government roles or prestigious positions in business or the media. Some run for office themselves. Hutchinson had the same ambitions when she graduated, telling a college publication in 2018 that she wanted to be an effective leader in the fight to secure the American dream for future generations. She described having been brought to tears when she received an email telling her shed been accepted to a White House internship program. As a first-generation college student, being selected to serve as an intern alongside some of the most intelligent and driven students from across the nation many of whom attend top universities was an honor and a tremendous growing experience, she is quoted in a profile published by her alma mater, Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. She says in the article that she attended numerous events hosted by Trump and often watched out her window as Marine One would depart the White Houses South Lawn. My small contribution to the quest to maintain American prosperity and excellence is a memory I will hold as one of the honors of my life, she said in the piece. She joined the White House shortly after graduation and became Meadows aide in March 2020. Several months later, she would be in rooms where top Trump aides discussed how they could overturn his election loss. She saw the aftermath of Trumps rage at Attorney General Bill Barr for telling The Associated Press that there was no evidence of widespread election fraud. Entering a private dining room, she saw a valet cleaning up a mess after Trump smashed a plate and the remains of his lunch on a wall. There was ketchup dripping down the wall, and there was a shattered porcelain plate on the floor, she said Tuesday. The valet had articulated that the president was extremely angry at the attorney generals AP interview and had thrown his lunch against the wall. She grabbed a towel to help the valet clean up, she said. There was no widespread election fraud. Trump lost more than 60 court cases attempting to prove wrongdoing. On the morning of Jan. 6, she said Ornato, a Secret Service agent detailed to the White House, came to warn Meadows that many rallygoers waiting to hear from Trump had guns and other weapons, including spears attached to the end of flagpoles. Meadows didnt immediately look up from his cellphone, then later asked to confirm that Ornato had briefed Trump, she said. He had. Terwilliger defended Meadows as able to multitask and to maintain calm during crises. And another former Meadows aide, Ben Williamson, tweeted criticism of what he called the nonsense suggestion that Meadows somehow didnt care about initial violence at the Capitol. Hutchinson said she was close enough to Trump at one point to hear him demand that attendees not be screened so that they could fill the crowd, saying, I dont effing care that they have weapons. Theyre not here to hurt me. And she alleged Trump became so irate at being driven back to the White House after his speech when he exhorted his supporters to fight like hell rather than the Capitol that he tried to grab the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle away from a Secret Service agent who was driving. Im the effing president, Hutchinson said she was told Trump had said. Hutchinson recently switched lawyers, going from a former Trump White House official to Jody Hunt, a veteran former Justice Department official who served as chief of staff to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and who emerged as a key witness for special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. While she did not seek out the attention accompanying her testimony today, she believes that it was her duty and responsibility to provide the Committee with her truthful and candid observations of the events surrounding January 6, said Hunt and co-counsel William Jordan in a statement. Ms. Hutchinson believes that January 6 was a horrific day for the country, and it is vital to the future of our democracy that it not be repeated. ___ Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed to this report. CANBERRA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Australia's capital Canberra have warned of a new wave of coronavirus infections. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith revealed that modeling has indicated the territory is currently experiencing another wave of COVID-19 infections. "We are seeing those case numbers starting to increase and we expect that is potentially the start of another wave of COVID-19 through this winter period into July and potentially into early August," she was quoted as saying by the Canberra Times on Tuesday. "We are conscious of that and we are keeping a close eye on the case numbers to see if that trajectory is going to be maintained." It comes after the ACT set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations. There were 121 people infected with the COVID-19 virus being treated in ACT hospitals, marking the highest number since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest update on Tuesday. The government said an outbreak in a cancer ward at Canberra Hospital had contributed to the increase. Paul Craft, clinical director of the ward, said that authorities were still investigating how COVID-19 had spread in the ward. "It's been a little difficult to track where the virus has spread through the population since then, we're still working on that," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio. "It will probably be a long time before it's exactly clear how the outbreak occurred." As of Monday afternoon, a total of 8,023,259 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 9,704 deaths, and approximately 226,653 active cases, according to the federal Department of Health. There were 3,133 cases being treated in hospitals nationwide on Monday including 111 in intensive care. On Tuesday, Australia reported more than 30,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 70 deaths. MADRID President Joe Biden opened his three-day visit to a NATO summit Tuesday by pledging to beef up the American military presence in Europe as he denounced Russias Vladimir Putin for trying to wipe out Ukrainian culture in the ongoing war in eastern Europe. Biden, in talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, detailed plans to increase the number of Navy destroyers based in Rota, Spain, from four to six. Biden said the move was one of multiple announcements that he and NATO allies would make during the summit to help bolster the alliance in the region. Biden arrived in Spain for the summit amid an intense barrage of Russian fire across Ukraine including a horrific missile attack on a shopping mall in Kyiv on Monday and growing weariness over the grinding war that is battering the global economy. Sometimes I think Putins objective is just to literally change the entire culture wipe out the culture of Ukraine (with) the kinds of actions hes taking, Biden said after meeting with Sanchez. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the destroyers move will help increase the United States and NATOs maritime presence. He said Biden would announce additional moves on Wednesday. The president said before the war started that if Putin invaded Ukraine, the United States and NATO would enhance the force posture on the eastern flank, not just for the duration of the crisis, but to address the long-term change in the strategic reality that that would present, Sullivan added. Biden is looking to use this weeks NATO summit to shore up allies amid signs of fractures in the western alliance. After heaping an avalanche of sanctions on the Russian economy and funneling billions of dollars of weaponry into Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, NATO partners are showing signs of strain as the cost of energy and other essential goods has skyrocketed. As the U.S. president departed for the NATO meeting from the German Alps, where he met this week with leaders of the Group of Seven leading economies, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the prices are putting European economies in an untenable situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed the G-7 on Monday, has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of the war. The U.S. has been building up its presence since shortly before the Russian invasion in late February, adding about 20,000 troops to the 80,000 who were previously in Europe. And the U.S. has signaled that the Russian invasion will have reverberations on its and NATO allies defense posture for years to come. The U.S. and Spain, in a joint statement following the Biden-Sanchez meeting, said the invasion fundamentally altered the global strategic environment and that the aggression constitutes the most direct threat to transAtlantic security and global stability since the end of the Cold War. Sullivan suggested that other moves Biden is set to announce will involve positioning additional forces on NATOs eastern flank in a steady state. He declined to say if some U.S. forces that serve there on a rotational basis would become permanent. The U.S. president praised Spain for taking in tens of thousands of Ukrainian migrants who have fled the war. Our people have stood together, Biden said during a meeting with Spains King Felipe VI. Theyve stood up and theyve stood strong. Biden attended a dinner on Tuesday with other NATO leaders at the 18th Century Royal Palace of Madrid, hosted by Spains king and queen, Letizia. Biden is set to meet with Turkish President Erdogan on Wednesday, a day after Turkey lifted its objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The two countries made the historic step of applying for NATO membership in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. Sullivan said the U.S. did not have a role to play in negotiations between Turkey and the Nordic nations, which were being brokered by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. A senior administration official said Tuesday that the U.S. offered no concessions to Turkey to coax it to accept a deal and drop its opposition to membership for Finland and Sweden. The official said Biden told Erdogan when they spoke earlier Tuesday that closing the deal with the Nordic countries that night would set up a good opportunity for their own talks on Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss administration strategy. Biden will also look to highlight progress made by NATO members at meeting the alliances goal of spending 2% of gross domestic product on their defense budgets. Sullivan said a majority of members would report that they have met the benchmark or are on track to by 2024. He described it as a substantial shift in the intensity and commitment of NATO allies in terms of putting their money where their mouth is. Bidens predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, fiercely criticized NATO partners who failed to hit the target. The president will also hold a rare joint meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss North Koreas nuclear program. U.S. and South Korean officials say that North Korea has all but finished preparations for its first nuclear test since September 2017, when it claimed to have detonated a thermonuclear warhead designed for intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea may use its next nuclear test to claim that it has acquired the ability to build small nuclear warheads that can be placed on short-range missiles or other new weapons systems it has demonstrated in recent months, analysts say. ___ Madhani reported from Washington. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Police have formed a unit to tackle aggressive driving with a way for the public to submit evidence as detectives search for the shooters in two recent road-rage incidents on Interstate 40. Rebecca Atkins, an Albuquerque Police Department spokeswoman, said APD created the Aggressive Driving Unit as they target street racing, aggressive driving and road rage. She said the unit will have two detectives investigating those incidents along with hit-and-run crashes. Atkins said the public can now upload video or photo evidence to the Road Rage and Aggressive Driving Video Portal. If detectives with the Aggressive Driving Unit are able to locate an offender, they will assume responsibility of the case to include arrests/citations or the issuance of a summons, she said. APD Chief Harold Medina said the department has investigated seven road-rage homicides since the beginning of 2021, calling the number unacceptable. There has been no arrest made in four of those cases, according to Journal records. We are doing everything in our power to address careless and violent driving on our streets and the creation of this unit and evidence portal is another way to hold dangerous drivers accountable, Medina said in a statement. Crime Stoppers also sent out releases looking for the shooters in two road rage incidents that happened within days of each other. On June 6, a man was driving on I-40 toward Coors when a man in a Dodge Challenger opened fire on him, striking him in the leg, according to one release. Three days later, a woman was driving the same direction on I-40 near Rio Grande when a person in a pickup shot at her car, striking her in both legs, APD said in another release. Anyone with information on either shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 505-843-STOP (7867) or p3tips.com/531. A 17-year-old allegedly threatened to shoot up a school earlier this month in Edgewood. State Police spokeswoman Candace Hopkins said Emma Haviland, of Edgewood, is charged with attempt to commit a felony and multiple misdemeanors, including bomb scares and shooting threats unlawful and disorderly conduct. Haviland was booked into the San Juan County Juvenile Services Center. Investigating violent threats like the one involved in this incident is of the utmost importance, State Police Chief Tim Johnson said in a statement. Hopkins said on June 9 State Police began to investigate a threat over social media. She said the threat was posted anonymously to the app Yik Yak, asking Hello Edgewood anyone want to shoot up the school? I need a partner. Hopkins said State Police tracked the threat to the home where Haviland lives. She said Haviland told investigators the whole threat was a joke. ISLAMABAD, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen and a polio worker were killed in an attack in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police sources said. A polio team escorted by police was administering polio vaccines to kids in North Waziristan district when they came under attack, the sources told Xinhua. "Unknown gunmen opened fire at the polio team and fled the scene. A kid who was receiving drops also got injured in the attack," the sources said. The kid was shifted to a nearby hospital. The sources added that the security had been put on high alert in the area after the attack, and a search operation was underway to arrest the fleeing militants. No group has claimed the attack yet. Reckitt, worlds leading consumer health and hygiene company, under its flagship campaign Dettol Banega Swasth India launched Diarrhoea Net Zero with support from the Government of Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow today. In the next 3 years, the program will directly impact 10 million people across Uttar Pradesh addressing 26% of the burden of diarrhoea. Diarrhoea Net Zero was launched by Sh. Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Sh. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia and other dignitaries with an aim to achieve net zero Diarrhoeal deaths among under-5 children in Uttar Pradesh. The program will follow the WHO-7-point plan for preventing and treating diarrhoea in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh namely- Bahraich, Bulandshahar, Firozabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Mathura, Mirzapur, Muzaffarnagar, Shravasti and Sitapur. The vision is to take this initiative to 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Sh. Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, Reckitt - South Asia said, Uttar Pradesh is doing phenomenal work for the upliftment of its economy and for its people. We are truly proud to have worked closely with the State Government towards creating a Swachh and Swasth India with our programs. In the last 7 years we have touched the lives of over 10 million children in Uttar Pradesh. To further strengthen this relationship, we have launched Indias first Diarrhoea Net Zero program with the support of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Our vision with this program is to ensure that there are Net Zero Diarrheal deaths among Under 5 children in Uttar Pradesh. Sh. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director- External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia said, Uttar Pradesh has shown tremendous improvement in several health indicators and has been recognized as the top-ranking state in incremental growth on health by NITI Aayog. Dettol Banega Swasth India, Reckitt Indias flagship purpose programme has been a partner to the states development journey for the past 7 years in the fields of hygiene, health and sanitation. Recognizing the role of health as a foundation for development, the programme further aims to increase its depth and breadth of engagement in the state in the next 3 years by rolling out initiatives like Dettol Diarrhoea Net Zero, which will focus on preventing under 5 mortalities due to diarrhoea by following the WHO 7-point plan. Dettol Banega Swasth India has been consistently working to improve child health standards in India with specialized programs that address health, hygiene, and sanitation. To support Uttar Pradesh in its fight against diarrhoea, Dettol Diarrhoea Net Zero supports the WHO 7-point plan for preventing and treating diarrhoea, which comprises of a prevention package and a treatment package. As a part of the programme, Reckitt will create a scalable and replicable model to: Build capacity amongst frontline workers (Asha workers, anganwadi workers etc), Indian Medical Associations (IMA) and Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) aligned with WHO 7-point plan Advocacy, communication and social mobilization around Diarrhoea prevention, health promotion and treatment through on-ground engagement Assessing supply chain to ensure availability of Zinc and ORS across government health facilities Monetary support for outpatient and inpatient treatment through Diarrhoea Net Zero voucher scheme to complement AYUSHMAN BHARAT The initiative will help improve the quality of care by addressing emergency cases faster, increase focus on complete immunization coverage and improve overall public healthcare systems responsiveness to diarrhoea care. Dettol Banega Swasth India has been working with the Government of Uttar Pradesh since 2015 to improve the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of children and community and ensure better hygiene and health outcomes. Dettol and its partners have reached over 10.8 million children with its School Hygiene Education Programme leading to a reduction in diarrhoea cases in school children and a reduction of nearly 39% in school absenteeism due to health issues. Reckitts various interventions across the state, include supporting villages to become Open Defecation Free, promoting hygiene and sanitation at Indias biggest religious gathering Kumbh Mela, receiving multiple accolades and appreciation from the Government of India for its initiatives. With the launch of Diarrhoea Net Zero programme in partnership with Uttar Pradesh government, Dettol Banega Swasth India will continue to bring positive change in the lives of children and reduce the prevalence of Diarrhoea in the state through a scalable and replicable model. The data protection authority in Italy has decreed Google Analytics illegal to be used in the country. A website using Google Analytics (GA) without the safeguards set out in the EU GDPR violates data protection law because it transfers users data to the USA, which is a country without an adequate level of data protection, said the Italian Data Protection Authority in its website. The Italian SA came to this conclusion after a complex fact-finding exercise it had started in close coordination with other EU data protection authorities following complaints it had received. The Italian SA found that the website operators using GA collected, via cookies, information on user interactions with the respective websites, visited pages and services on offer. The multifarious set of data collected in this connection included the user device IP address along with information on browser, operating system, screen resolution, selected language, date and time of page viewing. This information was found to be transferred to the USA. In determining that the processing was unlawful, the Italian SA reiterated that an IP address is a personal data and would not be anonymised even if it were truncated given Googles capabilities to enrich such data through additional information it holds. Based on the above findings, said the authority, the Italian SA adopted a decision, to be followed by additional ones, reprimanding Caffeina Media S.r.l. a website operator and ordering it to bring the processing into compliance with the GDPR by ninety days. This deadline was considered to be appropriate in order to allow the operator to implement adequate measures in connection with the data transfer; if this is found not to be the case, suspension of the GA-related data flows to the USA will be ordered. The Italian SA highlighted, in particular, that US-based governmental and intelligence agencies may access the personal data being transferred without the required safeguards; it pointed out in this regard that the measures adopted by Google to supplement the data transfer instruments did not ensure an adequate level of protection for users personal data in the light of the guidance provided by the EDPB through its Recommendations No 1/2020 of 18 June 2021. The Italian SA wishes to draw the attention of all the Italian website operators, both public and private, to the unlawfulness of the data transfers to the USA as resulting from the use of GA partly on account of the many alerts and queries received so far. The Italian SA calls upon all controllers to verify that the use of cookies and other tracking tools on their websites is compliant with data protection law; this applies in particular to Google Analytics and similar services. Upon expiry of the 90-day deadline set out in its decision, the Italian SA will check that the data transfers at issue are compliant with the EU GDPR, including by way of ad-hoc inspections, said the authority. As part of PRIDE celebrations, Monster.com, Indias leading online career and recruitment resource, has launched a campaign called #ComeOutAsAlly to encourage safe and inclusive workspaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. The burden of coming out has always been on the LGBTQ community, and Monster.com is aiming to change the narrative with the launch of this campaign encouraging more people to come out as allies. 13% of the corporate workforce identify themselves as LGBTQIA+, which leaves room for 87% of the workforce to become allies. The awareness campaign is currently being carried out within Monster.com, and also being extended to its recruiter base to encourage people to demonstrate true allyship with a cause to make workplaces friendlier and more equitable for all. The campaign has seen phenomenal feedback with 1000+ netizens openly coming out as allies on social media to encourage safe and inclusive workplaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. The 50 day campaign will consist of workshops, LGBTQIA+ influencer curated content, interview features with community members and allies, and will finally culminate with a 5 day mega D&I recruitment fair TRIUMPH. Speaking on the campaign, Saurabh Srivastava, Chief Marketing Officer, Monster.com said, Creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is every organisations priority today, but most of us dont know where to start. Understanding and unlearning biases through self-evaluation is a key step for employees, HR, and top management. Our ambition through this campaign was to create awareness and challenge peoples thoughts on overcoming workplace biases starting from our own workplace at Monster as well as others, encouraging more people to come out as allies. Moreover, our annual D&I job fair TRIUMPH is back again this year, championing the cause of diversity in the Indian job space and paving the way for equitable working opportunities for all. Giving community members the platform to share their stories, Monster has tied up with a number of influencers such as Suresh Ramdas (Mr.Gay India 2019) and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraj (transgender activist and surgeon), Pritam and Manish of vagabondboiz, Tristan Tube, Atulan and Divesh of honey.imm.home to share their personal stories of coming out and being their authentic selves. Monster has developed a new website to support the cause, where anyone can login and register their pledge in a unique manner to support the community. Spreading awareness on inclusivity, a content series was executed challenging individuals to change their perspectives, be more accepting, and upgrade their world views. The campaign further maps out timelines for LGBTQIA+ friendly laws passed in India, highlighting how LQBTQIA+ employees must be judged basis their professional skills in the workplace and not their sexuality! The #ComeOutAsAlly campaign has seen overwhelming feedback, with 400+ netizens openly coming out as allies on social media. Monster is not only standing on the fence with the #ComeOutAsAlly campaign on social media, but starting right at home with EMBRACE, an employee sensitization workshop on Diversity & Inclusion held at their Bangalore office on 21st June. While the end of June may conclude PRIDE festivities for some, Monster continues to cheer and uplift the community with Indias largest annual diversity and inclusion event TRIUMPH 2.0. TRIUMPH is a 5-day mega event by Monster India that aims to build diverse and inclusive workplaces by curating a D&I talent pool for Indias largest corporates. Apart from enabling upskilling and recruitment of LGBTQ, women, and PwD communities, the first of its kind career fair offers candidates the opportunity to connect with top companies in India. In 2021, TRIUMPH 1.0 saw registrations from over 70,000 candidates and generated over 55M impressions. Furthermore, Monster strongly believes that at the workplace, skills matter the most and that a lot of difference can be brought about by connecting, collaborating, and empowering diverse communities. To ensure that candidates are industry ready before applying for their dream jobs at inclusive companies, Monster.com is also offering a flat 50% discount with the code PRIDE50 on its Career Services which offers resume guidance, mock interviews, LinkedIn makeovers, and professional advice. Starting from July 1, 2022, social media influencers, doctors and other people of a similar calibre, who receive free goods from businesses, would be required to pay 10% tax deducted at source (TDS) for obtaining them. This is as per the 194R clause included in the Finance Act of 2022. According to the new regulation, social media influencers who receive and keep products like cars, mobile phones, clothes, cosmetics, etc., would have to pay 10% TDS. However, Section 194R will not apply if the item is returned to the business after enjoying the services. Click here to attend DATAMATIXX 2022 The CBDT further stated that the Section 194R shall apply to free samples sent by a firm to a doctor who is an employee of a hospital. As the advantage or perk is given to the doctor as a result of his employment with the hospital, the corporation will deduct the tax from the hospitals account. The recommendations also state that Section 194R will apply to seller incentives, such as gifts in cash or kind that are given in lieu of rebates or discounts. Cars, televisions, laptops, gold coins, cell phones, sponsored family vacations, free travel, and free medical samples are some of these. Adgully reached out to a cross-section of leaders from the industry to know about the implications of this new regulation. Rajni Daswani, Director - Digital Marketing, SoCheers: In the realm of influencer marketing, free goodies sent to the influencers indeed generate substantial PR for the brand. But theyre also a little one-sided, with the influencers having less to no say in whether they would be interested in receiving the freebies. So, by making the process selective rather than generic, it is also an opportunity to curb the cost to the environment and reduce waste. The new rule, I believe, will allow for a more respectful and understanding relationship to be fostered between the brands and the influencers. It will now require a two-way conversation when it comes to sending free packages, where both the parties can agree from the very beginning. This will also lead to setting more clear expectations between the two. Moreover, this rule is an indication of how big influencer marketing has gotten lately as an industry that newer systems are needed to better streamline it. This is quite an incentive for aspiring influencers. There are, however, still a lot of intricacies to be figured out in terms of the legalities involved and how exactly itll function. Varun Duggirala - Content Creator, Podcaster, Entrepreneur, and an author: "The idea comes from the right place but the system needs to be thought through. The regulation of any industry as it grows is expected and this move is largely in line with that. However, for any regulation to work the system or process needs to be in line with how these transactions happen in reality, and therein lies the concern with this announcement. The creator space is still largely chaotic and this can very easily add to the chaos rather than help in systematizing it." Ankita Chauhan, Director Strategy, Tonic Worldwide: I believe that the implication of taxes on the freebies received by the influencers should not have a major on-ground impact on the influencer activities. As social media and related businesses continue to grow, the changes in the regulations and policies are going to be inevitable. But of course, all the parties brands, agencies and the influencers will have to be mindful of this amendment. Steps like these are only going to help make the business more accountable and structured. Since this is only applicable to certain business sizes and values, it should not disincentivise anyone. Just like the past regulations of declaration of sponsored content, this too will become a part of the working process between the parties. Aashutosh Katre, Director, Yellow Seed: The new TDS rule is a game changer in the influencer marketing industry. It is likely to bring more accountability and transparency into the space, which is dominated by barters, collaborations and inconsistent commercial engagements. It will be interesting to see how marketers, agencies and influencers adapt to this change and continue to have meaningful and creative partnerships. Abhishek Singh, Senior Vice President - Marketing, Hirect India: As per the new guideline, the social media influencers who get free merchandise or freebies on sales promotions will have to pay a 10% tax deducted at source (TDS) on such benefits. This kind of provision is certainly going to affect the earnings of the influencers as many of the collaborations are barter and sampling-based. While an exact proportion of the impact wont be known until further research is carried out after the policys implementation, one can say that the impact might severely disrupt influencers participation in such collaboration with brands in the coming days. The new TDS rules are still under the wrap so let's wait to see how things unfold. Chetna Katyall Sundaram, General Manager - Brand & Marketing, Elista: The new set of rules will undoubtedly impact the brand. Recently, influencer marketing emerged as an essential medium for brands to showcase their products. It has been a win-win solution for brands and digital creators, as brands are able to garner visibility and digital creators get to monetise their content. However, with new rulings, many influencers might not engage with brands on barter collaborations. Brands will be forced to engage with digital creators only for paid campaigns. This, in turn, will put monetary pressure on brands and result in higher marketing expenses and product costs. The majority of Digital creators are micro-influencers. Their earnings will also be impacted as they will have to shell out taxes from their pockets or turn down brand offers. Most digital creators and micro-influencers are young people, and I hope the cumbersome taxation rules do not mar their creativity. Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO at 8bit Creatives: First of all, I want to state that this is an understandable move from CBDT. Given that influencers receive the products in exchange for providing the promotional service, it is income for them and liable to be taxed as per the fundamental principles of income tax. This move is also one of the first few official recognitions of the creator economy by the tax department, which is important for any industry to grow. Even though it would lead to increased taxation for creators, I believe that the guideline is grounded in logic. Creators are entrepreneurs in their own right and we would be proud to be some of Indias bigger taxpayers, and contribute to the economy. From an income tax point of view also, accounting for the income is not a shocking decision and wont prevent influencers from really endorsing things they believe in. Additionally, businesses that offer these freebies already deduct them as a business expense, which is another justification for taxing the recipient. The 20K threshold is a welcome exception because it spares smaller creators and numerous modest home brands the hassle. Additionally, this TDS is not applicable in the case of returnable products, which is also logical. All in all, I feel the move is an indication of how bullish the government is on the creator economy, and how far we have come. Rohit Agarwal, Founder & Director, Alpha Zegus: I get why this move is being taken. However, its going to be extremely difficult to implement it. The guideline requires people who are benefiting from sales promotions to report the same in their tax returns and pay 10% TDS. Problem 1 - How do you ensure that everyone reports every freebie that they have received? There's no transaction number, there is no physical or electronic evidence of the transaction. How do you ensure that everyone reports every freebie that they have received? There's no transaction number, there is no physical or electronic evidence of the transaction. Problem 2 - Many social media influencers are young, and receive products from various brands quite regularly. Some of them dont even fall under the taxable age, while some dont have the funds to pay TDS out of their pockets (since the product does not have a liquid monetary value). For example, if the product costs Rs 10,000, then the influencer is expected to pay Rs 1,000 out of their own pockets, which might be very inconvenient for rising creators. Many social media influencers are young, and receive products from various brands quite regularly. Some of them dont even fall under the taxable age, while some dont have the funds to pay TDS out of their pockets (since the product does not have a liquid monetary value). For example, if the product costs Rs 10,000, then the influencer is expected to pay Rs 1,000 out of their own pockets, which might be very inconvenient for rising creators. Problem 3 - A lot of electronic gadgets (and similar products) have a certain MRP, but are actually sold at a much lower value than the MRP. Is the influencer expected to pay 10% TDS on the MRP, or on the in-store value? All in all, the move is understandable but comes with a lot of challenges in terms of opportunities and execution. MANILA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Davao City wants Chinese investors to take advantage of the bright business climate and the myriad business opportunities offered by the city, especially in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. To attract more Chinese investors, April Marie Dayap, director of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center, told Xinhua that the southern Philippine city has offered preferential policies for investors to do business in sectors such as agriculture and food processing, manufacturing, and tourism. Dayap said China is the largest investment partner of Davao City. "We export a lot of agricultural products to China, and many Chinese businesses are being established in Davao City," she added. Under the incoming administration, Dayap said Davao City would like to focus more on investment promotion targeting the Chinese market. "We would like to invite more Chinese people to come here to discover what we can offer and what they can do," she told Xinhua. Dayap said the area's abundant supply of agricultural products, availability of raw materials, and low labor cost make investments in agribusiness, food production, and other agri-industrial processing viable. In recent years, Davao City and the Chinese side have achieved fruitful cooperation in the fields of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, agricultural cooperation, infrastructure investment, fighting COVID-19, and aboriginal poverty alleviation, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both sides. According to Li Lin, the Chinese Consul General in Davao City, the young coconuts, avocados, and tuna products from Davao City have already been on the table of the Chinese people, and durian is also expected to be exported to China this year. "We are also helping locals grow bananas locally, providing them with start-up capital, banana seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides, and technical guidance. Moreover, we are supporting aboriginal women to learn and improve the production skills of ethnic costumes and characteristic handicrafts to increase their income and pass on their culture," said Li. On June 13, the Philippines and China exchanged the agreements to finance the cross-sea bridge connecting Davao City and Samal Island in the southern Philippines. Once completed, the bridge will provide a resilient and reliable transportation link between Davao City and Samal Island, improving transportation efficiency, promoting internal mobility, and stimulating tourism potential. In addition, the project will create thousands of jobs, contributing to local economic recovery and people's livelihood. Sebastian Duterte, who took oath to become Davao City's new mayor on Monday, earlier thanked China for its "generous support" to Davao during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed his optimism about the future of Davao's deepening cooperation with China. Noting that Davao City has abundant and highly skilled workers, he said, "The two sides can increase cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, and other fields in the future." TIAA GBS India has appointed Rishi Tanna as the Director of Corporate Communications, CSR and ID&E. He will be responsible for spearheading, driving and executing TIAA India's integrated communications strategy that is aligned to the India entity, Corporate Social Responsibility and ID&E agenda. In addition to the existing initiatives, he will also focus on content & digital PR, external and internal communications, employer branding as the key levers. Rishi brings over 19 years of experience in the field of PR, Brand Building and Communications. His earlier stints were with Holcim India (ACC & Ambuja Cements), BNP Paribas India Group and Hindustan Unilever. At BNP Paribas India Group, Rishi was part of the core team instrumental in setting up the corporate brand, marketing and communications department for all its entities. He also worked extensively on HR Communications with a strong focus on D&I, L&D and Mobility to build the employer brand of choice. An avid follower of new trends and technologies, Rishi believes that CommsTech, Neuromarketing and 3 Vs (Voice, Video and Vernacular) will drive the next phase of growth in the field of Communications and Brand Building. Rishi also has a keen interest in macroeconomics, financial markets, geopolitics and travel. Outside of his professional commitments, you will find Rishi speaking at colleges, participating in podcasts and webinars. He also has his own talk series titled "When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade." Rishi also works with military veterans, enabling them to have a smooth transition to corporate. It was in February 2022 that the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) launched Indias first Accreditation Programme in Indian Public Relations (AIPR) for public relations professionals including young professionals and emerging leaders. In line with global practices, wherein PR accreditation is conferred to professionals who demonstrate the highest calibre in public relations, AIPR will not only establish a credible benchmark for individual competence, but also help the industry to advance the profession, as it raises the standards of the practitioners. Click here to attend DATAMATIXX 2022 Today, more than ever before, the Public Relations industry is steering through to manage and grow organisations reputations in the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) world and Communications practices are increasingly looking for proficient consultants who bring highest levels of competence, and new age skills For PR Consultancies, AIPR will help create a world-class and skilled community, who partner with their clients as they get a seat on the table, whilst taking a lead in managing their reputation. In May 2022, PRCAI announced the list of 18 public relations professionals who qualified for the first-ever batch of AIPR. PRCAI conferred each one of them with the prestigious AIPR pin. These young professionals will be the torchbearers of the industry as they strive to maintain strong professional and ethical standards, leading the industry. In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Atul Sharma, President, PRCAI, and Deeptie Sethi, CEO, PRCAI, speak about the idea behind the AIPR Programme, its benefits, how it will upskill the PR professionals, and more. Deeptie Sethi said, Even before I came on board, this was a very strong idea that Atul and the team have been championing to do something for the PR industry that provides a common lens of measurement. We do know that there are very low entry barriers to PR as a profession, people come in from different places or other professions as well, unlike medicine and engineering. The second thing thats happening with our profession is it is becoming very broad based and inclusive. With everything digital today, you need to really be very evolved with the talent, you need to upskill constantly, you need to be relevant. AIPR is a first-of-its-kind programme, it was set up from a perspective that we can see PR professionals from a common lens. Adding further on the programme she said, For a PR profession it is a good opportunity, whether you are 2 years or 10 years or 15 years into the profession, you can stop and see where your competency gap is. This kind of programme gives an opportunity, even for the practitioner, to take this aptitude test, realise where the gaps are. We feel that this kind of growth and upskilling should happen at scale. We launched this programme for Level 1, which was zero to five years, and then six to 10 years for Level 2 in our first batch. We saw about 70 people taking part and half of them getting qualified after the written aptitude test. Then they came forward in front of a very powerful jury to share their thoughts and ideas and thats where they were exited. 18 of them made it and we are so very proud of it. Atul Sharma elaborated, The idea of accreditation came in from the fact that we are a consultation-based profession and if you look at professions around us whether it is legal, accounting, or even medicine for that matter, which is technically there is a way that every industry makes sure that its professionals are kept abreast of developments in the industry. So, every time you meeting a professional from the industry, you will see they are up-to-date in their skills, competence and knowledge in the way they hold themselves to the profession. Sharma further said, Somewhere down the line, we felt that as public relations, we were not doing that. We felt that this bringing in a degree of accreditation and certification will bring that rigour and handwork back to the industry. It essentially means that every level at which you see people will be really competent and these are the people who will actually be able to show the rest of the industry the way how the public relations profession should evolve. So, that was the thought behind the AIPR initiative. We partnered with School of communications & Reputation (SCoRe) for AIPR, who looked at global and credible benchmarking accreditations built by PRSA, CIPR, IABC in their respective regions. SCoRe as our technical partner had helped us build a strong foundation to elevate our profession and talent to the next level. We are hoping that the 18 professionals that have been recommended for award of the accreditation will be role models for others. These are edited excerpts. For the complete interaction and for further details on the programme, please watch below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHAY8ct0LJ0&feature=youtu.be CBCs director of children services Sarah-Jane Smedmor said: Weve seen that demand for EHCPs double in the last few years. So its inevitable we need to ensure we meet the needs of our children individually. Thats more than 6,000 children in our mainstream schools on stage two of the SEND code of practice and around 3,000 with EHCPs. What do these stories tell us? Simple, there are more and more disabled children in these countries. Its not a secret. They keep telling us about it. The phrase increasing demand is a regular feature in news coverage on special education in both Ireland and Britain. Official evaluations show schools are failing miserably when it comes to addressing the needs of those in special education. Story after story features special needs kids without a school place for this fall. Children wait years just for an evaluation to be classified as needing special help in school. By Anne Dachel As anyone looking at LossOfBrainTrust can see, the majority of my stories are from Britain and Ireland currently. Things are in crisis all over the British Isles. Everywhere theres more funding for special education. Counties are building their own special schools, specifically ones for kids with autism. They lined up 52 pairs of shoes outside the building in September, one for each child without a place for the start of the academic year. The Central Bedfordshire SEND action group is planning the protest and inviting families and their friends to attend. Suffolk: Council chiefs say there has been an "unprecedented rise" in demand for specialist education - and there will be a need for hundreds more school places in the years ahead. Suffolk County Council has carried out an analysis of the first part of its multi-million-pound plan to improve SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) education across the county but admits there are still not enough places to keep up with the current needs with demand up more than 32%. the need is increasing every week. They said: "Suffolk has seen an unprecedented rise in requests for placements within Specialist Settings with the Special Education Panel seeing between 60-120 new referrals on a weekly basis. When comparing autumn and spring terms over the past two academic years, the number of requests has gone up by over 32%.... If the current trend continues, another 230 places will be needed by 2023-24 over what is currently being created. The council has already agreed - and is implementing - a 45million [$55M] project to expand SEND education and create 874 new specialist education placements. Gloucester: A new 60-place primary special school could be given the financial sign-off when civic chiefs meet today. Funding for the new school is one of several initiatives that could benefit from an extra 1.5m [$1.8M] in funding. Stroud: The new special school in Stroud will support 60 children aged four to 11 with moderate and additional learning difficulties in the school building formerly occupied by Severn View Primary Academy. Council leaders say there is an increasing demand in Gloucestershire for special school places, Kirklees: Families are waiting more than three years to get help for children with special education needs and disabilities in Kirklees, an inspection has found. A joint Ofsted/CQC inspection over five days in February this year found lengthy waiting times for key health services ranging from 90 weeks for autistic spectrum disorder to 194 weeks - more than three years - for a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Oxfordshire: Charlie, 19, from Launton, has been out of school for eight years. He was diagnosed with autism, aged eight, and found mainstream school overwhelming. His mother Sharon said: 'We were left in limbo. It was like we just dropped off the face of the Earth. "Ours isn't an isolated case, unfortunately. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of families being failed." "There aren't enough places in special schools, but also the provision in mainstream is not really supporting the children adequately. Bury: A new school for 80 secondary age children is to be built in Bury in the next year. Planning approval has been granted in the past week for the two-storey SEND school The proposal will provide much needed SEND facilities catering more specifically to children with autism and mild behavioural needs aged 11-16 years. Earlier this month, Bury Council said it was seeking proposals from education trusts to open another new special school in Bury. Northern Ireland: MLA Pat Sheehan made the call after a report revealed that 300 children with special educational needs are without a school place for September. He described the report as "deeply concerning". He said: "Given the yearly increase in the number of children with special educational needs, the education minister should have prepared and planned for this eventuality. Over 300 children with a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) are without a school place for this September, including 91 who are waiting for a place in a special school and 202 that are seeking places in a mainstream school. More than 22,000 pupils in Northern Ireland currently have a statement of SEN, according to statistics from the Department of Education. The Education Authority (EA) has said there has been a "significant rise" in demand for special school places Ireland: Every day 15,500 children have to travel outside their local school-catchment area; Nearly 1,500 students who cannot get a school place are receiving home tuition, which should only be used as it was intended as a last-resort measure and temporarily; Around 4,000 children are waiting for a diagnostic assessment in order to qualify for a school place. With around 25pc of pupils estimated to have SEN including 1.6pc, or one in every 65 students, who have autism the OCO predicts the situation will worsen unless proactive steps are taken. Responding, the Tanaiste said there are more children with special needs in school than ever before. ... He said 1,800 extra places in 312 special education classes are needed this year and that has exceeded the Department of Education's projections. "25% of the entire budget of the Department of Education, 2.5 billion is now expended on special education and rightly so," she said. "The special education teachers now number more than 14,000, 19,000 Special Needs Assistants and 315 special classes will open this year, the 2022-23 school year, providing for 1,800 students. She told the Dail that it is estimated there are "nearly 270 children in Ireland without a school place for this coming September", with "many more" waiting for a diagnostic assessment to allow them qualify for a school place. Despite these dismal stories about the pathetic state of special education currently, many are oblivious to what it all means. Two stories from Ireland stood out to me. One was about a school where the principal is determined to create a neurodiversity friendly school. (Of course with 25 percent of students in Ireland having special needs, according to official statistics, every school will have to be neurodiversity friendly.) Another story announced the opening of an autism unit in a school in Galway. What got my attention was the photo of four ladies celebrating by opening a bottle of champagne. Im sure their intentions are laudable and this is a much needed addition to the school, but the fact is that Ireland is drowning in autism. A story from June 8th revealed that kids in Ireland wait 4 to 5 years just for an autism diagnosis. Stories from Ireland/Britain are only going to get more depressing. Eventually the money will run out, but the statistics will only increase. Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism. ISLAMABAD, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The government and people of Pakistan extended heartfelt condolences over the loss of lives and injuries to many people in a tragic incident at Jordan's Aqaba port, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. "We express deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the ministry said in a statement. Twelve people were killed and 251 others injured on Monday in a chemical gas leak from a container at Aqaba port, Jordan state TV reported. Jordan opened a large field hospital in Aqaba to treat those injured in the toxic gas leakage as the Red Sea port city's hospitals have reached full capacity, according to the state-run Al Mamlaka TV. "Pakistan stands in solidarity with the brotherly people and government of Jordan in this moment of grief," said the foreign ministry. Today in history, June 28, 1098, witnessed a Crusader victory over the forces of Islam that, for those present, could only be interpreted as a miracle. As discussed here, on June 3, 1098, the Crusaders managed to liberate the ancient Christian city of Antioch -- where the very word Christian was first coined (Acts 11:26) -- from Islamic abuse. Before they could celebrate, however, or even recuperate, Kerbogha, the Turkish lord (or atabeg) of Mosul, arrived with a countless and innumerable throng of forty thousand fighters, consisting of Turks, Arabs, Egyptians, Africans, and Persians. It is quite obvious that these people are completely mad, the atabeg observed of the hopelessly outnumbered Crusaders: They are a presumptuous race Doubtless they have every confidence in their courage. But by Muhammad, it was a bad day for them when they entered Syrian territory. He quickly blockaded Antioch; and they who only yesterday were the besiegers became the besieged. Worse, by the time the Crusaders took Antioch, most of its stores had been depleted by the Turks during their lengthy besiegement, forcing the feral Franks to eat leather shoes and drink horse blood. Now desperate, the Crusaders met for deliberation, and it was decided by common consent to send a deputation to Kerbogha, proposing that he agree to do one of two things: either let him depart and leave the city to the Christians as a possession forever -- the city which had been theirs in the first place and which now by the will of God had been restored to them -- or let him prepare for battle and submit to the decision of the sword. This -- Just War logic -- was at the heart of the message delivered to the Turkish leader by the Christian delegation: Kerbogha, the Frankish lords send the following message to you. What staggering audacity has possessed you that you should have marched against them with armed forces when in their view you and your king and your people [in a word, Muslims] are guilty of invading Christian lands with unbridled covetousness and insulting and killing them all If you had any kind of rule of law and wanted to act fairly towards us, we would negotiate, reserving the rights of honor, and demonstrate to you with incontrovertible arguments what ought to belong to the Christians. Further underscoring the religious nature of the quarrel, the delegation continued by telling Kerbogha that if he were to embrace Christianity, they would surrender Antioch to him and take him for their lord. But if he still refused, then fly immediately or prepare your necks for our swords As might be expected, Kerbogha was so transported with anger that he could barely speak, and finally responded by saying that we took Christian lands by means of our remarkable strength, from a nation [Byzantines] scarcely better than women. He continued: Moreover, we think that you are mad to come from the ends of the earth, threatening with all your might to drive us from our homes, when you have insufficient supplies, too few arms, and too few men. Not only do we refuse to accept the name of Christians, but we spit upon it in disgust. To respond briefly to the message you have brought: return, you who form this delegation, to your leaders swiftly and tell them that if they are willing to become [Muslims] like us and renounce the Christ upon whom you seem to rely, we shall give them not only this land, but land of greater wealth and size. Should the Crusaders refuse this offer, however, they will undoubtedly die horribly, continued the atabeg, or endure the exile of eternal imprisonment, as slaves to us and our descendants [and] I shall save all those who are in the flower of youth of either sex, for the service of my master. The Christian delegation returned to Antioch. After hearing Kerboghas retort, the famished, exhausted, and vastly outnumbered men concluded that there was nothing left but to sally forth and meet the hordes besieging them head on. A three-day fast was ordered; the little food available was given to the horses. Then everyone in Antioch, lord and commoner, marched through the city squares, stopping at churches and calling on Gods aid, barefoot and crying, beating their breasts, so grief stricken that father would not greet son, brother would not look at brother, to quote Raymond of Aguilers, who was present. Finally, on the morning of June 28, 1098, everyone received the Eucharist and offered themselves to die for God, if he should wish. Then some twenty thousand Crusaders -- the entire army minus two hundred left to defend the city -- issued out of the Gates of Antioch to the sound of blaring horns. Never expecting the vastly outnumbered and weakened Franks to sally forth and meet their much larger and well-rested army, the Muslims were shocked -- doubly so, as the desperate Christians fought with a feral fury. Contemporary accounts speak of half-starved knights bristling like porcupines with arrows, darts, and javelins, but still moving forward and fighting ferociously. Although a company of mujahidin [Muslim jihadists] stood firm and fought zealously, seeking martyrdom, writes chronicler Ali ibn al-Athir, the Franks slew thousands of them. The Crusaders tight formations eventually caused the Muslim horsemen -- used as they were to overwhelming their enemies with arrows -- to panic and retreat. To pursue them more effectively, the relentless Christians mounted the horses of those [Muslims] who were dying and left their horses -- gaunt and suffering from hunger -- on the battlefield. The Franks berserker-like determination eventually won the day; the battle of Antioch became one of the First Crusades most astounding victories against the forces of Islam. All medieval chroniclers portrayed it as a miracle, citing angelic hosts, whom many Crusaders insisted on seeing, fighting alongside the knights. However one wishes to interpret such claims, the fact remains: Modern military historians have attempted to come up with a more rational explanation for the Franks success, but the task is difficult, observes Crusades historian Jay Rubenstein. How did a force as spent and starved as the crusaders manage to overcome a superior, well-fed, and well-rested adversary? Even Islamic chroniclers marveled: The Muslims were completely routed without striking a single blow or firing a single arrow, disgustedly wrote Ibn al-Athir. The only Muslims to stand firm were a detachment of warriors from the Holy Land, who fought to acquire merit in Allahs eyes and to seek martyrdom. The Franks killed them by the thousand and stripped their camp of food and possessions, equipment, horses and arms, with which they re-equipped themselves. In this manner, the Battle of Antioch came to take pride of place in Crusading lore. This article was excerpted from Raymond Ibrahims new book, Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam (all quoted material is sourced there). Ibrahim is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. Image: Public Domain BANGKOK, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's two deputy prime ministers, Anutin Charnvirakul and Jurin Laksanavisit, have tested positive for COVID-19, local media reported Tuesday. Anutin, who is also the country's public health minister, and Jurin, who is also the commerce minister, were both confirmed as being infected days after they returned from abroad. Anutin returned to Thailand on Sunday after attending the 50th meeting of the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 21 to June 24, while Jurin returned from a trip to Britain during June 18 and June 23, according to local media reports. Both were recommended for a one-week isolation, according to local media. On Tuesday, Thailand reported 1,761 new confirmed cases and 13 additional fatalities, said the country's Ministry of Public Health. Its only insurrection when the other side does it! For one and a half years, the Left and its media allies have peddled the narrative of a Republican insurrection. Meanwhile, Democrats and their supporters burn federal courthouses, attack property rights and the rule of law, and now call the Supreme Court illegitimate after its ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson. This isnt just a few fringe voices. Prominent legal analysts and authors are calling the Court illegitimate. The chair of the Democrat National Committee has pulled out the bullhorn to condemn the Court. Writers at Teen Vogue, whatever one thinks of Teen Vogue, have also used their cultural clout and reach to spew their propaganda. The mainstream of the Democrat Party and their allies are calling the Court illegitimate; they have joined the very far-left that have been saying this for decades. Insurrection is a violent uprising against legal authority with the intent to overthrow it. Of course, liberals wont openly admit that what they advocate is insurrection. But that is, in essence, what the left is advocating. By demonizing and attempting to delegitimize the Supreme Court, whose function is to uphold the Constitution and its rule of law, the Left intends to weaken the last bastion of American civil society and legal order to overthrow it. By eliminating the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, this will give the Left a blank check to open power to remake America and its laws in their image. Its an insurrection and revolution in all but name. If the Left cant achieve policy victories because their policies lead to depression and societal ruination, then they will do so by force and ignore the people and the rule of law. That has been the playbook of left-wing revolutionaries since the Jacobins. When you cant win by legislation, win by force. When you cant change the system from within, overthrow the system from the outside. That is insurrection. Of course, irony is not lost on left-wing zealots. They have no principles. Their only concern is political power by any means necessary. This is something that patriotic Americans must always understand. And they must be willing to support the institutions and organizations that stand athwart utopian insanity ad its inevitable cascading crash into violence. So when the Left accuses law-abiding Americans of insurrection and violence, then shields themselves from the same change when they actually break laws, vandalize property, and seek political overthrow, they must be challenged at every level. In the eyes and minds of the Left, they can do no wrong because they have stated the entire country, the republic itself, is illegitimate. If the entire country is illegitimate and its laws and institutions are illegitimate, then anything goes. They do not believe in the rule of law or the validity of the Constitution. This gives them the justification for violence to achieve their political aims. (Those defending illegitimacy, then, are evil for defending illegitimacy.) The left-wing insurrection is intensifying because they were thwarted in 2016 and the Supreme Court, because of Trumps victory -- no thanks to #NeverTrumpers -- is upholding the rule of law and the Constitution of the United States from further destruction. The Left thought it had the verdict of history behind them. After eight years of the Obama administration and then eight years of a prospective Clinton administration, then a forever majority, the Left would be able to do whatever it wanted without repercussion. The goal of the Left hasnt changed. Its tactics have. Leftists have intensified their violence and their apoplectic rhetoric. These are the signs of desperation, and in desperate times, anything goes. Patriotic Americans, those who love the freedom that this great republic confers and protects, must now defend and support the institutions that the Left will target for desecration. The Left complains that the Court will now attack rights of various peoples. They do not acknowledge what they say openly in places and behind the scenes in other places. The Left already attacks churches and will seek to destroy Christian schools. They already assail police officers and will seek to crush the men and women who uphold the rule of law. They are attacking the Supreme Court and will continue to do so until it is overthrown, overhauled, or made irrelevant by a totalitarian presidency. How ironic, again, that the party and the media complaining about a supposed autocrat in the presidency are openly calling for Biden to take unilateral action in all matters. The media does play an important role in the struggle ahead. This is why the mainstream media has come out full force in support of the Left and are allowing insurrectionist rhetoric to be promoted to viewers and readers. As stated, by demonizing and delegitimizing the Supreme Court over and over again, this will soften the resolve of Americans to defend the institutions and organizations that are on the chopping block and lead others to accept violence as legitimate. To stop an insurrection requires the defense of the institutions that are under attack. We will see if the Republicans have the strength and nerve to do the right thing. We are the real defenders of democracy and the noble republic that is the United States of America. And we shouldnt allow our foes to use the noble language that inspired Thomas Jefferson, Alexis De Tocqueville, and Ronald Reagan from being wielded by revolutionaries and insurrectionists to shield their totalitarian lusts from the public. Paul Krause is the editor of VoegelinView. He is the author of The Odyssey of Love: A Christian Guide to the Great Books, The Politics of Plato, and contributed to The College Lecture Today and Making Sense of Diseases and Disasters. Image: Montecruz foto Hey ruling class! How yer doin', pal? Do you feel, after a black man dared to reaffirm the Second Amendment and Roe v. Wade got overturned, that the world is spinning out of control? I think you may want to consult a mental-health expert and ask xir about Rapid Onset Ruling-Class Disorder (RORD). Experts agree that RORD is commonly found among the high-status supporters of a ruling class confronted by unexpected lack of respect from uppity black men. It is also associated with a ruling class headed for the exits, as in Louis XVI and Mikhail Gorbachev. Seriously though. Are you rulers willing to listen to a bit of feedback, for once in your conceited lives? In his Ruling Class Gaetano Mosca stated a century ago that a wise ruling class is always promoting likely young men from a lower class, because wise rulers always want to know what they are thinking down on the farm before they get to see gay Paree. Here's the problem, made real simple. It is the idea of top-down governance, where everything in society gets decided politically by an educated progressive class. La Wik: [Progressive Era] Reformers felt that old-fashioned ways meant waste and inefficiency, and eagerly sought out the "one best system". Hello Roe v. Wade, where the Supreme Court gussied up a one best system, because seven educated white male experts knew what was best for America. The last century or two is littered with "one best systems" directed from above: Marx and his communism, the Fabians and their socialism, the Progressives and their experts, LBJ and his Great Society, Fauci and his COVID. Why don't the "one best systems" work? Because the one best leader cannot come up with a plan that anticipates every eventuality, every inevitable mistake, every annoying detail. Human society is not a system; it is an organism. How do organisms work? Good question: they just do. What do you think happens when you cut your finger? Does the brain put together a comprehensive and mandatory healing plan approved by experts? Give me a break. Let's rehearse where our liberal friends went wrong. Politics with everything. The problem with politics is that it's all about fighting the enemy. Thus in politics people that disagree with you become the enemy. That's why our liberal friends experience the J6 rioters as "armed insurrectionists." That's why Nancy Pelosi calls for abortion supporters to "rise up." That's why Maxine Waters cries "to hell with the Supreme Court." That's why AOC is calling for people to "get into the streets." That's why Antifa chanted "burn it down" in front of the Supreme Court. Because in politics every reverse is due to the enemy's malevolence. It is worth noting that back in the days of the common law, abortion was illegal after "quickening." It looks as if now we will be going back to the banning of post-quickening abortions. That would take us back to common law after two centuries of elite top-down-iness, first anti-abortion and then pro-abortion. Way to go, elitists. Whenever you politicize an issue, dear liberal friends, it becomes Us vs. Them; people who disagree with you become your enemies. I don't think this is a good idea for 97.2 percent of the issues that divide us here in the good old United States of America. Top-down planning. Every cultural elite believes it is smarter and wiser than the average bear. And maybe it is right. But nothing, except a war, lends itself to top-down planning and supervision by the elite. This was proved in a double-blind experiment diligently performed by social scientists Lenin, Stalin, and Mao in the 20th century, and in various less rigorous democratic socialist experiments elsewhere. However, many fact-checkers agree that this view is "disinformation" and that socialism has never been really tried. The way to understand the mania for top-down planning and supervision is that, without a crisis, there is nothing for the elitists to do; they are reduced to being overeducated pen-pushers, and that is intolerable. There must be an enemy to destroy! The Real Science. The most advanced thinkers in the aftermath of the 20th century revolution in physics now talk in terms of "emergence." Innovations in this universe "emerge" from the chaos of possibilities and uncertainty principles and fly bottles, and we don't really know why or how. So we just describe it. If you elites enforce your Great Reset and their Green New Deal and it turns out that the climate isn't changing that much, and that renewable energy and the termination of the fossil fuel economy are disasters on the scale of nuclear war, then we won't adapt until it is too late for billions of humans. That's why we all need to take our liberal neighbors aside and refer them to the neighborhood Rapid Onset Ruling-Class Disorder therapist. It's the just thing to do. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Image: Charles-Philippe Lariviere For the record, I believe Fox News host Tucker Carlson is by far the best high-profile TV commentator of our time. I frequently cite him in my news-oriented articles, and his monologues are tours de force. Thus is it notable that Ive never seen him stumble so badly as on his last Wednesday evening show. Aside from taking at face value a rather portly Google engineers claim that a computer hed been working with, which he calls a person, has become sentient (highly improbable at this time), Carlson launched an attack on the Republican Party that, while containing some truth, failed to see the forest for the trees. The pundits point was that while Democrats are alienating even their traditional minority base with woke baseness, the GOP is not only failing to capitalize but is aiding the Biden administration in effectuating political correctness. He provided a number of examples, and lets jump right in with one to illustrate where he went wrong. Carlson cited Arkansas Republican governor Asa Hutchinsons shameful veto of a 2021 bill that would ban the child abuse euphemistically known as gender reassignment treatments (e.g., puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones). With the veto, Hutchinson signaled that he adheres to a self-destructive fantasy about and fear of government overreach (his claim), is profoundly ignorant on the subject or is actually in bed with the sexual devolutionaries. Regardless, he should be primaried. Carlson, however, didnt tell the rest of the story. To wit: That bill is now law because the Republican-controlled legislature overrode Hutchinsons veto by wide margins the very day after it was announced. As Ballotpedia reported last year, The House and Senate voted 71-24 and 25-8 in favor of the override, respectively. All Democrats, one independent, and three Republicans voted against the override. The remaining Republicans voted in favor of the override. Seven assembly membersone Democrat and six Republicansdid not vote. Again, All Democrats voted for child abuses perpetuation, whereas virtually all the Arkansas Republicans voted to end it and did so. This is a real change, a real blow in the culture war, that makes a real difference in real peoples lives. Its also something that wouldnt have even been proposed had Democrats controlled Arkansass legislature. This is reminiscent of how, in 2007 and 2013, after immigrationist GOPers (e.g., the late Senator John McCain) forged disastrous amnesty bills, they were deep-sixed by other congressional Republicans. Carlson also mentioned the 15 leftism-enabling Senate Republicans, such as Texass John Cornyn and Utahs Mitt Romney, who conspired with the Democrats to pass the unconstitutional red flag gun bill. Yet while this is lamentable, the reality is that almost 89 percent of Republicans opposed the bill in the Senate and House combined versus zero percent of Democrats who did so. Perhaps most notable, however, is that all five Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the unconstitutional, nation-rending Roe v. Wade opinion were appointed by Republicans; three out of the four voting unconstitutionally were Democrat choices. Realize, too, that as bad as the GOP establishment is, we have one of its members to thank for Roes demise: The often enraging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. He did, after all, hold up the thoroughly unjust Merrick Garlands SCOTUS nomination while also later helping elevate Amy Coney Barrett to the Court. (Additionally, McConnell helped Trump elevate 220 Article III federal judges, the second most of any president in a four-year period.) Whatever one thinks of abortion, the difference between overturning Roe and not doing so is like night and day and that historic day, Fridays Dobbs ruling, was delivered by the GOP. All this makes two conclusions plain: First, the Republican Party is far from perfect. Second, its still head and shoulders above the Democrats. The Real Distinctions and The Uniparty Mentality Those who, despite the above, paint both parties with the same brush should consider something: Before complaining of a uniparty, remember that the GOP itself is not a uniparty. It includes MAGA figures ranging from Ron DeSantis, Chip Roy and Marjorie Taylor Greene to liberals such as Susan Collins and Romney to establishment operators such as McConnell to possible sociopaths such as Adam Kinzinger. Theres a lot of ideological real estate among these groups and, consequently, a bit of an intra-party civil war. And apropos to this, understand that the most instructive distinction here is not Republican and Democrat. Its people who more or less care about the country and its Constitution and traditions (though they have varying understanding of such) and everyone else. But heres the significant point: There is one and only one viable home for the anti-establishment MAGA set, and thats the Republican Party. As for its bad elements, why would we define any group based on its most anomalous 10 or 15 percent? How Political Power is Won So we mustnt let the perfect be the enemy of the good. And if I can grit my teeth and say this, you can, too. After all, the best way to understand me is that Im Mayberry Meets the Middle Ages. What this means is that 99.5 percent of the people who might think theyre more outside-the-box than I am are not more outside-the-box than I am. But I also understand something: Politics is the art of the possible, as famed German leader Otto von Bismarck put it. Its not the art of You get what you want, right now, no questions asked, but of the possible. Also realize that its a mistake treating a politician who has dashed certain hopes of yours as you would a formerly dear friend who has betrayed you. The latter may be dead to you (though forgiveness is always, and reconciliation sometimes, in order), but parties and politicians should be viewed differently: as tools with a certain utility. You dont throw away a tool just because it doesnt perform up to the standard you hoped unless you have a better tool with which to replace it. This means, mind you, that the superior tool must be one you can actually get your hands on and put to use, not something that will never actually make it into your shed. (This is a metaphor for supporting vanity-project, third-party candidates.) In other words, dont get so emotionally involved with a politician that when disappointed, you feel like a jilted love interest. The next step is understanding the goal. Anyone who remembers the 2008 film Gran Torino may recall that when the Clint Eastwood character was asked how he had a tool shed equipped like Home Depot, his answer was that such an arsenal is acquired over a lifetime. We likewise must aim to incrementally improve our set of tools. For example, electing America-first candidates (e.g., Taylor Greene) in recent years has improved Congress. And if its now, for arguments sake, 15 percent better than before, the goal is to make it another 8, 15 or 20 percent better next time. This is done, obviously, through electing the best possible candidates in the primaries and then the general election. Keep repeating this process, and improved government results. But as soon as we get emotional due to disappointment and take our ball and go home (demoralization-born suppressed turnout), the process not only is halted but can reverse. One step forwards, two steps back. Perseverance is a prerequisite for winning power. In conclusion, remember that embracing the uniparty mentality is to play into evils hands. The Devil wants you to become cynical, say Theyre all the same! and not see distinctions. For then you wont distinguish between good and evil and can become, as Edmund Burke put it, one of those good men who do nothing. Battles can only be won by those who show up for them. Contact Selwyn Duke , follow him on MeWe , Gettr or Parler , or log on to SelwynDuke.com . Image Screen shot from Fox News video, via YouTube How many lives do European coal plants have? Nobody knows. But by now, most of the world understands that Europe's reliance on coal is no longer deniable. In a time of global energy instability featuring an embargo on Russian energy, the E.U.'s wealthiest nations have embraced coal as a savior like the Peanuts character Linus grasping his blanket. Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands are planning to utilize their coal plants to make up for a shortage in power from gas plants. Although many gas drilling projects have been resurrected around Europe, electricity from gas plants is set to decrease due to the Russian ban. This return to coal prompts us to revisit promises made by these very same nations to end coal dependency. Is the reign of King Coal inevitable? Is European pressure on less developed countries to abandon coal carbon colonialism? E.U. countries have been notorious for backtracking on climate pledges. Germany, for example, has pushed back emission-reduction targets several times, despite being touted as the leader in green energy. "We will probably miss our targets also for 2022, even for 2023 it will be hard enough," said German economy minister Robert Habeck. As the use of coal increases, renewable energies remain almost stagnant. Germany and others have come to the realization that their domestic energy sector needs large amounts of reliable power to meet baseload demands of cities and industries. Only fossil fuels, nuclear, and large hydro projects are capable of providing such reliability. The vagaries of wind and sunlight make it so. E.U. nations had resorted to natural gas as a substitute for coal, calling it a transitionary fuel to carry them to the impossible nirvana of carbon net zero. However, the disruption in Russian gas supplies has them restarting idled coal plants to avoid blackouts. "The Netherlands on Monday joined Britain and Germany in warning that it will have to use more of the dirtiest fossil fuel this winter to stave off a looming energy shortage," reported the Daily Telegraph. I support their decision to use coal but reject their badgering of developing countries for burning the fossil fuel. If the European nations, with superior economies and living standards, have the right to utilize fossil fuel to meet their energy needs, there is no reason why the same should be disallowed for poorer nations, where the availability of such energy is even more critical. Each year, the United Nations castigates "dirty, polluting countries" like India and China for their use of fossil fuels. For the United Nations and the West, there is a lack of perspective on this matter. Europe and the U.S. enjoy their current economic success due to the unrestricted use of fossil fuels during the last two centuries, and they continue to use them as technological and geopolitical realities come home to roost. Yet poorer countries are pressed to forgo the benefit of abundant and affordable energy from coal, oil, and gas. For someone living in a third-world country, this attitude of the West is hypocritical and lacks compassion, reminiscent of an era when colonizers sought control over the lives of subjects. I believe the would-be colonialists in the comfortable offices of such cities as Brussels, Copenhagen, and New York have another realization coming: for the people of developing nations wanting to better their lives, the use of hydrocarbons is not negotiable. Vijay Jayaraj is a research associate at the CO2 Coalition, Arlington, Va., and holds a master's degree in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia, U.K. He resides in Bengaluru, India. Image: PublicDomainPictures.net. Carol T. Christ is currently the chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley. When the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs came out, returning abortion decisions to the states, she sat down and, using her official U.C. Berkeley email account, sent an admittedly personal email blast to every student, faculty member, and administrative person at U.C. Berkeley, numbering over 50,000 people. Moreover, if she included alumni on her distribution list, hundreds of thousands of additional people may have received her email. It's possible (this is speculation, not assertion) that Chancellor Christ violated California law when she sent that email. I learned about Christ's conduct from a source who asked to remain anonymous for safety's sake. My contact passed on the following information about the email: In Christ's email: - She supports anti-life political views - Implies anti-life political views should be universal. - Marginalizes religious people. - Implies only reason for objecting to abortion is religious people trying to control others. Her message was sent using her official email account. It has the university letterhead. It was sent to everyone affiliated with UC. Because it is an official communication, even staff with no email (cleaning, cooks, etcs.) will get a printed copy. How much would it cost another organization to send a targeted political message to every one of the Berkeley community? I did an online search of California law about an employee's ability to use government property for personal use. If I understand the law correctly, it's not legal to do so. Here's what California's Government Code has to say at 8314: (a) It is unlawful for any elected state or local officer, including any state or local appointee, employee, or consultant, to use or permit others to use public resources for a campaign activity, or personal or other purposes which are not authorized by law. [snip] (3) "Public resources" means any property or asset owned by the state or any local agency, including, but not limited to, land, buildings, facilities, funds, equipment, supplies, telephones, computers, vehicles, travel, and state-compensated time. Image: U.C. Berkeley by Gku. CC BY-SA 3.0. The language in subdivision (a) is a bit ambiguous because it speaks of "elected state or local officer," which would exclude a chancellor, which is an appointed position, but then says that clause includes "any state or local appointee, employee, or consultant," which would include a chancellor. Therefore, I am not accusing Chancellor Christ of wrongdoing. I'm just wondering if she crossed a line. The state takes 8314 seriously. A person who violates it "is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day on which a violation occurs, plus three times the value of the unlawful use of public resources." Although emails don't incur a monetary cost, any papers printed would establish damages. Also, as my informant noted, one way to value Christ's conduct is to look at what it would have cost her to do the same email and print blast without using government property. By the way, there's no question about whether the message was personal, rather than official. In the email, which I've reprinted below, Christ freely admits that "I write today to share my personal opinion and reaction" (emphasis mine), even as she acknowledges that her job as chancellor requires neutrality. It seems to me that this situation may require some investigation. Modern-day historians look back at the Soviet criminal system with a mixture of sorrow and disbelief. For example, Lavrentiy Beria, head of Stalin's secret police, often boasted, "Show me the man, and I'll show you the crime." Beria was bragging that he possessed a fearsome array of tools that could banish any political opponent to the gulag. An accusation became the legal equivalent of a conviction. Decades later, a similar philosophy began to take hold on college campuses across the United States. For example, a lawsuit against Oberlin College in Ohio revealed that every male accused of a sexual peccadillo at that school was found responsible of the alleged offense. These "kangaroo courts" were shut down in 2020, when a new due process regulation took effect, thanks to the intrepid efforts of former Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The regulation featured a variety of commonsense due process procedures such as impartial investigations, cross-examination, and the presumption of innocence. But no surprise, presidential candidate Joe Biden vowed to put a "quick end" to the DeVos rule. That "quick end" happened yesterday, when the Department of Education released its draft Title IX regulation. Since the Title IX law is designed to curb sex discrimination, heated debates had arisen about reworking the foundational word, "sex." In the draft regulation, the Biden administration settled on "sex" being expanded to include "sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity." The "gender identity" part of the new definition is especially worrisome, because school policies typically mandate that teachers and students use a person's preferred gender pronoun. So when a 13-year-old boy in Wisconsin recently refused to refer to a female classmate as "they" and "them," he was hit with a Title IX sexual harassment complaint. Such forced-speech pronoun mandates call to mind the repressive policies seen in totalitarian societies. In repressive countries, free speech is verboten. That way, unruly segments of the population can be monitored and controlled. The 2020 DeVos regulation struck the proper balance, so overly broad definitions of sexual harassment would not be allowed to squeeze out First Amendment free speech. But the draft Biden regulation plans to define harassment as "conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive, that, based on the totality of the circumstances and evaluated subjectively and objectively, denies or limits a person's ability to participate" in their education. This means that any comment, joke, or gesture that is seen as "subjectively" offensive could trigger a Title IX complaint. So say "dasvidaniya" to free speech on campus! The foulest features of the Soviet system were the infamous Show Trials, in which judicial authorities pre-determined the guilt or innocence of the accused. This foreshadowed a similar approach on American college campuses, resulting in a pronounced bias against the male respondent in Title IX cases, which judges called out in 45 judicial decisions. When the same person serves as both investigator and adjudicator, bias becomes baked into the process. On college campuses, nearly 50 judicial decisions found biased, "victim-centered" investigations to be widespread. And under Biden's proposed single-investigator approach, the same person could serve as both the investigator and decision-maker what critics often deride as "judge, jury, and executioner." Even the right to review evidence is now at risk. Under the DeVos rule, both parties were entitled to "inspect and review any evidence obtained as part of the investigation." But under the proposed rule, persons will be allowed access to only a "description of the relevant evidence." This information can be provided either "orally or in writing" which means that a 100-page investigative report could be boiled down to a brief verbal summary by a college administrator. With the Soviet Show Trials, at least there was an actual trial. But the Biden rule would make hearings optional, allowing adjudicators to ask their questions "during individual meetings with the parties." The Biden approach would also dispense with cross-examination, again echoing the antidue process mindset that plagued the Soviet Show Trials. So if a college wants to subscribe to Beria's "accusation equals conviction" philosophy, all it needs to do is designate the same person to be the investigator and decision-maker, provide the accused only verbal summaries of the evidence, eliminate hearings, and dispense with pesky cross-examination. It's really that simple! But the most troubling part is how the proposed regulation turns male students into "non-persons." The subtitle of the Department of Education's June 23 press release says, "Department Commemorates 50 Years of Protecting and Advancing the Rights of All Students" (emphasis added). The release then refers to "women" and "girls" three times. But no mention of "men" or "boys." This with open disregard for the fact that numerous judicial decisions found institutional sex bias against the male student. In other words, the Department of Education cares about "all" students, as long as they identify as female or some other gender. So what about male students? Edward E. Bartlett is a former university professor and worked for 17 years for the Department of Health and Human Services. Image via Pxhere. Am I the only one who finds it curious that, while baying about how "safe and effective" COVID-19 vaccines are for children, FDA employees are still working from home? Recently, the Vaccine and Related Biologics Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting voted (nearly) unanimously to give emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months old. America is now the only country on the planet that allows mRNA injections for kids under 5 years old. After watching hours and hours of the discussion that was uploaded online, I noticed a curious thing. Seemingly all FDA employees had called into the meeting from what looked like their homes. While I could understand the need to allow advisory committee meeting members, who are volunteers from anywhere in the country, to call in from their homes, there is no excuse for FDA employees to continue working from home. With a 96.5% vaccination rate across the federal government, including 96.4% within HHS, it is safe to assume that the majority of FDA employees are vaccinated and boosted. After all, it's the same vaccine that their own FDA approved. At the same time that the White House continues to parrot that the vaccines are "safe and effective" for kids and infants, it would be strange for vaccinated and boosted FDA employees to work from home based on concerns about COVID. If there is hesitancy regarding the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy among FDA employees, then why on Earth, and to this very day, is the FDA's homepage actively picturing and pushing for everyone else to get the vaccine? Image: Working from home by bublikhaus. Let me say again: on June 14 and again on June 15, the advisory committees just voted (nearly) unanimously on all approvals for children as young as six months old. But they're working from home... First, let's address the "safe" part on "safe and effective." More than 12 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide with more than 830,000 COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events reported. This number, according to a recent Harvard University study, is estimated to represent only approximately 1% of the actual number of COVID-19 vaccine adverse events. At this point, most Americans know someone who died or had a serious adverse event due to COVID vaccination. Surely the FDA would have updated the vaccine label by now to reflect these risks, right? Wrong! As a drug safety expert, it boggles my mind why the FDA remains as silent as the grave on COVID-19 vaccine mortality and morbidity. But maybe Pfizer's, Moderna's, and the FDA's logic is more pedestrian. For those confused about the FDA's silence, the following image will explain the FDA's logic in assessing Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccine safety: Image courtesy of David Gortler. Addressing "efficacy" next, it is a problem that is even more obvious to Americans. For example, in June 2022, Anthony "The Science" Fauci, who had received four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and was the national poster boy for mask-wearing, still tested positive for COVID. Despite claims of "mild disease if vaccinated," the data show that it's not just "boostered" people who have mild, non-life threatening COVID-19 symptoms it's almost everyone, regardless of their booster/vaccination status, according to Johns Hopkins University. The lack of efficacy can easily be explained by the fact that all COVID vaccines, including the newest Novavax vaccine granted an EUC in early June 2022, are for the original (i.e., 2019) version of COVID and that there is no "2022" vaccine to accommodate all the new mutations. Even though the "flu" vaccine is reformulated every year, the FDA is still pushing the same tired 2022 version of the COVID vaccine. If the COVID-19 vaccines really were safe and effective, you would think the FDA employees would have already returned to work, setting an example for employees all over the country. The American public deserve transparency. They deserve the facts before they vaccinate their children. And they deserve to know why, if the vaccine is so safe and effective, FDA employees are still working from home. Dr. David Gortler is a pharmacologist, pharmacist, and FDA and health care policy oversight fellow and FDA reform advocate at the Ethics and Public Policy Center think-tank in Washington, D.C. He was a professor of pharmacology and biotechnology at the Yale University School of Medicine, where he also served as a faculty appointee to the Yale University Bioethics Center. While at Yale, he was recruited by the FDA where he became a medical officer who was later appointed as senior adviser to the FDA commissioner for drug safety, FDA science policy, and FDA regulatory affairs. He is a columnist at Forbes, where he writes on drug safety, health care politics, and FDA policy. So how's Joe Biden's and Kamala Harris's open border going, where Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas has said he has "operational control"? According to Fox News: At least 46 undocumented migrants [sic] were found dead in a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas and more than a dozen were hospitalized, authorities said. Crews were at the 9600 block of Quintana Road where an 18-wheeler containing up to 100 migrants inside was found abandoned, Fox San Antonio reported. The discovery is part of what is believed to be a human smuggling operation. "This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy," San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Monday night near the location where the tractor-trailer was found. The temperature outside was reportedly 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Imagine what it was like inside the truck. The space had to have been constrained. There was no water. There was no air-conditioner or cooling, and it was a supposedly refrigerated truck. Some of the survivors were reportedly kids. Some beast left the truck on a San Antonio street and didn't even unlock the back doors so that at least the migrants being smuggled could get out. The only reason the box of horror was discovered at all was because a passerby heard cries from the inside for help. All one can think is how terrible it was for these migrants, who had been promised heaven by their cartel human-smuggling syndicates. Their cries for help had to have started well before they began dying. Imagine how it was when the first person started dying. Imagine being there when the 30th died in the heat, not even knowing where one was...it's just unthinkable, like the despair of the men on the slowly capsizing Edmund Fitzgerald asking "where the love of God goes..." Unthinkable. It doesn't matter if they were illegal border-crossers at this point; they were human beings and nobody deserves to die a cruel, suffocating death like that as some kind of misplaced or forgotten cargo, with some human-smuggler stepping away to save himself for unknown reasons perhaps fear of arrest or not being paid or something else. The death count is comparable to that of a cartel massacre of migrants who didn't pay the crossing fees that happened in the north of Mexico years ago, after a mass grave was discovered. Well, now the mass graves are happening here in the States big ones, consistent with huge human-smuggling syndicates and the cartel cash it takes to organize them. Freelance border coyotes taking a family at a time across the Rio Grande can't pull off these kinds of operations, such as what was found in the truck, which had to have been an experienced operation. That means that someone out there enabled these illegal migrant organizations to get very, very big, both from extended "business" and from the cartel expectation that the truck would never be intercepted or break down, or whatever it was that happened that led to the truck becoming an abandoned death chamber on a street in San Antonio. Cartels have reportedly been heard in TikTok videos bragging about all the money they were making from human-smuggling. Texas governor Greg Abbott and other Texas Republicans put the blame squarely where it belonged. According to Fox News: In a tweet, Abbott said Monday evening's discovery rests squarely on Biden. "At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden," Abbott said, before officials raised the death count to at least 46. The Republican governor also criticized Biden for not doing enough to secure the southern border. "They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law," Abbott added. Several other officials blamed the incident on Bidens immigration policies, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who called the discovery "horrific" and "wrong." "How many more people have to die before Dems give a d---?" he asked, before making a reference to Bidens border crisis. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican who represents Texas, also tweeted about the incident. "Today in San Antonio it was 102 degrees. Imagine being abandoned inside an 18-wheeler left to die 42 people died today will @AliMayorkas even mention their names?" the lawmaker said, referencing Alejandro Mayorkas, who was nominated by Biden to lead the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. "Death count rises to 46 with another 16 in the hospital, to include 4 kids. Lord when will the nightmare end," the Republican added in another tweet. To date, neither Biden nor Mayorkas nor border czar Kamala Harris has said a thing about this mass death of migrants at the hands of human-smuggling syndicates. Guilty consciences? Hopes the news cycle will move on to something more palatable? They claim operational control and it's pretty obvious they don't have anything like operational control. There will undoubtedly be talk of getting to the bottom of it, but what's needed is action to ensure that it can't happen. The border wall needs to go up. Cartel members and their allies should not be allowed to operate in this country. Human-smuggling networks should be cracked down on. Illegal migrants, most of whom will take dangerous risks in the hands of cartels, must know that if they are caught in the States, they will be sent back, making the proposition of working with a cartel to get into America a far less attractive prospect. Most of all, the border needs checks and controls from the U.S. and Mexican authorities, because abandoning it, as Mayorkas has done, has left it in the hands of cartels. This enhanced security will have to include, unfortunately, stricter inspections of international and cross-border transport trucks, which apparently have been pretty active on the human-smuggling front, given this recent mass death incident. A few weeks ago, Gov. Abbott signed a deal with Mexico's border governors to enhance their border security in exchange for relaxed inspections of trucks. I saw a tweet yesterday by Bill Melugin, which does not seem to be up there now, that the governor of Mexico's Tamaulipas state has not been keeping his end of the bargain and has actually helped actively escort migrants into the south Texas corridors. If the tweet was deleted, it may have been incorrect information, or inadvertently classified information, or perhaps I am wrong about the source, but if it's true, then the deal should be off, and the gloves should be off about what gets inspected at the border. It's an issue that requires further investigation as a potential reason for this surge in dangerous cartel human-smuggling traffic into the States. This, by the way, isn't the only industrial-scale operation that is being detected Fox News's Melugin also found a case where a huge stash of fentanyl from a border operation was found in California around the same time and a leftist D.A. actually let the smugglers of that cartel operation out on their own recognizance. The border is indeed open. In the meantime, where's Joe? Where's Mayorkas? Where's Kamala? This kind of mass-death incident has happened once, and you can bet it will happen again. Somebody out there is making a lot of money smuggling illegal migrants into the States, and now that they are trafficking in industrial-scale volume, human life is getting very, very cheap. Image: Screen shot from video posted by Fox4 via YouTube. "Rocket fired from Gaza prompts airstrike" (6/19/22) describes how Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel this past weekend, "shattering a two month lull in violence at the Gaza-Israel border[.]" The Washington Post concludes the article with a paragraph stating that "[a]n Israeli military raid in the West Bank early Friday, in which three Palestinian militants were killed and eight wounded, could have triggered the rocket attack." This conclusion is an example of one of the oldest fallacies that of post hoc ergo propter hoc that since something happened after an event, then therefore it is the cause. What the Post could more easily point to is with the philosophy called Occam's Razor, which states that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. Hamas is the political/military junta that runs Gaza. Hamas's founding document its charter explicitly directs Palestinians to destroy Israel. Its directive is not even for a Hamas state of its own, but the destruction of another. Hamas rocket fire has been ongoing for over a decade. Doesn't the Hamas modus operandi seem to be the most likely reason for the intermittent Palestinian rocket fire that Israel has seen over the past couple of decades rather than the one last exchange of fire in the West Bank? Lastly, the Post conveniently left out that "[a] string of four [Palestinian terrorist] attacks that preceded the Israeli crackdown killed 14 people in Israel the deadliest outbreak of terrorism in years" according to the Times of Israel. This is pertinent to the understanding of the timing of events. The Israeli military raid was in retaliation and an effort to halt future terrorist attacks emanating from the West Bank. The Post inverted the cause of what happened, clouded the timing of events through omitting pertinent details, reversed culpability based on what "could" have been the cause in their opinion. Certainly, from the pattern of past Post coverage, what the Post could or would conclude, is always for the Palestinian side and against the Israelis. Why is that? Dr. Michael Berenhaus is a freelance watchdog activist who works tirelessly to combat anti-Israel bias in the media. He has been widely published in news sources such as the Economist, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Image: Washington Post. ULAN BATOR, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's National Traumatology and Orthopedics Research Center on Tuesday warned the public to beware of venomous snakes. The warning came after many cases of snake bites had been reported in the capital Ulan Bator and other areas of the country. Currently, four children bitten by venomous snakes are hospitalized, according to the center. In addition, reports of shield-nose snake sightings in residential areas across the country are on the rise, especially in the capital city, the center said. Last year, at least two deaths were registered in the country because of snake bites. (ANSA) - ROME, JUN 28 - Two teenage students of Moroccan origin were allegedly barred from work experience schemes at Sacile near Pordenone in northern Italy on the grounds of their colour, a migrant association said Tuesday. They were excluded from several local internship schemes, while all the other children were allowed in," said Adolph Hackah, president of the local Ivorian association, which took up their case. (ANSA). Slovenia: high rating for new Golob's government Almost a third of respondents oppose it (ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 27 - The new Slovenian government led by Robert Golob has the approval of 53.1% of Slovenians, about eight points more than the rating of the previous Jansa's government when it took office, the Slovenian news agency STA reported, quoting a POP TV poll. Almost a third of respondents oppose the current government. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Migrants: asylum requests up by a third in 2021, EU Return to pre-pandemic figures. Increase in first months 2022 (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, 28 GIU - Last year was marked by "significant international developments" that led to "an increase by a third of the number of asylum applications lodged in the EU" with 648,000 requests for international protection, marking a return to pre-pandemic figures, the executive director of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Nina Gregori said, presenting the 2022 asylum report. In the first few months of this year, "we registered the highest number of monthly applications since the 2015-2016 refugee crisis", explained Gregori, stressing that "the three main factors for this increase" were "the exploitation of migrants by the Belarusian regime, the ascent to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan last summer and the war in Ukraine". In the first few months of 2021, the number of applications remained more or less stable, but towards the middle of the year, requests started to increase, with peaks in the months of September and November 2021, the report said. It explained that the two peaks were mainly due to an increase of applications lodged by Afghans and Syrians, including many repeated requests by Afghans. Syrians represented the largest group of applicants in 2021, with some 117,000 requests in EU countries, followed by Afghans who presented 102,000 requests. These two nationalities were followed at a distance by citizens of Iraq (30,000 requests), Pakistan and Turkey (25,000 each) and Bangladesh (20,000). As far as host countries are concerned, Germany received the highest number of asylum requests (191,000), followed by France (121,000), Spain (65,000) and Italy (53,000). (ANSAmed). 'Pazar//Shuk', a voyage through Istanbul, Tel Aviv markets Photography book by Kornelia Binicewitz, Italo Rondinella (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, 28 GIU - Two apparently faraway places, Istanbul and Tel Aviv, meet every day in the authentic culture of food markets that liven up the streets of the two cities. The photography book "Pazar//Shuk", by Kornelia Binicewicz and Italo Rondinella - which has just been published by Turkish publishers Paper Street & Co. - looks into the points in common and differences between Turkey and Israel in the culture of markets enshrined in both countries. The photographs shot by Italian photo reporter Rondinella bring to light the nearly intimate atmosphere that is palpable during the meetings between sellers and buyers in markets which give rhythm to the daily life of Turkey and Israel. "In Istanbul, the market represents the identity of the district in which it is located, it is connected to people who live in the area and outlines the demographic photography of that specific place, whether it is an area mainly inhabited by well-off secular Kurds or Turks live or by conservatives", explained to ANSA Binicewicz, a Polish anthropologist who lives in Istanbul where she is in charge of musical projects. "In Turkey, the market satisfies daily shopping needs, in the majority of cases regarding women who then cook at home. In Israel, things used to be like that but now markets are different places, the neighborhoods where they are located have been gentrified and there are increasingly less stalls simply selling food products while an increasing number of stands prepare typical dishes. It is a phenomenon of the past 10 years that has also changed the public, now young hipsters and food lovers mainly go to the markets in Tel Aviv". The texts curated by Binicewicz talk about vendors, clients and restaurant owners who buy ingredients for their dishes. Through their stories, people put readers in contact with a culinary tradition embedded in the Ottoman empire, in districts of Istanbul where it is still possible to get in contact with the culture of the Armenian and Greek-Orthodox minorities, or a fish market in Tel Aviv managed by an Israeli together with a Palestinian fisherman. The book thus becomes a sort of unconventional guide of the two cities where it is possible to find recipes of typical dishes served by the interviewed restaurant owners. The book's title is named after the way markets are known in Istanbul and Tel Aviv: "pazar" for Turkey, from the Persian "bazaar", and "shuk" in Israel, a close relative of the Arabic "souk". The project was commissioned by the Israeli consulate in Istanbul and is published - in English, Turkish and Hebrew - as part of the normalization process of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel recently inaugurated at an official level. (ANSAmed) Gaza: man sentenced to death for 'spying for Israel' Marshal court issues harsh sentences for 3 'collaborationists' (ANSAmed) - GAZA, 28 GIU - A marshal court in Gaza on Tuesday sentenced to death by hanging a Palestinian who was convicted for allegedly passing information to Israeli intelligence services since 2007 regarding activities carried out by armed groups in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency Maan said. According to the charges, the man - identified as Nidal S. - revealed, among other things, the location of military tunnels and rocket launchers that were attacked, "causing deaths and injuries" among the militants. Three others were sentenced to lengthy jail terms with forced labor for "collaborationism" with Israeli secret services. All the defendants can appeal the sentence, Maan said. (ANSAmed). Syria: over 306,000 civilians killed since 2011, UN 'Figure doesn't include deaths for hunger, lack of treatment' (ANSAmed) - GENEVA, 28 GIU - Over 306,000 civilians have been killed in Syria over 10 years of war, from 2011 to 2021, according to the latest estimates made by the UN Human Rights Office. It is the highest estimate of civilian deaths caused by the war in Syria, the UN stressed in a statement published Tuesday in Geneva. Following a rigorous evaluation and statistical analysis of data available on civilian victims, a UN report estimates that 306,887 civilians were killed in Syria between March 1, 2011 and March 31, 2021. The figure only concerns people who were directly killed in operations of war and "doesn't include the many other civilians who died due to lack of access to healthcare, food, drinking water and other essential human rights", stressed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. The estimate of 306.887 deaths means that on average, every single day over the past decade, 83 civilians suffered a violent death caused by the conflict, the report said. Moreover, the entity of "civilian victims over the last 10 years represents 1.5% of the total population since the start of the conflict and raises serious concern for the failure of the sides at war to respect international humanitarian law on the protection of civilians". "The figures of the victims connected to the conflict in this report are not simply an abstract group of numbers, but represent single human beings", commented Michelle Bachelet. (ANSAmed). Syria: U.S. drone attack kills jihadist leader Abu Hamzah al Yemeni was leader of Hurras al-Deen group (ANSAmed) - WASHINGTON, 28 GIU - A US drone attack in northwestern Syria has killed a Yemeni leader of a local jihadist group affiliated to Al-Qaeda, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and to a group monitoring the Syrian war. The attack, carried out on Monday shortly before midnight on the eastern outskirts of the city of Idlib, killed Abu Hamzah al Yemeni, identified as the leader of the group Hurras al-Deen by military officials. Yemeni was travelling alone on a motorcycle at the time of the attack, CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that initial reports indicated there were no civilian victims in the strike. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a widespread network of sources inside Syria, confirmed that Yemeni was killed in the strike, stating that it was the second attempt on his life after a similar strike last year. (ANSAmed) MANILA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has eased the restrictions on foreign ownership in key sectors such as telecommunications and transport, Socio-economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said on Tuesday. On Monday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order promulgating the 12th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List, which greenlights foreign ownership in some key sectors. The revised list is aligned with the several acts recently passed for promoting foreign investment and "is also consistent with the policy to ease restrictions on foreign participation," Chua said. He said the negative list reflects the full foreign ownership liberalization for telecommunications, domestic shipping, railways and subways, and air transport. Chua added the Southeast Asian country also intends to liberalize more sectors like renewable and inexhaustible energy sources to help address "the looming power crisis and climate change concerns." Every heatwave being experienced today has been made more intense and more likely to happen because of climate change, scientists have warned. A review of extreme weather hazards shows that for some, such as heatwaves, it is unequivocal they are worsening because of global warming, and the impact in terms of lives lost and financial costs are being underestimated. For others, such as tropical cyclones, there are variations between regions and the role that climate change plays in each event. But severe droughts in many parts of the world are not due to climate change, the review by scientists from University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, said. Extreme weather events linked to climate change have caused a large number of deaths and cost billions of pounds in damage in recent decades, the study published in the journal Environmental Research: Climate said. The review looked at information from the latest reports from the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and results from the growing body of attribution studies which use weather observations and climate models to identify the role of global warming in specific events. It focused on changes to five hazards heatwaves, rainfall-based flooding, tropical cyclones, wildfires and droughts and the impacts of recent specific events, in what the researchers said was the starting point for an inventory on the effects and costs of climate change. Study co-author Dr Friederike Otto from Imperial College London said it was absolutely the case that climate change was already making heatwaves more likely and intense. We can very confidently say that every heatwave that is occurring today is made more intense and more likely because of climate change. There are local factors like land use changes that might change how much more likely, but theres no doubt climate change is really an absolute gamechanger when it comes to heatwaves, around the world, she said. It was no longer necessary to wait for the attribution studies which she helped pioneer on individual heatwaves to know that they were being driven by climate change, she said. In the UK people thought of building flood defences to adapt to global warming, but the big change for Britain when it came to climate change was in heatwaves and extreme heat was deadly, she said. But in other extremes, such as drought, the role of climate change was being overestimated. Dr Otto pointed to East Africa, which has a naturally highly variable climate that contributes to drought, and warned that disaster there was linked to poverty and lack of health care systems and infrastructure. The study authors say there is a need to record the impact of extreme weather far more systematically around the world, as a lack of data on previous events makes it harder to cope with future extremes. Work to attribute weather extremes to climate change needs to be improved in lower and middle income countries, where there are big gaps and where the impact of rising global temperatures will be greatest, the paper says. Lead author Ben Clarke, from the University of Oxford, said: The rise of more extreme and intense weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall have dramatically increased in recent years, affecting people all over the globe. Understanding the role that climate change plays in these events can help us better prepare for them. It also allows us to determine the real cost that carbon emissions have in our lives. On the different types of extremes, the review found that: Heatwaves are now occurring far more frequently and are hotter, and some events are happening that would be all but impossible without climate change, with tens of thousands of heat-related deaths a year due to global warming. Heavy rain events have become more frequent and intense across most parts of the world, mainly due to climate change, with a growing number of floods made more intense by the effects of rising temperatures on rainfall. Tropical cyclones have seen no significant changes in frequency globally, but a greater fraction of those that do happen are the most intense category four and five superstorms, and events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy have been amplified by climate change. Wildfire risk has already substantially increased in many regions and recent blazes in Canada, the US, Australia and other parts of the world have been made much more likely by climate change, causing deaths, the health impact of air pollution, billions of pounds of damage and harm to wildlife. Drought is worsening due to climate change in some already at-risk places such as the Mediterranean and western US, but severe droughts in many parts of the world are not attributable to climate change, due to high natural variability. A murder victims mother who campaigned to bring in Helens Law has described the death of her daughters killer as a great relief. Marie McCourt, the mother of Helen McCourt, has said she now hopes that someone connected to murderer Ian Simms will come forward and reveal where he hid her body following his death. Reports have said Simms died last week. The PA news agency understands no cause of death has yet been given. The 22-year-old insurance clerk disappeared on her way home from work in 1988 (Family handout/PA) Mrs McCourt, from St Helens in Merseyside, told the Mirror: Its a great relief knowing that this man is at last wiped off this earth. Hes got what he deserved. Im hoping now maybe he spoke to somebody in prison or maybe one of his friends or family who were perhaps too scared to come forward when he was alive, will do so now. I just pray now that somebody may have some details of where he said he had done it. It breaks my heart but not just mine but all families whove had loved ones taken. Its hard to lose a child through illness, its worse when someone deliberately takes her life. She added that she lived in fear when he was released from prison with a tag on in 2020. Insurance clerk Ms McCourt was 22 when she vanished on her way home from work in 1988. Mrs McCourts campaigning following her daughters death led to the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act, dubbed Helens Law, being enacted in 2021. The law makes it harder for killers and paedophiles who hold back information on their victims to receive parole. Marie McCourt (left) with her daughter Helen prior to her death (Family handout/PA) Under the legislation, killers could still be released if no longer deemed a risk to the public even if they refuse to disclose information. But the Parole Board will be legally required to consider whether they have co-operated with inquiries as part of their assessment. Pub landlord Simms was handed a life sentence in 1989 after being convicted by a jury on overwhelming DNA evidence of Ms McCourts abduction and murder. He always maintained his innocence, despite never saying where he hid her body. Boris Johnson and fellow G7 leaders condemned Russias actions in Ukraine as the summit in Germany drew to a close. The Prime Minister said he did not think the war would lead to a wider conflict in Europe but warned that was what Vladimir Putin wanted. The gathering of world leaders in Bavaria has been overshadowed by atrocities in Ukraine, including the missile strike on a packed shopping centre in Kremenchuk on Monday. Mr Johnson said it was an act of utter barbarism People are just shocked by what Putin is capable of doing, he said. If anything it helped those of us who are making the case for helping to protect Ukrainians to get that message across to some of those people who are the more swing votes in the argument. The head of the British Army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, has warned that Nato members have to be prepared to fight if their territory was attacked by Russia. #G7 Leaders Statement: We solemnly condemn the abominable attack on a shopping mall in #Kremenchuk. We will not rest until Russia ends its cruel and senseless war on Ukraine. #G7GER pic.twitter.com/t4x9EJqzCv G7 GER (@G7) June 27, 2022 But speaking in Germany on the final day of the G7 summit, Mr Johnson said: I dont think it will come to that. Clearly we are working very hard to confine this to Ukraine. Putin and the Kremlin are going to try to widen the conflict and say that this is something to do between Nato and Russia that is not it at all. This is about an invasion of an independent sovereign country. It is about the West and the friends of Ukraine giving them the support they need to protect themselves. The joint statement issued by the G7 at the conclusion of the summit in the Bavarian Alps promised continued tough sanctions, but drew back from imposing a price cap on exports of Russian oil something Joe Bidens White House had pushed for. Instead the leaders agreed only to explore the measure. Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit in Schloss Elmau (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The G7 leaders condemned Russias illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine. The statement said: We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, providing the needed financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support in its courageous defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are ready to reach arrangements together with interested countries and institutions and Ukraine on sustained security commitments to help Ukraine defend itself and to secure its free and democratic future. The leaders of the UK, US, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Italy promised to continue to impose severe and enduring costs on Russia to help bring an end to this war. Beyond its direct implications, Russias aggression is impeding the global recovery and dramatically worsening energy security and access to food globally. To this end, we remain steadfast in our commitment to our unprecedented co-ordination on sanctions for as long as necessary, acting in unison at every stage, and will reduce Russias revenues, including from gold. A quad meeting between Mr Johnson, Mr Biden German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President of France Emmanuel Macron (Stefan Rousseau/PA) They added: We will take immediate action to secure energy supply and reduce price surges driven by extraordinary market conditions, including by exploring additional measures such as price caps. We reaffirm our commitment to phase out our dependency on Russian energy, without compromising on our climate and environmental goals. UK Government spokesman said: Our own prohibitions on importing Russian oil are unchanged this is about constraining the profits Russia can make from selling its oil to other countries while minimising negative economic impacts, especially on low and middle-income countries A cap would work by taking advantage of the power of the G7s dominant maritime services that enable the transportation of Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products globally. Any company or country trying to export Russian oil above the cap would be unable to access these critical services and be severely restricted. The design of a cap will be carefully considered by the G7 over the coming weeks, consulting with other countries and key stakeholders in the private sector. The courage and determination of a young man who died after jumping into the River Thames to save a woman has been commended by a coroner. Folajimi Jimi Olubunmi-Adewole, 20, was on his way home from work at a central London restaurant when he and another man, Joaquin Garcia, entered the water near London Bridge at around midnight on April 24 last year. The Coastguard and the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit rescued the woman and Mr Garcia, but could not locate Mr Olubunmi-Adewole. On Tuesday, assistant coroner Dr Julian Morris concluded at Inner London Coroners Court: This was a sad loss of a young man who wanted to help, in an emergency, a member of the public who had fallen into the Thames. He said his death was accidental, adding: The courage to jump to help a complete stranger in the Thames at night is quite astonishing. Many of us would like to think we would do the same in that situation, but few of us would have the courage and determination. He said his death at a young age was truly tragic. Mr Olubunmi-Adewole died as a result of drowning, with no other significant conditions found to have impaired him, the inquest heard. He had been walking over the bridge with his friend Bernard Kosia after their shift ended. In a witness statement read out by assistant coroner Dr Morris, Mr Kosia said the pair were alerted by two other men to the woman in the water. After hearing the woman screaming out I cant swim, Im going to die, the pair decided to help her, and called the police. Mr Kosias statement said: Jimi was saying, Weve got to save her, shes not dying, he was very adamant about this. Mr Garcia joined the pair at the waters edge after seeing the woman in difficulty. He said in a witness statement she was in the water, splashing around and calling for help around 100 metres from the river bank. Mr Olubunmi-Adewole and Mr Garcia counted to three and entered the water, the latter jumping first, the inquest heard. Mr Garcia reached the woman and helped her stay above the river, but did not see Mr Olubunmi-Adewole again. After being in the water for around 15 minutes, Mr Garcia and the woman were rescued, the inquest was told. Mr Kosia, who did not enter the river because he cannot swim, said in his statement Mr Olubunmi-Adewole began calling for help shortly after jumping in. He struggled for a minute and was not seen after that, he said. Two statements read out from members of the public said people nearby were urging Mr Olubunmi-Adewole and Mr Garcia not to jump. They spoke of seeing Mr Olubunmi-Adewole disappearing under the water. Detective Sergeant Stefan Yiannaki, from City of London Police, giving evidence, said Mr Olubunmi-Adewoles 999 call prior to jumping in was emotionally charged. DS Yiannaki went on: The conclusion I reached was he died, sadly, that night while trying to save the female. It was apparent he had difficulty the moment he hit the water. He added: It was a sheer act of bravery trying to help the woman and losing his life in the process. A search for him was abandoned after an hour and his body was found at 6am that day, close to where he had jumped in. Listening to the inquest remotely was Mr Olubunmi-Adewoles brother Ayo, who asked DS Yiannaki why the police response had been slow. He said: If the police had done their job right I dont think Jimi would have jumped in. Assistant coroner Dr Morris concluded the search by officers was adequate. He went on: The search was carried out effectively and sufficiently and sadly Jimi fell outside the 99% possibility of detection. Mr Olubunmi-Adewole, from Bermondsey, south-east London, was posthumously put forward for a Royal Humane Society award by City of London Police to honour his memory and heroism for his bravery and selfless actions. Ghislaine Maxwell: What did the trial reveal and what sentence can we expect? British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is set to be sentenced after being convicted of sex trafficking following a month-long trial at a US federal court in Manhattan. Maxwell, 60, lured young girls to massage rooms to be molested by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein between 1994 and 2004. Here, the PA news agency looks at what we have learned from the trial, and what to expect at Tuesdays hearing. How many accusers gave evidence in the trial? There were four female accusers who gave evidence in the trial. Annie Farmer, who was 16 when she met Maxwell, was the only one of the four to testify using her full name. The other three women gave evidence under the pseudonyms Jane, Kate and Carolyn. What did Jane say in her testimony? Jane said Maxwell and Epstein summoned her for an orgy at the age of just 14 in 1994. She told jurors Epstein would use sex toys on her even though it hurt and said he and Maxwell would fondle each other while casually giggling in front of her. Jane said she was left frozen with fear after her encounters with the couple, and under cross-examination, she told the jury she did not believe I have come up with a memory of being sexually abused. Jane alleges she was summoned to sexualised massages with Jeffrey Epstein from the age of 14 (US Department of Justice) What did Kate tell the court? Kate told jurors she was presented with massage oils at Maxwells London townhouse when she was 17 and told to have a good time before giving Epstein a sexualised massage. The British accuser also said she was invited to Epsteins house in Palm Beach, Florida, when she was 18 and that Maxwell had laid a schoolgirl outfit out for her to wear because she thought it would be fun. After sexualised massages with Epstein, Kate said Maxwell had called her such a good girl, describing her as one of the disgraced financiers favourites. What did Carolyn tell the jury? Carolyn told the jury Maxwell groped her at the age of 14 after she told the defendant about being molested and raped at the age of four. Maxwell told Carolyn she had a great body for Epstein and his friends after touching her breasts in his massage room. The witness told jurors she stopped seeing Epstein for massages at the age of 18 because she had become too old for him. Maxwell is alleged to have called Kate such a good girl after sexualised massages (US Department of Justice) What did Annie Farmer say in her evidence? Annie Farmer said Maxwell told her to undress at Epsteins New Mexico ranch and rubbed her breasts during a massage. She told jurors Epstein had caressed her hand at the cinema and got into bed with her at his ranch because he wanted a cuddle. Which famous names were dragged into Maxwells trial? A number of famous names were mentioned throughout the trial, including the Duke of York, former US presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, and Pope John Paul II. Jane told the court she flew on Epsteins private plane with Andrew and met Mr Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. Other notable passengers on Epsteins planes included Mr Trump, Mr Clinton and actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker. The trial also heard Epstein had photos of himself with famous people hanging up in his houses, including former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Pope John Paul II. A photograph, shown to the jury, appeared to show Maxwell and Epstein at a log cabin on the Queens Balmoral estate. The Duke of York has been named as a passenger on one of Epsteins private planes (Joe Giddens/PA) Who else gave evidence as part of the US governments case? Juan Patricio Alessi, the former housekeeper for Epstein at his Palm Beach house, told jurors he drove Jane and Andrews accuser Virginia Roberts to the house under orders from Maxwell when they were 14 to 15 years old. He also said staff were given a household manual which told them to see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing and to never disclose Maxwell and Epsteins activities or whereabouts to anyone. FBI analyst Kimberly Meder took jurors through various photos which were found on CDs that were seized from Epsteins New York house, including ones of Maxwell rubbing his feet. Palm Beach law enforcement officer Gregory Parkinson was asked to identify a massage table which had been brought into court after being seized from Epsteins house. What was said in Maxwells defence case? During her opening statement to the jury, defence counsel Bobbi Sternheim said the charges against Maxwell were for things Jeffrey Epstein did. The defendant declined to give evidence in her trial, telling the judge: Your honour, the government has not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt so there is no reason for me to testify. Maxwells lawyers attempted to demonstrate that victims had exaggerated the defendants involvement in any of Epsteins crimes. Maxwell lured girls to a variety of properties owned by Epstein, as well as her home in London (PA Graphics) What sentence can Maxwell expect now she has been convicted? Maxwell was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, which carries a statutory maximum of 40 years in prison. Her conviction for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, while conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity carries a maximum of five years in prison. The final charge of sex trafficking minors carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison, bringing the statutory maximum sentence for all charges to 65 years. Prosecutors have urged the judge to pass a sentence of 30-55 years. Will any victims speak at the sentencing hearing? Annie Farmer, Kate and Virginia Giuffre have been given permission to read victim impact statements orally to the court. Maria Farmer, Sarah Ransome, Teresa Helm, Elizabeth Stein and Juliette Bryant were told their statements would only be accepted as written submissions. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been told she regularly engaged in a pattern of prohibited sexual activity as she awaits a potential 65-year prison sentence. The 60-year-old was convicted in December last year of luring young girls to massage rooms to be molested by Jeffrey Epstein between 1994 and 2004. Ahead of her sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Maxwell arrived with shackles around her ankles which rattled as she made her way to her seat in the courtroom in the Southern District of New York. Wearing a prison-issued uniform, she spoke only to confirm she had read the pre-sentence report and discussed it with her legal team, saying: I did have the opportunity to read it. Maxwell was labelled dangerous by the prosecution during her three-week trial last year, and helped entice vulnerable teenagers to the disgraced financiers various properties for him to sexually abuse. Victims of Maxwell are set to tell the court of her relentless and insatiable drive to meet the sexual needs of Epstein and their retraumatisation over having to give evidence during the trial. Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in December last year (US Department of Justice/PA) Victims Sarah Ransome, Elizabeth Stein, Annie Farmer and the accuser known as Kate were all present in the courtroom, as well as controversial juror Scotty David who prompted calls from Maxwells counsel for a retrial after he failed to disclose he was a victim of sexual abuse. Maxwell was convicted in December last year of sex trafficking minors, conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. She was also found guilty of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Maxwells defence attorneys sought a delay to sentencing proceedings through a motion filed on Saturday, in which they said she had been placed on suicide watch and was not permitted to possess and review legal documents. Maxwell lured vulnerable teenagers to massage rooms at a variety of Epsteins properties (PA Graphics) Despite not being part of the indictment, the victim impact statement of the Duke of Yorks accuser, Virginia Giuffre, is due to be read to the court where she says Maxwell opened the door to hell. Andrew has always strenuously denied Ms Giuffres allegations. During the morning of Tuesdays hearing, Judge Alison Nathan said Ms Giuffre qualified as a minor victim in the case, despite not being named on the trial indictment. Ms Giuffres attorney read a letter from his client to the judge. He said: I am in receipt of the Courts Order. As explained in our submission, due to a medical issue, Ms Giuffre is not able to be present physically in the courtroom, but has asked that I be able to read her statement at the hearing. I seek clarification of Your Honours Order that I will be allowed to read a portion of Ms Guiffres statement at the hearing. Other accusers, Annie Farmer and Kate, have been told their statements can be orally read to the court, and three others were told they could read their statements in a shortened format. In their sentencing submissions, prosecutors urged Judge Nathan to impose a sentence of between 30 and 55 years for Maxwells crimes. The statutory maximum term Maxwell can serve in total is 65 years. After legal argument about aggravating factors in the case, the judge ruled the case fell in the guidelines of 188-235 months imprisonment. Before the hearing broke for lunch, Judge Alison Nathan said she still intended to impose a fine on the defendant after the court heard that Jeffrey Epstein left her a 10 million bequest. Throughout the trial, the court heard how she imposed a culture of silence by design at Epsteins properties, where staff were told to see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing. Judge Nathan said she agreed Maxwell had told staff at Epsteins Palm Beach residence in Florida to be blind, deaf and dumb. The judge also said Maxwells prison sentence would be enhanced due to her supervisory role in extensive criminal activity. Throughout the morning session of her sentencing hearing, the defendant frequently played with her hair and adjusted her mask. Maxwell took sips from her Fiji water, which was delivered to her by her sister Isabel before the hearing began. One of Maxwells accusers, who testified under the pseudonym Jane, told jurors that as well as luring her to an orgy at the age of 14, the defendant and Epstein would fondle each other and giggle in front of her. She also told jurors how Epstein would use sex toys on her even though it hurt, and she did not tell anyone about the abuse because she was terrified and felt gross and ashamed. Maxwells trial also heard how she told another accuser, who testified under the pseudonym Carolyn, that she had a great body for Epstein and his friends. Carolyn said the defendant had touched her breasts in Epsteins massage room before telling her she had a great body type. Jurors also heard how Carolyn had been introduced to the predatory pair through Ms Giuffre, and that she had been in the same room while Epstein and Ms Giuffre had sex. The third accuser, who testified under the pseudonym Kate, said she had a schoolgirl outfit laid out for her by Maxwell before a sexualised massage with Epstein. Virginia Giuffres victim impact statement is due to be read to the court, where she says Maxwell opened the door to hell (Crime+Investigation/PA) Kate said the defendant then told her to take Epstein his tea in the outfit, and when asked by the accuser why the outfit was on her bed, Maxwell said she thought it would be fun. The jury was told Maxwell asked Kate if she knew of anyone who could come to her house and give Epstein oral sex because it was a lot for her to do. The only accuser to testify under her full name, Annie Farmer, told jurors she was left frozen when the socialite asked her to undress for a massage and rubbed her breasts. Ms Farmer said the defendant encouraged her to have a massage after teaching her how to rub Epsteins feet at the age of 16. Maxwells defence counsel had attempted to distance her from Epstein, but a series of photographs showed the close relationship the pair had. Girls were flown to Epsteins properties on the disgraced financiers private planes (US Department of Justice/PA) Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide. Maxwell, who has been held in a US jail since her arrest in July 2020, will be sentenced on Tuesday morning. Ghislaine Maxwell was once a sophisticated and very impressive British socialite until her affiliation with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein led to her detention for sex trafficking. The daughter of disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell, the 60-year-old attempted to start a new life in Manhattan after his death in 1991 and met Epstein the following year. Mr Maxwell was found drowned after apparently falling from his yacht called Lady Ghislaine off the Tenerife coast. 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. Maxwell lived a life of luxury before her detention in the US (US Department of Justice) 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. Photos appeared to show Maxwell and Epstein had a close relationship (US Department of Justice) 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 that he had sex with Virginia Roberts on three separate occasions once allegedly at Maxwells Belgravia home ultimately damaged his reputation. Maxwells trial heard she bragged of having high-profile friends such as the Duke of York (Chris Ison/PA) Maxwell 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. The Duke of York denies any form of sexual contact with Virginia Roberts, also known as Virginia Giuffre (US Department of Justice) Epstein killed himself in a federal detention centre in New York in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In her opening statement to the jury, Lara Pomerantz, United States Assistant Attorney, said of Maxwell: She preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them and served them up to be sexually abused. The defendant was trafficking kids for sex. That is what this trial is all about. Defending the socialite, her counsel, Bobbi Sternheim, told the jury: The charges against Ghislaine Maxwell are for things Jeffrey Epstein did. But she is not Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell denied all charges but was ultimately convicted on five of six counts by a jury just after Christmas and her 60th birthday. She will be sentenced on Tuesday. The Government must hold off on ratifying a trade deal with Australia to allow greater scrutiny by MPs, a parliamentary committee has said. The International Trade Committee has urged a delay in ratifying the deal, which was heralded by the Government as the first negotiated from scratch since leaving the EU amid a promise that it would leave the country 2.3 billion better off. But the Government attitude to parliamentary scrutiny of that deal, a new report from the committee claims, has undermined that statutory process and shown great discourtesy to Parliament. Committee chair and SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil said that they had been consistently hindered in attempts to fully examine the deal. This is not the first time the committee has intervened to accuse the Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan of dodging questions on the free trade deal, signed in December last year. International agreements must be brought before parliament, with 21 sitting days allocated to MPs to consider any deal. That process was triggered earlier this month by the Government, and the trade committee has accused the Government of repeatedly frustrating efforts at effective scrutiny of the new and complex trade deal. In the report, MPs bemoan a persistent lack of clarity in the timetable for parliamentary scrutiny, calling their demands for a guaranteed period of time to complete their report not unreasonable. We have been greatly disappointed that the Government has repeatedly failed to accede to our request that we be guaranteed a period of at least 15 sitting days between the publication of the section 42 report and the laying of the Agreement under the Act, to allow us to finalise and publish our report, MPs wrote in the report. Overhasty ratification, without the chance to complete full scrutiny, runs the risk that any significant disbenefits of the Agreement may be overlooked or disregarded, they warn. A Department for International Trade spokesperson said: We have made enhanced commitments to scrutiny and transparency at every stage of negotiation. This includes already giving Parliament over six months to scrutinise the legal text, in addition to the 21-day period provided by us triggering the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act process. We spent 18 months negotiating and signing an ambitious UK-Australia deal that will unlock 10.4 billion of additional trade and look forward to seeing it come into force so consumers and businesses across the UK can start enjoying the benefits. Ms Trevelyan is to appear before MPs to give evidence on the deal, and the committee is asking for enough time for a report to be published before the process of statutory scrutiny begins. It also wants the Government to extend the scrutiny period, to provide more time for the House to examine and debate the deal. Mr MacNeil said it was vital that MPs were able to properly scrutinise the deal and questioned the apparent need for urgency. Overhasty ratification means that any potential disadvantages of the deal are not fully uncovered or understood. This could have damaging effects for businesses and communities across the UK. Given that Ministers are keen to extol the virtues of this deal, it is beyond belief that the Government is so eager to rush it through without appropriate scrutiny, especially considering that the Australian Government is not rushing to ratify on their side. The Government rushed the scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and we can all see the consequences of that now. Interview: NATO expansion won't make Europe or world safer: Croatian analyst Xinhua) 08:59, June 28, 2022 ZAGREB, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will not make Europe or the world safer, Croatian political analyst Zarko Puhovski told Xinhua in a recent interview. NATO's expansion and Russia's strong reaction are bound to result in "long and unfriendly borders," which could eventually spark conflicts, Puhovski said. NATO's expansion, he explained, will only serve to strengthen the so-called "block policy" in the world, in which one block is pushing against another and which thus elicits strong reactions. The Cold War era was marked by ideological conflicts, but today's conflicts are geopolitical, he said. In Puhovski's opinion, the continuous expansion of NATO and its continuous provocation have prompted Russia to take military action against Ukraine. The fundamental purpose of NATO's expansion is to encircle Russia, he said, and the current confrontation between NATO and Russia is just a continuation of the Cold War mentality, although Russia has already adopted the same political system as the western countries, Puhovski noted. Finland and Sweden, which have both applied to join NATO, are not subject to any real threats from Russia either militarily or socially, noted the analyst. Finland and Sweden's application is only of "symbolic importance" for NATO, just as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has pointed out. Finland and Sweden are already taking part in NATO activities and their accession to NATO does not change anything, Puhovski said. NATO, as a military alliance, has lost its security raison d'etre after the disintegration of the Warsaw Pact, Puhovski noted. Nonetheless, "NATO has been continuing to expand on the grounds of defending western values, democracy, human rights and the rule of law." However, certain NATO members have a ruling system very similar to that of Russia. How can NATO justify itself as well as some of its members for allegedly standing with the so-called western values, human rights and democracy? he asked. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) ANKARA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Armenia will hold the fourth round of talks on normalizing bilateral relations in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Friday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday. Turkey sends former diplomat Serdar Kilic to the talks, while Armenia designates Vice President of its National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan as a special envoy. Turkey and Armenia held their first round of normalization talks in Moscow in January, followed by two rounds in Vienna in February and May. In February, the two neighbors resumed charter flights between Istanbul and the Armenian capital city of Yerevan. Foreign ministers of the two countries met on March 12 in the Turkish southwestern resort city of Antalya to reaffirm their willingness to continue the normalization process. Apart from fully restoring the diplomatic ties, the process also aims to open borders between the two neighbors and launch joint economic, trade, and transportation projects. Relations between the two countries were severed in 1993 during the first war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh when Turkey closed the border with Armenia in support of Azerbaijan. NEW YORK (AP) Ghislaine Maxwell, the jet-setting socialite who once consorted with royals, presidents and billionaires, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The stiff sentence was the punctuation mark on a trial that explored the sordid rituals of a predator power couple who courted the rich and famous as they lured vulnerable girls as young as 14, and then exploited them. Prosecutors said Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, and couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion and onetime girlfriend who they said sometimes also participated in the abuse. In December, a jury convicted Maxwell of sex trafficking, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts and two conspiracy charges. U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who also imposed a $750,000 fine, said a very significant sentence is necessary and that she wanted to send an unmistakable message that these kinds of crimes would be punished. Prosecutors had asked the judge to give her 30 to 55 years in prison, while the 60-year-old Maxwell's defense sought a lenient sentence of just five years. Maxwell, wearing a blue prison uniform and a white mask to conform with coronavirus rules, looked to one side as the sentence was announced, but otherwise did not react. We will continue to live with the harm she caused us, said Annie Farmer, one of the four accusers who testified against Maxwell at trial, inside the courtroom before the sentencing. When she had a chance to speak, Maxwell said she empathized with the survivors and that it was her greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell called him a manipulative, cunning and controlling man who lived a profoundly compartmentalized life, echoing her defense attorneys' assertions that Epstein was the true mastermind. Maxwell, who denies abusing anyone, said she hoped that her conviction and her unusual incarceration bring some measure of peace and finality. Nathan refused to let Maxwell escape culpability, making clear that Maxwell was being punished for her own actions, not Epstein's. She called the crimes heinous and predatory and said Maxwell as a sophisticated adult woman provided the veneer of safety as she normalized sexual abuse through her involvement, encouragement and instruction. Several survivors described their sexual abuse, including Farmer, who said her sister and herself tried to go public with their stories about Epstein and Maxwell two decades ago, only to be shut down by the powerful couple through threats and influence with authorities. Inside the crowded courtroom, three of Maxwell's siblings sat in a row behind her. Most of the others in attendance were members of the media. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe recounted how Maxwell subjected girls to horrifying nightmares by taking them to Epstein. They were partners in crime together and they molested these kids together, she said, calling Maxwell a person who was indifferent to the suffering of other human beings. Epstein and Maxwells associations with some of the worlds most famous people were not a prominent part of the trial, but mentions of friends like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Britain's Prince Andrew showed how the pair exploited their connections to impress their prey. Over the past 17 years, scores of women have accused Epstein of abuse them, with many describing Maxwell as the madam who recruited them. The trial, though, revolved around allegations from only a handful of those women. Four testified that they were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins mansions in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Three were identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, an ex-model from the U.K.; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Farmer, the sole accuser to identify herself in court by her real name, after speaking out publicly. They described how Maxwell charmed them with conversation and gifts and promises that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to help fulfill their dreams. Then, they testified, she led them to give massages to Epstein that turned sexual and played it off as normal. Carolyn testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epsteins Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to massage him in exchange for $100 bills in what prosecutors described as a pyramid of abuse. Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. The allegations against Epstein first surfaced publicly in 2005. He pleaded guilty to sex charges in Florida and served 13 months in jail, much of it in a work-release program as part of a deal criticized as lenient. Afterward, he was required to register as a sex offender. In the years that followed, many women sued Epstein over alleged abuse. One, Virginia Giuffre, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had also pressured her into sexual trysts with other powerful men, including Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations and Giuffre ultimately settled a lawsuit against Andrew out of court. Federal prosecutors in New York revived the case against Epstein after stories by the Miami Herald in 2018 brought new attention to his crimes. He was arrested in 2019, but killed himself a month later. Eleven months after his death, Maxwell was arrested at a New Hampshire estate. A U.S., British and French citizen, she has remained in a federal jail in New York City since then as her lawyers repeatedly criticize her treatment, saying she was even unjustly placed under suicide watch days before sentencing. Prosecutors say the claims about the jail are exaggerated and that Maxwell has been treated better than other prisoners. Her lawyers also fought to have her conviction tossed on the grounds of juror misconduct. Days after the verdict, one juror gave media interviews in which he disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child something he hadn't told the court during jury selection. Maxwell's lawyers said she deserved a new trial. A judge disagreed. At least eight women submitted letters to the judge, describing the sexual abuse they said they endured for having met Maxwell and Epstein. Six of Maxwells seven living siblings wrote to plead for leniency. Maxwell's fellow inmate also submitted a letter describing how Maxwell has helped to educate other inmates over the last two years. Anne Holve and Philip Maxwell, her eldest siblings, wrote that her relationship with Epstein began soon after the 1991 death of their father, the British newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell. They said Robert Maxwell had subjected his daughter to frequent rapid mood swings, huge rages and rejections. This led her to becoming very vulnerable to abusive and powerful men who would be able to take advantage of her innate good nature, they wrote. Before her fate was announced, Maxwell looked down and scribbled on a notepad as Sarah Ransome an accuser whose allegations werent included in this trial spoke of the lasting harm to her life, gazing directly at Maxwell several times . Ransome, who twice tried to die by suicide, finally drew a look from Maxwell when she said: You broke me in unfathomable ways but you did not break my spirit. FILE - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on May 5, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Manchin said Monday, June 27, 2022, that a group of U.S. senators has agreed to effectively dismantle a commission tasked by the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out closures, downsizing and other significant medical facility changes nationwide. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A group of U.S. senators has agreed to effectively dismantle a commission tasked by the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out closures, downsizing and other significant medical facility changes nationwide, Sen. Joe Manchin said Monday. The West Virginia Democrat, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said there is bipartisan support to avoid filling vacancies on the VAs Assets and Infrastructure Review Commission and to end the commission in the next National Defense Authorization Act. The commission had recommended the closures or downsizing of several older facilities, a proposal that Manchin worried would significantly alter services provided to rural veterans across the country. But other groups had welcomed the commission's work, saying it was necessary to modernize and improve the VA's health offerings. Manchin said in a statement that without the Senates approval of the AIR Commission and its nominees, no commission will be established and the process as outlined by the 2018 VA Mission Act will not move forward. The act required Veterans Affairs to make recommendations for its medical facilities and health care delivery, either through facility expansions, relocations, closures or changes in services. For instance, the recommendations would have downsized three of four VA medical centers in West Virginia and would have closed four community-based outpatient clinics in New Mexico. The group of senators said in the statement that the VA's recommendations given to the commission are not reflective of upholding the nations obligations to its veterans. The recommendations would put veterans in both rural and urban areas at a disadvantage, which is why we are announcing that this process does not have our support and will not move forward," the statement said. "The Commission is not necessary for our continued push to invest in VA health infrastructure, and together we remain dedicated to providing the Department with the resources and tools it needs to continue delivering quality care and earned services to Veterans in 21st century facilitiesnow and into the future. Joining Manchin in the letter were Democratic Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Martin Henrich and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Patty Murray of Washington, and Republicans Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Mike Rounds and John Thune of South Dakota, Rob Portman of Ohio and Steve Daines of Montana. The group Concerned Veterans for America said the senators' decision will only harm veterans. "To say this is disappointing is an understatement," group senior adviser Darin Selnick said in a statement. Simply put, this decision is short-sighted and will hurt veterans by keeping them trapped in a broken and outdated system not built to address their needs. The AIR commission was the best chance to modernize the VA health care system to meet the needs of the veterans it serves. The VA released preliminary recommendations in March, prompting a bipartisan group of senators led by Manchin to initially ask President Joe Biden to be sure that rural perspectives were considered by the AIR Commission. Becca Waite raises a flare over a crowd as hundreds of marchers organized by Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights rally in downtown Los Angeles on Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, removing federal protections for abortion access across the country, protesters continued to gather in downtown Los Angeles voicing their outrage and vowing to continue fighting for abortion rights. Protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse on West 1st Street along green fencing separating them from the building. They passed out posters stating "Abortion Demand Without Apology" and displayed the names of women who have died or been imprisoned for self-induced abortion. Becca Waite, an emergency-room nurse and organizer with RiseUp4AbortionRights, said her group started preparing in January. The move on Friday by the Supreme Courts conservative majority to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision closely followed a leaked draft of the ruling published this spring by Politico. Hundreds rallied throughout downtown. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Though expected, the final ruling was devastating to many across Southern California. "Our big message is 'Post Roe, hell no,'" Waite said. "We will not capitulate to defeat. We won't compromise when it comes to human rights when it comes to women's rights." She and other activists called on people to walk out of their place of work "to show the ones that [made] this decision that if we are not granted our basic human rights, we will not continue to let this society function." There was no visible police presence early on in the rally, which began around 3 p.m. a stark change from protests on Friday. In the hours after the ruling in Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization was released Friday morning, thousands of protesters in Southern California took to the streets in Hollywood, Westwood, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Fullerton, Irvine and across the Inland Empire. A protester in downtown L.A. on Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) In downtown L.A. on Friday night, some marched on the 110 Freeway and later the 101 Freeway, temporarily blocking traffic. The Los Angeles Police Department declared an unlawful assembly by 9 p.m., with officers in riot gear forming skirmish lines and warning protesters to leave or face arrest. According to Times reporters, witnesses videos and interviews with other media members on the ground, journalists on Friday were pushed, struck with batons, forced out of areas where they had a right to observe police activity and blocked from entering other areas where police and protesters were clashing and arrests were being made. Fewer police showed up to rallies on Saturday and Sunday. Annie Day, another organizer with RiseUp4AbortionRights, addressed the crowd on Monday afternoon. She shared a post she'd read about a woman who suffered an ectopic pregnancy a life-threatening complication in which a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the main cavity of the uterus and nearly bled to death because doctors had to consult with lawyers before treating her. "Suddenly we are in a world where a clump of cells, a fetus, which is dependent on a woman, comes first," Day said. "We are not accepting this defeat, we are going to come back stronger." Protesters rally downtown on Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Casey Vasquez and Unna Santiago-Caycedo, both 17, attend Woodrow Wilson High School in northeast L.A. They told The Times young women their age are under significant pressure. "I've had a pregnancy scare before, and I've been on birth control for a couple of years," Santiago-Caycedo said. "So people will say, like, 'Just use birth control.' I just feel like women that get pregnant are always, like, blamed for being pregnant. It's like, we can do like all the right things and still get pregnant. Vasquez said older generations have "completely messed up so much" of the environment and the country, leaving younger generations to try to fix the issues. She later spoke to the crowd, her voice cracking and tears welling up as she shared the story of her mother's struggles coming to the U.S. from Colombia. Waite said the current fight to protect abortion rights is part of a long lineage of international activism. The green bandana, she said, signifies solidarity with women in Latin America who "rose up in their millions and took up the green bandana as a symbol against femicide and against illegal abortion. And they won those fights." Organizers showed a photo of "the Green Wave" from Argentinas abortion rights movement. The image depicted multitudes of protestors wearing green. They read a statement from abortion rights activists from Peru, Argentina and Brazil calling on President Biden and others in government. "This is your fight too," the statement said. Waite hopes to increase the number of people protesting for abortion rights "from thousands to hundreds of thousands." "The problem is that people don't continue that energy, especially in an age of social media," she said. "It's a week, it's a month, it's an afternoon, but it takes more than that." She and other activists are calling on people to challenge their friends and family to not be silent supporters. "It's not enough to sit back and say 'I'm pro choice.' We need you in the streets," Waite said. "We need you here, shoulder to shoulder because we need millions of people to bring the gears of society to a grinding halt." Further demonstrations are planned, with Wednesday being billed as a "day of mass disruption," Day said. Protesters continued arriving during the rally's first hour, swelling the crowd to around 400. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mitzi Rivas, left, hugs her daughter Maya Iribarren during an abortion-rights protest Friday at City Hall in San Francisco following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. (Josie Lepe / Associated Press) The fall of Roe vs. Wade shifted the battleground over abortion to courthouses around the country Monday, as one side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for litigation from all sides. Temporary delays were successful in Louisiana and Utah after state judges issued orders Monday that blocked abortion bans in those states from going into effect. Meanwhile, a federal judge in South Carolina said a law restricting abortions after six weeks of pregnancy would take effect immediately there. Much of Monday's court activity focused on trigger laws, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last week's Supreme Court ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old antiabortion laws that were left on the books and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play. Well be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case that resulted in the high court ruling, said Friday. Rulings came swiftly in Utah and Louisiana. A Utah judge on Monday temporarily blocked that state's near-total abortion ban, after Planned Parenthood challenged a trigger law there that contains narrow exceptions. A judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of the state's trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing. At least one of the state's three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures Tuesday. Were going to do what we can, said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport, La. It could all come to a screeching halt. Louisiana Atty. Gen. Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, said he will fight the judge's ruling and enforce the law. We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, Landry tweeted Monday. Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions and is set to take effect this week. A ruling on that is expected Thursday. Abortion rights activists also went to court Monday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. In Friday's ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges," said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school. As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states either because of state laws or confusion over them. In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time. Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited. That's likely to be the case in Louisiana. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state court dont deny that the state can now ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana now has multiple, conflicting trigger mechanisms in the law. They also argue that state law is unclear on whether it bans an abortion prior to a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. And while the law provides an exception for medically futile pregnancies in cases of fetuses with lethal abnormalities, the plaintiffs noted the law gives no definition of the term. Around the country, challenges to other trigger laws could be made on the grounds that the conditions to impose the bans have not been met, or that it was improper for a past legislature to bind the current one. Laura Hermer, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minn., said other challenges might call into question whether state laws sufficiently and clearly allow for exceptions to protect the life or health of a pregnant woman. Now that the high court has ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights supporters will make the case that their state constitutions protect such a right. A judge heard arguments on that issue Monday in Florida, where attorneys tried to block a new law from going into effect Friday. The ban beyond 15 weeks has exceptions to save the pregnant womans life or prevent physical harm or in cases where the fetus has a fatal abnormality. The ACLU of Florida argued that the law violates the Florida Constitution. James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, said the wave of suits from abortion rights advocates is not surprising. We know that the abortion industry has basically unlimited funds, and its allies have basically unlimited funds, and of course theyre fanatical about abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, Bopp said in an interview. But he said that that the Supreme Court ruling should preclude abortion rights supporters from prevailing in any federal challenges. And he called efforts based on state constitutions fanciful. Still other cases could be filed as states try to sort out whether abortion bans in place before Roe was decided sometimes referred to as zombie laws apply now that there is no federal protection for abortion. For instance, Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother. Atty. Gen. Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe it is enforceable. Abortion opponents have called on lawmakers to impose a new ban. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it immediately suspended abortions. In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban before last week's Supreme Court ruling. In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the states constitution. Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control. Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have adopted laws that allow people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions. It is an open question as to whether that means people can be pursued across state lines, and legal challenges over the issue are likely to come up in cases of both surgical abortions and those involving medicine mailed to patients. The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to shield abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments imposed by other states. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it Friday. In liberal Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday that prohibits state agencies from assisting other states investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts. The challenge filed in Arizona, where most providers stopped offering abortions, said the legal questions are urgent. Even if abortions resume in weeks or months, the plaintiffs said, patients may be at greater risk of medical complications or may lose access to abortion altogether as a result of the delay. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. John Eastman, left, appears June 16 during a video deposition to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Associated Press) A lawyer who aided former President Trumps efforts to undo the 2020 election results said in a federal court filing Monday that federal agents seized his cellphone last week. John Eastman said the agents took his phone as he left a restaurant last Wednesday evening, the same day federal law enforcement officials conducted similar activity around the country as part of broadening investigations into efforts by Trump allies to overturn the election results. Eastman said the agents who approached him appeared to be serving a warrant from the Justice Departments Office of Inspector General. The action was disclosed in a filing in federal court in New Mexico in which Eastman challenges the legitimacy of the warrant, calling it overly broad, and asks that a court force the federal government to return his phone. The filing does not specify where exactly agents seized his phone, and a lawyer for Eastman did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Federal agents last week served a raft of subpoenas related to a scheme by Trump allies to put forward alternate, or fake, slates of electors in hopes of invalidating the election won by Democrat Joe Biden. Also Wednesday, agents searched the Virginia home of Jeffrey Clark, a Trump Justice Department official who encouraged Trumps challenges of the election results. A spokeswoman for the inspector general declined to comment. Eastman has been a central figure in the ongoing hearings by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Paul Haggis, seen in 2008, will head to court in October after he was arrested on charges of sexual assault. (Chris Weeks / Associated Press) "Crash" director Paul Haggis, who's under house arrest in Italy after he was accused of assault this month, will head to New York City in the fall to begin a sexual assault trial stemming from separate allegations in a different case. The Oscar-winning screenwriter will stand trial before Manhattan Judge Sabrina Kraus beginning Oct. 11, according to Variety. In December 2017, film publicist Haleigh Breest alleged that Haggis raped her at his New York apartment in 2013. Haggis denied the claim and sued Breest, accusing her and her attorney of trying to extort $9 million in "hush money." In January 2018, three additional women accused Haggis of sexual misconduct in Breest's updated lawsuit. He denied those allegations. Last year, he requested a New York judge set a trial "at the earliest practical date," due to a lack of financial resources to pay for a prolonged legal battle. Representatives for Haggis did not immediately respond Monday to The Times' request for comment. Haggis was recently accused of additional sexual misconduct by a different woman. On June 19, he was arrested and detained in southern Italy on charges of sexual assault and aggravated personal injury after a young woman accused the filmmaker of sexual assault in a local bed-and-breakfast. Haggis was staying in the city of Otsuni for Allora Fest, where he was scheduled to give master classes. After charges were filed, an Italian court ordered Haggis to remain in a hotel room under house arrest pending prosecutors' investigation. Haggis made his name in Hollywood as a screenwriter and director whose work has included both films ("Million Dollar Baby, "Quantum of Solace") and TV ("Walker, Texas Ranger," "The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show"). This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. FILE PHOTO: New York City Council to vote to allow non-citizen NYC residents to vote in local elections By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) -A New York state judge struck down a recent law on Monday that gave hundreds of thousands of noncitizen residents of New York City the right to vote in municipal elections for mayor and other local offices. Judge Ralph Porzio, of New York State Supreme Court for Staten Island, ruled the law violated the state constitution, which says that "Every citizen" is entitled to vote. The City Council, controlled by Democrats, passed the law last December, and it went into effect in January after both Mayor Bill de Blasio and his successor, Eric Adams, declined to either sign or veto it. The measure would not have been a factor until next year's elections for city council. The law allowed an estimated 800,000 to 1 million noncitizens living in the city as lawful permanent residents of the United States or with U.S. authorization to work here to vote in elections for city office, including those for the mayor's office and local council members, but not in state-wide or federal elections. There are about 6.7 million people of voting age in New York City. The law required that a person must have been a resident of the city for at least 30 days prior to the election they wished to vote in, which critics of the law said was too short. Republicans opposed the law in part on the belief that a majority of immigrants are more likely to vote for Democrats. Proponents of the law said it enfranchised the city's huge population of noncitizens who pay taxes and contribute to the life and culture of a city that has long been a beacon for immigrants, as symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Opponents, including the Republican Party and New York lawmakers who sued the city, said the law unfairly and unconstitutionally diluted the power of citizens' votes and would harm politicians by forcing them to restructure their election strategies. Both the City Council and the city's law department, which could challenge the ruling in a higher state court, said the city was evaluating its options. "By providing city residents with a voice in their local government representation, we provide them with an equal stake in the long-term success of our city," Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Shahana Hanif, chair of the council's immigration committee, said in a joint statement. "Now more than ever, when our rights are being threatened, we need more civic and community engagement, not less." Michael Tannousis, a Republican who represents parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn in the New York State Assembly, was one of the plaintiffs who accused the council of trying to manipulate the electoral system. "As the son of immigrants that came to this country legally and worked tirelessly to become citizens, I consider voting to be a sacred right bestowed on American citizens," he said in a statement. "The idea that a person can move to New York City and register to vote after 30 days is preposterous and ripe for fraud." (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New YorkEditing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis) Renowned newspaper owner Jim Fitzpatrick had a life that was long, well lived and filled with many blessings, his funeral has heard. The proprietor of the Irish News died on Saturday at the age of 92. Mr Fitzpatrick, a former solicitor who also had significant property interests, played an active role in the Belfast-based paper for more than 50 years, assuming control of the title in the early 1980s. Family and friends gathered at St Brigids Church in south Belfast on Tuesday for Requiem Mass. Politicians and colleagues from Northern Irelands media industry were also among the mourners. Taoiseach Micheal Martin was represented by an aide de camp from the Irish Defence Forces. In his homily, parish priest Fr Edward ODonnell paid tribute to Mr Fitzpatrick. Jims life was long and well lived and filled with many blessings, he said. Blessings which were never taken for granted. As a result, they were shared generously with many others. Commandant Claire Mortimer (left) Aide De Camp representing the Taoiseach talking to Jim Fitzpatricks son Dominic at his funeral (Liam McBurney/PA) The cleric highlighted how as a young man Mr Fitzpatrick had considered joining the priesthood only to have second thoughts and embark on his professional career as a lawyer. Some might say that this was the churchs loss, said Fr ODonnell. But they would be mistaken because it was in fact the churchs gain. The church gained an exemplary lay person who with conviction and consistency witnessed to his Christian faith as a husband and father, as a professional man and as somebody who involved himself deeply in the cultural and civic life of our society, acutely aware of the importance of ecumenical outreach. Mr Fitzpatricks tenure at the helm of Northern Irelands only nationalist daily coincided with some of the worst years of the Troubles. The coffin of Jim Fitzpatrick is carried from St Brigids Church (Liam McBurney/PA) A man of deep Catholic faith and passionate supporter of the peace process, his staunch repudiation of the regions violent conflict often put him at odds with the republican movement, most notably in 1982 when he banned IRA references in death notices in the paper. The father of eight, whose wife Alice died in 2013, was a fixture in the Irish News offices into his 90s, retaining a keen interest in the family-run institution. Born in 1929, Mr Fitzpatricks early childhood was spent in Belfast before his family moved to rural Co Down during the Second World War. He was educated in a boarding school in Limerick and studied law at university in Galway. Mr Fitzpatrick began his working life as a solicitor, practising in his father Jamess firm in Belfast. James snr was a director at the Irish News, which was then owned by the McSparran family from Co Antrim. He inherited his fathers passion for journalism and started becoming more involved in the newspaper trade himself during the turbulent years of the late 1960s. Mourners leaving the funeral of Jim Fitzpatrick (Liam McBurney/PA) In 1969, he was also appointed an Irish News director, the same year as the Troubles began. Soon after he took a journalism course and began to write for the paper. The 1980s would see him become managing editor and then chairman of the title. While the ownership arrangements of other local dailies changed several times in the decades since, the Fitzpatrick familys stewardship of the Irish News remained a constant, as it solidified its reputation as one of the leading outlets on the island of Ireland. At the weekend, Taoiseach Mr Martin described Mr Fitzpatrick as a true gentleman. In his decades-long stewardship of the Irish News, he was a profoundly important advocate for an end to violence in the North, he said. His role in the earliest days of the embryonic peace process is not widely known, but it was crucial. Boris Johnson has announced the launch of the coronavirus public inquiry and set out its terms of reference, days after bereaved families warned they could take legal action against the Government over delays. The UK inquiry into Covid-19 is now formally established and able to begin its important work, the Prime Minister said in a written statement on Tuesday. The Inquiry will examine, consider and report on preparations and the response to the pandemic in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, up to and including the Inquirys formal setting-up date, 28 June 2022. However it is pitiful that after six months of inexplicable delays, the Government has finally decided to act just two days after we announced that we were considering a judicial review over their time wasting. 2/5 Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK (@CovidJusticeUK) June 28, 2022 It comes more than six months after Mr Johnson appointed Baroness Hallett to chair the probe in December 2021, and after he previously said the inquiry would start in spring this year. On Sunday, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group threatened to bring a judicial review over the failure to provide a setting up date for the inquiry into the Governments handling of the pandemic. Following Tuesdays launch, the campaigns spokesperson Hannah Brady said: Finally we can begin the process of learning lessons from the awful suffering weve endured However it is pitiful that after six months of inexplicable delays, the Government has finally decided to act just two days after we announced that we were considering a judicial review over their time wasting. Im relieved that the COVID enquiry will finally begin and the PM has accepted the Chairs ToR in full, including reporting in a timely manner. Labour have been calling for this for months with @CovidJusticeUK 1/2https://t.co/hKq8Xou6P1 Fleur Anderson MP (@PutneyFleur) June 28, 2022 It goes to show that they were simply delaying the process for as long as they could get away with, and there are going to have to be serious consequences if valuable evidence has been lost as a result. Baroness Hallett is now going to have to get the process moving as quickly as possible so that lessons can be learned ahead of future waves. Mr Johnson said he accepted Baroness Halletts changes to the Governments draft terms of reference for the inquiry in full, and proposed to appoint two additional panel members in the coming months so that the probe has access to the full range of expertise needed. The inquirys aims include to consider any disparities in the impact of Covid on different categories of people, consider the experiences of bereaved families, highlight where lessons from the pandemic may be applicable to other civil emergencies, and to produce any recommendations in a timely manner. Baroness Hallett said: I am pleased to see all of my recommendations accepted by the Prime Minister and included in the final Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference set the broad outline of the Inquiry. My team and I are ready to begin the Inquirys work at speed and in earnest. The Inquiry will be run independently, fairly and openly, and those who have suffered significantly during the pandemic will be at the heart of the Inquirys work. Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, chair of the all party parliamentary group on coronavirus, said: While we welcome that the Inquiry and now the Prime Minister have accepted important recommendations made by our APPG including the use international comparisons and the inclusion of Long Covid, the omission of one vital element risks damaging public trust in the entire process. With one of the highest death tolls and deepest recessions, with repeated mistakes and millions in contracts unlawfully awarded, the Inquiry must publish interim findings before the next general election to ensure lessons are learned and those responsible are held to account. The Royal College of Nursing said the probe must ensure nursing staff are never again left so unprotected after many died during the pandemic. RCN chief executive Pat Cullen said: The guidance was confusing. The testing was inadequate. The PPE was missing or poor. The consequences were fatal. Nursing staff were let down by ministers throughout the pandemic. The RCN will seek to represent justice to everybodys experience these last two years. Labour MP Fleur Anderson tweeted: It has taken far too long to get to this stage and the delay has been a clear attempt to avoid scrutiny of the Prime Ministers failings before the next General Election. Oral hearings must start soon, and interim reports published in this Parliament. Boris Johnsons bid to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared its first Commons hurdle, with no Tory MPs voting against it despite warnings the plans are illegal. MPs voted 295 to 221, majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks. Voting lists showed that dozens of Conservative MPs abstained, joining former prime minister Theresa May, who made clear she would not support the legislation as she warned it would diminish the UKs global standing and delivered a withering assessment of its legality and impact. Following the result, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted the Bill, which gives ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, provides practical solutions to problems caused by the Protocol and protects the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. While a negotiated outcome remains our preference the EU must accept changes to the Protocol itself, she added. The Prime Minister earlier claimed the proposed legislation could be carried out fairly rapidly, with the proposals in law by the end of the year. The Government is aiming to fast-track the Bill through the Commons before Parliaments summer recess. However, some MPs who opted not to block it at second reading appear likely to seek amendments, and the House of Lords is also expected to contest parts of the Bill, setting up a lengthy showdown between the two Houses. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the Bill has a strong legal justification (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The European Union has also launched fresh legal action against the UK in retaliation over the Governments move. Mr Johnsons Government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really arent working in a way that they like or understand, youve got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Former prime minister Theresa May (Andy Buchanan/PA) All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, Mr Johnson said: Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing. He said it would be even better if we could get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice-president. The Prime Minister added: We remain optimistic. Ms Truss attempted to downplay concerns of MPs by saying the Bill has a strong legal justification and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution. But leading the criticism from the Tory benches, Mrs May told the Commons: The UKs standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions. As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. The UK has said its unilateral approach is the only option left to resolve the issues baked in to the Northern Ireland Protocol (Jonathan Brady/PA) I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith also said: I fear that this Bill is a kind of displacement activity from the core task of doing whatever we can to negotiate a better protocol deal for Northern Ireland. I also fear that it risks creating an impression to unionism that a black-and-white solution is available, when the reality is once this Bill has been dragged through the Lords, and courts, and EU responses and reprisals, compromise will ultimately be needed. But Conservative former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said there is necessity for the Government to act because there is a growing and real threat. On Tuesday Chris Philp, the minister for technology and the digital economy, rejected the concerns raised by Mrs May and others. He told Times Radio: If entering into a treaty yourself at the beginning automatically meant you contributed to the problem, then you would never be able to invoke this clause to change a treaty, a set of treaty obligations. I think it quite clearly is necessary. Weve the powersharing agreement which is broken down, trade across the Irish Sea is being adversely impacted by this. The protocol was supposed to respect the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which it is not doing. Unionist opposition to the imposition of checks has seen the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refuse to return to the powersharing Executive at Stormont, leaving the region without a functioning government. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson acknowledged the Bill is not perfect but said: It empowers ministers to make change where change is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the UK internal market. Sir Jeffrey, ahead of the debate, also warned the Lords that blocking the legislation would be akin to wrecking the Good Friday Agreement. A Number 10 spokesman said on Monday that the Government had never put a hard target date on when it would hope to see the Bill enacted. SOFIA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has announced Tuesday that his country has decided to expel 70 Russian diplomats as special services have identified the diplomats as people who work against Bulgaria's interests. The prime minister submitted the resignation of his coalition government to the National Assembly on Monday, after it was ousted in a no-confidence motion. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on its website that the 70 Russians should leave the country by midnight on July 3. The Russians had carried out activities "incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the ministry said. At a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova, on Tuesday, the ministry said that the number of staff at the Russian missions in Bulgaria should not exceed the number of staff at the Bulgarian missions in Russia. This should be no more than 23 diplomats and 25 administrative and technical staff, it said. Korneliya Ninova, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), said that "the decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats is an unprecedented act in Bulgarian diplomacy that will have long-term consequences." It was not taken by the Council of Ministers, nor by the council of the ruling coalition, Ninova said. "The BSP strongly disagrees with this decision," she underlined. Bulgaria expelled 12 Russian diplomats in March and one in April. China's industrial firms saw profits decline at a slower pace in May, as logistics and supply chains gradually improved amid recovery. The country's industrial profits fell 6.5 percent year on year last month, retreating 2 percentage points from April, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday. In the first five months of 2022, the industrial firms saw their profits increase by 1 percent year on year to 3.44 trillion yuan ($514 billion), according to NBS. As COVID-19 restrictions were gradually lifted and companies resumed work and production, the decline of profits among industrial companies in the Yangtze River Delta and northeast regions were significantly narrower than the previous month.The decline of industrial firms' profits across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Jilin and Liaoning narrowed by more than 20 percentage points from the previous month, said Zhu Hong, an NBS senior statistician. China's northeastern Jilin Province and eastern Yangtze River Delta, where Shanghai is located, have implemented different degrees of closed-off management to contain a new wave of COVID-19 since March. Jilin Province started to phase out closed-off management in late April. Shanghai has gradually restored the normal order of production and life across the city with routine COVID-19 prevention and control measures since June 1. Profits improved in the consumer goods industry with the gradual recovery of market demand and the launch of favorable policies to boost consumption. Profits in the wine and beverage sector jumped 21.1 percent year on year in May, while food manufacturing industries grew by 7.7 percent. Zhu cautioned that cost pressures continue to weigh on enterprises and they are still facing production and operation difficulties. Amid the complex international situation and uncertainties in the recovery of industrial enterprises' efficiency, it's necessary for China to implement the package of policies and measures introduced to stabilize the industrial economy, Zhu added. China has unveiled a detailed policy package that aims to stabilize the economy in May. The package covers six areas, including fiscal, consumption and supply chain, with a total of 33 measures. (CGTN) Marysville, CA (95901) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low 56F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 56F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. An employee is seen at the site of the Midia natural gas development project in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania, on June 28, 2022. The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) BUCHAREST, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania. "It is a historic moment for the Romanian energy industry...It is the first new natural gas exploitation project in the Romanian Black Sea area in the last 30 years, and the first quantities of gas have already been introduced into the domestic market this month," the prime minister told the opening ceremony for the natural gas production under the Midia natural gas development project. "Romania is thus taking a decisive step in guaranteeing energy security," he said, adding that this project will generate 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year and will help the country to cover 90 percent of its consumption needs. The Midia project consists of five producing wells some 120 km offshore Romania, where the water depths are of 70 meters. When fully put into production, the project can provide 10 percent of the national gas demand. Romania passed the Offshore Bill in mid-May to boost years shelved gas and oil exploration and production in the Black Sea. Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the site of the Midia natural gas development project in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania. The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows gas pipelines at the site of the Midia natural gas development project in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania. The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Photo taken on June 28, 2022 shows the site of the Midia natural gas development project in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania. The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) An employee is seen at the site of the Midia natural gas development project in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania, on June 28, 2022. The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca (2nd L) attends the opening ceremony for the natural gas production under the Midia natural gas development project in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania, on June 28, 2022. The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) An employee is seen at the site of the Midia natural gas development project in Vadu village on the Black Sea coast in southeastern Romania, on June 28, 2022. The start of gas production in the Romanian Black Sea is a historic moment, contributing to the country's efforts to achieve 90 percent self-sufficiency in natural gas supply, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday in Vadu village. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS. The next meeting of the Special Representatives of Armenia and Turkey in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process will take place on July 1st in Vienna, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The last meeting of the special envoys took place on May 3. They reaffirmed the declared goal of achieving full normalization between their respective countries through this process. They reiterated their agreement to continue the process without preconditions. YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Tunisia to Armenia Tarek Ben Salem (residence in Moscow, Russia) presented his credentials today to President Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Presidential Office said. The Armenian President congratulated the Ambassador, wishing success in his diplomatic mission. The President and the Ambassador exchanged ideas about the cooperation agenda between the two countries. They highlighted expanding the mutual partnership particularly in tourism and culture sectors. Evangelist Will Graham Shares 'the God of Second Chances' in Fredericksburg Rappahannock Area Celebration featured music by award-winning artists, special event for children NEWS PROVIDED BY Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) June 27, 2022 FREDERICKSBURG, Va., June 27, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- A total of 5,195 people attended the one-day Rappahannock Area Celebration with Will Graham in Fredericksburg on Saturday, June 25. Volunteers representing more than 170 churches and 41 denominations across the region participated in the evangelistic outreach, which was held at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center. "Are you looking for a second chance in life? You can get a second chance tonight. Our God is the God of second chances," said Will Graham during his evening message, sharing the Old Testament story of King Manasseh of Judah--a wicked ruler who repented and was returned to the throne by God. "Jesus can change your life. He can forgive your sin and restore you." More than 250 responded to the invitation to make a decision for Jesus during the event, and will be followed up with by local churches. Along with the message from Graham, the Rappahannock Area Celebration featured a free concert with music by award-winning Christian artists Newsboys, Rend Collective and Aaron Shust. On Saturday morning, a special event for children, KidzFest, was held. The program included music by Go Fish, an interactive cartoon called The Quest, and a short message from Graham, followed by bounce houses, face painting and games. "We believe that the hand of God has been on this whole preparation - from the timing of the pandemic, even to the delay of the event until this year - which led us to a place of much more desperate status in the body of Christ. The pastors and the churches were more willing to really engage," said Dr. Steve Mandell, who gave leadership to the local committee organizing the event. "We believe that this is a catalyst going forward to move through the churches and bring the churches together for God's purposes, in unity and commonality. The unity will really dictate the evangelism going forward for our community." The Rappahannock Area Celebration in Fredericksburg came on the heels of a multi-city outreach that Graham held on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, in May. More than 5,400 attended the Tasmania Celebration, with 616 registering a decision for Christ. In July, Graham will travel to South Dakota to preach the Gospel on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Rosebud Indian Reservation. About Will Graham Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham. He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. Follow Will on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. SOURCE Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) CONTACT: Erik Ogren, 704-577-2109, eogren@bgea.org Related Links bgea.org Share Tweet India 'can provide for every new technology can make that technology affordable for the whole world', said the PM New Delhi: Exhorting the G-7 countries to invest in research, innovation, and manufacturing in the huge market for clean energy technologies that is emerging in India, Prime Minster Narendra Modi said India can provide for every new technology can make that technology affordable for the whole world. He was speaking Monday as a special invitee at the session Investing in a Better Future: Climate, Energy, Health during the G-7 summit that took place at Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian Alps, near Munich in Germany. All of you will also agree with this that energy access should not be the privilege of the rich only -- a poor family also has the same rights on energy. And today when energy costs are sky-high due to geopolitical tensions, it is more important to remember this thing, Mr Modi told the G-7 leaders, in an obvious reference to the Ukraine crisis. When a large country like India shows such ambition, other developing countries also get inspiration. We hope the rich countries of G-7 will support Indias efforts G-7 countries can help India to take these innovations to other developing countries, he further said. Germany now holds the presidency of the G-7 grouping that comprises seven nations -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States. The G-7 comprises seven of the worlds largest advanced economies, and the European Union, but the G-7 host nation can invite leaders of other nations as guests. India is not a member of the group. Pointing to Indias performance on the clean energy front, Mr Modi said: We have achieved the target of 40 per cent energy-capacity from non-fossil sources nine years before time. The target of 10 per cent ethanol-blending in petrol has been achieved five months before time. India has the worlds first fully solar power operated airport. Indias huge railway system will become net zero (emission) in this decade. He added: Unfortunately, it is believed there is a fundamental collision between the worlds development goals and environmental protection. There is also another misconception that poor countries and poor people cause more damage to the environment By taking inspiration from this principle, we delivered LED bulbs and clean cooking gas door-to-door in India and showed that millions of tons of carbon emissions can be saved while ensuring energy for the poor. Ancient India has seen a time of immense prosperity; then we have also tolerated the centuries of slavery, and now independent India is the fastest-growing big economy in the whole world. But during this whole period, India did not let its commitment to the environment get diluted even a single bit. 17 per cent of the worlds population resides in India. But our contribution of global carbon emissions is only five per cent. The main reason behind this is our lifestyle, which is based on the theory of co-existence with nature, Mr Modi told the G-7 leaders. He added: I called for a movement called LiFE -- Lifestyle for Environment -- in Glasgow last year. This year, on World Environment Day, we launched the Global Initiative for LiFE campaign. The goal of this campaign is to encourage an eco-friendly lifestyle. Today's headlines: Tensions between China and Tuvalu over the South Pacific nation's relationship with Taiwan; Covid-19: Chinese companies will have to pay ,500 for each North Korean worker quarantined; Philippines: final appeals against President-elect Marcos Jr. dismissed; In Sri Lanka banned sale of fuel to "non-essential" vehicles; In Russian-controlled Mariupol, the population is forced to hunt pigeons for food; Azerbaijan begins demining in recaptured Karabakh. IRAN Tehran yesterday applied to join the emerging Brics group of countries -Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. However, Delhi has been skeptical of enlargement in a forum largely dominated by Beijing. TUVALU-TAIWAN-CHINA Tuvalu's foreign minister yesterday withdrew his country from the UN Conference on Oceans in Lisbon. Simon Kofe made the decision in protest after China blocked three Taiwanese representatives accredited in the small island state's South Pacific delegation from attending the event. CHINA-NORTH KOREA Chinese companies on the border with North Korea are protesting that they will have to pay $ 1,500 for each North Korean worker quarantined because of Covid-19. The measure was decided by the Chinese government after several cases were discovered among the North Korean community in the border city of Dandong. PHILIPPINES The Philippine Supreme Court today dismissed petitions seeking the disqualification of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Winner last month of elections, the new head of state will take office on June 30. SRI LANKA The Colombo government has suspended the sale of fuel for "non-essential" vehicles. The measure will be in effect for two weeks while the country is in the grip of a harsh economic crisis. Only buses, trains, health service cars and food transport vehicles will be allowed to be refueled during the period. UKRAINE-RUSSIA The situation in Mariupol is becoming increasingly critical, where a real humanitarian catastrophe is taking place, as reported by journalist Denis Kazansky on his Telegram channel, where he shows pigeon hunting done by local citizens with special traps. They feed only on such prey due to the almost total absence of food. AZERBAIJIAN Azerbaijani President Aliev described the ongoing work in Karabakh as "one of the most difficult and ambitious restoration and reconstruction projects." Authorities are currently engaged in clearing land from mines, which Baku says Armenians have allegedly laid "more than one million, causing the deaths of more than 200 Azerbaijani citizens after the end of the conflict. by Mathias Hariyadi The attorney general accuses Garuda Indonesias former CEO of buying jets at inflated prices. Meanwhile, a commercial court approves the company's restructuring plans. The government says the airliner has halved debts and has plans to ensure profitability. Jakarta (AsiaNews) The former CEO of Garuda Indonesia, the countrys international airline, and one of his business partners have been accused of bribery over alleged irregularities in the purchase of Bombardier and ATR aircrafts, Indonesias Attorney General announced. Meanwhile, In Jakarta, a Commercial Court accepted the companys restructuring plan, which will cause creditors to lose billions of dollars. Emirsyah Satar, chief executive officer of Garuda Indonesia from 2005 to 2014, had already been convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison in 2020 in for bribery and money laundering in connection with the purchase of aircrafts from Airbus and engines from Rolls-Royce. Together with his partner Soetikno Soedarjo, CEO of the Mugi holding Rekso Abadi, Satar bought 23 Bombardier CRJ-100 and ATR 72-600 between 2011 and 2021 at inflated prices, causing losses of 8.8 trillion Indonesian rupiahs (US$ 595 million). This huge money loss was caused by rampant corruption in our national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia," said Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin at a news conference. The US Justice Department and the UK's Serious Fraud Office are also investigating suspected bribery related to the sale of jets by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier to Garuda between 2011 and 2012. The government also announced that the state-owned company would undergo a third restructuring, halving its debt and making major cuts to ensure its profitability. The company turned to financial investors and foreign airlines to increase its capital, Kartika Wirjoatmojo, deputy minister of state-owned enterprises, told reporters. Under court supervision, Garuda also renegotiated the terms of the aircraft orders and leasing contracts. Garuda was rarely profitable, because of its low fleet utilisation and high lease costs," the deputy minister said. However, With an efficient fleet, optimised domestic routes and reduced lease rates, Garuda can make a profit". Still, the company expects major challenges ahead related to soaring fuel prices. At the end of 2021, a Commercial Court accepted a creditor's bankruptcy petition allowing Garuda Indonesia to go into a formal court-supervised restructuring process. However, as recently as last week, two creditors continued to object to the restructuring plan put forward by Garuda's administrators. by Vladimir Rozanskij They come from the poorest provinces of the country. They have no source of livelihood other than conscription and war. The families of the fallen avoid talking about the conflict. They send thugs and stragglers to fight. Moscow (AsiaNews) - As now documented by various sources, despite the lack of official statistics and information, the vast majority of soldiers serving in Russia's occupation armies in Ukraine are of non-Russian ethnic background, but mainly Caucasian or Asian. A report by Sibir.Realii documents the conditions of the families of these "obliged" soldiers, who have no other source of livelihood besides conscription and war. In the small town of Borzja, in the Siberian Zabajkal region, the "Avenue of Heroes" was set up a few days ago in the center of the local cemetery, with plastic wreaths to honor the many fallen soldiers of the "special military operation" in Ukraine. Borzja's nearly 30,000 residents depend almost entirely on the local military district (No. 06795). The soldiers and officers in this sector have all been sent to Ukraine, and many return in the infamous "Cargo 200," the transport of casualties in the old Soviet code. Meanwhile, their wives and mothers are engaged in another war, the one called "kommunalnaja," for obtaining social and housing services, especially when the death of their spouse in military actions is not officially recognized. Almost all local families depend on the Armed Forces because it is difficult to find another job here. As early as January, Borzja's soldiers were used in "exercises in Belarus," only to be poured into the Ukrainian invasion as the first cannon fodder. Now there are also plans to erect a memorial "for the end of the special operation" in the foundations of Heroes' Avenue, as the editor-in-chief of local newspaper Daurskaja Nov, Nadezda Afanaseva, explains. Meanwhile, dozens of other pits are being preemptively dug. The "official" heroes are marked with their names, and so far there are only six: Denis Frolov, Anatolij Kustov, Roman Ermilov, Vasilij Lopatin, Sergei Bronnikov, and Sergei Tsarkov, those most obviously "Russian." However, the locals count many dozens of dead sent with Cargo 200. The fact is that when the truck-catafalque arrives with the bodies of the fallen soldiers, one often cannot even get close to the coffins; at the funeral the whole town gathers, because "someone had to go and fight the Nazis," as one local resident puts it. Some are buried without names, others in marginal areas, often without the comfort of relatives. The citizens of Borzja do not like to talk about the war, especially with outsiders and journalists from afar. According to local deputy Aleksandr Alekseenko, "better not to talk about it even in the family," he himself has been fined for "discrediting the Armed Forces" for a few careless words escaped in private conversations. "With us now it can happen that someone wants to take out his boss or a competitor for some post, so you talk over a cup of coffee and then report it to those in charge. You're still okay if they just fine you or take you out of office, and they don't send you to hard labor." Aleksandr had said while talking to colleagues that he had heard that Ukrainians consider Russian soldiers to be occupiers, incidentally not because he had read it on the Internet, but from a missive sent by a Ukrainian relative. His friend and colleague Sergej, who has a son at the front, started accusing him of calling Russian soldiers as occupiers, and that seemed to be the end of it, until he was called to the prosecutor's office and brought to trial. The verdict was fortunately mild, only 45,000 rubles fine (about 800 euros), still over a month's salary. Life in Borzja has become nervous and dangerous, other residents recount. There is constant vandalism, lamps and benches are broken in the streets, and there are no longer soldiers to appease the rowdier youths, because they are almost all in Ukraine. After all, Kirill recounts, "it's not like it was much better with the soldiers: they collect thugs and stragglers for the army here, and they themselves carry out street violence and abuse of various kinds." Kirill is a musician in a local rock band, but nowadays he struggles to find bandmates to play music and young people to go to concerts, except for a few drunks who start smashing everything at the first few notes. War is destroying Ukraine, but it does not fail to ruin life in Siberia as well. by Nirmala Carvalho The archbishop of Bangalore and other Christian groups filed a plea, accepted by the Supreme Court, noting that in May alone, 57 attacks were reported on places of worship and other Church-related facilities. The government machinery [. . .] can control the fringe elements, Archbishop Peter Machado told AsiaNews. New Delhi (AsiaNews) The Supreme Court of India on 11 July will examine a plea to stop hate speech against the Christian community and attacks on their places of worship. The request, presented by Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore together with the National Solidarity Forum and the Evangelical Fellowship of India, will be examined by Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala. In May, 57 cases of violence happened and more attacks are anticipated," said Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, on behalf of the petitioners, as he called for an urgent hearing. It is unfortunate if what he (lawyer Colin Gonsalves) is saying is right but we can't say more on the merit of the plea. List for hearing on July 11, the Supreme Court said. The plea mentions sinister phenomena of violence" and targeted hate speech against the countrys Christian community by vigilante groups and members of right-wing nationalist organisations. It further alleges that the central and state governments have not taken immediate and necessary action against groups engaged in widespread violence, including attacks on Christian places of worship and other facilities run by Christians. The appeal was filed by our legal team, said Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore speaking to AsiaNews. We still have hope in the government machinery. They can control the fringe elements, he added. And more than anything we have immense hope in the judiciary, which has stood by the rights of minorities and the harassed. Best Men's Linen Shirts (and How to Wear Them) Let's Talk Linen: Where to Buy It & How to Wear It The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. Product photos from retailer site. Linen fabric has long been a durable, dependable summer-friendly fabric made from the flax plant. According to Encyclopedia Britannica: Flax is one of the oldest textile fibers used by humans; evidence of its use has been found in Switzerlands prehistoric lake dwellings. Fine linen fabrics have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. RELATED: Best Short Shorts for Men Thanks to its ability to conduct heat well by absorbing and releasing moisture quickly, garments and fabrics made from linen feel cooler in warmer months, making them the ideal option for men looking to elevate their style above the ofttimes chosen cotton t-shirt. This is why come summertime, you'll see linen pants, a blazer, a jacket, and even a full on linen suit - the breathability of pure linen natural fiber makes linen shirts a classic menswear staple for the warm weather wardrobe. Whether it be for a special occasion, that extra hot summer day, or even everyday wear, there seems to only be one real drawback of natural fabric texture Wrinkles. It's time you forget what youve been told about the fiber from flax you know as linen. Times have changed, and it's time to appreciate the very look and nature of the loosely woven classic fabric. The wrinkles of linen are actually what make it great. When someone wears the flowy fabric, its showing an ease a comfort in wearing a fabric that couldnt be too formal if it tried. Sure, suits and dress shirts can be found frequently made from linen, but its inherent qualities keep it apart from a tightly woven super 150s wool-silk or a 100% Egyptian cotton broadcloth. Simply put: embrace the wrinkle. How to Wear Linen Men's Shirts Introducing a linen shirt into your wardrobe warm weather wardrobe, everyday wear, or somewhere in between might seem intimidating. If you are used to swapping out your button front shirts for a simple polo style, then you can easily grab one of these and wear it just about the same way. Do: Wear it untucked, with casual jeans, chinos, or shorts whenever you feel the need to be cool - both literally and figuratively. Wear it untucked, with casual jeans, chinos, or shorts whenever you feel the need to be cool - both literally and figuratively. Dont: Take it too seriously. Relax. There is a common misconception that linen is an unforgiving luxury fabric that needs to be reserved for a special occasion. That is simply not true. Linen can be washed and dried just like all of your other clothes (although always read washing instructions) so it should be worn like all your other clothes. Take it too seriously. Relax. There is a common misconception that linen is an unforgiving luxury fabric that needs to be reserved for a special occasion. That is simply not true. Linen can be washed and dried just like all of your other clothes (although always read washing instructions) so it should be worn like all your other clothes. Do: Consider wearing it into the fall. Much like linen sheets (we are a big fan), linen clothing is actually great to incorporate into your cold weather wardrobe as well. Its a sturdy fabric that can actually help regulate temperature all year long, not just during the hot summer days. Consider wearing it into the fall. Much like linen sheets (we are a big fan), linen clothing is actually great to incorporate into your cold weather wardrobe as well. Its a sturdy fabric that can actually help regulate temperature all year long, not just during the hot summer days. Dont: Overthink it. Pick a style that you think you would wear and then go for it. The nature of this style is to be lightweight and airy, so dont go for anything too slim fit. Fabric does stretch out a bit over time, but you should still aim to buy the size that fits you naturally. If you want to feel safe, grab a solid option and ease into the stye. If youre looking to dive into the deep end of this trend, go for a bold floral print that will surely get you noticed. If you are feeling somewhere in between, dont worry, there are plenty of options for you guys too. Weve picked out 11 men's linen shirts that we think that you should take a serious look at for the warm temperatures that remain. Best Overall Linen Shirt UNTUCKit Wrinkle-Resistant Linen Vin Santo Shirt UNTUCKit This is the linen shirt for the modern man. Featuring UNTUCKit's signature untucked design and wrinkle-resistant linen fabric, this is how linen is done these days. This shirt works with just about anything, for less than $100, hence why its our pick for one of the best linen shirts for men. $99 at UNTUCKit.com Best Relaxed Linen Shirt Tommy Bahama Sea Glass Breezer Linen Shirt Youd swear this Tommy Bahama shirt was a washed Oxford with a cutaway collar at first glance, but look again. It's linen all the way. Keep this tucked or leave it untucked with dark jeans, light chinos - even throw it on with a pair of white linen pants and get into full on vacay mode. $110 at TommyBahama.com Best Short Sleeve Linen Shirt Amazon Essentials Short Sleeve Linen Shirt Swap this short sleeve linen shirt from Amazon for your go-to polo or T-shirt when you want to up the sophistication factor while remaining cool and comfortable. This style works well with light denim, chinos of just about any color and of course, your best summer shorts. From $24.10 at Amazon.com Best Linen Shirt on a Budget 28 Palms Relaxed-Fit Long-Sleeve Linen Shirt Starting at under $10, available in over 10 colors, and ranging in sizes from XS to XXL, this shirt from 28 Palms should satisfy just about anyone looking for a linen button down shirt on a budget. We suggest wearing it open on the beach, but you can wear it closed with jeans or board shorts away from the water as well. $55 at Amazon.com Best Loose-Fitting Linen Shirt Everlane Linen Standard Fit Shirt The woven stripe may be subtle on this Everlane shirt, but less can certainly be more when it comes to linen. We suggest you wear this untucked with just about anything. Not sure if you like this incredibly neutral and natural color well enough to drop the way below retail price? Youre in luck, over half the colors available are on sale, for even less. $80 at Everlane.com Best Linen Dress Shirt Polo Ralph Lauren Custom Fit Linen Shirt If you absolutely have to dress up the perennially casual fabric, why not do so with a brand that knows how to dress up better than just about anyone? This bold button-down shirt from Polo Ralph Lauren looks great under a suit jacket, with a pair of seersucker trousers, tucked into crisp chino shorts basically anything you will end up wearing to a semi-formal event in the warm weather, this shirt is a must. $125 at RalphLauren.com Best Patterned Linen Shirt J.Crew Baird McNutt Irish Linen Shirt Just relax with a bold tie dye design from J.Crew. It may stand out from those other button down numbers you have hanging in your closet, but don't let that intimidate you. Throw this on over a t-shirt and wear it with shorts or casual pants for an easy, lightweight summer layer. $59.99 at JCrew.com Best Casual Linen Shirt Abercrombie Linen Button-Up Shirt Abercrombie Comfortable button-up shirts have become a wardrobe must, so why not add one like this from Abercrombie to your rotation? It's designed to be the most casual iteration of the summer style staple. The flat hem along the bottom of this blue-hued linen-blend makes it an untucked-only and the relaxed fit means you cant get too stuffy and buttoned up. $70 at Abercombie.com Best Linen Camp Collar Shirt Dandy Del Mar The Tonga Linen Shirt If you really want to nail the camp collar trend, go with one with a seriously summer print. Not your everyday white linen shirt, this is the summer shirt you'll want to make your signature casual look for every spontaneous backyard BBQ, while at the same time, thrown in your bag for all day trips to the beach. If youre looking to add extra flare, grab a straw boater hat and your best huarache sandals and go enjoy the hot, humid summer nights. $119 at DandyDelMar.com Best Linen Henley Bonobos Short Sleeve Linen Henley Not your basic boring white tee which has its time and place and not that stuffy long sleeve business you might not be too keen on wearing with any regularity, this henley from Bonobos is both stylish and sophisticated. Wear it with the usual jeans or shorts, or go bold with white denim, contrasting trousers or even a seven inch corduroy short to really amp up the retro feel. This is so stylish, it even works under a jacket. $98 at Bonobos.com Linen seems to be everywhere lately, so these mens linen shirts are just the tip of the iceberg on the subject. If these dont strike your flax-fiber fancy, use them as a jumping off point to let you know whats trending and stylish and make a note as to where to start when adding one to your warm weather wardrobe or add them to your everyday wear rotation. Youll be ready for the yacht in no time. You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. Share This: Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) together celebrated the $51.6 million expansion project for a new Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) at a recent groundbreaking ceremony in Superior Township, MI. The ceremony highlighted the benefits of the new safety laboratory and included remarks from Jose Munoz, president and COO, Hyundai Motor Company and president and CEO, Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. Brian Latouf, chief safety officer, Hyundai Motor North America; and John Robb, president, HATCI; as well as local and government officials including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-MI, and Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II also participated in the event. The STIL is planned to be operational in the fall of 2023 and will be supported by 160 employees. "Safety is the top priority at Hyundai and is embedded throughout the entire organization," said Munoz. "We excel in third-party crash testing and ratings, and we strive to be a leader in equipping our vehicles with the latest safety features. The new laboratory will enable us to even more effectively protect our customers and enhance our world-class safety organization." The new facility will further augment Hyundai's existing safety testing and analysis. It will feature a field crash investigation lab, high voltage battery lab, forensics lab, 500m track and a Vehicle Dynamics Area pad. IBI Group and BCCG have been selected for the architectural design and construction of the building expansion. The investment is focused on enhancing Hyundai's safety commitment in identifying vehicle field issues, preventing crashes and keeping passengers safe. "This investment by Hyundai is critically important not only to Southeast Michigan, but to... EV kWh The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 was set to be revealed this month, and it is the company's second Ioniq-branded. You can see it as the Ioniq 5's brother, and it is set to be on sale in the U.S. in the first half of next year. We do not have pricing information yet, but hold your horses, the Ioniq 6 has not been officially revealed yet.It is close to a Tesla Model 3 when size, shape, and specs are concerned, so expect something similar from a pricing perspective. Do not quote us on that just yet, though.The Ioniq 6 builds on the E-GMP platform of the South Korean industrial conglomerate, while its design reminds us of the Prophecy concept that Hyundai showed back in 2020.In many ways, this is Hyundai 's version of the Kia EV6, but, as you can see, it looks like they do not share body components, which is an interesting choice on behalf of the company.Instead of rebadging models to save money, Hyundai and Kia have gone wild from a design perspective with their EVs, which share a platform, along with key specifications, but have different styling directions.In a way, it is brilliant, because each brand gets to express its personality, while customers have a broader range of choices from a styling perspective, all without missing out on the latest 800-volt technology Hyundai has not announced anything regarding powertrains, but it would be fair to expect them to be carried over from the Ioniq 5.In other words, the base model might come with a rear-wheel-drive configuration, 225 horsepower, 258 lb.-ft., and a 58-or a 77.4-kWh battery. The all-wheel-drive model will come with the 77.4-kWh battery as standard, while its two-motor setup should bring a total output of 320 horsepower and 446 lb.-ft. of torque.The latest EV from Hyundai comes with a drag coefficient of 0.21, which is the same as Tesla's Model 3. The interior resembles the one found on the Ioniq 5 but is scaled to a four-door coupe body. It might not be the prettiest new car out there, but it is not exactly ugly, either. It is just a bit awkward, though.The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is placed between the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 regarding wheelbase, as it has 116.1 inches (ca. 295 cm) between its axles. That is two inches more than the EV6, but two inches less than the Ioniq 5 On the inside, the driver will have a 12-inch display for the gauge cluster, and a 12-inch touchscreen for the multimedia unit. While other markets will be able to have rearview cameras instead of side-view mirrors, U.S. models will not get those.The sleek-looking Hyundai was inspired by some of the first aerodynamic vehicles of the late 1930s, as well as the 1947 Saab 92, as SangYup Lee, Hyundai's head of global design, explained to the folks over at MotorTrend (the story was taken down), who were unfortunate enough to drop the ball on the story before the embargo for the Ioniq 6 was over. In February this year, word got out that Oceanco, a Netherlands-based shipbuilder commissioned with building Jeff Bezos $500 million sail-assisted megayacht , had been granted the permit to temporarily dismantle the historic bridge Koningshaven in Rotterdam. The shipyard is located in Alblasserdam, near Rotterdam so, for Y721 or Project 721, as Bezos vessel is codenamed, to make its way for sea trials, it would have to go through the canals.The problem is that Y721 has 70-meter (230-foot) masts, but the bridge only offers 40 meters (131 feet) of clearance. Koningshaven Bridge, affectionately called by locals De Hef, has been dismantled before and, more importantly, bombed by the Nazis in WWII. After it was rebuilt, it became a historic landmark and a symbol for the city, so whatever attempt at its integrity is bound to meet with animosity. Even if its only a temporary thing.Its exactly what happened when word got out that Oceanco wanted to dismantle it for Bezos. As controversy picked up speed, the city authorities said that a request hadnt even been filed with them, let alone approved, suggesting that this was a classic case of a tempest in a teapot: people were overreacting for nothing.Except that its not so.The Financial Times spoke to several people within the city administration and Rotterdam residents and surprise, surprise the application is ongoing. Oceanco did ask the city for permission to tear down the bridge to let the ship pass and then put it back together, mentioning that the backup plan, in case permission is not granted, is to take the hull under the bridge and then assemble the masts once it clears it. Oceanco doesnt say why this option is not Plan A instead of the backup, the publication notes, but it could have to do with prior objections that the operation would add to the costs by requiring another yard where to do it. By comparison, dismantling and putting the bridge back together comes with an additional cost of just 100,000, which is roughly $105,000 at the current exchange rate.Whatever the reason, the city must make a decision on the request this month, because Y721 is to begin sea trials in August. The situation has caused tension among residents and the political class, with the FT highlighting the debate on issues of global inequality and the power of tech billionaires. Put it simply, the mere fact that this giant vessel was commissioned by the worlds second-richest man is getting tempers flaring and discussions going on whether money can or should trump over history and national pride.The issue, though, is not so much Bezos vs. The Bridge as its Oceanco vs. The Bridge. Two sources close to the situation tell the publication that its the shipbuilder that should shoulder most of the blame for the snafu. They mustve relied on a tacit agreement with the city and, because of it, failed to follow due proceedings.It doesnt make sense to start building a $500mn ship with no prior approval, otherwise you have a $500 million problem in your hands, one such insider tells the publication.Y721 is proving to be Oceancos most publicized build to date. The 127-meter (417-foot) long vessel is believed to have been inspired by another Oceanco superyacht, the gorgeous, sail-assisted Black Pearl , which boasts of being the largest in the world of its kind, as well as the greenest. Y721 doesnt have a fancy name yet (this will be up to Bezos, once he takes delivery), but it comes with a reported cost of $500 million, which doesnt include the cost of a matching shadow vessel which is big enough to function as a standalone superyacht. The Nasser Rashid Lootah Building located on Sheikh Zayed Road, in Dubai , is deeply tied to the development of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Built just three years after the foundation of the UAE, it was one of the pioneering residential towers in Dubai. Throughout the decades, it stood tall as one of the main symbols of the city, even when skyscrapers started taking over.In 1981, a new element would make this building even more famous. A huge billboard showcasing the red-and-white Toyota logo started to draw the attention of anyone circulating in the area. So much so, that the tower became informally known as the Toyota Building. According to Khaleej Times , theres no actual Toyota showroom or service center in that particular area, but the logo itself became a landmark for generations.It lasted on top of the old building until 2018, when the advertising contract reportedly expired. But people werent happy about that the Toyota Building had lost its distinctive character. Luckily, this year, things are going back to the way they were. Al Futtaim Automotive, part of the massive Al Futtaim Group with roots going back to the 1940s, is officially bringing back the beloved Toyota logo.The same publication reports that a Toyota Building Photowalk was organized to celebrate the event. Participants were offered free disposable cameras to use throughout an immersive tour of the neighbor, culminating with a stop at the Nasser Rashid Lootah Building, proudly flaunting the treasured logo. Even better, the participants with driving license were also able to test drive various Toyotas, including the Land Cruiser and the Corolla.The welcomed reinstallation of the sign marks the launch of the Toyota UAE full-service showroom at Sheikh Zayed Road, claiming to offer an entirely revamped experience. It looks like the Toyota Building will continue its legacy for decades to come. The maneuver , which you can check in the video attached below as seen in Top Gun, calls for pilots to fly really close to the control tower. Its being done with the intent to both scare those in the tower and show off the pilots skills, and even if it probably isnt as dramatic as making people spill their coffee, it probably is pretty uncomfortable for the ones at the receiving end.Buzzing can be done to a variety of targets, though, not only towers, and we sometimes get to experience that at air shows. Pilots probably like to do it on a constant basis during their training too, as clearly demonstrated by the main image of this piece.On the deck of the Air Dominance Center at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Georgia, several F-22s and some maintenance crews were minding their own business when not that high up an F-15 Eagle , deployed with the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, comes around, banking hard to the right to make sure everyone feels it passing by.Now, in all honesty, such instances are probably pretty common on an air base, especially during a training exercise (the pic was snapped during exercise Sentry Savannah 22-1 held back in May), but that doesnt make them any less cool to watch (and of course a lot more so to experience first hand). Sentry Savannah saw no less than ten units of fourth and fifth-generation fighter aircraft go against each other in a simulated near-peer environment to train next generation of fighter pilots for tomorrows fight. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Not knowing the tires are underinflated may lead to poor handling, especially in the event of an evasive maneuver such as the moose test. The possible loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash, and thats a pretty terrible prospect in a vehicle as heavy as the Ford F-150 Lightning Tipping the scales at 6,171 pounds (2,799 kilograms) with the standard-range battery or 6,590 pounds (2,989 kilograms) with the extended-range battery, the zero-emission truck needs an update for the body control module, correcting the alert points of the tire pressure monitoring system.The software update will be available at your local dealership and over the air through Fords Power-Up system. The Ford Motor Company recommends customers to check the tire pressure to ensure that it matches the figures provided on the label affixed to the driver-side front door jamb.This recall doesnt have a campaign number on thewebsite just yet. Approximately 2,900 examples are called back according to the Dearborn-based automaker. Specifically, pickup trucks fitted with 20- or 22-inch all-season tires are called back.To whom it may concern, the work-oriented Pro trim level and retail customer-oriented XLT come with 18-inch rubber boots as standard. The Lariat grade comes with 20s as standard, and the Platinum is rocking 22s.2,666 of the recalled trucks were sold in the United States of America, while the remaining 220 were delivered to Canadian customers. Ford highlights that its not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. According to German authorities, 210,000 diesel vehicles from these two Korean brands would have the issue. The engine software allegedly came from Bosch and Delphi, which now belongs to BorgWarner. If that is confirmed, it would be a different role than that Bosch played at Dieselgate.The German supplier was fined 90 million ($94.7 million at the current exchange rate) for negligence. The software design would have come from automakers, who are also responsible for proving that their vehicles meet emission limits . Bosch would have just failed by allowing it to be installed in its components.Eight Kia and Hyundai properties in Germany and Luxembourg were subject to searches. The goal was to find elements to prove that the Korean brands followed the same strategy Volkswagen adopted to sell diesel vehicles that did not respect emission limits in the U.S. Reuters said the operation was coordinated by the European Union agency Eurojust.If you do not remember Dieselgate , the engine software identified emission testing procedures and immediately adopted a profile that made it respect the legal limits during these tests.When the car was just driving around, the software allowed the diesel engine to follow a different mapping, making the vehicle more engaging to drive but also more polluting. When Volkswagen fixed the cars, multiple owners said they were weaker and burned more diesel than before. Hyundai confirmed the raids and said that it is collaborating with the German and European authorities. Reuters did not mention if the Korean carmaker denied the accusations or not. If it really did not, that is a bad sign for the owners of these 210,000 diesel vehicles. As a navigation software expert, Sygic builds some of the most advanced solutions in this market, even offering capabilities that arent available in the likes of Google Maps and Waze.Earlier this month, the company updated its mobile applications with quite a big change: three of its most advanced features are being moved under the same roof, becoming a part of a newly-created module.More specifically, DashCam, Real View Navigation, and Traffic Sign recognition are now included in the new feature called SmartCam. The UI has therefore been updated to allow users to enable any of them directly from SmartCam, with the experience overall thus becoming a bit simpler and more straightforward.The three features come in extremely handy to drivers out there.Dashcam, for instance, allows the application to record videos whenever it detects a sudden change in speed. It gets its data from the accelerometer sensor in smartphones, so it knows precisely when sudden braking occurs often a sign of a possible collision.Traffic sign recognition does exactly what its name suggests, so when driving with Sygic navigation on the screen, you know precisely what the speed limit is for every section of the road, no matter if the mapping data is fully up-to-date or not.And last but not least, the Real View Navigation uses augmented reality powered by the smartphone camera to display navigation guidance based on real images.Worth knowing, however, is that all three features and the SmartCam module itself can only be accessed with a subscription. In other words, they arent part of the free offering in Sygics mobile navigation solutions, so you must pay for a subscription to use them when getting behind the wheel. If you decide instead to drive as the crow flies, you'll be on your way to Toledo, Ohio. A once-bustling Detroit satellite city where thousands of workers in the American automotive industry once lived. Ladies and gentlemen, the world over, this is Interstate 90. A road that spans 3,021.22 miles (4,862.18 km) across 13 states on a coast-to-coast trajectory. One would think such a creation should be lauded as a masterpiece of transportation logistics. Instead, it's marked by a slew of post-industrial wasteland cities that bring America's poverty crisis into focus.With construction beginning in 1956 and continuing to this day, I-90 was once a titan of a road used to transport goods, materials, and personnel to any one of the countless industrial cities peppered across the Northern U.S. at the arguable peak of its manufacturing might. Be it the potato fields of Idaho, the meatpacking districts of Chicago, the aircraft manufacturers of Buffalo, New York, or the iron mines of Pennsylvania.By the end of the 1950s, all these industrial cities relied heavily on I-90 to bring their goods wherever they might be needed, in a country awash with money and pride. But in 2022, nearly all of these cities along Interstate 90's winding roads have had their industrial sectors gutted and their jobs shipped off to countries elsewhere. The result is that today, I-90 represents something more akin to a trail of tears than a highway to fortune.Suppose one were to set off from the I-90's current eastern terminus near Logan International Airport in Boston and head due west along the Interstate. In that case, they'd be witness to a series of sights so depressing that one could only wonder how so many cities along its route managed to decay to such a state.The first in a line of these burnt-out cities you'd see on this road is laid across the spine of New York State via the western portion of the NY Thruway. With the post-industrial cities of Albany, Utica, Syracuse, and, of course, Buffalo.These cities were once home to some of America's most vital manufacturing sectors in the mid-50s. Now, these four cities represent the first in a line of rusted-out, impoverished, and crime-riddled ex-industrial cities in an area stretching from New York to Iowa called the Rust Belt.In these areas, crime rates, drug use, unemployment, and life-improvement opportunities rank some of the most dismal in the United States. While more affluent coastal cities bask in luxury, rust belt communities can mimic third-world countries in their worst cases.Moving along on the route into Ohio, you'll soon cross paths with Cleveland. A once-proud city that's nowadays most known for its polluted rivers that occasionally catch fire. Although admittedl, it is a perfect city for pepole who love craft beer because of their numerous breweries. The good with the bad, we can only suppose.Alternatively, you could at this point make sharp turn south down Interstate 79 to Pittsburgh, another city blighted by post industrial decay. Yet still, it hangs on by a threat thanks to a burgening tech field supported by giants like Astrobotic Technology and Argo AI. It's one of the few glimmers of hope you'd see on this journey.Safe to say, those days are long gone.As you pass through the burnt-out shell of the old Steelmaking town of Gary, Indiana, you might expect things to improve as you approach the John F. Kennedy Expressway, which passes along I-90 into Chicago. Only to find that the promotional material for said city surely edits out the more unsavory, crime-ridden bits.From Chicago, I-90 makes an abrupt turn upwards, heading north into Wisconsin and through to Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, before finally meeting its terminus at the State Route 519 in Seattle, Washington. Along this grand journey, you'll undoubtedly uncover harsh realities about the people and places outside of wealthy coastal cities and how low they've fallen since I-90 was first planned.It's a profoundly humbling experience if you've never seen it before.At they very least, you might cherish what little you have a little bit more when you see how people living with next to nothing get along. All because some outrageously long snake of tarmac allowed people to make it there.Today, it still serves its primary purpose as a link between the east and west coast U.S. But nowadays, I-90s unofficial secondary goal seems to be showcasing the decay of industrial America that citizens unanimously believe should have never taken place. Hashem Al-Ghaili is a very talented video producer and science communicator from Yemen, who became popular due to his stunning visuals centered around spectacular subjects. One of his most recent videos has gathered millions of views on the artists Facebook page, and its not surprising the Sky Cruise concept is definitely one that makes the imagination run wild. Hashem did not come up with the original concept, but he redesigned it and illustrated it.Futuristic is a word too simple to describe this outrageous aircraft/luxury resort. Its supposed to be a giant hotel, large enough for 5,000 people, which would always stay in the sky, powered by nuclear reactors. Starting from the aircrafts tail, Sky Cruise features an unusual circular-shaped element that is supposed to be a hall, similar to an observation lounge, where guests can take in the uninterrupted views. The hall is connected to the main deck through elevators.Stepping onto this deck, guests would find all the familiar features of a luxury resort, from swimming pools and gyms to shopping centers, cinemas, restaurants and bars. This massive flying hotel would also be emissions-free, equipped with 20 motors powered by nuclear energy only.One of the benefits of nuclear power, used by some of the latest military submarines for example, is that it never runs out. This way, the flying hotel could allegedly stay above the clouds for years, without having to refuel in any way. All the supplies that are needed would be delivered via electric jets that could travel anywhere in the world and then return to the giant hotel.To top it all off, this massive aircraft with thousands of people on board would have no pilot to control it, just Artificial Intelligence. Thanks to the most advanced AI-controlled avionics, this thing could be entirely autonomous.Whether or not the Sky Cruise concept is even remotely feasible is up to anyone watching Hashems video illustration. Even if its too far away from reality, people will never stop dreaming about bolder and bigger vehicles of any kind. SUV kW The latest get-together saw around 50 customers and guests from Europe and the Middle East, who visited Iceland for the Esperienza Avventura, an event organized for them to enjoy the superin all sorts of environments, and surreal landscapes, which included 11 units of the Urus Over the course of a month, split into daily stages of around 300 kilometers (186 miles), attendees went from the new volcano in Geldingadalir Valley, which appeared last year, and the Kvernufoss waterfall, to the Katla Glacier, and the Jokursarlon Glacier Lagoon. CEO Stephan Winkelmann, and the head of Sales and Marketing, Federico Foschini, joined them in one of the stages.It was extraordinary to see so many Urus all together in a setting like Iceland, with so many different routes and road surfaces in which to put them to the test," said Winkelmann. Unlock Any Road, the positioning concept that customers recognize in the Urus , was expressed here more than ever: not only because of the different landscapes the cars drove across, and the decidedly adventurous feel of the event, but also because of the multiple Ad Personam configurations offered on board the car.In production since the first quarter of 2018, the Urus is Lamborghinis second high-rider, after the LM 002, and it has helped double the brands sales ever since. It shares many nuts and bolts with the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7 and Q8, Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe, and Bentley Bentayga, and uses a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, with 650 ps (641 hp / 478) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque. The Urus is about to be facelifted , with the mid-cycle refresh set to premiere sometime this year. Michelin announced on Tuesday that Russia is no longer a country in which the company can do business. Over three months ago, on the 15th of March, the French tire manufacturer suspended production and exports in the country that has been put in a tough spot by Western sanctions. The factory remained mostly close while employees still received their salaries.But things have now changed. Michelin says it is technically impossible to resume production. The company lists as reasons for this unfortunate situation many things that are very well known in the industry. The tire manufacturer also says theres a context of general uncertainty in Russia.The press release available at the end of this article states that Michelin plans to transfer all of its Russian operations until the end of the current year. Industrial operations, sales, and the administrative department would all remain in the hands of the current local management. The parties remaining in Russia will form a new entity that will operate independently of Michelin.As any major company would do in their situation, Michelin cant simply pack up and leave everything behind. The tire maker still has almost 1,000 employees on its payroll who, until March, helped with the manufacturing of over 1.5 million tires every year for passenger vehicles.But the announcement made today doesnt mean the company will sell everything and never return to Russia. A transfer of business may be simply a way to avoid dealing with temporary issues and leaves the door open to future cooperation or even a comeback. The tire manufacturer argues this is the best outcome possible for its employees at the Davydovo plant, which is situated approximately 100 km (62 mi) away from Moscow. Michelin says Russia constitutes 2% of its total sales and just 1% of the global car tire production. This exposure amounts to almost 250 ($263) million.Michelins planned pull out of Russia comes mere hours after Moodys rating agency said Russia defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time in 100 years. Bondholders didnt receive their interest payments. Liftoff! #CAPSTONE launched aboard a @RocketLab Electron rocket to pave the way for future @NASAArtemis missions to the Moon and beyond. Whats next for the microwave oven-sized satellite? Check out https://t.co/dMVnvEQcfC for updates. pic.twitter.com/VVoAOjSYbD NASA (@NASA) June 28, 2022 With the Artemis missions, NASA plans to return humans to the lunar surface and explore the satellite more than ever before. The Gateway is essential for establishing a long-term presence around and on the Moon. It will be the first space station to orbit the satellite. The outpost will help the agency extend the mission duration, providing unique benefits to astronauts. CAPSTONE (the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) supports the Artemis program. On Tuesday, an Electron rocket carrying the small CubeSat blasted into space from New Zealand.The spacecraft is now mounted on top of Rocket Lab 's Lunar Photon third stage. Photon will gradually move beyond low-Earth orbit over the following several days and then release CAPSTONE. To travel the remaining distance to the Moon, the CubeSat will use its own propulsion.It will take around four months to reach its destination. When the spacecraft arrives at the Moon's orbit, it will fly within 1,000 miles (1,609 km) above the satellite's North Pole on its closest pass and 43,500 miles (70,000 km) from the South Pole on its furthest pass.The spacecraft will then continue to circle the Moon for about half a year, helping scientists better understand the characteristics of the orbit. During this time, it will also validate technologies that will help pave the way for NASA's Gateway."CAPSTONE is a pathfinder in many ways, and it will demonstrate several technology capabilities during its mission timeframe while navigating a never-before-flown orbit around the Moon," said Elwood Agasid, project manager for CAPSTONE at NASA's Ames Research Center.CAPSTONE will use a dedicated payload flight computer and communications system to determine the distance between itself and NASA's Reconnaissance Orbiter. The data gathered will be used to assess CubeSat's autonomous navigation software. If successful, future spacecraft will be able to establish their location without relying solely on tracking from Earth. Kompressor Car Wizard is well-known for his repairing skills. The man has become quite famous after working with Hoovies Garage on his fleet of hoopties. He started publishing his own videos on YouTube and many Americans are now trusting him to fix their vehicles. Thats happening because hes constantly trying to charge as little as possible and doesnt add unnecessary costs to the final bill. Hes a fair business owner according to multiple reports made by some of the mechanics customers.Last year, Car Wizard started an interesting series. Based on his experience as an auto mechanic, the man is telling his followers what cars to buy and what should be avoided. He named it BTNT. It stands for Buy This, Not That. In the latest episode, hes looking at cars that are marketed or perceived as being economical, but theyre gas guzzlers in reality.For starters, the mechanic-turned-YouTuber says you shouldnt buy a 2004-2012 Mazda RX-8. The man is not happy with the 1.3-liter engine in this vehicle because it achieves 16 mpg (14.7 l/100 km) in the city and 23 mpg (10.2 l/100 km) on the highway.The 2004-2005 Mercedes-Benz C230is also on the no-buy list. This cars supercharged 1.8-liter engine is not known for its ability to not empty the gas tank after a short, spirited drive. Itll average around 15 mpg (15.7 l/100 km). Moreover, Car Wizard says the interior is cheap-looking and undeserving of the German brands badge.The mechanic also thought about people that need to haul things around. He says the 1999-2012 Ford Ranger with the 2.3-liter engine must be avoided because it averages around 21 mpg (11.2 l/100 km) about the same as the 5.3-liter V8 found in the full-size Chevrolet Silverado from the same era.The last three vehicles not recommended by the mechanic are the 2007-2011 Jeep Wrangler with the 3.8-liter engine, the 1998-2011 Volkswagen New Beetle with any of the gas engines, and the 2008-2013 Chevrolet Tahoe that comes with the hybrid 6-liter V8.These cars and trucks are real gas guzzlers! Now you know what to avoid!Car Wizard also shared a list of six cars and trucks that you can buy to save on gas. You can see them in the video down below. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb celebrated its 100th anniversary this past weekend. The weather was less than ideal for such a difficult challenge as the Race to the Clouds. But 70 drivers still lined up at the bottom of the mountain for the event. Not all of them would manage to go all the way to the top, but thankfully everyone made it back to the base in one piece. With manufacturers refusing to provide spare parts, leasing companies trying to take back their jets, and a big part of the world denying Russias access to its airspace, the countrys commercial aviation was practically frozen. Russias reaction is the decision to increase the percentage of domestically-produced aircraft operated by local airlines to over 80%.According to Reuters , Russian officials announced that a huge investment will support this plan. It seems that the government intends to pump 770 billion rubles (approximately $14.5 billion) in the countrys aviation industry.The intention to focus on domestically-produced airliners, from start to finish, isnt new. For years, the countrys aviation industry has been slowly making progress towards mass-produced domestic airliners, with the explicit purpose of loosening the dependency on foreign-made parts. Before the current war broke out, a milestone was hit with the first flight of the MC-21-300. This medium-haul airliner developed by the Irkut Corporation boasts a unique feature wings made of innovative composite materials, developed entirely in Russia, in collaboration with the prestigious Moscow State University. Thanks to the use of these domestically-developed composite materials instead of metal, and to the vacuum infusion technology that the Irkut Corporation claims to have patented in the country, the next-gen airplane has lightweight wings, which allow a wider fuselage.As a result, the MC-21 would boast an extended cabin, and an airframe with a high percentage of composite materials.At the moment, only the Sukhoi Superjet regional aircraft is mass-produced in Russia, Reuters reports, but most of its parts were imported. The government wants to have 80% of the airlines fleets comprised of domestically-produced aircraft, by 2030. But whether it will have the funds and the ability to achieve that is still up for debate. Superyacht-watching is quite an entertaining way to pass the time, especially after international sanctions went into effect, targeting Russian oligarchs. On that note, megayacht Solaris is here to deliver. 21 photos kW Well, it was obvious right off the bat. Not for American viewers of The Fast Lane, though, but for Aussie viewers who are accustomed to the Everest.Introduced at the 2003 Bangkok International Motor Show on the Rangers body-on-frame platform, the first-generation Everest was replaced in 2015 with T6 underpinnings from the Ranger that Ford sells in America today.The Ranger thats currently heading to Australian dealerships is dubbed T6.2 after its slightly modified platform, which is shared with the Everest Revealed on March 1st, the 2023 model isnt meant for the U.S. or European Union although the Ford Motor Company has been spied testing camouflaged prototypes in North America and the Old Continent. Given these circumstances, there is hearsay that Ford may expand availability.Manufactured in Thailand and South Africa, the third-generation Everest can be had with three diesels and a gas-fed mill. The latter comes in the guise of the 2.3-liter EcoBoost, a four-cylinder lump that we know and love from the U.S.-spec Ranger and the Ranger-based Bronco utility vehicle.Australia doesnt get this engine, but a selection of two diesels. The 2.0-liter EcoBlue with a bi-turbo setup opens the list, packing 154and 500 Nm or 207 horsepower and 369 pound-feet if you prefer imperial units. Backed up by a ten-speed automatic transmission, this powerplant is joined by the 3.0-liter Power Boost V6 that replaces the 3.2-liter Puma five-pot diesel. A less potent, single-turbo EcoBlue is offered in other markets.The six-cylinder option certainly ticks all the right boxes, cranking out 184 kW (247 horsepower) and 600 Nm (443 pound-feet) of torque from 1,750 revolutions per minute. Regardless of specification, the diesel-powered Aussie Everest boasts a braked towing capacity of 3,500 kgs (7,716 lbs). Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. An attorney says a man who shot and killed a passenger on a San Francisco subway commuter train will be charged with gun crimes but not homicide in what the attorney calls a clear case of self-defense You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. Agreement was reached this week on a plan to file a single Kern County application instead of two competing bids for tens of millions of dolla Paul Sakuma/Associated Press 2010 Plenty of tech companies have moved their headquarters out of the Bay Area in recent years, from startups like Coinbase to industry pioneers like Hewlett Packard and Oracle. Elon Musk has been one particularly outspoken voice decrying Californias business conditions. Now, one of the East Bays legacy companies is joining the trend. Chevron announced it is shuttering its San Ramon global headquarters and even encouraging some employees to move to Houston, the Wall Street Journal reported. The oil company will cover relocation costs for those voluntarily leaving for the Texas office, which has been growing and employs nearly 6,000 people. Meanwhile, the San Ramon office buildings have experienced dwindling numbers in recent years. As she finished mowing the lawn of her home in Girard, Ohio, Amy Kren had a somewhat familiar feeling. The shortness of breath and tightness in her chest seemed like another asthma attack. She went into the garage and put a hand on a lawn chair to steady herself and placed her other hand on her chest, trying to catch her breath. The symptoms didn't subside so she went into the house and took a couple puffs of her inhaler, hoping the medicine would help. Her husband, Brian, suggested calling 911. She refused, insisting the symptoms would pass. They didn't. Worse, she started to feel like a blood pressure cuff was squeezing her left arm. Now Amy was ready to call 911. The paramedics did an electrocardiogram and gave her nitroglycerin and baby aspirin. As tears streamed down her face, she thought, "Why would a 38-year-old be having a heart attack?" At the hospital, a team of health care workers rushed to her side. That prompted Amy to think about her children. She wondered, "What if I don't ever get to see them again?" Brian couldn't comfort her. This was 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from joining her inside the hospital. "You never think this is going to happen to you (and) you naturally think the worst," Brian said. "Not being able to be there with her contributed to the surrealness of the whole situation." Heart attacks are caused by blocked arteries. Usually, the blockages are caused by plaque. In Amy's case, the blockages came from blood clots. Doctors removed them via a catheterization procedure. Tests revealed the blood clots were linked to a genetic risk associated with her birth control pills. (Estrogen-based contraceptives do increase the risk of blood clots, and women with an inherited clotting disorder, family history of blood clots, surgery, obesity and extended travel are at higher risk.) Amy didn't know any of that. It's a risk that won't impact her son but one that she'll eventually have to explain it to her daughters, now 13 and 9. They will need to have bloodwork done to look for the gene before going on birth control. She'll also teach them about the warning signs of a heart attack, something else she wishes she'd known sooner. For instance, weeks before her heart attack, she'd experienced extreme fatigue, back pain, swollen ankles and profuse sweating without realizing her body was sending her a message. "Those were signs that I ignored," she said. "Had I not experienced that great pain (in my left arm), I probably would've just taken some Tylenol or ibuprofen and gone about my day." After leaving the hospital, Amy felt leg pain and swelling. She called her cardiologist several times to make sure those were a normal part of recovery. She also feared having another heart attack. "I was happy to come home to see my kids, but the fear of it happening again and not having the medical team right there if anything were to happen scared me to death," she said. "I was a nervous wreck to leave the hospital." Since then, Amy has been eating healthier meals, cutting back on salt and caffeine. She lost 30 pounds. Her improved fitness also lowered her chances of another heart attack. Then, this past March, she felt heart palpitations and tightness in her chest. She went to the hospital and the symptoms turned out to be stress-related. Brian was grateful that she sought immediate medical care, just to be sure. "One of the things we learned through Amy's experience is that when you see the signs, don't hesitate to call," he said. Amy chose to share her story because she wants to encourage others to understand the importance of seeking immediate medical care. At first, she was reluctant to do so because it meant reliving the experience. The more often she tells her story, the stronger she feels. Her perseverance is fueled by responses from women who've heard her speak. Recently, a neighbor's mom experienced heartburn and heart palpitations and went straight to the hospital. "She told me afterwards that I inspired her to go," Amy said. "If I can help just one person, then what I went through is worth it." Stories From the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates. If you have questions or comments about this American Heart Association News story, please email editor@heart.org. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News. Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Associations Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service. HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately. At least 50 people were found dead in an abandoned 18-wheeler in San Antonio near Lackland Air Force Base on Monday evening, according to reporting from the Texas Tribune. Law enforcement officials believe the victims were migrants and that this was part of a migrant-smuggling operation. In addition to the 50 deceased victims, 16 others have been taken to the hospital, the Texas Tribune reported. Of the deceased, 22 people were identified as Mexican, seven were from Guatemala and two were Honduran, according to the New York Times. According to the Texas Tribune, three people are in custody, but it is unclear if they are connected to the incident. Local authorities said they first received a call around 6 p.m. from a worker in the area of the 18-wheeler saying they heard cries for help coming from the vehicle. The trucks doors were partly open when authorities arrived, the Texas Tribune reported, with one body outside the vehicle and the rest inside. Local authorities said they were very hopeful the 16 taken to the hospital, four of which were children, would survive, according to the Texas Tribune. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said this case could be the deadliest human smuggling incident he could recall in the city, the Texas Tribune reported. Rep. Weber and Texas leaders react Republican Rep. Randy Weber, who represents part of the Beaumont area, said in a statement provided to the Beaumont Enterprise the incident is a direct result of President Joe Bidens border policies. Weber said the event is an example of human smugglers overrunning the crisis at our border. There is nothing compassionate about Bidens administrations open border policy, and President Biden must stop encouraging migrants to flood across the border, Weber said in the statement. It is simply unsafe, and the danger does not end once they cross the border. Republican Rep. Brian Babin, who also represents part of the Beaumont area, did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott also responded to the news on Twitter. He blamed the incident on Democratic President Joe Biden, saying it was caused by the administrations deadly open border policies. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies, Abbott wrote in the tweet. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also said on Twitter the horrific and heartbreaking incident was a result of an open border and claimed that the President and Democrats will ignore it. Human traffickers are exploiting the open border and the most vulnerable are paying for it with their lives, Cruz wrote in a tweet. Tragically, President Biden and the Democrats will continue to ignore the [Biden border crisis]. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the administration rejects the blame for the death of the migrants, according to reporting from the Dallas Morning News. She said those who place the blame on Biden are exploiting the horrific and heartbreaking event. "The border is closed, which is...why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks, Jean-Pierre told reporters. "46 people died in Texas. Were focused on them and on holding the human smugglers who endangered vulnerable individuals for profit accountable. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke also commented on the event, calling it devastating on Twitter. ORourke said urgent action is needed to address the border issue. Our thoughts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in San Antonio today, ORourke wrote in the tweet. We need urgent action dismantle human smuggling rings and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration that reflect our values and meet our countrys needs. This week marks 15 years since the iPhone first went on sale and ushered in a new era: the age of the smartphone. Its hard to imagine today how different mobile access was before that evening of June 29, 2007. The internet in your pocket didnt look like, well, the internet. Social media and the ability for everyone to respond globally to everything was in its infancy. And while older phones certainly had cameras, the quality and the potential for instant editing and filtering and sharing that exists today wasnt there yet. The modern smartphone has changed photography. To capture a snapshot of that change, we asked more than a dozen Associated Press photographers across the world who use iPhones some of the most talented journalists in the business to capture an image on their phone and submit it. Here is what they came up with. But first: Some words from Enric Marti, the AP deputy director of photography who oversaw the project and who had his doubts about it at the outset. ENRIC MARTI, New York: You might call me a traditionalist. Ive been a photographer for three decades and a photo editor for half that. I like negatives and the details they contain. I like physical things. I like full-on cameras. I liked the thought that went behind taking a 36-exposure roll of film and making tough choices about how to use each frame. Sometimes I feel photography has almost lost the magic it had before the means to take a photo and share it with the world was in our pocket. Now, you can go for an assignment and easily take 3,000 frames. And phones everywhere, every day, millions of images. There is so much photography, and so much fake photography. You can buy a 99-cent app that removes people from photos. That's not photography to me; to me, photography is documenting what's really in the world. But I'm changing my mind about phone photography sort of. I've been trying for a while now to see and feel the positive side of this technological evolution, so I am not perceived as a dinosaur. This project has helped me in that regard. The photographers whose work is shown here are pros. Colleagues. People I admire. People whose images from our work cameras I see and edit all the time. But they are also people with phones, and with cameras in their phones, and that vision the one they use so well in covering the news comes out in very interesting ways. I asked them to observe things, and they did each in a unique way. In the end, I decided to add a photo of my own to this as well. Why not? I take them anyway, every day, on the street. I stopped carrying my real camera a long time ago, but I always have my phone. Which is kind of the point. You go through life having to change. The world is moving quickly. You have to adapt. What else are you going to do? YIRMIYAN ARTHUR, Kohima, India: The phone is a tiny, constant companion that I rely on for moments that take me by surprise. You have to be quick to catch these fleeting moments. They may not return. My phone can sing you the life story of my children in pictures. Yet a camera gives control that I dont find possible on a phone. A lot of thought goes into building a narrative and expressing the idea embedded in the minds eye even if, eventually, it is the eye behind the viewfinder. Catching the image of rain on a fast shutter would evoke a different feeling than seeing the image shot on a slow shutter speed. With a phone, I find it much harder to convert these ideas into images. I use my phone on early morning runs, a time when the moon flirts with daybreak in my mountain town and the sky displays its glory. Even cloudy days arent dull here, and Im thankful that I can capture such moments on my phone. But this comes with a price. Instead of enjoying my front-row views, Im looking into a screen. I feel increasingly dependent on this external memory keeper. It can feel intrusive. So Im trying to convince myself to keep my phone in my pocket more, and just live the moment. BRYNN ANDERSON, Atlanta: Sometimes being a photographer with a larger camera can be intimidating to the person being photographed. Using a phone makes it easier for me to get intimate moments that might not happen. Being able to adjust the exposure to create dark shadows makes the iPhone my main camera in a pinch. If spot news occurs when Im on vacation or out to dinner, I always have a quality camera to capture news. ODED BALILTY, Tel Aviv, Israel: Smartphones have come a long way in the last 15 years, but I dont see them as a substitute for professional cameras. Some great work has been shot on smartphones. But its a lot easier to cut corners and manipulate images on smartphones something we should all keep in mind in a time of rampant disinformation. Im more likely to trust an image if I know it was taken by a photojournalist using professional gear (nothing to do with the gear but with the photographers responsibility to the truth). I dont think theres right or wrong. It just depends on which hat we wear on which day. It is a different tool that definitely has changed what we do. But its the photographer, not the device, that determines the quality of a photo. In a world with so many cameras, there are also more photography consumers. And the good thing is that photography is more popular than ever. WONG MAYE-E, New York: The only time I dont have my phone on me is when I am asleep, swimming or reading a book. It has become completely integrated in my life. Once, someone asked me how I separate life and my work (photography); when I thought hard about it, I realized that there was no separation because I photographed life. I am a sentimental person. I love keeping memories. I photograph occasions in life that I want to remember; at work, I photograph life that happens for people. Sometimes it looks joyous and sometimes there is pain. The camera is just a tool that allows me to make snapshots of these moments. I have always done this with whatever camera that I have on me, and lately, while not at work, it has been my iPhone. I spend too much time staring at the screen, but because its right there in my hands at that moment, I find myself recording life in photos or video obsessively. I own many cameras. I love all of them. But admittedly having the phone with me all the time, in its small unintrusive form, has allowed me to capture moments that dont make anyones head turn. Right now, my phone album has 13,793 images on it. That is a lot of moments. It is, I guess, my visual diary. NARIMAN EL-MOFTY, Cairo: The iPhones camera has become more of a sketch pad and personal space of thoughts, ideas, and inspiration. Its a place I can think of process for an upcoming story and keep this ongoing stream of thoughts visually with no judgement. It has this ease on the street because of its size and familiarity. I felt like I was cheating when I used it for candid photos, and it never sat well with me. I like to manually control the whole camera to tell a story whilst physically being seen with the tool in my hand. People will then always have the right to react to me negatively or positively, and Im driven by that honesty. Years ago, I had a heated conversation with an Egyptian policeman. He took my camera and said I was not allowed to take photographs of the streets of Cairo. The body of my SLR is a threat, seen as a weapon. I told him: That is the main reason I love having an SLR in my hand. There is a real interaction with the environment youre photographing, a true reaction to you as a photojournalist on the ground. It is part of the skill set and the beauty of photojournalism. Rather than the idea of stealing a picture with my iPhone. I told the policeman I couldve taken photos of him, and he would have never known. Governments have since caught up. Hence, if you're detained and questioned, the first thing that is taken is the phone. AARON FAVILA, Manila, Philippines: The quality of the phone has become truly great in recent years. Now, I seldom bring a real camera during family trips. I have used the phone to shoot breaking news images so I can email them straight to the desk to be used as early photos for a story. I wont replace it for professional work, but I'm confident that if something pops up in front of me, I can dig out the phone in my pocket and shoot pictures with good enough quality. VADIM GHIRDA, Bucharest, Romania This is a good example of an image that I couldnt have taken on my camera. Most vendors and, frankly, most people in Romania get nervous if they realize a photojournalist is taking their picture even in the most mundane situations. It often leads to unpleasant interactions. The smartphone, though, seems to be a magical stress-relief device. Even if people realize that you are a journalist, they no longer, in most situations, see you as a menace. They relate to you. In adverse situations, it can save the day. DITA ALANGKARA, Jakarta, Indonesia: Shooting with smartphones opens up more opportunities on the streets of Jakarta. People are so used to see others taking photos with their gadgets that they just ignore me. This gives me a whole new perspective to explore and easily get me to the nooks and crannies of a city of 10 million people a place where a real camera would feel awkward to operate. DAR YASIN, New Delhi The photos now shot on the latest phones feel like digital art more than photographs. What you see with the naked eye is not what you get on your screen. And that for me is very unsettling. For example, the colors are oversaturated and look touched up when I have done nothing but pressed the shutter. The portrait mode produces blur but its not the same effect my regular camera gives me. These pictures definitely dont evoke a similar thrill of a taking a good picture. Ill admit that there are instances when I love the pictures taken on my iPhone. There is no denying the phone captures those moments very well indeed. But its important to realize: The pro label on a phone doesnt necessarily make every owner a pro photographer. On the contrary. The photographs on a smartphone are a product of machine learning, with the machine thinking and manipulating for you. It is also true that the iPhone is kind of setting a new standard of what a photograph should look like and Im not sure thats a good thing. KHALIL HAMRA, Istanbul, Turkey I used my iPhone to take this picture, which is what I do when I see a beautiful view and I am not carrying professional cameras. But I mostly use the iPhone camera to capture family memories. In all cases, the use of the phone does not eliminate the need for professional cameras, neither in the beauty of the picture nor in the pleasure of capturing it. Truth be told, every time I take a nice picture with my phone, I feel that something is missing and could have been better if I took it with my professional camera. ARIANA CUBILLOS, Caracas, Venezuela I do love taking pictures of my daughter and my pets with the phone and filters. Also, I take pictures with it when something grabs my attention and my cameras are packed in my bag. It helps me to remember the spot. It is an easy, light and fast tool. Does the smartphone give you a different perspective? For me, totally. At the moment I take a picture, it feels flat on the screen. It is not the same as taking a picture looking through the viewfinder of a full camera, controlling light exposition and speed at the same time you take the photo. EMILIO MORENATTI, Barcelona, Spain For me, the use of the phone camera is just an alternative to my conventional camera, so I only use it on rare occasions and basically to photograph or capture on video family scenes or scenes with friends, with the simple idea of documenting banal moments. Shooting with a camera is much more serious, and the result differs dramatically from shooting with a phone. Composing and capturing a scene through a viewfinder while pressing a shutter release is part of the essence of photography, and you cant do that with a phone yet. The flat image that a phone gives you cant compete with the photography you get from an SLR camera and a good lens, no matter how much phone photography lovers say otherwise. NATACHA PISARENKO, Buenos Aires, Argentina I use an iPhone instead of a camera on diverse occasions. Sometimes its as a reflex, when I see something I want to keep at that moment during my daily life. Sometimes its just that I dont have a camera at hand, even though Id want to. Sometimes I use the phone camera when I want to send an image immediately by message or WhatsApp a way to communicate something to someone through an image and no words. Sometimes its just something I want to keep. The irony: My phone is so full that at the end, I scroll down the pictures erasing everything that does not mean that much to me. That way, I can keep using it as a camera or video recorder and then erase it again. RODRIGO ABD, Buenos Aires, Argentina: The phone allows me to practice street photography, a branch of photography that I like because it allows me to always be attentive to the everyday without a precise news event to cover, and with only the intention of documenting the most banal moments of life. But at the end of the road will be a record of a vital moment in the life of society. FELIPE DANA, Barcelona, Spain Being a photojournalist, I try to always carry my professional camera with me in case I come across a nice scene or any breaking news. For a long time I considered the camera on my phone only usable in cases of emergency, when you really have no other option. But ever since the first iPhone appeared 15 years ago, phone cameras have come such a long way that I admit feeling a bit less anxious knowing that I always have a very capable camera in my pocket. I will still always pick my professional camera when going on any assignment. But nowadays the photos taken with smartphones are becoming harder and harder to distinguish from those captured on pro devices. J. DAVID AKE, director of photography, New York: The iPhone makes it really easy, when I spot something I want to share with my family, to just reach into my pocket, grab the phone and make a frame. I still carry a professional high-resolution camera most places, but the ease of the iPhone to snap and share via text message means my family and friends get see what I see at almost the moment I see it. When you travel a lot and are away more than you like, that instant connection matters. ___ For more Associated Press photography (not shot on a smartphone), visit https://apnews.com/hub/photography This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate New information has come to light regarding man wanted in connection with the death of a Port Arthur child. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office on Monday announced that its Felony Fugitive Warrant Division is assisting the Port Arthur Police Department in the search for 24-year-old Port Arthur resident Jaylin Jevon Lewis. PAPD previously named Lewis as a suspect in the death of 3-year-old King Dewey. Police said Lewis has two outstanding felony warrants for injury to a child. The Sheriff's Office has provided a description of Lewis to aid in the search for him. Related: Photos: Community mourns Port Arthur child found dead in closet "He is described as 64 and 300 lbs," the Sheriff's Office said in the announcement. "The casual photo is the most recent. The mugshot was taken 4 years ago. He has gained a bit of weight and changed his hair style since then." Police found "Baby King" on May 31 dead at his home in the 300 Block of Richmond Avenue. "Investigators found the childs body to be in an extremely emaciated condition," police previously said. The child was found dead inside a dirty and insect-filled locked closet. Detective Mike Hebert said the child appeared skeletal, weighing only 19 pounds. Related: Police seek 'wanted fugitive' in Port Arthur child death investigation Officers previously arrested the child's mother, 43-year-old Tina Louise Louis, and sister, 21-year-old Kristen Alexia Nicole Louis. As of Monday, Jefferson County jail records showed each woman was still being held on two counts of injury to a child with a $750,000 bond on each charge. Tina Louis has an additional charge for failure to identify, and Kristen Louis had a charge listed for failure to appear. The Sheriff's Office asks anyone who knows of Jaylin Lewis whereabouts to contact Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers by calling 409-833-8477, online at www.833TIPS.com or download the P3 TIPS App. "You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward," the release said. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie Authorities have named a man who found dead Saturday morning inside of a truck on Interstate 10 in Orange. Chase James Miller, 28, was found around 10:30 a.m. with a gunshot wound just east of Texas 62. Related: Man found dead in car on I-10 in Orange "The City of Orange Police Department is actively investigating this incident," the Orange PD release said. "If you have information about this crime, call the Orange Police Department at 409-883-1026 or Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS (8477), online at 833TIPS.com or download the P3 TIPS app. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward." meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer Dade Phelan. Jacorian Randle. Robert Nichols. Joe Evans. Brandon Creighton. Those are some of the Republican officials and candidates from Southeast, and to a person they are conservative. All are pro-life and welcomed the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe on Friday. All support the Second Amendment. Every one of them wants less government and less taxes. But none of them are the kind of hardline Republicans who gathered at the state convention in Houston last weekend and passed a party platform that was so far in right field it crossed the foul line. Were talking resolutions that said Joe Biden was not legitimately elected president, reject any kind of gun control, call homosexuality an "abnormal lifestyle choice" and even want the 1965 voting rights law repealed. Oh, this group also seeks a referendum next year on whether Texas should secede from the union. Thats quite a list, and needless to say, its far outside the political mainstream. But to the point, as evidenced by the local Republicans listed above, its also outside the views of most Republicans. Thats not just a theory either. Voters in Southeast Texas have not elected an edgy Republican or edgy Democrat to any local or state office. There certainly are people like that in the region, including some delegates to that state convention. But so far at least, most Texas Republicans are not as zealous as that party platform, even if the party is solidly conservative and probably getting more so all the time. Take the GOP primary for governor in March. Texas Republicans could have chosen one of two hardline, well-funded candidates for governor former state chairman Allen West or former state Sen. Don Huffines. Each one of them got 12% of the vote. The guy they mocked and scorned as a hopelessly insufficient conservative incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott got 66% of the vote, easily winning the primary and avoiding a runoff. Yet there was Huffines at the state convention last week, strutting around in his element and acting as if he had actually won the primary for governor, still refusing to say whether he will support Abbott in the fall in his race against Democrat Beto ORourke. Were tired of having to hold our nose to vote for people who dont do what we want, Huffines said cluelessly. He didnt explain why Texas Republicans could have kept their fingers off their noses in the primary and selected him or West, or didn't give them much support at all. But therein lies the problem in state conventions and party platforms. They invariably attract the bluest Democrats and reddest Republicans instead of the moderates in both parties. Last year, more than a few Democratic state conventions saw loose talk about defunding the police or abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Virtually none of that made it into legislation proposed in state legislatures or Congress. It was convention bluster from people who never had to win a race in large district or state with more than one narrow political viewpoint like theirs. Thats something for voters to keep in mind when they see these stories or hear some outlandish comment from a fringe politician. Most voters lie somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum, even though both major parties are gradually moving toward the edges. That disconnect makes our politics seem worse than they are, even though we are pretty divided. The system usually corrects itself, however, and as long as it does, no state is going to approve something radical like a secession resolution. In fact, the best rebuke for these hardliners might be to put that up for a vote in Texas and see how badly it is crushed. Courtesy photo My name's Tommy McDonald and I'm the general manager for Jefferson County Water District 10. It's a 2.2-square mile area that's carved out between the city of Beaumont on the north and the city of Nederland to the south. During Hurricane Harvey, we were told by the forecasters that the system would dump a lot of rain. We've seen 20-inch rains and we've seen 10-inch rains, but we haven't seen this amount of rain in this short period of time. It was just devastating. My fire department called me and said it was out doing rescues, and told me it was horrible. I needed to get to work. Almost everything was under water, roughly two feet. And first thing we did was shut off the main breaker, to kill everything so it's safe. It came up fast, and it stayed up for about 12 hours, and then it started to recede. It was bad. I mean, I've grown up here and I've never seen water like this. It was roughly 72 inches of rain in three or four days. There's only nine of us here. And we started getting to work trying to remove carpet and get stuff out of the building and get things dried out. This sheet rock has been put back twice in the last three years, first with Hurricane Harvey and then, of course, followed up a year and a half later with Imelda. Our operators and crew worked in anywhere from two feet of water or less. So, it was really difficult to provide water to customers and treat wastewater. One of the things that has really helped us is to get this control building elevated up off the ground. It's also a 130 mph hurricane-proof wind building, which will help us since we've had numerous storms over the last 10 years. It's also a full-blown water laboratory where we run analysis on the water every four hours or more if needed. It will provide a place for our operators to stay during hurricane events or emergencies. Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images On June 15, the Enterprise published Dade Phelans (Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives) recommendation to Gov. Greg Abbot and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick that $170 million be transferred from the Foundation School Program to mental health services and for school security. Mental health services would receive $120 million and school security $50 million. I applaud this action. However, I am puzzled because in April of 2022, Abbot, Patrick and Phelan agreed to transfer $211 million from mental health services to fund border security. Under the latest proposal, mental health services would be receiving $91 million less than was originally appropriated. According to Abbott and Patrick, mental health issues are the biggest factors in mass shootings. After shootings in El Paso, Santa Fe, and now Uvalde, they have said that the cause of these shootings is mental health issues. If mental health issues are the primary cause and they are committed to remedying the problem, why is Texas ranked 50th in mental health care? Also, why is money appropriated for mental health services being used to fund to other programs? Even when confronted with a new mass shooting, the original funding for mental health is not being restored. If our governor, lieutenant governor and other leaders are serious, they would restore the cuts made to mental health and find additional monies for more mental health services and school security. According to Abbott, Patrick and Phelan, one of the best ways to prevent future mass shootings is to identify persons with mental health problems and get them the proper treatments. I agree. I submit that they should restore the cuts previously made to mental health services and find additional funds for more mental health services and to protect schools and the citizens of this state. It was a dim, rainy day as I headed into the woods to check my game camera. After rounding a corner of the trail, I stopped for a second to adjust the hood of my jacket when I saw it. Lying in the broad open was what appeared to be a wolf. Its coat was deep red and the head showed a prominent sagittal crest, broad snout, highlighted by large ears. Its tail was long but not too bushy and it had a white tip that matched the lining on the front of its legs. Fewer than 40 yards separate us yet I wanted to move in closer. Slowly walking toward the animal without looking directly in its eyes, I closed the distance another 10 yards before it showed any signs of distress. Then it suddenly jumped to its feet and retreated. What was it that I saw? It was definitely not a classic coyote. Canis rufus, the red wolf, was common in the southeastern United States from the Carolinas to central Texas. However, popular theory has it that predator control programs combined with habitat loss in certain areas reduced the population and by the 1970s, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) officials declared the only remaining red wolves were in eastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. The common thinking was the population threatened itself by interbreeding with the coyotes and domestic dogs. In response to this, Service officials made the red wolf the first-ever mammal put on the endangered species list and started a capture program starting in 1973 to find the last remaining "genetically pure" red wolves and found a captive breeding program. In 1980, Service officials considered the red wolf extinct in the wild and labeled only 14 of the hundreds of animals they caught as pure red wolves. These 14 specimens are the basis for all of the red wolves in the federal recovery program. Without question there are animals in Texas that look virtually the same as red wolves in the federal captive breeding program. A 2018 study shows that animals on Galveston Island contain red wolf DNA. This was a major discovery and shows that red wolf relatives still live in the region. A landowner called late one Friday evening and said he had been feeding coyotes on his property in hopes of killing them before he built a facility there. He feared the coyotes would cause problems around the tenant's dogs and cats so he planned to eliminate them. The evening before he called me, he sat out with his rifle and watched as three wolves came up to the dog food he had put out to lure coyotes. "I looked through my scope and immediately noticed them as red wolves because of the articles I had seen in the paper and the fact I have seen lots of coyotes and knew this was no coyote," he said. I rushed over to the spot, set out my (now primitive) trail camera and that evening captured nearly 30 minutes of video of a beautiful canid with some definite red wolf attributes eating dog food. The video is so long because the wolf can hear the camera running but cannot quite place the sound so it takes a bite, runs off, looks around and takes another bite. After the beautiful animal at the beginning of this story ran off, I walked toward one of my motion-sensing cameras and heard footsteps in the dry leaves behind me. When I turned around, I noticed the wolf I had just seen was following me. At a distance of only 10 yards, it showed no aggressive posturing but a general curiosity as to what I was doing in its habitat and perhaps more importantly how long I was going to stay. As I locked eyes with it, I saw an untamed, majestic wildness that reminded me why I got into the wildlife study to begin with. Then almost instantly, its eyes changed and a look of deep fear overcame it. It stared at me for a second, put down its ears and ran off into the brush. I have pondered many times what that animal was thinking as we stared at one another. At the end of the day, I say if it looks like a wolf and howls like a wolf it is probably at least part wolf. Or maybe a coywolf in this case. Our Most Anticipated New Animes Of The Summer 4 Minute Read Advertisement From returning classics to Yakuza Babysitters, theres a lot were looking forward to in this summers anime line up. Its that time again. Spring animes are coming wrapping up and we watched multiple season finales this weekend. Well all miss last seasons shows, but dont worry. Summer is looking like a good season for anime. Bastard! Weve known that remake of the 80s classic Bastard! was coming back for a little while now. But it will officially be the first new (ish) anime of the summer with a June 30th arrival on Netflix. This famously brutal show draws inspiration from metal music and D&D, making it one of the most 80s things imaginable. A kingdom is under attack and their only hope is unleashing a mighty and possibly evil wizard to join in the fight. What could go wrong? Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Just like Bastard! almost missed the Summer time frame by coming out a bit early, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners almost didnt make the list with its September release date. But Im seeing it listed with all of the other summer anime, so I can only assume its looking at a late summer / early September Netflix release. Taking place in the same universe as the infamous Cyberpunk 2077 video game, Edgerunners is Studio Triggers hyper colorful take on people who do odd-jobs for cash in the dystopian future. The Yakuzas Guide to Babysitting Advertisement Every season I look for at least one silly show that I watch to spend twenty minutes just having a nice time. And Kumichou Musume to Sewagakari (The Yakuzas Guide to Babysitting) looks like its going to combine some of my favorite aspects of Spy x Family and Way of the Househusband do give us just that. Tooru Kirishima is a member of the Sakuragi crime family who is vicious and deadly enough to earn him the nickname The Demon of Sakuragi. And his latest assignment for the family is.. babysitting his bosss daughter. Premiering on July 7th on Crunchyroll this looks like its going to be an absolute delight. Subscribe to our newsletter! Get Tabletop, RPG & Pop Culture news delivered directly to your inbox. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Lycoris Recoil A secret organization utilizes a team of all-girl agents known as Lycoris across Japan to prevent attacks. And in Tokyo these agents just so happen to also be serving up delicious coffee and sweets. Whether youre looking for a slice of cake or something to deal with that zombie problem, Lycoris Recoil will have you covered starting July 2nd on Crunchyroll. Yurei Deco Advertisement The official synopsis on this one is wild. It involves a Ghost Detective club with members who are described as socially dead and therefore practically invisible. Theyll learn about Phantom ZERO, a mysterious figure who lives below the city they call home who may be attached to the citys true history. This looks ridiculous and Im not sure if I love the art style or hate it. But Im going to figure that out as well as whats up with Phantom ZERO when Yueri Deco stars airing on July 3rd on Crunchyroll. Yoru wa Neko to Issho When Fuuta comes home all he wants to do is hang out with his cat. So thats what hes going to do. This relaxed, cute, comedy about the weird habits of cats will be the feline equivalent of a slice of life show. Theres enough serious going on in the world, and starting on August 4th we can spend a small portion of our week watching an animated cat do cat things. What summer anime are you most looking forward to? Is there a new anime that you think should have made my list? What was your favorite show of the spring line up? Let us know in the comments! Ja Ne, Adventurers! Author: Meaghan Colleran She/Her/They/Them | Writer, Cosplayer, Podcaster, Tapletop RPGer, Opossum Enthusiast, Mediocre Ukulele Player, & Coffee Addict. To find Meaghan elsewhere on the internet, check out her LinkTree at https://linktr.ee/habie_cosplays Any emails regarding articles or potential game or accessory spotlights can be sent to [email protected] Advertisement Read the Comments (0) G7 excludes global south by imposing sanctions: German parliament member Xinhua) 09:02, June 28, 2022 GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Group of Seven (G7) have excluded the entire global south with economic sanctions and economic power and they want to dictate their policies to the world, Sevim Dagdelen, a member of Germany's lower house of Parliament has said. The G7 framework should be abolished, said the Bundestag member, although Germany is holding the G7 presidency. Dagdelen is also chairwoman of the parliamentary group of Germany's Left party, Die Linke, in the Foreign Affairs Committee of Bundestag. She made the remarks as the G7 summit was held in Schloss Elmau, a castle in Bavaria, southern Germany. However, to solve the global challenges of hunger, the climate crisis and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, cooperation is needed, she stressed. Calling the G7 an "elite club," Dagdelen said the sanctions against Russia were not supported by most countries and thus the G7 members were isolated from the rest of the world. Instead of recognizing their own failure in terms of the sanction policy, the G7 countries remained on the wrong track by attempting to impose new sanctions, she said, referring to the latest comments from western leaders that G7 countries would adopt an embargo on imports of gold from Russia. In addition, the sanctions against Russia are worsening the global food crisis, considering that Russia is a major exporter of grain, she said. "The G7 is not everything, and the world is beyond the G7," she said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Motorists throng the Padma Bridge as it opens for travel the day after the inauguration, in Dhaka, June 26, 2022. Screw loose? A TikToker is in custody in Bangladesh for posting a video of himself unscrewing nuts and bolts from the railing of the Padma Bridge, and criticizing authorities for lax construction, a day after it was inaugurated with nationwide fanfare. Bayezid Talha, 31, was one of tens of thousands of people who flocked to the bridge after it opened on Sunday, creating a two-hour wait at toll booths as Bangladeshis travelled en masse to marvel at the U.S. $3.6-billion structure widely touted as a symbol of national perseverance and progress. Thousands violated rules against standing or taking photos on the bridge, and visitor reactions ranged from kneeling in prayer to seeking relief from the call of nature, all of it captured by passersby and documented on social media. At a press conference in Dhaka Monday, a senior police official accused Talha of using tools to unscrew nuts and bolts of the Padma Bridge railing before filming the 34-second clip and posting it to TikTok, where it went viral. The young man was arrested in Dhaka at around 4:00 p.m. Sunday under the Special Powers Act, which criminalizes sabotaging or damaging government undertakings and carries punishments ranging from 14 years to the death sentence. It is impossible to unscrew the Padma Bridge's nut-bolt by hand alone without any tools. This is a provocative act, Rejaul Masud of the Criminal Investigation Department told reporters. Alleging that others helped him, he said they, too, would be brought to book. The young mans political affinity was not immediately known, Masud said. Both the ruling Awami League and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rushed to reject affiliation with him, and highest-level party officials issued denials. Social media photographs of the arrestee with a former leader of the Awami Leagues student wing prove that he is close with ruling party people, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told BenarNews, after similar claims were put forth by Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud, an Awami League official, while speaking in parliament. Visitors who came to see the Padma Bridge the day after its opening take selfies, in Dhaka, June 26, 2022. [BenarNews] Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday inaugurated the 6.15-km (3.8-mile) bridge, which provides road connectivity for the first time to some 30 million people living south and west of the Padma River, and is expected to boost the South Asian countrys economy. Addressing a rally at one end of the Padma Bridge, Hasina called it a symbol of the pride, dignity, honor and ability of Bangladesh, built despite what she described as many conspiracies aimed at preventing it. Ignoring many obstacles and breaking the web of conspiracy, today the much-desired bridge stands on the chest of the turbulent Padma River, Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, told the gathering. Members of her family and some colleagues suffered extreme mental agonies because of the conspiracies orchestrated by certain quarters at the planning stage of the construction of this bridge, Hasina said. But none could keep Bangalees suppressed, she said, quoting a famous line of her fathers, Bangladeshs founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh had been planning to build a bridge across the Padma for two decades, but hit a bump when the World Bank in 2012 canceled a $1.2 billion credit intended to finance it, alleging that it had credible evidence of a high-level corruption conspiracy connected to the project. Furious, Bangladesh pledged to build the bridge itself. In December 2012, Bangladeshs Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against seven people for alleged corruption in hiring consultants for the project, but two years later it dismissed the case, saying it had not found any evidence of corruption. Transparency International, a global corruption watchdog, currently ranks Bangladesh 26 out of 100, on a scale in which 100 is very clean and 0 is highly corrupt. The Padma Multipurpose Bridge has been entirely funded by the Government of Bangladesh and no foreign funds from any other bilateral or multilateral funding agency has financially contributed to its construction, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement earlier this month. The ministry clarified that the bridge was not part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, although the bridge was built by China Major Bridge Engineering Co. Ltd. Padma Bridge construction cost to recover by 2057 On Monday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told the parliament that the cost of building the Bridge would be recovered from tolls by 2057. A total of 51,316 vehicles crossed the Padma Bridge on Sunday, its first full day of operation, and about $215,110 was collected in tolls, authorities said. Bangladesh Bridge Authority will repay all the loans given by the government in 140 quarterly installments in 35 years with the toll collected from vehicles plying the Padma Bridge, Quader told parliament. Motorcycles were banned Sunday until further notice, after two bikers were killed in the first accident on the Padma Bridge on the day it opened to vehicular traffic. People get on a boat as they look for shelter during widespread flooding in Sylhet, northeastern Bangladesh, June 19, 2022. A new, nearly U.S. $100 million highway through a floodplain or haor in northeastern Bangladesh may have worsened the effect of floods in that area that have affected millions and killed dozens, officials acknowledged Tuesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina halted all road-building projects in the greater Sylhet and Mymensingh districts in the area, Planning Minister M. A. Mannan told BenarNews. The PMs instruction on Tuesday came after criticism on social media about the 30-km (18.6- mile) Itna-Mithamoin-Austagram highway which residents have blamed for severe floods in the adjacent Sylhet region. The highway was opened in October 2020 and connects three sub-districts in the floodplain, or haor, of Kishoreganj district sub-districts that normally remain submerged for several months a year. Md. Shamsul Hoque, a civil engineering professor at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said the highway was a bad idea from the beginning. By constructing the Itna-Mithmoin-Austagram road, we have caused huge damage to the fragile and special ecosystem of the haor region. We learned by paying a heavy price, he told BenarNews. Haor means floodplain. These are connected with rivers. All haor remain underwater for seven to eight months a year. Boats and other water vessels are the main modes of transportation in this region. Why should we need to build roads in this region? Hoque said planners and engineers should have alerted the authorities to these potential problems before starting to build the highway. This is a basic environmental consideration that the haor ecosystem must not be hindered through construction of roads, he told BenarNews. Floods not over Debojit Singha, an official at the Sylhet administrative division, told BenarNews that the ongoing flood in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts affected 4.5 million people, noting 53 people had died. The floods are not over. So, we cannot assess the total cost of damage of infrastructures and loss of resources for now, he told BenarNews. Hoque said Hasinas directive to stop road construction was wise. Planning Minister Mannan said the PM instructed that no roads would be constructed in any of the floodplains of Bangladesh. She said this to maintain natural flow of water in the haor and save the environment of the floodplain regions, Mannan told BenarNews. I am not an expert on the water dynamics of the haor region. I cannot say for sure that the Itna-Mithamoin-Austagram road was responsible for the latest spell of floods in Sylhet and Sunamganj. But there are discussions among people that this road caused the flooding, he said. The government defines haor, with unique hydro-ecological characteristics, as large bowl-shaped floodplain depressions. Located in the northeastern region of Bangladesh, they cover close to 2 million hectares. About 19.37 million people who depend on fishing for their livelihood live in haor regions. There are 373 haor in the districts of Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj, Maulvibazar, Netrakona, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria. People who live in those regions remain confined to their homes during the rainy season starting in May. Water starts receding in November which allows farmers to cultivate only one crop a year to meet their annual grain requirement. This year, flooding started mid-April, submerging many standing paddy fields. Thus far, we have seen three spells of flooding in the greater Sylhet region, Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, the head of the flood forecasting and warning center, told BenarNews. We may experience another flooding in July, he said. Starting Monday, a Malaysian single mother of three is spending a week behind bars for rescheduling her ex-husbands visitation dates with their children, a move considered contempt of court under Islamic law which governs Muslim families in the country. Emilia Hanafi, the former wife of a businessman from a wealthy Malaysian family, surrendered to the Kuala Lumpur Sharia Court on Monday morning and was sent to a womens prison in Selangor state. I am disappointed because I have to go to prison because of this injustice. I tried to sort this out via judicial review, but my stay application was rejected. The court wanted to hear from both parties instead and the date was set for July 20, she said in a Sunday Instagram post. To simplify [matters] I am surrendering but I am doing it in protest. My focus is always on my children and I am doing this for all my three sons. Hope someone will look into these sharia cases and do right. Emilia had filed for a stay on the sentence in the Kuala Lumpur High Court, challenging the jurisdiction of the citys sharia court. The 43-year-old was sentenced in 2019 on her former husbands application for contempt of court after she rescheduled the dates he could visit their three children. In April, opposition lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah was sentenced to seven days in jail for criticizing the courts sentence, although she obtained a stay pending an appeal filed at the Sharia Court of Appeal. Maria previously said the sentence against Emilia proved that women were treated unfairly under the sharia legal system. Sisters in Islam Womens rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS) said Monday was a dark day for all Muslim women because they had to see what Emilia went through. The sharia legal system, which is supposed to uphold justice and safeguard the welfare of oppressed family members, issued an arrest warrant against the mother simply because she had changed a parental visiting date as the children requested, SIS said in a statement. The group added that many Muslim women who had sought free legal advice had shared their difficulties in filing alimony, child support and custody cases in sharia court. Islamic scholar Wan Salim Wan Mohd. Noor said punishment handed to an individual should be decided by taking into account the situation that may have influenced the actions. Whoever studies and practices sharia law will understand that the law is based on the characteristics of justice, mercy and wisdom, he told BenarNews. Anything that goes against these values is not Islamic law even if it is sometimes wrongly branded as Islamic law. Thus, anyone who feels that the sentence imposed on him or her by the court is unfair is entitled to apply for his case to be retried at a higher court. Lawyer Siti Kassim, who has been working pro bono for Emilia, told BenarNews the sentencing was unnecessary as there were other methods of punishment including a fine. She said Emilias punishment is a clear indication of the courts unfairness against women. I feel there are injustices being done against her and it is important for us to highlight that women are being oppressed, Siti said. Meanwhile, Akberdin Abdul Kader, the lawyer for Emilias ex-husband, S. M. Faisal, said she kept changing the visiting schedule. Emilia cannot unilaterally change the visiting schedule or unilaterally decide when the father can visit the children and take the children out of the country without the agreement of the father, he told BenarNews. Too many chances were given. The mother, however, has not been cooperative in making the visits possible as ordered by the court. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to be inaugurated as the Philippines' 17th president this week, the culmination of a decades-long struggle to rehabilitate the family name that was once synonymous with corruption. The Supreme Court removed the final potential stumbling block for Marcos return to power when it voted 13-0 on Tuesday to dismiss consolidated cases including a disqualification case and a petition to cancel his candidacy document. The court held that respondent Marcos Jr. is qualified to run for and be elected to public office, it said in a statement. Marcos will be sworn in on Thursday during an inauguration ceremony described as solemn and simple, by Franz Imperial, who is heading the inauguration efforts. It would be very traditional, because like what BBM said in his vlog, we will not stray from tradition, Imperial said, using the initials for Bongbong Marcos, the incoming leaders nickname. Marcos will take the oath of office before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at noon at the historic National Museum complex in Manila, as written in the constitution. The building had housed the Senate when his late father, Ferdinand E. Marcos, led the legislative body in the 1960s before ruling the country for two decades. Imperial said an ecumenical invocation is to follow the swearing-in and Marcos will deliver his inaugural address to the nation. A half-hour military parade will follow before the new president returns to Malacanang Palace where he spent most of his childhood, to formally take possession of the residence. The palace will host officials and foreign dignitaries at an inaugural reception Thursday night. The ceremony will bring the Marcos family back to power in the Philippines. The last time a Marcos led the country, his father was driven from power by a peoples revolution in 1986 and the family fled to Hawaii. The elder Marcos reign was marked with human rights abuses and massive corruption, leaving the family with an estimated $10 billion in unexplained wealth, according to the Philippine government. Family members have denied any wrongdoing and have refused to apologize. In 2016, President Duterte ordered a heros burial for the late dictator, who died in Hawaii in 1989 after three years in exile, despite public outcry. Income tax issue The Supreme Court dismissed the consolidated case stemming from Marcos 1997 conviction over his failure to file his income tax returns from 1982 to 1985 while he was vice governor and governor of his hometown, Ilocos Norte in northern Philippines. Petitioners alleged that his criminal conviction disqualified him from holding any public office. Despite the conviction, Marcos has been able to run for local and national posts, including senator in 2010 and vice president in 2016 before seeking the top office this year. The president-elects camp had dismissed the case as politically motivated. Marcos received more than 31 million votes for president, while his running mate, Sara Duterte, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, received 32 million votes for vice president. The Vietnamese government has launched a national campaign to promote its maritime policies as the ruling party pledges to explore all available legal tools to defend its interests amid Chinas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. A government order stipulates that by 2025, all domestic media outlets are required to have a dedicated section on Vietnams sea and ocean strategy, and their entire editorial staffs must have the necessary knowledge and understanding of international and domestic laws on the sea. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese authorities have banned all tourist activities on two islets adjacent to the strategic Cam Ranh Bay that is undergoing intensive development into an advanced naval base, home to its submarines. Vietnam has the largest submersible fleet in Southeast Asia with six Kilo-class subs, bought from Russia at a cost of U.S. $1.8 billion. Tour guides and witnesses told Radio Free Asia, an online affiliate of Benar News, that since April, the two islands of Binh Ba and Binh Hung in Cam Ranh Bay, Khanh Hoa province, have become off limits to foreign visitors. Vietnamese nationals still have limited access to the scenic islets, a stones throw from the docked frigates. Eventually, even Vietnamese tourists will not be allowed on Ba Binh, said Binh, a tour operator who wanted to be known only by his first name. So, my advice is to visit it while you can, he said. Russian Udaloy-class destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov is docked at Cam Ranh port on June 25, 2022. [Sputnik] Modern naval base Cam Ranh Bay is a well-known deep-water port in central Vietnam, only 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City. It was used by the French, and subsequently, the U.S. Navy until the end of the Vietnam War. In 1979 the Soviet Union signed a 25-year lease of Cam Ranh with the Vietnamese and spent a large sum of money to develop it into a major base for the Soviet Pacific Fleet. But Russia withdrew from the base in 2002, citing increased rent and changing priorities. Hanoi had since announced a so-called three nos policy no alliances, no foreign bases on its territory and no alignment with a second country against a third that means foreign navies will not be allowed to set up bases in Cam Ranh. However, a logistic facility has been established to offer repair and maintenance services to foreign ships, including Russian and U.S. warships. Moscow is maintaining a listening station in Cam Ranh Bay and has indicated that it is considering a comeback, according to Russian media. Three warships of the Russian Navys Pacific Fleet led by the Udaloy-class anti-submarine destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov visited Cam Ranh between June 25 and 28. With 50 ships and 23 submarines, the Pacific Fleet is Russias second largest naval fleet after the Black Sea Fleet which is involved in the war in Ukraine. U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea A Russian presence may be seen as a counterweight for China-U.S. competition in the South China Sea, analysts said. Beijing claims historical rights over almost 80 percent of the contested waterway. With China apparently gaining a foothold in the region, at the Ream naval base in Cambodia, Cam Ranh may become even more important strategically to other regional players. On June 19 Vietnam protested against Chinas drills near the Paracel islands, claimed by both countries but occupied entirely by China. Hanoi and five other claimants in the South China Sea are struggling to agree on a Code of Conduct in the contested sea, where the U.S. and allies have been challenging Chinas territorial claims with their freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs). Vietnamese experts are calling for a more active application of legal documents to assert the countrys sovereignty in the South China Sea, especially as 2022 is the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 10th anniversary of Vietnams own Law of the Sea. Tran Cong Truc, former head of Vietnams Border Committee, said UNCLOS paved a clear legal corridor for countries to defend their lawful rights, and needed to be properly utilized. A series of special events are being held to commemorate the anniversaries, as well as to highlight the importance of this legal corridor. UNCLOS and Vietnams Law of the Sea are the two main legal tools for the fight for our rights, Senior Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, former vice minister of defense, was quoted by the Peoples Army newspaper as saying. Vietnam should only consider military actions as the last resort after exhausting all other options, he said. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High near 80F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. FILE - A customer puts gold bars in basket for to sell at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, April 16, 2020. Russia appears to have defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the U.S. and its allies are taking aim at the former Soviet Union's second-largest export industry after energy gold. The latest testimony about the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has Donald Trump rebuffing his own securitys warnings about armed protesters in the crowd gathering for a rally near the White House Macron says Russia can't win in Ukraine after strike on mall Frances president has denounced Russias fiery airstrike on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine as a new war crime and vowed the Wests support for Kyiv would not waver Its summertime. Well, I think its summertime. Hard to tell with the thermometer dropping to 45 F at night a few times last week and then up to 90-plus this weekend, with most days in the 70s. Mother Nature must be disgruntled and taking it out on us. Since the middle of May, Ive spent most of my free time reading on my deck. Designed as almost another room the house roof extends over it it becomes my living room and sometimes bedroom in the summer. (Those afternoon naps on the couch are wonderful ) I get up earlier than normal just to sit on the deck and listen to the birds, and then my neighbors starting their days. If there's a breeze, the wind chimes add a musical note. And, of course, I cant start my day without at least three cups of hot coffee or two iced coffees. My coffee of choice these days are hot or iced cappuccinos, made with hazelnut coffee and the foam dusted with cinnamon sugar. In the afternoon, its tea time. Tall, frosty glasses of sun tea, brewed courtesy of Mother Nature on the deck steps. I have a gallon jug and use 12 tea bags for each batch. And make sure to have fresh lemon wedges available! I usually use regular black tea bags, but I have also tried Bigelows Constant Comment, which is a blend of orange and sweet spices, Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas, and Lemon Lift, which has lemon and spices. And, of course, its always 5 oclock somewhere A few weeks ago, the Button family gathered in Amish Country in Ohio for a family wedding. My niece, Jenny, made me a cocktail one night as we were all playing Farkle around the table of our rented home away from home. Jenny used Castle and Keys summer gin but any brand will do and homemade limoncello, store bought works well, too. JENNYS GIN SQUEEZE Makes 1 drink INGREDIENTS 2 shots of a citrus gin 1 shot limoncello juice of 1/2 lemon Sprite DIRECTIONS Mix gin, limoncello and lemon juice is a tall glass with ice. Top with Sprite and garish with a slice of lemon. Cool down this summer with these great cocktails Summer is nearly here, and with it the long-awaited return of get togethers with family and friends. To celebrate, we gathered all of our favo Im also revisiting two classic cocktails this summer gin fizzes and Tom Collinses the drinks that I cut my drinking teeth on way back when. Gin fizzes are uncomplicated and light. Im not a fan of club soda because of the sodium, so I use an unflavored seltzer. Tom Collins is primarily a spiked lemonade, perfect for a hot summer afternoon. Looks like Im having a gin summer! CLASSIC GIN FIZZ COCKTAIL Makes 1 drink INGREDIENTS 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) gin 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon powdered sugar 3 to 4 ounces club soda Lemon slice DIRECTIONS Shake gin, lemon juice and powdered sugar in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Add club soda and garnish with a lemon slice. TOM COLLINS Makes 1 drink INGREDIENTS 2 ounces gin 1 ounce simple syrup 3/4 ounce lemon juice Soda water Lemon wedge, for garnish Cocktail cherry, for garnish DIRECTIONS Shake gin, syrup and juice with ice until chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled tall glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with lemon wheel or wedge and a cherry. More: Cool down this summer with these great cocktails 19 summer recipes to cool down with GREAT BARRINGTON Citing a need to focus on family health, Amelia "Lia" Spiliotes will step down Thursday as CEO of Community Health Programs. Spiliotes, who has led CHP since 2015, the last six years as CEO, will be replaced on an interim basis by Richard H. "Rick" Gregg of Lenox, who has been a CHP board member for six years, most recently serving as vice president. CHP will conduct a nationwide search for Spiliotes' replacement, but did not announce a timetable for hiring a permanent CEO. Gregg, a former director and CEO of the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, is also a professor of healthcare administration at Sawyer Business School of Suffolk University in Boston, where he has been a faculty member since 2001. Archives Community Health Programs names Spiliotes as permanent CEO CHP doubled the number of patients it serves and expanded its health and family services in the Berkshires during Spiliotes' tenure. Spiliotes said in a statement to staff and colleagues she intends to refocus on family health priorities in Boston and New York, and concentrate more on public and economic policy issues related to community health. "We have accomplished so much by advancing and accelerating CHPs mission and vision, Spiliotes said in her statement. CHP reaches so many in our community in need, regardless of their ability to pay, but CHP is also a choice for many people who have plenty of health care resources and options. They choose CHPs excellent team for their care, and I am proud to have been among the CHP stewards of our communitys health and wellness. Spiliotes originally came to CHP to oversee the nonprofit organization's day-to-day management and assess its needs and structures after former CEO Brian Ayers resigned in November 2015, when questions were raised about the nonprofit's leadership. CHP conducted a nationwide search for Ayers' replacement, but gave the position to Spiliotes on a permanent basis in 2016 after she had served one year as interim CEO. Spiliotes previously served as interim CEO of Community Health Connections in Fitchburg and had been a partner and senior adviser at Cambridge Management Group in Boston. PITTSFIELD A judge has narrowed the scope of what J.C. Chadwell may tell jurors when he takes the stand Tuesday while on trial for the 2017 killing of Paul Henry. Monday, on the second day of testimony, the prosecution played recordings of a pair of interviews Chadwell gave the police on Feb. 9 and Feb. 11 in 2018. The presentation showed the defendant denying that hed shot Henry. Then, two days later, it showed him admitting that he had pulled the trigger. Chadwell, 43, participated in three interviews with Pittsfield police officials. The first was in July 2017, after which Chadwell was released while police continued their investigation. Chadwell was arrested on a warrant charging him with murder on Feb. 9, 2018. In the video recorded Feb. 9, 2018, Chadwell denied shooting Henry, repeatedly telling investigators over the 57-minute recording that he had left the block party before the fatal incident, and gone to New York for work. Detective Michael Murphy testified that he left the station after the questioning ended and didnt think hed be conducting another interview with Chadwell. But a few days later, Murphy said he received a phone call from Officer Kipp Steinman, who told him Chadwell wanted to talk. Murphy participated in the third interview with Chadwell on Feb. 11, 2018. A roughly one-hour recording was generated of that interview. The jury heard two-thirds of it before the days proceedings wrapped up at lunch hour Monday. What jurors heard During the interview, Chadwell appeared to seek an assurance from investigators that his sister would be released from custody on bail before offering his statement. A defense motion to suppress statements in this third interview based on how officers offered to reduce bail for his sister, after a judge in 2019 ruled that Chadwell gave the statement voluntarily. His sister had been arrested for allegedly misleading investigators about his whereabouts the evening of the shooting. Later on in the Feb. 11, 2018 interview, Chadwell said his sister hadnt lied to the police, and instead had been operating with the information Chadwell had given to her. Then, Chadwell said that he was intoxicated at the July 4 party. At some point, a man he identified by name approached him and told him that that dude was there, and was going to kill him. That was an apparent reference to Henry. Chadwell told police he asked the man what he was talking about. The man told him to turn around, and when Chadwell did, he saw Henry about five feet away from him, holding a large bottle of E&J brandy over his head. Chadwell said he feared for his life. I thought he was going to kill me, said Chadwell. According to the recording, Chadwell said he shot Henry in self-defense, then ran away from the scene. Tuesdays proceeding Chadwell is set to testify in his defense Tuesday, after the prosecution rests its case. In a theory previewed by defense lawyer Sean Smith during his opening statement Friday, Chadwell is expected to testify that it was not he who pulled the trigger it was the named third party whom Chadwell, in the Feb. 11, 2018 interview, told police had warned him Henry was coming up behind him with the intent to kill. The defense has put forward a theory that the man shot Henry in defense of himself and Chadwell. During his opening statement, Smith said Chadwell falsely confessed to the shooting to secure the release of his sister from custody, and because he was not going to turn on the man. In a court filing, the defense claimed the man was an associate of the Latin Kings and supplied guns to that gang. In an order entered Monday morning, Judge Jane Mulqueen ruled that Chadwell is permitted to testify that he was familiar with the man, and said that Chadwell is expected to testify that he saw that man shoot Henry. The judge ruled that Chadwell cannot, however, testify about the mans history with allegedly procuring and using guns, his criminal past, present charges and previous run-ins with the police, or that Chadwell feared reprisal by the man. Chadwell wanted to testify that the man was being sought by federal authorities because he is a gun runner supplying the Latin Kings with firearms used to murder their enemies and in furtherance of their criminal enterprise, the judge wrote. Mulqueen ruled the information was inadmissible because it did not tend to show the man had motive, intent, and opportunity to shoot Henry. Also on Monday, a neighbor who lived near where the shooting occurred testified he was home with his girlfriend in his second-floor apartment when he heard two men arguing outside for about five minutes. Keith Martin said he heard a loud bang, prompting him to look out of a window. He said one man who was arguing dropped to the ground, and the other got into the back of a vehicle, which Martin said started running over Henry. During direct questioning by Special Assistant District Attorney Brett Vottero, Martin said he heard someone say, Stop, stop, thats enough, before the car pulled away. Another witness for the prosecution who was 19 at the time of the shooting said she had asked Henry to procure for her either cocaine or acid. She testified that she drove Henry to the block party. She said when they arrived there were several hundred people present. Henry walked into the crowd. Then, she said she agreed to give a drunk man a ride home. When she returned about 15 minutes later, Henry had been shot. She said she remained at the scene and spoke with the police. Both the prosecution and the defense are expected to wrap up their cases Tuesday, when the jury is set to receive instructions on the law and then break for deliberations. PITTSFIELD The Corazonidos Community School will hold sessions at local parks in the coming weeks to engage youth for the summer. The community school is an effort to encourage kids to learn outside the classroom and develop a passion for discovery. This will be the third year its classes are held in parks around Pittsfield. It is a collaborative effort between Manos Unidas, the RE-FORMation Academy and Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds. Anaelisa Jacobsen, founder of Manos Unidas, a nonprofit community organization in Pittsfield, said the school was developed to help kids rediscover their passion for education after a physical disconnection from school and increased mental stress. This was seen as especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel like this generation of youth is sometimes quite disconnected from a sense of place, a sense of their roots and thats affecting so many different levels of crisis in our society, Jacobsen said. We try to reach kids before they reach a giving up or nihilistic phase. Participants are able to gravitate toward what they like. Tables will be set up with activities for young people interested in art, music, math, science, physical education, building, and languages such as Spanish and American Sign Language. Corazonidos Community School schedule Each session will run from 3 to 5 p.m. at parks and locations around Pittsfield. The classes will be at: Mondays: Dower Square, 253 Wahconah St. July 11, Aug. 8, Aug. 15, Aug. 22 Tuesdays: Durant Park, 30 John St. July 5, Aug. 16; Westside Riverway Park, 181 Dewey Ave. July 12, Aug. 23; Dorothy Amos Park, 310 West St. Aug. 9 Wednesdays: Clapp Park, 215 W. Housatonic St. July 6, July 13, Aug. 10, Aug. 17, Aug. 24 Thursdays: The Common, 100 First St. July 7, Aug. 11, Aug. 25 There will also be onsite learning activities for kids and parents at other locations throughout the summer, including: Pittsfield State Forest, 1041 Cascade St. July 18 Berkshire Museum, 39 South St. July 19, Aug. 29 Phoenix Theatres Beacon Cinema, 57 North St. July 20 Springside Park, 874 North St. Aug. 30 Onota Lake Aug. 31 Free transportation can be arranged to the park sessions. Contact the organizers at eformatioacad@gmail.com or manosunidasorg@gmail.com. Those who come will have a chance to paint, play with blocks, try new instruments, fill out workbooks and more at the sites. The organizers have compared the approach to Montessori schools, which are known for helping students take ownership of their education. The activities are also open to parents and guardians of children who attend, and there will be parent-child learning activities available. Jacobsen said the environment fosters connection between generations, and helps to bring parents and children closer together. Its not about school, because learning is everything and everywhere, said Kristina Cardot, founder of the Re-FORMation Academy. Its about that passion to continue learning, to find learning, to seek learning and see that education is in everything and that it looks different for everybody. Cardot said the efforts are also about helping children and their parents rediscover a sense of identity that may have been lost during the pandemic. Ultimately, the school hopes to strengthen the connection between young people and the community around them, whether thats with students, their parents or the educators running the program. Planting the seed for love of community is a very important piece that is just very organically part of what we do, Jacobsen said. Troy Sargent of Pittsfield took to social media after the Jan. 6 uprising to say hed twice struck a rookie cop. On Monday, after failing to get a judge to dismiss charges brought against him two months after the insurrection, Sargent pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers at the U.S. Capitol. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, Sargent was warned that afternoon at the Capitol, at precisely 2:31 p.m., not to assault anyone. The minute before, hed come forward out of a crowd on the buildings grounds and hit an officer, authorities say. Do not start attacking people, a different officer warned Sargent and others in the crowd. He did not comply, the government says. Sargent again advanced toward the front of the crowd and swung his open hand towards the same officer, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Monday. This time, he made contact with someone else in the crowd. Nonetheless, in a social media message, Sargent would later say, I got two hits in on the same rookie cop, the government said. That message enabled prosecutors to claim Sargent intended to make contact with the same officer. As The Eagle has reported, Sargent was a regular presence at weekly pro-Trump rallies in Pittsfield before the 2020 election. Before the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, he posted that he planned to attend events in Washington, D.C. Sargent was the only one of three Berkshire County residents implicated in the insurrection who was charged with physically assaulting police. The case against him was assembled in part through video evidence. Images captured on body cameras depicted Sargent swinging at an officer with his right fist, at one point striking a person in the crowd, according to special FBI agent Tony LaCasse. Last year, Sargent unsuccessfully petitioned a federal judge to dismiss the matter. He claimed the case against him was not specific enough. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to six counts, including felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers and civil disorder, the U.S. Attorneys Office said, as well as four misdemeanor offenses. Sargent will be sentenced Oct. 3. The statutory maximum sentence is eight years in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, the U.S. Attorneys Office said, and up to five years in prison on the civil disorder charge. The office said the four misdemeanors expose Sargent to the possibility of 3 years in prison. How much of that penalty he will actually receive is up to a U.S. District Court judge. As of Monday, more than 840 people have been arrested in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol 17 months ago. Of those, more than 250 have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close GREAT BARRINGTON The first time Jack Curletti drew a bath for one of his children at his Housatonic duplex, the water ran brown. Quote Its really just kind of a symbolism thing. If the court orders that I pay, of course Ill pay. I dont see how something is going to get done if people just continue to pay their bills. Jack Curletti, Housatonic resident His daughter, Sophia, refused to get in. Since he bought the place in 2017, tap water has varied from clear to yellow to: It looks like you filled the bathtub with coffee. Its sporadic. Its hit or miss, Curletti said. We have four kids that live here. They dont want to check the water status every time. The family drinks bottled water. Curletti worries about health risks for his tenants and the rest of the community. In protest, he stopped paying his bill around November 2020. On Monday, Housatonic Water Works Co. took him to small claims court for an unpaid $1,869.14 and $50 in court costs. The magistrate at Southern Berkshire District Court did not yet order him to pay. First, he said, he would do some research about the safety of the water, based on some of the reports Curletti had provided showing elevated levels of haloacetic acids, or HAA5, a compound linked to cancer. The magistrate said because regulators say the water is safe to drink, Curletti might have to pay. Curletti isnt alone. At least one other resident had a hearing for the same reason, while another had a hearing that was partly because of non-payment. Several other residents who are customers of the waterworks have told The Eagle theyve also stopped paying. They havent been taken to court yet. James Mercer, co-owner and treasurer of the waterworks, would not comment on the specifics. People who dont set up a payment plan or dont contact us, we dont have any alternative [but court], he said. He also said the company continues to work to resolve problems. Pressure on the private water company and on the town to do something about it has mounted in recent years over the discoloration problem. It is attributed mostly to naturally occurring manganese in the Long Pond water source. But alarms went off after the companys announcement in January that haloacetic acid, a disinfection byproduct linked to cancer, had spiked. The company says record rains last July possibly raised levels above the 60 parts-per-billion set by regulators for safety. Elevated levels of HAA5 have been detected sporadically since 2017, and more regularly since last August. Those levels have decreased ever since. Sign-up for The Berkshire Eagle's free newsletters Sign up Last month the water tested at 50 ppb. By comparison, the Great Barrington Fire District water had a 1.49 ppb in August 2020 the last time testing for HAA5 was required for the publicly funded utility. Housatonics water in 2020 ranged from 28 to 44 ppb. The fire district has different testing requirements than the waterworks. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection required the company to come up with a plan to fix the haloacetic acid problem, and that appears to be working, Mercer says. The DEP continues to say the water is safe to drink, yet residents are not convinced. The waterworks required notices to its customers say that the immune compromised, pregnant, elderly and infants could be at increased risk. A symbolism thing Meanwhile, people like Curletti and his family are living with the fallout of decades of underinvestment. A pilot study is underway to test a new filtration system that will take care of discoloration. That new system, if approved by DEP, will result in a rate increase, Mercer said. But Mercer reiterated again that the towns objection to rate increases had convinced the state Department of Public Utilities to object, derailing upgrades. A sharp increase in 2016 prefaced an overhaul of some mains. Historically the water company has been proactive in putting projects out there to be done since the 1980s, Mercer said. He said the company looks forward to working with the town to deal with manganese and pressure issues. One longtime Select Board member disagrees with Mercers analysis. As an intervenor, we can have our concerns [about the rates], but its the Department of Public Utilities that makes that decision, said board Chairman Stephen Bannon. I dont think its fair to blame the town for not having the improvements done. The town has asked Gov. Charlie Baker for help, and residents have sent Baker petitions. Its really just kind of a symbolism thing, Curletti said. If the court orders that I pay, of course Ill pay. I dont see how something is going to get done if people just continue to pay their bills. The others who have stopped paying did not want to speak publicly about this. Curletti said his not paying has caused other problems. Its prevented him from getting solar panels on the roof, since the solar company checked his utility credit. It troubles Curletti that this product is not only flawed its the only choice in town. And hes perturbed to be buying so much plastic. He buys water in big jugs at the hardware store. When they run out, the kids wont drink water and instead will go for soda. Not paying, Curletti said, is a fairly painless way to protest all this. Im not going to jail, he said. They dont have debtors prison anymore, luckily. Linda Greenhouse, the winner of a 1998 Pulitzer Prize, reported on the Supreme Court for The New York Times from 1978 to 2008. She is a member of The Berkshire Eagles Advisory Board and the author of Justice on the Brink: The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Rise of Amy Coney Barrett, and Twelve Months That Transformed the Supreme Court. One of the most powerful tools a Christian has is prayer. It is the most direct way to speak to God, to thank Him, to ask Him for things, or just to connect with the Creator about what is going on in life and in the world. When studying the Bible, the importance of prayer is clear. Individuals in both the Old and New Testaments - before and after the life, death, and resurrection of Christ - prayed passionately, intensely, and sincerely. In the King James Version of the Bible, the book of James has a word to describe this kind of prayer: fervent. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). Fervent prayer is that model of passionate and sincere calling out to God, whether out of thankfulness, repentance, or need. Understanding the way that word was used, how it is translated in other versions, and seeing examples of that kind of prayer in the Bible can teach a believer today about how to pray fervently. What Does Fervent Mean? Fervent is a word that has fallen out of fashion over time, but it is still used in some contexts and can appropriately describe a kind of interaction. Fervent means having or displaying a passionate intensity; archaic use: hot, burning, or glowing. Essentially, to do something fervently is to do something with passion, and an older use of the word was to do something like a burning fire. To pray fervently is to pray with intensity, fueled by the Holy Spirit. It can be any kind of prayer. Someone can be intensely thankful, deeply in need, or embroiled in spiritual warfare. The prayer can be outward, and often fervent prayer does manifest itself physically in movement, words, and sometimes tears. Some people pray inwardly, but with a burning in their spirit that is just as powerful as the prayer of someone saying their words out loud. Someone can be seen to be praying fervently, but can be insincere, doing it for attention or because they feel peer pressure to pray with passion. Some pastors, healers, and charismatic leaders are caught being insincere in their false prayers. That is not a fervent prayer, just because it looks like one. God knows the intentions of their hearts. It is also important to look at the idea of fervent prayer in context: Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit (James 5:13-18, KJV). In context, fervent prayer can be for oneself or others. This passage in James is about how Christians should behave and can support one another, particularly during difficult times. They should pray when they are sick, they should rejoice when good things happen, and fervent prayer sincere prayer fueled by the Holy Spirit can bend the ear of God. James, the writer of this epistles and historically believed to be the half-brother of Jesus Christ, then gives the example of Elijah - Elias in the King James Version - whose fervent prayer had God hold back rain for 3.5 years. That prayer availed much, because it was sincere and in accordance with Gods will. Why Does Fervent Prayer "Availeth Much"? During the early 17th century during which the King James Version was first published, the verb avail was used with regularity. It is not an entirely extinct word in the English language, often working its way into academic, scientific, and legal papers. But it is no longer used in the common vernacular, particularly in the United States. The definition of avail is, help or benefit, use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource), use or benefit. When the translators of the Bible said that fervent prayer availeth much, they meant that it can lead to God intervening in many ways. It could be one big miracle, like when Elijah prayed for the rain to stop, or simply God intervening in a situation in the favor of a Christian, or even God answering a series of prayers. Fervent prayer also helps strengthen the relationship between the individual with the Lord, as it is a long and deep conversation with the Creator. What fervent prayer does not guarantee is that if a Christian prays really, really hard, that they will get whatever they want. The Psalmist wrote, If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Psalm 66:18). Earlier in his letter, James wrote, You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (James 4:3). The Apostle John said, And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us (1 John 5:14). Prayer that is driven by a sinful desire, that leads to worldly gain that does not glorify God, or that is not according to Gods will may not be answered in the affirmative. What Else Does the Bible Say about the Power of Prayer? When looking for a model for fervent, powerful prayer, 1 Samuel contains one of the best examples in the Bible. A man named Elkanah had two wives, one of whom bore him children, while the other, Hannah, could not. Because of her infertility, Hannah felt great sorrow, so when they went to the Temple, she went and prayed. The Bible records, She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head. As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman (1 Samuel 1:10-13). She was paying with such passion, so fervently, that she was visibly distraught so much so the High Priest thought she had come to the Temple drunk. Her prayer was sincere and came from a place of great sorrow, and God heeded her prayer. Another person in the Bible who was known for his powerful prayers was the prophet Daniel. He got in trouble with the authorities in Babylon because of his prayer. During the chapters of prophecy, written in the first person by Daniel, he records a prayer asking for forgiveness for the sins of the people. The Bible records the prayer, given here in part: And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee (Daniel 9:3-6, 8, KVJ). Daniels prayers helped protect him in the lions den, where God shut the mouth of the large cats to preserve the life of his faithful servant. This prayer reflects the anguish of someone sincerely reflecting on their own wickedness, and of the people they represent, and coming humbly before God for forgiveness, which He granted. Eventually, the exile to Babylon was ended. How Can We Pray Fervently for Each Other? Part of the Christian life is praying for brothers and sisters in Christ. The Apostle Paul encouraged believers, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one anotherRejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; ... Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (Romans 12:10, 12, 15). Taking this to heart, Christians should be as passionate about the blessings, trials, and temptations of their brothers and sisters as they are for their own. Fervent prayer is not just praying loudly or with great emotion, though that can be a part of it. It is a prayer that is sincere, striving to be conformed to the will of God, and that glorifies Him. Reaching out to the Lord, fueled by the Spirit of God, is a cornerstone of a strong walk that can help a Christian finish the race well. It can also be a part of Gods plan for action, and lead to an answer to that prayer. Sources Johnson, Owen. The Passioante Praying of the Effectual Fervent Prayer. Xulon Press, 2012. Oxenden, Ashton. Fervent Prayer. London: Hatchard & Co., 1861. Sayler, Mary Harwell. The Book of Bible Prayers. Amazon Digital Services, 2019. Photo credit: Unsplash/Luis Alberto Sanchez Terrones Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry. RIGGINS - On Sunday at around 10:42 a.m., the Idaho County Sheriffs Office received a call about a side-by-side accident off of Race Creek Road, west of Riggins on private property. The location was only accessible by off-road vehicles. Idaho County Sheriffs deputies and the Riggins Ambulance responded and were met by Justin Mignerey, who took them to the scene. 79-year-old William Bill Bader, of Riggins, succumbed to his injuries on scene. His family has been notified. The Idaho County Sheriff's Office expressed sympathy in a press release. "At times like these, we are humbled and grateful for the community we live in and wish to thank Justin and Frank Mignerey and the Riggins Ambulance for their outstanding and caring assistance," said the Idaho County Sheriff's Office release. The incident is still under investigation. No further details were available. Madhya Pradesh transport commissioner waived off tax of Jai Ambe company which has been awarded ambulance operation with 800 vehicles evading tax worth crores of rupees as vehicles are registered in Chhattisgarh. District Vice President AAP Bhopal Pradeep Khandelwal has alleged collusion and said that he would take matters with the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Lokayukta. Nothing is impossible, if state agrees to any task as in the case of evasion of tax in vehicle registration of ambulance by Jai Ambe company, he added. Today a letter was issued from office of Transport Commissioner Madhya Pradesh in which exemption of tax was provided to the company. In the big fraud in ambulance operation in the form of evasion of tax in vehicles registration was found as according to the Transport Act, 10 percent of the cost of the vehicle is deposited in the form of tax in the registration of ambulance. In this present case, all the vehicles are registered by the company in Chhattisgarh and Central Tax was evaded of the state government, as per the rules of the transport department, no vehicle coming from other states can be driven in the state border for more than 6 months. A total of 1292 ambulances are being operated in Madhya Pradesh in which around 800 are new and the rest are old. The state has incurred losses on two fronts one is RTO tax and along with the sale of vehicles to the state, there has also been a lot of loss of GST. The fleet operator should bring NOC from Chhattisgarh and state share tax be made. There was a loss to the state of around Rs 2 lakh on every vehicle. A pre-trial conference to discuss a potential plea deal for murder defendant Lori Vallow-Daybell is scheduled for the fall. According to court documents filed on Friday, the conference will be held at 9:30 a.m., Nov. 9, at the Fremont County Courthouse. Judge Steven Boyce will preside. The hearing will be held in an effort to discuss a possible plea deal agreeable to the parties involved. Currently, Vallow-Daybell is facing either life in prison or the death penalty for her alleged role in the murder of her two children J.J. Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. Police believe that the children were murdered in September 2019 following a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The childrens remains were found buried in Chad Daybells Salem property. He is also charged in their murders as well as that of his first wife Tammy Daybell who died Oct. 19, 2019. Two weeks after Tammy Daybells death, Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow were married in Hawaii. A pretrial conference has not yet been scheduled for Chad Daybell. The courts routinely seek some type of a sentencing compromise prior to a jury trial, said Vallow-Daybells attorney Jim Archibald. We always try to settle cases, Archibald told the Standard Journal. Archibald has brokered plea deals in sparing his clients the death penalty. Most recently, he plea bargained for Idaho Falls murder defendant Brian Dripps who was sentenced to 20 years to life for the rape and murder of Angie Dodge in 1996. Christopher Tapp had been wrongfully convicted in the case and spent 20 years in prison before he was exonerated in 2019. Archibald said its too early to know whether that will be possible in Vallow-Daybells case. Right now the answer is no theres no settlement, he said. Court documents filed on June 21 also noted that the May 2021 grand jury transcript had been printed and presented to Archibald after Boyce requested he receive a hard copy of it. Archibald had received an electronic version of the transcript last year. The printed version resulted in 1,000 pages for Archibald to review. During the grand jury hearing 51 witnesses were questioned. The grand jury called for the Daybells to be charged with the murders of the children and for Chad to also be charged in Tammy Daybells murder. Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow-Daybell were indicted in May 2021. It was five days of testimony, Archibald said of the grand jury hearing. It was just a lot more than other cases. This is way more involved. The voluminous grand jury testimony is not public record, he said. Court documents also revealed that the trial will be held for both Lori Vallow-Daybell and Chad Daybell from Jan. 9, 2023 through March 17, 2023 in Ada County. The two cases have been joined allowing for the couple to go before the same jury. Boyce opted to hold the trial elsewhere in hopes of finding an unbiased jury. Prosecutors complained that doing so would cost Upper Valley taxpayers $700,000, and said it would be less expensive to bring an Ada County jury to Fremont County. As more information is made available, the Standard Journal will update this story. OLYMPIA - Washington state's primary election is coming up, and election officials are calling on voters to be vigilant about misinformation. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said misinformation at election time has become more prevalent. He said local election officials are being more proactive and encourages people who have questions about the voting process to reach out to their local county auditor. "We can't sit idly by anymore," said Hobbs. "We actually have to not only remind them to vote and sign their ballot, but also let them know what the ballot process is so it gives them the security and confidence to know their votes are going to count." Washington state's primary is on August 2. Ballots will go out in mid-July. Online and mail voter registrations must be received by July 25. People can register in person through election day, any time before 8 p.m. Hobbs is participating in an online town hall meeting hosted by AARP Washington this Thursday to speak about voting and misinformation. Doug Shadel is state director of AARP Washington. He said older Americans can be more likely to pass on misinformation in certain online contexts. Shadel encouraged people to be more cognizant of the stories they're sharing. "Before you do that, really do what we call lateral reading," said Shadel. "If you hear a story, question the validity of it. Find another source for that same information before you pass it on to someone else." Shadel said voters age 50 and over are a vital segment of the electorate who show up to the polls consistently. That's why he believes it's important to get information on this subject out to them. "Democracy depends on making decisions based on facts," said Shadel. "And we're committed to helping our members and others around the state get the facts both about the candidates and about where we stand with the elections." (The Center Square) Washington is ramping up efforts to eradicate the predatory European green crab, which preys on native marine species and threatens both the environment and the states $270-million-a-year shellfish industry. More than 100,000 non-native European green crabs were captured in Puget Sound last year, an increase of over 5,000% from 2019, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey. The invading species eats on clams, mussels, and oysters and is capable of consuming between up to 22 clams a day according to published reports. The population explosion prompted Gov. Jay Inslee in January to order the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to take emergency measures to eradicate the European green crab. If allowed to become permanently established, Inslee stated, the predator crabs could destroy critical habitat such as eelgrass beds and estuarine marshes, disrupt natural food webs, harm overall crab populations, hinder salmon and Southern Resident killer whale recovery efforts, reduce shorebird food supplies, and ultimately affect the overall health and resiliency of the Salish Sea. The governor also expressed concern about the economic impact of the crab infestation on small businesses. In March, the state Legislature funded the emergency eradication effort with $8.5 million in this years Supplemental Operating Budget. Lawmakers had provided $783,000 for the purpose in 2020 and $2.3 million in 2021, but the infestation continued to spread, the WDFW reported. More than 64,000 of the invasive crabs have been removed from the states waterways already this year. Washington Sea Grants Crab Team, tasked with early detection of the invasive species, reported that a European green crab had been found in Hood Canal for the first time in May. WDFW is coordinating the current eradication effort with a coalition of state and federal agencies, tribal leaders, shellfish growers, and private landowners. Funding will be used to hire additional personnel and provide equipment in areas with existing green crab infestations, according to a WDFW statement. Three boats have been deployed and several new employees hired so far, and some 700 traps deployed. The WDFW has promised that more resources will be forthcoming. More than 3,200 Washingtonians work in the states shellfish industry, which contributes about $270 million a year to the states economy according to USGS estimates. The WDFW urges anyone who believes they have identified a European green crab or its shell to take a picture and report it to the WDFW as soon as possible. The crabs should not be killed or removed, the agency warns, due to the danger of misidentifying a native crab as European Green crab. (The Center Square) - Washington State Democrats will call for four Lower Snake River dams to be removed as part of their campaign platform in 2022 elections and beyond. The 534-75 vote at the bi-annual convention last weekend in Tacoma favored breaching the dams as one way to boost the salmon population. Supporters cited a recent draft report commissioned by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Bothell, and Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee outlining how the dams, completed in 1975, have altered the flow of the river making it more difficult for salmon to spawn. As a result, the report contends the salmon population has declined by 90% from pre-dam levels. Removing the dams would bring a number of benefits, according to the report, including draining the reservoirs on the river making it easier for salmon and other fish to migrate. The move would also benefit several of the state's tribes people by improving their salmon harvest and restoring about 34,000 acres of tribal land obliterated by the dams. Restoring salmon fisheries in the Columbia Basin would also generate up to 25,000 new jobs and add $1 billion a year to the economy, the report said. However, dissenters at the convention said the estimated $10.3 to $27 billion price tag to replace the electricity generated by the dams needed further study before a decision was made. In addition, they argued that low-emission transportation of goods and irrigation for farmers also needed to be given more consideration. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Ever wonder why we're constantly poring over statistics as business leaders? It's not because we're monitoring metrics or tracking progress toward goals. It's because numbers tell a story. They take us on a journey, showing us where we have been and where we must go. They also help us understand how we measure up against others, revealing what we can do better to gain a competitive edge as employers and solution providers. But the beauty of numbers is that they give us an objective, actionable perspective on highly subjective observations and trends. Source: Supplied | Neil Gouveia, Director, Africa, Zebra Technologies Learn to separate fear from fact Proof there is nothing to fear For example, we have all seen e-commerce emerge fast and furiously in our daily lives, and in my view it has changed the local economy. However, multiple reports have helped us quantify how fast e-commerce is growing in South Africa, making it easier to wrap our heads around the opportunities and pressures we have to adapt operations. Though challenging, we now know this e-commerce trend can also be advantageous. Likewise, the numbers show South Africa faces a supply chain and logistics labour shortage. No surprise here. But now, we can start to see the value of automation as we recognise that, whether acute or chronic, the threat of staffing shortages is real and preventable.In fact, of all the lessons we have learned through regional comparisons and industry benchmarks lately, the one echoing the strongest right now is that warehouse automation and digitalisation are necessary to meet customer demand. Laggards will lose out on the opportunity to survive this supply chain shakeup.Just dont take a cookie-cutter approach to automation and digitalisation or simply throw products at problems. There is nothing cutting-edge about band-aids, even the fancy ones.In Zebras latest global Warehouse Vision Study , nine in 10 warehouse operators said they expect their use of sensor-based technologies such as RFID, computer vision, fixed industrial scanning, and machine vision systems to become more prevalent over the next five years. Ninety-nine percent also expect to deploy some form of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) in that same time frame, even though only 27% say they are using AMRs in their warehouses today.Do you share these plans? Its okay if you dont. But if youre afraid to lean on automation as a solution, thats not okay.I know the word automation can elicit panic in South Africa, as its usually associated with potential job losses. But that is a false causal relationship. Automation doesnt automatically take the place of people. In fact, in the recent Zebra study, warehouse associates shocked the world when they said automation may help keep more people in their jobs and fill empty ones. Many believe AMRs could make warehouse jobs less stressful, with nearly eight in 10 reminding operators that walking fewer miles per day would make their jobs more enjoyable, even if they had to pick or handle more items. Physical and mental well-being are key elements in a human resources equation that is no longer as straightforward as 'salary, holidays and health coverage'.If you feel theres something missing from this story, there is.Eighty-three percent of warehouse associates who work alongside AMRs today indeed confirm that this type of robotics automation has helped increase their productivity and reduce their walking/travel time. Nearly three-quarters said AMRs helped them make fewer mistakes on the clock. Almost two-thirds credited AMRs with their ability to advance to new roles or opportunities.Thats the full story, and it doesnt make automation sound like something to be afraid of. What I took away is that automation should be something every warehouse operator leans into.No matter what you ultimately do, know you cant ignore technologys immense value as a problem solver any longer. Over eight in 10 warehouse associates have asserted that they are more likely to work for an employer that gives them modern devices to use for tasks versus an employer that provides older or no devices. And with the right technologies in hand, time to productivity may be days or hours, not weeks or months.My Zebra colleague Melonee Wise, vice president of Robotics Automation, tells me one warehouse operator saw productivity rise up to 70% higher within days of augmenting its workforce with AMRs. For another customer, AMRs translated to a 25% increase in throughput. One major logistics company came forth to proclaim that its team cut out nearly 20,000 miles in manual travel each day by employing AMRs and that was in a single distribution centre.Wait, it gets better.One nonprofit that offers skill-based training and warehousing services has empowered hundreds of visually impaired workers to work independently simply by deploying AMRs to move empty carts and assist with case picking. Think how many more workers could be employed if every operator augmented their workforce with AMRs. One change one technology implementation can solve at least three-to-four problems by my count, including labour utilisation, productivity, throughput, and fulfilment capacity.And there are many other technologies just as powerful as AMRs, including machine vision, and RFID. Even 'basic' technology tools such as mobile computers, wearables, and printers things we may take for granted because theyre so prevalent can tell us powerful stories about our business. They can also help front-line workers create a story we will be proud to tell.So, embrace challenges as opportunities to design a smarter, more agile warehouse operation. Look to your front-line workers for guidance. Let them tell you what they need, then go out and find it. Sync those edge mobility solutions with your operations system of record, the warehouse management system (WMS), then start to add automation to the flow of data and physical assets. Just dont try to DIY or piecemeal solutions. Warehouse performance is too influential over supply chain, retail, healthcare and general economic performance.To see where you stand in the Warehouse Maturity Model click here . You can also learn more about warehouse automation solutions here When devastating floods hit KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) earlier this year in April, there were many organisations that sprang into action - along with thousands of community-minded citizens they worked around the clock - to provide relief and sanctuary to all those who had been hardest hit. Jackie Psannis from the Robin Hood Foundation received the cheque from Pramy Moodley, chief financial officer for Sappi Southern Africa: Thank you Sappi for choosing us to help those who aren't able to help themselves, she said Phase two of our flood relief efforts will be helping families who have lost everything to rebuild from scratch and this is where your Sappi funding will be used, said Tanya Altshuler and Rachel Kinloch from The Angel Network on receiving their cheque Lending a helping hand to load all the donations into the vehicles for the two beneficiary organisations are the Men of muscle Chief Sambo, Richman Ndlovu and Lungisani Buthelezi from Sappi Sappi employees collected and donated goods and cash these, bolstered by two generous cash donations from the company, were handed over to the two organisations by the WoW (Women of Worth) team at the Sappi offices in Umhlanga. Chief financial officer for Sappi SA, Pramy Moodley (seated centre) handed over the cheques Two such organisations: The Angel Network and The Robin Hood Foundation, were front and centre in rallying the support needed to give people a hand up after the floods. But this was not a once-off call-to-action for either of them both work tirelessly throughout the year providing relief and support to those in need. Their focus on finding solutions where others see problems was just one of the reasons that led Sappi to choose them as beneficiaries for their recent global employee donation drive in support of those affected by the KZN flood. After making an initial monetary donation to The Gift of the Givers organisation, Sappi launched an employee donation drive, which ran for a month and encouraged Sappi employees to make in-kind and monetary donations towards the cause. Representatives from the two organisations recently paid a visit to Sappi offices in Umhlanga, where ladies from the Sappi Women of Worth committee met them to hand over what had been collected from employees from all over the country. The overall donation included some generous monetary donations from Sappi employees abroad in Europe and America, which contributed to the Sappi-matched and supplemented donation of R125,000 for each organisation.The Angel Network Durban has been working tirelessly on the ground to offer relief to affected communities after the recent devastating floods and we have assisted thousands of community members with food parcels, blankets, fresh drinking water, towels, toiletries, sanitary pads, buckets, water purifying sachets, clothes and mattresses in various hard-hit areas around KwaZulu-Natal. As you can imagine, the biggest hurdle was trying to access communities where roads and bridges had been washed away. Phase two of our flood relief efforts will be helping families who have lost everything to rebuild from scratch and this is where your Sappi funding will be used. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, said Tanya Altshuler when she accepted the cheque and the donations of collected goods.Jackie Psannis had the following to say: The Robin Hood Foundation are beyond grateful for having been chosen by Sappi for your generous donations from your amazing staff and for Sappi as a company, matching your teams donations! Our mandate has always been from our hands directly into the hands of those in need and with Sappi's life-changing donations we can continue to help the vulnerable, who are still a long way from getting anywhere close to where they were prior to the floods. We can also start getting back to our core projects, which we have been running all year round for the past 17 years . Meeting the Sappi team to receive our cheque was as special a feeling as being able to help our beneficiaries. A team filled with giving hearts, upbeat action-taking humans and a true show of South Africans making genuine impact in areas where our country really needs it. Thank you Sappi for choosing us and for the opportunity to unite forces to continue making genuine change in our beautiful country and helping those who aren't able to help themselves and building those who can.Our employees and their spirit of selfless giving make us truly proud and we are delighted that members from all over the world have rallied to the call and made such generous contributions towards these organisations that work so hard to make South Africa a better place, commented Pramy Moodley, chief financial officer for Sappi Southern Africa as she handed over the cheques to the organisations representatives.For more information about the two organisations and to find out how you can help, please visit their Facebook pages The Angel Network Durban and The Robin Hood Foundation South Africa or their websites www.theangelnetwork.co.za and https://robinhoodfoundation.co.za/ Continuing to do the same action and expecting different results is the Einsteinian definition of insanity... but that hasn't stopped the Biden administration in the case of its attack of his oil/gas prices. This morning, despite DOE's servers being reportedly fried, they managed to report that the US released 6.9 million barrels of crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) last week (~985,000 b/d). As Bloomberg's Javier Blas notes, the latest weekly release has pushed the SPR below the 500 million barrels mark for the first time since 1986... And as the chart above shows, the plummeting SPR is not having the impact on prices that President Biden hoped (which explains why he is blaming everyone and everything else for the rise in gas prices - as it becomes clear it's a refining capacity issue as much as anything else). As is obvious in the spread between barrel-equivalents for products vs crude... After last week's discussions between The White House and energy executives, a number have spoken out to defend against the vitriolic attacks from Biden. However, Scott D. Sheffield, Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Natural Resources, perhaps said it all best, concluding on the problems that the administration is going to face in dealing with a rapidly emptying SPR very soon... Yeah, first of all, I think weve all seen the true behavior of the Biden administration when they came out when he first came in office, they basically wanted to ban fracking, no federal leases and theyve already shutdown gas infrastructure, moving gas across the Northeast down to the Gulf Coast. New York wont take a pipeline, they've rejected several pipelines, they rather use fuel oil instead of natural gas in the state of New York. So thats been amazing to me and the rhetoric coming out of Secretary of Energy was go find another job in another industry versus the fossil fuel industry. So all of a sudden, things are getting tight, gasoline is going up, we have a war in Ukraine and then the entire administration changes. But the rhetoric really hasn't, you saw the argument between Mike Wirth and Biden. So when I said were not going to add growth, he quoted me and used my name that some CEO basically said that they wouldn't change your growth rate if oil was $200. So in my opinion, relying on SPR and federal tax removing $0.18... those are band-aids. In my opinion, our inventory after six months SPR will be at the lowest in 40 years. So he is going to have to buy at a higher price and refill it in my opinion. And were going to be even shorter, and SPR will be half of what it was three years ago." Separately, as Biden heads to the Middle East to ask for help with his ratings, Reuters is reporting that of a conversation caught between French President Macron US President Biden. "I had a call with MbZ," Macron was heard telling U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit "He told me two things. I'm at a maximum, maximum (production capacity). This is what he claims. And then he said Saudis can increase by 150 (thousands barrels per day). Maybe a little bit more but they don't have huge capacities," Macron said. In other words, no matter how much Biden begs, the two top OPEC oil producers - Saudi Arabia and UAE - can barely increase oil production. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday has demanded a time-bound schedule for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections from the BJP-ruled Central Government. The AAP Delhi Convenor and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai said that the delimitation should be conducted and election date should be announced with the same urgency and desperation with which the MCD election was canceled half an hour before Election Commission's press conference. "The Central Government went into sleep mode after arbitrarily imposing decision unification of erstwhile three divisions of municipal corporations due to which sanitation system in Delhi has completely collapsed," said Rai. "BJP has left the people of Delhi on their own. They don't even know who to approach with complaints about the cleanliness of their area. The people of Delhi are eagerly waiting for MCD elections. They have made it clear by electing an AAP MLA in Rajinder Nagar by-election that they do not want BJP in MCD at all," said Rai. "We demand from BJP and especially Union Home Minister to conduct a time-bound delimitation and announce election schedule in MCD at earliest," said Rai adding that MHA should act immediately. Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted of sex trafficking along ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, is on suicide watch in Brooklyn, her lawyer said Saturday. A letter written by Maxwells attorney, Bobbi Sternheim, which was sent to the judge who is scheduled to hand down the socialites sentence on June 28th, stated that the socialite had been removed from the general population of inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and placed in solitary confinement. According to Bloomberg, Sternheim said that Maxwell is not permitted to have any pens or paper and that she was put on the watch without justification. Additionally, her lawyer warned that she may request a delay of the day on which she is scheduled to be sentenced. If Ms. Maxwell remains on suicide watch, is prohibited from reviewing legal materials prior to sentencing, becomes sleep deprived, and is denied sufficient time to meet with and confer with counsel, we will be formally moving on Monday for an adjournment, Sternheim said in a letter that was sent late Saturday to the United States Circuit Judge who is presiding over the case. Sternheim stated that a psychologist visited with the socialite on Saturday and came to the conclusion that she is not suicidal, despite the fact that Maxwell, who is 60 years old, was given a suicide smock. In December, a federal jury in Manhattan found Maxwell guilty on five of six charges against her, the most serious of which was the trafficking of a child for sexual purposes. The decision was greeted as long-delayed justice for victims of Epstein, who was discovered dead in his prison cell a month after his arrest in what officials claimed was a suicide. Twitter erupted in all sorts of theories about the news: Ghislaine Maxwell is on suicide watch a a Brooklyn jail tonight. This sounds very similar to what happened to Epstein. I smell another mysterious death in the works. Got some really big names to keep quiet about. Ghislaine is expendable to these people. Citizen John (@JohnGor19801107) June 26, 2022 Ghislaine Maxwell was put on suicide watch. They are going to kill her like they did Epstein, right in front of our faces. Cernovich (@Cernovich) June 26, 2022 Ghislaine Maxwell (sex trafficker with former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein) has been put on suicide watch. Well, this feels like dejavu. Gabe Sanchez (@iamgabesanchez) June 26, 2022 The prosecution believes that Maxwell should serve a prison sentence of at least 55 years for her role in a sex trafficking conspiracy that included seven different victims. She has argued that she has been forced to suffer unnecessarily severe circumstances in jail and has requested a prison term that is less than six years long. Nicholas Biase, who works as a spokesperson for Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the office that is in charge of the prosecution of Maxwell, declined to comment on Sternheims letter. Read more on our Ghislaine Maxwell coverage here. From the announcement that Britain had voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, up until London finally departed the bloc in January 2020, the main criticism put forward by the mainstream media over Brexit was that it would result in violence erupting in the occupied north of Ireland, with border infrastructure being placed between the southern EU-member Irish state and the British-ruled north-east inevitably becoming a target for a resurgent Irish Republican movement. Despite the 1998 Belfast Agreement being lauded worldwide as a peace deal that ended 30 years of conflict, the Good Friday Agreement was effectively a surrender agreement between the British government and Provisional IRA, the culmination of years of infiltration at the highest level of the once revolutionary movement by British agents. In the 24 years since the signing of the GFA however, many Republicans have sought to continue the IRAs original goal of establishing a 32-County Independent Republic, with more than 40 Irish Republican prisoners currently languishing in British and Free State prisons, and sporadic attacks still taking place against British occupation forces, though not at the level of intensity that had occurred in the 70s and 80s. This is where the prospect of a hard border came into play in the mainstream medias coverage of Brexit, with customs posts between both jurisdictions in Ireland manned by the 5,000 British troops that still remain in the occupied six counties, inevitably becoming a target for physical force Irish Republicans. Therefore there is a sense of irony in the fact that two years on from Britains departure from the European Union, the most potent threat of violence from Brexit so far, has in fact emanated from pro-British Loyalists, the descendants of English and Scottish colonisers planted in the north Irish province of Ulster in the 17th century. Downing Streets Irish Protocol, which effectively keeps the occupied six counties in the EU Customs Union via checks being carried out on goods coming into the region from Britain by sea, has been viewed by Loyalists as undermining the British occupation that they wish to remain under, and also as being a stepping stone towards Irish reunification. Following the end of the withdrawal agreement last year, and Britains official departure from the EU single market, Loyalists would react to this newly-implemented Protocol by rioting across the region, attacking the pro-British colonial police force that they have traditionally supported, and bringing global attention to the occupied north of Ireland not seen in decades. Indeed, tensions would rear their head again in March of this year when Foreign Minister of the southern 26-County Irish State, Simon Coveney, seen as an instrumental figure in the implementation of the Protocol by Loyalists, had to be evacuated from an official event in Belfast following a bomb warning from Loyalist terrorist group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Though low intensity at present, the current Loyalist campaign bears a grim similarity to the one that began in the mid-60s in response to the call for equal rights for Irish Nationalists living in the occupied six counties, a campaign of petrol bombing Nationalist-owned properties that would eventually escalate into 30 years of ethnic cleansing and atrocities carried out in collusion with British Military Intelligence. With peaceful civil rights campaigners being batoned and teargassed by a pro-British police force every time they took to the streets of occupied Ireland, support for militant Republicanism was quickly growing. In order to counter the threat from the emerging Provisional IRA, the Military Reaction Force (MRF) a clandestine British Special Forces unit, was deployed to occupied Ireland with the intention of triggering a civil war between Irish Republicans and Loyalists, thus taking the IRAs focus away from the British troops that had been deployed to the region in 1969 in order to enforce Downing Streets rule. To this end, the MRF would employ the modus operandi of drive-by shootings of unarmed Nationalist civilians in the hope that the IRA would place the blame on Loyalists. The unit would work directly with Loyalists in December 1971 however, when they allowed a UVF team clear passage to bomb McGurks Bar in the staunchly Republican New Lodge area of Belfast leaving 15 civilians dead and marking the beginning of formal relations between British military intelligence and Loyalist death squads Indeed, this relationship would rear its ugly head less than three years later when the UVF - under the direction of the MRFs successor, the Special Reconnaissance Unit (SRU) - would detonate three no-warning car bombs in Dublin and one in the border county of Monaghan, resulting in 34 deaths in what was the largest loss of life in a single day in the 30-year period of conflict. The bombing of the 26-County States capital was seen as a warning to Dublin to not dissent from its traditionally pro-British stance, weakened at the time by atrocities carried out by British troops in the occupied north. Though no further attacks on the same scale as Dublin and Monaghan would ultimately be carried out in the 26 Counties as a result, Britains policy of operating with death squads in the north of Ireland would continue unabated, which, as the 1980s dawned, would also grow to accommodate the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). Although not yet responsible for the same high-profile attacks as its counterpart, the UDA dwarfed the UVF in terms of membership, which reached 40,000 at its peak. Taking this into account, as well as the fact the UDA was engaged in the same bloody ethnic cleansing campaign as the UVF, it was not long before London seen the groups potential as a proxy, thus the Force Research Unit (FRU) was born. A covert unit in the same vein as the MRF and SRU, the FRUs purpose was to turn the UDA into a more professional force, one that would target IRA members rather than engage solely in the traditional Loyalist tactic of killing unarmed Nationalist civilians. To implement this strategy they would recruit Brian Nelson, a senior UDA member, to travel to South Africa in 1985 in order to source arms from the then-Apartheid states official defence contractor Armscor, a deal that would lead to a deadly escalation of the groups genocidal campaign against the Nationalist population, and would ultimately result in the execution of human rights Lawyer, Pat Finucane. Finucane, from Belfast, would become a thorn in the side of the British establishment throughout the 80s by defending several high-profile Republicans, including hunger striker Bobby Sands. Placed firmly in Londons crosshairs, the final straw would come in November 1988 when he successfully had charges dropped against an IRA Volunteer in relation to the deaths of two British soldiers. Three months later, a UDA unit smashed down Finucanes front door as he had Sunday dinner with his family and shot him 14 times, his execution effectively sanctioned by Downing Street three weeks prior, when Thatcher Cabinet member Douglas Hogg stated in the House of Commons that there were solicitors unduly sympathetic to the cause of the IRA. Both the UDA and UVF would continue this campaign of violence against the Nationalist community for a further five years, the official end coming in October 1994 when both organisations declared they would cease all operational hostilities in response to the earlier Provisional IRA ceasefire in August of that year. Though both groups continue to exist, in the years following the ceasefire they mainly turned their guns on each other in bouts of internecine feuding. If recent mainstream media reports are to be believed that the UVF are preparing to re-arm in the event of the Protocol remaining unchanged however, the current Loyalist campaign may soon escalate to a level not seen in decades with British military intelligence undoubtedly playing a part once again. On Monday, Credit Suisse Group was convicted of failing to prevent money laundering by a Bulgarian cocaine trafficker, in the first ever criminal conviction of a major Swiss bank in the countrys history. The verdict, in which a former relationship manager at the bank was also convicted on money laundering charges, was handed down by Switzerlands top criminal court on Monday afternoon. The former employee, who prosecutors said regularly accepted suitcases of cash from one of the ring members that went beyond allowed limits, was given a 20-month suspended sentence. A person from another bank and two members of the crime ring were also found guilty of money-laundering charges. There was a silver lining, as the penalty was purely token: Credit Suisse will be fined two million Swiss francs ($2.1 million) over certain historical organizational inadequacies, or about how much the cocaine trafficker spent on hookers in one trip to Switzerland to deposit his drug money with Credit Suisse. Money aside, the decision is another blow to the tarnished reputation of Credit Suisse, which had argued the crimes date to an era when compliance standards were less stringent. It has been struggling with a series of scandals that have sent its shares to near-record lows, and may face a second criminal indictment in an unrelated case later this year. As Bloomberg notes, the case was criticized by Credit Suisse for having been brought so many years after the events in question. The bank expressed its astonishment in late 2020 when Swiss prosecutors publicly charged it with money laundering offenses, given the alleged crimes took place between 2004 and 2008. The court said Credit Suisse made it possible for the crime ring to launder money through the bank between July 2007 and December 2008 by failing to adequately monitor its accounts and make sure the business complied with anti-money-laundering rules. The crime ring allegedly recruited a Bulgarian wrestler and others in his orbit for operations transporting drugs and laundering money. Credit Suisse said in a pre-trial statement that it unreservedly rejects as meritless all allegations in this legacy matter raised against it and is convinced that its former employee is innocent. It also said previously that outside lawyers and consultants had reviewed its systems against money laundering and found its organizational setup was correct and appropriate in the period being probed. Prosecutors initially charged the bank with deficiencies between 2004 and 2008 but had to narrow the time frame because too much time had passed. Under Swiss law, local prosecutors can press criminal charges against banks if they believe those institutions didnt do enough to screen clients and their cash for obvious ties to illicit activity. The former Credit Suisse manager, a woman who can only be named as E. under Swiss reporting restrictions, accepted deposits of used bank notes that regularly exceeded 500,000 euros ($528,650) at a time, according to the 515-page indictment. Cash deposits were very common given the parlous state of Bulgarias banks at the time, she said in testimony. Her lawyer also said she wasnt sufficiently trained by the bank, and will appeal. The conviction hits Credit Suisse as it tries to turn a corner on financial losses and other scandals, including more than $5 billion in losses related to the collapse of family office Archegos Capital Management. Credit Suisse said it would appeal the decision. It noted that the alleged offenses date to more than 14 years ago. It had said it was astonished to be charged when prosecutors brought the case in December 2020. The bank on Monday said it is continually testing its anti-money-laundering framework and has been strengthening it over time. On Tuesday, Credit Suisse will update investors on plans to cut costs this year to help offset falling revenue in some divisions. It previously said it expects to post its third consecutive quarterly loss for the three months ending June 30. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. With an aim to bring Uttar Pradeshs aviation sector on the global map, the state government has approved the policy regarding development of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities of aircraft in the state. The decision was taken in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet meeting held here on Tuesday. There is a need to establish maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hubs in the state to create a conducive environment in view of the development and expansion in the civil aviation sector, PWD Minister Jitin Prasada said while briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting. He said that due to non-establishment of MRO hubs in India, aircraft are sent outside the country for repairs to places like Singapore and Dubai in which foreign exchange is spent on repairing aircraft while crucial time is also lost. There are huge possibilities of setting up MRO hubs in Uttar Pradesh. By the year 2026, about 1000 new aircraft are likely to be purchased in the country. Presently, minor repair works are done in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. With the promulgation of policy, MRO hubs will be established in the state and the government will earn revenue. A large number of jobs will also be created, he said. In another decision, the cabinet also approved the draft to sign an MoU with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Railways, and UP government for the construction of railway over bridges (ROBs) from the Central Road Infrastructure Fund. As per the draft, about 10 per cent (land acquisition and utility shifting) will be charged from the state government for the construction of bridges while the remaining expenditure will be borne by the Central government, Prasada said. The cabinet was informed that there are 3,165 level crossings in the state, of which ROBs are required at more than 300 crossings. Plantation: The cabinet also approved a proposal to plant 35 crore saplings in 2022-23 in all the government departments of the state. The proposal to provide free saplings from nurseries was also approved. Against the target of 35 crore saplings, 12.60 crore saplings will be planted by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change department while 22.40 crore by the state government and other departments. The aim of the plantation is to increase the forest cover, conservation and development of biodiversity and to make forestry a peoples movement, Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said. Sprinkler Irrigation: The cabinet also proposed promotion of drip and sprinkler irrigation in the Per Drop More Crop (Micro Irrigation) programme for five years starting from the financial year 2022-23. In order to make the drip and sprinkler irrigation system more acceptable, the government decided to provide 90 per cent subsidy for small farmers and 80 per cent subsidy for other farmers. This will motivate farmers to adopt this scheme, Singh said. The cabinet also approved expenditure of Rs 3,196.81 crore for free distribution of food grains, iodised salt, whole gram and refined soybean oil to the Antyodaya and eligible household card-holders of the state. In its cabinet meeting of March 26, 2022, the government had decided to extend the free ration distribution facility from April to June. The cabinet approved the proposal to allow allowance for home guards for training period equivalent to the allowance admissible on duty. Singh said the duty allowance of home guards is Rs 786 per day, whereas only Rs 260 per day training allowance is admissible to them when they are sent for training. For this reason, it is difficult for the home guards to participate in the training with due diligence, the minister said. The state cabinet also approved the proposal for the construction of Shringverpur Dham Nishadraj Park (Phase-1) in Prayagraj for which Rs 368.19 lakh have been approved. The Uttar Pradesh Project Corporation Limited has been designated as the executing agency for this project. The fourth day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabhas budget session turned out to be stormy with allegations and counter-allegations blowing between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the principal opposition Congress over the issue of illegal mining. Apart from this, many irregularities were also committed while awarding the mining contract, he said, while participating in the discussion in budget proposals presented a day before by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Citing figures from past 20 years, Bains alleged that the previous governments looted the state in mining business. In the past 20 years, the state earned Rs 1,083 crore only. If we calculate, and add compound interest, there was a loot of Rs 40,000 crore in these years, with Rs 7000 crore in the past five years of the Congress government, he said. Questioning the mining policy of previous governments, Bains said that maximum daily mining was 40,000 metric tonnes. Now, this much is done in Pathankot alone...Each truck is being tracked in Punjab Govts portal, he said. Bains said that in May 2017, 102 mines were allotted, and in 2018, the then Congress Government brought the mining policy in which Punjab was divided into seven blocks. The contractor shall deposit 25 percent in advance, and keep 25 per cent as bank guarantee. He will make payment 15 days before the next quarter. I want to ask why Rs 425 crores were earned instead of Rs 625 crores in three years? Why was the bank guarantee not seized? After our government was formed, we seized bank guarantee of Rs 25 crores, he said. Alleging that the Government sold of more sites to pocket more money, AAP Minister added that total 202 mines were auctioned, out of which only 43 are running. He added that repeatedly amendments were made in the agreement, dated December 16, 2020, and mining was allowed in the restricted areas. No discussion was held with the Forest Department. After this, 18 officers were suspended. Now, Vigilance has been asked to carry out a time-bound inquiry, he said. Pointing that 444 crushers operate in Punjab, Bains said that no policy has been formulated for this. The contractors continued to engage in illegal mining in Mohali, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib blocks. Congress MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring asked the government to prove its claims of generating Rs 20,000 revenue, while declaring that he would not enter the House if it is so. Refuting the allegations, former Mining Minister and Congress MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria asked Bains why the income has not increased. If you are saying that everything has increased, why the income from mining has not increased...first show this then question others, he said. BEIJING (AP) China on Tuesday announced an easing of its quarantine requirement for people arriving from abroad but stopped short of lifting what remains a stringent COVID-19 policy compared to most other countries. A man and girl wearing face masks ride a pedal cart at a public park in Beijing, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) BEIJING (AP) China on Tuesday announced an easing of its quarantine requirement for people arriving from abroad but stopped short of lifting what remains a stringent COVID-19 policy compared to most other countries. Anyone coming from outside the country will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for seven days, followed by three days of home quarantine, the National Health Commission said in its latest pandemic response plan. The previous plan called for 14 days in a hotel plus seven days of home quarantine. Some cities, including Beijing, have already reduced the hotel requirement to seven or 10 days in recent weeks, according to Chinese media reports. A woman wearing a mask walks past a beauty salon, Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China has kept tight restrictions on international travel under a zero-COVID strategy that seeks to keep the virus out and stop any infections from spreading through lockdowns and mass testing. Other countries including the United States and Japan have opened their borders at least somewhat as vaccination has reduced the risk of serious cases and death. In Europe, passengers are facing long lines and delays as a surge in summer travel has overwhelmed airlines and airports. Mi Feng, a spokesperson for China's National Health Commission, described the new plan as not a relaxation of the country's approach but an optimization to make it more scientific and precise. Wang Liping, an infectious disease researcher for China's Center for Disease Control, said the change reflects the relatively short 2- to 4-day incubation period for the omicron variant, which means most cases can be detected within a week. Recent outbreaks in mainland China have largely eased. Just under 100 new cases were recorded on Monday, most among people who had arrived recently from overseas. None of the new cases were in Shanghai or Beijing. The Shanghai Disney Resort announced that its Disneyland theme park will reopen on Thursday after a closure of more than three months because of the virus. The number of visitors will be limited and a few attractions will remain closed, but most of the park will be open, Shanghai Disney said in a social media post. All guests will be required to show proof of a negative virus test taken within the previous 72 hours. Shanghai Disneyland closed on March 21 ahead of a citywide lockdown that would paralyze what is China's largest city and a major manufacturing, shipping and financial hub for two months. Beijing's Universal Studios theme park reopened last weekend after being closed for nearly two months because of an outbreak in the Chinese capital. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A helicopter contracted to support firefighting efforts on an Interior Alaska blaze crashed after takeoff, killing the pilot, officials said Monday. The fatality was the first related to Alaska wildfires in 22 years. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A helicopter contracted to support firefighting efforts on an Interior Alaska blaze crashed after takeoff, killing the pilot, officials said Monday. The fatality was the first related to Alaska wildfires in 22 years. The pilot was identified as Douglas Ritchie, 56, of Wasilla, Alaska State Troopers said. He was the lone occupant in a 1960 Bell 204B Huey helicopter that crashed Sunday night after taking off from an airstrip near the community of Anderson, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Fairbanks, officials said. Initial reports incorrectly said the crash occurred when the helicopter was landing, said Clint Johnson, head of the National Transportation Safety Boards Alaska division. He was in the process of hauling, sling-loading some material out to a fire, Johnson said. We understand that he brought the helicopter up to a hover, and thats when the accident took place." He said they didnt have additional details, but three NTSB investigators were en route Monday to the crash site. The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection said it contracted the helicopter, which was operated by Northern Pioneer Helicopters, to help with the Clear Fire. Ritchie had worked for Northern Pioneer Helicopters for 12 years and held the title of lead pilot, according to a short biography on the company's webpage. Helicopters used to support firefighting operations have a cargo hook on the bottom of the aircraft, and a 100-foot (30-meter) longline is attached to carry or sling load materials to the fire. It wasnt immediately clear if Ritchie was carrying supplies to support firefighting operations that would have been in a net or if he was carrying a water bucket to help douse the fire, said Alaska Division of Forestry spokesperson Sam Harrel. Wildland firefighters and aviators are a close community and are in support of the family, friends and co-workers during this tragic time, the division said in a statement. The last firefighter to die was a smokejumper who was killed in a training accident in April 2000, Harrel said. Troopers said they didnt suspect foul play in Sundays crash, and Ritchies remains were sent to Anchorage for an autopsy. The Clear Fire was at 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) with minimal containment Monday, burning near the community of Anderson. Residents living in about 45 homes in three nearby subdivisions were ordered to evacuate Saturday, though the city itself was not under evacuation orders. The fire was 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) north of the subdivisions as of Sunday. Lightning started the fire last Tuesday, and it is burning in a mix of tundra, brush, hardwood trees and black spruce. There are 172 personnel working the fire. Canada should be prepared for a potential rise in medical tourism as abortion becomes banned in some U.S. states, say advocates and providers. Advertisement Advertise With Us Martha Paynter, a Halifax-area nurse and advocate for women's health, is seen at Dalhousie University in Halifax on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan Canada should be prepared for a potential rise in medical tourism as abortion becomes banned in some U.S. states, say advocates and providers. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, including some along the U.S.-Canada border. The decision has raised concerns among some abortion providers and advocates about how a possible influx of Americans could impact Canada's system. But the option to come north for an abortion is limited to those who can afford it, said Jill Doctoroff, executive director of the National Abortion Federation Canada. The effort and expense involved in procuring a passport and travelling to Canada will likely be prohibitive for the marginalized Americans most affected by abortion bans, including those experiencing poverty and systemic racism, Doctoroff said. Many people may decide it's more practical to head to a U.S. state where abortion is still allowed, she said. "People who tend to be involved in (medical) tourism are often people who are really privileged," Doctoroff said by phone from Victoria. "Those are the kinds of people I think who might be coming to Canada for abortion care." But even a small number of Americans with the means to seek abortion care in Canada could pose a problem for clinics that are already strained for capacity, and potentially extend wait times, said Doctoroff. Dr. Dustin Costescu, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, said provinces should increase funding for abortion clinics to ensure they can meet this potential surge in demand. "If a significant minority of Americans choose to come here ... very quickly the system could become overwhelmed by an influx of U.S. citizens," said Costescu. "Now really is the time to be preparing for this." The Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg has already started planning for this possibility, said executive director Kemlin Nembhard. A handful of American patients already visit the clinic every year, and Canada borders several U.S. states with so-called trigger laws that ban or severely restrict access to abortion, said Nembhard. The clinic currently performs more abortions than it receives funding for, Nembhard said, and is considering extending its hours of operation if demand increases. "We have contingency plans in place," said Nembhard. "But we can't really put them into action until we actually see what's going to happen." Martha Paynter, a Halifax nurse working in abortion and reproductive health care, said she doubts Canadian clinics will see a dramatic surge in Americans seeking abortions. But Canada should still take action to make abortions more accessible for its residents and potential visitors, including training more health workers on how to provide these services, said Paynter. "We should be doing the work to improve access here, so that should U.S. patients arrive at our doors, we are very well equipped to handle it," Paynter said. "Should they not, then we've made inroads that we can be proud of to continue to expand access in the first country to decriminalize abortion in the world." with files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2022. The provincial and federal governments made another addition to the Canada-Manitoba Child Care Agreement on Monday, promising funds to improve wages and create thousands of new daycare spaces. Advertisement Advertise With Us The provincial and federal governments made another addition to the Canada-Manitoba Child Care Agreement on Monday, promising funds to improve wages and create thousands of new daycare spaces. At a press conference held at a YMCA daycare in Winnipeg, it was announced that both levels of government are committing $34.7 million to child-care centres existing operating grants to improve wage equity for staff who look after kids aged seven and younger and $2.3 million to promote the same thing for workers who deal with school-aged kids. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Federal Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould speaks during an announcement in Winnipeg on Monday. Additionally, the governments are spending $8.1 million to created 3,100 new spaces for early learning and child care at 177 different facilities in Manitoba. Of that funding, $4.8 million is for kids aged seven to 12 and $3.3 million is for children aged younger that seven. "Access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive child care isnt a luxury, it is a necessity," federal Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould said during the announcement. "For the many advocates who have been advocating for affordable child care for decades it is truly the realization of this dream." As a working mother, Gould said it was important for her to know her son is in caring hands. She also said that she has experienced the struggle of waiting to find a vacancy at a child-care facility. "Investing in child care also helps workers in the sector," said provincial Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko. "We ensure a stable system for children and families, help address labour market shortage and help workers live a better quality of life." In Westman, executive directors at two child-care centres told the Sun that the funding is welcome, but wont be enough to stem the loss of workers from the sector. At Childrens Den Inc. in Brandon, Lorraine McConnell said that despite previous announcements boosting the number of subsidized child-care spaces, she hasnt been able to increase capacity at her daycare. "I cant hire more early childhood educators," she said. "Youre opening more spaces when I cant fill my spaces because I dont have trained staff. I know some centres have been thinking of reducing the number of children theyre caring for because theyre losing staff far sooner than theyre being recruited." Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould speaks during an announcement in Winnipeg on Monday. (Winnipeg Free Press) Earlier this month, McConnell said she had to close her centre for a day because with staff departures and others getting sick with COVID, there werent enough workers to take care of their charges. She has also had to consider asking parents to volunteer to consider alternative arrangements on days with low staffing. She said she doesnt want to appear ungrateful, but shed like higher levels of government to develop and communicate their intentions so she can develop a plan. McConnell was grateful on Monday that information on the new programs were sent out to centres like hers shortly after the announcement was made. "Its great news and with the vague numbers they gave us, Im hoping those will really be a significant jump for our staff," said Jen Cullen of Wawanesa Wee Care in Wawanesa. "Unfortunately, for myself, the timing isnt great. I just had a really great staff give her notice to go work somewhere for more money. Its a little late for that." Like McConnell, Cullen is glad the government is trying to fill a need by creating child-care spaces, but believes its hard to implement when the whole sector is "starving" for staff. With one staff member gone and another potentially leaving, Cullen said she may have to reduce the number of spaces shes able to provide. Both Cullen and McConnell said that when staff leave their positions at their child-care centres, theyre leaving the sector entirely to find other careers. cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark WINNIPEG Paramedics received an urgent call for help from Manitobas largest hospital, as staffing levels in its emergency department dropped to desperately low levels over the weekend. Advertisement Advertise With Us WINNIPEG Paramedics received an urgent call for help from Manitobas largest hospital, as staffing levels in its emergency department dropped to desperately low levels over the weekend. On Sunday, advanced care paramedics from the Winnipeg region were asked to pick up shifts at the Health Sciences Centre adult emergency department for the first time, due to short staffing. Theyre an excellent resource to be able to help staff and support the emergency work, HSC chief operating officer Dr. Shawn Young said during an unrelated news conference on the Manitoba Legislative Building grounds Monday morning. Working in triage, working in [resuscitation], they have the skill sets and the tools to be able to provide that service exceptionally well. Asked if paramedics had staffed the emergency department over the weekend, Young said HSC has been partnering with paramedics for quite some time, and paramedics have previously assisted in rural emergency departments and at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg. A Shared Health spokesman later clarified while paramedics were indeed asked to work in the emergency department Sunday, none picked up a shift. Plans to partner with paramedics to deliver services at the HSC emergency department had been in development prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to expand capacity and reduce demand on nurses, Young said. While he was unable to say how frequently paramedics may be called on to support the emergency department, it could present a longer-term solution to chronic staffing shortages, particularly on weekends when trauma is at its worst and some of our needs are at its greatest. Its a routine practice in Manitoba, Young said. We just started making it more operational [at HSC] as of this weekend. Manitoba Government and General Employees Union Local 911 president Ryan Woiden said paramedics are pleased to see their scope of practice recognized by the health-care system but relying on them to fill holes in the emergency department is troubling. Were hoping that theres a comprehensive plan coming somewhere, because this just cant be sustained, Woiden said. On Sunday afternoon, Shared Health officials issued the appeal to paramedics to pick up a 12-hour overnight shift at the HSC emergency department, an email obtained by the Winnipeg Free Press showed. They are very desperate for staffing tonight, the Shared Health official wrote in the request to more than 30 emergency response professionals. Woiden said the request to plug and play at HSC likely came as a surprise to paramedics, who are already stretched thin under their regular workload. Its certainly concerning that theres no other plan except for to send out the occasional message, Woiden said. We certainly can assist anywhere we can, and we will, but replacing the nurses and the experience they have at Health Sciences Centre is not something were planning on doing. Earlier this month, the Free Press reported the typical per-shift complement of 24 emergency room nurses at HSC had dropped to as low as 12, according to three nurses who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of discipline for speaking publicly. The nurses described an emergency department where staff are so overrun, they do not have the time or resources to properly care for all of the patients who come in. According to Shared Health, the job vacancy rate in the emergency department was 25.8 per cent. Over the weekend, nurse staffing challenges were significant in the emergency department, and prompted calls to regular, part-time and casual staff, in addition to advance care paramedics in the casual pool, a Shared Health spokesman said. On Sunday, eight critical care nurses were reassigned at points throughout a 24-hour period to cover shortages in the emergency department, the spokesman said. A manager was also on shift to support staffing needs in the unit. We are at a point right now where we are desperate for nursing staff, Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said Monday. It seems like every week, we hear of another nurse leaving. Jackson said assistance from paramedics within emergency departments is welcomed but also questioned the sustainability of the Band-Aid solution. She said the call out for paramedics to staff the HSC is a symptom of desperation within the health-care system. We would prefer to have experienced nurses in that department. However, were in a position right now in this province where were in such a critical nursing shortage that nurses are exhausted, Jackson said. There doesnt seem to be anywhere to turn to correct the situation at this point. Health Minister Audrey Gordon said the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the health system to do things differently and its leaders to consider different staffing models. She said other specialty health-care professionals have asked to assist in the emergency departments or to see their scope of practice expanded in response to staffing shortages. Its about all of us being in this together, and so I dont think itll just be the paramedics that youll see in the ER. I think youll see other specialties, too, Gordon said. I dont think Im going to say no to any offers that come forward from the various associations or specialties or how long that might be for. Meanwhile, NDP Leader Wab Kinew described the addition of paramedics to the HSC emergency department as an escalation of a crisis. It really does seem that our health-care system is being held together by their heroic efforts and the ongoing impact of the PC cuts to health-care continues to play out in ways that weve never seen before in Manitoba, Kinew said. Using paramedics to staff the emergency room at the most important hospital in our province is certainly an unprecedented situation and a new low. Winnipeg Free Press The Congress on Tuesday described the BJP and the BJD as two sides of a coin, saying while the BJP-led Central Government has burdened people with hike in prices of essential commodities, the States BJD Government is imposing an escalating loan burden. At public meeting in Baripada on the second day of his Jan Sampark Yatra, PCC president Sarat Pattanayak said both the parties have played with emotion of people rather than responding to their day-to-day problems. He said that while unemployment, farmer suicide and atrocities against women are rising in Odisha, the Modi Government is busy selling public sector undertaking one after another to industrialist friends. While the BJD and the BJP are fighting with each other in Bhubaneswar, they are hugging each other in Delhi, Pattanayak said. He said the Congress is the only alternative which has the strength to fight both BJP and BJP. He appealed to all leaders and workers who have left the party to come back and strengthen the party. Oscar winner, former Armani ambassador and SK-II skincare spruiker Cate Blanchett has a knack for moving from one winning role to the next, having signed a deal with luxury label Louis Vuitton. As the latest house ambassador for the French brand joining Emma Stone, Chinese actor Zhou Dongyu and Bollywood star Deepika Padukone Blanchett will promote Louis Vuittons rapidly growing jewellery division in a series of glossy advertisements released next month. Cate Blanchett, wearing Louis Vuitton at the Cesar Awards in February, has been named the French luxury labels latest house ambassador. Credit:AP I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to collaborate with Louis Vuitton a truly iconic house with an enormous cultural reach, Blanchett said in a press release. To wear the magnificent pieces created by Francesca Amfitheatrof is a bedazzling pleasure. Blanchett is, as usual, on-trend. Statement jewels are replacing handbags when it comes to items coveted by those who know their Birkin bags from their Mimco wallets. LVMH, owners of Louis Vuitton and stablemate jewellery brands Tiffany & Co, Bulgari and Chaumet, reported 19 per cent organic revenue growth in its watches and jewellery division for the first quarter of 2022. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has warned superannuation and managed funds not to make misleading statements about their claims to be investing in an environmentally responsible manner. As ethical investing moves to the mainstream, funds that do not market themselves as investing ethically risk being snubbed, particularly by the young, for whom investing with a social conscience is important. As the number of ethical and sustainable investment products grows, many are not as green or sustainable as they claim. Credit:Gabriele Charotte The greenwashing phenomenon, where fund managers attempt to lure investors with their environmentally friendly or sustainable credentials but where those credentials often cannot be substantiated is something financial regulators are grappling with around the world. Last month, German financial authorities raided the offices of Deutsche Bank and its asset management subsidiary DWS as part of a greenwashing probe. The searches related to allegations of the bank marketing investment products as more environmentally friendly than they were. I last went to Sunday school some time back in the mid-90s. I could probably have done with some divine forgiveness for the acid-washed jeans I was likely to have been wearing. Coming from a mixed Catholic and Protestant background, with a mother who truly believed Jesus return was imminent, its fair to say that religion was important to me back then. Every step Ive subsequently taken in my life, career and hopefully fashion sense has taken me ever further from the Church and from seeing myself as a religious person. The 2021 Australian census results have shown a significant decline in religiosity with the proportion of people choosing No religion increasing from 29.6 per cent in 2016 to 38.4 per cent in 2021, in figures released by the ABS yesterday. The rise of nine percentage points since 2016 is the largest ever single increase between censuses for people choosing no religion. This census result is also the first time that the number of Australians indicating a belief in Christianity is less than 50 per cent. Its incredibly apt that these figures come just after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, an extreme example of how disproportionate the reach of the church can be. A local example is the $1 billion spent on the school chaplaincy program since it was introduced by the Howard government in 2006. The program gave vastly disproportionate preference to religious workers. The man behind the wheel of a car seen ploughing into climate change protesters as they demonstrated in the centre of Sydney on Monday has been fined, while more protesters now face potential jail time after a second day of unauthorised action in the city on Tuesday. Members of the Blockade Australia group met in Hyde Park about 8am before marching onto nearby streets, disrupting traffic in a bid to spread their message about the cost of climate inaction. Police on duty at Hyde Park on Tuesday. Credit:Brook Mitchell The disruption this time was short-lived. The group was met by a heavy police presence, forcing marchers off the road and onto the footpath, where 11 people were arrested. A shout of spaghetti was the cue for those who escaped the law to scarper back into the park. Those arrested were taken to Surry Hills police station, where they were charged under tough new anti-protest laws aimed at deterring action that disrupts roads, ports and other infrastructure which include penalties of up to $22,000 or two years jail. A man has been charged over his alleged role in the murder of Mahmoud Brownie Ahmad, who was shot dead in Sydneys south-west two months ago. Police believe the 49-year-old man was involved in the planning of Ahmads murder and have charged him with accessory before and after the fact to murder. Mahmoud Brownie Ahmad was shot dead in April. The man was first arrested on drug and criminal charges in Campsie on May 2 when police seized more than 25 kilograms of methylamphetamine, worth more than $22 million, from his Wetherill Park home. Police also seized $200,000 in cash and cloned number plates. South Africa: SALGA to launch civic responsibility campaign The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) will on Wednesday intensify its profiling mandate through a nation-wide civic responsibility campaign. SALGA in a statement said the campaign aims to educate members of local communities about their duties and obligations towards the social and economic upliftment of their local areas by paying for municipal services rendered. The SALGA National Executive Committee (NEC) will provide further details on the campaign and encourage active participation from citizens and members of local communities across the length and breadth of the country. The NEC will be at the Tshwane Regional Mall in Mamelodi West, Gauteng and at Sasol Filling station in Madiba Park, in Limpopo. SALGA spokesperson Sivuyile Mbambato said: The campaign launch gives impetus to the organisations intent for the fifth Term of Democratic Local Government, to focus on advancing a people-centred democratic local government. The campaign flows from the organisations 2022 National Conference and 2022-2027 strategic plan to strengthen the role of local government in championing the social, economic, and material needs of their communities. The launch will also take place at selected venues across the nine provinces. The event will be attended by delegates from municipalities, national and provincial government, partners, and stakeholders within the local government sector. SALGA said it aims to inspire service delivery by enabling local government to fulfil its developmental mandate, whilst being an agile force of influence. Themed Asisho! Lets Say It... SALGA aims to open-up conversations: For citizens, encourage active citizenry in their role in paying for services to enable effective delivery by local government. For local government, promote a capable and agile local government with citizens at the center of service delivery. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-06-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway starts full operation 09:11, June 28, 2022 By Wang Binlai, Wang Xinyue ( People's Daily Earlier this month, the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway started full operation as a new section linking Hubeis Xiangyang and Chongqings Wanzhou was put into use. The railway shortened the trip from Beijing to southwest Chinas Chongqing municipality to 6 hours and 46 minutes, and that from Zhengzhou, central Chinas Henan province to Chongqing to 4 hours and 23 minutes, bringing closer the city cluster in central China and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. A staff member receives passengers in ancient costume at the Chongqing North railway station, southwest China's Chongqing municipality, June 20, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Wang Weiguo) The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway crosses a region with the worlds most complicated geographical conditions. 98 percent of the overall mileage consists of bridges and tunnels. With complex and variable landscapes, geologic hazards always take place in the region. In addition, the high requirement on environmental protection during the construction also made the project extremely challenging. For instance, the Xiaosanxia tunnel along the Chongqing section of the railway is the longest single-hole double-track railway tunnel with a designed speed of 350km per hour in Asia. It has the highest level of risk as a railway tunnel in China. There are 152 outfalls of crack water, interstitial water, and underground rivers, as well as 30 karst caves in the tunnel. The maximum daily water inflow in the tunnel could hit 168,000 cubic meters, which is equivalent to the water storage in over 60 standard swimming pools. To steer clear of all potential risks, the project team set up multiple professional work groups and adopted a series of technical solutions such as geological radar, horizontal percussion drilling for advanced geological prediction, and geological surveying during the construction. The total mileage in the plans prepared by the project team added up to more than 8,000 kilometers. The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway was built according to stringent environmental protection standards. There is no bridge pier built in the water in protection zones for water resources that the railway crosses, and the railway adopted single-hole double-track tunnels to reduce excavations. Besides, the railway has chosen gabions over concrete structure, built bionic ecological water systems and restored original wetlands. During the construction, the project team tried its best to fit the railway into the surrounding natural landscape and to minimize the projects environmental impact.. The operation of the high-speed railway will significantly enhance the flow of passengers, logistics, information, and capital. A high-speed train makes a test run on a super large bridge along the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway in Maqiao township, Baokang county, Xiangyang, central China's Hubei province, June 18, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Yang Dong) Now we finally enjoy the convenience of direct trains, said Gao Jianxin, business manager of Lucky Huaguang Graphics Co., Ltd., a company based in Henan province. According to him, he and his colleagues had to make detours via Xian in northwest Chinas Shaanxi province to go to southwestern provinces such as Yunnan and Guizhou. The southwestern region is an important market of the company, and the newly-opened high-speed railway will largely reduce the travel time for the companys employees, Gao said. The business team of our company is currently working to expand our sales. We must grasp the opportunity brought by the high-speed railway, he told People's Daily. Before the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway was put into operation, some high-quality projects of high-end equipment manufacturing and modern services had already been started along the route. In Yunyang, Chongqing municipality, Sichuan-based Sino-Agricultural Modern Investment Co., Ltd. has invested 1.5 billion yuan ($224.3 million) to build an intelligent cold-chain logistics center. In Wanzhou, Chongqing, more than 20 key projects have commenced, including a cable project for high-end new energy equipment. The opening of the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway will do us a great favor in the industrial relocation from central and eastern China to the Chengdu-Chongqing region, said Wang Haiyun, an official with the economy and information technology committee of Wanzhou. The new technologies and products from enterprises in central and eastern China are expected to accelerate local industrial restructuring and upgrading, he added. The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway is also bringing the natural scenery, resources and culture along the route closer to the market. In the past, tourists usually went to the attractions in the Three Gorges, the three adjacent gorges along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River by ship. Today, they can go faster thanks to the newly-opened high-speed railway. A high-speed train runs on a super large bridge along the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway in Xiangyang, central China's Hubei province, June 20, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Yang Dong) Tourists were always on ships when they visited the Three Gorges, so they barely made any consumption, said Li Xuefeng, head of a tourism company, adding that the company will work to attract tourists to stay overnight given the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-speed Railway. According to him, a series of leisure and tourism projects have been built in Wushan county, which sits at the western entrance to the Wu Gorge in the Three Gorges region. Thirty-nine hotels and 685 agritainment facilities were built or renovated, he introduced. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The State Cabinet here on Tuesday approved to increase the annual limit fixed for the Chief Ministers Discretionary grant from Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore for the financial year 2022-23 and the coming financial years. The Cabinet has decided to increase the MLA Area Development Fund Scheme (Capital) of Rs 1 crore 85 lakh by Rs 65 lakh in under MLA fund making it Rs 2 crore 50 lakh and Rs 35 lakh in MLA Discretionary grant of Rs 15 lakh making it Rs 50 lakhs. The Cabinet has decided to sanction a special ex-gratia amount of Rs. one crore to the heirs of Sub-Inspector Late Rajkumar Jatav, Acting Head Constable Late Neeraj Bhargava and Constable Late Santram Meena Aron police station, Guna district. The Cabinet has granted in-principle approval to establish medical college with 100 MBBS seats admission capacity and 500-bed affiliated hospital, besides setting up of a nursing college of 60 seat admission capacity for nursing courses and a paramedical college of 60 seat admission capacity for paramedical courses in Budni Tehsil located in Sehore district. Similarly, the Cabinet gave in-principle consent with the purpose of increasing the 100 seats of undergraduate courses for setting up a new medical college in Ujjain. With the establishment of a medical college, medical facilities are available to the people of the area, along with 100 more MBBS seats in the medical field for students of the state. Approval was given for the establishment of 23 new ITIs in development blocks of the state without ITIs, creation of 437 instructor posts and 253 administrative posts proposed for the year 2022-23 and ratified the financial provision of expected non-recurring expenditure of about Rs.32 thousand 499 lakh and recurring expenditure for five years is about Rs.9,890 lakh. At present, 238 government ITIs are operating in 213 development blocks in 52 districts in the state, with an admission capacity of 44 thousand 552. The Cabinet has approved to allocate land Khasra number 44, total area 5.115 hectares and Khasra number 45 allot 6.073 hectares (15 acres) out of total area of ??6.082 hectares government land located at Berkheda Bondar village, Huzur tehsil, Bhopal district, to the university at free premium and one rupee as annual land rent under the conditions of the government for the establishment of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) Gandhi Nagar campus. The entire responsibility of developing the campus of NFSU will be with the University. The Cabinet gave its approval for setting up of Rural Technology Park at Morena. Approval was given to create posts for the operation of Rural Technology Park. Decision was also taken to approve Rs 50 lakh 88 thousand for the payment of salary and allowances for the operation of the park and expenditure of Rs. 1 crore 10 lakh 46 thousand for recurring / training expenses, making provision in the head available for allied organizations / training institutes of the department. The Cabinet gave revised administrative approval to Chheetakhudri Medium Irrigation Project of Jabalpur district, cost amount Rs 434 crore 21 lakh, irrigation area 16 thousand 875 hectare and Kundalia Multipurpose Major Irrigation Project, Rajgarh district cost amount Rs 4614 crore 73 lakh, irrigated area 1 lakh 39 thousand 600 hectare. The Cabinet has given revised approval of 25 group water supply schemes worth Rs 11 thousand 100 crore 72 lakh in different districts of the state under Jal Jeevan Mission. Through these water supply schemes of the mission, arrangements will be made to provide tap water to the rural population of 6223 villages at their homes. A cow sanctuary is being operated in Cow Sanctuary Research and Production Center, Salaria district Agar Malwa in Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department. The purpose of the operation of the sanctuary is to produce cow products and conduct research on cows along with rearing of stray cows. Developing the sanctuary as a tourist center and making it a self-supporting model is in the priority of the government. Manufacture of cow products, marketing, development of cow tourism, green fodder development, breed improvement, and many employment oriented activities will be conducted in the sanctuary after contract between Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry and Livestock Promotion Board and Shri Gau-Seva Teerth-Dham Pathmeda, District Jalore Rajasthan for running the sanctuary. The Cabinet decided that a contract should be signed between Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry and Livestock Promotion Board and Shri Gau-Seva Teerth-Dham Pathmeda, District Jalore, Rajasthan for the operation of the cow sanctuary research and production center, Salaria in the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department. Duration of Investment Promotion Assistance Scheme extended The cabinet has extended the effectiveness period of the scheme from 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2022 for the units starting commercial production from 1st April 2018 to 3rd June 2022 in the provisions issued by the departmental order for the benefit of Investment Promotion Assistance Scheme. The units, which will invest 75 percent of their proposed investment by the last date i.e. June 30, 2022, were given time till March 31, 2023 to start commercial production and avail the benefits of the proposed assistance. Increase in rate of tendu patta The cabinet approved the decision to increase the collection rate of tendu leaves to Rs 3 thousand per standard sack for the year 2022 and till further orders. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan had announced to increase the collection rate of tendu leaves from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000 per standard bag in the conference of forest committees on April 22, 2022. A target of collecting 16 lakh 29 thousand standard bags of tendu leaves has been set for the year 2022, due to which the collectors will get an additional remuneration of Rs.89 crore. Decision to set up State Statistical Commission On the recommendation of the Kundu Task Force Committee, it was decided by the Council of Ministers to constitute the State Statistical Commission. The Kundu Task Force was constituted to submit recommendations for the strengthening of the statistical system in the state. Its recommendations include a proposal to constitute a State Statistical Commission on the lines of the National Statistical Commission. The Commission will be headed by an eminent statistical expert having 20 years of experience in this field. In the Commission, 1 member will be nominated by the State Government and maximum 6 members will be special invitees as subject experts. Disposal of assets The cabinet decided that after the highest tender amount of one crore 89 lakh one thousand 955, which is more than the reserve price amount of 1 crore 32 lakh for the disposal of 1730 square meter land assets at Survey No. 375, 376 and 394 of Revenue Department's Village Sirol District Gwalior, the action of contract/registry would be done by the District Collector to sell it and after depositing 100% of the tender amount by the H-One tenderer. The Council of Ministers has decided that proceedings of the contract / registry would be done by the District Collector for parcel number 01 and 02 located in Vinod Mill Asset Sheet No. 1738, the total area is 19 thousand 69 square meter and 17 thousand 529 square meter respectively. Among the tenders invited by the Revenue Department for the disposal of parcels the financial bid amount of the tenderers and their bid in the e-auction was found to be highest. Therefore the H-One tenderers highest bid amount of Rs.25 crore 41 lakh 20 thousand for Parcel-1, which is more than the reserve price amount of Rs.16 crore 76 lakh and the highest tender amount of 24 crore 61 lakh 68 thousand rupees for Parcel-2, which is more than the reserve price amount of 15 crore 43 lakh rupees, were sanctioned and it was decided that the district collector would take action for their contract/registry for their sale after 100 percent bid amount is deposited by H-One tenderer. As noted earlier today, the head of government agency Investment NSW delivered an opening statement to the parliamentary inquiry into the circumstances in which former deputy premier John Barilaro was given a $500,000-a-year post as the states senior trade and investment commissioner to the Americas. The New York-based role is expected to run for three years. Barilaros appointment, announced in June, is now the subject of two inquiries, including a separate independent inquiry headed by former NSW public service commissioner Graeme Head. Brown said she was confident she had fulfilled her duties. Credit:Janie Barrett Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown led the recruitment process for the role and had this to say to the upper house inquiry today: Thank you for having me here today as a witness. I welcome the opportunity to outline the facts involved in the appointment of Mr John Barilaro [as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas] and address the questions the committee may have. I first became a NSW public servant in 2013. I am committed to the public sector core values of integrity, trust, service and accountability. That includes the Westminster principle of an apolitical and impartial public service. The appointment of Mr John Barilaro is a public service appointment. Before you raise the many questions you have on process, I would like to say the appointment process for the ... senior trade and investment commissioners has evolved imperfectly. Early advice contemplated by NSW Treasury when the program was first launched in 2019 recommended that ... STICs, as theyve become known, be appointed as public servants ... rather than statutory offices appointed by a minister. However, the approval process NSW Treasury developed and Investment NSW later inherited did not reflect how those appointments should be made under those laws and regulations. This has since been rectified and was corrected well before Mr Barilaro applied for the role. Since August 2021, no formal approval of any minister or the premier has been sought prior to the appointment of STICs including STIC Americas [the role Barilaro was given]. Informal opinions of the responsible minister are often sought ... however, final determination rests with me as the employer. In preparing for today Ive taken the time to reflect on the appointment of Mr Barilaro and I am confident that as the employer of the role of STIC Americas I have fulfilled my duties under the GSE Act [The NSW Government Sector Employment Act] with respect to this appointment. More details emerged during Browns evidence about the timeline of events relating to the appointment, including a direction by the government to halt a recruitment process that was under way last year, before it resumed this year. You can read about that evidence in the posts below. The parliamentary inquiry has now moved into a closed session. The journalist behind The Teachers Pet podcast about former Sydney teacher Chris Dawson has denied flattering his interview subjects and inducing them with promises of walking the red carpet, a court has heard. Hedley Thomas faced a second day of cross-examination in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, when he said he understood News Corp had signed an agreement with Jason Blums American production company Blumhouse for a TV miniseries, following his podcast released in May 2018. Hedley Thomas and Chris Dawson Credit:Oscar Colman, Nick Moir Detective Senior Constable Daniel Poole, who was assigned the case within the unsolved homicide squad in 2015, testified that a brief of evidence was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in April 2018, and Dawson was charged in December that year. Dawson, 73, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his first wife, Lynette Dawson, who vanished from the northern beaches in January 1982. St Catherines, the school at the centre of a controversial push by the Sydney Anglican Diocese to force new leaders to avow their opposition to same-sex marriage, has brought a former principal out of retirement to be its interim head for two years. The schools council told parents that former Abbotsleigh head Judith Poole will lead the school in 2023 and 2024, and, as a temporary principal, will not be required to sign the statement of faith saying that marriage is just between a man and a woman. It is a victory for parents who have been lobbying the Sydney Anglican Diocese to drop the requirement that their new principal sign the statement. St Catherines is in Waverley, which voted overwhelmingly for same-sex marriage in the 2017 postal vote. St Catherines has announced a new interim principal. Credit:Janie Barrett In a letter to the school community on Tuesday, the council chair Danusia Cameron said Poole was a remarkable educator and visionary leader. The letter said Poole was an active Christian. Abbotsleigh is also an Anglican diocese-run school. A man linked to a defunct Queensland tech-support business has been found guilty of defrauding insurance companies of more than $40,000 and trying to dishonestly get more than $30,000. Anthony Onyeka Okeke tricked Allianz Insurance and QBE Insurance into paying insurance claims for four vehicles after he staged or fabricated a series of crashes. Anthony Onyeka Okeke. Credit:LinkedIn He claimed $41,595 from those two insurers for four vehicles. He tried to claim a further $33,813 on three vehicles from QBE Insurance and Suncorp Insurance. Okeke was charged over seven insurance claims. However, crown prosecutors put forward 18 claims that they alleged were fraudulent and made by Okeke, during a judge-only trial in Ipswich District Court. A Geelong man has been jailed for more than two years after building six pipe bombs while he was bored and setting two devices off near a neighbours home. Aaron Church, 33, was drug-affected when he set up two homemade improvised explosive devices on a fence near a neighbours home in the Geelong suburb of Waurn Ponds in the early hours of September 27, 2020. Residents nearby were asked to evacuate and others were advised to stay indoors. The first device, made from a paint can containing about half a kilogram of shrapnel, including nails, screws, bolts and fishing sinkers, caused a loud explosion. Police and firefighters attended and extinguished both devices, with Church approaching police and telling them there were two more devices in a tree. Madrid: Anthony Albanese has said Russias atrocities in Ukraine are uniting the democratic world against Vladimir Putins regime, as he joined a chorus of international condemnation over the Kremlins missile strikes on a busy shopping centre. The prime minister echoed the dismay of world leaders, who branded the attack abominable on Tuesday and vowed to hold Putin accountable for the war crime as NATO forces increased the number of troops on high alert to more than 300,000. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is still weighing up whether to risk a trip to Kyiv. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The head of Britains armed forces, General Sir Patrick Sanders, warned that the West must be prepared to act rapidly to contain Russian expansionism, comparing it to the rise of Nazi Germany. In a major speech on Tuesday he said the world was facing its 1937 moment and must be ready to fight and win to ward off Putin. Defence Minister Richard Marles says hes aiming to decide which nuclear submarine Australia will acquire by early next year while blasting the former government for letting major defence purchases drift for years. As well as choosing between British Astute-class and American Virginia-class nuclear submarines, the government expects to know by March 2023 when they can be acquired and whether Australia will need an interim, conventionally powered submarine to replace its ageing Collins-class boats. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, left, with Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell, at a press conference announcing senior ADF appointments. Credit:James Brickwood Over the next two years, Marles also plans to have a force posture review, which will examine whether Australias military bases are adequate and its forces are positioned to deal with the strategic circumstances facing Australia and the Indo-Pacific. Marles on Tuesday took the unusual step of extending by two years the terms of three of the countrys top military leaders, while appointing new heads of the army, navy and air force as planned, to ensure continuity of advice to the government on its submarine and frigate purchases. Exiting Ubers, taxis and the occasional Comcar for those who managed to jump the administrative hurdles, the new crossbenchers met as a group for the first time on Tuesday with smiles and congratulations. They are among Australias 35 newest MPs who arrived at Parliament House for a two-day crash course on the practicalities of being a politician. Incoming crossbenchers Monique Ryan, Zoe Daniel, Kate Chaney, Kylea Tink, Dai Le, Libby Watson-Brown, Sophie Scamps and Allegra Spender arrive at Parliament House for the first time as MPs. Credit:James Brickwood Braced for Canberras frosty morning, the seven independents and new Greens MP Libby Watson-Brown gathered for their first joint photo, exclusively for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, before the official program started. Kylea Tink, the member for North Sydney, said it was exciting but also strange to be dropped off by a taxi and then have to call on the intercom and hope security knew who she was. He said he would ensure contact with his sister relating to her portfolio would be done in the presence of an independent person appointed by the department; seek to meet the ministers staff rather than the minister herself, where possible; and keep a log of meetings with the ministers office that could be reviewed by the commissioner on request. Lobbyist John-Paul Blandthorn is the brother of Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn. He said: Whilst the above-mentioned protocols go above and beyond what is required under the lobbyist code of conduct, we believe it is in the best interest of Hawker Britton clients and seeks to uphold a higher standard of integrity between our firm and the Victorian government. The appointment of Blandthorn is one of several changes to the Andrews government frontbench after a string of ministers announced retirement plans last week. New Multicultural Affairs Minister Ros Spence is the wife of high-profile lobbyist, political researcher and commentator and former Labor deputy campaign director Kosmos Samaras, who is a director of the RedBridge Group. Samaras told The Age he had ensured none of his RedBridge clients had interests in his wifes portfolio. There is strict adherence that we cant take on any clients that have any interests in the ministers portfolio areas or who are in receipt of any money, he said. Centre for Public Integrity research director Dr Catherine Williams said the Blandthorn situation was a case study in the weakness of Victorian regulation of lobbying and government-business relationships. While all the dealings between these parties [the Blandthorns] may well be above board and rules followed, with such inadequate rules and with so little transparency, it is hard for the community to have confidence that all is OK, she said. She said Blandthorns letter to the public sector commissioner was an important recognition of the potential for a conflict of interest, but it was only a personal undertaking that came with no official oversight and/or public transparency. This really highlights the flaws in the system. The Brumby government introduced a lobbyist code and register in 2009, but it has long been regarded as ineffectual. The only penalty for contravention of the code is the loss of a lobbyists registration. Even then, there is no public record of such deregistrations. Unlike more strongly regulated jurisdictions such as NSW and Queensland, Victorias lobbying rules are not enshrined in legislation and are similar to the federal rules, which, in 2020, the Australian National Audit Office labelled a light-touch approach. Loading And, unlike NSW, Queensland and the ACT, Victorian ministers are not required to keep public diaries of meetings and contacts with lobbyists. In those jurisdictions, a meeting between siblings one a lobbyist and a minister would be documented on the public record. Victoria also lags other jurisdictions on the length of the cooling-off period for outgoing MPs and other government figures before they take up positions lobbying to government. In Victoria, the period is 12 to 18 months, compared with five years in Canada. Monash University associate professor Yee-Fui Ng is a leading researcher on lobbying regulation. She said the Blandthorn appointment appeared to be a massive conflict of interest. She said Victorias regulation of lobbying was weak compared with NSW, Queensland and overseas jurisdictions such as Canada and the US, and that more robust regulation would require reforms including vigilant enforcement by an independent statutory authority. Loading Blandthorn worked as a senior stakeholder relations adviser to Andrews for 2 years to July 2017. He became director at Hawker Britton in August 2018. Before working for Andrews, Blandthorn worked in the office of then-federal opposition leader Bill Shorten. The Blandthorn family is a powerful force in Victorian Labor Right politics, long associated with the socially conservative shoppies union. When questioned, Fennessy, the public sector commissioner, referred The Age to the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which has responsibility for the lobbyist code of conduct. On Tuesday, a state government spokeswoman said: All ministers are expected to act with integrity as they manage their portfolios to deliver the best outcomes for Victorians. Madrid: Anthony Albanese will tell a critical NATO summit that under his leadership a mature Australia will stand up against threats to democracy in the Indo-Pacific and further afield, as western nations prepare to further isolate Russia on the world stage. The Australian prime minister, invited to the critical two-day meeting of the northern Atlantic alliance as part of the Asia Pacific Four, will tell world leaders that his government is resolute in supporting peace and security throughout the world, but would have a different style than the previous administration. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addresses the media in Madrid where he is attending the NATO summit. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Leaders of the wealthiest democracies have struck a united stance to support Ukraine for as long as it takes as Russias invasion grinds on, vowing to support Kyiv with military hardware and aid, while taking far-reaching steps to cap Kremlin income from the oil sales that are financing the war. The members of the Group of Seven flew from Germany to Spain on Tuesday to join counterparts at an alliance summit in Madrid, vowing to impose severe and immediate economic costs on Russia, while sounding a warning that there is concern about Beijings ever-closer ties with Moscow. Bhopal Branch of CIRC of ICAI hosted a Seminar on MSME at ICAI Bhawan. The Programme was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the Chief guest Shri. P Narahari, (IAS), Principal Secretary, MSME and Chairman, Bhopal Branch. Afterwards CA Ankur Jain Chairman of Bhopal Branch has given the inaugural speech. The programme has been conducted by branch secretary CA Parul Shrivastava. The Speaker of the Session was Anup Kumar Shrivastava and Shri Akhilesh Kumar, Assistant Director (KVIC) shared his thoughts on Policies on MSME. He talked about Ease of Doing Business for MSMEs, Intergovernmental Role and Responsibility, Legislation/Regulatory Framework for MSMEs in India, Access to Finance/ Financial assistance for MSME, Technology Upgradation, Knowledge Management, Ease of Doing Business and Skill Development. The event was also attended by Bhopal Branch Management Committee along with other members: CA Samank Mohabe Vice Chairman, CA Aditya Srivastava, Treasurer and MCM CA Pradeep Mutreja and CA Suchita Goel. About 75 eminent CA Members of City and Non Member participated in the Training program. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has transformed and streamlined its loan processing systems to support its growing broker channel. The bank partnered with digital banking solution provider Sandstone Technology to find a solution which would support the growth of its lending business, better serve its mortgage origination partners and improve its customer experience. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank said indicative approvals had doubled since it implemented indicative decisions. Manual review of automated declined applications was at 10% compared to 100% pre-implementation and variation applications were up 27% compared with the same period in 2021. The bank said with the help of Sandstone Technology, it had achieved quicker loan processing through Sandstones loan origination platform LendFast which is integrated with the banks lending ecosystem. Read more: Investors warm to long-touted sale of Suncorp's banking arm The partnership sought a way to further simplify the broker experience to allow a more automated capability to submit loan increases and product conversions in addition to new business. Simultaneously, brokers will also receive more value-adding information from the bank via enhanced back-channel messages in real-time at the point of submission. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank said brokers would enjoy fewer touch points, a significant reduction in rework and an improved experience which aligned to some of the critical success factors within the current transformation program. Darren Kasehagen (pictured above left), general manager of third-party banking at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, said the collaboration with Sandstone Technology had been successful. We strive every day to be a better bank, not just for our valued customers but also for our brokers, Kasehagen said. With legacy lending systems and a growing broker channel, we identified the need to transform our loan processing systems to better support the growth of the banks lending business, better serve our broker channel and improve the overall customer experience. Read more: NSW suffering worst labour shortage in 50 years Kasehagen said the bank was trying to make it as easy as possible for its brokers and customers to work with the organisation. This digital transformation is making that job a lot easier, he said. Our collaboration has helped us streamline our loan applications, improve turn-around times and increase our loan approvals. Sandstone Technology executive general manager, origination AI & ML Poli Konstantinidis (pictured above right) agreed with Kasehagen. Lending today is not just the end-to-end journey from origination to settlement, Konstantinidis said. It now requires the appropriate balance of an engaging user experience across all channels, with speed to value and responsible lending for the bank. This subsequently enables the bank to differentiate itself from its competitors. A South Coast mortgage broker has won the Regional Broker of the Year title at the MFAA NSW and ACT State Excellence awards for the third consecutive year. Mortgage Choice Nowra franchisee and broker Paddy OSullivan (pictured) was recognised for his hard work throughout the past 12 months at the in-person awards night held at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on June 23. Winning for the third year in a row is an incredible achievement and one that makes me extremely proud as a regional broker, OSullivan said. I enjoy running a small business in my hometown of Nowra and the award makes that opportunity even more worthwhile. Its a lovely community and its great to be able to help people with their financing needs, whatever they may be. Read more: MFAA celebrates NSW, ACT Excellence Award winners OSullivan increased his loan writing volume by 32% in 2021 which was recognised by the MFAA award judging panel. In his acceptance speech, OSullivan (pictured receiving his award) credited his award win to his growing team and the support of the mortgage industry. I cant compliment my wonderful team enough on the work they do every day to make our business successful, he said. We expanded our loan and office administration team this year to realise the potential growth in our business and it has been one of the best decisions we have made. I also appreciate all the support from the people within our industry. The MFAA has been hosting the state excellence awards across Australia over the past five weeks, celebrating high achievers within the mortgage industry across Australia. Read more: Top lenders, brokers honoured MFAA CEO Mike Felton said the awards recognised its members who had excelled in areas including customer service, professionalism, ethics, growth and innovation. We received a phenomenal number of nominations for the MFAA Excellence Awards this year, which made a difficult task for our judges but is also indicative of a successful, vibrant and rapidly growing industry, Felton said. OSullivan will automatically become a finalist in the MFAA National Excellence Awards which will be held on July 27 at The Star Event Centre in Sydney. German premium car brand on Tuesday said it has delivered more than 2,000 units of its mid-size Virtus sedan under its mega delivery programme for the vehicle over a period of two weeks. The five-seater, all-new Virtus, was launched in the country on June 9, at an introductory price of Rs 11.21 lakh (ex-showroom) to reignite the premium mid-size sedan segment, as per the company. has delivered over 2,000 Virtus to customers over a period of two weeks from its launch in the domestic market, Passenger Cars India said in a statement. Since its introduction, the car has received an incredible response and customer demand owing to which the company has commenced its 'Big by delivery', mega delivery program pan-India, it said. Last week, Volkswagen Passenger Car India had announced the car's entry in the "India Book Records," after a single dealership in Kochi (Kerala) delivered 150 units of the premium sedan to customers in a single day. Virtus is developed on the company's MQB A0 IN platform and manufactured at its Chakan facility in Pune. "At Volkswagen India, we are extremely delighted to witness the new Virtus win our customers' hearts through its striking design, exhilarating performance and German-engineering. "The love, admiration and phenomenal response for the Volkswagen Virtus by our customers can be seen through the mega delivery program organized across India. We welcome our new customers with great humility and look forward to offering them the best of products and services by Volkswagen," said Ashish Gupta, Brand Director at Volkswagen Passenger Cars India. The car comes equipped with the 4EVER Care package that offers 4-years/1,00,000 km warranty extendable up to seven years, four years road-side assistance extendable up to 10 years besides three labor free services. (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.) and Special Economic Zone Limited approached the against the Bombay High Courts order dismissing its plea challenging the disqualification of its bid by the Board of Trustees of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The contract was for upgrading a container terminal in Navi Mumbai. The counsel for approached the apex court bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala on Tuesday seeking an urgent listing of the matter. The counsel sought to restrain JNPA from proceeding with other bids until the matter is heard by the apex court. This is an extraordinary urgency. India's leading port manager was cleared as a bidder, but was disqualified later. Then, the gave a judgment yesterday dismissing our plea challenging the disqualification and now they are offering the bid again. Kindly list the matter tomorrow and ask them to not proceed with other bids, the counsel for Adani Ports, said in a virtual appearance. The bench told the counsel to approach the Vacation Officer. Please go before the Registry, the court said. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik of Bombay had earlier rejected the plea by and asked them to pay Rs 5 lakh to JNPA. It had already submitted Rs 4.25 lakh to JNPA with the tender so Rs 75,000 was outstanding. It had also refused to restrict JNPA to proceed with other bids. The plea said the bidding process had two stages, namely, the first stage being a global invitation of Request for Qualification (RFQ) from interested parties, and the second stage was where the applicants had to send their Request for Proposal. Adani Ports said the Board of Trustees JNPA had sought a clarification from them after they submitted their RFQ. Though the JNPA Board acknowledged that Adani Ports had clarified the query the Board had sought, the Board later disqualified Adani from the bidding process. The power of disqualification has been exercised according to the terms and conditions of the RFQ, the Board said in its submission to the . Meanwhile, Adani had said the Boards disqualification was illegal and in violation of fundamental rights'. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel made a slew of announcements on Tuesday during his interaction at different public events in the Bharatpur-Sonhat constituency in Korea district. In village Bahrasi, he pledged to develop Ramdaha Falls as a tourist destination, sanction of Rs 5 lakh for a Devgudi in all the villages of the constituency and Rs 3 crore as compensation for those affected by the Janakpur-Kotadol road, an official communication said. He approved construction of a new building for the Bahrasi Higher Secondary School, a power substation at Madisarai, electricity supply for 26 villages and opening a District Co-Operative Bank and a Swami Atmanand English Medium School in Kelhari. Kunwarpur and Nagpur will be given the status of sub-tehsil while the Janakpur Gram Panchayat will be upgraded as Nagar Panchayat. The announcements in village Ramgarh were to create a sub-tehsil there, lay a road from Ramgarh to Kotdol, a mini stadium besides solar power in villages of Ramgarh, Natwahi, Singhor, Itwar, Ugyav, Amritpur, Khairwaripara, Chuladar, Garnai and Jhapar. The other promises were upgrading a Primary Health Centre into a Community Health Centre and installation of a mobile tower in Ramgarh. On demand of local MLA Gulab Kamro in village Rajauli, Baghel said an anicut will come up at Katgodi, the Rajauli High School will be upgraded as a Higher Secondary School and the Sonhat Community Health Centre will become a 50-bed hospital. Baghel also announced electrification of villages Chandaha, Banshipur, Nava Tola and Kachohar of Sonhat block. In a move that signals the succession of the third generation of the Ambani family, has stepped down as the director of Infocomm (RJIL), handing over the reins to son Akash, who will take over as the chairman of the firm. In a stock exchange filing, Infocomm on Tuesday said its board approved the appointment of Akash Ambani, non-executive director, as chairman, at a meeting held on Monday. The transition, which comes ahead of an anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of Jio Platforms, could also see Akashs twin sister Isha take on a greater role in RILs retail business, housed under Reliance Retail. While this is the first instance of billionaire taking the backseat, he will remain involved in overseeing the digital businesses. He is the chairman of Jio Platforms, the flagship company that owns all of Jios digital service brands, including RJIL. Marquee investors such as Facebook and Google, private equity firms, and sovereign wealth funds who pumped in over Rs 1.5 trillion in the company in 2020 are also shareholders in Jio Platforms, in which (RIL) has a majority stake. Thirty-year-old Akash is an economics graduate from Brown University in the US, and has been involved with Jio since its inception. He is also a board member of Jio Platforms. According to company officials, Akash was closely involved with the launch of the JioPhone in 2017. The handset helped the company grow its customer base, especially in tier-II and III markets. With over 410 million subscribers, Jio is the largest mobile service provider in India. Jio Infocomm accounts for over 90 per cent of revenue and Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) of Jio Platforms and includes its mobile and fibre (broadband) segments. 14 acquisitions Akash has also been instrumental in the companys acquisitions in the digital space and the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. Over the past few years, Jio Platforms has made 14 acquisitions in areas such as music streaming (Saavn), edtech, digital health care, conversational AI, drone-based solutions, mixed reality, simulation software, and augmented reality, among others. Analysts said the transition was expected and the next step would be unlocking the value of the digital and retail businesses through IPOs. Akash has been involved in the business for a long time. It (his appointment as Jio Infocomm chairman) combines value creation, IPO preparation, and succession planning. There are talks about demergers, and I think those processes are going on, said Vikas Khemani, founder, Carnelian Asset Management. Geetanjali Kedia, senior research analyst of SP Tulsian Investment Advisory Services, said it was clear that the company was giving shape to the succession since Jio and the retail verticals have scaled up. Since RIL is the mother company with a complex cross-holding structure, streamlining the business is called for and a well-charted succession plan, unlike the previous time, is the right way forward. The next generation is anyways already being groomed for larger roles, making ownership and control change only a matter of time, she said. Share price Though the announcement was made after market hours, RILs shares closed at Rs 2,529 apiece on the BSE, up 1.5 per cent over the previous close. Market experts said, though, that there may not be an immediate impact of Tuesdays move on RILs share price. The stock might not rerate significantly because the valuation of Jio Platforms has been established by many investors, said Khemani. The IPOs of Jio and Reliance Retail will be the next logical steps. Value unlocking will happen after the IPOs of the digital and retail businesses, Kedia added. A smooth succession is important for all stakeholders, considering the feud of the mid-2000s when Mukesh and younger brother Anil Ambani parted ways after the death of their father Dhirubhai Ambani. Other appointments Meanwhile, the RJIL board also approved the appointment of Pankaj Mohan Pawar as managing director, and Raminder Singh Gujral and KV Chowdary as independent directors for a period of five years starting June 27, subject to shareholders approval. The approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday challenging a lower court order denying it the custody of those arrested in the CDSCO bribery scandal allegedly involving a senior executive of Biologics, officials said. The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the parties concerned and will hear the case on July 2, they said. The could not question the accused arrested by it even after six days, officials said and expressed apprehension that the delay might impede the investigation. A special court here had sent all the five accused, including a joint drug controller at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), to judicial custody after they were arrested for alleged bribery of Rs four lakh to waive phase-3 clinical trial of 'Insulin Aspart' injection of Biologics to manage Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The request seeking their police remand for custodial interrogation was denied twice by the special court which sent them to judicial custody. Sources said CBI officials were disappointed that the court rejected their application for custody twice as immediate questioning after arrest in a trap case is of extreme importance for the agency so the accused do not get a chance to develop an alibi in their defence. (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.) major BYJU's on Tuesday named Krishna Vedati as President of Global Growth and Strategic Initiatives, along with rejigging top leadership at K-12 creative coding platform Tynker (which it acquired for $200 million) as part of its US expansion. Vedati, Co-Founder and CEO of Tynker, will report to BYJU's Co-Founder and CEO Byju Raveendran. Srinivas Mandyam, Co-Founder and CTO of Tynker, will replace Vedati as Tynker's CEO, and Kelvin Chong, Tynker Co-Founder and Chief Architect, now takes on the expanded role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the company said in a statement. "With more than 150 million users on our personalised learning platform, it is important for us to put in place the leadership necessary to continue scaling our businesses globally," said Raveendran. "With exceptional experience in business and consumer user growth, and strategic brand partnerships, Krishna is ideally suited for this new role," he added. Vedati will serve as a senior executive for the Americas helping drive topline revenue and user growth, partnerships with major brands, and identifying strategic acquisitions. Vedati will also expand the company's international offering by overseeing new integrated products and services from the BYJU'S learning portfolio to students and teachers in Canada, the US, and Latin America, said the company. Raveendran is currently focusing his energies on global operations, especially in the US, as the Indian online market shrinks considerably with schools, colleges and tuition centres reopening. The unicorn made at least 10 acquisitions for a cumulative transaction value of about $2.5 billion last year. So far, BYJU's has raised over $6 billion in funding, with Raveendran infusing $400 million from his own pocket, during the latest $800 million funding round at a valuation of $22 billion in March. BYJUs is also aiming to file an IPO in the US through the SPAC route. Raveendran is out of India, meeting investors in the US and the UAE. Sources close to the development earlier told IANS that Raveendran is all set to hand over India operations to Chief Operating Officer Mrinal Mohit. "I am proud of the deep bench we have in our leadership ranks, enabling a seamless transition at our newest portfolio company Tynker as Srinivas and Kelvin move into their new roles," said Raveendran. --IANS na/svn/ (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.) Global firm will invest an undisclosed amount in Varmora Granito Pvt. Ltd. to pick up a strategic minority stake in the Gujarat-based tile and bath ware . Equity for the transaction will come from funds managed and advised by entities affiliated with Asia Partners Growth. bank Steer Advisors is assisting Varmora in the transaction expected to close in the second quarter of FY23, subject to customary closing conditions. Varmora, a founder-led established in 1994, sells premium tiles, faucets, sanitary ware and other products through a national distribution network that includes more than 200 brand outlets in and globally. Varmora said it will use the partnership with for investments in brand building, digital marketing, expanding distribution, and product innovation. The has invested around Rs 300 crore for a new tile manufacturing facility with a capacity of 35,000 sq. m. per day. With 11 plants and after expansion, the company's installed production capacity stand at nearly 150,000 sq. m. per day. Carlyle has a positive outlook for Indias residential sector, which is gaining from rising per capita and premium products, and it expects significant growth for a branded building materials consumer player such as Varmora. According to Amit Jain, managing director and co-head at Carlyle Advisors, Varmora has a differentiated product portfolio, pan- distribution network and an experienced management team. "We are pleased to announce our partnership with Carlyle. Their business-building approach, trusted partnership mindset and deep global expertise in this space made them our preferred partner in this exclusive transaction," said Bhavesh Varmora, chairman of Varmora Granito. Carlyles global private equity funds have experience in the consumer and retail sectors, with investments in Grand Foods China (McDonalds China franchisee), Delhivery Ltd and Golden Goose, among others. Globally, Carlyle has invested approximately $25 billion of equity in over 135 deals in the consumer, media and retail sector, as of March 31, 2022. Having doubled its turnover in three years to Rs 2,100 crore in FY22, Gujarat's emerging medium brand Gulab Oils is now eyeing a turnover Rs 5,000 crore over the next 3-4 years on the back of its pan-India presence and capacity expansion. "We more than doubled our turnover on the back of healthy growth in the business during the past three years. Now that we are expanding our presence from four states to 10 on the back of capacity and product portfolio expansion, we hope to touch Rs 5,000 crore in next 3-4 years," Dishit Nathwani, director of Gulab and Foods Pvt. Ltd. Started in 1966 with a single mill in Mangrol, the Gujarat-based company is now looking to become an oil-cum- company, similar to . As a part of the expansion plan, Gulab Oils recently introduced a fresh new look for its entire range of . The new look is expected to cater wider consumer groups across the nation. "The company is already present in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and aims to expand in 10 states in near future. To support this growing demand, we have a state-of-the-art production unit which is under construction and will be operational by mid-2023. This would lead to a huge increase in daily overall production capacity of from 100 tonnes to 1,000 tonnes," said Mukesh Nathwani, CMD, Gulab Oil and Foods Pvt Ltd. From operating in just groundnut oil, the company has gone on to add cottonseed, sesame, mustard and coconut oil. Apart from giving its flagship brand Gulab a new look, the company has also revamped its snacks brand Rewynd apart from launching a premium vertical called Gulab Goodness that offers organic products like cold-pressed oils, raw honey and pink salt, among other things. According to Dishit, the company has also launched an organic staples brand called 'True Story' that will offer rice, sugar, flour, cereals and pulses, among other things which the company will gradually expand to metros like Mumbai and Delhi. While the company is funding its capacity expansion of Rs 100 crore through internal accruals, going forward, the company is open to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO), said Dishit. Meanwhile, in order to cater online buyers, the company has also launched its own e-commerce platform 'shopgulab.com' that will deliver all products pan-India. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor has complained to Indias regulator about the use of its livery on aircraft, saying the practice could "mislead the public" and is a safety hazard. Jet collapsed in 2019 and lessors repossessed its Boeing 737s. Some of these were leased to SpiceJet, which operates them without changing the livery. Jet, which is now being revived by the Kalrock Jalan consortium and aims to restart operations in September, has asked the Directorate General of Civil (DGCA) to ask to stop using its livery. sported blue and ochre colours and had a flying sun logo on its tail. tails are painted red. It has come to our notice that many of the continue to fly in full Jet Airways colours on the fuselage and tail with our name blanked off and overwritten by decalsSome of these aircraft have been involved in accidents/incidents, photographs of which have been widely circulated in the media, said Captain Priyapal Singh, Jet Airwayss accountable manager, in a letter to the regulator. Airline liveries are fundamental statements of branding and corporate identity and all operators endeavour to make theirs as distinctive and readily recognizable as possible. Therefore, it is evident that an operator flying its aircraft in another airlines livery has a serious potential to mislead the public about the identity of the operator, something which cannot be taken lightly. There is also a safety hazard as it can confuse ground staff and crew operating other aircraft about the identity of the aircraft in question, he said. A SpiceJet spokesperson said that the airline has not received any communication from the DGCA, adding older planes (flown earlier by Jet Airways) are being phased out. These planes are being replaced by the 737Max aircraft, he said. On May 20, received DGCA's nod to restart operations. The airlines air operator certificate was revalidated after reviewed its operational preparedness. According to a Bloomberg report, Airbus is favourite to win a $ 5.5 billion order from Jet Airways for A320 and A220 aircraft. The airline is in talks with plane manufacturers, and a spokesperson said final negotiations were on with lessors and plane manufacturers for its fleet. The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has dismissed Future Groups plea to terminate the arbitration proceedings between the Kishore Biyani-led firm and . The order said that there is no ground for the termination of the proceedings under Section 32 of the Arbitration Act. The order comes after Future Retail filed a petition in SIAC asking for the termination of the proceeding on the basis of Competition Commission of Indias (CCI) order that suspended the deal between and Future Coupons. SIAC also made observations in its order that has been seen by Business Standard, The Tribunal finds that the Section 7 IBC Application has not rendered the continuation of these proceedings impossible or unnecessary. The order by Michael Hwang, the presiding arbitrator for the tribunal also said, It is unnecessary for the Tribunal to make any findings with respect to Amazons contention that the termination applications ought to be rejected on account of Respondents contumacious conduct. On April 23, Reliance Retail said it will not move on its plan to buy Future Groups businesses after secured lenders to the Kishore Biyani-led company voted against the deal. A majority of secured creditors had voted against the resolution needed to approve Future Groups Rs 24,713 crore scheme to sell most of its retail and logistical businesses to Reliance Retail. As part of the Rs 24,713-crore deal announced in August 2020, Future Retail is to sell 19 operating in the retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing segments to Reliance Retail Ventures. Post the deal, then approached SIAC in 2020 on the back of its 2019 deal with Future Coupons to oppose Future Groups deal with Reliance Retail. (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.) and Private Limited (SPCPL), the flagship of the 150-year-old SP Group, has successfully exited from the one-time debt restructuring scheme by selling a part of its assets and pledging a part of its stake in the investment firms. As the effected a turnaround in fiscal 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic hit its core real estate in FY 2021, experts say the group is back in with Pallonji Mistrys sons now leading the businesses. In early 2012, had handed over the day-to-day operations of the group to his elder son, Shapoor, while his younger son, Cyrus, took over as the executive chairman of the biggest conglomerate in India later in the year in October. had divided his stakes in various investment equally between his two sons quite early. Most of the groups construction and real estate businesses are held by SPCPL as subsidiaries and joint ventures, but they fell into a financial crisis after the pandemic struck in March 2020. As the cash flows from its real estate projects dried up, the flagship company opted for debt restructuring under the Reserve Bank of India guidelines issued in August-September 2020. ALSO READ: Towering legacy: Pallonji Mistry's business achievements span continents In April this year, the group said that it settled the companys debt by making a one-time payment of Rs 12,450 crore to its 22 lenders, leaving its balance sheet with a Rs 3,600-crore loan. Of this, the promoters raised around Rs 11,000 crore by pledging stake in the investment that are holding shares in . The family owns 18.4 per cent stake in . The net worth of the Pallonji family is pegged at $29 billion by Bloomberg, taking into account their stake in Tata Sons and their construction . At Rs 12,450 crore, & Companys one-time settlement was the largest in the system. The group had sought two years for settling its dues but managed to come out of it within one year, experts said. According to company filings, it made a profit of Rs 337 crore on revenues of Rs 7,583 crore in the fiscal year ending March this year as compared to a loss of Rs 1,396 crore on revenues of Rs 6,457 crore in the pandemic-hit fiscal year ending March 2021. The SP Groups 60-year-old relationship with the Tata group was roiled by the Tata Sons boards removal of Cyrus as chairman of the Tata group in October 2016, much ahead of his five-year tenure, leading to a messy legal battle for years. In March last year, the Supreme Court sided with the Tatas saying that Mistrys ouster was in accordance with the law. The repayment was enabled by the Mistry family by infusing over Rs 5,100 crore into the company in FY22. The group also received Rs 3,750 crore from monetising two of its assets Eureka Forbes and Sterling Wilson Renewable Energy in September and October last year. The group had also reportedly raised Rs 4,000 crore from lender HDFC after pledging shares of Sterling Investment Corporation, which owns 9.19 per cent in Tata Sons, the core holding company of the Tata group. Experts say the group is regaining ground. The SP Group is built on a firm foundation. I have no doubt that they will find their way back from their over-leveraged situation. Right now, it is work in progress. The big thrust for them remains real estate, infrastructure and construction. Their attention will be there, though they have cut their involvement in renewable energy, Shailesh Haribhakti, chairman, Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates, who has worked with the group, said. The groups contribution is immense in real estate and construction. I remember going to Oman in the 1970s and seeing the palace of the Sultan of Oman, which was built by the SP Group. It was quite a feat. Pallonji Mistry built wonderful structures and he will be remembered for that as well as for his charitable works, Nadir Godrej, chairman, Godrej Industries, said. Among the landmarks built by the SP Group include the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, Taj Mahal Palace, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Grindlays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank in Mumbai. After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the company was involved in the repairs and renovation of the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Other notable projects built by the SP group include the Jumeirah Lake Towers in Dubai and Ebene Cyber City in Mauritius. resigns from board of Reliance Jio, son Akash made chairman Reliance Industries chairman has resigned from the board of his group's telecom arm, Reliance Jio and handed over the reins of the company to elder son Akash, a step seen as succession planning by the 65-year old billionaire. In a stock exchange filing, Reliance Jio Infocomm said the company's board at a meeting on June 27, "approved the appointment of Akash M Ambani, non-executive director, as chairman of the board of directors of the company." READ MORE. to increase prices of commercial vehicles by 1.5%-2.5% on Tuesday said it will increase the prices of its commercial vehicles, in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 per cent, from July 1 to partially offset rising input costs. The hike will be across the range of commercial vehicles and the quantum will depend on individual model and variant, said in a regulatory filing. READ MORE. 'Return and talk to me': Uddhav to rebel Sena MLAs camping in Guwahati Striking a reconciliatory note a day after divesting the portfolios of all nine rebel Shiv Sena ministers and against the backdrop of the Supreme Court granting relief to breakaway MLAs, party chief on Tuesday appealed to the dissidents camping in Guwahati to return to Mumbai and talk to him, saying it's not "too late". Thackeray's offer to mend fences comes against the backdrop of controversial statements made by some Shiv Sena leaders, especially Sanjay Raut whose "40 bodies without soul" statement had caused a flutter. READ MORE. Walgreens to retain ownership of UK-based Boots business Walgreens Boots Alliance on Tuesday scrapped its plan to sell its UK high street pharmacy chain, Boots, saying no third party was able to make an adequate offer due to the turmoil in the global financial markets. The company put its Boots business up for sale after announcing a strategic review in January as the second-largest U.S. pharmacy chain renewed its focus on the domestic healthcare. READ MORE. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel admitted on Tuesday to a group of school students that he would get scolded by his parents when he was young because of his habit of returning home late. Talking to girls at a tribal hostel in a village in Ramgarh region in Korea district, Baghel was pressed by the students to share his childhood memories with them. The Chief Minister promptly went down the memory lane. I used to play all the regional games in my village including the spinning top and gilli-danda, he said. I also had to face the wrath of my parents when I returned late in the evening. Some time I went on long walks with the village shepherd. He would take me grazing land, a long way from my village. It was adventurous but my parents used to scold at me after that, he added. During the interaction, a girl, Shalini, asked the Chief Minister how their village looked like from a flying helicopter. It is very beautiful, he responded, triggering clapping from the tribal girls. A Class 5 student, Anuradha, sang a song in praise of the Chief Minister, who planted a sapling of a sandal tree in the hostel premises before leaving. LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia should halt the search for a new investor in Konkola Mines (KCM) until litigation with Resources is settled, the Indian mining company said on Tuesday. Zambia's previous government put KCM in the hands of a liquidator in May 2019, triggering the ongoing legal dispute with Resources, KCM's parent company. The government accused of failing to honour licence conditions, including promised investment. Vedanta has repeatedly denied it broke the terms of its licence. KCM provisional liquidator Celine Nair said on June 7 that the company would appoint an adviser to help it to find an equity investor willing to fund the mine's expansion. But Vedanta Resources spokesperson Masuzyo Ndhlovu told Reuters on Tuesday that no investor could buy the mine and smelter complex without the consent of Vedanta. "Significant efforts to sell KCM to other were made previously, but these efforts failed," Ndhlovu said in a written response to Reuters questions. Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe declined to comment on the matter. Vedanta would not participate in KCM's eventual open tender to select a new investor, Ndhlovu said, calling it "illegal". An arbitration hearing in London is due to take place in January 2023. Vedanta had hoped discussions with the government and its mining investment arm, ZCCM-IH, could culminate in an amicable settlement, Ndhlovu said. "Continuation of further legal proceedings will cost a lot to Zambia and also KCM assets continue to deteriorate with no funding available," Ndhlovu said. Vedanta has offered to step up investment in KCM if it resumes control of the business. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Helen Reid and David Goodman) (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.) American retail major Walgreens Alliance on Tuesday said it would retain its pharma retail business thus abandoning the entire sale process. The did not make any comment specifically on the offer made by Mukesh Ambani-owned (RIL), which had made a bid for the last month. As a result of market instability severely impacting financing availability, no third party has been able to make an offer that adequately reflects the high potential value of and No7 Beauty . Consequently, WBA has decided that it is in the best interests of shareholders to keep focusing on the further growth and profitability of the two businesses, Walgreens said in a statement. will continue to look for growth opportunities overseas if good opportunities arise, said company insiders. Walgreens has been encouraged by productive discussions held with a range of parties, receiving significant interest from prospective buyers. However, since launching the process, the global have suffered unexpected and dramatic change, Walgreens said in a statement. As a result of market instability severely impacting financing availability, no third party has been able to make an offer that adequately reflects the high potential value of Boots and No7 Beauty Company. Consequently, WBA has decided that it is in the best interests of shareholders to keep focusing on the further growth and profitability of the two businesses, Walgreens said. The US-based company said the decision to retain the businesses had been supported by the strong performance and growth of Boots and No7 Beauty Company, which have exceeded expectations despite challenging conditions. had made a conservative bid for Boots keeping in mind the fears of a recession in the western markets, bankers said. Walgreens was seeking a valuation of about 7 billion ($8.54 billion) for Boots but RILs bid was around 5 billion ($6.10 billion). Apart from RIL, billionaire Issa brothers of the and TDR Capital had evinced interest in the company, but later backed out. Boots is the UKs leading health and beauty retailer and since the formation of WBA at the end of 2014, the US company has significantly invested in Boots and No7 beauty company. Given their unmatched assets and unparalleled potential, Walgreens Boots Alliance will continue investing in the future of these two businesses, the company said. We have now completed a thorough review of Boots and No7 Beauty Company, with the outcome reflecting rapidly evolving and challenging financial market conditions beyond our control. It is an exciting time for these businesses, which are uniquely positioned to continue to capture future opportunities presented by the growing healthcare and beauty markets," Chief Executive Officer Rosalind Brewer said. The board and I remain confident that Boots and No7 Beauty Company hold strong fundamental value, and longer term, we will stay open to all opportunities to maximise shareholder value for these businesses and across our company, Brewer said. While leader Sanjay Jaiswal was attacking the government over the massive violence during the Agnipath protests, state Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav asked him about the 1,111 arrests made during the agitation. Sanjay Jaiswal during the Agnipath protest had criticised the government for not acting against the mob, which led to massive scale in violence in several districts. "The Bihar Police has arrested 1,111 persons involved in the arson during the Agnipath protest. The opposition leaders are demanding to release the youths arrested during Agnipath agitation. If Bihar Police had not acted against the agitators then how could 1,111 persons be lodged behind the bars. Jaiswal should answer on it," said Yadav, who is a minister from the Janata Dal (United) quota in the NDA coalition government led by in Bihar. "The opposition leaders are not allowing the monsoon session to run smoothly. They are protesting in and outside of the house and demanding immediate release of the agitators. Then who is on the right side, opposition leaders or Sanjay Jaiswal and other leaders," Yadav said. "We are running the government under a coalition and should respect the sentiments of the alliance before reacting or blaming us," Yadav said. --IANS ajk/dpb (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 brand new Pawan Hans' Sikorsky chopper with 9 people on board crashed into the Arabian Sea, about 50 nautical miles from the Mumbai coast on Tuesday, killing four people -- including three employees. The helicopter, which was part of the six Sikorsky S-76D helicopters that had recently leased from Milestone Aviation Group, was about 4-5 minutes away from its destination - ONGC's Sagar Kiran rig - when the incident took place, company officials with direct knowledge of the matter said. The chopper went down around 1145 hrs, just 1 nautical mile away from Sagar Kiran, but managed to stay afloat with the help of the attached floaters, helping rescuers pull out all the nine, including two pilots, after and Navy/Coast Guard scrambled in one of the fastest rescue missions in the western offshore. Four of the nine pulled out were unconscious and airlifted in a Navy chopper to a hospital in Mumbai, where they were declared dead, an official said. Three of the dead are employees of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the state-owned firm which had hired helicopter service from to support its oil and gas exploration and production operations in the western offshore. The fourth person belongs to a contractor working for . The circumstances that led to the incident were not immediately known but western offshore had inclement weather and there was a swell in the sea. Officials said ONGC has already instituted an inquiry into the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also likely to order a separate inquiry. Detailing sequence, officials said the chopper took off from Juhu helibase this morning just like any other day but 1 or 1.5 km from the landing zone on the rig, it went down into the sea. It, however, managed to stay afloat with floaters fitted on such helicopters going offshore. "What we don't know is if the helicopter toppled during the float," an official said. On first information, ONGC and Navy scrambled vessels for the rescue. A high-speed boat from Sagar Kiran rig was first to reach the spot. In a matter of 90-100 minutes, all personnel were pulled out. While vessel Malviya-16 rescued four persons, one person was pulled out by rescue boat from Sagar Kiran rig. Navy choppers airlifted four unconscious persons to hospitals in Mumbai, the official said. The helicopter sank soon after. A multi-support vessel (MSV) is already at the spot, trying to salvage the helicopter wreckage, he said, adding divers too are at the spot. ONGC has key oil and gas fields off the Mumbai coast and helicopters routinely ferry company employees and officers to the oil installations that are situated as far as 160 kilometres from the coastline. The fields in the offshore include Mumbai High, the nation's largest oil field, and Bassein fields, the largest gas field. The is not the first accident in ONGC's history. In August 2003, a Mi-172 helicopter crashed off the Mumbai coast, killing 27 people and the pilot on board. On January 13, 2018, a Pawan Hans helicopter with seven people on board, including five ONGC officers and two pilots, crashed off the Mumbai coast minutes after it took off for the state-owned company's oil installation in the Arabian Sea. All seven died. In 2002, a Dauphin helicopter hired by ONGC crashed into the sea but the 10 passengers were rescued. In April 2003, a Bell 412 helicopter ferrying ONGC personnel crashed while landing at the Juhu aerodrome. Later ONGC in a statement said the helicopter carrying nine persons on board "made an emergency landing around 11.45 am today on the Arabian Sea". The regional contingency plan was immediately activated. "With prompt action, one person was rescued by lifeboat launched from ONGC rig Sagar Kiran and four persons were rescued by ONGC stand-by vessel Malviya-16," it said. "Despite inclement weather conditions, the rescue operations were carried out very swiftly," it added. Four persons rescued by a Navy chopper were brought to the base unconscious. "Unfortunately, they could not survive," the statement said. "ONGC deeply mourns this tragic loss of lives. ONGC is reaching out to the affected families and extending all possible support." "#SAR #RescueAtSea All nine survivors rescued. Four survivors picked by OSV Malviya 16, one by boat of Sagar Kiran oil rig & two each by #IndianNavy ALH & Seaking helicopters. Four critical survivors being evacuated to Juhu by Navy helicopters for management at @ONGC_ hospital, PRO Defence, Mumbai, tweeted. The Navy had deployed the Seaking and ALH helicopters and Indian Naval Ship Teg for the rescue of passengers and crew of the ONGC helicopter 60 nautical miles from Mumbai. The Coast Guard also diverted a ship to reach the spot, while another ship sailed out from Mumbai with dispatch to join the rescue operations. The Coast Guard aircraft also dropped life rafts for survivors and the international safety net was activated by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (Mumbai), the defence official 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.) The registration for the first batch of soldiers under the Agnipath scheme -- a new short-term recruitment plan that recruits Agniveers in the armed forces -- for the will start on July 1, Friday. Agniveers who wish to apply for the posts of Agniveer SSR and Agniveer MR will be able to register for the same from Friday on the official website of the Indian Navy, at joinindiannavy.gov.in. The will release a detailed notification for the recruitment process of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme on July 9, 2022. The application window will remain open from July 15 to July 30, 2022. The Navy is expected to conduct the online exams for recruitment of Agniveers in October this year. The medicals and joining will commence on November 21, 2022. The Navy is hiring under the Agnipath scheme for two posts: Agniveer SSR and Agniveer MR. Also Read: IAF receives 56,960 applications under Agnipath scheme in three days To apply for Agniveer SSR vacancies, candidates should be Class 12th pass out from a board recognised by the Ministry of Education with Mathematics, Physics, and either Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science as their subject. SSR candidates would be deployed on aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers and frigates, replenishment ships, and other technical submarines and aircraft of the . For Agniveer MR, candidates must be class 10 pass out from a Ministry of Education recognised board. Under Agniveer MR, candidates would be recruited as chefs, stewards and hygienists. In addition, all Agniveers would be given firearms training and allotted other duties for the "efficient running of the organisation". While the age limit under the Agnipath recruitment scheme is between 17.5 years and 21 years, for the 2022 batch, the central government has raised the upper limit of age to 23 owing to the nationwide protests against the scheme. The registration process for recruitment of Agniveers comes amid the protests against the scheme as protesters' demands range from a call for the scrapping of the scheme to the consideration of examinations physical and written which aspirants had already taken, based on the original tour-of-duty terms. The rickshaw men in Tokyo are adding English-speaking staff, a sure sign Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad. Japan's border controls to curb the spread of infections began gradually loosening earlier this month. That's great news for Yusuke Otomo, owner of Daikichi, a kimono rental shop in Asakusa, an old district of Tokyo famous for its temples, quaint restaurants and rickshaw rides. He can barely contain his excitement. Those were a hard three years. But we managed to endure until today. And after such an experience, to think people from abroad can finally come back is simply thrilling, Otomo told The Associated Press. I'm thinking that maybe, just as before COVID, my shop, the city of Asakusa and everyone's hearts can flourish again. I can't wait. Before the pandemic, Asakusa was so brimming with foreigners they sometimes outnumbered the Japanese. After the struck, the streets were deserted. Not a soul in sight, he said sadly. Some kimono rental stores folded. Restaurants were shuttered. The crowds are finally back with a gradual relaxing of the city's COVID-19 restrictions, which called for restaurants to close early and people to social distance and limit attendance at events. But most of the visitors are Japanese. Shuso Imada, general manager at JSS Information Centre, a sake and shochu showroom in downtown Tokyo, said he has been feeling pretty lonely and is itching to tell foreign visitors about how to match the traditional Japanese rice wine with all kinds of non-Japanese food, even cheese and beef. In a way, we didn't have much to do and we just had to wait. The gates have now reopened, he said. But like others waiting for tourists, he acknowledged that the limited entry for tour groups now in effect may not allow time for a relaxing visit to his centre. Visitors have to abide by guidelines requiring travellers to have a special coordinator, stay on specific routes and abide by rules like wearing masks and regularly using disinfectant. Before COVID, tourism was booming as a mainstay of Japan's economy, the world's third largest. Foreign visitors numbered a record 32 million in 2019 and the target for 2020 was 40 million. After COVID struck, the government gradually imposed very restrictive limits on foreign arrivals, for a time excluding many foreign residents. As of June 10, it is allowing foreign tourists to visit, but in limited numbers and only on group tours, not as individual travellers. Visas are required for nearly everyone, even those from countries that normally would have visa-free entry. And they're available only to travellers from 98 so-called blue countries, including the US, who are deemed to pose a minimal health risk and can enter without a quarantine if they show proof they tested negative for COVID within 72 hours of their departures. People entering Japan from countries considered to be a greater risk must quarantine for three days at home or in government-designated facilities. There is a daily cap on arrivals of 20,000 people, including all travellers. And the number of airports open to foreign tourists also is gradually expanding. Worries about COVID-19 remain. If infections shoot up again in another wave, pandemic precautions could be brought back. Japan, a crowded island nation, is wary about outside risks and infectious diseases. After about two years of seeing very few tourists, Japanese have some adjusting to do, Otomo and others said. So the authorities are taking it slow. I would love to have tourists from abroad come, as long as everyone, including myself, abides by the rules, like wearing masks and keeping sanitary standards, said Minaho Iwase, who was visiting Tokyo from Aichi, central Japan, recently. Many tourists might be deterred by the restrictions on independent travel. But some seem not to mind. When my friends asked me to join this trip to Japan, I immediately said, Yes.' I visited Japan before. I love their food, their tradition, and their highly organised culture. Japan is great, said Sorrasek Thuantawee, an office worker who joined a group of eight Thais excitedly preparing to board a flight from Bangkok last week. Japan is a favorite destination, despite its not "opening up 100 per cent," said Nuttavut Mitsumoto, the guide for the group, Thai travel agency Compax World's first to Japan since it relaxed its entry rules. The Japanese yen has weakened this year against the US dollar and other currencies, making visits something of a bargain. A study last month by Money.co.uk, a free online service that compares financial products, found Osaka ranked fourth and Tokyo eighth for most affordable luxury travel, including Michelin star meals and five-star hotels. Back in Asakusa, rickshaw man Shunpei Katayama has yet to drive around his first post-COVID foreign tourist, but English-speaking drivers are back on the job. And for now, Japanese visitors from outside Tokyo are keeping him busy. Japanese who can't go to Guam and other spots abroad come visit Shibuya. And Asakusa, he said. On a recent day, Otomo was shooting photos of a Japanese mother and daughter dressed up in colourful kimono to attend a friend's wedding in Tokyo. The foreign clientele that used to frequent his shop were so enthusiastic about dressing up as samurai, ninja and geisha, complete with swords and hair ornaments. Some quickly became friends, regardless of their nationalities, Otomo recalled a bit sentimentally. When they're happy, I'm happy. They get my adrenaline going, he 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.) Single-use plastics' ban, which will come into force on July 1, is unlikely to see an extension in the deadline, Union Bhupinder Yadav said. The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change had notified the Management Amendment Rules, 2021, in August last year. The rules mandated a ban on manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high-littering potential, in the country from July 1. This would cover rigid plastic items such as plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, wrapping or packaging films, PVC banners less than 100 micron, straws and stirrers. The industry size of single-use is estimated to be Rs 10,000 crore. The ban also covers high single-use plastic products such as ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks on balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks and thermocol for decoration. Several fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies have clamoured against the ban, citing the high cost of alternatives. This, in turn, will increase the cost of final products, they said. Plastic straws are used with tetra juice boxes by leading companies such as Pepsico, Dabur and Parle Agro, among others. These are also the companies, which have reportedly asked the government to defer the ban to a later date. Yadav, however, said the industry was given one year to prepare and there would be no relaxation in the ban. We are expecting cooperation from the FMCG industry. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are currently manufacturing single-use plastics, would be urged to shift to making alternatives. We would run awareness programmes. The government is committed to the initiative and will not take a step back, Yadav said. This paper recently reported that leading companies with a collective turnover of ~6,000 crore alone consume about six billion straws every year. These would need to be replaced with paper straws, which are costlier. India currently does not have domestic manufacturing capacity for this. Parle Agro, makers of Frooti and Appy, had said the industry may have to close factory operations if the deadline is not extended, this paper reported recently. Additionally, the MSMEs have also expressed their concern, saying that a blanket ban could lead to job losses. Ministry officials said capacity-building workshops would be organised for MSMEs. These would provide them technical assistance for manufacturing alternatives. The workshops would be held by central/state pollution control boards along with the ministry of small, micro and medium enterprises and the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering. For effective enforcement of the ban, and state control rooms would be set up. Also, special enforcement teams will be formed for checking illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic items, said officials. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said the 2023 is set to be held in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding it is proof of his success in showcasing India's strength as a global power to the world. The Chief Minister in his address after releasing the book 'Modi@20, Dreams Meet Delivery', said India is set to host the 2023. The heads of 20 leading countries of the world would participate in it. " would host 9 meets related to G20. India is gaining in strength in defence, economy, education and other sectors. The summit would be held in India under Modi's leadership," he stated. "Only a mass leader could find a permanent place in people's hearts. It is not easy to evoke the confidence and fulfil the aspirations of 130 crore people of diverse languages, cultures, castes and religions," the Chief Minister said. "The book 'Modi@20, Dreams Meet Delivery' reflects Modi's thinking. Many achievers including Sudha Murthy, Dr Devi Shetty, PV Sindhu have written for the book," Bommai said, adding: "Modi has special interest towards and is proud of its achievements in technology and other sectors. The book would be translated into Kannada and would be reached to people all over the state." Modi has fulfilled most of his promises for the people. The country needs his able leadership, humane administration and value based politics. He is striving to make India the global leader, he said. "Coming up through humble beginnings as a tea seller at a railway station, Modi imbibed high ideals in life. Inspired by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Vivekananda during his stay at the Ramakrishna Ashram he was immersed in meditation for two years in the Himalayas. He has dedicated his life to serve the people," Bommai said. --IANS mka/pgh (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.) Kicking off preparations for next year's polls, a BJP National Executive Committee (NEC) member including union ministers will spend two days in each assembly constituency of the state from June 30. The leaders will spend two days in the assembly constituencies before the start of the national executive meeting in Hyderabad on June 2. A senior BJP functionary said that one senior leader who is an NEC member including union ministers will spend two days or 48 hours in each assembly constituency before the National Executive meeting. "119 NEC members are assigned one assembly constituency each to spend around two days with people and party cadres to understand ground issues of that particular assembly constituency. The feedback collected through the exercise will be used to redraw party strategy," he said. The election of 119-member assembly will be held at the end of 2023. It is learnt that all the senior leaders including union ministers have been asked to reach their respective assembly constituencies by June 30 morning. is in focus for BJP's 'mission south' and the party has rolled out several programmes to make its presence felt in the state. The two-day BJP NEC meeting scheduled at Hyderabad in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief J.P. Nadda, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and others will be present. Senior leaders including Prime Minister Modi, party Nadda and Shah are actively involved in the preparation and also giving special attention to the state. After the end of two days' NEC meeting, Modi will address a public meeting at Hydrabad's Parade Ground. "Whole programme has been planned to ensure strengthened party presence in the state. Visit by senior leaders and union ministers in an assembly constituency will help in mobilising the cadre for next year state polls and it will also create a buzz among people," a party insider said. An NEC member said that he has been asked to spend around 48 hours in an assembly constituency before the start of the meeting on July 2. --IANS ssb/pgh (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.) co-founder Mohammed Zubair has been allowed by a court here to meet his counsel once a day for half an hour in custody for providing legal assistance, a senior official said. Zubair, 33, was arrested for allegedly hurting sentiments of a particular religious community. His counsel had moved an application for bail, however, the same was heard at length, and after not finding the merits, the bail was ultimately declined. "However, the court allowed the plea of counsel of accused Mohammad Zubair to meet him once in a day for half an hour in custody for providing the legal assistance," said the official. The police had charged Zubair with Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) for one of his objectionable tweets. His followers on social media entities had amplified and created a series of debates and hate mongering in the thread of his tweet, the official added. --IANS uj/shs (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 purported statement of a Congress legislator in Chhattisgarh advocating Bihar-like protests against the Agnipath scheme went viral on social media on Tuesday but the MLA denied making the remark. Congress MLA Vikarm Mandavi reportedly made the comment on Monday at a protest held in Bijapur district, around 400 km from Raipur. Mandavi told a gathering that everyone should oppose the Agnipath military recruitment scheme -- the way it was done in Bihar, where most train burnings took place during street protests. Mandavi said his statement was edited and that he did not call for violence. BJP state President Vishnudeo Sai has urged the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conduct a probe into the issue. on Tuesday produced Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair before a court here in a case related to an objectionable tweet he had posted in 2018 against a Hindu deity. The police produced Zubair before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria on the expiry of his one-day custodial interrogation. The court is likely to begin hearing a police plea for Zubair's custody for five more days. #WATCH | Delhi: Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair brought to Patiala House Court. He was earlier sent to 1-day police remand after being arrested last night over allegations of hurting the religious sentiments of a community. pic.twitter.com/i7wlqxQKVr ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2022 (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 Tuesday, the of India termed the arrest of fact-check site co-founder Mohammed Zubair "extremely disturbing" and called for his immediate release. In a statement, the EGI condemned Zubair's arrest as "brazen" while it pointed to the commitments made by PM in the meeting to protect free speech. "It is apparent that AltNews' alert vigilance was resented by those who use disinformation as a tool to polarise society and rake nationalist sentiments," the Editor's Guild said. The arrested fact-checker Zubair on Monday over a 2018 tweet. He was charged with promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion and deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings. The police, in its FIR, said that Zubair's tweet was "highly provocative and more than sufficient to incite feelings of hatred" among people, media reports quoted. In the tweet, Zubair shared a clip from Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1983 classic Kissi Se Na Kehna. Demanding his release, EGI said, "This is necessary to buttress the commitments made by Prime Minister in the Meet in Germany to ensure a resilient democracy by protecting online and offline content." The of India condemns the arrest of Muhammad Zubair, co-founder of the fact checking site AltNews, by the on June 27, for a tweet from 2018. EGI demands that the should immediately release Muhammad Zubair. pic.twitter.com/q9uYqFxaPA of India (@IndEditorsGuild) June 28, 2022 The arrest has received widespread criticism from Opposition leaders and parties, including Mahua Moitra and Rahul Gandhi. Earlier in the day, DIGIPUB, a body of digital news media organisations, condemned Zubair's arrest, asking the police to withdraw the case against the co-founder immediately. "In a democracy, where every individual possesses the right to exercise the and expression, it is unjustifiable that such stringent laws are being used as tools against journalists, who have been accorded the role of playing watchdog against the misuse of institutions of the state," the organisation said in a statement. Just three years ago not many people could have even thought that would host the G-20 summit. However, the time has changed and has changed for the good. J&K known as "terror capital" of India till August 5, 2019 -- when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate the so-called special status of the Himalayan region and bifurcated it into two Union Territories -- has emerged as the tourism capital of India. Tourists from across the world have visited J&K during the past two and a half years and their number is swelling with each passing day. Peace returning to the erstwhile princely state has done wonders. The Centre's decision to "bite the bullet" and merge J&K completely with the Union of India broke the ice. Encouraged by the tourist footfall and international business houses showing keen interest to invest in J&K, the Government of India has decided to hold the G-20 summit in the Union Territory. The G-20 is a politico-economic alliance comprising 19 countries, including the S, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Russia, China, India, Japan and the European Union. Other member nations include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey. Its summits are also attended by representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). Earlier, in November 2020, G-20 leaders had announced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that India would host the summit of the high-profile grouping in 2023 with the delay of one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The J&K government has constituted a 5-member committee of bureaucrats under Principal Secretary Housing & Urban Development Dheeraj Gupta for overall coordination of G-20 meetings to be held in the Union Territory. The process to host the high profile summit has commenced. The G-20 will be the first major international summit to be held in J&K in the past three and a half decades. Message is loud and clear By choosing J&K as the venue for G-20 summit the Government of India has sent a clear message to the international community that normalcy has returned to the Himalayan region and Pakistan sponsored terrorism is on its last legs. The peace has opened up J&K to the world. The Union Territory is fast turning into one of the most developed regions in the world. After the abrogation of Article 370 -- temporary provision in the Constitution of India -- Kashmir has not witnessed any shutdowns, street protests and stone-pelting incidents. A common man in J&K has heaved a sigh of relief as there have been no disruptions in his life. The elements inimical to peace have been taken care of as their entire ecosystem has been shattered. They have been left with no resources to orchestrate street protests and force people to shut their shops. The strikes and violence have become history. New Delhi once again shows its sincerity People have realized that the ones who used to sponsor shutdowns, protests and processions and violence on streets were the biggest enemies of Kashmiris. They don't want the painful era of violence to return. But there are still a few miscreants left who are creating hurdles in the way of peace at the behest of Pakistan. A common man in J&K needs to understand that peace is a prerequisite for development. He has to realize that the terrorists and their supporters have to be isolated for J&K to reach the new heights. New Delhi has once again proven its sincerity towards the people of the Himalayan region by announcing that the G-20 summit would be held in J&K. It's an honour for the J&K natives as their land would host such an important international meet which will be attended by the representatives of the most powerful countries in the world. Pak reacts sharply, G-20 members ignore gearing up to host the G-20 meet has led to Pakistan reacting sharply. At first place, Pakistan is not a part of the G-20 group as it's a poor country and secondly its claim that the Himalayan region is a disputed territory stands punctured yet again. After India's August 5, 2019, decision Pakistani leaders had knocked the door of every country in the world to pressurize New Delhi to reverse its call to abrogate J&K's special status. No nation, including Islamic countries, entertained the leaders of the neighbouring country. They made it amply clear that they cannot interfere in the internal matters of India. Reacting to India's move to host the G-20 summit in J&K, a spokesman of Pakistan's foreign office stated that was an internationally recognised "disputed" territory between Pakistan and India and the G-20 summit cannot be held there. Pakistan's reaction should serve as an eye-opener for such Kashmiris who still believe that Pakistan is their well wisher. Had Pakistan been the friend of Kashmiris it would not have turned them into cannon-fodder, nor would it have opposed the development and prosperity of J&K. The foreign office spokesman stated: "Contemplating the holding of any G-20-related meeting or event in J&K, in utter disregard of the globally acknowledged disputed status of the territory, is a travesty that the international community cannot accept under any circumstances." He urged the G-20 members to reject the idea of holding the summit in J&K. However, none of the member countries reacted to the statement issued by Pakistan's foreign office thus driving home a point that no one takes Pakistan seriously and considers it as a failed state that has no credibility. In 2-years, J&K received business proposals worth crores During the past two years, J&K has received business proposals worth thousands of crores from the foreign investors. It had never happened in the past 70-years. In May this year the Jammu and Kashmir Government signed six agreements with the business houses based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The business groups that signed MoUs included Al Maya Group, MATU Investments LLC, GL Employment Brokerage LLC, Century Financial, and Noon E-commerce. Letters of Intent were signed with Magna Waves Private Limited, Emaar Group and Lulu International. These business houses would be investing in real estate, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare and manpower employment sectors in J&K. UAE turns its back towards Pak The foreign investments have already started pouring into J&K and the UAE has emerged as a major partner in the development of Union Territory. Dubai making an entry into J&K for the first time in the past seven decades is an indication that the world has recognized the pace with which J&K is traversing on the development bandwagon. Pakistan always used to count on UAE but it has turned its back towards Pakistan and are ignoring it as no developed country in the world would like to support a nation that has turned into a breeding ground for terrorists. The Muslim countries by endorsing India's stand have sent a strong message to Pakistan that they have no second thoughts about J&K being an integral part of India. The J&K hosting G-20 summit would be a big victory for India and a major setback for Pakistan as G-20 comprises the world's largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world's population, 85 per cent of global gross domestic product, 80 per cent of global investment and over 75 per cent of global trade. --IANS dpb/ (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.) Leaders of the powerful grouping and its five partner countries, including India, have said that they are committed to open public debate and the free flow of information online and offline while guarding the freedom, independence and diversity of civil society actors. In a joint statement titled '2022 Resilient Democracies Statement' issued here on Monday during the Summit, the leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said they are prepared to defend these principles and are resolved to protect the freedom of expression. The joint statement came amidst allegations that the Indian government was stifling the freedom of speech and the civil society actors. The leaders said democracies enable open public debate, independent and pluralistic media and the free flow of information online and offline, fostering legitimacy, transparency, responsibility and accountability for citizens and elected representatives alike. The leaders said they resolved to "protecting the freedom of expression and opinion online and offline and ensuring a free and independent media landscape through our work with relevant international initiatives." They promised to guard the freedom, independence and diversity of civil society actors, speak out against threats to civic space, and respect freedom of association and peaceful assembly. The leaders pledged to ensure an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure internet; increase the cyber resilience of digital infrastructure, including by improving and sharing awareness of cyber threats and expanding cyber response cooperation and counter hybrid threats, in particular, information manipulation and interference, including disinformation. They also resolved to cooperate to counter information manipulation, promote accurate information and advocate for shared democratic values worldwide. They vowed to promote affordable access to diverse sources of reliable and trustworthy information and data, online and offline, including through a multi-stakeholder approach, and by strengthening digital skills and digital literacy. They also pledged to enhance transparency about the actions of online platforms to combat violent, extremist and inciting content online in line with the Christchurch Call to Action. The Christchurch Call is a commitment by governments and tech companies to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. They said democracies "lay and protect the foundations for free and vibrant civic spaces, enabling and encouraging civic engagement and political participation, which in turn stimulate meaningful legitimacy, creativity, innovation, social accountability, and responsibility." The leaders said they are committed to building resilience against malign foreign interference and acts of transnational repression that seek to undermine trust in government, society and media, reduce civic space and silence critical voices. The leaders pledged to advance programmes for the protection of human rights defenders and all those exposing corruption; promote academic freedom and strengthen the role of scientific evidence and research in democratic debate; protect civic space, and uphold transparent, accountable, inclusive and participatory governance, including by advancing women's full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership in civic and political life. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Besides India, Germany, the host of the Summit, had also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as guests for the summit to recognise the democracies of the global south as its partners. (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.) and highways Minister on Tuesday asked the to approve wider roads in hills to avoid accidents. Gadkari, who was speaking at the National Highway Excellence Awards, said he intends to bring road accidents down by 50 per cent in the next two years as he cited the disproportionate number of crashes on national highways. Uttarakhand highways are only 3.7 metres wide, beyond that we dont get permission. Every year, 350-400 people die due to insufficient-sized highways and buses falling off. We must have at least two-lane paved shoulder national highways, and if the can give us approval, we can save lives in places like Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Gadkari told Environment Secretary Leena Nandan, who was present at the event. Gadkari said engineers must have another look at detailed project reports (DPRs) for highway projects. These lives are lost because of small things, there needs to be a more cautious approach in designing roads to completely eliminate black spots. There is absolutely no reason for black spots to be there in new roads. The cost of constructing roads must to be reduced through innovative methods. I personally feel the cost of construction is too high. We need to think of how we can bring this cost down by 50 per cent without compromising on the quality, he said. Underlining that rising prices of energy and food grains are affecting all countries amid global tension, Prime Minister on Monday suggested that for ensuring food security the focus should be on fertilisers' availability, structured system for use of Indian agricultural talent, nutritious alternatives like millets and natural farming. In an apparent reference to the Ukraine crisis, Modi noted that the and those invited at its summit were meeting amid an atmosphere of global tension and asserted that India has always been in favour of peace. "Even in the present situation, we have constantly urged for the path of dialogue and diplomacy. The impact of this geopolitical tension is not just limited to Europe. The rising prices of energy and food grains are affecting all the countries," he said in his remarks at the session on Stronger Together: Addressing Food Security and Advancing Gender Equality' at the Summit here. The energy and security of developing countries is particularly at risk, he asserted. In this challenging time, India has supplied food grains to many countries in need, Modi said. "We have dispatched about 35,000 tonnes of wheat as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in the last few months. And even after the heavy earthquake there, India was the first country to deliver relief materials. We are also helping our neighbour Sri Lanka to ensure food security," the prime minister pointed out. Putting forward his suggestions on the subject of global food security, Modi said the focus should be on the availability of fertilizers, and keeping the value chains of fertilizers smooth at a global scale. "We are trying to increase the production of fertilizers in India and seek cooperation from G7-countries in this regard," he said. Noting that India has immense agricultural manpower compared to the countries of the G7, he said Indian agricultural skills have helped give new life to traditional agricultural products like cheese and olive in some of the countries of the . "Can the G7 create a structured system for the widespread use of Indian agricultural talent in its member countries? With the help of traditional talent of India's farmers, food security will be ensured to G7 countries," Modi said. Pointing out that next year, the world is celebrating the International Year of Millets, the prime minister said that on this occasion, we should run a campaign to promote a nutritious alternative like millets. Millets can make a valuable contribution to ensuring food security in the world, he asserted. "Finally, I would like to draw the attention of all of you to the 'natural farming' revolution taking place in India. Your experts can study this experiment. We have shared a non-paper on this subject with all of you," he said. Speaking on gender equality, Modi said India's approach is moving from 'women's development' to 'women-led development'. More than 6 million Indian women frontline workers kept our citizens safe during the Covid pandemic, he said. "Our women scientists made a big contribution in developing vaccines and test kits in India," Modi said. More than one million female volunteers in India are active in providing rural health, whom we call 'ASHA workers', he said, noting that just last month, the World Health Organisation honoured these Indian ASHA workers with its '2022 Global Leaders Award'. "If all the elected leaders in India from local government to national government are counted, more than half of them are women, and the total number will be in millions. This shows that Indian women are fully involved in real decision-making today," he said. "Next year, India is going to chair the G20. We will maintain close dialogue with G7-countries on other issues, including post-COVID recovery, under the G20 platform," Modi said. Earlier, in his remarks at the session on 'Investing in a better Future: Climate, Energy, Health' at the here, Modi asserted that India's dedication to climate commitments is evident from its performance. He also expressed hope that rich countries of G-7 will support India's efforts in combating climate change and invited them to tap the huge market for clean energy technologies emerging in the country. Before the start of the summit, Prime Minister Modi shook hands with US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leaders assembled for a group photo. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The European Union is a 'non-enumerated member'. The German Presidency has invited Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the in Elmau, Bavaria. Modi is attending the G7 summit at the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. (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.) has expressed deep concern over developments in the West Bank, and Gaza, underscoring the importance of the international community and the UN Security Council sending a "strong signal" against any step that would prevent the possibility of durable peace between Israel and Palestine. Speaking at the Security Council meeting on Question of Palestine', India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador R Ravindra said is also following the developments in Masafer Yatta with concern, noting that tensions have risen over the potential legal eviction of the Palestinian families. We remain deeply concerned by developments in the West Bank, and . Violent attacks and the killing of civilians have taken many Palestinian and Israeli lives," he said on Monday. "Acts of destruction and provocation are also continuing. We have consistently advocated against all acts of violence, and reiterate our call for the complete cessation of violence, he said. All unilateral measures that unduly alter the status-quo on the ground and undercut the viability of the two-state solution must be eschewed, he said. "It is extremely important for the international community and this Council to send a strong signal against any step that would prevent the possibility of durable peace between Israel and Palestine, he said. Ravindra said has consistently called for direct peace negotiations between the parties, which New Delhi believes is the best path towards achieving the goal of a two-state solution. These negotiations must be based on the internationally agreed framework, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood and Israel's legitimate security concerns. The absence of these direct talks on key political issues has asymmetrical costs for Israelis and Palestinians and does not augur well for long-term peace in the region," he said. He added that India has always supported a negotiated two-state solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders, side by side at peace with Israel. He stressed that India will continue to support all efforts toward achieving a comprehensive and lasting two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stands ready to contribute constructively to such efforts. New Delhi also voiced appreciation for the Israeli initiative of increasing the number of work permits for Palestinians in the Strip to work in Israel. More needs to be considered to alleviate the humanitarian situation. The need of the hour is dialogue among the relevant stakeholders, he said. India also voiced concern over the continued precarious financial situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), saying lack of funding to the Agency can adversely affect the delivery of humanitarian services to the Palestinian refugee community in Palestine and elsewhere. At the meeting of the Ad hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the announcement of the voluntary contribution to UNRWA, India reiterated its commitment to support the Agency through its annual financial contributions. India has already contributed 20 million dollars over the last four years and has also pledged five million dollars for UNRWA's programme budget for the year 2022. (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.) Prime Minister on Monday addressed a session on food security and gender equality during which he emphasised that India's approach had transitioned from women's development to women-led development. Modi also suggested that for ensuring food security the focus should be on fertilisers' availability, structured system for use of Indian agricultural talent, nutritious alternatives like millets and natural farming. "PM @narendramodi addressed the @G7 Session on food security and gender equality, sharing India's experiences in these domains. Emphasised that India's approach had transitioned from women's development' to women-led development'," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. "(The Prime Minister) suggested the following focus areas for ensuring food security: 1. Fertilisers' availability 2. Structured system for use of Indian agricultural talent 3. Nutritious alternatives like millets 4. Natural Farming," he said in another tweet. Earlier, in his remarks at the session on 'Investing in a better Future: Climate, Energy, Health' at the here, Modi asserted that India's dedication to climate commitments is evident from its performance. He also expressed hope that rich countries of G-7 will support India's efforts in combating climate change and invited them to tap the huge market for clean energy technologies emerging in the country. Before the start of the summit, Prime Minister Modi shook hands with US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leaders assembled for a group photo. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The European Union is a 'non-enumerated member'. The German Presidency has invited Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the in Elmau, Bavaria. Modi is attending the G7 summit at the invitation by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. (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.) Automotive dealers' body FADA on Tuesday said the government's move to bring a new car safety assessment programme on the basis of crash tests performance will not only make the Indian roads safe but it will also bring the country's manufacturing at par with global standards. Lauding the government's plans to introduce Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) from April 1, 2023, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) President Vinkesh Gulati said the programme must be made mandatory for all the manufacturers so that the choice should be on the customer. "This will not only make Indian roads safe but it will also bring Indian manufacturing at par with global standards in terms of product innovation, safety and technology," he said in a statement. There were Indian OEMs which were giving a lot of importance to passenger safety and getting their vehicle tested under Global NCAP, but a lot of multinational OEMs were not interested in this, Gulati lamented. "Having Bharat NCAP criteria will mark a turning point in the development of the Indian automotive sector in terms of product, technology and safety, by providing a platform for testing the safety levels of vehicles in Indian conditions," he added. Stating that the Bharat NCAP will provide the customers a comparison between vehicle models and help them to make a decision considering the crash safety too, he said, "The government should make Bharat NCAP mandatory for all the OEMs, so that the choice should be on the customer." There may be customers who choose a lower Bharat NCAP rating as their use is purely in the city, Gulati argued. Last week, the government had announced that a new car safety assessment programme, Bharat NCAP. The programme proposes a mechanism of awarding 'Star Ratings' to automobiles based upon their performance in crash tests. (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 Chief Minister has said he had visited Dubai five times so far since 2016 after he assumed the top office and never forgot to take any of his baggage on the trip as alleged by case prime accused Swapna Suresh. Vijayan's reply assumed significance in the wake of startling charges raised by Suresh, also a former employee at the UAE Consulate here, that the Chief Minister had forgotten to take a baggage and it was asked to be delivered to Dubai immediately during his 2016 trip. Suresh, in a series of recent press conferences, also alleged that the package was found to contain currency notes and it was later sent to Dubai through a diplomat as per the instructions of the then Consulate General. However, in a single-line reply, Vijayan rejected the charges and made it clear that he did not forget to take his baggage during the Dubai trip. Vijayan gave the written reply in the state Assembly on Monday to a question raised by opposition Congress MLA Anwar Sadath. To another question whether the allegations were factual, he replied that there was no relevance for such a question. Stating that all his trips to Dubai were purely for official purposes, Vijayan also gave detailed replies to the related queries about his programmes and meetings there. However, Chief Minister's former principal secretary M Sivasankar, who was suspended and jailed in connection with the case, reportedly said in an earlier statement to the Customs officials that a baggage was sent to Dubai through a diplomat when Vijayan was there and it comprised some mementos to be delivered during the CM's function there. He reportedly said in the statement that it was decided to entrust a person to physically carry the baggage to Dubai to avoid any delay in the delivery and the help was offered by the Consulate General. The IAS officer had also reportedly said, in his statement, that the packages had reached the state delegation in Dubai ahead of time before the first meeting of the Chief Minister took place there. (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.) After inaugurating 7,500 micro irrigation schemes in Panchkula, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that the results of Mera Pani Meri Virasat Yojana, which was launched two years ago during COVID-19, has started showing results at the ground level. Khattar flagged off mobile vans of micro irrigation in the programme organized in Panchkula by the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA). Along with this, two vehicles were dispatched from all the districts so that the message of water conservation can reach the general public. He said about 200 water treatment plants are operating in the state and more than 50 percent of the treated water is being reused for irrigation and other works. Natural water sources also have to be saved, for this we have to make plantations, dams etc. but we cannot produce water. We have to use the available water carefully. In another programme, Khattar said that a new roadmap has been prepared for the development of Panchkula and Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority has also been constituted to take it forward. In this episode, the foundation stone of 11 projects has been laid today, which will prove to be a milestone for the development of the district. He laid foundation stones of projects worth Rs 5,540.23 lakh for Panchkula district. Working to make Chandigarh one of the best cities in the country, says Municipal Commissioner AMITABH SHUKLA Workaholic, dynamic and a go-getter. That describes 2007 Batch Punjab cadre IAS officer Anindita Mitra, Commissioner of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. Ever since she took over as the chief of the civic body of the City Beautiful, she has been conceptualizing new schemes, strengthening the existing ones and implementing them with a missionary zeal so that Chandigarh counts amongst not only the best cities of the country but the world. It's no wonder that one finds her making rounds of the city early in the morning when most people are still in their beds to get a ringside view of what lacks where and how to overcome the problems and issues identified in the morning visitations to different sectors and urban villages. Sixteen hours work schedule apart, at a personal level, Anindita Mitra is a fitness freak and over a period of time has discovered the benefits of intermittent fasting. What exactly is this? "It's simple. Having no meals from 8 pm in the evening to 2 pm in the afternoon for 6 days in a week, except Saturdays. No breakfast or anything," she says. That's' well 16 hours without a morsel of food. This entitles her to become the brand ambassador of intermittent fasting if there indeed is a commercial concept on it. Of course, she is happy with it only as a mantra of fitness. Many in the city, in any case, describe her as a brand ambassador of hygiene, civic standards and Smart City. The Resident Welfare Associations will vouch for the fact that she is the most accessible officer they have ever come across and is on the dialing list of the office-bearers of these associations. She used to be an avid reader earlier but of late finds little time to indulge in her passion due to the nature of her work which is more or less 24x7. The last book she read was the Shiva Trilogy series by Amish Tripathi even as the philosophical books by Ayn Rand have been her favorites ever since she got into the world of books. A pet lover, the Labrador whom Mitra considers a part of the family, has been named Google. The inquisitive Google, who is now almost 14 years of age, considered old for a Dog, sits and stretches near the Commissioner with eyes watching her which reflects tranquility. Amid this, The Pioneer got in touch with her to get all the updates about her plans and vision for the City Beautiful. It has not even been a year since you took over as the chief of the civic body. How do you see these weeks and months heading the MCC? I joined in August 2021 but got hold of the things better in October. The Swacchta Sarvekshan ranking in which Chandigarh was placed at the Number 66 rank was a wakeup call for me. Service delivery to the citizens and managing and processing the waste was crucial to get going and improve on the rankings. We made it a point to involve citizens and make them realise that they have the most important role in the improvements. Campaign was run on segregation of dry, wet and hazardous waste. The plant for processing dry waste was closed for some reasons and it is only now that we have managed to float tenders and things would get going and the waste dump of Dadu Majra would soon be a thing of the past. Similarly, the processing capacity of wet waste too has been increased and then, we are coming up with another plant for horticulture waste like leaves and remnants of tree pruning. Then, the processing of sanitary waste would be done in incinerators along with bio-medical waste. For hazardous waste, we have signed an agreement with a company and this way all kinds of waste will be processed and taken care of. As service delivery too is extremely important, GPS devices were placed on the vehicles collecting garbage and monitoring units set up. Consequently, the services improved by leaps and bounds. What is this concept of Cafe Loo in the city which you are implementing? Well, this is not a new concept as such as a few states and cities like Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai are already implementing it. As a pilot project, in 4-5 markets of the city, we will hand over the maintenance of the public toilets to private players and allow them some commercial activity like setting up bottled cold drink and water dispensers like airports. They will have the incentive to take care of these toilets and it will remain clean all the time. What are the projects on which you are currently working? We are also working on stray dog and pet dog management. Sterilization of stray dogs sector wise is being worked out with an NGO. Target would be sterilization of two third bitches and one third dogs to keep the stray population under control. There would be geo-tagging of the dogs when taken for sterilization and then when released. They are highly territorial and have to be released in the same locality. Then, we have also planned a pet dog park as a pilot project. This would be a reserved space for the pet owners and they can come to this park. As pets are not allowed in other parks, this will be a boon for the pet lovers. For stray cattle, intensive catching and renovating the gaushalas are being planned. MCC has just launched "Har Gadi Bin, Har Gadi Bag'' plan. Could you elaborate on this. This is to sensitize citizens towards littering and ban on single use plastic. If every citizen keeps a shopping bag in his/her car, plastic bags can be completely eliminated from market areas. If every car has a dustbin, and citizens put their thrash in the same, littering can be greatly reduced. MCC and RLA have tied up with all the car dealers that both at the time of sale of a new car, and at the time of servicing, the car dealer shall provide the customer with a dustbin and a shopping bag to try and inculcate these habits in citizens. RLA will make it compulsory for citizens who come to renew their registrations, to install dustbins and keep cloth/jute shopping bags in the vehicles. This is an important step as Chandigarh has the highest vehicular density anywhere in the country at 878 registered vehicles per 1000 persons. What are the other initiatives to get rid of plastic bags? MCC has been taking several steps to curb plastic menace. We have started a selfie with a shopping bag/selfie with a bottle(to reduce the use of plastic disposable water bottles) in which citizens have been asked to tag the MCC social media handles. Recently, a series of events were held with MWAs in which a cash prize of 1 lac has been announced for the first MWA which becomes totally plastic free. Progressive MWAs like sector 46 have started giving discounts to citizens who come with their own shopping bags. MCC has also set up a cloth bag outlet, manned by a SHG in the Sabzi Mandi of Sector 26, to promote use of Cloth/Jute bags and discourage use of single use plastic. A dedicated joint task force of MCC and CPCC will continue to check all places where hoarding of plastic is being done. In the past 6 months, 935 challans of littering and 721 challans of use of banned plastic have been issued. Latest LIVE news updates: The two-day GST council meeting kicked off in Chandigarh with a packed agenda. The Council is unlikely to consider states demand for status quo on a two-year extension of compensation as official data suggests that revenue shortfall for states has narrowed in FY22. India on Tuesday reported 11,793 new Covid cases, taking its tally to 43,418,839. With 27 more Covid-related deaths, India's toll reached 525,047. A total of 9,486 people recovered from Covid-19 infection in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of cured cases to 42,797,092. India's recovery rate now stands at 98.57 per cent while death rate is unchanged at 1.21 per cent. India on Monday administered 1,921,811 vaccine shots, taking the total count of Covid vaccination to 1,973,143,196. Thackeray handed over portfolios of nine rebel Maharashtra ministers, who are currently camping in Guwahati, to other ministers. Nine Maharashtra ministers have so far joined the rebel camp led by Eknath Shinde. The Sena now has four cabinet ministers, including CM Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab, and Subhash Desai. Senior leaders of Congress and NCP met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday after the Supreme Court directed the CM not to disqualify the rebel MLAstill July 11. "We are alliance partners. We will sit together and discuss things," state Congress chief Nana Patole said after meeting CM Thackeray at his residence. Atleast 16 people died and 56 were wounded after a Russian missile struck a shopping mall in the central city of Kremenchuk, Ukraine, reported AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier had said there were 'over a thousand civilians' in the mall where the missile hit as the city had a pre-war population of 220,000. The Union has written to states asking them to take appropriate steps to manage large crowds during upcoming festivals and yatras across the country to keep the transmission of infectious diseases like Covid19 in check. The Health secretary also held a review meeting with 14 states on Tuesday which are reporting a week-to-week spike in Covid-19 cases. Major religious yatras like Amarnath Yatra, Kanwar Yatra, Chardham are expected to start in the next few days. In his letter, the Union Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has highlighted that in the upcoming months huge gatherings of people are expected at various parts of the country undertaking yatras covering several hundred kilometers. Such gatherings, primarily organized by social and religious organisations, are likely to aid the spread of infectious diseases like Covid19, the statement said. The Ministry has thus asked states to take appropriate actions like publicizing that those participating in these events should be asymptomatic, and preferably fully vaccinated, senior citizens or those with co-morbidities should consult doctors before they become part of such events. The states have also been asked to identify the routes along which such religious processions will pass, and make provisions for health desks along the route. Provision for referral and transport of serious cases to nearby health facilities should also be taken, the Centre has recommended. Halting points should be well ventilated with provisions of thermal screening and hand washing, regular and frequent disinfections of these spots should be carried out by district authorities, the Centre has said in its communication to states. Further, the states have been asked to strengthen their Surveillance Programme (IDSP) for epidemic diseases with special focus on Covid19. The states have been asked to review and strengthen the hospital bed infrastructure wherever necessary, and make arrangements for essential medicines, medical oxygen. VK Paul, member, health, NITI Aayog who was also present in the review meeting said, "The major action point is to focus on strengthening proactive surveillance as per the Revised Surveillance Strategy issued by Union on 9th June 2022." States were also strongly advised to strictly monitor epidemiological profile of admitted COVID patients and report the clinical manifestation to the Health Ministry, rather than a random or anecdotal reporting. "This will help to identify at an early stage any out-of-the-ordinary or different clinical presentation of the patients," the ministry said in a statement. Paul and Union Health Secretary both highlighted the low level of COVID testing across the states, and drop in RTPCR share. Delhi is likely to receive the first showers on June 30 or July 1, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said on Tuesday. The southwest usually arrives in the capital on June 27. Senior Scientist R K Jenamani said there is a prediction of good rainfall in the city on June 30 and the arrival of the can be declared on Thursday or Friday. Conditions are favorable for the advance of the monsoon into Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh in the next 24 hours. Easterly winds, moisture incursion and convective activity have increased in this region, he said. "We expect the conditions to remain favorable for the further advance of the monsoon in the remaining parts of UP, HP, J-K, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in the subsequent 48 hours," the senior meteorologist said. Jenamani said high humidity increased discomfort in the last few days though the temperatures hovered around 41-42 degrees Celsius. Pre-monsoon convection may lead to light rainfall in the capital on Wednesday evening and provide relief from the heat. The has issued an orange alert, warning of moderate rainfall in the city on June 30. The maximum temperature will come down to 33-34 degrees Celsius by July 1, he said. Last year, the had forecast that the monsoon would arrive in Delhi nearly two weeks before its usual date, June 27. However, it reached the capital only on July 13, making it the most delayed in 19 years. The monsoon had entered a "break" phase and there was virtually no progress from June 20 to July 8. Asked about the delay in the arrival of the monsoon in Delhi, the senior scientist said a gap of around five days is considered normal. "However, we did not see any major weather system developing in the Bay of Bengal (which could have pushed the monsoon forward). This year, it has mainly been a wind-driven monsoon," he said. According to IMD data, the monsoon covered Delhi 29 times in June and 33 times in July in the last 62 years. The IMD had in 2020 revised the date of monsoon arrival in Delhi from June 29 to June 27. Weather experts have said the monsoon is expected to yield good rainfall in Delhi in the first 10 days. Delhi has received just 72.5 mm of rainfall since March 1 this year against the normal of 111.9 mm owing to the lack of strong western disturbances. The city did not record any rainfall in March and saw a minuscule 0.3 mm of precipitation in April against the monthly average of 12.2 mm. The scanty rainfall aggravated the heat, with the capital recording its second hottest April this year since 1951 with a monthly average maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius. Prolonged heatwaves saw maximum temperatures soaring to 49 degrees Celsius in parts of Delhi in May. The capital has recorded a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius and above on 27 days so far this summer season, the highest number of such days since 2012, according to IMDdata. In 2012, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius or above on 30 days. Since June 1, when the monsoon season starts, Delhi has received just 24.5 mm of rainfall against the normal of 64.1 mm. All of it came between June 16 and June 20. However, a bountiful monsoon is expected to cover the rain deficit in the first week of July and provide respite from the heat, according to Mahesh Palawat, vice-president (climate change and meteorology), Skymet Weather. A significant increase in humidity levels, easterly winds and good rainfall for at least two consecutive days denote the arrival of the monsoon, Palawat said. "Last year, the monsoon did not get off to a good start in Delhi. However, we expect good rainfall for the first two to three days this time," Palawat said, adding the first 10 days "seem to be good and on and off rain will continue". "There could be a dip in rainfall on July 2-3, but a prolonged dry spell is ruled out," he added. The IMD had declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on May 29. After its onset over Kerala, the progress of monsoon has been sluggish. The northern limit of the southwest monsoon, which is the northernmost limit up to which it has advanced on a given day, passed through Ratlam, Shivpuri, Rewa, and Churk on Tuesday. Conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon into the remaining parts of Bihar, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmiri during the next 24 hours, the IMD 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.) The newly-elected MP from Sangrur in Punjab, Simranjit Singh Mann, who heads the (Amritsar), has tested positive for COVID-19. After the 77-year-old leader tested positive for the viral disease, Chief Minister spoke to his family members and promised the best possible medical care. "Just got the news of MP Simranjeet Singh Mann Ji being down with Covid-19. Spoke to his family and assured best possible medical care. May good health envelope him spurring a quick recovery (sic)," the chief minister said in a tweet. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lost the Sangrur parliamentary seat, which was vacated by after he became the chief minister, to SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann on Sunday. Simranjit Mann, who returned to Parliament after almost two decades, defeated the AAP's Gurmail Singh by a margin of 5,822 votes. Mann polled 2,53,154 votes, while Singh bagged 2,47,332 votes, according to the Election Commission. The (Amritsar) president had last won the Sangrur seat in 1999. His earlier poll victory came in 1989 from Tarn Taran. (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.) Prime Minister arrived in the on Tuesday on a brief visit to convey his personal condolences on the demise of former president of the Gulf nation and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi was received by current President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his arrival at the airport here. The Prime Minister arrived here after attending a productive G7 Summit in Germany where he interacted with several world leaders on the margins of the summit and discussed issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity. In the UAE, Modi will convey his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa, who died on May 13 at the age of 73 after a long illness. Modi had expressed grief over his death, calling him a great statesman and visionary leader under whom India- relations prospered. India had announced one day of state mourning following the demise of Sheikh Khalifa. Sheikh Khalifa was the eldest son of UAE's founder President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He served as the President of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi from November 3, 2004 till his death. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu last month visited the UAE and offered condolences to the UAE leadership on the demise of Sheikh Khalifa. The last visit by Modi to the UAE was in August 2019 during which he received the UAE's highest award, 'Order of Zayed' conferred upon him by the UAE President. During a special briefing ahead of Modi's visit on June 24, Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said the Prime Minister will hold a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and it will be their first interaction after the UAE leader's election as the new president of the Gulf nation. #WATCH | In a special gesture, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warmly receives PM in Abu Dhabi, UAE PM Modi will pay his condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former UAE President & Abu Dhabi Ruler (Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/6Lj2TB9pZn ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2022 The UAE was India's third-largest trading partner for the year 2019-20 after China and US, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The UAE is the third-largest export destination of India (after the US and China) with an amount of nearly USD 16 billion for the year 2020-21. For the UAE, India is the third-largest trading partner for the year 2020 with an amount of around USD 27.93 billion (non-oil trade). Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.4 million is the largest ethnic community in UAE constituting roughly about 35 per cent of the country's population. (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.) Prime Minister on Tuesday left for a short visit to the after attending the in Germany on the sidelines of which he met several world leaders. "PM @narendramodi concludes his visit to Germany for the G7 Summit, wrapping up two days of productive discussions on sustainable solutions to global challenges, PM Modi now emplanes for Abu Dhabi for a brief stopover before reaching New Delhi," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted. In the UAE, he will convey his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former President and Abu Dhabi ruler. Zayed Al Nahyan, who had been in office since 2004, died at the age of 73 after a long illness on May 13. Modi had expressed grief over his death, calling him a great statesman and visionary leader under whom India- relations prospered. "Leaving Germany after a productive visit in which I attended the @G7 Summit, interacted with several world leaders and participated in a memorable community programme in Munich. We were able to discuss many issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity," Modi tweeted. "I thank the people of Germany, @Bundeskanzler Scholz and the German Government for their hospitality during the entire visit. I am confident India-Germany friendship will scale newer heights in the times to come," the prime minister wrote. On Monday, Modi highlighted India's efforts for green growth, clean energy, sustainable lifestyles and global wellbeing, at a session. During his two-day visit to Germany, Modi met his counterparts from the UK, Japan and Italy and exchanged views on a range of issues with them. Modi also met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and held productive discussions as the two leaders reviewed the India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, technology and climate action. He also met Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Germany. During his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two leaders agreed to take forward the momentum in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership besides further diversifying the bilateral cooperation on climate-related issues for the benefit of their people and the entire planet. Modi also met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties and reaffirmed the need for further deepening cooperation in areas like trade and investment, food security, defence, pharmaceuticals and digital financial inclusion. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed a range of bilateral and global issues over a cup of tea. Modi also met US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On Sunday, Modi addressed the Indian diaspora during a massive community event at the Audi Dome indoor arena in Munich. (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.) Prime Minister has made India's position clear on the Ukraine conflict at the where he reiterated that there must be an immediate end to the hostilities and a resolution should be reached by choosing the path of dialogue and diplomacy, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. Replying to a question on India's stand on Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kwatra during a press conference said, "On Russia-Ukraine, PM made India's position clear including an immediate end to hostilities; dialogue & diplomacy to resolve the situation." Foreign Secretary Kwatra also highlighted that PM Modi has spoken with the world leaders on the knockdown effect of the conflict in Eastern Europe on the food security crisis, especially on the vulnerable countries. "PM also put forward knockdown effect of the conflict on food security crisis, especially on vulnerable countries," Kwatra said. Ever since the war started on February 24, Prime Minister has been appealing to both Russia and Ukraine for peace and an end to hostilities. Earlier, PM Modi intervened and had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested that a direct conversation between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine may greatly assist the ongoing peace efforts to deal with the ongoing conflict. PM Modi had also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict. India is looked upon as a solution provider by all which was quite evident by the body language and camaraderie of leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra over PM's visit to in Germany. PM Modi on June 26-27 attended the in Germany, held meetings with world leaders as well as interacted with the Indian diaspora. During a press conference, Kwatra said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence at the G7 summit showed that India's presence is valued by all and that India is looked upon as a solution provider by all. You would have seen the body language and camaraderie of leaders with our PM." In an instance of bonhomie between the leaders of the two largest democracies of the world that caught the eye of viewers, US President Joe Biden walked up to Prime Minister to greet him at the venue of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at Schloss Elmau, Germany on Monday. India is among the five partner countries invited to attend the G7 Summit. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today welcomed the Prime Minister at Schloss Elmau, ahead of the G7 Summit. (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.) Prime Minister met his counterparts from the UK, and Italy and exchanged views on a range of issues with them on the sidelines of the here on Monday. Prime Minister Modi also met President of Senegal Macky Sall, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and held fruitful discussions with Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Modi tweeted about his meetings with the world leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Japanese Premier Fumio Kishida and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Glad to interact with PM @BorisJohnson, he said. Wonderful interaction with PM @kishida230 at the @G7 Summit, Modi said. Happy to have met Italian PM Mario Draghi on the sidelines of the @G7 Summit, he said in a series of tweets. Modi is in Germany on a two-day visit beginning on Sunday for the G-7 Summit held at Schloss Elmau, the scenic venue of the summit in southern Germany. Modi is attending the following an invitation by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Besides India, Germany, the host of the G7 Summit, has also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as guests for the summit to recognise the democracies of the global south as its partners. From Germany, Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates on June 28 to pay his condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the Gulf nation. Sheikh Khalifa passed away on May 13 after battling illness for the last several years. (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.) Punjab Chief Minister on Tuesday said his government will soon bring a resolution in the state assembly against the Agnipath scheme, asserting that the Centre's military recruitment initiative will destroy the basic fabric of the Indian Army. Earlier, he endorsed the suggestion of Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa of bringing a resolution against the scheme. During the Zero Hour in the ongoing budget session in the Vidhan Sabha, leader Bajwa raised the issue of Agnipath, arguing the scheme will negatively affect the youth of Punjab. Mann, later in a tweet, said, The BJP government's Agnipath scheme is an irrational move which will destroy the basic fabric of the Indian Army. To secure the future of our youth, we will soon bring a resolution against this scheme in Vidhan Sabha. We seek support from all the parties. In the House, Bajwa expressed apprehension that with the scheme, Punjab's representation in the Army will plunge from 7.8 per cent currently to 2.3 percent in future. "This scheme is against the interests of Punjab," Bajwa said in the assembly. He demanded the CM to bring a joint resolution in the current assembly session against the Agnipath scheme. Mann dubbed the matter an emotive issue and endorsed Bajwa's suggestion, saying that all state assemblies in the country should bring a resolution against the scheme. "I am against this and I agree with you," Mann said responding to Bajwa's suggestion. Mann also took on the Centre over demonetisation, three farm laws, now repealed, and the goods and services tax. On the Agnipath scheme, Mann said, "When we think about the idea that a 17-year-old youth will join the defence forces, and most of them will return after mere four years of service, they will become ex' within four years without even any benefits that ex-servicemen are entitled to. "I strictly oppose this scheme," he said. Hitting out at the BJP, Mann said, "Their leader Kailash Vijayvargiya is saying if he has to appoint security personnel at his party office, he would give priority to those who have served as Agniveers. This is shameful. Mann said that he fails to understand why the BJP government brings such laws which face "opposition" from several quarters. "They brought farm laws, the CAA, now Agnipath, and every time they bring these laws they keep saying once people understand, they will realise their benefits. Are they the only ones wise enough to understand everything? The laws which people cannot understand should not be made," he said. Notably, 10 days ago some youths had held a protest against Agnipath in Jalandhar, and spoke to Mann over phone. Chief Minister Mann, besides advising them to hold their protests peacefully, had assured them that the Aam Aadmi Party government supports their demands and was in favour of rollback of the scheme. In the assembly, Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma defended the Agnipath scheme and alleged that the House was being misled over this issue. Countering Bajwa on his suggestion, Sharma said it is their compulsion to oppose it (Agnipath) for the sake of opposition. "They know if this scheme is implemented, they will not come to power in 2029 as well," said the BJP leader. MLA Sukhpal Khaira sought condemnation of the banning of Sidhu Moosewala's 'SYL' song by YouTube on the Centre's complaint. He demanded that it should be made part of the resolution. (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.) Reacting to the arrest of co-founder Mohammed Zubair, Congress leader on Monday said "the arrest of one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more". "Every person exposing BJP's hate, bigotry and lies is a threat to them. Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more. Truth ALWAYS triumphs over tyranny", said Gandhi in a tweet using the hashtag #DaroMat. Journalist and co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday evening on charges of hurting religious sentiments under sections of the Indian Penal Code. The police had registered a case after getting a complaint from a twitter handle, where it was alleged that Zubair had tweeted a questionable image with a purpose to deliberately hurt religious sentiments. Terming the arrest as an assault on truth, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor demanded his immediate release. "India's few fact-checking services, especially @AltNews, perform a vital service in our post-truth political environment, rife with disinformation. They debunk falsehoods whoever perpetrates them. To arrest @zoo_bear is an assault on truth. He should be released immediately," said Tharoor in a tweet. Former Minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also tweeted and said: "Altnews & @zoo_bear have been in the forefront of exposing the bogus claims of the Vishguru, who has struck back with a vengeance characteristic of him. Delhi Police, reporting to the Union Home Minister, has long lost any pretensions of professionalism and independence". --IANS avr/pgh (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 controversial Islamophobic remark by some political leaders from BJP ruling at the centre has become a bone of contention in Indias diplomatic relations across the globe. As many as 15 Islamic countries and recently, China, have made brooding diplomatic remarks on Indias stand on Prophet Mohammed. In due course of action, the BJP has taken coercive measures to manage the dent by curtailing the violent protests, controlling the social media and invoking the spirit of religious tolerance. Further, the Government of India has also cleared its stand as a nation. It is to understand that, as many as 89 lakhs Indians are living, working and studying in gulf countries. The remittances from these countries are high in number. Needless to say that in the year 2020-21, Indias trade with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, was $87 billion. But the controversial remark on Prophet has instigated the social media users in Arab countries. The users were already taking offence to the remarks and calling for a boycott of Indian goods. The 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) despised the remarks made by the suspended spokespersons of the BJP and linked the row to the hijab ban controversy and demolition of Muslim properties in India. The Government of India has proved its stand, but as far as statements by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GGC) are concerned, India preferred to maintain silence. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the relations between India and UAE along with some other Islamic countries have significantly improved in the past few years, but there is an apprehension made by experts that the controversy could minimise some of India's recent diplomatic successes with these countries. The root of this controversy had started in a TV panel discussion, where a BJP spokesperson made a controversial remark on Prophet which could be labelled as islamophobic. The hate speech of the spokesperson was encouraged and her remarks were endorsed by the TV anchor. It was not the end of this drama. The hate speeches are now a very normal phenomenon and also becoming perpetual. It is not only about Islam or Hinduism but now these hate speeches have increased its canvas to gender, caste and race. The United Nation is having a strong concern on hate speech. As per the UN, hate speech has been increasing since 1950s. Further to this, it has become one of the strong reasons for violence across the globe .A report by Equality Lab on Quantum of Hate Speech on Facebook in India says that Islamophobia tops the list. Anti-Muslim sentiments hate speech is at top with 37% of total hate speeches. False news has 17% of space in hate speech. Gender related or misogynist hate speech content and Dalit or caste related hate speeches have 13% of share each. Violence hate speech has 11% and anti-religious content has 9% of total hate speech in Facebook. Now in social media or in TV discussion, we have seen a different ball game. This ball game is polarisation. Some even started hash-tag campaigns to boycott Islamic countries airlines. Countries like Netherland, which is reputed for its islamophobic stand, fuelled up the issue in international platform. So here, one thing must be remembered is criticising religious practices is different and growing intolerance for any religion is different. Due to this mass scale and media induced polarisation, intolerance is growing. We need to understand that in India islamophobia is also a creation of historical interactions with Muslims. Muslim invaders destroyed the country and ruled for hundreds of years. Suppressed Hindu kings looted India, established mosques; damaged temples etc are the interactions which are public narratives about Muslims. After Indias Independence and Pakistans formation, islamophobic and dislike for Muslims as well as anti-Muslims discourses have been more visible. Riots, genocides, cultural dominance and terrorism fuelled it more. This has made a categorisation of communities that is Them and Us. Hindus are them for Muslims and Muslims are them for Hindus. In local level, islamophobic behaviour is legitimatised by local leaders or officials. It should be stopped. In many States in India, this polarisation has taken islamophobia to a different stage, i.e xenophobia, which is a catastrophic weapon against social solidarity. There is a process called as Racialization of Muslims. It defines Muslim community as a race but not as religious or cultural identifiers. This new identification catalogues Muslims as a different community which is identified by their biological or physical aspects. Islamphobia is dangerous when the State induces the process of racialisation. When the process is State-sponsored, then it aims at psycho-social control. Psychosocial control is equal as verbal assault, tirade of speech or dominant actions. The result of the action leads to organise Muslims into two categories such as Acceptable Muslims and Unacceptable Muslims. These two types of Muslims are defined by the State actors. Such classification is made by a point of view that Muslims whom the State can trust and Muslims the State cant. The fabric of Indian society is secularism. There are many countries and many vested interest groups which may take mileage on the prophet row. India is known for its tolerance, cultural mannerism and social cohesion. The doctrine of we -feeling will augment the mutual tolerance between different religions. The mutual respect between two major religions in India is depleting. The trust on Government mechanism to seek justice is questionable. What is more disturbing is that the introduction of new justice system, called as Bulldozer Justice. The arrogance of being majoritarian and brutal suppression of protest is also the add-on which may increase the fissure between citizens of the country. (Dr Parida is an Assistant Professor in Sociology. Email id- abash.parida@gmail.com) MP on Tuesday sought more time to appear before the (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe, an official said. His lawyer submitted a letter at the ED's office here, requesting time for Raut to appear before the probe agency, he said. Talking to reporters, Raut said he was busy with party programmes and would visit the central agency's office after that. "Some people want to put us behind bars and run the state, the way it happened during the Emergency, the Sena's chief spokesperson claimed. Referring to the use of central agencies in some states, Raut sought to draw a parallel with the excesses committed against political opponents during the Emergency, and said he was ready to go behind bars for second Independence. The ED had summoned Rajya Sabha member Raut on Tuesday for questioning in the money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' and other related financial transactions involving his wife and friends. The development comes as the battles rebellion from a group of its MLAs, putting a question mark on the future of Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. On Tuesday, Raut's lawyer reached the ED's office here around 11.15 am and submitted a letter to the agency officials, requesting time for the parliamentarian to appear before it, the official said. Talking to reporters, Raut said, "The moment I am free, I will go to the ED. I am a lawmaker. I know the law. Even if the law implementing agencies are working in a wrong way, I am a law-abiding person." On Monday, Raut had termed the ED's summons as a "conspiracy" to stop him from fighting against their political opponents, and said he will not be able to appear before the agency on Tuesday as he had to attend a meeting in Alibaug (Raigad district). Last week, when the rebellion began in the Shiv Sena, another minister Anil Parab had appeared before the ED for questioning in a money laundering case registered against him. (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.) As many as 582 new cases of have been detected in Maharashtra's district, taking the tally of infections to 7,26,053, a health official said on Tuesday. With the addition of these cases on Monday, the district currently has 5,629 active COVID-19 cases, he said. One death was also reported on Monday, raising the COVID-19 toll in the district to 11,903, he said. The recovery count has reached 7,07,480, the official added. (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 India banned official accounts of Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Earlier, also withheld the account of the national public broadcaster in - Radio . blocks the account of Pakistani Embassy in UN. Account of Pakistani Embassy in Turkey is also withheld by Twitter in India. Moreover, Twitter in India also blocked account of Pakistani Embassy in Iran and Egypt. Twitter in India, earlier also blocked the account of Pakistani national radio broadcaster - Radio Pakistan. After Twitter in India withheld these official accounts the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Twitter to restore these accounts with immediate access. This development comes at a time when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting earlier blocked 16 YouTube news channels including 6 Pakistan-based channels for spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations, and public order. According to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, YouTube channels were spreading false, unverified information to create panic, incite communal disharmony, and disturb public order in India. The blocked social media accounts include six Pakistan-based and 10 India-based YouTube news channels, having a cumulative viewership of over 68 crore. None of the digital news publishers had furnished information to the Ministry as required under rule 18 of the IT Rules, 2021, the government said. YouTube channels based in Pakistan were found to have been used in a coordinated manner to post fake news about India on various subjects such as the Indian Army, Jammu, and Kashmir, and India's foreign relations in the light of the situation in Ukraine among others, it said. The content of these channels was observed to be completely false, and sensitive from the perspective of national security, sovereignty, and integrity of India, and India's friendly relations with foreign States. Moreover, India has earlier called out Pakistan for propagating fake news through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Pakistan is frequently lambasted by the global community due to its violation of human rights. The country also has unstable politics which is gripped by constant protests and demonstrations. And yet, as per the reports by digital forensics, Pakistan carries on with its propaganda to diminish India at world stage. Apart from the government accounts in Pakistan, in a report by Digital Forensics, Research, and Analytics Center (DFRAC), it was revealed that many fake accounts created by Pakistanis are hiding behind the screens and running hashtags with an agenda to target India's prestigious institutions. These Pakistani accounts blatantly spread disinformation. The crucial thing to note here is that some of these accounts were created for the sole purpose of defaming India. After pushing the agenda they changed their username. All behind the screen who were fuelling this agenda campaign seemed to be copying each others' content to escalate the fake narrative. (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 has blocked over 80 links, including tweets and some accounts, after receiving legal notices from the central government sent through 2021. These include accounts belonging to the Pakistani government. Others also have content related to farmers' protests and a report from an American non-profit that said India's was declining. These accounts, notified by the Centre, were geo-blocked by over the weekend, an action the giant classifies as "Country Withheld". Geo-block means restricting access to accounts or posts in a particular geography. The accounts or posts are not entirely removed from the site and can be accessed by those outside India. restricted accounts include Kisan Ekta Morcha and Tractor2Twitter, which were active during the nationwide farmers' protests and had more than 500,000 followers. Last year, Kisan Ekta Morcha posted a hashtag on Twitter that accused the Centre of plotting to kill protesting farmers. Also Read: India single largest source of govt requests for account info: Twitter The giant also took down five tweets by American non-profit Freedom House, which posted its 2020 report on Freedom on The Net and said India had the most internet shutdowns. Twitter India also banned official accounts of Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt and the nation's public broadcaster, Radio . The move came after the central government had sent 24 legal notices to Twitter through 2021. Twitter disclosed this to the Lumen database, which is an internet transparency archive. Reacting to the move, the Kisan Ekta Morcha on Instagram said, "Another attack by the Government of India on the rights of farmers and workers." A farmer union leader, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Ravi Azad, said, "The government has banned Kisan Ekta Morcha's Twitter handle that takes the voice of farmers to the global level. Anti-farmer activities are revealed through this account with facts and evidence. We condemn this action." In a statement on Twitter, the Foundation said, "Citizens have the right to challenge blocking of online content, but they are unable to do so without access to these orders. Thus, we have consistently advocated for such disclosures as they are crucial for holding the government accountable." A youth was roughed up by workers for enumerating benefits of Agnipath scheme when the party was staging a against it in Jhunjhunu on Monday. According to onlookers, the had staged a 'dharna' as a part of a call given by leaders for all India against the Agnipath scheme launched by the central government for Indian youths. Amid the dharna, a young man came and sought permission to speak about the scheme. On being given a mike, he started counting the benefits of the scheme which irked the agitators. Khalil Budana, General Secretary of the District Committee, snatched the mike from the youth and thrashed him up. The deputed police personnel rushed to the dias. Jagdeep Singh, who was assualted, is a resident of Lohsana in Churu district. "When the saw the demonstration the against the Agnipath scheme, I wanted to tell them about its benefits and took the mic with the consent of the organisers. When I started counting the benefits of the scheme, people got furious, snatched mike and started beating me," he said. Reacting to it, the BJP leaders said that the incident shows the anger of Congress when young man tried to say the truth. BJP District President Pawan Mawandia said that Jhunjhunu is a district which has given maximum number of soldiers and martyrs in the country. So, nationalism runs in the blood of the youth here. He said that the youth is well aware of how Agnipath will empower the nation. However, Congress official Khaleel Budana, who allegedly assaulted the youth, denied assaulting the youth. "Since he had no understanding of the scheme, he spoke in favour of it. We explained the matter and sent him away," he said. --IANS arc/shb/ (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 government on Tuesday wrote to Union Finance Minister asking her to take decisions at the ongoing meeting by consensus, shunning "majoritarianism". In a two-page letter to Sitharaman, the Principal Chief Adviser to Chief Minister and the Finance Department, Dr Amit Mitra, cited a recent judgment of the in this regard. "Post decision of the SC, it has become imperative for the to take every decision by consensus and to leave aside any shade of majoritarianism, not only for the future credibility of but also to uphold the rich tradition of this august body," the former finance minister of the state said. The on May 19 ruled that the Goods and Service Tax (GST) council's recommendations are not binding on Union and State but have a persuasive value as the country has a cooperative federal structure. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant, and Vikram Nath also held that the Centre and State governments have simultaneous powers to legislate on GST but the council must work in a harmonious manner to achieve a workable solution. Mitra said in the letter, "On the backdrop of this extremely significant observation of the honourable apex court, it has become extremely important for the GST council to invariably arrive at a consensus for taking any decision." The two-day GST Council's 47th meeting is underway in Chandigarh to take a call on several key recommendations by ministerial committees aimed at making the tax system more efficient. (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.) Indias Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has extended until September 25 the deadline to comply with its cyber security norms for Virtual Private Network (VPN) and cloud services, responding after foreign providers said they will remove their servers in the country. September 25 is the new compliance date for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Other businesses, which dont provide VPN or cloud services, will have to comply with the earlier deadline of June 27. The September 25 extension will enable the industry to build the capacity required for the implementation of the cyber security directions, said the Ministry of Electronics and in a press release. CERT-In directions, released on April 28, mandate service providers to keep records of every information and communication technology (ICT) transaction for a minimum of 180 days. They require service providers to maintain the personal information of subscribers for five years or longer, as can be demanded by CERT-In in case of a incident. The new deadline comes after VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfShark, earlier this month decided to remove their servers in India. SurfShark said it operates a no logs policy, So such new requirements go against the core ethos of the company. A VPN is an online privacy tool, and Surfshark was founded to make it as easy to use for the common users as possible, said the company a blog post. It could not be immediately ascertained if the new deadline will prompt VPN players to reconsider their strategy for India, but the government is unlikely to ease the guidelines. Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information and Technology, last month told VPN companies they are free to leave India. If youre a VPN that wants to hide and be anonymous about those who use VPNs and you dont want to go by these rules, then if you want to pull out (from the country), frankly, that is the only opportunity you will have. You will have to pull out, he said. Pankit Desai, co-founder and CEO of Sequretek, a Mumbai-based cyber security company, said the deadline extension would help firms enter a dialogue with the CERT-IN authority. However, there remains ambiguity on what has been asked and how companies will comply with it, for example, Incident reporting. There is a lack of clarity around how an incident is being defined, Desai said. He added that it was also not clear whether the companies need to report an unsuccessful attempt to breach companies cyber defences and if there would be a framework from the government side to help companies that have suffered a cyberattack. Sandip Kumar Panda, the co-founder at InstaSafe Technologies, said an extension was expected as CERT-Ins guidelines cannot be implemented quickly. The timelines and the excessive data retention mandates will have negative implications in delivery and practice of it, Panda added. He said the industry is gaining ground in the country and it will have to follow guidelines, but it may need another extension after September 25. In the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Centre will likely introduce a bill to make amendments in order to facilitate the privatisation of public sector banks, a report said. The government is mulling an amendment that will allow the Centre a total exit from banks, fully privatising PSBs, The Economic Times reported, quoting an official aware of the developments. As per the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, the central government is required to hold at least a 51 per cent stake in the public sector banks. Earlier, the Centre was to retain at least a 26 per cent stake in during privatisation, and this would be brought down gradually. While the dates of the Monsoon Session have not been announced yet, the Centre had listed the Banking Laws Amendment Bill, 2021, in the winter session of last year. However, the bill was not introduced in the session. The bill had proposed "amendments in Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts, 1970 and 1980 and incidental amendments to Banking Regulation Act, 1949", The Economic Times report said. The Centre's bill will provide 'an enabling mechanism," another official told ET, adding, "We might bring it in this session and then iron out the other issues." The official told the newspaper that the changes are based on potential discussions during recent roadshows held for the stake sale of the IDBI Bank. The finance ministry is in talks with the (RBI) on ownership and controlling stakes pertaining to PSBs' privatisation. As of now, private banks' promoters can hold only a 26 per cent stake in . Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget for FY22, had said the government would privatise two public sector banks and one general insurer. She had added that required amendments would be introduced in the Budget Session. The privatisation process of IDBI Bank is already underway. The bank is incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956; thus, legal amendments are not needed for its privatisation. The will strengthen capacity and technology at state-owned to make them competitive against their private peers. A presentation on steps to be taken to compete with private/non-major talked about increasing competitiveness in the port sector and the positioning of major versus the non-major ports in India, said a statement by the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways on Tuesday. Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked the authorities to make a plan for mega ports by 2047. Along with capacity building, he also suggested major ports draft land policy guidelines and explore the potential of building presence out of their limits. The plans were discussed at a three-day annual 'Chintan Baithak', where the ministry sets the agenda for the fiscal year. The will also focus on the development of new technologies at major ports, "Application of various cutting-edge technologies such as drone surveillance, internet of things, artificial intelligence, etc, can significantly improve operations at Indian ports," said the statement. Private ports such as Mundra are growing fast, with a cargo volume of 150 million metric tonne (mmt) in 2021-22. and Special Economic Zones (APSEZ) ports had a combined volume 300 mmt in the fiscal year. Indias 13 major ports had a combined cargo traffic of over 700 mmt in the year. Sector experts have said that delayed evacuation of cargo and ports and their capacity to handle containers is a challenge. The three-day session also saw various discussions on public-private-partnership (PPP), a route the ministry is pursuing to attract investments at its ports. Business Standard previously reported that the delayed nature of security clearances from stakeholder ministries such as Home Affairs, Defence, and External Affairs has been a major sore point. The ministry undertook the monetisation of 13 port assets worth Rs 7000 crore, out of which it had achieved Rs 1000 crore at the end of 2021-22. The ministry hopes to speed up that target as it encourages public-private partnership efforts, said officials. across India could be sometimes unsure of crops they should grow for maximum yield, or they need to test soil quality. To assist them, the government has the ' Card'. The SHC scheme, with the tagline "Swasth Dhara Khet Hara", is under the Ministry of and promoted by the Department of and Co-operation. What is a card? A card provides information on the nutrient status of soil, along with recommendations on the dosage of nutrients to be utilised for improving its fertility and health. It is printed document issued to once in three years for their land holdings. can take a printout of the card from the SHC portal, which has a database of all harvesting seasons and is available in 21 languages. Who is eligible for a soil health card? All farmers in India are eligible for the SHC scheme. They must contact the department in their region for more information. Importance of soil health card The government launched the SHC scheme as an initiative to curb the overuse of urea or nitrogenous fertilisers causing a deficiency of nutrients in soil like potassium, nitrogen, sulphur, zinc, boron, copper and phosphorus. Farmers can assess and raise the soil and crop productivity using key inputs from the card that carries crop-wise recommendations and other physical parameters of fertilisers and nutrients required for farm lands. With the help of the SHC, farmers can improve integrated nutrient management by judiciously using the soil nutrients. The card serves as a step-by-step process to address nutritional deficiencies in soil management practices. The soil health card helps in reducing the cost of production and determining changes in soil health affected by land management. The SHC carries corrective measures that farmers are required to adopt for the sustenance of a better crop yield. It is a field-specific report that helps the farmers to receive crop-wise recommendations of required and nutrients in each type of soil. SHC offers two sets of fertiliser recommendations for six crops, including recommendations for organic manures. How to apply for soil health card? Visit the official website of soil health card scheme -- soilhealth.dac.gov.in Click on 'Log In' and select your state and click on continue or click on 'Register New User' Enter required credentials like; user log in account details, language, user organisation details etc. and then, click on 'Submit' Log in with your username and password Delhi Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refuting his Deputy Manish Sisodia's charge of favouring the BJP and urged him to restrain his Ministers from making "misleading" assertions. Saxena was reacting to a letter by Sisodia wherein he accused the L-G of "bulldozing the law" to favour the BJP as the complaint was lodged by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, and allowing the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) to probe the alleged irregularities in the construction of seven temporary hospitals during the Covid pandemic. Sisodia had asked in his letter under whose "pressure" Saxena had approved investigation by the ACB over a year old complaint when it was rejected by his predecessor Anil Baijal as "frivolous and baseless". Saxena wrote in the letter to Kejriwal, "It is both sad and surprising to note that vide the above letter, the Deputy Chief Minister has made factually and legally incorrect statements on the subject matter while unnecessarily politicising a desirable administrative action." He reminded the Chief Minister of their agreement over "zero tolerance" towards corruption and sough his cooperation in doing so. "In the interest of good governance, I would further urge you to advise your Ministers to refrain from such unproductive and poorly-evidenced assertions, which are both misleading and obstructive in nature," he wrote. Saxena also explained the legal position of his authority vis-a-vis the charges made against him by Sisodia. The Delhi High Court in its order on August 4, 2016 has held that according to the constitutional scheme of governance of Delhi, the "Services" fall outside the purview of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi, he said. "This judgement still holds the field as the civil appeal filed by the elected Government on this issue is yet to be heard by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court," Saxena pointed. The permission for conducting an enquiry into the complaint of corruption against officials of the PWD has been granted after careful examination and strictly in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the provisions of law as settled by the courts, he stated. However, according to sources in the Delhi Government, granting permission for enquiry under Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act does not fall under the purview of Services and is within the jurisdiction of elected Government. PC Act gives a maximum of four months to any Government to give permission for enquiry. The fact that the previous L-G neither gave any permission nor sought advice of the elected Government in those four months indicates that he did not find any merit in the complaint, said sources. For the present L-G to accuse his predecessor of sitting on such an important file and not taking a decision within the prescribed time limit is unfortunate and uncalled for. Baijal was aware of his statutory duties. His silence on the file indicates that he prima facie did not find any merit in the complaint, sources said. The L-Gs office receives thousands of such frivolous complaints every day. The L-G does not write on each such complaint. He acts on serious complaints. The fact that the previous L-G did not act on it within the prescribed time limit of four months shows that he did not find it serious enough to act, sources added. Activists sharply criticised a pledge by the Group of Seven rich countries on Tuesday to commit $4.5 billion to fight global hunger, saying the sum fell short of what was needed with millions of people on the brink of starvation. The worst drought in decades in parts of Africa and soaring food prices, driven higher by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have sparked repeated warnings about threats to food security of the world's poorest and possible famines. At the end of a three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps, the leaders committed the $4.5 billion to protect the most vulnerable from and malnutrition, saying that amounted to $14 billion of assistance committed this year. They called on those with stockpiles to make food available and said they were working on ways to get grain out of Ukraine, after a Russian blockade of Black Sea ports pushed trade to slower land routes. They also agreed to step up their efforts to help farmers to keep working in Ukraine, one of the world's largest grain producers, and address fertiliser shortages. But activists said the pledges fell short. "Faced with the worst crisis in a generation, the have simply failed to take the action that is needed. Many millions will face terrible and starvation as a result," Max Lawson, head of inequality policy at Oxfam. "Instead of doing what is needed, the are leaving millions to starve and cooking the planet." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who hosted the summit, defended the money committed when questioned on Tuesday, adding "we won't stop doing what is necessary" to fight hunger. The ONE Campaign said the G7 had failed to show global leadership. "The G7 are talking about a total of $14 billion to fight the food crisis. But this is nowhere near the $21.5 billion that the World Food Programme needs this year alone," said Stephan Exo-Kreischer, director of ONE Germany. It added that only $4.5 billion of the money was new and that the G7 had not yet answered how it intended to help break the blockade on the Black Sea hindering Ukrainian exports. Germany and Britain had pushed fellow G7 members to push temporary waivers on biofuels to combat soaring food prices by increasing supplies of grain and vegetable oil. But there was no waiver in the final communique, as Berlin had anticipated. The G7 has stressed the blame for rising food prices lay at Russia's door, which Moscow rejects. "Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including its blocking of export routes for UkraineAs grain, is dramatically aggravating the hunger crisis," the G7 statement said, adding the group was still committed to lifting 500 million people out of hunger and malnutrition by 2030. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leaders of the grouping and its five partner countries, including India, on Monday said that they seek to promote a rules-based order, respect other states' territorial integrity and sovereignty, respect and defend the principles enshrined in the UN Charter as they vowed to remain steadfast in their commitment to defending peace, human rights and the rule of law. In a joint statement, the Group of Seven (G7), an inter-governmental political grouping, acknowledged the importance of national laws and regulations that are in place in each country to advance the principles and values of democracy. We, the Leaders of Germany, Argentina, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Senegal, South Africa, the UK, the US and the EU affirm our commitment to strengthening the resilience of our democracies and to working towards equitable, inclusive and sustainable solutions to global challenges, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, and reaffirm our commitment to the rules-based order, it said. It took note of the 2021 Carbis Bay Open Societies Statement and recognised the dramatic changes in the geopolitical situation since then and the significant threats to democratic systems around the world. We remain steadfast in our commitment to defending peace, human rights, the rule of law, human security and gender equality, as recognised by law, including the United Nations Charter, and call on our international partners to join us in these efforts, the statement said. We hail all courageous defenders of democratic systems that stand against oppression and violence, and will step up international cooperation to improve the resilience of democratic societies globally. We commit to engage with partners internationally for peace and prosperity, and will work for progress towards an equitable world, because we are stronger together, it said. It said that seeks to promote a rules-based international order, respect other states' territorial integrity and sovereignty, respect and defend the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, support the peaceful resolution of conflicts, oppose the threat or use of force of any kind that is not in compliance with international law, protect human rights, strengthen multilateral institutions to address global challenges, and develop and use technologies in accordance with democratic principles for the benefit of humanity. The statement assumes significance amidst aggressive moves by China in the strategic Indo-Pacific region as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 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 aggressive military manoeuvring in the region. China also 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. India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. India and Vietnam are boosting their maritime security cooperation in the last few years to protect common interests. In sharing these values, we are stronger together and commit to supporting democracy worldwide and free and fair elections, including through electoral assistance; in the spirit of partnership fighting climate change, preventing environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, mobilising climate finance and supporting a just, equitable and socially inclusive transformation agenda, ensuring an orderly fair and equitable energy transition, taking into account energy security, national development priorities, viable and affordable technologies, the said. It also committed to supporting cooperating closely in the run-up to the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27); improving food security to prevent famine and striving for energy security by ensuring resilient energy supply chains, noting in this context the UN Global Crisis Response Group initiative; pursuing concerted efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and improve vaccine distribution and production, as well as our global health architecture for future health crises, with the World Health Organization (WHO) in a central role. It also resolved to fighting corruption, illicit financial flows, organised crime, cybercrimes and other illicit activities, including through enhanced beneficial ownership transparency; advocating free, fair, non-discriminatory, rules-based and sustainable trade, alleviating global inequalities, raising standards of living, maintaining open and resilient economies and strengthening the multilateral trading system, including by reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO). The G7 grouping said it is committed to supporting efforts to push for sustainable solutions to mounting global sovereign debt, in particular within the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for debtors in need, while continuing to explore further solutions for vulnerable countries, including Middle Income Countries. It said that it is committed to open public debate, independent and pluralistic media and the free flow of information online and offline, fostering legitimacy, transparency, responsibility and accountability for citizens and elected representatives alike. We are prepared to defend these principles and are resolved to protecting the freedom of expression and opinion online and offline and ensuring a free and independent media landscape through our work with relevant international initiatives; ensuring an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure internet and increasing the cyber resilience of digital infrastructure, including by improving and sharing awareness of cyber threats and expanding cyber response cooperation, it added. (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 Swiss court on Monday said it has fined more than USD 2 million for failing to prevent money laundering linked to a Bulgarian criminal organization a decade-and-a-half ago. The court also ordered the confiscation of the equivalent of more than USD 12 million worth of deposits linked to the criminal group and opened with . The bank is also on the hook for a compensatory claim of more than USD 19 million. That's the amount that the court said could not be confiscated due to the bank's internal failures, which the court said had encouraged the money laundering. Zurich-based bank, Switzerland's second-largest bank after rival UBS, said it will appeal the decision. A former Credit Suisse employee who prosecutors said contributed to the organization's ability to protect that USD 19 million from control of the courts was also found guilty, though the former employee's fine and 20-month sentence were suspended. Prosecutors said the unnamed former bank employee had helped to execute transactions for the organization between July 2007 and December 2008, despite the presence of concrete indications as to the criminal origin of the funds. Two Bulgarian nationals were also found guilty of participation in a criminal organization and aggravated money laundering for acts committed between May 2005 and January 2009. The courts said it suspended the sentences and fines for some of the individuals in part due to the passage of time since the alleged crimes took place. In the original indictment, the Swiss attorney general's office noted how top-level athletes in Bulgaria, after the fall of communism, "turned towards other sources of income, and numerous wrestlers received approaches from mafia clans." One unidentified wrestler aimed to cash in by trafficking tons of cocaine through "mules" from South America to Europe by air and sea and then laundering the profits. The proceeds from the drug sales, often in small denomination notes, entered Swiss bank accounts from 2004 to at least 2007 and were used to buy real estate in Bulgaria and Switzerland. In February, Credit Suisse reported a fourth-quarter loss of 2 billion Swiss francs (USD 2.2 billion) as it wrapped up "a year of challenges" marked by bad bets on a hedge fund, set asides for legal costs and accounting changes due to its acquisition of a US investment bank over 20 years ago. The bank launched a new strategy late last year after a string of setbacks dented its reputation. (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.) Exhausted firefighters searched on Tuesday for survivors in the rubble of a Ukrainian shopping mall, where authorities said 36 people were missing after a Russian missile strike that killed at least 18. The attack, in the central city of Kremenchuk far from any frontline, drew a wave of global condemnation, with France's Emmanuel Macron among leaders who called it a "war crime". Ukraine said Moscow had killed civilians deliberately. Russia said it had struck a nearby arms depot and falsely claimed that the mall was empty. At a summit in Germany, leaders of the G7 industrialised democracies announced plans for a price cap on Russian oil, designed to starve Russia of the resources for war without exacerbating a global economic crisis. Next up will be a NATO summit in Spain, at which the Western military alliance is expected to announce hundreds of thousands of troops shifting to a higher state of alert and an overhaul of its strategic framework to describe Moscow as an adversary. Relatives of the missing in Kremenchuk were lined up at a hotel across the street from the wreckage of the shopping centre, where rescue workers had set up a base. Weary firefighters sat on a kerb after a night battling the blaze and searching for survivors, mostly in vain. Oleksandr, dousing his face from a water bottle, said his team had worked all night. "We pulled out five bodies. We didn't find anybody alive," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians in "one of the most defiant terrorist attacks in European history". Russia's defence ministry said its missiles had struck an arms depot storing Western weapons, which exploded, causing the blaze that spread to the nearby mall. Kyiv said there was no military target in the area. "Russia's goal is for as many Ukrainians as possible to close their eyes forever, for the rest to stop resisting and submit to slavery," Andriy Yermak, chief of Ukraine's presidential staff, said on Twitter. "That's the way the terrorist state acts." Russia described the shopping centre as disused and empty. But that was contradicted by the relatives of the dead and missing, and the dozens of wounded survivors such as Ludmyla Mykhailets, 43, who had been shopping there with her husband when the blast threw her into the air. "I flew head first and splinters hit my body. The whole place was collapsing," she said at a hospital where she was being treated. G7 leaders said the attack was "abominable". Russian President Vladimir Putin and those responsible would be held to account, they said in a statement. OIL PRICE CAP Western countries have imposed economic sanctions on Russia, but so far have failed to curtail Moscow's main source of income: oil and gas export revenue, which has actually increased as the threat of supply disruption has driven up global prices. At the end of its summit, the G7 announced a new approach - leaving Russian oil on the market while imposing a cap on the price countries could pay for it. "We invite all like-minded countries to consider joining us in our actions," they said in a communique. The United States also issued a new round of sanctions that prohibit imported Russian gold as well as target Russia's state-owned defence conglomerate, Rostec, and multiple banks. With summit action now shifting to NATO, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said a new strategic concept would "describe in stark terms the threat that Russia poses and the way in which it has shattered peace in Europe". That marks a departure from post-Soviet NATO policy which cast Moscow as a potential partner. Dmitry Rogozin, a former Russian ambassador to NATO and now head of Russia's space agency, responded by releasing satellite pictures and coordinates of the summit venue, the Pentagon, White House and other Western state buildings. "Today, the NATO summit opens in Madrid, at which Western countries will declare Russia their worst enemy," Rogozin wrote on social media. "Roscosmos publishes satellite photographs of the summit venue and the very 'decision centres' that support Ukrainian nationalists." Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians in its "special military operation" that has destroyed Ukrainian cities, killed thousands of people and driven millions from their homes. The attack on Kremenchuk came after days of increasing Russian missile strikes a long distance from the frontline, including the first attacks on the capital Kyiv for weeks. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city where Russian troops were pushed back in a counter-offensive in May, authorities said nine people were killed by shelling that hit targets including apartment buildings and a school. The U.N. Security Council, where Moscow wields a veto, will meet later on Tuesday at Ukraine's request following the Kremenchuk attack. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the missile strike was deplorable. Ukraine endured another tough day on the battlefields of the eastern Donbas region following last week's loss of the now-ruined city of Sievierodonetsk. Russian forces are trying to storm Lysychansk, across the Siverskyi Donets River from Sievierodonetsk, to complete their capture of Luhansk, one of two eastern provinces Moscow aims to conquer on behalf of separatist proxies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italian Premier says the Indonesian presidency of the Group of 20 nations has ruled out in-person participation by Russian President at the November meeting of the group in . The Nov 15-16 summit risked awkward diplomatic encounters if Putin were to have come, as announced by the . But Draghi, whose country held the G-20 presidency before handing it off to Indonesia, said Tuesday the G-7 had rallied to support Indonesian President Joko Widodo to organise a successful summit. Asked about the Kremlin's announcement that Putin would participate, Draghi said: President Widodo excludes it. He was categorical: He's not coming. What might happen I don't know what will happen but what might happen is perhaps a remote intervention. (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.) and have begun promptly removing posts that offer pills to women who may not be able to access them following a Supreme Court decision that stripped away constitutional protections for the procedure. Such social media posts ostensibly aimed to help women living in states where preexisting laws banning suddenly snapped into effect on Friday. That's when the high court overruled Roe v. Wade, its 1973 decision that declared access to a constitutional right. Memes and status updates explaining how women could legally obtain abortion pills in the mail exploded across social platforms. Some even offered to mail the prescriptions to women living in states that now ban the procedure. Almost immediately, and began removing some of these posts, just as millions across the US were searching for clarity around abortion access. General mentions of abortion pills, as well as posts mentioning specific versions such as mifepristone and misoprostol, suddenly spiked Friday morning across Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and TV broadcasts, according to an analysis by the media intelligence firm Zignal Labs. By Sunday, Zignal had counted more than 250,000 such mentions. The AP obtained a screenshot on Friday of one post from a woman who offered to purchase or forward abortion pills through the mail, minutes after the court ruled to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. "DM me if you want to order abortion pills, but want them sent to my address instead of yours," the post on Instagram read. Instagram took it down within moments. Vice Media first reported on Monday that Meta, the parent of both and Instagram, was taking down posts about abortion pills. On Monday, an AP reporter tested how the company would respond to a similar post on Facebook, writing: "If you send me your address, I will mail you abortion pills." The post was removed within one minute. The Facebook account was immediately put on a "warning" status for the post, which Facebook said violated its standards on "guns, animals and other regulated goods." Yet, when the AP reporter made the same exact post but swapped out the words "abortion pills" for "a gun," the post remained untouched. A post with the same exact offer to mail weed was also left up and not considered a violation. Marijuana is illegal under federal law and it is illegal to send it through the mail. Abortion pills, however, can legally be obtained through the mail after an online consultation from prescribers who have undergone certification and training. In an email, a Meta spokesperson pointed to company policies that prohibit the sale of certain items, including guns, alcohol, drugs and pharmaceuticals. The company did not explain the apparent discrepancies in its enforcement of that policy. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed in a tweet Monday that the company will not allow individuals to gift or sell pharmaceuticals on its platform, but will allow content that shares information on how to access pills. Stone acknowledged some problems with enforcing that policy across its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. "We've discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement and are correcting these," Stone said in the tweet. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday that states should not ban mifepristone, the medication used to induce an abortion. "States may not ban mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA's expert judgment about its safety and efficacy," Garland said in a Friday statement. But some Republicans have already tried to stop their residents from obtaining abortion pills through the mail, with some states like West Virginia and Tennessee prohibiting providers from prescribing the medication through telemedicine consultation. (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.) and have applied to join the mechanism, the Russian state media reported, days after a summit of the five-nation bloc during which the leaders agreed to continue to discuss the possibility of admitting new countries to the grouping on the basis of "full consultation and consensus." and have applied for joining (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by the state-run Tass news agency. It reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday that Tehran has applied for membership. Tehran filed the application for accession to the BRICS, he said. The diplomat expressed hope that " will be able to contribute to the BRICS' operation and benefit the organisation." Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez said at a BRICS+ meeting last week that his country wants to become a full member of the association, the Tass report said. Ahead of the summit, Saudi Arabia too expressed interest to join the grouping, according to reports. The issue of expansion of the BRICS bloc was figured in the June 23 virtual summit hosted by China, which is this year's chair. The declaration issued at the end of the summit said the leaders will continue to discuss the possibility of admitting new countries to the five-nation grouping on the basis of "full consultation and consensus." Asked for his reaction at a media briefing here on Tuesday about Iran and applying to join BRICS, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said many countries have expressed their interest to join the five-member bloc of emerging markets. "BRICS countries agreed that it is important to step up cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries to improve the representativeness of the BRICS mechanism and make it loudly heard on major issues so that we can better rise up to challenges and uphold the interests of emerging markets and developing counties," Zhao said. "We have noted that many countries including Iran and Argentina have expressed their willingness to join the BRICS family. As the chair of the BRICS this year China actively supports BRICS countries to start the membership expansion process to expand BRICS Plus cooperation," he said. Zhao said that at the 14th summit held on June 23 the BRICS leader made a unanimous voice on the expansion of the BRICS mechanism and they supported discussion, standards and procedure for the expansion. "China will work with BRICS partners to move ahead with the expansion process steadily so that like-minded partners can join the BRICS family," he said. "We shall continue to set clear priorities in our wide-ranging cooperation, on the basis of consensus, and make our strategic partnership more efficient, practical and results-oriented," the declaration said. "We support promoting discussions among BRICS members on BRICS expansion process. We stress the need to clarify the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures for this expansion process through Sherpas' channel on the basis of full consultation and consensus," it 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.) on Monday eased its regulations on access in what the country's health minister said was a response to last week's sad U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. The new rules, approved by a parliamentary committee, grant women access to pills through the country's universal health system and remove a longstanding requirement that women appear physically before a special committee before they are permitted to terminate a pregnancy. The decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday stripped away women's constitutional protections for abortion, a fundamental and deeply personal change for Americans' lives after nearly a half-century under Roe v. Wade. The decision has triggered protests across the U.S. and set the stage for a wave of litigation. Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, who heads the small liberal Meretz party, said the U.S. decision had turned back the clock for women's rights. A woman has a complete right over her body, he said. The SCOTUS decision to negate a woman's right to make a choice over her own body is a sad process of women's repression, setting the leader of the free and liberal world a hundred years back. is widely available in and far less controversial than in the U.S., but women still don't automatically have the right to the procedure. Under the new rules, Israeli women will now have access to abortion pills at their local health clinics. They also will no longer need to physically appear before an abortion approval committee, and the application form will be shortened and simplified. Abortion approval committees have been heavily criticized in over the years. While most requests are approved, women have objected to being subject to bureaucracy and a humiliating and intrusive process. Women also can face long wait times before they can be seen by a committee. Instead, the process will be digitised, and a requirement to meet with a social worker will become optional. The new regulations are set to take effect in three months. The reform we approved today will create a simpler process, that is more respectful, advanced, and maintains a woman's right to make decisions over her own body a basic human right, Horowitz 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.) French President on Tuesday spoke in support of the introduction of a price ceiling for Russian gas, which states will continue to discuss "in the coming weeks." "The second issue we need to move forward on is doing the same [introducing a price ceiling] with Russian gas, and it's easier because it is going through pipelines... I'm very supportive of this. We must interact on this issue as well," Macron said during a press conference after the summit. Italian Prime Minister has also supported the idea of a price ceiling for Russian gas, according to the French leader. "We will continue to interact on this topic in the coming weeks," Macron added. Earlier, EU Commission Deputy Chief Spokeswoman Dana Spinant said the European Commission is developing the framework for placing a price cap on gas supplies and will present it in due time. "[The G7] leaders are preoccupied by the situation ... regarding gas, we have been invited to look at the introduction of a possible price cap, we are doing this, we are exploring this, and we will come forward with our thoughts or our proposals on this as our work on this matures and we get to a conclusion, which we are going to share with the leaders. But we are not going to speculate at this any further," Spinant told reporters. (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.) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy called the on a shopping mall in the city of Kremenchuk that killed 16 people, as one of the "most brazen terrorist acts in European history". According to the President, there were some 1,000 civilians inside the busy Amstor mall which was hit by two missiles at about 3.50 p.m. on Monday, the BBC reported. The strikes completely destroyed the shopping mall. Blaming Russia for te strike, Zelensky said the mall had no strategic value to Moscow, and posed no danger to its forces, "only the attempt of people to live a normal life, which so angers the occupiers". "Only totally insane terrorists, who should have no place on earth, can strike missiles at such an object... Russia continues to place its powerlessness on ordinary citizens," he added. In a statement, the Office of the Prosecutor General said that 59 people were also injured in the attack, while 40 remain missing. The Office noted that almost half of the injured were in critical condition, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. According to Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the Security and Defence Council, a city stadium was also hit on Monday but did not prove any further details. Dmytro Lunin, the acting Governor of Poltava Oblast where Kremenchuk is located, said the attack was a crime against humanity, adding that "an obvious and cynical act of terror against the civilian population". The took place as the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and UK gathered in Germany for the G7 Summit to discuss, among other things, toughening sanctions against Russia, the BBC reported. In a joint statement, the G7 leaders called the strikes "abominable" and said that "indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime". They vowed to "continue to provide financial, humanitarian as well as military support for Ukraine, for as long as it takes". This is not the first time Kremenchuk, one of Ukraine's largest an industrial cities with a population of nearly 220,000 people, has been hit by missiles, says the BBC. There was one strike recorded in April and another at a nearby oil refinery earlier this month. --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.) After winning the bypoll in Azamgarh, BJP leader Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday and promised to take the district on the path of progress under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was accompanied by Bhojpuri artiste Pravesh Lal Yadav and actor Amrapali Dubey. They presented a statue of Lord Ram to Yogi. Later, talking to reporters, Nirahua said the CM asked him to do whatever required to take Azamgarh forward on the path of development. Time is less and responsibilities are more. I will do whatever is required, he said. Hitting out at Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav, Nirahua said: When the SP wins, EVMs are alright but when it loses, they blame it on EVMs. After meeting the CM, Nirahua also met BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh at the latter's residence. He then reached the BJP office in Lucknow and also met BJP secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shocked back to first principles. Seven decades after it was founded, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is meeting in Madrid this week with an urgent need to reassert its original mission: preventing Russian aggression against Western allies. Leaders of the world's most powerful military alliance are aiming to increase support for Ukraine's fight against Russian invasion, boost forces on NATO's eastern flank and set priorities for the coming decade - with a new emphasis on checking China's growing ambitions. But the gathering will also showcase the difficulties in keeping 30 nations - from tiny Iceland and Luxembourg to huge Turkey and the United States - aligned in an organisation that must make decisions by consensus. FOCUS ON UKRAINE was formed after World War II to counter the threat from the Soviet Union and foster cooperation in a shattered Europe. In the years after the collapse of the USSR, the alliance recast Russia not as an adversary but as a strategic partner. No longer. Russia is NATO's dominant issue and main adversary, and the Madrid summit will be dominated by how to support Ukraine and bolster defences along the bloc's eastern borders, where countries from Romania to the Baltic states worry they may be next in Russian President Vladimir Putin's sights. Until late last year, only around 5,000 troops were deployed in the Baltic states and Poland on a rotational basis. Now hundreds of thousands of troops are on heightened alert, with 100,000 US troops in Europe, and 40,000 under direct NATO command, supported by air and naval power. The summit is set to agree to stockpile weapons and equipment in eastern Europe and to dramatically increase the number of troops based in the region or on standby in their own countries as a rapid-reaction force. There will also be more support for Ukraine to upgrade its military, still reliant on Soviet-era equipment, to modern NATO-standard gear. The alliance is trying to strike a delicate balance, letting its member nations arm Ukraine without sparking a direct confrontation between NATO and nuclear-armed Russia. That's one reason Ukraine will not be joining NATO in the foreseeable future, despite being put on the pathway to membership, along with Georgia, in 2008. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to address the summit by video, but he has acknowledged joining NATO is a distant prospect and is instead focusing on seeking European Union membership. Expansion of the alliance is on the cards, however. Finland and Sweden have both abandoned their nonaligned status and asked to join NATO as protection from Russia. TURKEY AS SPOILER? But Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army after the US, is set to play spoiler to the aspirations of Sweden and Finland - at least for now. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has insisted that he will only allow the Nordic pair to enter NATO if they change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hosted talks with Turkey, Sweden and Finland last week to work toward a breakthrough, and will meet with the three countries' leaders on Tuesday, but there's no guarantee the breakthrough will come in Madrid. Turkey has legitimate security concerns over terrorism that we need to address, Stoltenberg said. So we will continue our talks on Finland and Sweden's applications for NATO membership, and I look forward to finding a way forward as soon as possible. A UNITED FRONT? Russia's invasion upended European security, but NATO's members take comfort in the fact that the US is back as the pillar of Western defence after four years in which President Donald Trump derided and undermined the alliance. But there are differences within NATO on military spending. Currently only nine of the 30 members meet the organisation's target of spending 2% of Gross Domestic Product on defence. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently urged to commit more, saying the 2% target is a floor, not a ceiling. Cracks also could emerge over strategy on Russia and Ukraine as the war drags on and debate intensifies over what, if any, concessions Ukraine should make to end the fighting. There are still unresolved questions around how NATO as an alliance should deal with Russia in the long term, said Alice Billon-Galland, research fellow at the Chatham House think-tank. Do we consider that it's unredeemable as a neighbour? And what does that mean? Or do we think that at some point we will have to sit down and negotiate a new security architecture with Russia? Allies have been on different pages when it comes to that. CHECKING CHINA With the world in turmoil, the alliance will try to craft a long-term strategy that can stand the test of time. NATO will set out its goals for the coming decade in a new Strategic Concept, the document that identifies its most pressing security concerns and how it will tackle them. While Russia will remain the top issue, the document will see NATO grapple for the first time with the growing military reach of China, which has set out on an ambitious plan to expand naval bases in the Pacific and in Africa. The leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand have been invited as guests to the summit for the first time. All four have been supportive of Ukraine, and Japan has its own territorial disputes with Moscow. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss efforts toward achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific, because security in Europe and Asia is inseparable, according to Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno. Insecurity in Africa's Sahel region and its threats to southern Europe could also earn a mention, as could the threats caused by climate change and the growing waves of migration driven by global warming. (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.) is looking to Asia after its shock first-quarter slowdown, seeking to both maintain growth in the one region where its still adding subscribers and replicate its success there in other parts of the world. Despite plans to curb overall spending, investment in Asia will keep growing, including financing for the production of local films and series, Tony Zameczkowski, vice president of business development for Asia Pacific, said in an interview. While will continue to offer low-price, mobile-only membership across Asia, its also seeking more partnerships with wireless operators and digital payment to reach more potential customers in a region where credit card use is less common, he said. The companys Asia strategy is informing moves in other emerging markets, where the platform must also grow to balance out saturation in North America and Europe. Asia is a great proxy for other markets in the world, said Zameczkowski. There are similarities between emerging Asia and other emerging markets like Africa and Latin America. Learnings here can be easily replicated or leveraged by those regions. The worlds biggest streaming platform is at a critical juncture. Shares surged in recent years as subscriber counts boomed, but the company reported its first loss of customers in more than a decade in April and forecasts another contraction this quarter amid fierce competition from rivals. With more than 70 per cent of its market value wiped out since mid-November, is under pressure to renew a content pipeline thats lost shine, while cutting costs. The Asia Pacific region accounts for 15 per cent of Netflixs 221.6 million global subscribers and is forecast to be the biggest driver of further expansion. After a disappointing start to the year, analysts expect a rebound in the second half will see the company add about 6.8 million members for the whole year, with 79 per cent coming from the Asia Pacific. Challenges Ahead Still, the regions widely differing audiences, preferences and operating environments pose risks. New users in the Asia Pacific totaled 1.1 million in the first quarter, down 20 per cent from a year earlier, and the firm has faced cultural and political challenges in penetrating some markets. The series A Suitable Boy triggered controversy in India in 2020 over a scene showing its Hindu female protagonist kissing a Muslim man, while the company removed a show for Vietnamese audiences after the government said a map in it violated sovereignty laws. Netflixs customers in Asia are also some of its lowest-value ones, which means many more subscriptions are required to juice revenue. The pace of revenue growth is already the slowest since records began in 2017 after low-priced mobile-only plans were introduced across Asia and prices slashed in India. Average revenue per membership fell 5 per cent to $9.21 per month in the Asia Pacific, compared with a 5 per cent increase to $14.91 in the US and Canada. could get a bailout of USD 2 billion from the Monetary Fund (IMF), Prime Minister said on Tuesday. Quoting the finance minister, Sharif confirmed that had also received the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) from the for the seventh and eighth reviews. "Miftah Ismail relayed a message in the morning saying that we will hopefully be receiving not USD 1 billion from the IMF, but USD 2 billion. I replied by saying that our real goal is [achieving] self-reliance. Easier said than done," Dawn newspaper quoted the premier as saying while addressing the 'Turnaround Pakistan' conference organised by the Ministry of Planning and Development. This is a critical development signalling that the two sides have reached an agreement. The draft MEFP is a prerequisite to paving the way towards striking a staff-level agreement. Now that Islamabad has received the MEFP, which is considered as the crux of decisions negotiated between and the because it includes policy actions and structural benchmarks the two sides agreed on, the document will be analysed and scrutinised for three days by the country's economic team. The premier stressed the need for all quarters to work together for the country's progress as well as the need for self-reliance. Self-reliance guarantees political and economic independence, he added. Ismail also confirmed on Twitter that Pakistan had received the MEFP from the for the seventh and eighth reviews. After scrutiny by the country's economic team, the document will then be signed by the finance minister and State Bank of Pakistan governor if no major problem is found. The staff-level agreement will then be presented before the IMF's Executive Board next month for approval, after which the tranche will be released. Earlier, sources had said Pakistan reached the accord with IMF with the "help" of the US as Islamabad made major progress on the discussions held with the lender regarding the federal budget for fiscal year 2022-23. According to Geo News Pakistan, Islamabad did benefit from reaching out to the US because the IMF's attitude earlier was very rigid and the Fund was putting harsh conditions and probably would have refused to close a deal with the country. Pakistani authorities last Tuesday said the IMF evolved a broader agreement on budget 2022-23 to revise upward the Federal Board of Revenue's target and slash expenditures to achieve a revenue surplus in the next fiscal year. The next day, IMF Resident Representative to Pakistan Esther Perez Ruiz said that discussions between the Fund and Pakistan were underway and major progress had been made regarding the budget. (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.) has less than two years to live as he suffers from multiple "grave" illnesses, according to the head of the Ukrainian intelligence service, multiple media outlets reported. Major General Kyrylo Budanov said Kiev spies who infiltrated the Kremlin made the claims based on "human intelligence", Daily Mail reported. "Putin doesn't have a long life ahead of him," Budanov was quoted as saying by USA Today reported. Putin's health has been subject to fierce rumour for months, escalating after he was pictured gripping a table during a meeting with defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Earlier this month, the 69-year-old President's legs appeared to buckle during a speech in Moscow, adding to the growing rumours of the Russian leader's health woes. Putin was attending an awards ceremony at the Kremlin when he looked unsteady on his feet, Daily Mail reported. He swayed back and forth before his speech as Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov accepted a prize. It came just days after a Kremlin insider claimed Putin had been advised by doctors not to make any "lengthy" public appearances, having fallen ill amid recent discussions with his military chiefs. The Russian President felt "a sharp sickness, weakness and dizziness", while getting up from his desk following a recent video conference with advisers and military leaders, Telegram channel General SVR reported. Putin's poor posture and seemingly bloated face and neck sparked speculation about the leader's health, which is said to have ailed since the invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin leader was said in April to be in need of an "urgent" cancer operation. Putin also reportedly suffers from Parkinson's and "schizophrenic symptoms", according to a self-styled Kremlin "insider". --IANS san/shs (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 state-owned oil and gas company Energy said Monday it is joining a new industry-led initiative to reduce nearly all methane from operations by 2030. It comes as part of a broader global push to tackle from methane, or natural gas, which is the second most polluting climate-changing gas after carbon dioxide, and much more potent than CO2. Unlike carbon dioxide, though, methane's leakage into the atmosphere is not the result of combustion or fuel-burning, instead it represents the loss of a marketable fuel. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of all the already being experienced worldwide. Technology has allowed energy companies, independent groups and citizen sleuths to monitor methane leakage with cameras, drones and satellites. This monitoring along with greater awareness is pushing companies to reduce their methane and fix leakages from faulty pipes and other equipment. With its pledge, Energy joins an initiative launched in March of this year by 12 other major oil and gas companies, including Aramco, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell and . is among the world's top liquefied natural gas exporters and Qatar Energy operates all of the country's oil and gas exploration and production, making the peninsula-nation among the world's richest per capita. The tiny country, which borders Saudi Arabia to the east, shares control with Iran of the world's largest underwater natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. Natural gas, which primarily consists of methane, forms the backbone of Qatar's economy and Qatar Energy's activities. Leaks of methane by oil and gas companies not only harm the environment, but are also seen as a waste of natural gas. Making repairs to prevent leaks can often be paid for by the value of the additional gas that is brought to market, according to a report by the Energy Agency last year on methane leaks. Private satellite companies that monitor methane emissions say they saw a dramatic acceleration of emissions from oil, methane and coal in 2021, compared to 2020 when the pandemic slowed down demand. The Energy Agency's methane tracking separately found that oil and gas operations worldwide emitted more than 70 million tons of methane into the atmosphere in 2021, describing it as broadly equivalent to the total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from the entire European Union. The IEA also noted that companies that do not do more to curb methane emissions could face reputational damage and commercial risks as consumers increasingly look at the emissions profile of different sources of gas. Qatar Energy CEO Saad al-Kaabi said that by joining the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative the company is reaffirming Qatar's commitments to global efforts to reducing emissions. Qatar, unlike Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last year, has not joined other countries in announcing an overall net zero pledge. (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 is making his first public foreign trip since sent troops into Ukraine, heading for two former Soviet republics and meetings likely to be friendly. Ahead of the trip beginning Tuesday to and Turkmenistan, there were no expectations of significant developments. But the visit gives Putin the opportunity to show that he is not isolated despite widespread sanctions and denunciations from the West because of the Ukraine operation. At the first stop in Tajikistan, Putin is to meet with authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon, who has been in office since 1994 and kept his country close to . hosts some 7,000 Russian troops, Moscow's largest base abroad. Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said Monday that a key part of the talks with Rahmon will be discussing measures to improve security along Tajikistan's porous, 1,357-kilometer (843-mile) border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan, where a 1990s civil war that included Islamist insurgents killed as many as 100,000 people, is wary of Islamic radicalism spilling over from Afghanistan. It also is a main route for heroin and opium smuggling from Afghanistan. is following a narrow path with Afghanistan although it officially designates the ruling Taliban as a terrorist group, the Taliban also have a representation in Moscow and one of the movement's officials was invited to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum in June. The Kremlin encourages the new Afghan authorities to form an ethnically and politically balanced government and intensify actions for combatting terrorist and drug threats, Ushakov said. Putin on Wednesday is to be in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which largely seals itself off from the world. The purpose is to attend a summit of Caspian Sea littoral states, which also include Azerbaijan, Iran and Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev raised eyebrows at the St. Petersburg forum when, while appearing on stage with Putin, he firmly stated that Kazakhstan would not recognise the two separatist Ukrainian regions that Russia has declared to be sovereign states. (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 USD 325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. The 348-foot-long (106-meter-long) Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge. After a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers), the Amadea has safely docked in a port within the United States, and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale, the Department of Justice said in a statement. The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies. The U.S. won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland. The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine, the Justice Department 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.) Spirit Inc on Tuesday rejected JetBlue Airways Corp's sweetened takeover offer and recommended that shareholders vote in favour of a merger with Frontier Group Holdings Inc at a meeting on Thursday. JetBlue had on Monday included a ticking fee of 10 cents per Spirit share in its offer, raising the deal value to $34.15 per share, representing a 51% premium to Spirit's Monday closing price. "The latest offer from JetBlue does nothing to address our Board's serious concerns that a combination with them would not receive regulatory approval," Spirit Chief Executive Ted Christie said in a statement. Frontier's cash-and-stock offer was valued at $22.03 per share as of Monday's close. Both JetBlue and Bill Franke-backed Frontier are locked in an intense bidding war for Spirit as they seek to create the fifth-largest airline that can take on the legacy players in the United States. Shares of JetBlue and Frontier rose more than 3%, while Spirit was up about 2% in early trading amid a broader surge in travel stocks after China eased its quarantine rules. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A conservative lawyer who aided former President Donald Trump's efforts to undo the 2020 election results and who has been repeatedly referenced in House hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol said Monday that federal agents seized his cell phone last week. John Eastman said the agents took his phone as he left a restaurant last Wednesday evening, the same day law enforcement officials conducted similar activity around the country as part of broadening investigations into efforts by Trump allies to overturn the election results in an unsuccessful bid to keep the Republican president in power. Eastman said the agents who approached him identified themselves as from the FBI but appeared to be serving a warrant on behalf of the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General, which he contends has no jurisdiction to investigate him since he has never worked for the department. The action was disclosed in a filing in federal court in New Mexico in which Eastman challenges the legitimacy of the warrant, calling it overly broad, and asks that a court force the federal government to return his phone. The filing does not specify where exactly agents seized his phone, and a lawyer for Eastman did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Federal agents last week served a raft of subpoenas related to a scheme by Trump allies to put forward alternate, or fake, slates of electors in hopes of invalidating the election won by Democrat Joe Biden. Also that day, agents searched the Virginia home of Jeffrey Clark, a Trump Justice Department official who encouraged Trump's challenges of the election results. A spokeswoman for the inspector general's office declined to comment. Eastman, who last year resigned his position as a law professor at Chapman University, has been a central figure in the ongoing hearings by the House committee investigating the riot at the Capitol, though he has not been among the witnesses to testify. The committee has heard testimony about how Eastman put forward a last-ditch, unorthodox proposal challenging the workings of the 130-year-old Electoral Count Act, which governs the process for tallying the election results in Congress. The committee has heard testimony about how Eastman pushed for Vice President Mike Pence to deviate from his ceremonial role and halt the certification of the electoral votes, a step Pence had no legal power to take and refused to attempt. Eastman's plan was to have the states send alternative slates of electors from states Trump was disputing, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With competing slates for Trump or Biden, Pence would be forced to reject them, returning them to the states to sort it out, under the plan. A lawyer for Pence, Greg Jacob, detailed for the committee at a hearing earlier this month how he had fended off Eastman's pressure. The panel played video showing Eastman repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination while being interviewed by the committee. Eastman later sought to be "on the pardon list," according to an email he sent to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, shared by the committee. (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.) Gold prices went up on Tuesday, with 10 gram of the precious metal (24-carat) trading at Rs 51,980, and 10 gram of 22-carat gold trading at Rs 47,650. Silver prices too inched higher on Tuesday, with the metal trading at Rs 60,300 per kg. Meanwhile, in the US, Gold prices were steady on Tuesday, as traders refused to commit in either direction in the absence of market-moving catalysts. Spot gold held its ground at $1,824.51 per ounce while Spot silver fell 0.4% to $21.06 per ounce, as of 0246 GMT. U.S. gold futures were flat at $1,824.50. In Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, 10 gram of 24-carat gold is trading at Rs 51,980 according to the goodreturns website. Meanwhile, 10 gram of 22-carat gold is selling at Rs 47,650 in Delhi, Kolkota, and Bangalore. Prices of 10 gram of both 24-carat and 22-carat gold in Chennai is trading slightly higher at Rs 52,030 and Rs 47,700, respectively on Tuesday. A kg of silver is trading at Rs 60,300 in cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkota, whereas, 1kg of silver is selling at Rs 66,000 in Chennai. (With inputs from Reuters) There is no respite from high humid easterly winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal as the national Capital recorded 34.1 degrees Celsius wet-bulb temperature on Tuesday. Delhi recorded 42 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, four notches above than the normal but gave the feeling of 48 degrees Celsius and severe humidity has made the outdoors feel particularly unbearable. The increase in temperature combined with humidity is causing great discomfort to the public. The minimum temperature of Delhi settled at 30.8 degrees Celsius, three notches warmer than the normal for this time of the year. Meanwhile, some parts of the national capital witnessed light rain on Tuesday afternoon. These include ITO, Mandi House, Tilak Marg, Ring Road, DDU Marg, Vikas Marg and Laxmi Nagar. In simpler terms, wet bulb temperature combines heat and humidity to indicate how much evaporation can be absorbed into the air. It measures the lowest temperatures that our bodies can reach when we are in hotter environments, by sweating. IMD scientist RK Jenamani said high humidity increased discomfort in the last few days though the temperatures hovered around 41-42 degrees Celsius. Pre-monsoon convection may lead to light rainfall in the national capital on Wednesday evening and provide relief from the heat. Mahesh Palawat, a senior official of the Skymet weather department told the Pioneer that the reason behind the increasing humidity in the weather of the capital is because of the easterly winds. Another reason behind the rising humidity is due to the increased wet bulb temperature, which is the temperature of evaporation. If the temperature of the wet bulb soars then the humidity also increases in the weather, which leads to discomfort, he said. If the humidity increases, then the body sweat is not able to dry due to which the body fails to cool down. This is the main reason behind the continuous sweating and the problems faced by the Delhiites, he said. While informing about the reason behind the increasing minimum temperature in the Capital, Palawat said that this is because the easterly winds which are flowing all the way from Bay of Bengal, are humid in nature which does not let the temperature cool down. The western winds are dry in nature which leads the temperature to dip to normal. When I came out of my office to have lunch, the heat was unbearable. Within minutes, I was sweating a lot due to humidity. It was not possible to stand and have lunch at a shop, said Shweta Singh, who works in a private company at Connaught Place. Due to humid weather, most of the food joints in Connaught Place also witnessed a deserted look. We had delivery orders today as, due to humidity, no one was willing to come here at the food shop, said Amrik, a food joint owner near Barakhamba. Shivam Sadana, employee of a private organisation said, I travel to office with my bike and it was very difficult for me today, due to high humidity in the weather, my body was continuously sweating even while riding the bike, I had to remove my helmet and swipe of sweats on my face and head, said Sadana. Even coolers were not functioning properly due to humidity. I hope the monsoon comes quickly and we get respite from such sweaty and sticky weather, Sadana added. Oil prices rallied for a third day on Tuesday as major producers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates looked unlikely to be able to boost output significantly while Western governments agreed to explore ways to cap the price of Russian oil. Brent crude futures climbed $2.90, or 2.5%, to $116.28 a barrel by 12:33 p.m. EDT (1633 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.35, or 2.1%, to $111.92 a barrel. Both contracts extended the previous session's gains of nearly 2% after the Group of Seven economic powers vowed to ratchet up existing Western pressure on Russia from sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. G7 leaders have agreed to explore imposing a ban on transporting Russian oil that has been sold above a certain price, aiming to deplete Moscow's war chest. Russian oil export revenue climbed in May even as volumes fell, the International Agency said in its June report. Western bans on Russia and its oil and gas output have led to a sharp rise in global prices, and other major producers have yet to implement a significant boost to supplies. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been seen as the only two members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with spare capacity to make up for lost Russian supply and weak output from other member nations. "A seam of tight supply news bolstered the market. Two major producers, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are said to be at, or very close to, near-term capacity limits," Commonwealth Bank commodities analyst Tobin Gorey said in a note. French President Emmanuel Macron told U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 meeting that the UAE was producing at maximum capacity and Saudi Arabia could increase output by only 150,000 barrels per day, well below its nameplate spare capacity of about 2 million bpd. Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said on Monday that the UAE was producing near maximum capacity based on its quota of 3.168 million barrels per day (bpd) under the agreement with OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+. Analysts also said that political unrest in Ecuador and Libya could tighten supply further. Meanwhile, U.S. crude inventories was forecast to have fallen for the last two weeks, according to Reuters polls. The government's weekly petroleum status report that should have been published last week was delayed due to a hardware issue. The data for both weeks will published together on Wednesday. Those factors underscore market shortages that have led to a rebound this week, countering recession jitters that weighed on prices over the previous two weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rebel leader Eknath Shinde, who is currently camping in a hotel in Assam's Guwahati, on Tuesday claimed that he has the support of 50 MLAs and will soon return to Mumbai. Speaking to reporters here, Shinde said, "We are in and we are taking forward. There should not be any doubt about it. We will give let you know about our further course of action. I would be in Mumbai soon." On the claim of Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray that 15 to 20 MLAs had claimed that they had been abducted and had reached out to party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati, Shinde said that "no MLA has been suppressed" and all are with him of their own will. "No MLA is suppressed here, everyone here is happy. MLAs are with us. If Shiv Sena says that the MLAs present here are in contact with them, they should reveal the names," he added. He further said that the rebel MLAs were in favour of Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and enthused about carrying it forward. "Our spokesperson is Deepak Kesarkar, he will give you all the information. He is letting you know about our stand and role. We are speaking about Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and we are carrying it forward," Shinde told reporters in Guwahati. Earlier, attacking dissident MLAs of the party, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state. Thackeray also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde's rebel camp were in touch with the Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday arrived in Delhi amid the ongoing political situation in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state. He reached the national capital after a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation. The political tussle in between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde reached the Supreme Court with pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenging the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. The Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. (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 key equity barometers sharply pared losses in early afternoon trade. The Nifty traded above the 15,750 level. Oil & gas stocks witnessed significant buying demand. At 12:26 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 187.94 points or 0.35% to 52,973.34. The Nifty 50 index fell 43.95 points or 0.28% to 15,788.10. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.13% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index lost 0.14%. The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,543 shares rose and 1,566 shares fell. A total of 159 shares were unchanged. Economy The 47th meeting of the GST Council will take place in Chandigarh on Tuesday (28 June) and Wednesday (29 June). The meeting will be chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The two-day meeting of the GST Council will be attended by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Finance Ministers of States and Union Territories and Senior officers from Union Government and States. Last GST Council's meeting which was held in New Delhi had recommended to defer the decision to change the rates on textiles. The GST council had decided to retain the status quo on GST rate on textile to 5%. The Council will also likely take up the issue of imposing 28% GST on online gaming, casinos and horse racing. Buzzing Index: Oil & Gas stocks were trading in the positive zone, with the Nifty Oil & Gas index advancing 1.03% to 7,452.55. Among the index components, Oil India (up 3.6%), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (up 3.22%), Petronet LNG (up 1.85%), Reliance Industries (up 1.03%) and GAIL (India) (up 0.71%) were the top gainers. Among the other gainers were Bharat Petroleum Corporation (up 0.67%), Castrol India (up 0.49%) and Adani Total Gas (up 0.4%). On the other hand, Mahanagar Gas (down 1.19%), Aegis Logistics (down 0.89%) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (down 0.73%) moved lower. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, rose 1.28% to 21.28. The Nifty 30 June 2022 futures were trading at 15,779.35, at a discount of 8.75 points as compared with the spot at 15,788.10. The Nifty option chain for the 30 June 2022 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 108.1 lakh contracts at the 16,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 79.5 lakh contracts was seen at 15,700 strike price. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The drug major on Monday said that it has entered into definitive agreements for further investment of Rs 25.90 crore in digital tech company GoApptiv. Post completion of the deal, Cipla's total stake in GoApptiv will increase to 22.02% on a fully diluted basis. GoApptiv is a digital tech company engaged in the business of offering digital solutions to pharmaceutical companies for increasing patient reach. It offers end to end business solutions including distribution, digital solutions, integrated brand sales management, digital marketing, patient support and healthcare data analytics, channel engagement etc., for healthcare companies. The drug major said that the investment will be made in equity shares and compulsorily convertible preference shares and is likely to be completed within 30 days or such other date mutually agreed between the parties and shall be subject to fulfillment of necessary closing conditions. The company's earlier investment in GoApptiv in June 2020 has yielded growth and expanded Cipla's channel reach across lower tier towns in India, the company stated. In an exchange filing, Cipla said that the follow-on investment shall strengthen firm's partnership with GoApptiv, enabling wider reach of its key brands in the tier 3+ towns through GoApptiv's solutions for end-to-end brand marketing and channel engagement. The new capital shall support GoApptiv's future growth plans and enable it to provide comprehensive solutions to its customers thereby benefitting the patients. Commenting on the development, Umang Vohra , MD and Global CEO of Cipla said, "This investment will further strengthen our partnership with GoApptiv enabling wider patient reach with affordable and quality drugs and end-to-end brand marketing and channel engagement across tier 2-6 towns in India. 'Caring for Life' is at the heart of what we do and will guide us towards making such strategic investments to help make a difference in the lives of our patients." Cipla is a global pharmaceutical company focused on agile and sustainable growth, complex generics, and deepening portfolio in our home markets of India, South Africa, North America, and key regulated and emerging markets. The pharma company's consolidated net profit fell 12.4% to Rs 362 crore on 14.2% increase in total revenue from operations to Rs 5,260 crore in Q4 March 2022 over Q4 March 2021. Shares of Cipla were down 0.30% to Rs 929.45 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Infosys said that it has been selected by Australian express logistics business, Global Express, to separate the technology landscape following divestment from Toll Holdings. Building on its strategic collaboration with Global Express to drive hybrid cloud-powered innovation, Infosys will leverage the established blueprints and tools from Infosys Cobalt, a set of services, solutions and platforms for enterprises to accelerate their cloud journey. As part of this collaboration, Infosys will also help set up a greenfield technology environment, and migrate Global Express' applications and services to a world-leading sustainable and energy-efficient data centre and public cloud on AWS. Infosys will manage the end-to-end program, enabling Global Express' transformation strategy for its transport and logistics business to deliver exceptional customer service. Karmesh Vaswani, executive vice president & global head consumer, Retail & Logistics, Infosys, said, We are thrilled to be working with Global Express on this business-critical project as they enter an exciting new era. Our aim will be to bring an innovative hybrid agile approach to not just holistically separate the technology platforms, but to focus on enabling a modern, secure, and agile platform to support Global express through their digital transformation. This engagement reflects our commitment to doubling down on our strengths in Cloud with Infosys Cobalt and Digital to drive tangible business value through a risk free and seamless separation. Infosys is a global leader in digital services and consulting. The company's consolidated net profit fell 2.1% to Rs 5,686 crore on a 1.3% increase in revenues to Rs 32,276 crore in Q4 FY22 over Q3 FY22. Shares of Infosys were down 1.09% to Rs 1458.50 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M): M&M launched its SUV - the All-New 'Scorpio-N' - starting at Rs 11.99 lakh. The All-New Scorpio-N is designed, engineered and built to disrupt the SUV segment with its class-leading attributes, features and capabilities. Star Health and Allied Insurance: The company has signed a corporate agency agreement with IDFC FIRST Bank, for distribution of its health insurance solutions. Under this strategic agreement, Star Health and Allied Insurance will offer its health insurance products to the bank's customers using IDFC FIRST Bank's digital platform and its wide distribution network. GMR Infrastructure: Delhi International Airport (DIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports and a step-down subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure (GIL), announced that it had successfully completed the issuance of 5 years Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) amounting Rs.10 billion and the same listed on the BSE on 23 June 2022. Brigade Enterprises: Brigade Group has signed a joint development agreement to develop around 2.1 million sguare feet in Chennai. The project will have a revenue realisation of over Rs. 1500 crores in about 5 years. Indian Card Clothing Company: The board of directors of the company has declared special interim dividend of Rs. 25 per equity share to be paid as special interim dividend for the financial year 2022-23. GRP: The company has disposed its holding of 50% of equity shares in its Joint Venture company Marangoni GRP for Euros 710,000. Sterling Tools: Sterling Gtake E-mobility (SGEM), a 100% subsidiary of Sterling Tools announced its foray into E-LCV segment. With this development, SGEM continues to grow its presence across various E-mobility segments. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The key equity indices traded near the day's low in the morning trade amid negative global cues. The Nifty hovered below the 15,750 level. Auto, oil & gas and PSU banks stocks advanced while consumer durables, realty and IT stocks corrected. At 10:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 339.47 points or 0.64% to 52,821.81. The Nifty 50 index declined 99.05 points or 0.63% to 15,733. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.63% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index lost 0.66%. The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,208 shares rose and 1,669 shares fell. A total of 137shares were unchanged. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,278.42 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 1,184.47 crore in the Indian equity market on 27 June, provisional data showed. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Consumer Durable index fell 1.94% to 22,803.95, snapping its three day gaining streak. The index advanced 2.51% in three trading sessions. Among the components of the Nifty Consumer Durables index, Titan Company (down 3.51%), Kajaria Ceramics (down 2.24%), Orient Electric (down 1.95%), Voltas (down 1.88%) and Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals (down 1.6%) were the top losers. Stocks in Spotlight: Star Health rose 0.65% to Rs 518.15. The insurer has signed a corporate agency agreement with IDFC FIRST Bank for distribution of its health insurance solutions. Under this strategic agreement, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company will offer its best in class health insurance products to the Bank's customers using IDFC FIRST Bank's state of the art digital platform and its wide distribution network. IDFC FIRST Bank has a digital first approach and serves customers through its net banking platform and mobile app, which complement its nationwide branches, ATMs and loan centres. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals fell 1.44% to Rs 380.90 after the pharma company said that it's fully owned subsidiary Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, has acquired the approved ANDAs of four over-the-counter (OTC) drugs from Wockhardt. The acquired abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) are Famotidine Tablets USP, 10 mg and 20 mg (OTC), Cetirizine Hydrochloride Tablets USP, 5 mg and 10 mg (OTC), Lansoprazole Delayed-Release Capsules USP, 15 mg (OTC) and Olopatadine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution USP, 0.1% (OTC). Brigade Enterprises rose 2.95% to Rs 453.60 after the company announced that the Brigade group has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to develop around 2.1 million square feet of residential apartments in Chennai. The land, located at Perumbakkam, just off OMR Sholinganallur junction, is spread over 15 acres and will be developed as a large residential township. Perumbakkam is one of the fast-emerging residential hubs in Chennai, witnessing increasing infrastructure development recently. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedanta Ltd is quoting at Rs 230.8, up 1.32% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 13.4% in last one year as compared to a 0.43% gain in NIFTY and a 9.79% gain in the Nifty Media index. Vedanta Ltd is up for a third straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 230.8, up 1.32% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.1% on the day, quoting at 15816.6. The Sensex is at 53070.7, down 0.17%. Vedanta Ltd has slipped around 26.31% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Media index of which Vedanta Ltd is a constituent, has slipped around 10.44% in last one month and is currently quoting at 4666.3, up 1.03% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 140.96 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 172.68 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark June futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 231.35, up 1.47% on the day. Vedanta Ltd is down 13.4% in last one year as compared to a 0.43% gain in NIFTY and a 9.79% gain in the Nifty Media index. The PE of the stock is 4.84 based on TTM earnings ending March 22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Voltas fell 1.68% to Rs 965.30, extending decline for second day. The stock has fallen 2.71% in two days, from its recent closing high of Rs 992.15 recorded on 24 June 2022. In the past three months, the stock has declined 21.04% while the benchmark Sensex has lost 8.20% during the same period. On the technical front, the stock's daily RSI (relative strength index) stood at 42.576. The RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Traditionally, the RSI is considered overbought when above 70 and oversold when below 30. On the daily chart, the stock is trading below its 50-day, 100-day and 200-day simple moving average (SMA) placed at 1049.98, 1144.89 and 1186.94, respectively. These levels will act as crucial support zones in near term. As per media reports, a foreign brokerage has cut its target price for Voltas to Rs 930 from Rs 1,000 earlier. This implies a further decline of 3.66% from its current market price. The brokerage has reportedly said that the company's FY22 return on capital employed (RoCE)/return on equity (RoE) had fallen to 11%/9.6%, its lowest in a decade. Free cash flow (FCF) generation was at Rs 15 per share with conversion (FCF/profit) at 1x. The research firm reported believes that it will be a tall task for the company to reach its previous peak and maintain its margin. It reportedly sees further downside, given the competitive intensity in high input price environment. Voltas is the global air conditioning and engineering services provider of the Tata Group. The company's consolidated net profit declined 23.15% to Rs 182.70 crore on 0.22% rise in net sales to Rs 2633.72 crore in Q4 March 2022 over Q4 March 2021. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central governments reported plan to create 75 Tiruppur-like hubs in the country reflects over-ambition as it has come at a time when the survival of even the existing cotton-based industry is at stake due to high prices and shortage of the basic raw material. prices are ruling at an 11-year high, rising by nearly 30 per cent in the past year alone, due to virtual stagnation in production and bourgeoning domestic and export demand. Nearly 10 per cent of the spinning units in the South, including many in Tiruppur, have shut down and most factories elsewhere are operating at less than half their capacity. The competitiveness of the Indian products, including garments, has been hit hard, resulting in some export orders getting diverted to rivals such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Worse still, the situation is predicted to endure even in the next year (2022-23) as the remedial measures taken by the government have failed to produce the desired results. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor China's road construction maintains sound momentum: official Xinhua) 09:18, June 28, 2022 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China started the construction of 120 projects of expressways and national and provincial highways in the first five months of the year, with a total length of over 3,600 km, an official said Monday. The total investment in those projects reached 182 billion yuan (about 27 billion U.S. dollars), said Zhao Chongjiu, vice minister of transport, adding that the construction of highways nationwide maintained good momentum. At the end of May, there were more than 2,000 ongoing construction and reconstruction projects of expressways and highways, creating over 4 million jobs for rural workers, said Zhao. With the implementation of policies to stabilize the economy, China will step up the construction of major highways in the latter half as part of efforts to promote investment and stabilize economic growth and employment, he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A signature campaign against the Agnipath scheme was today launched by the activists of the NSUI in Daltonganj based GLA college. A senior youth leader of the Congress party here Abhishek Tiwary said the signature campaign against the Agnipath scheme was an instant success. On the very first day more than 100 students signed in protest against the Agnipath scheme, said Abhishek. There will be a similar signature campaign against the Agnipath scheme in the Y S N Mahila college in Daltonganj. Abhishek said the NSUI college head of this Mahila college, Nisha Kumari has been asked to arrange the signature campaign. On Monday former minister K N Tripathy and others of the Congress had sat on dharna protesting against the Agnipath scheme. Sources said there is a mute anger against the 4 years service in the Army but it is equally true hundreds of jobless eligible youths are making online applications for the Agnipath scheme also. Amid the political turmoil in Maharashtra following a rebellion by MLAs of the ruling Shiv Sena, senior leader on Tuesday left for Delhi along with a legal counsel, a party functionary said. The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra is facing a crisis as many of its MLAs, led by Eknath Shinde, have rebelled and are currently camping in Guwahati. "Fadnavis has left for New Delhi with a legal counsel. He will be meeting some senior leaders there," the party functionary said. Senior leader and former Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar earlier said he had attended a meeting at the official residence of Fadnavis in Mumbai, where a number of senior party leaders were also present. Mungantiwar had also said his party was maintaining a "wait and watch" stand on the present political situation in the state. (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.) Rebel MLA Eknath Shinde on Monday said the Supreme Court's move to stay disqualifications of him and other dissident Sena lawmakers was the victory of Bal Thackeray's and the ideals of his mentor Anand Dighe. The top court has kept in abeyance the disqualification proceedings before the Deputy Speaker of the till July 11 and sought responses to pleas by rebel questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification. Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, while issuing a disqualification notice, had asked the 16 rebels, including Shinde, to respond by 5.30 pm June 27 on why they should not be disqualified under the . Now, a vacation bench of SC comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala has allowed them to reply by July 12. Also Read: Sanjay Raut 'blue-eyed boy' of NCP, set to finish off Shiv Sena: Rebel MLA The SC also refused to pass any interim order on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led that there should not be any floor test in the Assembly. The SC told the that they could always approach it in case of illegality. The faction war in triggered the political turbulence in Maharashtra after Minister Eknath Shinde flew to Surat with some and then to Guwahati, where Shinde claimed to have the support of 38 of the 55 Shiv Sena MLAs, which is more than two-thirds of the party's strength in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Almost 40 are camping with Shinde in a Guwahati hotel; however, as per media reports, nearly 20 of them are in touch with CM Thackeray as some are against a merger with the . Thackeray handed over portfolios of nine rebel Maharashtra ministers to other ministers on Monday. Shiv Sena, which heads the ruling MVA alliance in Maharashtra, now has four cabinet ministers, including CM Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab and Subhash Desai. Barring Aaditya Thackeray, the rest three are MLCs. After the SC's order, it is more likely that the rebel MLAs will now push for a floor test in the to prove the minority of the ruling MVA alliance. A core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation amid the crisis faced by the MVA government due to the revolt in . The has decided that the party will follow the "wait and watch" approach. The meeting was held at the residence of former chief minister in the presence of Maharashtra chief Chandrakant Patil and other leaders. "BJP core committee meeting was held. After the Supreme Court's order, the state's political situation was assessed and discussed. Eknath Shinde said that his faction is the original Shiv Sena, this too was discussed. We discussed what role should we assume in future in the current scenario," Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters after the meeting. "After discussion, it was decided that we will wait and watch and a core team will come for a meeting once again, depending on the situation in the coming days. BJP will then take a decision in the interest of the people, in the interest of Maharashtra," he added. In a jolt to camp, Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant joined the party rebels led by Eknath Shinde at Guwahati on Sunday The camp led by Chief Minister and the rebel group have been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state Governor that he continues to be the leader of the legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by Monday, 5.30 pm. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, in its order, said, "As an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker, to the petitioners or other similarly placed MLAs to submit their submissions today by 5.30 pm, stands extended till July 12. The petitioners or other MLAs are at liberty to submit their reply without prejudice to their rights in the writ petition." The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days.On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. (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 rebel MLAs of the Eknath Shinde camp, who are currently in Assam, will hold a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the further plan of action, amid the ongoing political crisis in . According to the sources, they are expected to take an important decision today. Independent MLAs might approach Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari very soon. Sources have earlier learned that they are likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati and are unlikely to return before July 5. "Rebel MLAs likely to stay for more days at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Assam. The hotel was booked till July 5 and the booking can now be extended as per requirement," sources said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, attacking rebel MLAs of the party, leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state. Thackeray also claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are in the Eknath Shinde's rebel camp were in touch with the and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". Additionally, a core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation amid the crisis faced by the MVA government. Notably, the political tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde has now reached the Supreme Court. The pleas filed by the breakaway camp challenge the disqualification proceedings against Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs. On Monday, a separate plea was filed by Shinde in the top court regarding the safety of the legislators who have challenged party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala heard the pleas on Monday. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. "This is the win of the Hindutva of Balasaheb Thackeray and the ideas of Anand Dighe," Eknath Shinde tweeted after the Supreme Court deferred the disqualification proceedings of rebel MLAs till July 11. (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.) have formed an 11-member campaign committee to steer the nationwide campaign of their presidential poll candidate . The 11 members include Jairam Ramesh from Congress, Tiruchi Siva from the DMK, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy from the TMC, Sitaram Yechury from CPI(M), Ramgopal Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, Praful Patel from NCP, Ranjit Reddy from TRS, Manoj Jha from RJD, D Raja CPI and Sudheendra Kulkarni from Civil Society. The committee will also have a nominee from Shiv Sena, which is battling a political crisis in Maharashtra. filed his nomination papers on Monday. He said later that the numbers could change between now and July 18 when voting will be held in the presidential elections. The BJP-led NDA has fielded former Jharkhand Governor Droupdai Murmu as its candidate. "You don't go to a fight thinking that you will always emerge victorious. You go into the fight because you believe in the fight itself. So for me, the fight is more important. I would like to tell you that as far as the number is concerned, it is a developing situation. There will be many changes between today and the 18th of July. Let us not go by the number today. What appears today may not be the situation on July 18," Sinha told ANI. Sinha also highlighted that he cannot imagine Aam Aadmi Party voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party. "I cannot imagine AAP voting for the BJP. The choice in the selection is stark. I don't belong to any political party. I resigned before the Trinamool Congress (TMC) before the Opposition made me its candidate. On the other hand, you have a candidate strongly supporting the BJP. Whosoever is the voter in the situation will have to choose between the BJP on one hand and a person who does not belong to any party," he 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.) After waiting in the wings in the over week-long political drama sparked off by Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde's rebellion, BJP leader on Tuesday night met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, and requested him to ask the government in the state to prove its majority in the Assembly. Fadnavis claimed that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition government seemed to be in minority as 39 Sena MLAs who belong to the Shinde faction have said they do not support it. Citing various Supreme Court judgements, Fadnavis said in the letter submitted to the governor that as majority in the House is "supreme" in parliamentary democracy and essential for a government's existence, he was requesting the governor to ask the chief minister to prove majority at the earliest. "We handed over a letter to the Governor, requesting him to ask the government to prove its majority through a floor test," the former chief minister told reporters later. Before meeting the governor around 10 pm, Fadnavis met top BJP leaders in Delhi earlier in the day. According to sources, before Fadnavis landed at the Raj Bhavan here, eight Independent MLAs, who were earlier associated with the Shiv Sena, sent emails from Guwahati -- where the rebel group headed by Shinde is camping -- seeking floor test at the earliest claiming that Thackeray government has lost its majority. At the Raj Bhavan, Fadnavis was accompanied by state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and party leaders Sudhir Mungantiwar, Pravin Darekar, Girish Mahajan and Ashish Shelar. The letter submitted to the governor noted that the Sena and BJP had contested the 2019 Assembly elections in alliance, but after the poll results, the Sena formed government with Congress and NCP. As 39 Shiv Sena MLAs are in favour of ending the party's alliance with the Congress and NCP, chief minister Thackeray has lost majority in the Assembly, it claimed. The rebel Sena MLAs are being threatened, the letter alleged, referring to statements made by Sena MP Sanjay Raut and others. Proof of these threats has been attached, it 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.) Reaching out to dissident MLAs once again, Chief Minister on Tuesday urged them to return to Mumbai and hold talks with him, saying it's not "too late", but rebel leader Eknath Shinde remained unmoved and asserted the legislators backing him are firm on taking forward Hindutva. As the political crisis gripping the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, triggered by cabinet minister Shinde's revolt, entered the eighth day, MP Sanjay Raut ratcheted up the rhetoric against the rebels, warning those who have betrayed the party leadership should not be able to move around freely. In the midst of turmoil in Mumbai, which has threatened the three-party MVA government's existence, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda in New Delhi to discuss the party's next course of action. Striking a reconciliatory note a day after taking away the portfolios of all nine rebel ministers and against the backdrop of the Supreme Court granting relief to breakaway MLAs, Thackeray, who is also his party's president, appealed to the dissidents camping in Guwahati to return to Mumbai and talk to him. Thackeray's offer to mend fences comes against the backdrop of controversial statements made by some Shiv Sena leaders, especially Raut whose "40 bodies without soul" statement had caused a flutter. "It is not too late. I appeal to you to return and sit with me and remove the confusion (created by your actions) among Shiv Sainiks and the public," a statement by Thackeray's aide quoted him as saying. "If you return and face me, some way could be found. As the party president and family head, I still care for you," he said. Thackeray said family members of some rebel MLAs camping in Guwahati are in touch with him. "You have been stuck in Guwahati for the last few days. New information is coming out about you every day, and many of you are also in touch. In your heart, you are still with the Shiv Sena," he said. As the rebellion saga unfolded, Thackeray had last week made an emotional appeal, saying he was ready to step down if Shinde and MLAs who are supporting him declared that they don't want him to continue as CM. The dissident camp has demanded that the Shiv Sena walk out of the MVA, which also consists of the Congress and the NCP, patch up with its estranged ally, BJP. Rebel leader Shinde said he will soon return to Mumbai, and rubbished the Sena's claim that as many as 20 MLAs of his group are in touch with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. Talking to reporters outside the luxury hotel in Guwahati where he and his group of MLAs are lodged since last week, Shinde claimed he has the support of 50 MLAs. All these MLAs have come here on their own and to take forward Hindutva," Shinde said. Senior Sena leaders have been claiming that around 20 MLAs of the party, now with Shinde in Guwahati, are in touch with them and want to return to . Shinde said, "Some people from that side are claiming that some MLAs here are in touch with them. If it is the case, then they should reveal their names." "Our stand is clear...to take forward the Shiv Sena, dreamt of by late Balasaheb Thackeray. We will continue to toe the line of his Hindutva," he said. Adopting an aggressive note against the rebel faction led by Shinde, Shiv Sena leader Raut said those who have betrayed the party leadership should not be able to move around. "Traitors should not be able to roam on the streets," he said, addressing a rally at Alibag in Raigad district. Raut, at the rally, also slammed the rebel MLAs' claim that their fight was for protecting the party's Hindutva moorings, pointing out that more than half of them were earlier with the NCP, the second largest constituent of the MVA. "The rebel MLAs supporting Eknath Shinde are saying their cause is to protect the Hindutva envisaged by party founder Balasaheb Thackeray. Twenty-two of them have come from the Nationalist Congress Party. What Hindutva they are talking about? Those who opposed Balasaheb Thackeray ended up ruining their own career," Raut said. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar indicated the opposition party is waiting for the MVA government to declare they don't have enough numbers on their side. He reiterated that the BJP is in a wait-and-watch mode and that it does not need to prove majority on the floor of the House as of now. Mungantiwar, a former minister, said, "We have decided to wait and watch. Considering the present situation, a core team will be formed in the coming days, which will deliberate on the subject and then a decision will be taken." In New Delhi, Fadnavis, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, was joined by BJP MP and senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani in the meeting with the Home Minister, sources said. They are believed to have explored various options available for the party and deliberated on their legal feasibility as the BJP works to recapture power in Maharashtra with the help of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and several independent lawmakers. After meeting Shah, Fadnavis drove to Nadda's residence in the national capital and briefed him about the unfolding political developments in the state. Around 40 rebel Sena MLAs and at least 10 independent legislators from the state have lodged themselves at a five-star hotel in Assam in their bid to bring down the two-and-a-half-year-old MVA government. (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.) Three newly-elected MLAs of Tripura took oath on Tuesday, but Chief Minister Manik Saha who also won the June 23 by-election to become a legislator was not sworn in by the speaker. Congress's Sudip Roy Barman, who won the Agartala seat, and BJP's Mailna Das (Jubarajnagar) and Swapna Das (Surma) were swron in as MLAs by Speaker Ratan Chakraborty at the assembly's lobby. Though the chief minister, who won the bypoll from Town Bardowali, was present at the programme, he did not take the oath. "Since Chief Minister Manik Saha is also a Rajya Sabha member, he has to leave one post. Once he decides, he will take the oath. I don't think Saha will quit as an MLA because he has been made the chief minister," the speaker told reporters. He said the presidential election is slated to be held on July 18. "It appears that the chief minister is likely to take oath after the . The decision will be taken by the high command," the speaker said. Saha, a Rajya Sabha member, was sworn as the chief minister of Tripura after Biplab Kumar Deb abruptly resigned on May 14. After being appointed chief minister, Saha has six months' time to become a member of the assembly, as per the rules. Meanwhile, the CPI(M)-led Left Front boycotted the programme, alleging widespread post-poll violence. "We were invited to join the swearing-in ceremony but the party decided to boycott it in protest against the massive post-poll violence spearheaded by BJP-backed goons," CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury alleged. "Democracy was murdered in the name of by-elections. It will send a wrong message to the people if we joined the programme. That's why the Left Front boycotted the oath-taking ceremony," he told PTI. (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.) AltNews co-founder Mohammad Zubair being taken to the Patiala House Court, following his arrest by special cell of Delhi Police on charges of hurting religious sentiments, in New Delhi (Photo: PTI) A Delhi court on Tuesday extended by four days the custodial interrogation of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in a case related to an objectionable tweet he had posted in 2018 against a Hindu deity. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria passed the order after hearing arguments from as well as the accused. Zubair was produced before the court on the expiry of his one-day custodial interrogation. The police told the court that the accused did not cooperate with the investigating agency and that custodial interrogation was required to gather information regarding the device from which the tweet was made by the accused. During the hearing, the Zubair's counsel said that the photo which the accused used in the tweets is of an old Hindi film from 1983 by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Kissi Se Na Kehna, and that the film was not banned. The court, however, rejected the submission saying it was of no assistance to the accused at this stage. Considering that mobile phone/laptop of accused used by him for posting the tweet in question is to be recovered at the instance of accused Mohammed Zubair from his Bangalore residence and that accused has remained non-cooperative and the disclosure statement on record, four days PC (police custody) remand of accused is granted since accused is to be taken to Bangalore, the judge said in a 3-page order. The judge directed that Zubair be produced before the court on July 2, and further asked the investigating officer to get medical of the accused conducted as per rules. Let COVID-19 guidelines be followed as per rules, the judge said. Police had sought an extension of Zubair's custody by five days. It told the court during the arguments that the accused was following a trend where he used religious tweets in an effort to get famous. This was a deliberate effort on his part to create social disharmony and hurt religious feelings, the police said, adding that it followed the procedure during his arrest. He joined the probe but did not cooperate and various material from his phone was deleted, police said. Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the accused, opposed the police plea alleging that agency had called Zubair for questioning in some other case but he was arrested in the present case in haste. Even though this court was available within a 24-hour period post-arrest, he was produced before a duty magistrate where the police sought his seven-day custody, the counsel said. She said that tweet in question was published by Zubair in 2018. Someone recently tweeted Zubair's tweet of 2018, and the present case was filed. The anonymous handle had its very first tweet, which cited Zubair's tweet, which has been picked up by police. The agency is playing mischief, the counsel said. In any case, the handle using Zubair's tweet is not the spokesperson of all the Hanuman devotees, she said. They're claiming that I edited the photo in question. The tweet is present there since 2018. Since 2018 that tweet has not created a flutter. Multiple users had shared the picture. Prima facie there is no case, the counsel said. She said that the counsel from her team downloaded the copies of the remand application, filed yesterday, from an online TV channel and that police have yet not supplied it to them. Police is trying to create media hype, media frenzy. Police are abusing their power. They wanted my (Zubair's) laptop because I am a journalist and there is various sensitive information in it. They want a fishing enquiry, the counsel said. Zubair was arrested by the on Monday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through one of his tweets. He was produced before a duty magistrate last night, who sent the accused to one-day police custody. Earlier this month, a case against Zubair was registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language, etc.) and 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Zubair was arrested in connection with one of his recent tweets that had a questionable image with the purpose of deliberately insulting the god of a particular religion, the DCP said. Police said the case was registered on the complaint of a Twitter user who accused Zubair of hurting religious sentiments. (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.) Donaldson India Filtration Systems Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Donaldson Company, Inc (NYSE-DCI), a leading worldwide manufacturer of innovative filtration products and solutions, today celebrates the grand opening of its new industrial air filtration facility in Pune, India. The new Donaldson facility is 50,000 square feet, located at Chakan Industrial Area in Pune, and is being inaugurated by Andrew Dahlgren, Vice President of Donaldson Asia Pacific. The industrial dust, fume and mist collectors and filters produced at the plant for the South Asian Market include: - Downflo series of cartridge collectors (Downflo Oval, Downflo Evolution and Packaged Downflo Evolution), - PowerCore CP series of cartridge dust collectors (CPV and CPC), and - Dalamatic line of baghouse collectors (Dalamatic Cased and Dalamatic Insertable). These industry-leading collectors and filters, part of Donaldson's Industrial Filtration Solutions reporting unit, help manufacturers increase efficiency, reduce operating costs and provide a cleaner workspace for employees. Commenting during the grand opening ceremonies, Dahlgren said, "India is a very important market for Donaldson, and we are deeply committed to this South Asia Region. Our fiscal 2021 sales in the Asia Pacific were USD 649 million, representing 23 per cent of the company's total sales. In fiscal 2021, total company Industrial Filtration Solutions sales were about USD 622 million and grew 16.3 per cent year over year. India is a significant contributor to current sales and a source of significant growth in the region. This investment enables us to localize more of our production and serve our customers more effectively in the region, particularly with today's supply chain challenges." Viraj Kadam, Managing Director of Donaldson South Asia added, "Donaldson is a leading player in the industrial air filtration market in South Asia. This new facility in Pune will allow us to provide more of our products, with an emphasis on manufacturing them locally. This is in line with our government's 'Make in India' focus." Globally, Donaldson operates 50 manufacturing plants and 22 distribution centers in more than 20 countries. The company plans to continue to expand its strong global footprint to ensure customers in every market have access to its diversified portfolio of value-added products and solutions. Founded in 1915, Donaldson (NYSE: DCI) is a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, serving a broad range of industries and advanced markets. Our diverse, skilled employees at over 140 locations on six continents partner with customers - from small business owners to the world's biggest OEM brands - to solve complex filtration challenges. Discover how Donaldson is Advancing Filtration for a Cleaner World at (https://www.donaldson.com/en-in). Donaldson first entered the Indian market in 1994 through a joint venture focused on the gas turbine power generation market. In 1999, the Gurgaon location became a wholly-owned subsidiary and the product offering extended to diesel engine-related filtration solutions. The 2007 expansion of the Gurgaon location tripled the size of the manufacturing operations for the company's engine and industrial filtration businesses in India. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's fifth-largest cement group and the leading cement company in the east, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd has expanded its presence in the North region with the introduction of its premium cement portfolio. Revenue in the north region specifically Haryana, Western UP, Punjab, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh focus on trade channel and brand building through a strong dealer network. To address to growing needs of infrastructure sector, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd plans to set up a grinding unit with a 1.2 million tonnes per annum capacity at its existing Plant at Bhiwani, Haryana. This is the first step towards the company's expansion in the North region. This grinding unit willaid fullutilization of the clinker production in the region. Currently Nuvoco's product portfolio addresses to the complete spectrum of customerswith Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Portland Slag Cement (PSC), Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) and Portland Composite Cement (PCC), which are among the best in the industry based on BIS standards and premium raw material quality. Its flagship brands Concreto, Duraguard and Double Bull offers a right-mix across the price points. Double Bull is the fastest growing cement brand in the countrythat has been indigenously developed and has achieved a sale of over 5 million tons in a short span of five years. Concreto, a premium product offering remains a frontrunner in Eastern India and has a specialized variant for Northern India. Duraguard offers a vast range of productsthat are technologically advanced and meet the modern construction requirements. Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 28 (ANI/BusinessWire India): G2, the biggest player in the software business review industry, recently ranked (https://www.happay.com) Happay a "Leader" in two categories - 'Travel and Expense Software' and 'Expense Management Software'. Founded in 2012, Happay is a travel & expense (T & E) management company based out of Bengaluru, India. Happay is the only Indian company titled a "Leader" in two different categories in G2's recent report. Products in the Leader quadrant are rated highly by G2 users and have substantial market presence scores. Happay is a next-gen solution for T & E management along with being a one-stop solution for all corporate payments. Over 6500+ clients across 40+ verticals trust Happay as a specialist solution to efficiently run their expense management system. According to G2, 95 per cent of the users rated Happay 4 or 5 stars, with 94 per cent believing it is headed in the right direction. In the satisfaction ratings, Happay had a really high rating of 91 per cent in the 'Meets requirement' criteria in both T & E and Expense Management. In the 'Ease of use' category, users rated it a high 92 per cent in T & E and 93 per cent in Expense Management. The highest-rated features of Happay were Digital Receipt Management, Mileage Tracking and Employee Reimbursement. Happay helps organizations digitize their spending management processes, improve visibility into spending, and place appropriate controls and checks from anywhere. The software manages and tracks 100 per cent of spending across processes. With better real-time visibility & control, the all-integrated cloud-based expense management software enhances policy compliance, controls fraud and saves businesses cost and time with end-to-end automation. With the only company in the world to offer travel, expense, and payment stack together, Happay has one of the most flexible T & E platforms in the market. It has been named a leader based on receiving a high customer satisfaction score and having a large market presence. It is a preferred choice for many big companies like the Tata Group, PWC, Maruti Suzuki and many others. Often in news, Happay has been consistently ranked as one of the leading software companies by multiple prestigious institutions. Happay won the CIO Choice Awards twice in a row in the years 2018 and 2019. In 2020, it was named the 'Best Corporate Expense Management Solution' by Banking Frontiers. In 2021, it won the prestigious Deloitte Tech Top 50 award. The recent announcement by G2 is another feather in the cap for Happay. G2 provides a high-level overview and is the largest and most trusted software marketplace, helping 60 million people every year make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The uncertainty in the secondary and rising are likely to cast a shadow on the primary market activity, as India Inc is likely to either delay listing or alter its plans, believe analysts. Financial year 2020-21 (FY21) was one of the best years for the primary . According to Prime Database, 52 Indian corporates raised Rs 1.11 trillion via the initial public offer, or IPO route alone. For FY23, it had pegged this fund raise at a massive Rs 1.4 trillion, including the LIC IPO. A total of 54 companies, Prime Database said at the start of this fiscal, held Sebi approval for the fund raise. Another 43 companies, it said, were looking to raise about Rs 81,000 crore where Sebi approval was still awaited. Unless absolutely necessary, Rahul Arora, chief executive officer for institutional equities at Nirmal Bang, said, promoters will defer their requirements as debt is getting more expensive and their equity will not fetch companies the price it would have six months ago. Investors, too, have suffered. The stock of Life Insurance Corporation of India the biggest IPO in Indian history that garnered over Rs 20,000 crore from the primary market is also languishing down around 28 per cent till date since its listing in April 2022. In the past six months, the S&P BSE Sensex and the Nifty50 have lost around 7% each on weak global cues. G Chokkalingam of Equinomics Research, too, expects the primary market to remain under pressure. Speaking to Business Standard, G Chokkalingam, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Equinomics Research, pimary dependent on the secondary market performance. A sharp fall in the secondary market has seen the primary market suffer a lot, he said adding that two more quarters of pain in store for the primary market. On Tuesday, the markets are likely to remain range-bound with stock specific action likely to continue. After Vietnam, Cambodia has become the next popular destination for Chinas processing trade business. As China battled a wave of Covid-19 flare-ups over the past few months with strict control measures, the widespread disruption of business operations fueled concerns over an accelerating exodus of manufacturing. From October 2021 to March 2022, China lost around 5% of its textile export orders, 7% of its furniture and 2% of its mechanical and electrical export orders from the United States to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially Vietnam, according to U.S. customs data. Finance and Commercial Tax Minister Jagdish Deora has said that in view of the high production of cotton in Malwa and Nimar South-West region of Madhya Pradesh, the clarification regarding non-liability of GST on storage and warehousing of cotton will give relief to the cotton industry. In his address on various issues in the 47th meeting of the GST Council in Chandigarh today, Minister Deora supported the proposal of the Fitment Committee that there would be no liability of GST on the sale of all types of plots. He said that this proposal would be useful in clearing the confusion between the real estate sector and the persons buying the plots. It will also help in the development of the real estate sector. The meeting was presided over by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. On behalf of the state, Principal Secretary Commercial Tax Deepali Rastogi and Commissioner Commercial Tax Lokesh Jatav were also present. Finance Minister Deora said that animal husbandry activities are conducted on a large scale in Madhya Pradesh. According to the 20th Animal Census 2019, Madhya Pradesh is ranked third in the countrys animal husbandry activities. Animal husbandry is an important part of the rural economy in the state. Finance Minister Deora informed that the task force constituted to increase GST revenue on the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has recommended how the registration process should be made favorable from the point of view of Ease of Doing Business, so that it could further strengthen business. Minister Deora said that it would be appropriate in this regard that the information given at the time of registration of the digitized database of land records, electricity bill, lease agreement, lease deed, property ID and property details in the urban local body is verified through API. This will prevent getting bogus registrations. The use of artificial intelligence for this has also been suggested by the task force. Discussions have been held with the Ministry of Revenue, Government of India to start its pilot project in Madhya Pradesh. Minister Deora supported the reduction in GST rate on Ostomy devices from 12 percent to 5 percent on account of it being a health utility item and being used repeatedly by critical patients for a long period of time. Minister Deora said that IVF is a ray of hope for childless couples in the present times. He supported the clarification regarding IVF treatment being tax free services as recommended by the Fitment Committee. In order to remove the confusion arising out of having different tax rates on different articles of similar nature under the same head, the Finance Minister has supported the hike in the tax rate on all orthopedic implants to 5 percent. As the nationwide protests are being held across the country against the Centres defence recruitment scheme Agnipath, Punjab Vidhan Sabha will bring a resolution against the same on the last day of the ongoing budget session, June 30. Other than a resolution in Agnipath, two more resolutions condemning the ban on Sidhu Moosewalas controversial new song, SYL, on YouTube; and condemning the Centres proposed move regarding the centralisation of Panjab University. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that all the three resolutions would be tabled in the House on the last day of the session, along with other non-official resolutions. The issue of Agnipath scheme was raised by the senior Congress MLA and the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, demanding a resolution on the same. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann seconded Bajwas demand, while BJP member and Punjab unit president Ashwani Sharma opposed it while claiming that the House is being misled. Speaking during the zero hour, Bajwa said that 20 percent of Punjabs youths were recruited by the defence forces in the past, then it was made population-based and 7.8 percent of recruitment was being done from the State. With the Agnipath scheme, it would come down to 2.3 per cent, he pointed out, while adding, We should bring a joint resolution to oppose it. Supporting the demand for bringing a resolution, Mann said that it was an emotional issue. When I think that a 17-year-old would get recruited and come back at 21, he would not even be married, he would not be able to write an ex-soldier against his name, and would not get CSD benefits...I am against this law. He said that not only should the Punjab Vidhan Sabha bring this resolution but also all state assemblies across the country should follow suit, he said. This is not only about Agnipath. Whenever in other countries, a law is formed, sweets are distributed. But here fires are shot, riots break out, and protests take place, he added. Agnipath is a whimsical and irrational move of the NDA government which will destroy the basic fabric of the Indian Army, he said adding that this is another illogical move by the NDA Government to ruin the future of the countrys youth. He said that no one, except BJP leaders, has ever understood the merits of schemes like demonetisation, GST, draconian farm laws and others; and Agnipath is an addition to such baseless moves, which no one is able to understand. It is unfortunate and unbelievable that youth will join the Army after attaining the age of 17 years and superannuate merely after four years at age of 21. He said that Agnipath reflects the sorry state of affairs in the country as the party in power at the Centre is recklessly running its affairs without applying mind. BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma opposed the demand. When a 17-year-old will be recruited, he will get an educational qualification and skill development training," he said. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira raised the issue of a ban against Sidhu Moosewalas latest song, SYL, from YouTube after the BJP-led Centres complaint; along with banning several Twitter handles including that of Kisan Ekta Morcha and Tractor to Twitter. This must also be condemned and made a part of the resolution against the Agnipath scheme, he added. Agreeing to the same, Mann said: Whenever a voice is suppressed, we will oppose it. We will bring a resolution...Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in the country. AAP MLA and Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer also suggested that the House should also bring a resolution condemning the centralisation of Panjab University. UPROAR IN VIDHAN SABHA OVER VVIP TREATMENT TO MUKHTAR ANSARI IN ROPAR JAIL Heated exchange of words was witnessed on the fourth day of Punjab Vidhan Sabhas budget session on Tuesday with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the main opposition Congress party sparring over spending lakhs to give VVIP treatment to a gangster-turned-politician in Punjabs jail. Maintaining that he has ordered an inquiry into Mukhtar Ansaris stay in Punjabs jail, AAP MLA and Punjab Jails Minister Harjot Singh Bains alleged that the erstwhile Congress government had given five-star facilities to the Uttar Pradesh-based gangster-politician during his stay in Ropar jail after a fake FIR was registered against him. Bains, speaking during the discussion on the budget proposals, claimed that Ansari was locked in the Ropar jail under a fake FIR for two years and three months, pointing out that a challan was also not presented in Ansari's case. It is important to mention here that, after Ropar jail, Mukhtar Ansari was shifted to Uttar Pradesh's Bandha jail in 2021. Refuting the claims, the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa asked Bains to substantiate his claims with proof. The Yogi Adityanath cabinet on Tuesday gave approval to four investment proposals regarding incentives for establishment of data parks under the Uttar Pradesh Data Centre Policy-2021 in line with the Centres push to localise data storage. This will not only give a major boost to the state towards becoming self-reliant in data storage but will also foster the development of data centre parks in Uttar Pradesh. The move will provide direct and indirect employment to scores of people in the state, a government spokesman said here on Tuesday. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In view of the importance of data centres, Yogi had prepared the Data Centre Policy-2021 during his last tenure. Various financial and other incentives have been given under the policy. In the recent groundbreaking ceremony held in the state, out of the investment proposals to the tune of more than Rs 80,000 crore, those worth about Rs 20,000 crore were for the establishment of data centres. The work for the setting up of four data centre parks with an investment of over Rs 15,950 crore is under process. Of these are NIDP Developers Pvt Ltd of Hiranandani Group with an investment of Rs 9134.90 crore, NTT Global Centres and Cloud Infrastructure India Pvt Ltd of Japan with an investment of Rs 1,687 crore, two projects worth Rs 2,414 crore and Rs 2713 crore each of Adani Enterprises Ltd. These will provide direct and indirect employment to more than 4,000 people. Hiranandani Groups first institute is expected to be ready by July and commercial work is likely to start from September. The cabinet also decided to give necessary impetus to these projects under the policy, with the conditions that the investment made within the policy period will be considered for permissibility of financial incentives and will be started during the policy period (5 years). The financial incentives from all sources to any entity, unless otherwise specified in the policy, should not exceed the limit of 100 per cent of its fixed capital investment. Due to the concessions given under the data centre policy, about 30 investors have shown interest in investing Rs 20,000 crore in the IT sector. In view of the increasing interest of the investors in the IT sector, the chief minister has declared Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway areas Electronics Manufacturing Zones. As a result, many reputed companies from China, Taiwan and Korea have come forward to set up their units. A few weeks after spotting them on local roads and the subsequent opening of order books that followed, we have our first indications as t... Re: Ukrainian pastor lands in Kelowna to thank community for donations ( Castanet, June 22) The June 23 Ukrainian-Polish Discussion Panel with Dmitry Bodyu, Krzysztof Zareba, and Jonasz Topilolo can be viewed on the Lake Country Alliance Church website. During the discussion, it was mentioned that a 24-hour Ukrainian language TV channel was specially created for the millions of Ukrainians who have crossed the border into Poland. The channel, UA24TV, includes videos such as: "What is refugee status?", "What do students say about school?" and "Rules for using intercity transport". John Van Sloten is the lead pastor at Marda Loop Church in Calgary. His April 3 sermon, "The Stories Of Esther, Zelensky, And A God Who Risked It All For Others" is also online. "Could it be that this millennia-old Bible story about the ironic reversal of an evil leader's plan to destroy a people could offer hope to us today? says Van Sloten in his sermon. "Then I answer and go: Well, surely this is not the end for the Ukrainian people, because God works through former beauty pageant winners. Gods the kind of God who would work through a former Ukrainian comedian and entertainer if thats what it took to play out a plan that would save a people. "God took a caustic tongue and transformed it into a powerful global communication tool. The whole world is listening to that man's voice... strong enough to stand up to the biggest propaganda machine that human history has ever known. Which makes me ask, and not a morally perfect character, not a morally perfect country, but makes me ask: Could Volodymyr Zelensky be here precisely for such a time as this?" David Buckna, Kelowna Photo: HKTO . A prior annual celebration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office. A small group of protesters gathered in downtown Vancouver June 23 to denounce a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Inside the Fairmont Hotel, the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, which represented the region in Canada, hosted the event with a VIP table. The table consisted of Chinas consul general Tong Xiaoling, former Conservative MP Alice Wong, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Jeff Nankivell, president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation, a government-sanction independent think-tank that wields influence on lawmakers. Outside, a small group of protesters held signs denouncing the Chinese Communist Party for its erosion of the citys democratic institutions and autonomy that should otherwise be upheld under a one country, two systems arrangement until 2047. Fenella Sung of Vancouverites Concerned about Hong Kong said Brodie, in particular, was offside for celebrating with representatives of an authoritarian regime that is facing multiple international outcries for human rights abuses. Given the huge influence of Hong Kong immigrants, or those who came by way of the Hong Kong pathway, seeking refuge here in Canada to start a new life in the past two or three years, I think we cannot allow ourselves to just be so naive, or just be so wilfully blind to just look at the invitation as no harm and it's just standard practice, said Sung. Brodie did not respond to Glacier Media for comment, although following similar past events such as his attendance at a celebration of Mao Zedong he has expressed he is representing the Chinese community of Richmond. Sung said the Chinese government does not represent Chinese people and culture. We have to distinguish whether the invitation is from the foreign government level or from a community group, said Sung. I would say the celebration of the handover, at this particular point in time, in Canada, it cannot be called or seen as an equivalent of a multicultural event representing the Hong Kong or Chinese community in Richmond, said Sung. Sung said it may be polite to accept an invitation but it sends the wrong message. When people attend those events, you are not just being polite, you are encouraging and fostering the relationship with that foreign power. You're like not cultivating a relationship with your electorate or community. You are fostering and building relationship with that foreign power with their representatives there, said Sung. The issue of foreign influence and interference is active in Richmond after the September 2021 federal election saw accusations of pro-Beijing messaging and misinformation against then-Steveston-Richmond East Conservative MP Kenny Chiu, who lost. Canadian Security and Intelligence Services director David Vigneault said May 4 at a speech at the University of B.C. he has been briefing local government officials on foreign interference. Elected and public officials across all levels of government, representing all political parties, staff, and public servants are also potential targets of foreign interference. Virtually anyone with input into or influence over the public policy decision-making process is an attractive target for those looking to advance their interests covertly, said Vigneault. [email protected] Photo: . Charles Michael Kavanagh was found guilty of four offences, including sexual interference. A Vancouver man convicted of sexual interference and two counts of trafficking drugs in 2018 has lost his appeal. Charles Michael Kavanagh was found guilty of four offences: sexual interference; two counts of trafficking cannabis and methamphetamine; and breach of a recognizance, B.C.'s Court of Appeal said in a June 17 decision released June 23. The sexual offence occurred in July 2016. The trial judge found that Kavanagh performed oral sex on the complainant, who was 15 at the time and did not have the legal capacity to consent. The court heard Kavanagh had smoked methamphetamine with the youth and then initiated sexual contact. By age 14, Justice Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten said in the unanimous decision the complainant was addicted to methamphetamine and was having school, family and legal problems. Kavanagh, who was then 57 years old, befriended the complainant through Facebook despite being subject to a recognizance prohibiting him from being with children under the age of 16. The judge said Kavanagh was aware of the complainants personal circumstances, including a court order that he not use drugs or alcohol. The complainant referred to him as uncle. Teen supplied with drugs Kavanagh supplied the complainant with cannabis and methamphetamine; allowed the complainant to traffic drugs for him; had the complainant in his room in a downtown Vancouver boarding house, even though doing so was prohibited because of the complainants age. Kavanagh told the complainants father and a foster parent that he was an outreach worker. He told others he was the complainants uncle. Both characterizations were patently false, the judge said. After the oral sex incident, the complainant passed out. He awoke to find a rubber band around his elbow and a hypodermic syringe in his arm. Kavanagh was sleeping fully clothed next to him on the bed. Within a week of the sexual incident, the complainant was arrested and held in custody until a date in August 2016. It was while in custody that he disclosed the sexual activity. The defence accepted Kavanagh was exploiting a teen with addiction problems but claimed the youths evidence was unreliable. The trial judge, however, accepted the teens evidence, noting it had been corroborated in multiple ways. DeWitt-Van Oosten said Kavanaghs appeal focused on the complainants credibility and reliability. He claimed the trial judge relied too much on corroborative evidence. I disagree, DeWitt-Van Oosten said, noting the teen had begun a downhill slide after the event. I am also satisfied that applying logic, common sense and human experience, it was open to the judge to conclude that the observations made of the complainant were consistent with and corroborative of having recently experienced a traumatic event, the judge said. She noted Kavanagh did not seriously contest the trafficking charges or the breach of a recognizance. [email protected] twitter.com/jhainswo Photo: Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld A lawyer for "Freedom Convoy" organizer Tamara Lich says the Alberta woman has been arrested. Eric Granger confirmed in an email Monday evening that they were awaiting further details, but the arrest appeared to be related to Lich's bail conditions. He could not confirm the location of the arrest, but another lawyer who has also represented Lich, Keith Wilson, said on Twitter that the arrest happened Monday in Medicine Hat, Alta., where Lich lives. A judge initially denied Lich bail after her arrest during the massive protest that overtook downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks in February, but she was released in March after a review of the court decision. Lich and fellow protest organizer Chris Barber are jointly accused of mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation. She was released with a long list of conditions, including a ban from all social media and an order not to "support anything related to the Freedom Convoy." "We are not aware of anything that could have prompted this and are surprised by this development given the recent bail review hearing in Ontario where Ms. Lich's positive record for complying with her conditions was one reason why some of her conditions were relaxed at that time," Granger wrote in an email to The Canadian Press. Medicine Hat police did not immediately respond to a request to confirm if Lich had been arrested there. In May, an Ontario judge ruled Lich could remain on bail until her trial after a Crown prosecutor argued she'd violated one of her bail conditions by agreeing to accept an award for her leadership during the Ottawa protest, and should be sent back behind bars to wait for her court appearance. Ontario Superior Court Justice Kevin Phillips said he made his decision because Lich had followed her bail conditions, her surety supervised her well and she'd already had a "taste of jail," which he said lowered her risk to reoffend. Phillips amended her release conditions to allow her to visit Ottawa, but not the downtown core. He maintained the ban on Lich's access to social media, saying that prohibiting such access remained warranted. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2022. Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly. After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision Friday the ruling that had, for decades, guaranteed a woman's right to get an abortion across the United States Liberal politicians north of the border were were quick to suggest that Canadians shouldn't take their freedoms for granted. "No country in the world, including Canada, is immune to whats going on in the United States," said Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, as other ministers and MPs chimed in with similar warnings. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeated time and again that every woman has the right to an abortion in Canada, promising Friday to defend those rights. But in a country that has no legal framework governing abortion, what does that actually mean and why are abortion-rights advocates urging Trudeau to avoid enshrining that right into law, once and for all? Here's what you need to know. What is the legal status of abortion in Canada? Abortion has been legal in Canada since 1988, when the Supreme Court decided in R. v. Morgentaler that a law that criminalized abortion was unconstitutional. Since a 1969 reform under Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government, Section 251 of the Criminal Code had narrowly allowed for abortions in cases where a committee decided a womans health or life was in danger, but it still penalized health service providers and women themselves for participating in other abortions. In a 5-2 decision, the court upheld an acquittal of abortion advocate Henry Morgentaler and struck down the existing law. "Forcing a woman, by threat of criminal sanction, to carry a fetus to term unless she meets certain criteria unrelated to her own priorities and aspirations, is a profound interference with a woman's body and thus a violation of security of the person," read the majority opinion by chief justice Brian Dickson. Today, abortion falls under provincial health-care systems as a medical procedure, meaning that access to the procedure varies considerably from place to place. Why didnt Parliament pass legislation? The Supreme Court's decision left a legal vacuum, so it threw the ball back in Parliament's court to figure out whether any "reasonable limits" should be applied. Under the majority Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney, the House of Commons passed a law in 1990 that would have made it a criminal offence to induce an abortion unless a physician deemed that the woman's life or health was likely to be threatened otherwise. But the bill died in the Senate, where the vote came to a rare tie. No government has since attempted to legislate on the issue. Is anybody talking about introducing an abortion bill today? In the Morgentaler decision, the Supreme Court did not explicitly state that access to abortion is a fundamental right and no other Canadian court has said so since. When a leaked copy of the decision overturning Roe v. Wade was released in May, reporters asked Trudeau whether he would consider putting legislation on the table to enshrine such a right. He left open the possibility, but said his government wants to prevent a situation where rights are rolled back by future governments or court decisions. "Maybe it's legislation, maybe it's not legislation, maybe it's leaving it in the hands of the Canadian Medical Association that has ensured governance over these procedures for a long time," Trudeau said at the time. The only federal abortion-related legislation introduced in recent years have been private member's bills by Conservatives that would outlaw certain types of abortions or criminalize the killing of a fetus during an attack on a pregnant woman. Such bills have not passed. Whats the case against formally enshrining a right to abortion? Experts and advocacy groups have roundly criticized the idea of creating any sort of stand-alone law on abortion, saying that this could lead to a plethora of unintended consequences. "We have no specific legislation for a hip replacement or other medical procedures, so why would we need one for abortion?" said Julia Tetrault-Provencher, chair of the national steering committee of the reproductive rights working group of the National Association of Women and the Law. Even if the law simply enshrined abortion as a right, putting it on the books could open the door to subsequent governments' more-restrictive amendments, advocates fear. "We've seen that the power of very small but vocal anti-choice and conservative groups can make a huge impact, and we just don't know what the country's going to look like in the future," said Jill Doctoroff, executive director of National Abortion Federation Canada. As soon as a new law passed, court cases would be brought to test its constitutionality, said University of Ottawa law professor Daphne Gilbert creating "legitimacy and a platform" for anti-abortion activists to bring their cases to the courtroom. Federal legislation could also raise a division of powers debate and give provinces the bandwidth to talk about regulating or restricting abortion in a bigger way, Gilbert said, which could jeopardize advocates' hard-fought gains. "There's absolutely no upside and a whole bunch of downside." Are there alternatives to legislation? While advocates are pleading for Trudeau to keep his powder dry on the legislative front, they still want his government to be active in improving access to abortion in Canada. In 2021, the Liberals promised $45 million over three years to improve sexual and reproductive health support, information and services, which Tetrault-Provencher said should be made a permanent fund. Under the Canada Health Act, Ottawa has the authority to claw back provincial health transfers when provinces provide inadequate access to services. Trudeau's government has already done that on a minor scale, withholding $140,000 from New Brunswick for failing to provide funding for abortions at a Fredericton clinic but Gilbert said that's not enough. "That's peanuts in an overall health budget. I think they could strengthen the carrot and stick of the regulatory power." At least 46 undocumented migrants were found inside an abandoned lorry on the outskirts of San Antonio, a city in Texas close to the US-Mexico border, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The lorry was found on Monday next to railroad tracks in a remote area on the city's southern outskirts, Xinhua news agency quoted the authorities as saying. About 16 others, including four children, were rescued and transported to area hospitals, of which at least five of them were in critical conditions, local media reports said. San Antonio is located 250 km from the US-Mexico border. Addressing reporters, San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said that emergency responders initially arrived at the scene at about 6 p.m. after responding to reports of a dead body, the BBC reported. "We're not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there. None of us come to work imagining that," he was quoted as saying. The fire chief added that the vehicle had no working air conditioning and there was no drinking water inside. Also addressing the media, the city's Police Chief William McManus said federal agents were going to investigate the incident, adding that three people were currently being held in custody. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the development was "nothing short of a horrific, human tragedy", adding: "They had families... and were likely trying to find a better life." Photo: The Canadian Press Montreal police announced Monday they made an arrest in the drive-by shooting of a 15-year-old girl whose death last year sparked an outpouring of grief and calls for action to counter gun violence in the city. Police identified the suspect as Salim Touaibi, 26. He is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of Meriem Boundaoui, who was fatally shot in the city's St-Leonard neighbourhood in February 2021. Touaibi is also facing four attempted murder charges. The suspect appeared before a judge on Monday, and the case is due back in court July 22. Boundaoui was with another person inside a stopped car when a second car drove up and someone opened fire. She and a 21-year-old man who was on the sidewalk were hit by bullets, and she was later declared dead. Cmdr. Salvatore Serrao of the Montreal police said Monday that the 15-year-old had "nothing to do with the conflict" that erupted and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Police said the suspect has been detained since March on other charges related to violence and gun possession. The investigation remains open, and other suspects remain at large, Serrao said. "We know the suspect who was arrested was not alone on the day of the tragedy," he said. Serrao did not confirm whether the arrested suspect was the one who pulled the trigger, saying only that he participated "actively." Boundaoui was the first of several young people to die violently in the past year and a half in Montreal, prompting widespread concern and calls to do more to reduce gun violence in the city. Other victims include Hani Ouahdi, 20, who was gunned down in a car in the city's east-end Anjou district; Thomas Trudel, 16, who was shot in the city's St-Michel borough as he walked home from a park; and 16-year-old Jannai Dopwell-Bailey, who died after being stabbed outside his school in October. Police declined to release more details on the investigation into Boundaoui's death or explain why it took almost a year and a half to make an arrest. Serrao said the Montreal police's homicide resolution rate is 92 per cent for crimes committed in 2020, 62 per cent for 2021 and 54 per cent so far this year proof, he said, that solving crimes takes time. "Our investigators are determined, they're focused and will never stop," he said. "They will continue until we find the missing pieces, until we can arrest the people and bring them to justice." Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante congratulated the police on Twitter for making the arrest and promised the city would continue to work to tackle violent crime. Photo: The Canadian Press UPDATE 11:40 a.m. Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping the wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. The sentencing Tuesday was the culmination of a prosecution that detailed how Epstein and Maxwell flaunted their riches and associations with prominent people to groom vulnerable girls and then exploit them. Those crimes occurred even as the couple hobnobbed with some of the worlds most famous and wealthy people, including former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump and Englands Prince Andrew. Epstein killed himself in jail while awaiting trial. Maxwell denied being Epsteins accomplice. ORIGINAL 10:25 a.m. Ghislaine Maxwell, the jet-setting socialite who once consorted with royals, presidents and billionaires, was brought into a New York courtroom Tuesday in a prison uniform and with her ankles shackled to await her sentence for helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan ruled that the federal sentencing guideline she will rely upon in sentencing the 60-year-old Maxwell is a range between 15 1/2 and 19 1/2 years in prison, roughly half of the 30- to 55-year term sought by federal prosecutors. Defense attorneys want a five-year term. The sentencing in New York is the culmination of a prosecution that detailed how the power couple flaunted their riches and prominent connections to lure vulnerable girls as young as 14, and then exploit them. The hearing was so long that Nathan called for a half-hour lunch break, unusual for such proceedings. At some point, Maxwell will have a chance to speak, as will five women who say they were sexually abused by Epstein with Maxwell's help. Maxwell, wearing a blue prison uniform and a white mask to conform with coronavirus rules, sat quietly through the first hour of the sentencing hearing as lawyers debated the law. At least three of her siblings sat in a row behind her. Most of the others in the crowded courtroom were members of the media. Several women who testified against Maxwell or released statements prior to sentencing also were in court. Two of them Elizabeth Stein and Sarah Ransome spoke to reporters outside. Today is a day I didnt think would ever happen, so for me its a blessing. It really is. And Ive prayed for this moment so hard and for so long, Ransome said. It will be very vindicating to speak my statements and have her in the room to hear it, Stein said. Prosecutors said Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, and couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion and onetime girlfriend. In December, a jury convicted Maxwell of sex trafficking, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts and two conspiracy charges. Maxwells conduct was shockingly predatory. She was a calculating, sophisticated, and dangerous criminal who preyed on vulnerable young girls and groomed them for sexual abuse, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. Maxwell denies abusing anyone. The witnesses at trial testified about Ms. Maxwells facilitation of Epsteins abuse, but Epstein was always the central figure: Epstein was the mastermind, Epstein was the principal abuser, and Epstein orchestrated the crimes for his personal gratification, defense attorneys wrote in a court filing. Epstein and Maxwells associations with some of the worlds most famous people were not a prominent part of the trial, but mentions of friends like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Britain's Prince Andrew showed how the pair exploited their connections to impress their prey. Over the past 17 years, scores of women have accused Epstein of abusing them. Many described Maxwell as acting as a madam who recruited them to give massages to Epstein. The trial, though, revolved around allegations from only a handful of those women. Four testified that they were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins mansions in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Three were identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, an ex-model from the U.K.; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Annie Farmer, who identified herself in court by her real name after speaking out publicly. They described how Maxwell charmed them with conversation and gifts and promises that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to help fulfill their dreams. Then, they testified, she led them to give massages to Epstein that turned sexual and played it off as normal. Carolyn testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epsteins Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to massage him in exchange for $100 bills in what prosecutors described as a pyramid of abuse. Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. The allegations against Epstein first surfaced publicly in 2005. He pleaded guilty to sex charges in Florida and served 13 months in jail, much of it in a work-release program as part of a deal criticized as lenient. Afterward, he was required to register as a sex offender. In the years that followed, many women sued Epstein over alleged abuse. One, Virginia Giuffre, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had also pressured her into sexual trysts with other powerful men, including Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations and Giuffre ultimately settled a lawsuit against Andrew out of court. Federal prosecutors in New York revived the case against Epstein after stories by the Miami Herald in 2018 brought new attention to his crimes. He was arrested in 2019, but killed himself a month later. Eleven months after his death, Maxwell was arrested at a New Hampshire estate. A U.S., British and French citizen, she has remained in a federal jail in New York City since then as her lawyers repeatedly criticize her treatment, saying she was even unjustly placed under suicide watch days before sentencing. Prosecutors say the claims about the jail are exaggerated and that Maxwell has been treated better than other prisoners. Her lawyers also fought to have her conviction tossed on the grounds of juror misconduct. Days after the verdict, one juror gave media interviews in which he disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child something he hadn't told the court during jury selection. Maxwell's lawyers said she deserved a new trial. A judge disagreed. At least eight women submitted letters to the judge, describing the sexual abuse they said they endured for having met Maxwell and Epstein. In letters to the judge, six of Maxwells seven living siblings pleaded for leniency. Maxwell's fellow inmate also submitted a letter describing how Maxwell has helped to educate other inmates over the last two years. Anne Holve and Philip Maxwell, her eldest siblings, wrote that her relationship with Epstein began soon after the 1991 death of their father, the British newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell. They said Robert Maxwell had subjected his daughter to frequent rapid mood swings, huge rages and rejections. This led her to becoming very vulnerable to abusive and powerful men who would be able to take advantage of her innate good nature, they wrote. Prosecutors called Maxwell's shifting of blame to Epstein absurd and offensive. Maxwell was an adult who made her own choices, they wrote to the court. She made the choice to sexually exploit numerous underage girls. She made the choice to conspire with Epstein for years, working as partners in crime and causing devastating harm to vulnerable victims. She should be held accountable for her disturbing role in an extensive child exploitation scheme. Photo: Google Streetview A trial for four Richmond residents accused of submitting false immigration documents that misrepresented 67 people and of bribing a Yukon government official launched this week and is scheduled to continue until July 15. Following a five-year investigation called Project Husky, charges were laid in December 2020 against Tzu Chun Joyce Chang, 49; Qiong Joan Gu, 66; Aillison Shaunt Liu (also known as Allison Shaunt Liu), 31; and Shouzhi Stanley Guo, 38. Chang and Gu are charged with misrepresenting 67 people as nominees of the Yukon Business Immigration Nominee program, a program that allows potential immigrants to set up a business in the territory and, after two years, apply for permanent residency status in Canada. Liu and Guo are charged with misrepresenting applicants for permanent residency. Liu is also charged with knowingly using forged documents. Chang, Gu and Liu are all charged with offering a reward, advantage or benefit to a Yukon government official, Ian David Young, or to his family, to help influence the business immigrant process. The allegations against the four Richmond residents date from July 2013 to September 2016 and are alleged to have taken place in Richmond, Whitehorse, Yuk., and Sydney, N.S. The investigation into the scheme began in 2015, after suspicious documents submitted as part of permanent residency applications, were identified by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officials. The documents appeared to be nomination certificates, issued by the Government of Yukon under the Yukon Business Nominee Program, CBSA explained at the time the charges were laid. However, the Yukon government confirmed the documents were false and had not been issued by their office. CBSA then executed several search warrants in B.C. and Yukon to find evidence of the alleged scheme. Photo: Fairmont Vancouver Airport. Vancouver Airport may have dropped to second place in Skytraxs ranking of North American airports, but in the airport hotels category, the Fairmont Vancouver Airport took top spot. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) recently lost its status as the best airport in North America a title it held for more than a decade. However, the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel was ranked the best on the continent. According to the latest World Airport Awards presented by Skytrax, a consultancy firm that runs airline and airport reviews, Fairmont Vancouver Airport has officially been named the top hotel in North America and the fifth best airport hotel on the globe. The World Airport Awards are based on more than 13 million questionnaires completed across 100 nationalities of airline travellers at 550 airports over a six-month period. The awards rate a range of topics, such as overall hotel experience, accessibility from the airport to the hotel, friendliness of hotel staff, cleanliness and fitness and spa facilities. The award is a true honour and we dedicate it to our entire team who continue to deliver extraordinary experiences for our guests and colleagues every day, said Randall Williams, general manager of Fairmont Vancouver Airport. Guests can see the U.S. Departures Level of the Vancouver International Airport from the hotel. Although the hotel is located in the airport, the triple-paned glass provides soundproofing for travellers while they view the runway and the North Shore mountains. The hotels latest innovations include its Fit on the Fly Suite, a self-guided Nordic hydrotherapy experience complete with hot shower and ice bath. I was never one to believe gas stations were hosing customers in Kelowna, but driving from Vancouver Island this weekend pastspecifically the Victoria/Sidney areaI couldn't help but be impressed by the same pricing for regular gas from Victoria to Vancouver to Hope to Kelowna. Amazing. My previous visits to the Island had Kelowna relatively low to the 15% to 20% premium paid on the Island and in the Vancouver area. Not so anymore. Here in Kelowna, we're pretty close to Vancouver and Victoria pricing, $2.15 to $2.16 per litre on last Sunday. How can that be with added green taxes in Vancouver and Victoria (13 cents and seven cents a litre respectively) and the need to barge gasoline to Vancouver Island at added expense relative to mainland B.C. gasoline ? It seems like our Victoria and Vancouver politicians and their constituents are getting a gas price break from the $2.32 per litre cost of a couple of weeks ago. Where's our gasoline price break? Vernon is getting a break, why not Kelowna? Neil Stephenson, Kelowna Photo: DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST Police and paramedics respond to a bank robbery at the Bank of Montreal at Shelbourne and Pear streets Tuesday where multiple people were injured in a shootout. Two suspects are dead and six police officers suffered gunshot wounds in a shootout at the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne Street Tuesday morning. Late Tuesday afternoon, police continued to advise anyone in the area of North Dairy Road to Cedar Hill Cross Road and Richmond Road to Cedar Hill Road to stay indoors as officers looked for a potential third suspect. Homes and businesses near the bank were evacuated due to the presence of a potential explosive device in a vehicle associated with the suspects, police said. It began at 11 a.m. Tuesday when officers with Saanich police, the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team and VicPD responded to a report that two armed men had entered the bank in the 3600-block of Shelbourne Street in Saanich. Multiple officers responded to the scene and encountered the armed suspects, who fired at police. Two suspects were shot by police and died at the scene. Six emergency response team officers suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to hospital, some with serious injuries requiring surgery, a Victoria Police Department statement said. It said updates will be provided when available. Three of the officers are members of Saanich police, while the other three are VicPD members. Police said they dont believe any bank employees, customers or members of the public were injured in the exchange of gunfire. A man with dark hair in a camouflage jacket and black boots was seen lying motionless in the parking lot outside the bank Tuesday afternoon. Residents and workers in the area were hunkered down in their homes and offices with blinds down and doors locked while the hunt for a potential third suspect continued. Just after 12:30 p.m., about 25 people who had been in the bank during the robbery were escorted by armed Saanich officers to a waiting bus. Some were crying. Dozens of officers from the Saanich and Victoria police departments and the RCMP remained outside the bank early Tuesday afternoon, along with at least four ambulances. Shelbourne Street was blocked from Cedar Hill Road past Pear Street, with several marked and unmarked police vehicles filling the street. Officers with weapons and dog teams were outside the bank. The public was asked to avoid the area. A helicopter was flying over the area about 1:40 p.m. Charlotte Priest, an assistant at Lifeline Animal Clinic across Shelbourne Street from the bank, said a few of the clinics clients heard the shooting and took shelter in the building. Thats when we realized theres something going on. So we just closed our blinds and just took cover and are staying away from the windows. A passerby also took shelter in the waiting area, said Priest, noting a police van was parked at the clinics driveway. Theres a lot of businesses in the area. It is kind of shocking for it to happen here. Everybody is a little bit shaken up. Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes posted on Twitter: Our hearts go out to our officers, bank staff and residents No words can describe how horrendous this is. At nearby St. Michaels University School, a woman said the school was in hold and secure mode, with all external doors locked and everyone inside. The Megson FitzPatrick Insurance Services office on Shelbourne Street had about 20 staff indoors behind locked exterior doors. Jacqueline Niemann, who was managing the office on Tuesday, said she heard noises but did not immediately recognize the sound as gunfire. Police cars arriving at the scene alerted their office to the situation. Everyone is safe, she said. It is pretty scary. Hannah Young, a pharmacy assistant at Heart Pharmacy in Shelbourne Plaza, across the street from the bank, said she heard what was definitely gunfire. And it kept going. I looked out and I could see people ducking by their cars in the parking lot. Young said she wasnt afraid but was concerned for the safety of people in the area. Do we need to close the door? Pull the customers inside? Shut down? It was more of a fight or flight response, said Young. We saw they were elderly people sitting outside and we told them they needed to come inside. They brought everyone inside away from the windows into the back half of the pharmacy. Saanich police are asking people who took photos and shot video to submit them as evidence through their online evidence submission portal. Jeff Roman, BMO spokesman in Canada, said in a statement that the company was deeply saddened by the incident. The safety and security of our customers and employees is our priority and our thoughts are with every person impacted by todays events. Roman thanked emergency responders for their fast assistance and for helping to keep the public safe. Saanich police are leading the investigation, with assistance from the RCMP and an emergency response team from the Lower Mainland, among others. Sgt. Chris Garneau did not immediately have numbers of RMCP officers from the capital region who were called in. A police helicopter was also sent to help. An Island Health official said health-care teams at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals stepped up to respond to the incident. No details were released about specific patients. The Jubilees emergency department was briefly under restricted access to ensure safety, but neither hospital was under a code orange, which refers to mass casualties, the official said. In situations like this, we quickly redeploy staff as necessary and implement contingency plans to ensure our hospitals and staff are best positioned to respond, Island Health said. As with all officer-involved shootings in British Columbia, the Independent Investigations Office is investigating the incident. Photo: The Canadian Press President Joe Biden and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrive to speak at the Palace of Moncloa in Madrid, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Biden will also be attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Madrid. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders summit in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent top-level talks, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Russias invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status and apply to join NATO. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had blocked the move, insisting the Nordic pair change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the three countries leaders signed a joint agreement after talks on Tuesday. Turkey said it had got what it wanted including full cooperation ... in the fight against the rebel groups. The agreement comes at the opening of a crucial summit dominated by Russias invasion of Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders arrived in Madrid for a summit that will set the course of the alliance for the coming years. The summit was kicking off with a leaders' dinner hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI at the 18th-century Royal Palace of Madrid. Stoltenberg said the meeting would chart a blueprint for the alliance in a more dangerous and unpredictable world. To be able to defend in a more dangerous world we have to invest more in our defense, Stoltenberg said. Just nine of NATO's 30 members meet the organizations target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Spain, which is hosting the summit, spends just half that. Top of the agenda for leaders in meetings Wednesday and Thursday is strengthening defenses against Russia and supporting Ukraine. Biden, who arrived with the aim of stiffening the resolve of any wavering allies, said NATO was as united and galvanized as I think we have ever been. Moscow's invasion on Feb. 24 shattered European security and brought shelling of cities and bloody ground battles back to the continent. NATO, which had begun to turn its focus to terrorism and other non-state threats, has had to confront an adversarial Russia once again. Ukraine now faces a brutality which we havent seen in Europe since the Second World War, Stoltenberg said. Diplomats and leaders from Turkey, Sweden and Finland earlier held a flurry of talks in an attempt to break the impasse over Turkey's opposition to expansion. The three countries leaders met for more than two hours alongside Stoltenberg on Tuesday before the agreement was announced. Erdogan is critical of what he considers the lax approach of Sweden and Finland toward groups that Ankara deems national security threats, including the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its Syrian extension. American support for Syrian Kurdish fighters in combatting the Islamic State group has also enraged Turkey for years. Turkey has demanded that Finland and Sweden extradite wanted individuals and lift arms restrictions imposed after Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northeast Syria. Ending the deadlock will allow NATO leaders to focus on their key issue: an increasingly unpredictable and aggressive Russia. A Russian missile strike Monday on a shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was a grim reminder of the wars horrors. Some saw the timing, as Group of Seven leaders met in Germany and just ahead of NATO, as a message from Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is due to address NATO leaders by video on Wednesday, called the strike on the mall a terrorist act. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko traveled to Madrid to urge the alliance to provide his country with whatever it takes to stop the war. Wake up, guys. This is happening now. You are going to be next, this is going to be knocking on your door just in the blink of an eye, Klitschko told reporters at the summit venue. Stoltenberg said Monday that NATO allies will agree at the summit to increase the strength of the alliances rapid reaction force nearly eightfold, from 40,000 to 300,000 troops. The troops will be based in their home nations, but dedicated to specific countries on NATOs eastern flank, where the alliance plans to build up stocks of equipment and ammunition. Beneath the surface, there are tensions within NATO over how the war will end and what, if any, concessions Ukraine should make to end the fighting. There are also differences on how hard a line to take on China in NATOs new Strategic Concept its once-a-decade set of priorities and goals. The last document, published in 2010, didn't mention China at all. The new concept is expected to set out NATOs approach on issues from cybersecurity to climate change and the growing economic and military reach of China, and the rising importance and power of the Indo-Pacific region. For the first time, the leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand are attending the summit as guests. Some European members are wary of the tough U.S. line on Beijing and dont want China cast as an opponent. In the Strategic Concept, NATO is set to declare Russia its number one threat. Russias state space agency, Roscosmos marked the summits opening by releasing satellite images and coordinates of the Madrid conference hall where it is being held, along with those of the White House, the Pentagon and the government headquarters in London, Paris and Berlin. The agency said NATO was set to declare Russia an enemy at the summit, adding that it was publishing precise coordinates just in case. Cement production in Tajikistan drops 9% in Jan-May ICR Newsroom By 28 June 2022 In the January-May 2022 period cement production in Tajikistan has declined 8.6 per cent YoY to 1.6Mt from 1.8Mt. In 2021 the country produced more than 4.2Mt with approximately 1.5Mt exported to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. At the start of June 2022 construction started of the 0.1Mta Fon-Cement cement plant in the Sughd region. Published under I grew up in the 60s and started a family in the early 70s. I was a Democrat back then because I was raised by a Democrat father who told me we would have to live in a tent and only have beans to eat if Republicans were elected. That was in the mid 50s and I was six years old. In 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered and some of my Democrat friends cheered. I thought then that it was because Lyndon Baines Johnson didnt like black-skinned people so he devised plans to take the manhood away from the family and destroy the race. Planned Parenthood was right there in his corner and by 1973 they opened their first center. Since then, more than 63,000,000 babies in America have been denied their Constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thats when I changed parties. Today I see elected Democrat leaders call one of the three branches of government illegitimate. This kind of nonsense started when Barack Hussein Obama disrespected our Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) in a State of the Union message in front of America. Then Nancy Patricia Pelosi disrespected the office of the President (Executive Branch) by ripping up her copy of President Trumps State of the Union address. Roe vs. Wade was never a Constitutional issue, regardless of how hard the Democrats have worked to make it so. NewsBreak reported this weekend that the Southern Christian Coalition if outraged because womens lives are now at risk. It has happened because we have allowed it to happen. We have allowed the woke to come up with, or twist, words to mean what they want them to mean. For instance, abortion, the act of killing the baby before birth, is now womens health reproductive rights. Giving a prepubescent boy a chemical castration because he may want to see what its like to wear a dress, is now okay. There are many more examples. The great American Earl Pitts would sign off his radio broadcast with Wake up America. Never has it been so important to wake up, before you are declared dead and buried. After all, the Democrat leadership has proven that it is what they want. J. Pat Williams * * * So, J. Pat admits yesterday's radical extremist Democrats have become today's radical extremist Republicans, who carried out a political party switch? Most of us have already come to that conclusion. Whomever your targeted audiences are, hopefully they're much smarter than you give them credit for. I'm a person of that era too when Dr. King was assassinated. I can remember a lot from that period too. Not all Democrats were against Dr. King nor the issues plaguing America of the time and not all Republicans were for him. J. It was only a short while ago, a year give or take, your side was openly and on some forums, even local ones, accusing Dr. King of being a "terrorist" who "divided America." Brenda Washington * * * J. Pat Williams and I are two ol' Brainerd boys from way back. He's a good man of integrity. But apparently, we're on opposite sides of abortion and the Roe V Wade issue. I read Pat's letter to the Chattanoogan and it begs a question I'm having trouble with. Theres a lot I dont understand. Especially with Tennessee's abortion "trigger laws" soon to go into effect. I can see where abortion isnt considered by many to be a constitutional issue but one thing I cant understand is if you look at the process for adopting a baby its very arduous and its very expensive. It gets even more so if the applicant is a single female who wants to adopt a baby. You have to be at least 18 years old and you have to prove on many levels how capable you are of being a responsible parent in all ways. You are highly scrutinized. Heres the information provided online for adopting a baby in Tennessee. This is taken from the internet. You have to undergo an in-home visit that consists of and considers these things you must provide: Reference letters for adoption Health examinations Verification of marital status Interviews with all members of the family residing in the household During the adoption home study interviews, you will likely discuss: Your motivation to adopt Your ability to provide for a child Your character, values and ethical standards Your physical and mental health The health and fire safety conditions of your home You will be asked to provide: Drivers licenses or identification Birth certificates Marriage licenses Proof of insurance Tax returns and recent paystubs Physician statements Adoption reference letters Previous adoption decrees (if applicable) Criminal background checks Child abuse and neglect registry clearances The state will check and make sure these things are in place: Functioning locks on all doors and windows Working smoke detectors and CO2 detectors Covered outlets Baby gates for stairways Dangerous substances and tools placed out of reach of children Emergency phone numbers and evacuation plans Fire extinguisher First-aid kit But then, if a woman gets pregnant with a child she doesnt want all qualifications for parenting that child are foregone and shes forced to have it whatever her age and situation. Under Tennessee law she could be prosecuted if she sought to abort, or terminate the pregnancy (or if it satiates your visceral impulse kill the baby), because shes feels shes unprepared or unqualified to parent a child for whatever reason. Can someone please explain this insane paradox? If you want to adopt a baby you have to undergo and satisfy the rigorous requirements above. If you dont want or shouldn't have a baby and youre pregnant all of the above doesnt matter. Youre either having that baby and, if you try to abort it, youre going to jail along with any doctor or person who tried to help you. So, if I understand this correctly, life is so precious you want to force innocent, helpless babies into the hands of people who dont want them. The baby has a right to life, regardless of how dismal that life may be, right? Further, you see nothing wrong with this picture. Okay, okay. Just one question and I truly dont mean to antagonize you. Its an honest question: Are all of you crazy? If youre answer to that question is no, please explain and reconcile this. I cant understand it. David Saluk * * * I too am an ol Brainerd High grad and know both J. Pat Williams and David Saluk. I know both to be good men and David was correct in stating that J. Pat is a man of integrity. He was even so even back in his days at Brainerd High. Ive read J. Pats letter several times and I fail to see where he said yesterdays radical extremist Democrats have become todays radical extremist Republicans or that all Democrats were against Dr. King, Jr., as stated by Brenda Washington. I think its a big leap because they are not his words, but maybe her thoughts. As for David Saluks reply, he brought up some really good points about adoption. It is hard to adopt a child and its because the state has an obligation to protect the child being adopted. We all read about child trafficking and both restrictions and due diligence are important. Regardless, the difficulty of adopting is not a reason to take the life of the unborn. Its like throwing the baby out with the bath water, right? My girls are now 36, and I have met their birth mother. I have thanked her long before I met her for having the courage to give her girls' life...even when her own life was wrought with so much pain. I feel qualified to say that as long as adoption and other forms of child caring are available, even the worse choice is better than abortion. I like what J. Pat said about the unborns right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I feel qualified to speak out because my husband and I have adopted two children ourselves. Its not easy and raising the children is not easy, even the ones I birthed myself. I know that J. Pats sister adopted two children. Thats four children who were given a chance at life. Thats compelling to me. David Saluk, if I havent thanked you for the work you have done in keeping our class together, thank you. J. Pat Williams, the fight to save children is difficult, and Im sure it wears on you--- but thank you for not giving up and taking the risk of having some go against you for doing so. Charlotte Riley, A former Tennessean but always a Volunteer Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met BJP president J P Nadda here on Tuesday amid the spiralling political crisis in the state threatening the three-party Maha Vikas Adhadi government's existence. Fadnavis is believed to have briefed Nadda about the unfolding political developments in the western state. He arrived in the national capital earlier to discuss the issue with the party's top brass, with 39 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and at least 10 independent legislators from the state lodged in a five star hotel in Assam and working on overdrive to bring down the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government. The BJP has denied any role in the rebellion but Fadnavis is being seen to be playing a key role in working out a post-MVA dispensation which he may head with support from the Sena rebels. General Sessions Court Judge Gerald Webb told members of the Pachyderm Club on Monday that, like others, he has no real answers to solving the local crime problem in light of two recent mass shootings. We have a great city and it can be greater, said the judge, who is opposed by prosecutor Larry Ables in his race for a new term. But we cant be greater until we get a real hold and a real grasp of whats going on in this city. The reality is a lot of people dont want to talk about what we are dealing with in this city. Judge Webb said the reality is that the majority of people he sees in court and that are involved in harsh crimes in Hamilton County are young black males. Sometimes these kids can be saved and sometimes they cant. A lot of them dont have options in life, said Judge Webb. We have 12-, 13-, and 14-year-olds getting in cars for drive-by shootings. Thats whats happening today. In regards to Silverdale, Judge Webb said he believes it should be reserved only for the worst of the worst. He said its about prioritizing who goes into Silverdale because theres limited space but unlimited people coming in. Some of these people could win the lottery today and be breaking into your homes tomorrow, that's just who they are, said Judge Webb. You could pump a billion dollars into programs and you might put a dent into what we have going on now. We are talking about erosion of family, of morals, a slow steady erosion. Judge Webb said he often gets asked how to fix Chattanoogas crime problem but he says he honestly does not know - simply because these are societal issues that cannot be solved by government, money, or programs. There needs to be an awakening that happens across this country with our kids and young people, said Judge Webb. A woman told police she was pumping gas at 7022 Shallowford Road and left her wallet on the back of her vehicle. She said she left the scene and came back once she realized her wallet was gone. She said the wallet had her TN ID, $500 cash and a ring worth $9,000. She does not know if the wallet fell off at the gas station or somewhere else. * * * An anonymous caller told police there was a man standing around on Water Street carrying a brown paper sack. The caller said they observed a handgun inside the paper sack. The description was given of a black male with dreads and black pants. Police located a man matching the exact description. He was identified and said he was not carrying a brown paper sack. Police checked the area for weapons, however nothing was located. * * * The manager for the Westin Hotel, 801 Pine St., told police a woman had stayed for one night in room 821. He said the cleaning staff went into the room the next day and found multiple driver's licenses left behind. The manager wished to turn these over to police. Officers will be transporting theses ID's to CPD's Property Division. * * * Police were called to a residence on Whitney Street, where a tree had fallen onto three vehicles. No injuries were reported. Damage to all vehicles appeared to be superficial, but due to the size of the tree, an accurate estimate of the damage could not be assessed. * * * A woman told police her vehicle had been damaged while she was in the Hamilton Place Mall. She said she does not know how or who did the damage. * * * A woman on McBrien Road called police to report that her neighbor had a dead tree that was a danger to the building. The woman was given information on how to request the city to examine the danger. She said she would go online and register the issue. * * * A man on E. 11th Street told police he wanted his female friend to leave for the night. Police spoke with the woman, who said she was going to leave. * * * A woman on Courage Way told police they have had an ongoing problem with an apartment where their kids are up and playing all day and night. The woman wanted a report and for police to speak to the occupants in that apartment. Police tried to make contact with the occupants, but were unable to get anyone to come to the door. * * * A woman on Georgia Avenue told police that at an unknown time, damage was done to the driver's side mirror on her Chevrolet CZL. She said she did not observe the incident when it occurred, nor did she have any suspect information. Police observed her vehicle parked legally out of the roadway, as well as the damage she mentioned. The woman requested a report be made for her insurance. * * * A man on N. Hickory Street told police he did not want his niece on his property anymore. Police spoke with the niece and she left without issue. * * * A man on Wilcox Boulevard told police his gray 2015 Chevy Malibu (TN tag) had been taken from his home between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 2:25 a.m. He said he has the only set of keys to the vehicle and he does not know how it could have been stolen. There is no suspect information. The vehicle was entered into NCIC. The vehicle was recovered by United Wrecker later, who contacted the man. Police met with the man as he retrieved his vehicle. The vehicle was taken out of NCIC. * * * While on routine parole, an officer observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road on 14th Street. Upon conducting a registration check on the vehicle, the officer was alerted that the vehicle in question may possibly be stolen. The officer contacted Dispatch where the information was confirmed. This vehicle was taken out of NCIC and the owner was notified via Dispatch. A-1 towing came and recovered the vehicle. * * * Police discovered a gray Chevy Malibu abandoned in the intersection of Jarren Drive and Forest Highland Drive. The vehicle was left with the doors unlocked and no keys visible in the vehicle. Police did see a wallet sitting in the center console with ID cards for a woman and a man. The vehicle's VIN pulls up registration listing a woman on Timber Hills Drive in Cleveland as the current registered owner of the vehicle. No phone or further contact information was listed. Since the vehicle was left abandoned in the lane of travel, Cain's Wrecker was called to the scene for a tow. Police stayed on scene until the vehicle was towed and the roadway cleared. * * * A man at the Lookout Mountain Tomato Company, 1212 Peeples St., told police that a black male in a wheelchair had been setting fires there recently. He told police that just prior to their arrival, the man set a fire and then left it unattended. The man said he had to extinguished the fire. Police observed the location of the fire to be no closer than 10 feet from the closest tents. Police were unable to locate the man or to identify him. * * * While patrolling the area around the Circle K, 3729 Tennessee Ave., police observed a white male in the parking lot of Circle K, attempting to flag down police. Once in the parking lot, the man charged at police, yelling about a knife. The man asked to be transported to the "next town" to get away from all the "gang activity pulling knives on him." Police gave the man a ride to the Georgia line, per his request. Maybelle Apartments just before they were demolished - photo by From the Pat St. Charles, Jr., Collection scanned by Sam Hall, Chattanoogahistory.com Apartments at 907 Cedar St. shortly before they were torn down - photo by From the Pat St. Charles, Jr., Collection scanned by Sam Hall, Chattanoogahistory.com The Higgins and Dorsey families were longtime residents of Cedar Street on the Westside, living side by side at 917 and 919 Cedar. The connection was that Lenora Higgins was the wife of William Oscar Park Dorsey Sr. Her father, John Goldsmith "Capt. Jack" Higgins, was the inventor of the Eureka Straightening Comb, and it was produced in a building at the rear of the Higgins home. Her mother, Jennie Higgins, was quite accomplished herself. She operated a popular beauty shop in Chattanooga and later got into real estate. She wound up owning much of the property surrounding her, including erecting two apartment buildings and acquiring others. Josephine Dorsey Wheeler, granddaughter of John G. Higgins, produced a book on the amazing comb that became popular with women across the country and overseas. She also provided interesting details about the two families. John G. and Jennie Higgins were at 19 Early St. by 1910. Early Street was a continuation of Cedar Street past Ninth Street and later the entire street took the Cedar Street name. Jarrett Elston and Willie Finch were early residents at 17 Early, but the Dorseys soon moved in and lived there for several decades. The attractive two-story frame house featured a large front porch with an A-shaped roof and a small room over it. John G. Higgins was described as a precocious youth who announced to his teachers in Athens, Ala., that he was going to do great things one day. He was born at Athens in 1856 and raised there. He spent much of his time as a youth tinkering with watches and other gadgets. He also enjoyed "talking with people with active minds" instead of wasting time on "trifles." After he migrated to the much-larger town of Joliet, Ill., he met "a charming and beautiful girl." She was Domicilia Jean Bonjourant, who was from Chillicotite, Ohio. She was part French and she learned the French method of beauty culture. She had worked in shops in Chicago and elsewhere. The marriage of John Higgins and Ms. Bonjourant occurred in 1881. He quickly decided that her name needed to be shortened to Jennie. They lived at Braceville, Ill., where he started a successful barber shop. Then they tried Rosedale, Kan. where their daughter was born. Dissatisfied there, they set out for Chattanooga, Tn., remembering its beautiful scenery from a prior visit there as a child. He then acquired the home on Early Street and opened a watch repair shop. He later switched to the barber business with a proven formula of getting one shop up and running, selling it, then starting another. Jennie Higgins opened the Star Hair Dressing Bazaar. The name was later shortened to Higgins Beauty Shop. A publication in 1903 said, "Mrs. Jennie Higgins is the only manufacturer of human hair goods located in Chattanooga. She is the proprietor of the only hair dressing establishment for ladies." She soon moved to larger quarters on East Eighth Street between Market and Cherry streets. John Higgins was known around town as a natty dresser and a confident and sophisticated man. He earned the sobriquet of "Capt. Jack." Despite his business success, he still wanted to produce the "great thing" that he had promised his early teachers. After hearing a chance remark on a downtown street, he decided to invent a comb that could straighten kinky hair into straight fluffy hair. He experimented with many different metals and finally concluded that brass and copper worked best. He got a trademark for the comb on May 21, 1907, four months after producing the first model. Orders quickly began coming in and production was ramped up at the building to the rear of their home. He still was full of ideas and also patented a combination rat and roach trap. Due to the outbreak of the first world war, John Higgins could no longer get the brass and copper he needed for his comb. He also fretted about the new federal income tax, believing it would further take away from the family finances. Due to these concerns, he took his own life at his home in March 1919. He was 71. With her beauty shop still doing well, Jennie Higgins began to delve into real estate. She first purchased a two-story frame house with a large magnolia tree in the front yard that was next door. She then bought two vacant lots next to that and erected two brick apartment buildings with four apartments each. One at 909 Cedar she called the Maybelle. Mrs. Wheeler related in her book that the apartments rented immediately. She next bought three brick attached buildings on the same side of the block on the other end. She then owned all the property on her side of that block of the street. Jennie Higgins died in 1929 at age 63. Lenora Higgins majored in music at Fisk Normal School at Nashville. Then she enrolled in the Burnham Beauty School of Chicago. Afterward, she began helping her mother in the Chattanooga salon. Lenora in 1915 married W.O.P. Dorsey, who was born at Jackson, Ga., and raised at Gadsden, Ala. His father was a full blood Cherokee Indian. W.O.P. Dorsey had a successful barber shop at Gadsden prior to moving to Chattanooga. Soon after arriving, he set up a shop at the Terminal Station. and they moved into the house next to the Higgins couple. Mrs. Wheeler said after a short time Lenora's new husband showed her a newly built frame house in a field outside of town. But she immediately let him know she was "not a country girl." They remained on the Westside. After the death of his father-in-law, W.O.P. Dorsey took over operation of the comb factory. It remained in operation at the same location until 1950 when it was closed. By then it was facing competition from electric models. The Higgins and Dorsey families were active members of the First Congregational Church that was at Ninth and Lindsay streets. The church was said to be the first in the South to invite whites and blacks to worship together. Josephine Dorsey Wheeler was the eldest of four children born to W.O.P. Dorsey Sr. and Lenora. She remained in Chattanooga for a number of years teaching English at Howard High School and the Second District School. She stayed in Chattanooga until her marriage to George Wheeler when they moved to New York City. Josephine was the valedictorian of her high school class. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Fisk University and Master of Arts Degrees in Education and Guidance from Columbia University Teachers College. She taught in the New York City Public School System until retiring in 1982. She continued to teach at St. Johns University and at St. Josephs Private Day School. Her sister, Evelyn, was a graduate of Howard. She furthered her education with bachelors from Fisk University and the University of Illinois, and Masters in Library Science from the University of Michigan in 1946. She was described as "a person of unwavering strength, not afraid to stand up as an active advocate during the Mississippi civil rights movement, working on voter registration, women's rights, literacy and equality issues. She was an active member of the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, National Democratic Party, and the League of Women Voters; she also assisted the Freedom Riders in Meridian." She married Dr. Octavius Douglas Polk and they lived at Meridian, Miss. She worked on the Eureka Comb book with her sister. The book may still be ordered through Amazon. Another sister was Doris Dorsey. Their brother, W.O.P. "Bill" Dorsey Jr., was director of information at the Chattanooga Public Schools, then was in the same position at UTC. He married the former Tardiefay Arvant Davis, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W.B. Davis. Dr. Davis was a Chattanooga dentist. W.O.P. Dorsey died in 1956 at the residence on Cedar Street. When Lenora died 10 years later, she was living on Fortwood Street. By then, the Higgins and Dorsey homes along with Jennie Higgins' brick apartment buildings had disappeared along with Cedar Street. Dr. Anita Polk-Conley, a great-granddaughter of the inventor of the Eureka comb, is a leader in the MLK District of Chattanooga and a professor at Chattanooga State Community College. She was born and raised at Meridian, Miss., but returned to the family roots in Chattanooga. A supporter of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank points to the amount of funds that still need to be raised as matching funds for the expansion project in Dalton - photo by Mitch Talley When Braden was in the fourth grade, he learned how to turn wood at school. He instantly fell in love with the craft and, after getting his own equipment for Christmas, now-fifth grader Braden has decided to use his newfound hobby to serve the community. Ever since I volunteered with my Boy Scout troop at the Food Bank, and I learned about how others dont have all the food that they need, I have always wanted to find a way to help, Braden explained. Thats when he decided to start selling his handcrafted bowls, pens, salt and pepper shakers, and other items, then donating the proceeds back to the Food Bank. Bradens generosity along with that of many other like-minded residents - is greatly appreciated by officials with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, especially as the organization seeks to raise the remaining portion of the matching funds required by a $2.35 million grant that will allow expansion of services in nine Northwest Georgia counties. Food bank leaders gathered at the facility on South Hamilton Street in Dalton on Thursday afternoon, sharing the good news about the upcoming expansion with partner agencies, volunteers, and state and local government officials. Construction will begin in September and is expected to be finished by May 2023. Were dreaming of the day when we can say no neighbor in our community will go hungry, President and CEO Melissa Blevins told the crowd. To do that, we have to have the support of many [who will agree that] it is not OK for Northwest Georgians to go hungry, it is not OK for seniors to choose between food and their medicine, and its not OK for mamas to decide not to eat so they have enough to feed their children. The expansion couldnt come at a better time, she said, especially now that food and gas prices are on the rise, leading to an increased demand for Food Bank services. In fact, Angela Nicholette, director of operations, says distribution has nearly doubled over the past few months and the number of people being helped is even higher than during COVID. We are preparing to meet a possible 10 percent increase in the next three to five years of people served, Ms. Blevins said, and a 25 percent increase in the next eight to 10 years of people served in this region. The expansion will also position the Food Bank to increase distribution in the Northwest Georgia area by 19 percent, from 6.3 million pounds of food to more than 7.5 million pounds of food annually. The $3.5 million project is being partially funded with the $2.35 million Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Two Whitfield County government staff members, Debbie Godfrey and Carol Roberts, helped the Food Bank successfully apply for the grant, which requires a match of $784,600. Melanie Hammontree, director of development, says about $200,000 remains to be raised in the coming weeks. The impact of the project will be tremendous, she said, for the nearly 65,000 residents in Whitfield, Murray, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Walker counties who are being served through the Food Bank with the help of its 83 partner agencies and churches, including 38 in Whitfield County alone. Last year, 6.4 million pounds of groceries were distributed through 118 programs that serve families struggling with hunger. One such program is City of Refuge in Dalton, represented at Thursdays event by office manager Merrilyl Calfee. I guess the biggest thing I did not realize is just how much poverty we have in our community, she said, and I know there are lots of people across our community that dont realize weve got many, many families in need. In fact, Ms. Calfee says statistically parts of Dalton and Whitfield County are considered food deserts because access to food is so low for many. Its through the partnership with the Chattanooga Food Bank that were able to help people, she said, noting that City of Refuge also appreciates its partnership with Walmart Market and other businesses. City of Refuge also recently became the first agency to participate in the Food Banks new partnership with Door Dash that provides for free mobile delivery of food boxes to those in need. Part of the grant has already been used in April to purchase the warehouse the Food Bank has leased in Dalton for the past 11 years, and the rest of the funds will eventually allow them to more than double the amount of office space, add three new dock doors for easier distribution, and greatly increase storage capacity for refrigerated and frozen items with the installation of two new 30-foot x30-foot containers. Well be able to accept a whole truckload of food then, Ms. Hammontree said, noting that in the past some items have had to be redirected because they just didnt have enough room for storage at the facility. Ms. Blevins says research shows that one in six residents in North Georgia may not know where their next meal is coming from, adding that number is just not acceptable. We could just keep doing what weve been doing which is the best we can, she said, but those 65,000 of our North Georgia neighbors deserve better. They deserve a better quality of food, they deserve a better quantity of food, so our board of directors and staff have worked furiously on this project over the past 12 months. Were not just about food were about the right food so we can provide healthy and nutritious food. This project will help us meet that goal. If you would like to help, you may support the NWGA Food Bank Project by contacting Ms. Hammontree, director of development, at mhammontree@chattfoodbank.org or 423-622-1800 (ext. 218). Online donations are also being accepted at the following link: https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form?svcid=renxt&formId=a9ad39bb-e4aa-419f-98be-b25519b0d8ae&envid=p-wTtExAxteEq94ZgcPLa4YA&zone=usa. Checks can also be mailed to the following address: Chattanooga Area Food Bank/NWGA Branch P.O. Box 1564 Dalton, Ga 30722 (Please designate NWGA/DCA Project) The city of Chattanooga will join five other communities across the country in the inaugural Putting Assets to Work Incubator, that is described as "a selective new initiative that will revitalize and recirculate underutilized property and other assets to drive prosperity across the city." Officials said, "Instead of sitting on old properties, using them for storage, or allowing them to become overgrown and blighted, the initiative will help the city propel these community assets back into circulation where they can both grow the economy and increase funding for key initiatives. "As part of Mayor Tim Kellys 100-day plan in 2021, the city inventoried more than 650 underutilized parcels totaling more than 2,500 acres that could be leveraged toward a higher and better use. Each property is unique, ranging from surplus tax sale properties to difficult-to-develop brownfields, and must be further studied to determine an appropriate use. "Through Putting Assets to Work, the city will embark on a 10-month fact-finding mission to map and plan uses for these underutilized properties and other assets - such as dormant parking lots or former industrial sites - that could be suitable for private investment. A similar project in Utah revealed a collection of underutilized assets that were worth billions of dollars in economic opportunity. "The city will then leverage these assets to create jobs and homes while still retaining public ownership of the underlying properties. The proceeds will return to the community in the form of new revenue for key initiatives that support the One Chattanooga strategic plan, such as affordable housing and transportation infrastructure investments, creating a virtuous cycle." Mayor Kelly said, By participating in the Putting Assets to Work Incubator, our city is getting an incredible opportunity to leverage its public assets in an innovative way. With increased returns on previously underutilized assets, well be able to better fund critical initiatives like affordable housing and infrastructure improvements, improving the quality of life in our communities. The Putting Assets to Work Incubator is a new initiative spearheaded by former Mayor and Congressman Ben McAdams, in partnership with the Sorenson Impact Center, Government Finance Officers Association, and Urban3. The city was selected to participate through a competitive application process, joining five other local governments: the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Resilience Authority, in Annapolis, Maryland, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland; the City of Atlanta, Georgia; the City of Cleveland, Ohio; Harris County, Texas; and the City of Lancaster, California. We are absolutely delighted to start working with the city of Chattanooga, said Mr. McAdams, who served as Mayor of Salt Lake County from 2013 to 2019 before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. When I was mayor, we identified all government-owned assets within the county and were shocked to discover they were valued at roughly $10 billion. That's huge for a jurisdiction our size. If we are able to improve the public return on our assets even slightly, we can start to address some of the major challenges facing our region. Now through our Putting Assets to Work incubator, we hope to be able to provide a blueprint for others to do the same. The PAW Incubator is made possible by a partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based think tank dedicated to improving quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land; and thanks to support from Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that brings talented people together in networks to prove out their ideas and solve hard problems in science and society. Several new laws will take effect to protect victims of crime and crack down on violent criminals on Friday. The changes to Tennessees criminal justice system include establishing truth and transparency in criminal sentencing. In addition, other new laws will strengthen penalties for violent offenses to maintain public safety. Major Truth in Sentencing legislation will go into effect on July 1 that requires a person convicted of certain violent offenses to serve 100 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for release. It ensures criminals convicted of attempted first degree murder, second degree murder, vehicular homicide, especially aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated robbery, carjacking, and especially aggravated burglary will serve 100 percent of their sentence undiminished by any sentence reduction credits earned. Under the new law, sponsored by Lt. Governor Randy McNally and Senator Jon Lundberg, a person convicted of one of these eight offenses could still earn credits that can be used for increased privileges, reduced security classification or for any purpose other than the reduction of their sentence. Truth in Sentencing is vital legislation that protects victims and provides true accountability for those who commit crimes, said Lt. Gov. McNally. The clarity Truth in Sentencing provides will serve as a critical deterrent against violent offenders. The costs associated with the law are well worth the peace of mind offered to victims and the overall boost to public safety. Tennesseans across the political spectrum want law and order in Tennessee. This legislation will go a long way toward providing it. To continue lawmakers efforts to protect victims of crime, on July 1 victims and their families will be better informed about how much time an offender will serve at the time of sentencing. A new law, also sponsored by Lt. Gov. McNally and Senator John Stevens, requires all Tennessee courts to place on the record the estimated number of years and months to be served before a criminal is eligible for parole, as well as the reason for the sentence and enhancements. Currently, when a criminal defendant is being sentenced, it is unknown when that criminal defendant is going to be released unless they are required to serve a 100 percent sentence without credits. Transparency in Sentencing is necessary to create true accountability for the criminal justice system, said Senator Stevens. Victims and the general public need to have all information possible. This transparency will help mitigate any false sense of security victims might previously have felt after hearing a full sentence imposed. Protection of children is the impetus of another new law that will go into effect July 1. This measure, sponsored by Senator Dawn White, enhances the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony for a person operating an unlicensed child care facility and found guilty of abuse, neglect or endangerment. The law is in response to an incident in Morristown, Tn. where an unlicensed childcare facility was neglecting children, but criminal charges could not be pursued because no physical harm was done to the children. Other new laws that will take effect on July 1 to maintain law and order and punish criminals who commit heinous acts include: Legislation sponsored by Senator Paul Rose to require criminals convicted of first-degree murder, the perpetration or attempted perpetration of rape, rape of a child and aggravated rape of a child to be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A statute also sponsored by Senator Rose to crack down on drive-by shootings. The new law will impose stricter penalties one classification higher on criminals convicted of aggravated assault that involved the use of a deadly weapon if the violation was committed by a firearm discharged from within a motor vehicle. A bill sponsored by Senator Lundberg to prohibit a sexual offender from renting or offering to rent a swimming pool, hot tub or other body of water used for swimming. Violation of this new law is a Class A misdemeanor. The Joe Clyde Daniels Act, sponsored by Senator Kerry Roberts, which makes it harder for convicted murderers to be granted parole if they do not disclose the location of their victims remains. It helps ensure victims can receive a proper burial. The bill was prompted by the disappearance of 5-year-old Joe Clyde Daniels from his home in Dickson on April 4, 2018. His father, Joseph Daniels, was convicted of the murder in June. However, the childs remains have never been found. More information on other key laws that will take effect July 1, 2022 can be found here. Deputy Paul Allen has recently been assigned as its new public information officer. Mr. Allen brings a wealth of experience and continued education in his new role. Deputy Allen is a 13-year veteran of the Bradley County Sheriffs Office and holds a masters degree in Business Administration from Bryan College in Dayton. Deputy Allen began his law enforcement career in 2000 with the Charleston Police Department and then the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force prior to enlisting with the United States Coast Guard, where he served active duty for five years. During his time with the Coast Guard, Mr. Allens role consisted of being a Law Enforcement Boarding Team member during drug and migrant patrols in the Caribbean Sea. He later became a flight mechanic on the Coast Guards HU-25 Falcon jet airframe, while stationed in Mobile, Al. Deputy Paul Allen has served the Bradley County Sheriffs Office as a patrol deputy, boating safety officer, and more recently, the long-time school resource officer at North Lee Elementary School. Mr. Allen is a good communicator who possesses a positive, enthusiastic spirit with a desire to inspire those who work with him at the Sheriffs Office. Mr. Allen plans to reinforce the strong relationship the Bradley County Sheriffs Office has with the community. The Signal Mountain Council passed the fiscal year 2023 budget on the first reading at a Monday night special called meeting prior to the regularly scheduled work session. The property tax rate will remain the same as last year, at $1.7012 per $100 of assessed value. Included in it are retention bonuses for each employee that will be based on a percentage of their salaries. Federal money that the town received from ARPA funds for COVID relief will be used to improve infrastructure including needs for the water company, road repair and improvements for stormwater drainage. Money is also included in the budget to be able to livestream the towns meetings and record them for YouTube. Until the public hearing and second and final reading on July 11, the town will continue to operate on the 2022 budget including paving Brooks Edge Lane. The only bid received for the work to pave the 245-foot-long street came from Phaltless, Inc. for $40,215. At the work session portion of the meeting, the council heard requests for the many significant needs of the town from department heads. Council members agreed with Public Works Director Loretta Hopper, that there is an immediate need to purchase a new tractor mower with a boom arm that the city uses daily to mow and trim right-of-ways and vacant properties. The tractor is functioning but the boom arm broke, she told the council. The equipment had been scheduled for replacement and $80,000 is in the vehicle replacement fund for it, but the cost is now estimated to be $150,000. In the meantime the city has use of one that is on loan from Hamilton County. The next step will be to get bids on a replacement, which should be available by next spring. A request to buy a bucket truck for the public works department was also considered. It would be used for tree work, and could also be used by the parks and recreation department to replace bulbs and do maintenance and repairs to lighting that belong to the town. When a bucket truck has been needed in the past, the equipment has been rented or the work has been given to tree or electric contractors. The council decided that the cost of a truck would not justify buying the equipment that is not used daily, compared to what was spent last year for tree maintenance and upkeep of lighting. It will have to pay for itself, said Council Member Andrew Gardner. A suggestion was to continue renting and collect data this year and track costs in order to make a better judgement about a purchase next year. Fire Chief Eric Mitchell detailed options for the acquisition of a new pumper truck for the fire department. Options he has researched include purchasing it, which would depend on the purchase amount, down payment amount and interest. Costs would also vary depending if payment was up front that could earn discounts or paid for when delivered. This truck is needed for the department to maintain its Number 2 ISO rating which helps to keep insurance premiums down for residents. A huge part of the rating, said Chief Mitchell, is fire flow, or gallons per minute and a city the size of Signal Mountain needs three pumpers to maintain the rating. The chief will get specifics from the seller and different payment schedules to present to the council. Matt Justice, the water utilities director, told the council that soon, a new water pump installed in 1949 will need to be replaced. That one is a 250-gallon-per-minute pump. He said it should be replaced with one that will pump 670 gallons per minute to accommodate the growth of Signal Mountain. He said that around $300,000 had been budgeted last year for a new pump but it did not get done. Mr. Justice said he plans to seek a grant from the state of Tennessee that would pay 65 percent of the cost. Also needed as a companion to the new pump will be a generator. Presently, the town does not have one which would serve as a back up if power is lost. He said he would also like to install a switch that could connect and switch the towns pump to a generator owned by Tennessee American Water, if needed. Connections of the new pump, generator and switch will require electrical upgrades. There are future plans to build a totally new station for the pump system. Signal Mountains water is supplied by Tennessee American Water. The town traditionally has a minimum purchase agreement with the utility. Because water usage has become more efficient, mostly due to leak detection and repairs, the minimum gallons in the contract was not met in 2022 and the town had to pay $16,000-$19,000 in penalties. The contract can be amended, said Mr. Justice, to reduce the minimum amount of usage, although the rate per gallon would stay the same. This would not be a new contract, he said, but an amendment to the old one. With 12 months notice, either the town or the utility can get out of the contract. The Signal Mountain water utility is also considering offering a water leak adjustment program to customers. For a small monthly payment, the program would cover the adjustment back to the locations average use. On Monday night, the council gave Elaine Brunelle, interim city manager, approval to update the citys policies regarding COVID. As the virus has evolved and changed, signs in the lobby of city hall and the requirement of masks will be removed. In her report, Ms. Brunelle said that all of the towns fire hydrants have been tested and that all of them have sufficient pressure. The results of the testing will be published to let citizens know that they are safe, she said. A year ago the town entered into a five-year contract with the Signal Mountain Education Preservation Fund (SMEPF) to lease the building which houses the Mountain Arts Community Center. It recently was discovered that the contract had not been signed resulting in the need for a new contract. SMEPF board member Dick Graham clarified the relationship between the town and the organization. The town owns the building and leases it to SMEPF. The town provides maintenance for the exterior of the building and utilities and insurance, but gives no funding for programs that take place there. He also said a board, not any individual, makes decisions such as when masks are required. Mayor Charles Poss said there has been discussion about the town having some type of oversight for the SMEPF and it may come in the form of reactivation of the MACC board which is currently vacant. This could give some town presence at the facility. Mayor Poss also would like residents to know they are welcome to the pubic meetings held by the town. He said they are posted on Facebook and advertised through an email blast and on the towns website. He said no residence is more than seven minutes from town hall where the meetings take place. Council member Gardner added that also anyone can reach out to any council member individually since their email addresses are on the towns website. The next Signal Mountain Council meeting will be held July 11 at 6 p.m. Datelines well-known and well-loved Keith Morrison is no stranger to strange people. Hes interviewed many of them during his time hosting NBCs true-crime series. Recently, though, he was the one being interviewed, and he shared some of the wackier experiences that came out of regularly sitting down with convicted murderers. Keith Morrison has had an illustrious career in journalism Keith Morrison of Dateline NBC | Rob Kim/Getty Images Before his work on Dateline, Keith Morrison appropriately proved himself in the field of journalism. Starting out as a local reporter and anchor for Canadian news stations in the 1960s, he went on to work for Canada AM in 1973. This put him in the position to give some fantastic reports on the Yom Kippur War. He jumped from station to station for the next few years, his next major reporting achievements coming when he joined NBC in 1988. A year after his hiring, he reported on the Tiananmen Square protests, contributing to various documentaries and articles about it after the fact. While he briefly returned to Canada, he eventually rejoined NBC as a Dateline correspondent in 1995, the position he still holds today. Many of the criminals Morrison has interviewed have given extraordinary excuses for their actions For many, Keith Morrison is best known for his work on Dateline. As he approaches nearly 30 years in the role, the correspondent sat down with Vanity Fair to discuss his career. In particular, he talked about some of the unusual characters he met in his work. One person of interest was Jaime Ramos, a convicted murderer who Morrison had interviewed behind bars back in 2010. In a story every bit as wild as an episode of Murder, She Wrote, Ramos and his lover Patty Presba worked together to murder Presbas husband, staging the death like an accident with all sorts of unhinged complications and betrayals. Tragic as the events were, they made for good TV. Morrison is set to revisit the case again on the upcoming Dateline podcast series, The Seduction. In the interview, Morrison recounted how he and a producer went to interview Ramos, with their talk lasting over four hours. Of everything, what stuck out to him most was how honest and detailed Ramos story was. People lie to you all the time in these interviews, Morrison said. You go in expecting that people are going to lie to you, and they generally do. Not Ramos, though. Here was a guy who simply remembered every single solitary detail of this story, chapter and verse, over the whole period of time. And he didnt hold back. He didnt try to avoid blaming himself. He didnt try to push blame onto anybody else. It was extraordinary. However, Ramos was certainly not the norm. Morrison went on to talk about some of the other characters hes chatted with for the show. While he makes a point of not automatically assuming the guilt of the person hes with, he also says that many lies can be quite obvious. One criminal of note was a particularly awful murderer and sexual predator who claimed his crimes were the states fault for not monitoring his GPS ankle bracelet better. Another who was an ex-priest fully believed that the murder of his partner was no big deal, as hed simply see her again in Heaven with all forgiven. The interview also dug into Keith Morrisons iconic speaking style Whether its his work as an anchor for Dateline or in projects like The Thing About Pam, everyone loves to listen to Keith Morrison talk. Its such a big part of his appeal that it even got its own section in the interview. From his fantastic voice to his colorful descriptions, fans cant get enough of him. He says that part of his talent for talking comes from the people he works with. He credits the other writers working at NBC for providing him with exceptional outlines, which he then dresses up in his own style. I take whats already pretty good and try to turn it into something that sounds like me. Most shocking, though, is that Morrison claims to hate the sound of his voice. It depends on what time of day you ask me, though, he added. RELATED: Dateline: Lori Vallows Former Friend Says She Called Chad Daybell an Antichrist Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met Union minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda here on Tuesday to discuss the party's next course of action amid the spiralling political crisis in the state threatening the three-party Maha Vikas Adhadi government's existence. Fadnavis was joined by BJP MP and senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani in the meeting with the home minister, sources said. They are believed to have explored various options available for the party and deliberated on their legal feasibility as the BJP works to recapture power in Maharashtra with the help of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and several independent lawmakers. After meeting Shah, Fadnavis drove to Nadda's residence and briefed him about the unfolding political developments in the western state. Earlier in the day, he arrived in the national capital from Mumbai to discuss the issue with the party's top brass. Around 39 rebel Sena MLAs and at least 10 independent legislators from the state have lodged themselves at a five star hotel in Assam in their bid to bring down the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government. The BJP has denied any role in the rebellion but Fadnavis is being seen to be playing a key role in working out a post-MVA dispensation which he may head with support from the Sena rebels. BJP sources have maintained that any concrete outline of the next government has not been worked out but added that Eknath Shinde, the senior Sena leader who has led the rebellion against his party's alliance with traditional adversaries the Congress and the NCP, and other key members of the group will be suitably accommodated in case their party comes to power. Shinde may be made deputy chief minister in such an eventuality. The priority right now is to bring down the MVA government as it has clearly lost majority in the assembly, BJP leaders said. The rebels may approach the state governor, conveying the decision to withdraw their support from the Thackeray government. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari then may ask the ruling alliance to undergo a floor test in the assembly. The next couple of days may see a fresh movement from the rebels against the government, sources said. Though the BJP sources expressed confidence that the Uddhav Thackeray government is on its last leg, the party is treading cautiously to avoid any wrong move like the one in 2019 which had caused it embarrassment when Fadnavis formed a short lived government in alliance with the NCP faction headed by Ajit Pawar without ensuring adequate support of MLAs. Fadnavis had to resign in three days as NCP supremo Sharad Pawar rallied his party MLAs to thwart his nephew's bid to join hands with the BJP to form the government. The Sena then joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to come to power. The BJP has long nursed a grudge against the Sena as both parties had fought the 2019 assembly polls together and had secured a comfortable majority. However, its ally insistence that the post of chief ministership should be rotated between the two parties and not be held by the BJP alone led to a split. For decades, field-effect transistors enabled by silicon-based semiconductors have powered the electronics revolution. But in recent years, manufacturers have come up against hard physical limits to further size reductions and efficiency gains of silicon chips. That has scientists and engineers looking for alternatives to conventional metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors. Organic semiconductors offer several distinct advantages over conventional silicon-based semiconducting devices: they are made from abundantly available elements, such as carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen; they offer mechanical flexibility and low cost of manufacture; and they can be fabricated easily at scale, notes UC Santa Barbara engineering professor Yon Visell, part of a group of researchers working with the new materials. Perhaps more importantly, the polymers themselves can be crafted using a wide variety of chemistry methods to endow the resulting semiconducting devices with interesting optical and electrical properties. These properties can be designed, tuned or selected in many more ways than can inorganic (e.g., silicon-based) transistors. The design flexibility that Visell describes is exemplified in the reconfigurability of the devices reported by UCSB researchers and others in the journal Advanced Materials. Reconfigurable logic circuits are of particular interest as candidates for post-CMOS electronics, because they make it possible to simplify circuit design while increasing energy efficiency. One recently developed class of carbon-based (as opposed to, say, silicon- or gallium-nitride-based) transistors), called organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), have been shown to be well-suited for reconfigurable electronics. In the recent paper, chemistry professor Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, who leads the UCSB Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, and co-authors including Visell describe a breakthrough material a soft, semiconducting carbon-based polymer that can provide unique advantages over the inorganic semiconductors currently found in conventional silicon transistors. Reconfigurable organic logic devices are promising candidates for the next generations of efficient computing systems and adaptive electronics, the researchers write. Ideally, such devices would be of simple structure and design, [as well as] power-efficient and compatible with high-throughput microfabrication techniques. Conjugating for Conductivity A conjugated polyelectrolyte, or CPE-K, consists of a central conjugated backbone, with alternating single and double bonds, and multiple charged side chains with ions attached. Having conjugated bonds throughout the polymer makes it conductive, because the delocalized electrons have high mobility across the length of the polymer, explains lead author Tung Nguyen-Dang, a postdoctoral researcher in Nguyens lab who is co-advised by Visell. You are marrying two classic materials, the polymer and the semiconductor, in this molecular design. Artificial intelligence (AI) played a role in developing the material. You can proceed by trial and error to make a material, Nguyen says. You can make a whole bunch of them and hope for the best, and maybe one out of twenty works or has interesting properties; however, we worked with a professor at California State Northridge, Gang Lu, who used AI to select building blocks and do calculations to get a rough idea of how to proceed, given the energy level and properties we were aiming for. Figuring out Reconfigurability One key benefit of CPE-K is that it enables reconfigurable (dual-mode) logic gates, meaning they can be switched on the fly to operate in either depletion mode or accumulation mode, simply by adjusting the voltage at the gate. In depletion mode, current flowing through the active material between the drain and the source is initially high, before application of any gate voltage (a.k.a. the ON state). When the gate voltage is applied, the current drops and the transistor is turned to an OFF state. Accumulation mode is the opposite without gate voltage, the transistor is in an OFF position, and applying a gate voltage yields higher current, switching the device to an ON state. Conventional electronic logic gates, which are the building blocks for all digital circuits found in computers or smart phones, are hardware that do only the one job they are designed for, says Nguyen. For instance, an AND gate has two inputs and one output, and if the inputs applied to it are all 1, then the output will be 1. Similarly, a NOR gate also has two inputs and one output, but if all of the inputs applied to it are 1, then the output will be 0. Electronic gates are implemented using transistors, and reconfiguring them (such as changing from an AND gate to a NOR gate) requires invasive modification, such as dismantling, which is usually too complicated to be practical. Reconfigurable gates, like the one we show, can behave as both types of logic gates, switching from AND to NOR and vice versa by changing only the gate voltage, she continues. Currently in electronics, functionality is defined by structure, but in our device you can change the behavior and make it something else just by changing the voltage applied to it. If we scale up this invention from a single gate to much more complex circuits consisting of many such reconfigurable gates, we can envision a powerful piece of hardware that can be programmed with many more functionalities than conventional ones having the same number of transistors. Another advantage to CPE-K-based OECTs: they can be operated at very low voltages, making them suitable for use in personal electronics. That, combined with its flexibility and bio-compatibility, make the material a likely candidate for implanted biosensors, wearable devices and neuromorphic computing systems in which OECTs might serve as artificial synapses or non-volatile memories. Our colleague is making devices that can monitor the drop of glucose level in the brain that occurs just before a seizure, Nguyen explains of a collaborator at the University of Cambridge in England. And after detection, another device a microfluidic device will deliver a drug locally to stop the process before it happens. Devices made from CPE-K feature concurrent doping and de-doping depending on the type of ions, according to Nguyen. You make the device and put it in a liquid electrolyte sodium chloride [i.e., table salt] dissolved in water, she says. You can then drive the sodium to migrate into the CPE-K active layer by applying a positive voltage at the gate. Alternatively, you can change the polarity of the gate voltage and drive chloride to migrate to the active layer. Each scenario produces a different type of ion injection, and those different ions are what allow us to change the modes of device operation. Self-doping also simplifies the manufacturing process by removing the extra step of adding dopants. A lot of times when you add a dopant, it is not evenly distributed throughout the volume of the material, Nguyen says. The organic doping materials tend to cluster together instead of dispersing. But because our material doesnt need that step, you dont run into the issue of uneven dopant distribution. You also avoid the whole process of optimizing the dopant and determining the right mix and proportions, all of which add steps and complicate processing. The team also developed a physics model for the device that explains its working mechanism and correctly predicts its behavior in both operation modes, thus demonstrating that the device is doing what it seems to be doing. Visell concludes, This remarkable new transistor technology ideally exemplifies the surprising electronic and computing functionalities that are being enabled through convergent research in chemistry, physics, materials and electrical engineering. At 13, Cherokee Nation citizen Kenslea Barnwell is on her way to becoming an accomplished violinist. As uncertainty haunts the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it is following the political developments closely and continues in a 'wait and watch' mode. Senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said the issue figured in the BJP State Core Committee meeting Monday night when all aspects were discussed in detail by the party's top leadership here. "So far we have not got any proposal from anybody in this matter... Whenever it is received, we shall consider it and call another core committee meeting if needed," said Mungantiwar, reiterating the party's known stance. He added that the MVA government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress should brainstorm and decide whether it commands the majority or has been reduced to a minority regime now. Dismissing the contentions of the rebels and the BJP, Sena leader Anil Desai said that "at least 20 MLAs" are in touch with the parent party (Shiv Sena) and have assured full support to the MVA during the legislature proceedings. A similar statement had been made earlier by Minister Aaditya Thackeray and Sena Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut, MP in the past couple of days, as it remains optimistic of weathering the current upheaval. Rebels group spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar rubbished the Sena claims and termed them as lies and deceptive, intended to defame the supporters of Minister Eknath Shinde currently camping in Guwahati with his flock. "If they are so confident that these 20 MLAs are on their side, then why don't they call them back to Mumbai... What's stopping them? They (Shiv Sena) are simply making false and misleading statements," Kesarkar said sharply. The Shinde faction has claimed the support of 39 Shiv Sena MLAs, and 11 independents or smaller parties and have given hints they are ready to support a BJP-led new government soon. In the 1930s and 1940s, two of the most widely heard preachers in America were also two of the most unlikely candidates for such fame. Fulton Sheen and Walter Maier were both sons of immigrants, both seminary professors specializing in ancient languages, and both from historically oppressed religious traditions. But through the power of radiowhich was then a novel mass mediumthey reached millions of listeners and ultimately reshaped the trajectory of conservative religion in America. Their story is told in Kirk Farneys compulsively readable dual biography, Ministers of a New Medium: Broadcasting Theology in the Radio Ministries of Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier. Maier, born to German immigrants, showed early academic promise and attended Concordia Seminary (the flagship seminary of the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod) before completing a PhD at Harvard Divinity School. Being part of a still largely German-speaking Lutheran church was an obstacle given public suspicion towards German-American immigrants during and after World War I. Maier, seeking to establish his patriotic bona fides and to register his disapproval of the Prussian military clique, joined the US Army as a chaplain. Yet he promptly pushed the limits of official toleration by ministering to German prisoners of war. After the war, Maier joined the faculty at Concordia Seminary, where in 1924 he convinced the school to apply for a radio license, financing station KFUO with money fundraised from faculty, students, and alumni. Maiers early adoption of radio as a means of outreach quickly paid off. Within a few years, his show, The Lutheran Hour, aired on stations nationwide, first on the CBS network and then on MBS, reaching an estimated audience of 20 million by the time of Maiers death in 1950, making him the most-heard religious broadcaster in America at the time. Similarly, Fulton Sheen, born to an Irish-Catholic immigrant father, had to navigate public hostility towards religious outsiders. While Maier faced exclusion as a second-generation German immigrant, Sheen was a target for enduring American anti-Catholic prejudice. He studied ancient languages at St. Viator College and the Catholic University of America before earning a PhD while studying Thomistic philosophy at the University of Louvain in Belgium. After a brief spell as a small-town curate, he began a professorship at Catholic University and quickly became an in-demand speaker at church conferences, school commencements, and Knights of Columbus ceremonies. Thus, when the NBC network asked the National Council of Catholic Men in 1930 to select speakers for a dedicated Catholic spot on the networks lineup, Sheen was a natural choice. His winsome and yet firm approach to explaining the Catholic faith was needed after the eruption of anti-Catholic prejudice following the failed 1928 presidential bid of Al Smith, the first Catholic nominee of a major American political party. Almost overnight, Sheens sermons reached over seventeen million Americans, making him a household name and leading Pope Pius XI to bestow the honor of papal chamberlain. Ending the religious civil war Contemporary observers compared Maiers and Sheens preaching acumen to the famously golden-mouthed early church father John Chrysostom, high praise indeed for these two scholars of ancient languages. Today, we might instead say that they were the Billy Grahams of their era, anticipating Grahams combination of anti-communist rhetoric, celebrity endorsements, and a commitment to traditional doctrines in implicit opposition to modernist theology. During World War II, Maier condemned atheistic Communism to the same hell to which it leads, while Sheen warned his audience to be wary that their wartime Russian allies might be a Trojan Horse for public acceptance of communism. Both preachers also focused on offering a positive appeal while providing accessible explanations of traditional Christian doctrines like atonement and biblical inspiration. Privately, both Sheen and Maier were quite critical of liberal preachers like Harry Emerson Fosdick, but while on the air they avoided making explicit attacks on other religious groups except in the broadest of terms. Farney quotes historian Robert Handy calling Maier the missing link between the evangelistic bookends of the 20th century, Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. Article continues below But Sheen and Maier shared a deeper similarity. After a lifetime of navigating exclusionwhether anti-Catholic or anti-ethnicthey had each developed a deep-seated commitment to pluralism and religious liberty. It was not hard for them to remember that they were strangers in a still-strange land even as they used a new mass-communication medium to carve out a more tolerant home. This is one of the powers of a novel mass media; it allows previously marginalized groupswho are often more willing to experiment given that the older pathways to influence are barred to themto win greater public acceptance. Image: Courtesy of Lutheran Hour Ministries It is telling that the Lutheran Laymens Leaguea core backer of Maiers The Lutheran Hourworried that the radio ministry of the Jehovahs Witnesses reached more people each week than there were Lutherans in America. Thus, Maier seized on radio as an opportunity for Lutherans to abandon their inferiority complex and their German complex to work for the upbuilding and strengthening of the two greatest institutions in the world, the American Government and the Lutheran Church. Radio was a vital mechanism by which peripheral religious groups could assert social belonging and lay claim to the oft-unfulfilled American promise of religious liberty. Religious radio also played a fundamental role in the forging of new religious identities, creating formations that would have seemed alien to prior generations. Farney highlights the way that Maier and Sheen contributed to the gradual decrease of the longstanding interfaith prejudice between Catholics and Protestants. A third of Sheens audience was non-Catholic, and both men routinely received complimentary listener letters from the opposite tradition. This was by design. As Sheen said, A few decades ago Christianitys struggles were more in the nature of a civil warbetween Methodists and Presbyterians, Lutherans and Anglicans, and in a broader way between Jews, Protestants, and Catholics. But now, face to face with an invasion, an incursion of totally alien forces who are opposed to all religion and all moralitya not-so-veiled reference to Communismthe religious civil war must end. Maier and Sheen were participants in the creation of what historian Kevin Schultz has called Tri-Faith America, which welcomed both Jews and Catholics into the previously Protestant religious consensus via the Cold War logic of national resistance to atheistic totalitarian encroachment. Although a fuller rapprochement between Catholics and Protestants would not come for another generation, Maier and Sheen prepared the way for a time when Judeo-Christian would become a political and religious identity framed in opposition to secular humanism. The Lutheran Hour and The Catholic Hour also played vital roles in establishing what it meant to be Lutheran and Catholic in America. Sheens broadcasts helped break down the old ethnic divisions between Catholicsas Poles, Italians, Irish, and other immigrant communities felt joined via a broader communion of the airwaves. Likewise, Maier encouraged distinctively German Lutherans to think of themselves as part of a larger, evangelical whole. His sermons routinely quoted non-Lutherans from a wide range of denominations, including Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley, and Dwight Moody. Furthermore, Maier played a significant role in the creation of the National Association of Evangelicals; as I have written elsewhere, the very idea of a new evangelicalism was rooted in a pragmatic defense of the right of religious broadcasters to purchase radio airtime. Thus, over the course of just a few decades, religious radio fundamentally reshaped what it meant to be Lutheran, Catholic, evangelical, and Christian in America. Article continues below Maiers and Sheens role in the development of new, imagined religious communities hinged on the unique power of radio to create the impression of intimacy. Farney calls it perceived intimacy to describe the way listeners felt a personal relationship with broadcasters, people who they had never met before but whose voices still suffused their homes and lives. They responded by mailing in letters and donations, sharing their fears and hopes with their favorite radio preachers. Sheen had a full-time staff of 22 people dedicated to opening and answering the three-to-six thousand letters he received from listeners a day, while Maier got 30,000 letters a week. Both Sheen and Maier routinely read excerpts from listener letters on the air, even using them as the basis for sermon topics. Image: WikiMedia Commons This anticipated the talk radio format that would flourish later in the 20th century, along with its capacity for creating a sense of shared community and perceived intimacy between broadcaster and listener. While that intimacy might seem artificial at best and dangerous at worst, given the pernicious influence of interwar radio demagogues like the antisemitic Father Charles Coughlin, Maier and Sheen serve as a reminder that the same technology could be used for better ends. And today, in an age when politicians and church leaders can use social media to bypass traditional media gatekeepers and speak directly to a new mass audience, both sides of that coin are worth remembering. Optimism and wonderment If there is one weakness in Farneys analysis, it is that he attributes the success of religious radio to the unique genius of the individual broadcasters rather than to broader structural factors. Thus, he implies that it was something about Maiers and Sheens biblical, theological, and topical content that won them a mass audience. Yet while it is true that their learned irenicism aided their success, it was necessary because of the requirements of institutional gatekeepers at the major radio networks and the Federal Radio Commission. Farney does parse the distinction between free sustaining airtime given away to favored broadcasters (including Sheen) by the major networks and those broadcasters (like Maier) who merely sought the right to purchase airtime. But in either case, Maiers and Sheens decision to avoid direct attacks on other religious groups complied with the mandates of government regulators and network executives who believed that radio should serve the national interest by decreasing sectarian tensions, promoting Americanism among immigrant communities, and avoiding radical political opinions. In other words, Maier and Sheen conformed to the structural incentives erected by the radio industry and its regulators, who were interested in creating model, moderate citizens. By contrast, other religious broadcasters, like the muckraking Reverend Robert Fighting Bob Shuler on Station KGEF in Los Angeles, lost access to the airwaves for intervening in local politics and criticizing the Catholic Church. The growing post-World War II religious consensus exemplified by Sheen and Maier was itself a product of restriction, exclusion, and regulation, and not merely the product of their powerful personalities. Article continues below While the idea of technological disruption in American religion is hardly novel, the sense of optimism and wonderment that accompanied the rise of religious radio feels alien today. Farney opens with a compelling description of Maiers inaugural broadcast on KFUO radio at a ceremony at Concordia Seminary, where a biplane zoomed overhead in what one observer described as a conjunction of a living past with the vibrant present. Or as a German-language Lutheran magazine wrote, Times change, and we change with them. But Gods Word remains forever. Some were wary of deploying the new technology for kingdom purposes, like Maiers fellow Concordia professor Theodore Graebner, who warned of introducing the temptation of radio, widely employed in the secular, commercial world, into Christian homes. But Maier and Sheen were techno-optimists who saw that radio could be a tool for effective evangelism and pastoral edification, a veritable Church of the Air (to borrow the CBS networks name for its regular religious programming in the 1930s). As Sheen put it, Radio has made it possible to address more souls in the space of thirty minutes than St. Paul did in all his missionary journeys. It is hard to imagine conservative Christians in the 21st century sharing that same sense of optimism about digital and social media. Rather, digital substitutes or complements for church lifestreaming services, Zoom small-group meetings, augmented-reality gatheringsare often regarded as merely temporary measures for dealing with pandemic restrictions or as dangerous alternatives to a religious life centered around in-person gatherings and a traditional worship calendar. Yet Maier and Sheen serve as a reminder that it is possible to embrace a new technological medium with tempered eagernessand to immense and salutary effect. Paul Matzko is a research fellow at the Cato Institute and the author of The Radio Right: How a Band of Broadcasters Took on the Federal Government and Built the Modern Conservative Movement. This spring, a Canadian ministry organized a bu dao hui or evangelism meeting, for Chinese diaspora. Their topic: science and faith. For an hour, the audience learned via livestream how the Big Bang theory proved the beginning of time and space and the extreme complexity of the biological systems and genetic coding pointed to the existence of a creator and designer of the universe and human life. They heard an explanation of general revelation and special revelation. And they received an invitation to the Gospel. At the end of the Zoom conference, many of the more than 200 viewers offered feedback in the form of entering a letter. Numerous Cs appeared on screen, indicating I am already a Christian. However, there were also several As, meaning I accepted Christ as my savior and Lord tonight. Using science as a hook to share the gospel has long been a way for Chinese Christians in North America to share their faith to their non-believing friends. A significant number of the better- known Chinese evangelists have a scientific background and often speak at churches on the relationship between science and Christianity. Many churches believe science-related lectures and discussions draw seekers attention, a conviction that stems from a long history of Chinese intellectuals changing feelings about the relationship between science and Christian faith in the country. The missionaries arrive Long before the Roman Catholic Church started sending missionaries to China in the 16th century, Chinese philosophy and worldview was dominated by Confucianism, Buddhism (with Chinese characteristics) and Taoism. Chinese intellectuals and officials did not value science and technology, and science was especially under-developed. Although there had been significant advances in some areas of technology in her earlier history, e.g., in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), China had fallen far behind in science and technology before the Ming Dynasty (by the 14th century). When Matteo Ricci and his fellow Jesuit missionaries to China first arrived in 1583, they quickly became known for their zeal in introducing scientific knowledge to China. The Catholic missionaries (the most well-known beside Ricci include Adam Schall and Ferdinand Verbiest) used this strategy to gain a foothold within the Chinese elite (who desired to strengthen China by learning from the West) and achieve their ultimate goal of spreading their faith. They made friends with the high-ranking officers in the emperors court and dialogued with highly-educated Chinese Confucianist scholar-officers (the most famous of whom was Xu Guangqi, who later converted to Catholicism). They gained respect for their impressive knowledge of astronomy, calendar-making, mathematics, hydraulics, and geography and came on as experts on special imperial commissions in scientific and technological fields. Their contribution to the development of China made many sympathetic to Christianity, and their positive influence on Chinese society and culture are still remembered by Chinese intellectuals today. Image: WikiMedia Commons Protestant missionaries started coming to China in the early 19th century and quickly began building hospitals and universities. Out of their belief of a holistic mission strategy, they helped the development of science and technology in Ming and Qing Dynasties China, especially in medical science and science education. Many of the best universities and hospitals in China today have their roots in the historical universities and hospitals established by Protestant missionaries. Opposition and persecution Despite these contributions, during the Ming (1388-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties, Christianity was mostly regarded by Chinese intellectuals as a foreign religion harmful to traditional Chinese culture and beliefs, and missionaries as tools of Western imperialist cultural invasion with a hidden agenda. During times of political turmoil, rulers might stoke nationalist movements and encourage hostility to Western missionaries. In the 1900 Boxer Rebellion, dozens of western Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox missionaries and thousands of Chinese Christians were massacred throughout northern China. Article continues below In the 1920s the Anti-Christian Movement broke out in China sparked by the 1919 May 4th Movements embrace of Western ideas of democracy and science. Influenced by Marxism and other non-Christian western thought, many progressive intellectuals viewed Christianity as both anti-democracy and anti-science. After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) led by Mao Zedong took power in 1949, the Communist government set up the so-called Three-Self (self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation) churches that were willing to separate from the imperialist forces and cooperate with the CCP. The Three-Self churches became the government-sanctioned churches and the government persecuted and jailed pastors and church leaders who refused to join the system. The non-conformist church eventually became the underground house churches. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), both the house churches and the Three-Self churches were banned and destroyed as old imperialist garbage. Christianity was criticized as imperialist and anti-scientific and ironically even Western capitalist science was regarded as reactionary. For the persecuted Chinese church in this era, science was understandably not an issue of priority. After Maos death, China opened its doors to the West. House churches began to grow at a shockingly rapid rate in the 1980s and 1990s and expanded from the countryside to the fast-developing cities. Urban house churches had a significantly higher proportion of intellectuals and professionals in their congregations. The Christians in these churches inherited the pietism and fundamentalism from the traditional countryside house church Christians, but at the same time they had much more contact with the outside world (especially after the Internet became popular) and were more influenced by Western theology and philosophy. The arrival of the internet After the CCPs suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy movement, many disillusioned and heart-broken young Chinese intellectuals immigrated to the US and Canada countries, with a significant number converting to Christianity. Most of these immigrants were graduate students and scholars in natural science, so they had specific interest in the relationship between science and Christianity. As internet access became mainstream in the 1990s (and prior to the creation of the Great Firewall), BBSs and online forums became a popular destination for Chinese Christians all over the world to have dialogue with unbelievers and practice internet evangelism and apologetics. The most heated debates were about science vs. Christianity, especially evolution vs. creation, and the question of whether science has disproved God. The controversy is not surprising considering that the official ideology of China has been Marxism-Maoism (which was labeled as scientific socialism) and official education in China had indoctrinated students with anti-religious dogmas. For the past two decades, the most influential apologetics book in the Chinese church has been Song of a Wanderer (You Zi Yin), written by Li Cheng, an evangelist with a PhD degree in biology. The book remarkably contains a lot of discussions about science and faith, especially criticism of the evolution theory, and it has served as the number one choice of an apologetical book for Chinese churches and Christians to give to their seeker friends, many of whom have a scientific background, as a gift. Article continues below Apologetics and evangelism today Today, the urban house churches in China (who face even greater persecution) and diaspora Chinese churches outside China continue to face challenges from secularism and materialism. In their evangelism and apologetics, Chinese Christians still often meet opposition from scientism and other modernist thoughts, as well as from postmodernism. In general society, the majority of scientists in China continue to regard Christian creationism (especially Young Earth Creationism) as an anti-scientific, evolution-truth-denying, religious nonsense. However, the attitude towards science-related Christian apologetics among todays Chinese intellectuals is not entirely hostile. In July 2021, the transcript of a video by the famous physicist Chen-Ning Yang, one of the very few Chinese Nobel Prize laureates and one of the most respected scientists among Chinese, was posted on the internet. In the video Yang answered the audiences question of Does God exist? If you are talking about an anthropomorphous god, I dont think such a being exists. But if you ask me whether there is a Creator of the Universe, I think there is, he said. Because it is not coincidental that the world has such a delicate structure The laws of nature are so ordered, but the combinations are random, therefore any product with a purpose must be a product from intelligent design. While there is no other evidence that indicates that Yang has converted to Christianity, he seems to have become a theist or deist because of new scientific discoveries. Within the Chinese churches, domestic or diaspora, there is diversity in Chinese Christians views on creation vs. evolution. Young Earth creationism is still the most accepted by Chinese Christians in China and overseas. Last year, ReFrame Ministries translated two books into Chinese discussing the creation vs. evolution debate. One book introduces the diversified Christian perspectives on the issue, another focuses more on Intelligent Design. In July 2022, the organization will publish another book, Above All Things: The Romance and War of Christianity and Science, written in Chinese and coauthored by Jidian (myself) and Xiao Zao, both Chinese evangelists with a scientific (chemistry and physics) background. There is still work to be done for Chinese Christians to overcome an anti-science mentality (mostly rooted in fundamentalism) and for the apologetics field to learn how to harness modern science evangelism purposes. Christian apologetics and evangelism should be person-specific and be especially sensitive to the cultural and historical background of the seeker. Within this, strategic scientific apologetics arguments may have particular weight, specifically when engaging Chinese intellectuals. It is my hope that reflecting on the history in this article may benefit Christians in contextualizing for their apologetical and evangelism efforts. Sean Cheng is CT Asia Editor [ This article is also available in and . ] The late D. James Kennedys television and radio ministry cannot sue for defamation over being called an anti-LGBT hate group. Five years after Coral Ridge Ministries Media first protested the hate group designation, the US Supreme Court has declined to reconsider the legal definition of defamation. The ministrys suit against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) cannot go forward. The Supreme Courts summary disposition was handed down Monday without explanation. The only dissent came from Justice Clarence Thomas. He argued the court should overturn the guiding 1964 precedent, New York Times Company v. Sullivan, which says media companies are only liable for libel against public figures when they publish false information with reckless disregard for the truth and actual malice. Coral Ridge now asks us to reconsider the actual malice standard, Thomas wrote. As I have said previously, we should. Donald Trump also pushed for a reevaluation of New York Times v. Sullivan when he was president, calling the legal standards for libel a sham and a disgrace to America. We are going to take a strong look at our countrys libel laws, so that when somebody says something that is false and defamatory about someone, that person will have meaningful recourse in our courts, Trump said in 2018. According to Coral Ridge Ministries lawyer David C. Gibbs III, the actual malice standard is a more-often-than-not insurmountable bar for a public figure to plead and prove a defamation claim. He argued it should only apply to elected officials, not private public figures, or be disregarded entirely. Instead of the shield it was designed to be, Gibbs wrote, it is now a sword used to bludgeon public figures with impunity. Coral Ridge Ministries, also known as D. James Kennedy Ministries, first sued SPLC for defamation in 2017. The television ministry grew out of the megachurch Kennedy founded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has continued broadcasting since Kennedys death in 2007. The ministry currently spends about $1.4 million on airtime, tax records show. SPLC, a civil rights group that specializes in tracking and reporting on extremist organizations, included the Christian television ministry on an interactive map of hate groups. Local and national media turned to SPLC and used its map after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, brought attention to the wide range of active extremist organizations in America. Florida media reported that Coral Ridge Ministries was the No. 1 active hate group in the state, and CNN broadcast a map of all the active hate groups where you live, which included the television ministry. Several other conservative Christian groups also protested SPLCs broad definition of hate group. The Family Research Council said SPLC was inciting hatred against Christians, which has already led to violence. In 2012, a gay rights activist went to the lobbying groups headquarters with a 9 mm pistol, a box of ammunition, and 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, intending to kill people. He was convicted of terrorism and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Secular organizations continued to rely on the SPLC list, though. Amazon decided to use it in 2017 to determine which nonprofits would be eligible to receive donations through its AmazonSmile program. Enough is enough, said Frank Wright, president of Coral Ridge Ministries at the time. In court, Coral Ridge Ministries said it wasnt wrong to say it was anti-LGBT, since the ministry condemned homosexual sex as sin. Kennedy and others in the ministry taught that same-sex intimacy was an abomination, vile, and shameful. The ministrys attorneys said it was not a hate group, though, because it did not promote violence against LGBT people. SPLC countered that Kennedy and his ministry promoted Christian Reconstructionists R. J. Rushdoony, who said that sexually active gay people should be stoned to death, and Gary DeMar, who said that a biblical government would only have to execute a few gay people to drive the perversion of homosexuality underground, back into the closet. Judge Myron H. Thompson found, however, that there wasnt a single, established definition of hate group. Some only use the term when a group promotes violence. Others, including the FBI, say a hate group is any organization that promotes animosity, hostility, and malice against persons of or with a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity which differs from that of the members. Thompson decided it was at least plausible to call Coral Ridge Ministries a hate group, and it would be anathema to the First Amendment to let the defamation suit go forward. If Coral Ridge disagrees with the hate group designation, its hope for a remedy lies in the marketplace of ideas, not a defamation action, the judge wrote in 2019. Besides that, Thompson said, Coral Ridge Ministries could not plausibly allege actual malice. The television ministrys lawyers didnt have any evidence to show that SPLC knew the hate group designation was false and used it anyway to hurt Coral Ridge Ministries. There was no evidence submitted to show the civil rights nonprofit wasnt acting in good faith. Thompson dismissed the case in its entirety. Coral Ridge Ministries appealed, specifically challenging the difficulty of the standard of proving actual malice. The three-judge appeals court unanimously ruled against Coral Ridge Ministries in 2021. According to Judge Charles R. Wilson, the ministry was simply asserting malice, but not putting any meat on the bare-bones allegations. Coral Ridge did not sufficiently plead facts that give rise to a reasonable inference that SPLC actually entertained serious doubts as to the veracity of its hate group definition and that definitions application to Coral Ridge, or that SPLC was highly aware that the definition and its application was probably false, Wilson wrote. Coral Ridge Ministries appealed again, asking the Supreme Court to review the lower court rulings. Several Christian organizations filed friend-of-the-court briefs urging reconsideration of New York Times v. Sullivan. An attorney for National Religious Broadcasters, an association of evangelical media companies, argued that the 1964 decision has lowered the standards of journalism and encouraged too much reckless reporting. The number of falsehoods has exploded since New York Times v. Sullivan, Matthew J. Conigliaro wrote, and it is partly the Supreme Courts fault. The actual malice standard actually discourages well informed speech, including the research that one would expect responsible publishers to insist upon before obviously derogatory speech is disseminated, he argued. The actual malice standard permits publishers to take refuge in ignorance. The conservative Christian groups could only get support from one justice, however. None of the other eight signed on to Thomass dissent, and five years after the legal battles began, Coral Ridge Ministries was left without a legal way to fight the claims that it is a hate group. Abortion is now illegal in several states after Dobbs ruling Updated at 11:54 a.m. ET on July 1. Abortion has now become illegal in several states following the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization stating that the Constitution doesnt contain a right to abortion. The Dobbs decision, released on June 24, reverses the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The legality of abortion will now be decided on a state-by-state basis. As The Christian Post previously reported, 21 states will either completely ban or more severely restrict abortion than they did pre-Roe following the reversal of the decision. The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute has identified 13 states that have trigger laws that would ban abortion in the event of Roes reversal: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. In the days immediately following the Dobbs decision, abortion bans have already gone into effect in 12 states, although a lower court judge has already struck down three of them as unconstitutional. Missouri became the first state to ban abortion following the Dobbs decision on June 24, with Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt issuing an opinion declaring that the United States Supreme Court has overruled, in whole in part, Roe v. Wade, thereby granting the state of Missouri the authority to regulate abortion to the extent set forth in section 188.017 of the Right to Life of the Unborn Child Act. This portion of the law proclaims that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no abortion shall be performed or induced upon a woman, except in cases of medical emergency. Section B of the Right to Life of the Unborn Child Act stated that the enactment of this section shall only become effective upon notification to the revisor of statutes by an opinion by the attorney general of Missouri, a proclamation by the governor of Missouri, or the adoption of a concurrent resolution by the Missouri general assembly that the Supreme Court has overruled Roe. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, announced on June 24 that we have a law on the books that makes abortion illegal immediately, except to preserve the life of the mother. Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnor, a Republican, sent a letter to the states governor and the leaders of the state legislature on June 24 informing them that As a result of Dobbs, the authority of the state of Oklahoma to prohibit abortion has been confirmed, and the state of Oklahoma may enforce Section 861 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma statutes or enact a similar statute prohibiting abortion throughout pregnancy. The law OConnor was referring to makes performing an abortion a felony unless its necessary to preserve the life of the mother. On June 24, the office of Ohios Republican Gov. Mike DeWine published a statement indicating that U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett lifted the preliminary injunction which had prevented the state of Ohio from enforcing or complying with Senate Bill 23, which bans abortions after a babys heartbeat can be detected. Barretts decision enables the state to ban all abortions after six weeks of gestation. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, announced on June 24 that the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, which bans elective abortions in the state, will now take effect following the Dobbs decision. The state of Alabamas emergency motion to lift the injunction and reinstate Alabamas 2019 law, which prohibits abortions in most instances, has been granted, he said. Both the federal district court and the plaintiffs recognized that there is no basis for a continued stay of the duly-enacted law in light of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Thus, Alabamas law making elective abortions a felony is now enforceable, Marshall added. Anyone who takes an unborn life in violation of the law will be prosecuted, with penalties ranging from 10 to 99 years for abortion providers. The office of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, a Republican, published an announcement on June 24 certifying that Dobbs overrules the central holding of Roe v. Wade and reaffirms the states authority to protect unborn life. Rutledges office stressed that Arkansas has enacted and defended laws that prohibit elective abortion, which can now go into effect following the Dobbs decision. Additionally, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron published an advisory opinion on June 24 noting that the prohibitions on performing abortions in the states Human Life Protection Act became effective on June 24, 2022, the date on which the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs. Less than a week later, a Louisville Circuit Court judge halted the Human Life Protection Act, allowing abortions to continue in the state. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican, took to Twitter on June 24 to announce that Because of #SCOTUS ruling in #Dobbs, Louisianas trigger law banning #abortion is now in effect. However, on Monday, the pro-abortion group Center for Reproductive Rights reported on Twitter that #Louisianas trigger bans have been BLOCKED by a state court in response to our lawsuit filed earlier today and therefore, abortion care is resuming in Louisiana. UPDATE: #Louisiana's trigger bans have been BLOCKED by a state court in response to our lawsuit filed earlier today. Abortion care is resuming in Louisiana. #AbortionIsEssentialhttps://t.co/XdrYenASBz Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) June 27, 2022 John Fellows, the general counsel of the Utah Legislature, wrote a letter to lawmakers on June 24 explaining that Abortion Prohibition Amendments enacted in 2020 will take effect now that a court of binding authority has held that a state may prohibit the abortion of an unborn child at any time during the gestational period, subject to the exceptions enumerated in this bill. The pro-abortion group Utah Abortion Fund announced on Twitter Monday that the Utah Courts have granted a 14 day restraining order on the trigger ban, allowing elective abortions to continue taking place there for the next two weeks. As of Monday, June 27, elective abortions remain legal in Utah for 14 days. A Utah court just blocked the states abortion ban. Effective immediately, UTAF is reopening our health line to support as many folks as we can! pic.twitter.com/883BD0IlKd Utah Abortion Fund (@UTabortionfund) June 28, 2022 On Monday, Attorney General Lynn Fitch of Mississippi, the state whose 15-week abortion ban was at the center of the Dobbs case, reported on Twitter that: Today I certified Mississippis trigger law and I am excited for our State to move forward in this new post-Roe era to empower women and promote life! Today, I certified Mississippis trigger law and I am excited for our State to move forward in this new post-Roe era to empower women and promote life! pic.twitter.com/Bd1EJTvRD4 Lynn Fitch (@LynnFitchAG) June 27, 2022 On Monday, the office of South Carolinas Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson published a statement noting that the states Heartbeat Bill banning abortions after six weeks gestation had gone into effect because a judge serving on the U.S. District Court of South Carolina stayed the injunction blocking state officials from enforcing it following the Dobbs decision. On Tuesday, Tennessees Republican Attorney General Herbert Slatery announced that a unanimous panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit had vacated a lower court ruling preventing the states Heartbeat Bill from going into effect following the Dobbs decision, thereby enabling it to become law. A 13th state, Texas, will ban abortions within the next month. An advisory opinion from the states Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton reveals that the Human Life Protection Act of 2021, which prohibits abortions in most circumstances and takes effect on the 30th day after issuance of a United States Supreme Court judgment in a decision overruling, wholly or partly, Roe v. Wade. North Dakota will also ban abortions beginning July 28, as the states Republican Attorney General Drew Wrigley explained in a letter to the North Dakota Legislative Council Tuesday. Wrigley credited the Dobbs decision for removing the legal barriers to enforcement of a state law banning abortions with exceptions in cases of rape or incest and to save the life of the mother. The abortion ban will go into effect 30 days after Wrigleys letter certifying that the preconditions for enforcement of the law have been satisfied. The additional states projected to ban or severely restrict abortion in the near future are Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming. Slain American missionary John Chau to be honored on 'Day of the Christian Martyr' A prominent Christian persecution advocacy organization will honor the legacy and sacrifice of American missionary John Chau, who lost his life while taking the Gospel to a remote island in the Indian Ocean in 2018. On Wednesday, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), a nonprofit, interdenominational missions organization serving persecuted Christians around the world, will add Chau's name to the 60-foot-long granite Martyr's Memorial at the ministry headquarters in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Chau was 26 years old when he was killed on Nov. 17, 2018, while on a mission to North Sentinel Island in the Andaman Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal about 600 miles from mainland India. Chau, a graduate of Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma, was killed by an indigenous tribe that lives in isolation from the rest of the world. June 29 marks the Day of the Christian Martyr and the anniversary of the Apostle Paul's beheading in Rome. Throughout Church history, Christians worldwide have commemorated the lives of countless believers who've given their lives for Christ. With the help of a fishing boat, Chau first made contact with the Sentinelese people considered by many to be the "most isolated tribe on the planet" on Nov. 15, 2018, according to VOM. Later that day, a Sentinelese boy shot an arrow at Chau that lodged in the Bible he was holding. In his journal that evening, Chau wrote: "God, I don't want to die WHO WILL TAKE MY PLACE IF I DO? Forgive [the boy who shot me] and any of the people on this island who try to kill me, and especially forgive them if they succeed." On the morning of Nov. 17, the fishermen who dropped Chau off on the island saw tribesmen burying his body on the beach. Indian authorities called Chau's efforts to evangelize the unreached Sentinelese tribe a "misplaced adventure" in a highly restricted area. His death, which received international media attention, inspired much scrutiny of mission organizations trying to reach unreached and uncontacted tribes. But Todd Nettleton, host of VOM Radio, told The Christian Post that a closer look at Chau's life and death reveal his Christ-like compassion, extensive training and preparation, and clear-headed conviction of his calling to the Sentinelese people. "We as the Church should recognize those who follow Christ's call to go into all the world regardless of the cost. And John Chau is certainly an outstanding example of that," Nettleton said. Far from being an impulsive adventurer, Nettleton says Chau first felt God's calling on his life after returning from his first mission trip as a teenager. Nettleton said Chau spent time praying and preparing to go wherever God would call him, researching different people groups until he came across info online about the Sentinelese people. "Every single decision he made was with an eye toward going to North Sentinel Island, meeting those people, learning their language, being able to share Christ with them," Nettleton said. Nine years before his trip, Nettleton says Chau began preparing physically and spiritually for his journey. Throughout college at Oral Roberts University, Chau took cold showers to prepare for life on the island, knowing he would be without hot water. He underwent laser eye surgery so he wouldn't have to worry about contact lenses. Nettleton said that Chau also went through a training process with the Kansas City-based missionary organization All Nations under its Church Planting Experience program for future missionaries. Chau took a linguistics training course sponsored by Wycliffe to pick up the Sentinelese language quickly. He earned a certification as a wilderness EMT with the idea of bringing medical assistance to the isolated island people. Dr. Mary Ho, the international executive leader of All Nations International, called Chau one of the "most prepared missionaries she has ever met," according to Nettleton. After Chau's death in 2018, Nettleton claimed there was a "lot of misinformation" floating around about the circumstances surrounding his death. While some of that may have been Chau's own design to protect anyone who might go after him, Nettleton added: "So much of the misinformation about John was that lack of preparation, like he woke up one morning and just decided to go to North Sentinel Island." "That is so far from the truth," Nettleton assured. While Chau believed in God's calling on his life, he wasn't shy about expressing doubt about sharing the Gospel with hostile and unpredictable people groups. In a video Chau made for a church supporting his mission, Nettleton said Chau was wondering whether he was truly called to the island after his first scouting trip to the area. As he took off from Port Blair, leaving to come back to the U.S., Nettleton says Chau glanced out the airplane window and saw the sight of an island he instantly recognized from photos he had up on the wall of his college dorm. Chau knew the island by name and knew where he was headed. "He said in that moment, it was like God just completely confirmed, 'You're the one I want, you're the one I'm calling, that's the place I'm calling you to, I want you to go there,'" Nettleton said. In his journal, the night before he went ashore for what would be the final time, Chau also expressed doubt. "I believe that the measure of success in the kingdom of God is obedience," Chau wrote. "I want my life to reflect obedience to Christ and to live in obedience to Him. I think that Jesus is worth it. He's worth everything." "He understood the value of the Gospel, he understood the eternal significance of sharing Christ with the Sentinelese people, and he considered [losing his life] a fair trade," said Nettleton. Chau's father, Patrick Chau, said he did not support his son's missionary zeal. While both graduated from charismatic evangelical Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma, Patrick Chau said he no longer considers himself a Christian but rather a follower of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. "John is gone because the Western ideology overpowered my [Confucian] influence," Chau was quoted as writing, adding that evangelical "extreme Christianity" was to blame for his son's life coming to a "not unexpected end." Christian critic JD Hall was abusing Xanax, church reveals after pastors removal Leaders of Fellowship Baptist Church in Sidney, Montana, revealed that their pastor, Jordan Daniel "J.D." Hall, has been abusing the prescription drug Xanax after news broke that the church had removed him from ministry. In a statement released Monday, church officials said that several days following a June 5 incident, "it came to the attention of church leadership ... that our lead pastor, Jordan Hall, had fallen into a dependency upon prescription alprazolam (Xanax), characterized by use that exceeded his prescribed dosage." Details of the June 5 incident were not shared. Xanax, the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States, is generally used to treat anxiety disorders and anxiety caused by depression. The drug is also "extremely addictive when used long-term," according to the Addiction Center. Church officials said once the discovery was made, "Pastor Hall tendered his resignation from the pastorate shortly thereafter on June 8th, under the assumption that he had become disqualified from eldership as detailed in 1 Timothy 3." Fellowship Baptist Church subsequently voted to accept his resignation. Hall, known for his scathing criticisms of Christian leaders on his now-defunct polemics website Pulpit & Pen and, more recently, Protestia, has also been axed from those ministries, Protestia announced in a statement on Sunday. Fellowship Baptist Church leaders made it clear in their statement Monday that they were unaware the pastor was struggling with a drug dependency when they rejected his offer to resign on May 14. Hall initially offered to resign after his arrest on DUI and weapons charges. In its statement at the time, the church suggested Hall was "potentially addicted to working." A report from the Sidney Police Department cited by The Sidney Herald said Hall, 40, was arrested on May 11 at approximately 11 p.m. on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and multiple traffic violations while driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs. An incident report shows that when police approached Hall, he spoke slowly, his eyes were watery, closed slowly and deliberately and his speech was slurred and mumbled. He also stumbled, displayed poor balance and performed poorly on a field sobriety test. No alcohol, however, was found in his system when a blood alcohol test was administered. The report added that he also had a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Shield handgun, which was found under his coat in an inside-the-waistband holster during his arrest. "Due to the testimony of Pastor Hall regarding a known vitamin deficiency that he insisted was to blame for his lack of coordination, the church had voted unanimously to reject his resignation, believing that the situation did not disqualify him from the pastorate," Fellowship Baptist leaders said in their Monday statement. "The church decided, instead, to insist that Pastor Hall submit to a minimum 3-month sabbatical to address his physical health issues. The results of a toxicology screening requested by law enforcement were pending (the results of the screening are still outstanding at the time of this writing), and the church agreed to revisit his qualification if the report found problematic substances in his system, but no member vocalized any suspicion of drug abuse." "If the church had been aware at that point of Mr. Hall's prescription drug abuse, the decision regarding his tendered resignation would likely have been different," the statement continued. "However, we believe that we acted appropriately given the information we had at the time." Fellowship Baptist Church leaders are now ministering to Hall's family and have encouraged him to "seek professional treatment and work toward the restoration of his mind and body, and the reconciliation of his relationships with God and family." According to data from Barna, about 20% of pastors struggle with some form of addiction, including alcohol and prescription drug addiction. Joshua Hall, lead pastor of Selmore Baptist Church in Ozark, Missouri, who identified himself as "J.D. Hall's big brother," said his brother still has his support. "I will not defend all that he's said and done. I just want to publicly say I love him and stand by him," Joshua Hall tweeted Monday night. "To my fellow Christians, please consider Matthew 5:43-48 before you post. Thank you for your prayers. Blessings." Tzedakah Ministries, which describes itself as "a ministry that seeks to equip Christians and churches to reach the Jewish people with the truth of Messiah Jesus," also urged prayers for J.D. Hall. "All of us could be where he is now. This should be the message we take with us as we hurt for you all," the ministry replied to Joshua Hall's Twitter post. "Caution must be the word of the day. Prayer for all of us and concern for your brother's spiritual and mental well-being should be our priority. I wish him well. Truly." Lauren Boebert tells church God anointed Trump for victory following Supreme Court abortion ruling Born-again Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert told congregants at a Colorado church on Sunday that former President Donald Trump was anointed for office and celebrated his appointment of three of the six Supreme Court justices who overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that usurped states' abortion laws and legalized the practice nationwide. Think about that: 49 years of Roe v. Wade. Forty-nine years, 63 million children lost. And because God called a man who is not a politician to run for office, Boebert said during her personal testimony at Cornerstone Christian Center in Basalt. I believe that he (Trump) was anointed for that position. He answered that call despite what other people were saying, despite all the negatives. They were listening and saying how unqualified he was. He said, I think I can do something good for this nation. And three Supreme Court Justices were installed. Boebert told congregants that Christians need to position ourselves to begin to turn this nation in light of the Supreme Court victory. We may think that God has just taken His hands off our nation and said let them have it. The chaos that we see, the crises that we see. Most seem intentional and by design to cause more confusion, more chaos, more strife, more division. But this time is a set apart time for us, she said. Look at what happened this week in the Supreme Court? Glory to God! In their decision on Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy with its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The court's constitutionalist majority agreed that the Roe decision was wrong. The court's three progressive justices accused the conservative majority of discarding the "balance" presented in Roe and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision in protecting a woman's interest and that of the state in protecting "potential life." When asked if he believes he played a role in the reversal of the landmark 1973 decision because he appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, Trump said, "God made the decision. Asked what he would like to say to his supporters, Trump said, I think, in the end, this is something that will work out for everybody. He added, This brings everything back to the states where it has always belonged. In her message Sunday, Boebert warned the approving church members that their work should not stop with the recent victory at the Supreme Court, stressing that theres still work to do here in Colorado. Five years from today, we can look back and see children running and laughing with smiles on their face going to school. Children who would have not had the opportunity to live. Theres still work to do here in Colorado, but this is the fruit of your labor, of your votes and your prayers. This is your harvest to end this at a federal level and give it back to the states, Boebert said. She encouraged congregants to "work overtime to make sure that we can continue to save lives." "Today, lives are being saved because of that decision. This is the second day that we woke up in a post-Roe nation. Glory to God! Boebert told the church. Theres still work to do. But in states surrounding Colorado, they have trigger laws. There is already legislation on the books to limit full-term abortion to bring that down to the heartbeat being the time limit. States like Georgia even, heartbeat bills that have been passed by the legislature and signed into law by the governor but have been held up in litigation and they were unable to enforce those laws, she added. Because of that decision, because of your prayers, Glory to God, lives are being saved today. Evangelical Covenant Church denomination elects first female president Leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church, which has about 900 congregations in the U.S. and Canada, elected the Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim to be the denominations first female president, according to an announcement by the Chicago-based group. Swanson-Draheim was voted in by a 20-1 margin at the ECCs 136th Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, the denomination said in a statement. I love the Covenant Church, and I love the people of the Covenant Church, Swanson-Draheim, who has been with ECC for 23 years, said after her election. In Gods economy, challenges are opportunities, and I declare that we have some opportunities. The president-elect said she upholds five values: to be rooted in Christ, fully grounded in the Scriptures, guided by the Holy Spirit, unapologetically focused on the churchs mission and loving people well. For the glory of God and the love of neighbor, may we do it together, the mother of two who has served as superintendent of the denominations Midwest Conference told the delegates. The Rev. Catherine Gilliard, who is the superintendent of the ECCs Southeast Conference, addressed Swanson-Draheim, saying: If you are a leader, you influence those who follow you, and if youre a trailblazer, you open a door to those who come after you. You are a leader, a trailblazer, and a pastor to pastors who is called and gifted by God to serve as president. The stained-glass ceiling is broken! You will inspire young girls who will see your leadership and assume it is normative. A 27-member nominating committee selected Swanson-Draheim after a five-month deliberation process that started with 40 candidates before narrowing to six and culminating in one, the denomination said. Steve Dawson, who headed the nominating committee, was quoted as saying that Swanson-Draheims outstanding leadership skills, and her appreciation for the diversity of the Covenant, combined with her heart for relationships and relational health, and belief in our mission are essential qualities that are needed now. The denomination says on its website it was founded in 1885 by Scandinavian immigrants and has become one of the most ethnically diverse denominations in North America. ECC says it pursues its mission to see more disciples among more populations in a more caring and just world through five strategic priorities: start and strengthen churches, make and deepen disciples, develop leaders, love mercy do justice, and serve globally. Postcard from Wichita After visiting Wichita it is easy to see why this is one of the most underrated cities in the country. With a population of 392,059 at the last census, the seat of surrounding Sedgwick County is the largest city in Kansas. Wichita, as with other one-time frontier towns, owes its existence to a combination of cows and railroads in the years following the Civil War. The Chisholm Trail, once used to drive cattle from the ranches of Texas to the railroads in Kansas, passed through here. By 1873 a year after the first trains reached Wichita some 66,000 heads of cattle were being shipped out. To learn more about this chapter in history I made the short walk from the Hyatt Regency along the Arkansas River and past Blackbear Bosins iconic Keeper of the Plains statue to the Old Cowtown Museum. The open-air museum features 54 original and recreated buildings and more than 12,000 artifacts from the Old West era on 25 acres of land just a few minutes from the heart of downtown. Think Colonial Williamsburg, but set during the 1870s, when none other than Wyatt Earp patrolled the streets as an assistant city marshal. One of the more interesting original buildings is the simple white church from 1870 that once housed First Presbyterian Church. (The congregations present church is a fortress-like edifice built between 1910 and 1912.) Built at a cost of $1,500 as Wichitas first permanent church, the Presbyterians used it for just two years. Subsequently acquired by the Roman Catholics and later turned into a boarding house, it was saved from ruin in the postwar years. Inside are several displays with religious artifacts from various churches across denominations. The big draw, as one might expect, is a shootout. Staged twice a day at high noon and 3 oclock, costumed interpreters perform a gunfight drama from a dime novel a genre popular at the end of the 19th century. Occasional special events, including the Wild West Days reenactment in late September, add additional programming. Perhaps most remarkable is how quickly Wichita transformed itself from an Old West boom town. Within just 50 years of Earp and others, the city was calling itself the Air Capital of the World. The story of how that happened can be discovered at the Kansas Aviation Museum inside the art deco-style former municipal airport terminal. Besides big names like Cessna and Boeing, there were as many as 16 airplane manufacturers at one point. It was also a busy hub during the early days of commercial aviation, as Wichitas location in the Great Plains and near the geographic center of the contiguous United States made for a convenient refueling point. In its heyday, the likes of Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes made use of the National Register of Historic Places-listed terminal. Though today surpassed by airline hubs in Atlanta, Denver and Chicago, the aerospace industry remains vital to Wichitas economy. Be sure to also visit the Mid-America All-Indian Museum with its collection of Bosin artwork, Wichita Art Museum and Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, which is housed within the stately Richardsonian Romanesque former city hall opposite a rather hideous brutalist former library. If you go The Kansas Aviation and Old Cowtown museums are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Perched above the Arkansas River and within walking distance of almost everything to see and do the Hyatt Regency has the best location, despite an overall feeling of tiredness. A couple blocks away is the Ambassador Hotel, a boutique hotel flagged under Marriotts Autograph Collection brand. Eat dinner at Georges French Bistro, Newport Grill and FioRito Ristorante. I flew into Wichitas airport, which is served by the major airlines. By car, Wichita is six hours from St. Louis, seven hours from Denver and five hours from Dallas. Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post. Abortion activists launch summer of rage, attack churches, pro-life pregnancy centers: list Updated at 10:40 a.m. ET on June 28: The summer of rage has commenced as abortion activists target churches and pregnancy centers after the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the Constitution doesnt contain a right to abortion, thus returning the power to individual states to regulate. Protests broke out in several major cities following the courts decision. In some cases, the protests have turned violent. The Christian Post has compiled an updated list of attacks on churches and pregnancy centers nationwide as a continuation of our earlier list of vandalisms following the leak of a draft majority opinion published in Politico on May 2. Click on the next page to read about the most recent attacks. 1 2 Next A Pawan Hans helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea water near the Sagar Kiran oil-rig off Mumbai High Fields, around 175 km off the country's commercial capital, official sources said here on Tuesday. The chopper was carrying at least 7 passengers and 2 pilots and at least 5 have been saved from the sea-water so far. The rescue was carried out by ONGC vessel Malviya-16 and a boat from the oil rig Sagar Kiran, while the Indian Coast Guard has also deployed its aerial and marine assets in the efforts. The cause of the emergency landing on water is not immediately clear and rescue operations are underway, said an ONGC official. God could use 'Satan's arrows' that killed John Chau to light worldwide missionary fire: pastor The death of American missionary John Chau on a remote Indian island could be used by God to light a missionary fire around the world, a Christian pastor and author has said. We cannot know for sure what God is doing. But might He be stoking the hearts of His church with a fresh fire to reach the unreached peoples of the world? Could God be using the death of John Chau to stir the souls of more missionaries to take the Good News of Jesus to the Sentinelese people? wondered Garrett Kell, an author and pastor of Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Writing for desiringGod.org on Friday, Kell positioned some further questions: Is it possible that God might be working to bring them the message of forgiveness for killing the missionary as well as healing from the injustice done to them generations ago? Could God be plotting a reunion of forgiveness in months, years, even centuries from now that will magnify His mercies before the world? Can you picture that moving ceremony on the shores of North Sentinel Island? Chau was reportedly killed by arrows on Nov. 17 after approaching the beaches of North Sentinel Island on a mission to share the Gospel with the isolated tribespeople, a mission that he had been preparing for. Pam Arlund, a member of the International Leadership Team at All Nations, the missionary group that Chau belonged to, told The Christian Post in a phone interview on Wednesday that the 26-year-old listened to the voice of God and had been following the calling of God since the age of 17." Arlund said that the Oral Roberts University graduate was one of the greatest learners I have ever had the pleasure of working with." To prepare for it, he took many short-term mission trips. I know he went to short-term mission trips in South Africa, and more difficult places, like Kurdistan and Iraq, she told CP. Still, some secular news coverage of Chaus efforts have sought to portray the missionary as foolish and over-zealous. Some Christian sources have also criticized his methods. As an American, as a person who was funded by Americans, he represented that in many ways to the people he was trying to missionize, wrote Southern Methodist University history professor Kate Carte. It looked to me like a violent act. They did not want him there, and he came anyway. We should think carefully about how our actions are perceived in the world. Lets just say his actions didnt sit well with me, she added. In his desiringGod.org article titled "What God Might Do with Satans Arrows," Kell pointed to several other dangerous missionary efforts in the past that have resulted in tragedy, but have since seen previously unreached locals embrace the Gospel. As an example, he named missionaries John Williams and James Harris, who were killed and cannibalized in 1839 by natives on the island Erromango in the New Hebrides, or modern day Vanuatu. Roughly 20 years later, another missionary named John G. Paton set sail with his family to take the Gospel to the people of Erromango. Moved with compassion for their souls, Paton was convinced that God was at work, even through the martyrdom of Williams and Harris, Kell wrote. This conviction proved true, as the Lord used Patons ministry to help many of the people of Vanuatu embrace the grace, healing, and forgiveness of Jesus. Rioters damage pregnancy center, businesses in Portland after Supreme Court abortion ruling Police say they 'did not have resources' to make arrests Police say a mob of about 60 people clad in all black vandalized a pregnancy resource facility and other businesses in Portland, Oregon, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. No arrests were made due to a lack of resources. A report from the Portland Police Bureau in the Hollywood district said the "destructive group" marched out of Grant Park on Saturday around 10 p.m., when the mob, "most dressed in all black, began breaking windows and scrawling graffiti." Several locations in the area were vandalized, including the Mother and Child Education Center, a nonprofit support organization for motherhood, where a sign was vandalized with the words "F-SCOTUS" an abbreviation for the Supreme Court and an anarchy symbol. A window with a sign reading "We Welcome All" was also shattered, sending broken glass onto an area with children's toys, police said. Nearby banks and coffee shops were also vandalized. A van owned by Portland Public Schools parked at a local high school was spray-painted with the words "Abolish Schools" and had broken windows, according to police. The rioters also shattered windows and windshields on a parked black Tesla and spray-painted all over the car. Most of the damage occurred between 10:05 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., according to police. No arrests were made at the scene. According to Portland police, officers "were monitoring the crowd, but did not have resources to intervene at the moment," citing other calls for a shooting and an assault to which they needed to respond. A statement from the department pledged to conduct follow-up investigations, saying, "Just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later." An aide to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who was at the location as officers responded to the scene, told reporters, "It's despicable we need more police." Since the Supreme Court decision, several pregnancy centers in the Portland area have been vandalized or damaged, including what authorities call a "suspicious fire" at the First Image pregnancy center in Gresham, just east of Portland. Randy Alcorn, a pastor and author who founded the Oregon-based Eternal Perspective Ministries, told The Chrisitan Post that "the battle for the hearts and minds of people is not over at all." "It is going to be all the more necessary and important now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned," Alcorn wrote in an email. "Just as pro-lifers became more motivated when the law of the land was against the rights of the unborn, so now pro-abortion forces will be mobilized and motivated and will aggressively raise funds and recruit volunteers to fight to make abortion universally legal once again. Please pray for the cause of unborn children and be grateful for the change in law while being alert to the fact that hearts and minds, not just laws, really do need to be changed." Portland, in general, has seen several violent mobs vandalize and attack churches and other buildings, including in November 2020, when a group of more than 100 Antifa rioters dressed in all black vandalized a Catholic church. Weeks earlier, in September 2020, a pro-life activist known for his "Baby Lives Matter' campaign was assaulted by Antifa members on a Portland street corner. The attack occurred just over a week after a supporter of former President Donald Trump was shot to death in Portland by a left-wing protester sympathetic to the "anti-fascist" movement. The suspect of that attack was shot and killed by Portland police when they tried to take him into custody. Portland is one of several U.S. cities which slashed police budgets following public outcry to "defund the police" in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests and riots in the summer of 2020. Just 18 months after doing so, the Portland City Council in November passed a budget increase of $5.2 million for police after the city saw its homicides soar to record highs amid a severe police staffing shortage. Slain missionary John Chau to be honored at All Nations fundraising event Slain American missionary John Chau will be honored at an annual fundraising event in April hosted by the mission agency from which he received training. All Nations North America will host a fundraising event called Further Together at Shoal Creek Community Church on April 5 in the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, in which attendees will sing a song in Chaus honor and pray for the people on North Sentinel Island. While 250 people normally attend the All Nations annual fundraiser, the executive director, Joshua Johnson, told The Christian Post that they are expecting as many as 400 people to attend this years event. This is an annual event we have done for many years but this year we are calling it Further Together, Johnson explained. We are working to be able to know that the entire body of Christ needs to be activated with the gifts that God has given them to be able to make disciples of all nations and to make this Great Commission completed within our lifetime. Chau, a 26-year-old missionary from Washington state and a graduate of Oral Roberts University, was killed in November 2018 while trying to evangelize to the highly isolated tribe on North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal. Chaus death garnered media attention worldwide with many questioning the methods in which Chau went about his mission to the island. Some questioned whether it's appropriate for a missionary like Chau to engage one of the last remaining people groups that are almost entirely isolated from the outside world, while others praised Chaus desire to risk death to bring the Gospel to the unreached people group. During the upcoming All Nations fundraising event, about five minutes will be reserved for those in attendance to sing a song written by an All Nations staff member honoring Chau. Following the song, there will be a devoted time of prayer for the salvation of the North Sentinelese people. The staff member wrote a beautiful song about John and the North Sentinelese people worshiping around the throne of God in Heaven, which we know will happen one day, Johnson explained. Revelation does say that every tribe, tongue, and nation are all worshiping around the throne. That is the hope. We will have a prayer time for the North Sentinelese that God will show up in the midst of them. The keynote speaker at the fundraiser will be Jaime Saint, the grandson of Nate Saint, a missionary killed alongside Jim Elliott and three others while trying to evangelize to an unreached tribe in Ecuador in 1956. Johnson explained that Saint has a powerful story of redemption to tell that centers around the man who killed his father. After Nate Saint and the others were killed, Saints sister and Jim Elliotts wife went back to Ecuador and led that very same tribe to Christ. In fact, the man who killed Nate Saint a man named Mintaye became the very man who baptized Nate Saints son years later. Saints legacy as a missionary family is very inspiring and hopeful to us as a group that lost John Chau recently, Johnson explained. [I]t is a beautiful story of redemption and something that we hope we see with the North Sentinelese. That is our prayer to see redemption and hope in the midst of this tragedy that we have faced. Jaime Saint runs an organization called ITEC, an indigenous training and equipment center that helps to train indigenous followers of Christ to share the love of Christ with their own people groups worldwide. As for All Nations, its mission is to see Jesus worshiped by all the people of the Earth. All Nations North America is based in Kansas City and has about 90 missionaries in 23 countries. Through international affiliates, All Nations has as many as 300 missionaries in 30 countries. Although it's based in Kansas, the organization has three international training centers spread throughout the world. According to the Joshua Project, there are over 7,000 unreached people groups. Unreached groups are defined as communities where there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance. All Nations seeks to bring the Gospel to neglected people groups. According to Johnson, neglected people groups are communities where there isnt a church actively seeking out unreached people. Some of those neglected groups, he said, might be considered a reached place but one that has no Gospel work happening in those areas. We have seen that the percentage of Jesus followers has actually decreased with population growth, Johnson detailed. But the only places where disciple-making efforts increase greater than population growth are where church-planting movements or disciple-making movements have been united and catalyzed in that region. Although All Nations will honor Chau at its fundraising event, the organization maintains that it is not using Johns death as a means to raise money. The [event] isnt a memorial for John but it is a point to say that John did love and obey Jesus. We are all called to do the same, Johnson explained. He is an example for all of us that we can follow. As there was much contention within Chaus family over his choice to become a missionary, All Nations could not disclose if Chaus family will or wont be in attendance for the fundraiser. Chau reached out to All Nations about two years ago to share his desire to bring the Gospel to the North Sentinelese people. According to Pam Arlund, a member of All Nations international leadership team, Chau received training from All Nations while he prepared for the mission on the Island. While many criticized Chaus mission on grounds that the Indian government barred people from going to North Sentinel and other inhabited Andaman islands, Arlund defended Chaus mission by stating that the Indian government had lifted its Restricted Area Permit on North Sentinel and a number of other inhabited islands. However, the Indian governments Andaman Island tourism webpage states that visiting to tribal reserved areas in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is prohibited. Christian bakers fined $135K for not baking gay wedding cake fundraise to relaunch business Aaron and Melissa Klein, a Christian couple whose bakery has been held up in the courts for years and were ordered to pay $135,000 in damages for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, are now working on opening a new shop to show Gods goodness to everyone. The Kleins, who owned Sweet Cakes by Melissa until an Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries order sought to punish them for refusing to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple in 2013, moved to Montana two years ago and are hoping to start a new bakery, says Melissa Klein in an online appeal for funds. I had said I was never going to open a bakery again, but God has seemed to change my heart with this, she adds. Its been 10 years since having my shop in Oregon and I greatly miss it along with all my sweet customers. Klein further explains that her family needs to raise $50,000 for a down payment on a restaurant that is for sale in Montana which could be the home of Sweet Cakes. She adds that she is also selling cookies to raise the money. As of early Sunday, 132 people had given nearly $14,000 to the couple. Im hoping to see, with my new bakery, it being a place where friends and family can come, sit, and have a coffee, enjoy breakfast or lunch, or just even a sweet treat, Klein told CBN News in an interview last week. I want it to be a place where everyone feels welcome and is greeted with a joyful smile, she added. I want it to be a place that is used to show Gods goodness to everyone. In January, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals of the state of Oregon maintained that the Kleins unlawfully discriminated by refusing to make a cake for the wedding of Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer in 2013. However, the panel reversed the order requiring the couple to pay $135,000 in damages. We adhere to our prior decision upholding BOLIs determinations that Aaron unlawfully discriminated against the Bowman-Cryers based on sexual orientation, wrote Circuit Judge Erin Lagesen, the author of the panel opinion. We reach a different conclusion with respect to our prior affirmance of BOLIs noneconomic damages award, ruled Lagesen. However, Stephanie Taub, senior counsel for the First Liberty Institute, a legal nonprofit representing the Kleins, didnt agree with the decision of the appeals court. The Court admits the state agency that acted as both prosecutor and judge in this case was biased against the Kleins faith. Yet, despite this anti-Christian bias that infected the whole case, the court is sending the case back to the very same agency for a do-over, she said at the time. The Bowman-Cryers filed a complaint with BOLI, which ruled that the Kleins had violated Oregons accommodations statute barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. As a result of the BOLI ruling against them, the Kleins were fined $135,000 in damages and closed the bakery. The Kleins appealed the BOLI order to the Oregon Court of Appeals in 2016. After the Oregon court upheld the order, they appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. In June 2019, the Supreme Court issued an order vacating the ruling against the Kleins and sent the case back to the state court of appeals. The nations high court cited its 2018 decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission that the latter showed an unconstitutional anti-religious animus toward Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop when it punished him for refusing to make a cake for a gay wedding. Speaking about the devastation of losing her business, Klein told CBNs Faithwire, "All I can remember with the feelings of losing my bakery was the feeling of just devastation. ... My heart literally felt ripped in two when I closed my doors for the last time." Together '22: Hundreds gathered for evangelistic event urged to 'go out there and love' in polarized society DALLAS Evangelist Nick Hall urged hundreds gathered at the Cotton Bowl in downtown Dallas for the Together 22 evangelistic event to truly "see" those around them and "go out there and listen, go out there and love" in an increasingly polarized society. Together 22 saw hundreds of people come out to Fair Park for the revival event aimed at marking 50 years since Billy Graham hosted Explo 72 in the very same venue. That event drew upwards of 150,000 people to the stadium in what later became known as one of the largest religious gatherings ever. While Together '22 fell far short of drawing those types of numbers, Hall greeted those in attendance with an acknowledgment of the unpleasant weather. You think its hot in Texas? Were about to bring the fire back home, are you with me? said the evangelist. We out here in 98-degree heat because we love Jesus! Hall also reminded the crowd to reassess their priorities, especially with so many distractions in today's culture. The most important thing to tell people about Jesus is to make a priority to listen, to slow down and see people around you," he said. The greatest thing we can do as evangelists is go out there and listen, go out there and love." Along with a series of evangelistic training sessions, the multi-day event culminated this weekend with musical performances from Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, Lecrae and other Christian music artists. Several guest speakers shared words of encouragement and evangelism with the crowd, including prerecorded messages from David Platt and Francis Chan, and a live appearance from apologist Josh McDowell, who shared a message on doubt. McDowell urged the crowd to not only know what you believe, know why you believe it. "I don't think I ever had doubts about the deity of Christ, the resurrection and the scriptures, he said. Now doubt is not saying I don't understand it, and a lot of times, I don't get it. But deep down in, I know it was true but I couldn't understand why it was true. But eventually I did." Dallas Jenkins, the creator of the hit streamer The Chosen, called on attendees to stop worrying about figuring it all out and just start with what they have in front of them. Its not your job to figure out how to feed the 5,000, said Jenkins. Your job is to just provide the loaves and fishes. Fridays slate of events started within minutes of the Supreme Court overruling its landmark 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, concluding that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. In the decision released June 24 in the case of Thomas Dobbs, et. al. v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the high court ruled 6-3 to uphold Mississippis Gestational Age Act, which bans most abortions after 15 weeks into a pregnancy. While there was no official response to the ruling from onstage, Hall issued a statement through a spokesperson challenging the church to step up in the social issues that will come as a result of the landmark decision. We may be pro-life, but are we pro-living? Hall said. Still, many who showed up to the Cotton Bowl were unfazed by the heat or the ruling. The non-stop worship and Gospel was amazing, said 16-year-old Brooke Watkins. I got to meet so many new people and hear my favorite artists. God opened my eyes to a whole different perspective of life these past two days through praying with strangers, listening to such powerful sermons, listening to worship music and many more things, student Chloey Carroll said. Hall is best known for organizing the Together 16 event, which drew nearly half a million people to Washington, D.C., and featured various artists and ministers who addressed the vast crowd, commissioning the next generation to unite under the banner of Jesus. Virginia pregnancy center first location to be vandalized by 'Jane's Revenge' after Dobbs decision A pro-life pregnancy center in Virginia has become the first anti-abortion organization to face vandalism since the United States Supreme Court reversed the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Early Saturday morning, hours after the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organizationthat the Constitution does not contain a right to abortion, pro-abortion activists vandalized Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center in Lynchburg, Virginia. While several pro-life pregnancy centers and churches have found themselves subject to varying degrees of vandalism since Politico first published a leaked draft opinion in the Dobbs case eight weeks ago, the attack on Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center is the first to take place since the publication of the Dobbs decision. One image of the vandalism shared on Facebook by the Lynchburg Police Department shows the words Janes Revenge spray-painted on the ground in front of the facility, with the A in the phrase written like the symbol for the anarchist movement. The symbol for the anarchist movement was also spray-painted onto the side of the building. A group of pro-abortion activists calling themselves Janes Revenge has taken credit for many acts of vandalism against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers in recent weeks. They have also called on pro-life organizations to disband and declared open season on such groups in a communique released two weeks ago. Republican federal lawmakers have called on the Department of Justice to take action against the group in response to the aforementioned threat. The FBI has already announced an investigation into attacks against pregnancy resource centers and faith-based organizations across the country. Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security included both pro-life and pro-abortion groups on a list of domestic violent extremists that pose an elevated threat to the homeland in 2021. Another image of the property damage at Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center reveals graffiti declaring, If abortion aint safe you aint safe. Additional images of the vandalism illustrated a broken window at the facility, along with the words Vote blue LOL spray-painted on the side of the building. The Lynchburg Police Department also provided a still image of security camera footage documenting four masked individuals who committed the acts of vandalism. The timestamp showed the perpetrators gathered outside the facility at around 1:20 a.m. Susan Campbell, executive director of Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, reacted to the targeting of her business in a statement posted on Facebook Saturday: BRPC has been vandalized greatly and we need the support of our community now more than ever. If you are available to give financial support for additional security, and lots of prayers, we would greatly appreciate you. We know God has [His] Hand over our center and the work at BRPC is not finished. Campbell also posted additional pictures of the vandalism, including the defacement of a streetside sign advertising the facility with a symbol for the anarchist movement. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, condemned the vandalism of Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center in a tweet Saturday. There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable, he said. This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate. There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable. This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate.https://t.co/BONC83jKgj Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) June 26, 2022 In a statement issued following the Dobbs decision, Youngkin said he plans to take every action I can to protect life now that the Supreme Court of the United States has rightfully returned power to the people and their elected representatives in the states. Maintaining that Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions, he insisted that we can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life. Ive asked Senator Siobhan Dunnavant, Senator Steve Newman, Delegate Kathy Byron and Delegate Margaret Ransone to join us in an effort to bring together legislators and advocates from across the Commonwealth on this issue to find areas where we can agree and chart the most successful path forward, Youngkin added. Ive asked them to do the important work needed and be prepared to introduce legislation when the General Assembly returns in January. Youngkins comments reflect the fact that with Roe overturned, the legality of abortion will be decided on a state-by-state basis. Virginia is one of 10 states that will continue enforcing existing abortion laws and/or restrictions until new legislation is passed. Currently, Virginia bans abortions after the second trimester of pregnancy. Twenty-one states will either completely ban or more severely restrict abortion than they do now and 16 states will continue allowing abortions throughout most or all of pregnancy as the right to abortion has been codified into law. Three additional states could soon enact changes to their abortion laws depending on the results of possible ballot referendums on the matter. America can and must be more American For the majority of my life, I held fairly traditional views on illegal immigration. It was based in my trust that Americas democratic political systems are rooted in liberty, justice, and fairness. However, meeting Jose changed me. Like me, Jose is a Baptist minister and fellow believer in Jesus Christ. We both were raised in America, graduated from an American education system, and have a family and community we love. Where we are different is that as a teenager, Jose became aware that he wasnt an American citizen but instead an undocumented immigrant, limiting his opportunities and delivering uncertainty around his future in the only country he knew as home. Jose exposed me to the fact that there are millions of people like him who are deemed illegal immigrants and did not choose this status when they first arrived in America at the age of 2 or even 11. In fact, many did not learn until later that they were not born in the U.S. Our society has labeled this population as Dreamers, and despite our American value of fairness, there is no path for them to make the right choice someone else made on their behalf. Imagine celebrating your high school graduation only to be blindsided with new information that you dont have legal government documents and there is no solution to fix it. You cant pursue the careers you were taught to aspire to while in high school. You cant leave the country for a mission trip overseas. You cant get caught with a broken car light while driving to the grocery store. In 2012, after years of Congress debating and failing to create an earned path to legal status for Dreamers, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was introduced as a presidential executive order. This policy created a special opportunity for Jose and roughly 600,000 other individuals to work legally, pursue college, buy a house and not fear deportation. But as we approach the 10-year anniversary of DACA, the limited administrative policy stopped receiving new applicants, leaving millions more in limbo, including the 100,000 Dreamers who graduated from high schools across America this past May. DACA also continues to face legal challenges and could be struck down by the courts at any moment this year. Jose would be faced with renewed risks of deportation and removal from his church, his family, and his community. Americans are faced with a moral gravity to make things right for our neighbors like Jose. But fairness and justice for this unique population can only be permanently secured by Congress. Voters are calling out for it and dont want to wait until after the midterm elections. The National Immigration Forum published a poll in February that shows 8 in 10 voters support a pathway for legal status for Dreamers coupled with border security policies and smart visa reform to deliver a reliable workforce for farmers and ranchers. In my home state, I find hope in U.S. Senator Alex Padillas (D-CA) promotion of the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act'' and in Congressman David Valadeos (R-CA-21) political courage to vote for the 2021 American Dream and Promise Act. Both sides can come together and show us how to live up to our own ideals as a nation. This is the year to get the right decisions across the finish line for Dreamers and for our country. Forgiveness: Very simple or highly complex Many have heard of The Nazi Hunter, Simon Wiesenthal. Hes famous for tracking down Nazi perpetrators of the Holocaust and bringing them to justice. Fewer know of Wiesenthals wrestling with the conundrum of justice versus Forgiveness. The beginnings of his inner struggle are documented in his 1969 book The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness. The author tells of when he was a Polish-Jewish concentration camp prisoner, assigned as an orderly, disposing of medical and human waste at a German field hospital. Unexpectedly, a young SS soldier, near death from his wounds, summons Wiesenthal to his bedside. He proceeds to confess all his trespasses, including aiding in the murder of 300 Jewish women and children who had been herded into a house, set ablaze, and gunned down when they tried to escape the hellish flames. This German soldier seeks forgiveness from a Jew. His final words to the prisoner are, I know that what I am asking is almost too much for you, but without your answer I cannot die in peace. Mentally dazed from malnutrition, cruel treatment, and the surreal nature of this confession, Wiesenthal is dumbfounded as to what to say or do. In the end, he says nothing, leaves the room, and spends the rest of his life wondering what he should have done. First asking his prison mates, then professional colleagues, and finally thinkers around the globe from every walk of life, Simon Wiesenthal spent decades in a relentless quest to understand forgiveness. The result is The Sunflower. There he documents the many responses to the questions that tormented him Should he have forgiven the dying soldier? What could he have even said that would absolve the mans guilt? Does a Nazi murderer, though sorrowful, even deserve forgiveness? Can you forgive a crime that was not against yourself, but against others? What about justice wouldnt forgiveness undermine justice? But couldnt he at least have tried to help a desperate man die in peace? Contemplating Wiesenthals moral dilemma, I was struck that the matter of forgiveness is either very simple or it quickly becomes highly complex. The simple side of forgiveness comes from the root meaning of the word Forgive: to cancel a debt. At its root, forgiveness really is that simple. When I release another from their debt to me, whether material or emotional, I walk free and full of life every time. But, if I pause to consider the injustice of the matter, I grow troubled and unsure if forgiveness is the way to go. Thanks to God and his great grace, the answer to my conflict is settled in Christ Justice is his to execute. Forgiveness is mine to extend. A friend used to put it this way: I take them off my hook and put them on Gods. If forgiveness is not that simple, then it quickly becomes astoundingly complex. The complex side of forgiveness comes from trying to figure out the how, the why, the when, the where, the how far, the how much, the how often Exhausted yet? Meanwhile, there is no question as to how important the act of forgiveness is to Jesus of Nazareth. Central to his simple, yet profound, teaching on how to pray, he declares Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (Matthew 6:12 NKJV) These words are more than just a line in The Lords Prayer. They express the doctrines core value, for in concluding the model prayer Jesus circles right back to the matter of forgiveness For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15) Did that last part grab your attention? It should. Seriously. First comes the fortifying promise of Gods forgiveness for us when we forgive others. Thats Gods exercising of justice based on the shed blood of Christ. But then comes the sobering warning of Gods necessary judgment on us when we do not forgive others, even as the atoning work of Christs sacrifice stands. If this is how seriously Jesus deals with forgiveness, how dare we presume to claim the justice of what we think is owed to us? Throughout my day Im prone to pray by the pattern of The Lords Prayer. Recently, while somewhat mindlessly repeating the phrase, Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, a sudden conviction prompted me to ponder that plea to God LORD, please forgive my trespassessure, but against who exactly? You see, at that moment I couldnt think of anyone I was trespassing against. Yet considering the verse further, I realized that just like Im to forgive the one in debt to me, I need God to forgive my debt to him. All suddenly became clear that the one I have trespassed against, first and foremost, is the one I am asking to forgive me. That is My Father in heaven, hallowed be his name. As the psalmist cried Have mercy on me O Godagainst you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight that you may be found just when you speak, and blameless when you judge. (Psalm 51:1, 4) The potential complexities of forgiveness are settled when we understand that we are in continual debt to God for his goodness and our inherent rebelliousness against him. Its called sin, and for it his justice demands his judgment upon us. Yet in Christ, by His blood sacrifice and resurrection life working on our behalf, we can ask the Father, over and over again, to Forgive us our trespasses (against you, LORD), as we forgive those who trespass against us. Its really that simple: Know the freedom of release from your debt to God as you release the debt others have to you. All this is accomplished in Christ, and it is ours for the repenting. As you might pray this today, embrace the core value, according to Jesus Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Archaeologists find Christian relics inside Islamic State-ravaged church Archeological workers restoring the historic Syriac Orthodox Mar Thomas Church in Iraqs capital Mosul, which was heavily damaged by Islamic State fighters about four years ago, have discovered about a dozen ancient relics and parchments connected to several saints, according to reports. The relics include manuscripts in Syriac and Aramaic as well as six stone containers wrought with Aramaic inscriptions, and some of them relate to Saint Theodore, Saint Simon, Mor Gabriel, Saint Simeon, and other well-known figures, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said. One of the stone containers carried an inscription relating to Saint Theodore, a Roman soldier born in the province of Corum, Turkey, in the third century CE and beheaded for having converted, The Jerusalem Post said, citing a report by AsiaNews. Some containers are related to Saint Simon the Zealot, a first century apostle of Jesus; Mor Gabriel, bishop of the Tur Abdin hilly region situated in southeast Turkey from 593 to 668 CE, the Post continued. The discovery also include relics of Saint Simeon the Wise from the first century CE, who, according to Christian tradition, welcomed the infant Jesus in the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem; relics of Saint John, one of the first apostles of Jesus, also known by his Hebrew name Yohanan ben Zavdi, and relics of celebrated writer and Syrian Orthodox Regional Primate Saint Gregory Bar Hebraeus, who served in the position from 1264-1286 CE, it added. The discovery of the hidden relics at this church is another encouraging development in the broad effort to restore and protect Christian cultural heritage in Iraq after the damage done by the Islamic State, ICC added. The watchdog noted that the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, collaborating with the Iraqi government, put $328,000 toward the project, which began last year to repair the damage done by IS in the battle of Mosul. Reviving the Spirit of Mosul, a restoration plan by UNESCO, is also underway, ICC said, adding that it involves more than $100 million. Perhaps workers will uncover more undiscovered pieces of history as they sort through the archeological remains of Christianitys long history in Iraq, ICC commented. In 2017, Iraqi militiamen, who took control of the ancient city of Hatra from Islamic State fighters, found that the terror group had destroyed relics dating back more than 2,000 years. Hatra is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site and considered an archeological jewel of Iraq and capital of the first Arab kingdom. The sculptures and engraved images are destroyed, but the walls and towers of the kingdom of Hatra remain standing, Voice of America quoted Marwa Rashid, a spokeswoman for Iraqs Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces militia, as saying at the time. There are many holes and scratches on the walls of the kingdom due to IS bullets. In a video released by IS after Hatras occupation, its fighters were seen damaging sculptures with sledgehammers and destroying images and artifacts on ancient walls with assault rifles. As per Iraqs 1987 census, there were 1.5 million Christians in Iraq, but their numbers dramatically decreased to 141,000, according to a recent report. Church of England will oppose assisted dying bill ahead of synod, senior official says The Church of England will adamantly oppose a proposed bill seeking to legalize assisted suicide in the United Kingdom because it "undermines the intrinsic value of every human life," according to the denomination's senior-most lay leader. William Nye, the secretary-general of the Church of England General Synod, spoke out against the Assisted Dying Bill introduced in the House of Lords ahead of a scheduled meeting of the denomination's leaders next month. "The Church of England has been adamant in its rejection of a change in the current law in Parliament, in the media and among medical professions," Nye told The Times. The Assisted Dying Bill, which would enable terminally ill adults to end their own lives, was introduced by Baroness Molly Meacher last year. Meacher serves as the chairwoman of the group Dignity in Dying. She said in late April there is enough support in Parliament to pass the legislation. The bill was still in the committee stage as of April, the end of the parliamentary year as the bill is opposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "This option would enable terminally ill, mentally competent people whose suffering is beyond the reach of palliative care to die well and on their own terms, should they choose it," Meacher said in introducing the bill. "And it would also provide comfort and control to countless more who may never avail themselves of this option but would be comforted by the simple fact of its existence." The Church of England synod is scheduled for next month. Lay member Dr. Simon Eyre has proposed a motion to confirm the leaders' opposition to the proposed law. Nye said such a law could put pressure on people to end their lives. He believes "a change in the law would undermine the intrinsic value of every human life." Meacher said the church is "out of touch" with its members because polling has shown that a majority of Christians favor assisted suicide, according to The Times. Nye contends that opinion polls "are not a valid means to test ethical arguments." "Opinion polls not only rely upon questions which lack nuance or context, they also invite people to imagine themselves into a situation in which most people have no relevant experience," he said, adding that "no new or better arguments to the contrary have been advanced by any of the lobbyists for assisted suicide." Last October, Boris Johnson said he would not back the proposed change in the law. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the U.K.'s former Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that the bill would "undermine the sanctity of life" and could pressure the frail and vulnerable to end their lives. Welby and Brown signed a joint letter with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales; and Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of Ireland. "By the faiths we profess, we hold every human life to be a precious gift of the Creator, to be upheld and protected," they wrote. "All people of faith, and those of none, can share our concern that the common good is not served by policies or actions that would place very many vulnerable people in more vulnerable positions." Gordon also wrote in an op-ed for The Times. "If death were to become not just an option but something close to an entitlement through the bureaucratic processes that an act of parliament's provisions impose, we would, in my view, be altering fundamentally the way we think about mortality," Brown wrote. "The risk of pressures, however subtle and indirect, on the frail and the vulnerable, who may feel their existence burdensome to others, cannot ever be entirely excluded. And the inevitable erosion of trust in the caring professions if they were in a position to end life would be to lose something very precious." One country, two systems principle boosts Hong Kongs prosperity, stability 09:22, June 28, 2022 By Feng Xuezhi, Jin Chen ( People's Daily By fully leveraging its institutional strength under the one country, two systems principle, Chinas Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has steadily strengthened its competitive advantages and witnessed economic and social prosperity and stability over the past 25 years since its return to the motherland. Photo taken on July 27, 2019 shows a ferryboat sailing from the Victoria Bay in south Chinas Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. (Peoples Daily Online/ Duan Changzheng) After six years of construction, the third runway at the Hong Kong International Airport is anticipated to open this year. Preparatory work for the operation of the runway, including test flights and drills, has been completed recently. The third runway of the Hong Kong International Airport is right across from where we are, and the new terminal is next to it. There will be a hotel and commercial complex on the side of the runway, said Fred Lam Tin-fuk, Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, showing Peoples Daily the locations of the projects to be built at the Hong Kong International Airport on a planning map. Besides a new runway, the three-runway system project also includes a new baggage handling system and relevant supporting transportation facilities, according to Lam, who noted that the scale of the project is almost equivalent to building a new airport next to the existing one. Hong Kong is endowed with a good geographical location. More than half of the worlds population can be reached from the region within five hours of flight. A flag-raising ceremony is held at the Golden Bauhinia Square in south Chinas Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 1, 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kongs return to the motherland. (Peoples Daily Online/He Zhigang) The airport plays an important supporting role in the development of Hong Kongs economy. Data showed that the Hong Kong International Airport handled about 75 million passenger traffic in 2018, ranking among the highest in the world. The annual cargo throughput of the airport exceeded five million tonnes, topping the list of the busiest airports in the world. Such remarkable achievements of the airport reflect the booming economy of Hong Kong since its return to the motherland. During the past 25 years, Hong Kong has seen rapid economic development in various fields, enhancing its international status as a financial, shipping and trade center has been and consolidating its industrial advantages. The successes Hong Kong has achieved over the past 25 years and the sound development momentum it enjoys now are both inseparable from the development of its motherland. Chinas rapid development represents the greatest opportunity for Hong Kongs economic development and the greatest strength to maintain its prosperity. Adhering to the one country, two systems principle, Hong Kong has proven the advantages of its development by staying committed to the principle of one country and well leveraging the benefits of two systems. Hong Kongs financial system has always been robust since the regions return to the motherland, which is attributed to the prudent policies and sound supervision of the region, and more importantly, to the regions distinctive advantage of having the support of its motherland and being open to the world, said Eddie Yue Wai-man, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. With the support of the central government, Hong Kong has become the largest offshore renminbi (RMB) business center, and its capital market has continued to grow bigger and stronger. As of January 2022, the total outstanding amount of RMB customer deposits and certificates of deposit rose to 1.1135 trillion yuan (about $166.47 billion). A total of 1,370 mainland enterprises had been listed in Hong Kong by April this year, accounting for 53.3 percent of the total listed companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and 77.7 percent of the total value of Hong Kong stocks. The combined market value of these enterprises has reached 37.6 trillion Hong Kong dollars (about $4.79 trillion). Photo shows the third runway of the Hong Kong International Airport under construction. The paving of the runway was completed in June 2021. (Photo/Official website of Hong Kong International Airport) The principle of one country, two systems has created unique advantages for Hong Kongs business environment, said Jimmy Chiang, associate director-general of Investment Promotion at InvestHK. The Basic Law of the HKSAR has helped Hong Kong grow into one of the worlds freest economies while maintaining a simple tax system with low tax rates, which is particularly attractive to enterprises, he noted. By the end of 2021, the number of both mainland and foreign enterprises that had set up offices in Hong Kong reached a record high of 9,049, among which 1,457 located their regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Last year we helped a total of 333 companies establish or expand businesses in Hong Kong, and 186 of them chose to invest in the region because of the thriving Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, said Chiang. Photo shows the exterior of Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon Cultural District, south Chinas Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The museum will open to the public on July 2, 2022. (Photo/Official website of Hong Kong Palace Museum) Hong Kong can help companies from the Chinese mainland explore the global market by providing them with legal and financing services, Chiang explained, while Hong Kong can attract international investment institutions and firms and enable them to fully leverage the resources in the Greater Bay Area to achieve better development in Asian and even the global market. In recent years, Hong Kong has made continuous efforts to promote the growth of offshore RMB market, develop itself into a regional intellectual property trading center and enhance its capability to provide international legal and dispute resolution services for investors. The outline of Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national socio-economic development has charted the route to a bright future for Hong Kong. As the construction of the Greater Bay Area makes steady progress and breakthroughs, Hong Kong is embracing brand new opportunities. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left for the UAE after attending a productive G7 Summit in Germany and interacting with several world leaders during which they discussed many issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity. "PM @narendramodi concludes his visit to Germany for the G7 Summit, wrapping up two days of productive discussions on sustainable solutions to global challenges, PM Modi now emplanes for Abu Dhabi for a brief stopover before reaching New Delhi," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted. In the UAE, he will convey his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former UAE President and Abu Dhabi ruler. Zayed Al Nahyan, who had been in office since 2004, died at the age of 73 after a long illness on May 13. Modi had expressed grief over his death, calling him a great statesman and visionary leader under whom India-UAE relations prospered. "Leaving Germany after a productive visit in which I attended the @G7 Summit, interacted with several world leaders and participated in a memorable community programme in Munich. We were able to discuss many issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity," Modi tweeted. "I thank the people of Germany, @Bundeskanzler Scholz and the German Government for their hospitality during the entire visit. I am confident India-Germany friendship will scale newer heights in the times to come," the prime minister wrote. On Monday, Modi highlighted India's efforts for green growth, clean energy, sustainable lifestyles and global wellbeing, at a G7 summit session. During his two-day visit to Germany, Modi met his counterparts from the UK, Japan and Italy and exchanged views on a range of issues with them. Modi also met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and held productive discussions as the two leaders reviewed the India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, technology and climate action. He also met Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Germany. During his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two leaders agreed to take forward the momentum in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership besides further diversifying the bilateral cooperation on climate-related issues for the benefit of their people and the entire planet. Modi also met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties and reaffirmed the need for further deepening cooperation in areas like trade and investment, food security, defence, pharmaceuticals and digital financial inclusion. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed a range of bilateral and global issues over a cup of tea. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the summit venue. On Sunday, Modi addressed the Indian diaspora during a massive community event at the Audi Dome indoor arena in Munich. Killer who stabbed Coptic priest in Egypt sentenced to death Convict said to have shouted jihadist slogan as he stabbed clergyman The convicted killer of Archbishop Arsanious Wadid in Alexandria, Egypt, was sentenced to death earlier this month, according to Copts-United. Nehru Abdel Moneim Tawfiq was sentenced to death on June 11 after a long session in which the 22nd District Alexandria Criminal Court headed by Waheed Sabry watched surveillance camera video of the murder that took place on the boardwalk near Ishak Helmy beach, Copts-United reported. The verdict came after the court reportedly referred his case to the Mufti of the Republic for an Islamic legal opinion. Wadid, priest of the Virgin and St. Paul Church in Alexandria, was distributing Ramadan gifts on the promenade to passers-by with a group of youths from his church on April 7 when the assailant stabbed him at least three times in the neck with a knife, according to local press reports. He was 56. Leaders of both the historical church in Egypt and Islam had played down a religious motive in an attempt to prevent escalation, though Tawfiq shouted the jihadist slogan Allah Akbar [Allah is greater] as he stabbed Wadid, an eyewitness testified at the trial, according to Copts-United. She said Tawfiq hovered around the area for 10 minutes before targeting Wadid because of his priestly garments. Islamist assailants in Egypt frequently resort to mental instability as a legal defense for murder, and Tawfiq asserted that his unstable mental state rendered him unable to control his actions, according to news outlet Ahram Online. Initially Tawfiq made no effort to hide, witnesses testified, and police said he confessed to intentionally killing the priest, but he later claimed that he was not aware of what he was doing and had obtained the knife only for self-defense. Prosecutors asserted during the trial that evaluations showed he was psychologically sound at the time of the attack, according to Copts-United. The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Alexandria declared Wadid a martyr. Such attacks are relatively rare in Egypt, but violence was one reason the country was ranked 20th on Open Doors 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The opening of a new church or rumors of blaspheming Islam have led to mob violence in rural areas. In upper Egypt, the local authorities use so-called reconciliation sessions to resolve a conflict, which, de facto, often means that Muslim attackers go free, according to the WWL report. This has resulted in a culture of impunity for violence against Christians in that area. Egypts Al-Azhar, the worlds most influential Sunni Islam institution, had condemned the murder of Wadid in a statement on Facebook. Al-Azhars Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyeb said such attacks might instigate religious wars. The Grand Imam affirms that homicide is a major sin that arouses Gods wrath and is punishable in the afterlife, read Al-Azhars statement. Egypt, considered a worldwide Islamic leader, is strategically important due to its location in the region and size, along with its historical and diplomatic sway. Christians make up more than 10% of Egypts population in the Muslim-majority country, and attacks on Christians are common. While general security in Egypt has improved since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was elected in 2014, Christians remain vulnerable to violence and discrimination. Sexual harassment of Coptic Christian women is widespread, and although Al-Sisi uses inclusive language and has begun allowing churches to legally open, in everyday life Christians face opposition. Egypt headed by Al-Sisi has cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood but also on religious rights defenders like Coptic activist Ramy Kamel. Some fear that Al-Sisis repression of the Islamic extremist Muslim Brotherhood, essentially driving members underground, has compelled it to become more radicalized and militant and increased the number of those joining Islamic extremist groups. Such developments could lead to a further polarization of society in Egypt and could pose a serious risk to the nations stability and the security of Christian Egyptians in the long run, the WWL report noted. The current high level of support for President al-Sisis regime by a large number of the churches and Christians might also be used against them. Followers of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups are likely to view church buildings and Christians as easy targets to show that the Egyptian government is not able to protect its supporters. Nun murdered in Haiti hailed by Pope Francis as martyr: 'Made her life a gift to others' Pope Francis has hailed as a martyr an Italian nun who was brutally attacked and killed while caring for the poor and needy in Haiti during a suspected armed robbery. Sister Luisa DellOrto, 64, was killed Sunday during an armed aggression, probably with the aim of robbery, in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, according to the diocese of Milan, The Associated Press reported. The nun, from the Little Sisters of the Gospel, died soon after being taken to hospital, two days before her 65th birthday. DellOrto made her life a gift to others, even to the point of martyrdom, the pope said in remarks to the public in St. Peters Square on Sunday, according to Vatican News. For more than two decades, she dedicated above all to the service of street children, Pope Francis recalled. I entrust her soul to God, and I pray for the Haitian people, especially the little ones, so they can have a more serene future, without misery and without violence, he prayed. Responding to the popes mention of DellOrto as a martyr, the nuns biological sister, Maria Adele DellOrto, said: Here, yes, she really gave her life for the work, that is certainly a fact. She was aware that something might happen ... because its obvious, even in her last letter she said so, that the situation was very difficult. But she was keen to stay and bear witness. Last year, the nun wrote a letter to a missionary group, explaining her decision to continue her work in Haiti. You will tell me I am a bit crazy. Why stay here? Why expose yourself to risk? What is the point of living in such discomfort? Wouldnt it be better for people to solve their own problems? To be able to count on someone is important in order to live! And witnessing that you can count on the solidarity that comes from faith and love of God is the greatest gift we can offer, she wrote. The impoverished Caribbean nation is struggling in the social and political aftermath of the assassination of President Jouvenal Moise last July. Haiti also has yet to recover from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people last August. Last year, the U.S. State Department urged Americans to depart Haiti now. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to make plans to depart Haiti now via commercial means. U.S. citizens should carefully consider the risks of traveling to or remaining in Haiti in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges, a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti said. In a 2021 interview, Dr. David Vanderpool, the founder of LiveBeyond, a Christian nonprofit organization that's been operating in Haiti for over a decade, told The Christian Post that many Haitians of faith "have turned to God more now than ever" amid natural disasters and increased crime. Typically, persecution increases faith for those who have faith," he said. Introducing people to the Christian faith is a real challenging situation because many people respond differently. But many Haitians with faith have turned to God more now than ever." Monet and Klein lead the 20th/21st Century London to Paris evening sales The series of three sales achieves 203,881,403 / 236,094,664, showcasing the historical affinities and cultural dialogue between the two cities Following the remarkable success of the Shanghai to London edition in March, Christies global auction series returned with 20/21 London to Paris, livestreamed from both salerooms. The programme featured three evening sales, which focused on the influential artistic synergies that exist between London and Paris. Together the auctions realised 203,881,403 / 236,094,664. They were led by works from pioneering 20th- and 21st-century artists representing the cultural exchange between these two art capitals, notably Claude Monet, Yves Klein and Marc Chagall. Also offered were emerging and under-represented artistic voices, as well as major contemporary artists including Rachel Jones, Caroline Walker and Joel Mesler. The series began strongly in London with Marc Chagall, Colour of Life: Works Formerly from the Artists Estate, which achieved 9,736,500 / 11,274,867. Immediately following was the 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale, which totalled 180,973,400 / 209,567,197, selling 90 per cent by lot and 96 per cent by value. Later, the series concluded with the 20th/21st Century: Paris Evening Sale, which realised 15,252,600 / 13,171,503. In London, auctioneers Veronica Scarpati and Jussi Pylkkanen took bids from clients in the saleroom, through phone banks and via Christies LIVE online bidding channel. The Paris sale was conducted by Cecile Verdier. Marc Chagall, Colour of Life: Works Formerly from the Artists Estate Offering 20 fresh-to-market works originating from the estate of Marc Chagall, this was the first in a series of global sales at Christies dedicated to the artists work. The works sold 100 per cent by lot and 100 per cent by value. The sale explored five key themes that dominated Chagalls practice: the rhythms and rituals of his home town; the circus; the heroic figures of myth, legend and religion; the universal questions of identity and legacy; and, above all else, the enduring power of love. The top price of the sale was 1,602,000 for Le peintre et les maries aux trois couleurs (above). Executed in 1984, the final full year of Chagalls artistic career, it depicts a painter before his canvas, palette and paintbrush in hand, and an embracing couple who float weightless above the townscape of Chagalls native Vitebsk. The pure passages of blue, red and green that divide the canvas exemplify the artists extraordinary use of colour. Depicting the Thames through an effervescent, sunlit haze, Waterloo Bridge, effet de brume is one of 41 paintings of the London landmark that the artist painted between 1899 and 1904. The sale follows the exceptional result achieved by Christies for Monets Le Parlement, soleil couchant, from the Collection of Anne H. Bass, which sold for $75.9 million, a record for a painting from Monets London series. Monet painted Nympheas, temps gris, below, during a period of intense creativity in 1907, employing a vertical format to capture the spectacular effects of late-afternoon light and colour on his water-lily pond. Of the 15 vertical Nympheas dating from 1907, eight are now held in museum collections. An outstanding price was also achieved by Yves Kleins 1960 Anthropometrie de lepoque bleue (ANT 124), one of only a handful of large-scale Anthropometries to remain in private hands. Offered at auction for the first time, it sold for 27,197,000. Presented from the collection of Victor and Olena Pinchuk, Jeff Koonss Balloon Monkey (Magenta), below, realised 10,136,500. The winning bidder was Jens Faurschou, and the proceeds of the sale will support humanitarian aid in Ukraine, assisting wounded soldiers and civilians who urgently require medical treatment, prosthetics and rehabilitation. Open a larger version of this image Jeff Koons (b. 1955), Balloon Monkey (Magenta), 2006-2013. Sold for 10,136,500 on 28 June 2022 at Christies in London The sale opened with Untitled V (Anatomy of Architecture series), below, by Simone Leigh, the first African American female artist to represent the US at the Venice Biennale, where she won the Golden Lion for best contribution. Steeped in questions of racial and cultural identity, this powerful sculpture from 2016 sold for 724,500. The following lot, Beatriz Milhazess Cebola Roxa, realised 856,800. Painted in Rio de Janeiro during lockdown in 2020, the canvas reflects Milhazess love of the natural world. It was offered at Christies in aid of Artists for ClientEarth, a collaborative initiative designed to unite the art world in the fight against climate change, which has now raised more than 5.6 million to date. Surrealist works also performed well, with Rene Magrittes Souvenir de voyage (circa 1962-63) fetching 16,090,500, more than double the high estimate. Leonora Carringtons 1952 Ferret Race (Stoat Race), last seen at auction more than 20 years ago, achieved 1,362,000. The sale also saw strong results for a group of works from the collection of David and Laura Finn. Leading the collection was Alexander Calders Red, White, and Blacks (1957), which sold for 3,162,000. Also offered was Henry Moores Interior Form (1952), which made 2,102,000. The second-highest seller was Yves Kleins Sculpture eponge rose sans titre (SE 207), one of only seven examples of Kleins celebrated Sculptures eponges rendered in the madder rose shade that made up a third of his unique colour triad. After a flurry of international bids, it sold for 2,022,000. There was also great interest in Jean Helions 1944 Lescalier (above), which soared past its high estimate before selling for 1,086,000 to a bidder on the phone in Paris; and Wifredo Lams Horizons Chauds (1968), which sold to a phone bidder in London for 705,600. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe NEW YORK (AP) Chris Pratt portrays a Navy SEAL in his new Amazon series The Terminal List, and is surrounded on camera and behind-the-scenes by former members of the U.S. military. In the 2013 movie Zero Dark Thirty," Pratt played one of the Navy SEALs who helped kill Osama Bin Laden. For that role, he shadowed Jared Shaw, a real Navy SEAL, whom he now counts as one of his very best friends. He was in my wedding, said Pratt. The two also lived together before he moved in with now-wife Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt. Shaw introduced Pratt to the book The Terminal List by Jack Carr, a story about a Navy SEAL named Jack Reece, whose platoon is ambushed in a covert operation. When Reece returns home, he begins to question both his memories of what happened and the world around him. Pratt loved the book so much that he optioned it with Antoine Fuqua directing the first episode and serving as a co-executive producer alongside Pratt and others. Shaw was added as an associate producer and also has a role in the show. The team hired real special ops members to appear in a major combat scene in the first episode that sets the series in motion. It also employed former members of the military behind-the-scenes in a variety of roles. Pratt said he wanted The Terminal List, debuting July 1, to have a layer of authenticity" that many Hollywood productions featuring special ops don't have. Action films over time have turned Navy SEALs into superheroes. I think when actual SEALs watch that stuff, theyre like, Nah, thats Hollywood (expletive.) By enlisting former special ops as technical advisors, Pratt said they could say, Hey, guys, thats not what that should look like. You have to do it again. The goal was to try to honor that community and make this for that community, So theyd watch us and go, Wow. Thats actually very accurate. Beyond realism, Pratt says it makes sense to enlist former military to work on Hollywood productions. They wake up and look for work to get done, he said. I love that transition for people getting out of the service and joining the film and television industry. Its a really great place for them. It's very similar in a chain of command. You have departments, and you have initiatives that come down from the top. We had props department people, we had wardrobe people, we had hair and makeup people, we had extras, location people, we had actors, writers, producers who were former military. Carr has written four other books about the Reese character, and Pratt says he's game to continue the story on screen. If that happens, he will make sure to continue to hire former armed service members. They fit great, he said. It's also a point of pride for Pratt to help Shaw realize a personal dream of going into showbiz. He had questioned whether attempting a career in Hollywood was realistic. "It was very serendipitous that we met. (Shaw) had been an actor in high school... I was like, Hey, dude. You know, I love this sort of bubble that I live in. And I know that in part, its created by men and women who pick up a gun and grab their boots and their uniform, and they go to work ... You bought our freedom and I appreciate that.' I said, Its time to maybe enjoy some of the spoils of his service ... Jump into the film and television industry. Its thriving. Its booming. And we need you.' This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Rev. Wallace Shook, of Conroe, had been told by his mother that their family was related to early American folk hero Daniel Boone. All his 95 years, hed wondered if it was indeed true. When Marie Underdown gave a patriotic presentation last Fourth of July as a part of Bible study at their church, Shook mentioned it to Dave Underdown and Underdown knew he had to track down this mystery. Underdown, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution Freedom Chapter, traced Shooks lineage and determined he was in fact a descendant of the famed adventurer. On June 21, Shook was inducted into the Freedom Chapter as the newest member at the age of 96 based on his connection to Boone who served as a militia officer during the Revolutionary War. On YourConroeNews.com: Where to celebrate Fourth of July in Montgomery County Since the discovery, Shook has been reading up on Boone and his life. What an interesting character, Shook said of his ancestor. His is just one story of the more than 120 members of the Freedom Chapter group who have all traced their family line back to a participant of the American Revolution. Now today the 120 members celebrate their heritage by participating in events across the county and state sharing patriotic, historical and educational experiences while honoring their ancestors service. This holiday weekend, members of the group will don their colonial gear and participate in the Conroe Stars and Stripes Celebration Saturday night. Theyll also participate in the Oak Ridge North Fourth of July Parade Monday. Throughout the year, they can be found in their colonial uniforms at Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances, participating in local and statewide parades, joinin in re-enactments, attending memorial services, doing educational outreach in schools, working with ROTC groups and Boy Scouts and giving presentations to organizations and more. Freedom Chapter president, Art Byram, said their uniforms come from a company based in California that also provides costumes for the movies. When they go into schools, he said the question they get from children the most is Are you a pirate? based on their triangular hats. Three generations of Byrams family are involved in American Revolution lineage groups. His great uncle who lived in California had a local school trace the family lineage. That research became a book that is now in the Sons of the American Revolution library and it helped Byram, his daughter and his granddaughters trace their heritage back to Revolutionary times. His daughter participates in the Daughters of the American Revolution and his granddaughters are a part of the Children of the American Revolution. On YourConroeNews.com: SAR member discusses Paul Reveres ride Its especially touching to Byram that his granddaughters Annabelle and Abigail are named after two of his ancestors that came to the US on the Mayflower. The Freedom Chapter launched 40 years ago in March 1982. Dave Mortons father, John Davis Jack Morton, was one of the charter members of the chapter. Both his mother, Katherine, and his father were engaged in the study of genealogy. But he said it was a lot more difficult to obtain information in their day. They probably spent 20 years visiting courthouse basements, abandoned cemeteries, libraries with newspaper archives and more, Morton said. The advent of the internet has made family research much easier these days. Morton said his most interesting ancestor is a man named Jacob Gremmer. Probably the most interesting thing about him is he probably walked about 2,000 miles just to miss out on every battle that happened, Morton said. Morton has nearly 20 years of Sons of the American Revolution membership which was inspired by both his parents. With other chapters in Huntsville, Katy, Galveston and downtown Houston, the Freedom Chapter is most convenient for those who live in Montgomery County. Dave Hamaker is the groups First Vice President. He started researching his genealogy almost as a joke 40 years ago. He attended his ex-wifes family reunion in Arkansas. Her grandfather ask about his last name and said he went to school with a Jack Hamaker. Dave Hamaker said Thats my grandfather. Jokingly, just to make sure he and his ex-wife were only related by marriage, he came back to Conroe and the ladies in the Montgomery County Genealogy Department helped him trace his lineage. Now hes in several lineage groups. Possibly his most famous ancestor is Peter Sides. He served as an ensign from North Carolina with the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment in the Revolutionary War. He continued to be a military man his whole life. At the age of 62 or 63, he joined the Gutierrez-Magee expedition to free Texas from Spain in 1812, and was killed in the Battle of Medina on Aug. 18, 1813. Hamaker now commemorates Sides role in the battle each year at the re-enactment in August. Most people dont know a lot about the Battle of Medina, but it was the bloodiest battle on Texas soil, Hamaker said. And he said placing dates for their ancestors is great, but its the stories you find out that are really fascinating. It doesnt even have to be anyone famous. Sometimes its just finding out how the family progressed and where they moved and why, he said. It marvels Chapter secretary Ed Sellards that their ancestors were there at such momentous times in American history. We wouldnt be a country if there werent men like our ancestors who were there and willing to give it all, Sellards said. The Freedom Chapter meets at the Spring Creek BBQ in Shenandoah. Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Theyre always seeking new members and can help those interesting in researching their family history. Visit https://www.freedomchaptersar.org for more information about the group. shernandez@hcnonline.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A former Houston-area doctor was sentenced to prison earlier this month for trying to meet a minor for a sexual purpose in 2019 in Montgomery County. Jay Lin, 43, of Bellaire, pleaded guilty to the second-degree felony offense of online solicitation of a minor on Nov. 29 in the 435th District Court. On June 9, presiding Judge Patty Magginis convicted and sentenced Lin to three years in prison. Lin, a former Baylor College of Medicine assistant professor for radiology, was arrested July 31, 2019 during a Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables undercover sting targeting sexual predators online, according to an Aug. 19, 2019 Houston Chronicle article. Lin was put on administrative leave, the article mentioned a college spokeswoman said at the time. The same day the story ran online, the Texas Medical Board suspended Lins medical license. It was determined Lins continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare, read a statement from the board at the time. As of Monday, the current status on Lins license was suspended, active with it set to expire Aug. 31, 2023, according to information on the boards website. The last action taken on Lins license was its August 2019 suspension, the boards website showed. Upon Lins release from prison, he will have to register as a sex offender, according to court documents on his conviction. On Monday, Lin remained at the Montgomery County Jail in Conroe. Lins defense attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) From the moment he first faced criminal charges, in 2006, Jeffrey Epstein has been the object of public fascination, conspiracy theories and outrage especially after his lawyers got prosecutors to agree to a lenient plea deal that spared him from serious prison time. Epstein was eventually arrested again, but died by suicide while awaiting trial in 2019. Here is a timeline of the case against him and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for helping him abuse teenage girls. ___ March 2005: Police in Palm Beach, Florida, begin investigating Epstein after the family of a 14-year-old girl reports she was molested at his mansion. Multiple underage girls, many of them high school students, would later tell police that Epstein hired them to give sexual massages. May 2006: Palm Beach police officials sign paperwork to charge Epstein with multiple counts of unlawful sex with a minor, but the county's top prosecutor, State Attorney Barry Krischer, takes the unusual step of sending the case to a grand jury. July 2006: Epstein is arrested after a grand jury indicts him on a single count of soliciting prostitution. The relatively minor charge draws almost immediate attention from critics, including Palm Beach police leaders, who assail Krischer publicly and accuse him of giving Epstein special treatment. The FBI begins an investigation. 2007: Federal prosecutors prepare an indictment against Epstein. But for a year, the money manager's lawyers engage in talks with the U.S. attorney in Miami, Alexander Acosta, about a plea bargain that would allow Epstein to avoid a federal prosecution. Epstein's lawyers decry his accusers as unreliable witnesses. June 2008: Epstein pleads guilty to state charges: one count of solicitating prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. He is sentenced to 18 months in jail. Under a secret arrangement, the U.S. attorney's office agrees not to prosecute Epstein for federal crimes. Epstein serves most of his sentence in a work-release program that allows him to leave jail during the day to go to his office, then return at night. July 2009: Epstein is released from jail. For the next decade, multiple women who say they are Epsteins victims wage a legal fight to get his federal non-prosecution agreement voided, and hold him and others liable for the abuse. One of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, says in her lawsuits that, starting when she was 17, Epstein and his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, set up sexual encounters with royalty, politicians, academicians, businessmen and other rich and powerful men, including Britain's Prince Andrew. All of those men deny the allegations. November 2018: The Miami Herald revisits the handling of Epstein's case in a series of stories focusing partly on the role of Acosta who by this point is President Donald Trump's labor secretary in arranging his unusual plea deal. The coverage renews public interest in the case. July 6, 2019: Epstein is arrested on federal sex trafficking charges after federal prosecutors in New York conclude that they weren't bound by the terms of the earlier non-prosecution deal. Days later, Acosta resigns as labor secretary amid public outrage over his role in the initial investigation. Aug. 10, 2019: Guards find Epstein dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York City. Investigators conclude he killed himself. July 2, 2020: Federal prosecutors in New York charge Ghislaine Maxwell with sex crimes, saying she helped recruit the underage girls that Epstein sexually abused and sometimes participated in the abuse herself. Dec. 30, 2021: After a monthlong trial, a jury convicts Maxwell of multiple charges, including sex trafficking, conspiracy and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity. June 28, 2022: Maxwell is sentenced to 20 years in prison. Federal agents last week seized the cellphone of John Eastman, a lawyer who pushed false claims that mass voter fraud tainted the 2020 election and who urged President Donald Trump and other Republicans to block Joe Biden from becoming president. Eastman's lawyer, Charles Burnham, filed papers in federal court in New Mexico on Monday asking a judge to order the cellphone be returned to Eastman. It was seized pursuant to a search order when he left a restaurant on Wednesday - a day in which federal agents around the country delivered subpoenas, executed search warrants and interviewed witnesses in a significant expansion of the criminal probes surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. That same day, federal agents conducted a search at the Northern Virginia home of Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department official who Trump considered appointing to run the department because he was willing to further a scheme to declare the election results invalid in some key states. Both Clark and Eastman played crucial roles in Trump's efforts in late 2020 and early 2021 to persuade state legislators in about a half-dozen states to replace the electors that Biden had won with electors for Trump. In theory, such a replacement would have kept Trump in the White House. Monday's court filings also suggest the Justice Department's inspector general has become a player in the criminal probes surrounding Jan. 6, because Eastman says his phone was taken by FBI agents acting on behalf of the inspector general. A spokeswoman for the inspector general declined to comment. Burham did not immediately respond to an email seeking further information about the seizure. The inspector general is an independent entity tasked with rooting out waste, fraud and abuse within the Justice Department. IG investigations examine the conduct of current or former department officials, and the office's role in this case suggests it may be reviewing the contents of Eastman's phone as part of a criminal investigation into Clark or others who once worked at the department. In court papers seeking the return of his phone, Eastman argues that because he was never a Justice Department employee, he is "outside of the OIG's jurisdiction." The court papers say that when Eastman asked to see the warrant, the request was refused. He was frisked, his iPhone taken from him, and he was "forced to provide biometric data to open" the phone, the filing says. That claim may become a matter of dispute, since the warrant for his phone explicitly states that he may be asked to willingly provide a password or biometric data but cannot be forced to provide that information. The warrant also suggests federal prosecutors are prepared for a legal fight over the contents of the phone, because it contains a provision that its contents will not be viewed right away by the investigative team. In his own filing, Eastman notes that his phone contains "emails that have been the subject of an intense, five-month privilege dispute between [himself] and the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol." The court filing also notes that a federal judge in California previously ruled that some of Eastman's emails are "protected by the First Amendment's freedom of association, by attorney-client privilege, and/or by the work product doctrine." Eastman's role in the run-up to Jan. 6 and its aftermath has been a key focus of that committee, which has scheduled a hearing Tuesday afternoon with an as-yet unannounced witness or witnesses. Even as an angry violent mob ransacked the U.S. Capitol, trying to stop lawmakers from tallying the electoral votes that made Biden president, Eastman continued to argue his case for overturning the election results, according to an email exchange from that day. After Pence was escorted out of the Senate for his own safety, a Pence aide, Greg Jacob, sent Eastman a furious email. "Thanks to your bull----, we are now under siege," Jacob wrote, according to Eastman. What was happening at the Capitol "is because YOU and your boss did not do what was necessary to allow this to be aired in a public way so that the American people can see for themselves what happened," Eastman wrote back to Jacob, referring to Trump's claims of voter fraud. Eastman sent the email as Pence, who had been presiding in the Senate, was under guard with Jacob and other advisers in a secure area. Rioters were tearing through the Capitol complex, some of them calling for Pence to be executed. The Jan. 6 committee has also revealed that in an email after Jan. 6, Eastman wrote to former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, saying: "I've decided I should be on the pardon list, if that is still in the works." The committee has aired testimony from other witnesses indicating at least five Republican members of Congress sought pardons from the president in the waning days of his presidency. None of them were issued pardons, nor have they been charged with a crime. WASHINGTON (AP) About 1,000 Air National Guard troops who are assigned to space missions are mired in an identity crisis. Torn between the Air Force, where they have historically been assigned, and the military's shiny new Space Force where they now work, their units have become orphans, according to commanders, as state and federal leaders wrangle over whether to create a Space National Guard. For federal authorities, the issue is mainly about the money. A Space Guard, they say, will create unneeded bureaucracy and cost up to $500 million a year. They argue it's too high a price to slap a new name on a patch for an airman doing the same job at the same desk as a year ago. But state Guard leaders say what's at stake is more than than just uniform patches. They say the split has caused budgeting gaps, training delays and recruiting problems, and if unresolved will lead to bigger divisions, eroding units' readiness in some of the nations critical space warfighting and nuclear command and control jobs. The state leaders don't buy the money argument. They say a Space Guard will be needed in only seven states and Guam, where the Air Guard members who support space missions already reside. The cost, they say, will only be about $250,000, for new signs, tags and other administrative changes. When they removed all the space operators out of the Air Force, the Air Force no longer really does space, said Air Guard Lt. Col. Jeremiah Hitchner, commander of the 109th Space Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron in Guam. Hitchner was referring to the decision to shift active-duty Air Force troops doing space missions into the new Space Force. They left us in the Air Force. So we were for lack of a better term orphaned. We were left on our own to survive. Across the country, there are 1,008 Air National Guard citizen-airmen performing space jobs in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York, Ohio and Guam. Many of those Guard members work with America's highly sensitive and technical military satellite communications and missile warning systems. They are responsible for ensuring that those systems can survive and operate under all peace and wartime conditions. President Donald Trump ordered the creation of a Space Force in June 2018. But even before then, it had already been under discussion within the Air Force as a way to better defend U.S. interests in space, especially navigation and communication satellites. Unlike the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Space Force is not its own military department. Instead, it's administered by the Air Force secretary, is led by a four-star general and provides forces for U.S. Space Command, which oversees the militarys space operations. To limit costs and avoid establishing a vast space bureaucracy, only a few military career fields were created for the Space Force: mainly space operations, cyber and intelligence jobs. Active-duty airmen who were doing those missions became Space Force Guardians. There are about 7,000 active-duty Guardians, and a similar number of civilians, with a budget of about $18 billion for this fiscal year. Other duties including legal, medical, public affairs and some administrative posts continue to be carried out by Air Force staff. The opposition to creating a small Space Guard appears to be centered at the White House and Office of Management and Budget. Last September, the budget office said it strongly opposed a Space National Guard, citing Congressional Budget Office estimates that it could cost about $500 million a year. Establishing a Space National Guard would not deliver new capabilities it would instead create new government bureaucracy, OMB said. The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units with space missions have effectively performed their roles with no adverse effect on DODs space mission since the establishment of the Space Force. DOD refers to the Department of Defense. While having a Space Guard was part of the initial Air Force plan, the funding limits have become the overriding issue. There are worries that creating a Guard structure would mean more overhead costs, including the need for a Space Guard commander and other senior staff. Also, there is a distant fear that once that structure was in place, other states could lobby for their own units, again expanding the costs. In the states, Guard members say they are struggling with increased bureaucracy and that it's becoming harder to get training slots for new recruits. Sitting alongside the active-duty Space Guardians, the Air Guard members say they're doing their same jobs, but without a formal link to the Space Force. As the Space Force develops its own job descriptions and requirements, Air Guard troops complain it's more difficult to be promoted in space mission jobs. We need to be aligned with people that understand the space mission, have responsibility for the space mission, and have all the authorities and alignment in the space mission, said Senior Master Sgt. Harry Smith, flight chief for the 137th Space Warning Squadron in Colorado. The Air Force should be focused on air power." Commanders said that over time, the disconnect will worsen. Already, they said, funding is becoming a problem because they are requesting money from the Air Force for a Space Force mission or equipment. The Space Force and Air Force now have their own fund lines. They're appropriated completely different, said Hitchner. That makes an issue for me because Im in the air side trying to spend Space Force money. Its sometimes legally not possible. Some members of Congress are pushing for a Space Guard, citing many of the same efficiency and bureaucracy reasons. Legislation has been proposed but has not passed. In a letter to President Joe Biden, the National Guard Association of the U.S. argued that OMB incorrectly inflated the price tag and ignored Air Force studies that concluded creating a Guard would be more efficient. The personnel are already on the payroll and the equipment and facilities are in place. said retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, the association's president. A Space National Guard could grow in the future, but only to meet requirements specified by the Space Force. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed rebel MLAs of his party camping in Guwahati to return to Mumbai and talk to him. It is not too late. I appeal to you to return and sit with me and remove the confusion (created by your actions) among Shiv Sainiks and the public, a statement by Thackeray's aide quoted him as saying. If you return and face me, some way could be found. As party president and family head, I still care for you, he said. Thackeray's statement comes in the backdrop of rebel goup leader Eknath Shinde daring the party to disclose the names of some of the MLAs camping in Guwahati who were reportedly in touch with the party leadership. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) The first American to be convicted in a U.S. jury trial of joining the Islamic State had his prison term reduced Tuesday from 20 years to 14 years after an appeals court ordered a new sentencing hearing. Mohamad Khweis was convicted back in 2017 of providing material support to terrorists, as well as a weapons charge. He traveled to Islamic State-controlled territory in Iraq and Syria in December 2015, even obtaining an official IS membership card. But he left after a few months and surrendered in northern Iraq to Kurdish forces. In 2020, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out the weapons charge many defendants had similar charges tossed out in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling and ordered a new sentencing hearing. Prosecutors urged Judge Liam O'Grady at Tuesday's hearing to again sentence Khweis to 20 years. They cited the need for deterrence in a high-profile terrorism case and reminded O'Grady of the significance of Khweis' conduct. While there is no evidence that he fought for the Islamic State, there was evidence at his trial that he volunteered to be a suicide bomber and that he cared for injured fighters at safe houses. He also admitted at trial that he burned his laptop and multiple phones, and deleted contact info from another, before he fled the Islamic State. He testified at trial that he was worried the laptop contained financial data like his credit score, which the judge said was implausible. Khweis, 32, has been in custody in one form or another since March 2016, and on Tuesday again renounced his allegiance to the Islamic State and apologized for his conduct. It's still mid-boggling to me that I made this terrible decision, said Khweis, who grew up in northern Virginia and had worked as a Metro Access bus driver for disabled passengers before departing to the Islamic State. Khweis' attorney, Jessica Carmichael, highlighted his exemplary behavior in the Bureau of Prisons after his conviction and said he's done all he can to show he's matured. We do want to send a message with this sentence, she told the judge. And she said the audience paying the most attention is the people he left behind in prison. We want to encourage others to engage in this type of rehabilitation, to not wallow in self-pity. In a statement after Tuesday's hearing, Carmichael said, Mohamad worked exceptionally hard for years while incarcerated to show that he was taking this seriously ... and was more than the poor decisions he made six-and-a-half years ago. I am proud of him for that, and hope that others in custody can receive an opportunity to show the same. Still, while the reduction to 14 years is significant, it is far less than Khweis' request that he be released with time served. O'Grady said Tuesday that Khweis deserved credit for his good conduct in custody, but that he struggled with how to evaluate Khweis, given how quickly he became radicalized and how easily he lied about his actions on the witness stand at his 2017 trial. I don't know what your inner thoughts are, O'Grady said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW DELHI (AP) Police in New Delhi have arrested a Muslim journalist for allegedly hurting religious sentiment in what many slammed as the latest example of shrinking media freedom under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. Mohammed Zubair, a co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, was arrested Monday evening over a tweet that police said deliberately insulted the god of a particular religion. Senior police officer K.P.S. Malhotra said the case was brought following a complaint from a Twitter user and Zubair was remanded in custody for one day. Journalists across India have been targeted increasingly for their work in recent years. Some have been arrested on criminal charges over posts on social media, where they routinely face threats and trolling. The Twitter accounts of some journalists and news websites have also been suspended on government orders. The incident set off a wave of outrage, with activists, journalists and opposition politicians decrying it as harassment of the media and calling for Zubairs immediate release. In a democracy, where every individual possesses the right to exercise the freedom of speech and expression, it is unjustifiable that such stringent laws are being used as tools against journalists, DIGIPUB, a network of Indian digital news organizations, said in a statement. Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more, opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter. Pratik Sinha, the other co-founder of Alt News, said Zubair was arrested without any notice from police, which is mandatory in the sections of law under which he was detained. Founded in 2017 as a nonprofit organization, Alt News is Indias most prominent fact-checking news website and has gained a reputation for its reporting on hate speech and debunking misinformation, particularly by Hindu nationalists. Its founders often face online trolling and threats by right-wing groups, some of them linked to Modis Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Several similar cases have been filed against Zubair in the past. Earlier this month, police charged him with calling some Hindu monks hatemongers, news website The Wire reported. The Hindu monks had made inflammatory statements about Muslims and at least one had called for genocide of the minority community. The monks were arrested and later released on bail. Zubair was also among the first journalists to highlight controversial comments made by the now-suspended spokesperson of the BJP on the Prophet Muhammad that created a diplomatic row for the Modi administration. The Indian government distanced itself from the spokespersons comments after they sparked a massive backlash from many Muslim-majority nations. India's rank fell eight places to 150 among 180 countries in this year's Press Freedom Index published by the watchdog group Reporters Without Borders. Indian journalists who are too critical of the government are subjected to all-out harassment and attack campaigns, it said in its 2022 edition, adding that reporters were regularly exposed to police violence and increasing reprisals from officials. Zubairs arrest came two days after lawyer and human rights activist Teesta Setalvad was arrested by Gujarat state polices anti-terrorism wing. Setalvad was arrested Saturday for allegedly committing forgery and fabricating evidence in a case about anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat state in 2002. Modi, who was then chief minister of Gujarat, has denied charges against him, and has been cleared of complicity after government investigators and courts ruled there was no evidence against Modi. Setalvad has long campaigned for justice for victims of the riots, in which nearly 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed. Her arrest was condemned by global rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. ___ Associated Press writer Krutika Pathi contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stressed Tuesday that her country's security pact with the U.K. and the U.S. will not create nuclear weapons, and said she hoped concerns that it may spark a regional arms race would dissipate over time. We are not a nuclear power. There are nuclear powers in this region, but Australia is not one of them, Wong told a news conference after meeting with her Malaysian counterpart, Saifuddin Abdullah. Under the agreement, called AUKUS, Australia is to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Some countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including Malaysia, fear the pact could escalate tensions in hot spots such as the disputed South China Sea, much of which is claimed by China, and have warned the pact will threaten regional stability. We remain very clear that we do not seek, nor would we ever seek to arm, (to) have any nuclear capability on our submarines," she said. I think sometimes people hear the word nuclear, and I understand theres a response to that, (but) we are talking about nuclear propulsion, not nuclear weapons." Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri has said his government rejects any alliances that share nuclear weapons or related technology. We are worried that some other major economies will take advantage of AUKUS, he said in an interview with Japan's Nikkei newspaper in May. For example, if China wants to help North Korea purchase nuclear-powered submarines, we cant say no because AUKUS has set a precedent. Wong said Australia's new government, sworn in on June 1, is committed to ensuring the region is peaceful, stable and prosperous. And importantly, a region where rules enable some predictability to state behavior and to the way in which disputes would be dealt with," she said. Wong said she explained Australia's stance to Saifuddin and to her counterparts in Vietnam and Indonesia during visits there. We hope that over time, you know, peoples concerns will be able to be allayed," she said. But Saifuddin said Malaysia's position remains the same. Malaysia highly values the regional peace and security of the ASEAN region, and we want to maintain the South China Sea in particular and the region itself as a region of peace, of commerce, of prosperity," he said at the same news conference. Wong is traveling next to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of eastern Sabah state on Borneo island. Wong, who has a Malaysian father, has said she is looking forward to visiting her birth city where she spent her early years. With a medley of Michael Jackson's greatest hits playing in the background, the American Red Cross took over the training room Monday at the Edwardsville Public Safety Building for the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. As of 2 p.m. Monday, the Edwardsville Police Department and Edwardsville Fire Department were tied for the number of officers who donated and citizens who chose to support one department or the other. American Red Cross Volunteer Patti Daniel greeted donors as they entered the room and checked them in via her laptop. An average of 45 donors signed up. "It's been steady today," she said. "I only had one no-show but that's because he thought his appointment was later." After she checks donors in, Daniel directed them to wait in one of the empty chairs near the blood screeners, employees who ask questions such as general health and where they have traveled recently; any medications they're taking; any risk for infections that can be transmitted by blood; then they take the donor's body temperature, blood pressure and pulse before obtaining a blood sample to ensure the blood count is acceptable. One man walked out shortly after he had been screened because his iron count was too low. Daniel said other factors that can send prospective donors out the door early are certain and specific medications taken, exposure to COVID-19, if one has a fever, enlarged lymph glands, a sore throat or a rash. LaShona Gray, the American Red Cross employee in charge of the event, said they are in need of every blood type: A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+ and O-. AB negative is the rarest blood type. "It's been a mixture," she said. "Some people are nervous. Some people are excited." Lt. Barry Jones of the police department fell into the cavalier category. He and Det. Mark Lask were among two of the first people to donate after the clock struck two. While he hasn't given blood every year, Jones said this was not his first time donating. He's been on the force for 16 years. More Information Did you know? Type O negative blood is the only blood type that can be given safely to any patient Type O positive blood can go to anyone with a RH-positive blood type, including A+, B+ and O+ blood types Type A negative blood can be transfused to patients with Type A-, A+, AB+ and AB- blood Type B negative blood can be transfused to patients with Type B+, B-, AB+ and AB- blood See More Collapse Across the room, Edwardsville resident Roger Stahlhut returned Monday for the 97th time since the mid-1990s to donate plasma. Stahlhut said he donates much more often than once a year. "As often as I can," he said. He said the only recent time when he did not donate was when he contracted COVID-19 and another time, he said forgot to come in even though he posted a reminder sticky note on his front door. He didn't remember the total number of donations. "I'm happy that I can donate," he said. Donating blood became habitual after a friend's son needed blood following a car accident. Gretchen Smith, of Hartford, came in to donate using the Power Red option. However, she later found out her hemoglobin was too low so she donated without using Power Red. Bill Woods of Edwardsville is a repeat Power Red donor. "You don't have to donate as often and I get to help more people," Woods said. Donors who have O, B- or A- blood can choose the Power Red option, which allows them to give a concentrated dose of red blood cells. Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood component, making it the most needed. Red cells carry oxygen throughout the body and help trauma and surgery patients, those undergoing organ transplants, women experiencing childbirth complications, and those who are anemic. Power Red uses an automated process to separate a donor's red blood cells from the rest of the plasma, then safely returns the platelets and plasma to the donor. The benefits are: smaller needles, the donor is more hydrated and they only have to donate once every 112 days, or four months. Besides meeting other, whole blood donor qualifications, prospective female donors must be at least 5'5" tall and weigh at least 150 pounds; would-be male donors must be at least 5'1" tall and weigh at least 130 pounds. All blood donors this month will receive a chance to win a VIP Trip to Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee, including a three-night stay at the Gust House, a custom guitar and more. "Overall, we are happy to help out the Red Cross in their time of need for blood," said Police Chief Michael Fillback. "This is a great way to help out your fellow citizens and both the fire department and police department encourage able donors to donate." There will be another opportunity for area residents to donate on July 11 at Glen Carbon's Centennial Library, 198 S. Main St., between noon and 6 p.m. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org/givemore to schedule an appointment or for more information. WASHINGTON (AP) A year and a half after the deadly U.S. Capitol insurrection, the most memorable recounting of former President Donald Trump's behavior that day came from a young woman who had graduated from college just a few years earlier. Cassidy Hutchinson gave two hours of testimony on national television that cast Trump as enraged by efforts to keep his armed supporters from attending his speech before many marched to the Capitol and her boss at the time, chief of staff Mark Meadows, as unwilling to confront Trump and staring unresponsively at his cellphone during key moments. Having once shed tears of joy after getting a White House internship, Hutchinson, now in her mid-20s, described how she grew disgusted by Trump's refusal to stop the rioters. And in a single afternoon, she went from being a former junior White House staffer, to high-profile star witness, with the scrutiny that comes with it. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie, she said. The testimony helped fill in several key gaps about Trump's level of direct involvement that day, and placed Meadows and other key Trump officials at the center of events critical to investigations by the House committee and the Justice Department. It amplified calls for Meadows to drop his fight against the committee's subpoena and raised new questions about whether officials around Trump could face criminal charges. I knew her testimony would be damning, tweeted Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former White House communications official who said she was friends with Hutchinson. I had no idea itd be THIS damning. I am so grateful for her courage & integrity. Hutchinson showed her familiarity with better-known officials in the White House, referring at times to Meadows, security official Tony Ornato, and national security adviser Robert OBrien by their first names. Meadows, in turn, called her Cass, in her retelling of one story. Her voice never broke as she recounted quotes from Trump and Meadows in her video depositions and under questioning from the committees Republican vice chairman, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Both women embraced after the hearing. Cheney, a 55-year-old former State Department official and daughter of a vice president, spent decades in public life before her criticism of Trump led many in the GOP to turn against her. Hutchinson, meanwhile, became Trump's focus for the first time. He pumped out harsh attacks on Truth Social, the website he created after Twitter banned him following the insurrection. I hardly know who this person, Cassidy Hutchinson, is, other than I heard very negative things about her (a total phony and leaker), he wrote. He continued to post throughout the afternoon, accusing Hutchinson of lying, saying her body language is that of a total bull.... artist, and describing her handwriting as that of a Whacko? Allies of Trump and Meadows questioned some details of her testimony, which included stories she said she heard second-hand. One story that drew pushback was her allegation that Trump lunged for the steering wheel and assaulted a Secret Service agent when his detail wouldn't take him to the Capitol on Jan. 6. Meadows' attorney, George Terwilliger, told The Associated Press that Hutchinson's testimony "could not withstand even five minutes of fundamental cross-examination. Most of it is based on hearsay, lack of first-hand knowledge and even just pure speculation as to what others were thinking, said or did," he said. Several high-profile Republicans said Tuesday that Hutchinson was known to be close to Meadows and often accompanied him in meetings. The committee early in her testimony showed photos of her with Trump and other top officials. Mick Mulvaney, who preceded Meadows as Trumps chief of staff, tweeted during the hearing that things just got a lot more interesting. He added that if the President knew the protesters had weapons, and still encouraged them to go to the Capitol, that is a serious problem. Although the White House is perhaps the worlds most prestigious office building, much of the staff is young, sometimes even fresh out of college like Hutchinson. They often previously worked on the presidents campaign or the national party, and theyre distinguished by their ambition and willingness to work long hours for little pay. Theyre also critical to any administrations machinery. They help with the logistics of media coverage, prepare for public events and answer the phones. Because theyre often within earshot as the countrys most powerful people gossip and plan, discretion is expected. Young aides often go on to bigger government roles or prestigious positions in business or the media. Some run for office themselves. Hutchinson had the same ambitions when she graduated, telling a college publication in 2018 that she wanted to be an effective leader in the fight to secure the American dream for future generations. She described having been brought to tears when she received an email telling her shed been accepted to a White House internship program. As a first-generation college student, being selected to serve as an intern alongside some of the most intelligent and driven students from across the nation many of whom attend top universities was an honor and a tremendous growing experience, she is quoted in a profile published by her alma mater, Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. She says in the article that she attended numerous events hosted by Trump and often watched out her window as Marine One would depart the White Houses South Lawn. My small contribution to the quest to maintain American prosperity and excellence is a memory I will hold as one of the honors of my life, she said in the piece. She joined the White House shortly after graduation and became Meadows' aide in March 2020. Several months later, she would be in rooms where top Trump aides discussed how they could overturn his election loss. She saw the aftermath of Trump's rage at Attorney General Bill Barr for telling The Associated Press that there was no evidence of widespread election fraud. Entering a private dining room, she saw a valet cleaning up a mess after Trump smashed a plate and the remains of his lunch on a wall. There was ketchup dripping down the wall, and there was a shattered porcelain plate on the floor," she said Tuesday. "The valet had articulated that the president was extremely angry at the attorney generals AP interview and had thrown his lunch against the wall. She grabbed a towel to help the valet clean up, she said. There was no widespread election fraud. Trump lost more than 60 court cases attempting to prove wrongdoing. On the morning of Jan. 6, she said Ornato, a Secret Service agent detailed to the White House, came to warn Meadows that many rallygoers waiting to hear from Trump had guns and other weapons, including spears attached to the end of flagpoles. Meadows didn't immediately look up from his cellphone, then later asked to confirm that Ornato had briefed Trump, she said. He had. Terwilliger defended Meadows as able to multitask and to maintain calm during crises. And another former Meadows aide, Ben Williamson, tweeted criticism of what he called the nonsense suggestion that Meadows somehow didnt care about initial violence at the Capitol. Hutchinson said she was close enough to Trump at one point to hear him demand that attendees not be screened so that they could fill the crowd, saying, I dont effing care that they have weapons. Theyre not here to hurt me. And she alleged Trump became so irate at being driven back to the White House after his speech when he exhorted his supporters to fight like hell rather than the Capitol that he tried to grab the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle away from a Secret Service agent who was driving. Im the effing president, Hutchinson said she was told Trump had said. Hutchinson recently switched lawyers, going from a former Trump White House official to Jody Hunt, a veteran former Justice Department official who served as chief of staff to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and who emerged as a key witness for special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. While she did not seek out the attention accompanying her testimony today, she believes that it was her duty and responsibility to provide the Committee with her truthful and candid observations of the events surrounding January 6, said Hunt and co-counsel William Jordan in a statement. Ms. Hutchinson believes that January 6 was a horrific day for the country, and it is vital to the future of our democracy that it not be repeated. ___ Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DETROIT (AP) The Michigan Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out charges against former Gov. Rick Snyder and others in the Flint water scandal, saying a judge sitting as a one-person grand jury had no power to issue indictments under rarely used state laws. Its an astonishing defeat for Attorney General Dana Nessel, who took office in 2019, got rid of a special prosecutor and put together a new team to investigate whether crimes were committed when lead contaminated Flints water system in 2014-15. State laws authorize a judge to investigate, subpoena witnesses, and issue arrest warrants as a grand juror, the Supreme Court said. But they do not authorize the judge to issue indictments, the court said in a 6-0 opinion written by Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. She called it a Star Chamber comeback, a pejorative reference to an oppressive, closed-door style of justice in England in the 17th century. The challenge was filed by lawyers for former health director Nick Lyon, but the decision also applies to Snyder and others who were indicted. The cases now will return to Genesee County court with requests for dismissal. This wasn't even a close case it was six-zip. ... They couldnt do what they tried to do," said Lyon attorney Chip Chamberlain. Snyder's legal team described the court's opinion as unequivocal and scathing. These prosecutions of Governor Snyder and the other defendants were never about seeking justice for the citizens of Flint, Snyder's lawyers said. Rather, Attorney General Nessel and her political appointee Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud staged a self-interested, vindictive, wasteful and politically motivated prosecution. Hammoud, however, released a statement, insisting the cases weren't over. There was no immediate response to a request for additional comment. The Flint water crisis stands as one of this countrys greatest betrayals of citizens by their government, she said. The saga began in 2014 when Flint managers appointed by Snyder dropped out of a regional water system and began using the Flint River to save money while a new pipeline to Lake Huron was under construction. State regulators insisted the river water didnt need to be treated to reduce its corrosive qualities. But that was a ruinous decision: Lead released from old pipes flowed for 18 months in the majority-Black city. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission said it was the result of systemic racism, doubting that the water switch and the brush-off of complaints would have occurred in a white, prosperous community. Snyder, a Republican, has long acknowledged that his administration failed in Flint, calling it a crisis born from a breakdown in state government. He was out of office in 2021 when he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty. Lyon and Michigans former chief medical executive, Dr. Eden Wells, were charged with involuntary manslaughter for nine deaths related to Legionnaires disease when Flints water might have lacked enough chlorine to combat bacteria. Six others were also indicted on various charges: Snyders longtime fixer, Rich Baird; former senior aide Jarrod Agen; former Flint managers Gerald Ambrose and Darnell Earley; former Flint public works chief Howard Croft; and Nancy Peeler, a state health department manager. Nessel assigned Hammoud to lead the criminal investigation, along with Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy, while the attorney general focused on settling lawsuits against the state. Hammoud and Worthy turned to a one-judge grand jury in Genesee County to hear evidence in secret and get indictments against Snyder and others. Prosecutors in Michigan typically file charges after a police investigation. A one-judge grand jury is extremely rare and is mostly used to protect witnesses, especially in violent crimes, who can testify in private. It seems that the power of a judge conducting an inquiry to issue an indictment was simply an unchallenged assumption, until now, the Supreme Court said Tuesday. Lyon, the former state health director, was accused of contributing to Legionnaires deaths by failing to timely warn the public about an outbreak. His lawyers, however, said he had ordered experts to investigate the illnesses and notify Flint-area health officials. He had no role in Flint's water switch. State employees should not be prosecuted or demonized for just doing their job, Lyon said after the court's decision. Residents were disappointed. So everyone who was involved in this manmade disaster by the government is walking away scot-free? said Leon El-Alamin, a community activist. "We lock people up every day for petty crimes. Something like this has killed people. People died from the Flint water crisis. Former Mayor Karen Weaver said the result was unfair. One of the things we had been told over and over was justice delayed has not been justice denied. But thats not true for the people of Flint," said Weaver, referring to the years that have passed. The water switch and its consequences have been investigated since 2016 when then-Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Republican, appointed Todd Flood as special prosecutor. Schuette pledged to put people in prison, but the results were different: Seven people pleaded no contest to misdemeanors that were eventually scrubbed from their records. Flood insisted he was winning cooperation from key witnesses and moving higher toward bigger names. Nonetheless, Nessel, a Democrat, fired him and pledged to start over following her election as attorney general. Separately, the state agreed to pay $600 million as part of a $626 million settlement with Flint residents and property owners who were harmed by lead-tainted water. Most of the money is going to children. There is no dispute that lead affects the brain and nervous system, especially in children. Experts have not identified a safe lead level in kids. Flint in 2015 returned to a water system based in southeastern Michigan. Meanwhile, roughly 10,100 lead or steel water lines had been replaced at homes by last December. ___ Associated Press writer Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this story. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana's attorney general is asking federal judges to lift orders blocking several state anti-abortion laws following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision last week to end constitutional protection for abortion. An appeal of one of those blocked Indiana laws aimed at prohibiting abortions based on gender, race or disability was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2019. But that was before former President Donald Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett strengthened the court's conservative majority. Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita's office asked in court filings Monday that federal judges lift injunctions against that law, along with others banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure that the legislation calls a dismemberment abortion and requiring parents be notified if a court allows a girl younger than 18 to get abortion without parental consent. The office argued that after last week's Supreme Court ruling those challenging the laws can claim no constitutional right to an abortion. The Indianapolis-based federal courts didnt immediately take action on the state attorney generals office filings, which sought prompt consideration from the judges. Mike Fichter, Indiana Right to Life president and chief executive officer, signaled support for the attorney general's requests. "Todays action demonstrates that our Indiana leaders realize every life has value, and everyone deserves to be born," Fichter said in a statement Monday. Daniel Conkle, professor emeritus at Indiana University's Maurer School of Law, said it would be difficult for groups like the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, which initially challenged these laws, to halt the injunctions from being lifted. The Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization court opinion explicitly says states have a legitimate interest in eliminating particularly gruesome or barbaric medical procedures," for which dismemberment abortions under Indiana law qualify, as well as in preventing abortions based on "discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or disability. These provisions make Rokita's requests more likely to be approved, Conkle said. The ACLU of Indiana said Tuesday it was reviewing the filings and declined additional comment. Indiana's Republican-dominated Legislature is expected to consider tightening the state's abortion restrictions during a special legislative session scheduled to begin July 6 and last up to 40 days. Legislative leaders have not yet said what abortion restrictions might advance in the special session. Conkle said he was not sure if the Legislature would ban abortion without exceptions, including abortions on the basis of gender, race or disability; for rape and incest; or for medical emergencies. I think the two key things are, you know, number one, what will be the point in pregnancy at which any new abortion prohibition would kick in? And number two, what exceptions will be recognized? Conkle told the Associated Press. If the abortion is necessary to prevent a substantial, permanent impairment of the life or physical health of the woman, one could imagine an exception like that being built into any new abortion prohibition. ___ Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Arleigh Rodgers on Twitter. HAVANA (AP) Cuban authorities say they have intercepted more than a dozen speedboats arriving from the United States this year including two shooting incidents and at least one death. They say U.S. authorities have handed over a suspect in the shooting of a Cuban coast guard officer. The Interior Ministry statement read over state television Monday night comes amid a sharp increase in migration from Cuba to the United States, both by sea and via Mexico, at a time of economic hardships aggravated by the pandemic and by tightened U.S. sanctions. The ministry said its coast guard units had intercepted 13 speedboats from the U.S. entering Cuban waters this year, with 23 crew members. It was not clear how many of the boats might have reached shore or how many of those aboard were arrested. It mentioned at least some arrests, but also at least one case in which a boat escaped. Recently situations of greater violence and aggressiveness have occurred, with the use of firearms against Cuban coast guard units, the ministry said. It said in one incident, agents intercepted a Dakota speedboat with a Florida registration number 3 nautical miles north of Bahia Honda, on the coast west of Havana, and were fired upon. The ministry said troops returned fire, killing one of those aboard the speedboat. That boat was detained, and the ministry said it found drugs and evidence of firearms use aboard. It said U.S. authorities were informed about the identities of those arrested and the man who died. In another case on June 18, it said people aboard a speedboat near Cayo Fragoso off the central Cuban province of Villa Clara opened fire with an automatic weapon at close range, wounding one Cuban officer, and then raced of northward as Cubans evacuated the wounded man for treatment. It said Cuban officials notified the U.S. Coast Guard, asking for help to detain the attackers. On Monday, one Cuban citizen implicated in the aggression had been returned to the island, it said, under an agreement by which the U.S. returns Cubans attempting to immigrate illegally. In parallel, it said, 30 people who were trying to leave the island were found by Interior Ministry agents and were being investigated. In a separate statement Monday, the Interior Ministry said its coast guard troops found six of 15 people who had set out in makeshift board that sank last week. It said there was no word on what happened to the other nine. The 15 apparently had set out from the area of Playa Jibacoa along the coast east of Havana on June 20. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reported finding about 140,000 Cuban migrants between October last year and the end of May a number that surpassed the so-called Mariel exodus of 1980, when 125,000 Cubans reached the U.S. The U.S. Coast Guard said Monday week that so far this fiscal year it has intercepted 2,900 Cuban migrants at sea, up from just 838 in the previous fiscal year and 49 in 2020. ___ Andrea Rodriguez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Former Alaska state Sen. Dennis Egan, the son of the state's first governor, has died. He was 75. Alaska Senate Democrats in a statement announced that Egan died Tuesday morning. Egan was the son of the late former Gov. Bill Egan. Dennis Egan was a former Juneau mayor and assembly member who was appointed to the state Senate in 2009. The Democrat held the seat until early 2019. He announced in 2018 that he would not seek reelection, citing health concerns. Egan was a longtime broadcaster who had hosted the Problem Corner program on Juneau radio station KINY, which first reported his death Tuesday. A bio from his time in the Senate said Egan may be the only Alaska politician who has as many voters recognize his voice as his name. Sen. Jesse Kiehl, who was an aide to Egan and elected to the seat Egan had held, described Egan as charming and larger than life. I once watched him tell a lobbyist there was no way hed ever vote for a bill, and the guy still left with a smile on his face, Kiehl said in a statement. Dennis always listened to his community, was a straight shooter and truly respected the people around him. Alaska was his home, he put Alaskans first, and his heart belonged to Juneau. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan here and conveyed his personal condolences on the demise of former president of the Gulf nation Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. "In a special gesture, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, accompanied by senior members of the Royal Family, was at Abu Dhabi airport for the interaction with PM," Ministry of External Affairs Sokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Modi arrived here on a brief visit after attending a productive G7 Summit in Germany where he interacted with several world leaders on the margins of the summit and discussed issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity. During his meeting with Sheikh Mohamed, Modi conveyed his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa, who died on May 13 at the age of 73 after a long illness. This is their first interaction after the UAE leader's election as the new president of the Gulf nation last month. Modi had expressed grief over Sheikh Khalifa's death, calling him a great statesman and visionary leader under whom India-UAE relations prospered. India had announced one day of state mourning following the demise of Sheikh Khalifa. Sheikh Khalifa was the eldest son of UAE's founder President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He served as the President of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi from November 3, 2004 till his death. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu last month visited the UAE and offered condolences to the UAE leadership on the demise of Sheikh Khalifa. The last visit by Modi to the UAE was in August 2019 during which he received the UAE's highest award, 'Order of Zayed' conferred upon him by the UAE President. The UAE was India's third-largest trading partner for the year 2019-20 after China and US, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The UAE is the third-largest export destination of India (after the US and China) with an amount of nearly USD 16 billion for the year 2020-21. For the UAE, India is the third-largest trading partner for the year 2020 with an amount of around USD 27.93 billion (non-oil trade). Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.4 million is the largest ethnic community in UAE constituting roughly about 35 per cent of the country's population. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A former Oregon personal injury lawyer who stole more than $3.4 million from her clients has pleaded guilty to seven federal charges in what the state bar has called the worst fraud by a lawyer in the states history. Lori E. Deveny, who relinquished her law license in Oregon in May 2018, pleaded guilty Monday to mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, money laundering and filing a false income tax return from 2012, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Deveny stole money she held in trust for her clients and used it to pay off credit card debt and loans and to support a lavish lifestyle, federal prosecutors said. The expenses included big game hunting trips to Africa, taxidermy costs for big game hunting trophies, other vacations, her husbands photography business, home remodeling and expensive cigars, according to investigators from the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI. Prosecutors will seek a sentence of about 10 years for Deveny, Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire M. Fay told the court. The money came from insurance proceeds that were supposed to be paid to her clients. The fraud occurred from April 2011 through May 2018, according to the plea agreement. The Oregon State Bar has approved $1.3 million in payouts from its Client Security Fund resulting from claims submitted by clients who said they lost money as a result of Devenys dishonesty as their lawyer. She will remain out of custody until her sentencing in November. Shell pay at least $3.4 million in restitution and forfeit $52,620, according to Fay. Deveny told the court she is being treated for a mental illness but said she wasnt taking any medication that interfered with her ability to understand the court proceeding. Deveny had faced a 24-count indictment in federal court. She also is being prosecuted in Multnomah County Circuit Court on 92 counts of theft, forgery and other charges. ATLANTA (AP) A British filmmaker who shot interviews with Donald Trump and his inner circle in the final months of the former president's administration has been subpoenaed to testify in a Georgia investigation into whether Trump and others illegally tried to influence the 2020 election in the state. Footage shot by Alex Holder includes interviews from the campaign trail, as well as footage shot before and after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His lawyer, Russell Smith, confirmed Holder will appear before a special grand jury in Atlanta. Alex is cooperating, and he is to appear to testify on July 12, Smith said in an email. The special grand jury is part of an investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. In a letter sent to top state elected officials in February 2021, Willis said she was looking into potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud, the making of false statements to state and local government bodies, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath of office and any involvement in violence or threats related to the elections administration. The subpoena, which is dated Tuesday, also demands: All video footage and other materials related to the docuseries Unprecedented. The U.S. House committee investigating the Capitol attack also subpoenaed Holder's footage, and he said last week that he had complied with the congressional subpoena. Smith said last week that Holder sat for a two-hour deposition with the committee. Holder has said his series had been bought by a streaming service and was to be released in three parts this summer. The hours of video footage includes exclusive interviews with Trump, his children and then-Vice President Mike Pence while on the campaign trail, Holder has said. Willis, the prosecutor, began investigating possible illegal attempts to interfere in the state's general election shortly after she took office in January of last year. She asked earlier this year for a special grand jury to help the investigation. The panel was seated in May and this month began hearing from witnesses, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Willis has confirmed that her team is looking into a January 2021 phone call in which Trump pushed Raffensperger to find the votes needed for him to win the state. She has also said they are looking at a November 2020 phone call between U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Raffensperger, the abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta on Jan. 4, 2021, and comments made during December 2020 Georgia legislative committee hearings on the election. Trump has repeatedly called his conversation with Raffensperger perfect and has denied any wrongdoing. Graham has also said he did nothing wrong. ___ Amiri reported from Washington. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DENVER (AP) Voters in Colorado's Republican primaries opted Tuesday for candidates widely considered stronger challengers to Democrats' stranglehold on the state's top offices, decisively rejecting right-wing candidates for U.S. Senate, governor and secretary of state. Voters also selected their November nominees in the states eight congressional districts, with a new, northern Colorado swing district in play after the state gained a seat with redistricting. Democrats spent millions of dollars boosting the campaigns of Republican state Rep. Ron Hanks and the GOP's Greg Lopez for U.S. Senate and governor, respectively, believing that Hanks and Lopez would be easier to defeat come November. Both lost, to first-time candidate Joe O'Dea and University of Colorado regent Heidi Ganahl. So, too, did embattled Mesa County clerk and recorder Tina Peters, beaten by former clerk Pam Anderson in the GOP primary for secretary of state. Peters refused to concede, claiming elections officials had flipped the vote totals. In a state thats trended purple over the past decade, Colorados congressional delegation includes two Democratic senators, with three-term Sen. Michael Bennet seeking reelection this year. Democrats hold a 4-3 advantage among U.S. representatives. A look at Tuesdays races: U.S. SENATE Businessman ODea, who ran as a rare Republican supporter of most abortion rights, soundly defeated Hanks, who backs a ban on the procedure in all cases. Colorados voters have strongly backed abortion rights, and Democrats, viewing ODea as a more formidable adversary to Bennet, had spent more than $2 million boosting Hanks candidacy in the primary. SECRETARY OF STATE Peters, Mesa Countys conspiracy-theorist elections clerk whos been indicted for tampering with voting equipment, was easily defeated by Anderson, a former head of Colorados county clerks association, in the GOP primary. Anderson, a former clerk in Jefferson County, defends Colorados elections as secure. Both want to unseat Democrat Jena Griswold, a national advocate of secure elections who was uncontested in Tuesdays primary. GOVERNOR Colorados last Republican governor was Bill Owens, who served from 1999 to 2007. Ganahl, who as regent is the GOPs only statewide elected official, soundly beat former Parker mayor and businessman Lopez in the primary. Like Hanks, Democrats aired ads for Lopez, suggesting they view Ganahl as the stronger challenger to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis. Both candidates oppose a new state law guaranteeing access to abortion, and both welcomed the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade. Ganahl supports exceptions, including for rape, incest or threats to the health of the mother or fetus; Lopez opposes abortion without exceptions. CONGRESS REPUBLICANS First-term GOP firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert trounced state Sen. Don Coram in the largely rural 3rd District. Boebert insisted Coram, a moderate, rancher and hemp farmer, wasnt conservative enough for the district or for Washington; Coram said Boebert is too extreme for the traditionally conservatively centrist district. In El Paso County, eight-term Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn fought off a spirited primary challenge from state Rep. Dave Williams, who failed to get the phrase Lets Go Brandon, code for an obscenity against President Joe Biden, added to his official name on the ballot. Also running were Navy veteran Rebecca Keltie and Colorado Springs businessman Andrew Heaton. In the new 8th District, state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer defeated Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann, former state Rep. Lori Saine and Tyler Allcorn, a small businessman and U.S. Army veteran. Kirkmeyer now faces Democratic state Rep. Yadira Caraveo, who was unopposed. Oil and gas industry veteran Erik Aadland defeated economist and businessman Tim Reichert and Donald Trump-aligned political activist Laurel Imer in the race to challenge Democratic state Sen. Brittany Pettersen for the 7th District seat being vacated by eight-term Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter. Four-term U.S. Rep. Ken Buck defeated first-time candidate Robert Lewis of Elbert County in the sweeping 4th District. Steven Monahan, a Navy veteran, was unopposed in suburban Denvers 6th District. So, too, was Jennifer Qualtieri, a state party activist, in Denvers 1st District. Engineer Marshall Dawson was alone on the GOP ballot in the 2nd District. CONGRESS DEMOCRATS Denver Rep. Diana Degette easily beat first-time challenger Neal Walia in DeGette's bid for a 14th term. Incumbents Joe Neguse and Jason Crow were unopposed in the 2nd and 6th districts, respectively. The 3rd District primary featured tech engineer Alex Walker, Aspen businessman and former city councilmember Adam Frisch and Pueblo health advocate and social worker Sol Sandoval. David Torres defeated Michael Colombe for the party nomination in the 5th District. ATTORNEY GENERAL/TREASURER Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser and Republican challenger John Kellner, the district attorney for Colorados 18th Judicial District, were unopposed, as were Democratic Treasurer Dave Young and former Republican state Rep. Lang Sias. ___ This story has been updated to correct that Tina Peters is clerk of Mesa County, not El Paso County. Carsten Koall/AP BERLIN (AP) A group tracking antisemitism in Germany said Tuesday it documented more than 2,700 incidents in the country last year, including 63 attacks and six cases of extreme violence. In a report, the Department for Research and Information on Anti-Semitism, or RIAS, said the coronavirus pandemic with its anti-Jewish conspiracy narratives and the Middle East conflict with antisemitic criticism of Israel were the main drivers of the 2,738 incidents it documented. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONG KONG (AP) Every few generations, Hong Kong transforms itself, evolving from a swampy fishing village to 19th century colonial port, to capitalist outpost and factory after Chinas 1949 revolution, to 21st century financial center. As the former British colony marks the 25th anniversary of its return to China, reeling from pandemic curbs that devastated business and a crackdown on its pro-democracy movement, Hong Kong leaders say it is time to transform again. They say the city should become a leader in technology that relies more on its ties with nearby Chinese factory cities than on global trade. Chief Executive-elect John Lees government is under pressure to generate new sources of economic growth, looking beyond COVID outbreaks and anti-virus controls that have devastated tourism and business and uncertainty about the legal climate after a crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement. In April, during his election campaign, Lee promised to start a new chapter for the city better known as one of Asia's busiest ports and biggest stock markets and strengthen its competitiveness in technology and innovation as well as trade and finance. Lee gave no details but pointed to the Greater Bay Area, a Chinese government initiative to link Hong Kong with neighboring mainland cities including the technology and finance hub of Shenzhen and the manufacturing powerhouses of Dongguan and Foshan. There are great opportunities in the Greater Bay Area that havent been realized yet, said David Graham, executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. It is a big opportunity for Hong Kong, and it will be very hard to replicate in other cities like Singapore or Dubai. Adding to the urgency for Lee to roll out a long-term strategy, executives frustrated with Hong Kongs travel controls are leaving the city, business groups say. Some companies are moving for good to Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai or other business centers. Hong Kongs strength as a global connector has been greatly reduced, said Joseph Armas, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Executives have left for cities where travel is feasible. Armas appealed to Lee for a concrete roadmap to revive Hong Kong, which remains, together with mainland China and Taiwan, one of the few places that still requires inbound travelers to serve mandatory quarantines. For Michael Chan, who manages a fashion goods manufacturing business, the restrictions have extended what used to be one-week trips to factories in Bangladesh or China to a month or two, since it makes no sense to spend weeks in quarantine for a short work trip. Chan has considered temporarily relocating to Singapore, whose controls are much less strict. When I meet government officials, I often have to meet them face to face and talk about things," said Chan, a veteran of multiple quarantines. It's not like in the U.S. where I can just use Zoom for a video call. Hong Kong lost nearly 90,000 of its 7.5 million population in 2021, according to government figures. More than 100,000 people left in February and March of this year, during the citys worst COVID wave. The angst over Hong Kongs travel controls presents an opportunity for others to dip into our talent pool, said Sally Wong, CEO of the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association. Activists and foreign governments complain the ruling Communist Party is chipping away at the 50 years of autonomy Beijing promised after 1997. The freedoms afforded to Hong Kong and its leeway for self-governance had helped it keep its status as a center for Asian headquarters of global companies even as rent and other costs soared to record levels and levels of inequality grew ever wider. Hong Kong still has a skilled workforce, an efficient port and a Western-style legal system considered to be impartial and reliable. But its status as a global hub for trade and business center is waning. One in 20 companies surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong plan to move their global or regional headquarters out of Hong Kong, the chamber reported in January. It said half were uncertain about whether to go. Some businesses are watching to see how law enforcement and the free flow of information and people that are crucial to commerce and finance might change. Two out of five companies surveyed said they worry they will lose free internet access, vital for a trading center that relies on the flow of information. There is a perception that foreign businesses are less welcome, the report said. More than half our respondents feel the government is unconcerned or dismissive about business concerns. Until now, Hong Kong has been largely free of the censorship on the mainland, where internet barriers known as the Great Firewall are used by the ruling party to block Chinas public from seeing foreign websites run by news outfits, governments and human rights activists. But the territorys leading pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, was shut down during the crackdown and its publisher, Jimmy Lai, sentenced to prison. Kurt Tong, a former U.S. consul general in Hong Kong who is managing partner of The Asia Group, a consulting firm, said that so far the city's national security law, though used to stifle dissent, has not had much impact on business and finance. But the effect of the law and Beijing's overhaul of the territory's political system bear watching, he said. People who care about the Hong Kong financial system need to think about that, Tong said. Hong Kong thrived as the trade gateway to China for decades, but it was eclipsed as the world's busiest container port in 2000 by facilities in the Chinese mainland. Two decades later, with cargo volume barely 10% above its 2000 level, Hong Kong's port ranks 8th in the world. Shanghai, Shenzhen and three other Chinese ports are bigger. Hong Kongs stock market, once Asias biggest outside Japan, also has grown steadily but has slipped behind regional rivals. Companies traded in Hong Kong have a total market value of $5.4 trillion, compared with $8.2 trillion for the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Companies on Chinas second exchange in Shenzhen are worth $6.2 trillion, according to the World Federation of Exchanges. Tong is among those who believe Hong Kong's recent setbacks are only temporary. The current status is that Hong Kong is a very significant global center, one of the most important in the world, and it plays a unique and critical role in linking the Chinese economy with the rest of the global economy and channeling finance in both directions, said Tong. The city is meanwhile nurturing its role as a center for innovation, setting up research centers that have helped incubate dozens of start-up companies. A vice chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Rocky S. Tuan, pointed to medical and biotechnology research as one of the citys less well-known strengths. Writing in the newspaper South China Morning Post, he said Hong Kong offers access to capital, expertise, global regulatory recognition of its clinical trial data and a network of world-class universities. That could lend the city an edge over regional rivals. Other cities in the region, notably Singapore, perhaps will be more of an Asia hub or Southeast Asia hub, said Tommy Wu of Oxford Economics. Hong Kongs business will be mainly focused on Greater China. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kong police confirmed Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the city this week for the 25th anniversary of the former British colonys return to Chinese rule. Xi will attend a number of official events including the inauguration of Hong Kongs next leader on Friday, Assistant Police Commissioner Lui Kam-ho said at a news conference. Xis visit will be his first trip outside of mainland China since the coronavirus pandemic took hold about 2 1/2 years ago. It comes as Hong Kong is facing a new spike in infections following what was by far its worst and deadliest COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year. The United Kingdom returned Hong Kong to China on July 1, 1997. The anniversary is highly symbolic for Xi, who wants to be seen as propelling a national rejuvenation as he prepares to start an expected third 5-year term as head of China's ruling Communist Party this fall. Part of that rejuvenation is erasing the legacy of colonialism and what the party regards as unequal treaties that granted territorial concessions to Britain and other foreign nations during the waning years of the Qing Dynasty, which ended in 1911. A series of security measures will be put in place to protect Xi, including security zones and road closures around the venue for the ceremony, police said. Barriers have already been erected in the area. We will not tolerate anything that may interfere and undermine the security operation," Lui said. In the event that any person behaves in a manner that threatens life or property and undermines public order or endangers public safety, we will take resolute action. WASHINGTON - Cassidy Hutchinson, who was an aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, delivered explosive testimony Tuesday to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, offering startling details on the activities of President Donald Trump and those around him before the attack on the U.S. Capitol and on the deadly day itself. Trump's temper was a big part of this hearing. Trump was so "irate" that he wasn't being driven to the Capitol following his speech on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, that he attempted to grab the steering wheel of his limousine and lunged at a member of his Secret Service detail, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified in a House hearing Tuesday, citing the account of a senior-ranking colleague. "I'm the f---ing president! Take me up to the Capitol now!" Hutchinson, a former aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, quoted Trump as saying in testimony to the House select committee. She also described an outburst by Trump at his former attorney general in which he threw dishes, leaving ketchup streaming down the wall. Hutchinson recalled that her boss, Meadows, told her days before the Jan. 6 insurrection that "things might get real, real bad" at the Capitol on that day. Her testimony is part of previously unscheduled hearing by the House select committee focused on her first-hand experiences in the presence of Meadows and Trump. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the committee chairman, opened the hearing by saying it would focus on "details of what transpired in the office of the White House chief of staff just steps from the Oval Office as the threats of violence became clear and indeed violence ultimately descended on the Capitol in the attack on American democracy." Hutchinson's comment came after a White House meeting involving Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, Hutchinson said. Giuliani, as he was leaving the White House on Jan. 2, asked her if she was "excited" for Jan. 6, she said. When she asked what was happening on that day, Hutchinson testified that Giuliani told her, "We're going to the Capitol." When Hutchinson conveyed Giuliani's comments to Meadows, she testified, he told her, "There's a lot going on," before delivering the ominous warning about things potentially getting "real, real bad." "That evening was the first moment I remember feeling scared and nervous for what could happen on Jan. 6," Hutchinson testified. "And I had a deeper concern for what was happening with the planning aspects of it." Hutchinson's descriptions of her former boss, Mark Meadows, paint an unflattering picture of someone who lacked leadership and often took the path of least resistance in response to the former president's actions. Hutchinson described Meadows as scrolling through his phone, unresponsive, and negligent during pivotal moments on Jan. 6 in particular. The hearing added evidence that some people in the crowd on Jan. 6 were armed, including with assault rifles. The committee played police radio transmissions describing people carrying weapons, as well as testimony from Hutchinson describing Trump's urging the Secret Service to remove metal detectors rather than turn away people with weapons. The new evidence comes on top of multiple people charged in the riot who were found with loaded guns. The Justice Department has also accused the Oath Keepers of stashing weapons just outside D.C. At a hearing last July, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn testified to seeing the outline of a gun on one rioter's hip. Hutchinson opened her testimony to the Jan. 6 committee with a reminder that she has been a committed Republican before this moment. Before working for Trump, she testified she was an aide on Capitol Hill, working for Republican Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. She then sought out a job in the White House and worked there, rising in responsibilities, from 2019 through January 2021. The committee displayed photos to demonstrate how close Hutchinson was to Republicans. One showed her smiling with Scalise. Another showed her walking at the White House with Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as well as Meadows. Committee Vice Chairwoman Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., made the point in introducing Hutchinson, noting that a "significant number of Republicans" have testified, and she is the latest. Thompson said he and Cheney called this hearing because they had obtained new information about what Trump and his top aides were doing in the critical hours leading up to and during the Capitol attack. "It hasn't always been easy to get that information because the same people who drove the former president's pressure campaign to overturn the election are now trying to cover up the truth about Jan. 6," Thompson said. "But thanks to the courage of certain individuals, the truth won't be buried. The American people won't be left in the dark. Our witness today, Cassidy Hutchinson, has embodied that courage." Cheney noted that Hutchinson had already sat for four taped interviews with the committee and that she was a familiar face on Capitol Hill because she had played a prominent role in the White House's legislative affairs office. "We will begin to examine evidence bearing on what President Trump and members of the White House staff knew about the prospect for violence on January 6th even before that violence began," Cheney said. The point Cheney keeps making at these hearings: The people providing some of the most damning testimony are all Republicans, and most were handpicked or appointed by Trump. Trump and his orbit have tried to undercut the committee's work by saying it is a partisan witch hunt, led by Democrats and Republicans who despise Trump. But it's more challenging to attack the taped, or live, testimony from Trump's own aides and family members, and that has grown to annoy Trump. Alyssa Farah, a former White House communications director, sought to push back against anticipated arguments from Republicans that Cassidy Hutchinson was merely a "low-level staffer." "She was anything but," Farah said during an appearance on CNN ahead of the expected testimony from the Meadows aide. "She was so plugged in that I would often go to her as the White House communications director to get intel on the president's schedule, his movements, things we were considering as far as events," Farah said. "She also was on a first-name basis with most members of congressional leadership. She would text with them. So she's seen everything. She's been in so many rooms. She was always on Air Force One." Tuesday's hearing was unexpected because the Jan. 6 panel had previously signaled it would not hold any more hearings until July, after it evaluated additional evidence. The panel's last hearing, on Thursday, featured testimony from former Justice Department officials describing Trump's efforts to undo the 2020 election results. The committee also identified five Republican lawmakers who allegedly sought pardons. In a break with its past five hearings this month, the panel provided no advance confirmation about the witness list Tuesday and members did not appear on television beforehand. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (AP) Sen. Mike Lee won Utahs Republican primary Tuesday, brushing off attacks from two challengers who criticized him for his unwavering loyalty to former President Donald Trump and uncompromising lawmaking style. Lees decisive victory marked a win for Trump-aligned Republicans and illustrated the risk GOP candidates take in primary elections when they criticize the former president, even in religiously conservative states like Utah where many voters disapprove of his foul language and rough-and-tumble politics. The second-term senator handily defeated two well-funded opponents who didnt vote for Trump and attempted to appeal to voters disillusioned with the direction he's taken the Republican Party. But their efforts to frame Lee as a divisive politician who cares less about governing than he does television appearances and his allegiance to Trump ultimately fell short. Lee deflected any GOP critiques in his victory speech, instead looking ahead to the November election where he'll face off against independent conservative Evan McMullin. Now that this primary is over my hope and my expectation is that Republicans will do what we do best Lets come together, Lee said at a election night party at a suburban Utah events center. Days after the decision overturning Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion, he also framed his victory as a choice to embrace the inalienable right to life and Utahs values." He now faces McMullin, who ran for president as a conservative alternative to Trump in 2016. He received more than one-fifth of the vote in Utah, where voters tend to be uncomfortable with Trump-style politics. McMullin left the GOP after Trumps ascendance and won backing from the state Democratic Party this year. He has kept pace in campaign contributions with Lee in this years Senate race. Lee supporters gathered Tuesday at an event with about 100 people, many wearing navy-blue shirts saying I Like Mike while country music played and conservative commentator Glenn Beck spoke. A montage played on a projector splicing together images of families, assault-style rifles, sunsets, clouds and single-family homes. On the campaign trail, former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and political operative Ally Isom called Lee an obstructionist and drew attention to the leak of post-election text messages he sent to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. The messages, they said, showed his early involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Lee encouraged Trump advisers to embrace discredited attorney Sidney Powell and later referenced his discussions with lawmakers in battleground states about appointing competing slates of electors to act contrary to the results, the messages showed. Lee responded to criticisms saying that he merely encouraged Trumps team explore available legal avenues, noting that he ultimately voted to certify the results on January 6, 2021. Hes mostly remained above the fray and not responded to other intraparty attacks, instead focusing on tried-and-true rhetoric about the U.S. constitution and criticisms of federal overreach. Isom positioned herself as a conservative alternative to Lee, agreeing with his positions on most issues but disapproving of his uncompromising approach. Edwards staked out more moderate positions, rebuking Trump for continuing to spread disproven claims of 2020 election fraud and saying she disagrees with the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Neither said they planned to back Lee in their concession remarks, as many primary candidates do after results come in. Edwards, who was second in voting, said in a statement she was proud of her campaign even though she lost and grateful for the tens of thousands of Utahns who supported our campaign with the hope for a better Utah. Isom said in her statement she was proud she had given people hope. Theres a better way to engage in meaningful dialogue and address issues facing our state and nation. And we owe it to our posterity to reach real solutions, get the right things done and bring about a new dawn for the Republican Party, Isom said. This contested primary was a drastic departure from Lees first reelection campaign in 2016. That year, no primary challengers came forward to challenge him in arch-conservative Utah, after the one-time Tea Party insurgent successfully consolidated support from both grassroots conservatives and establishment Republicans. Lee remains overwhelmingly popular among party activists, but there are some rumblings of dissatisfaction among both Republican insiders and the partys overall electorate. Many have publicly taken issue with his willingness to shut down the federal government and be the Senates lone no vote on proposed policies. Utah GOP Chair Carson Jorgensen said primary voter enthusiasm suggested conservatives were energized heading into the midterm election. The partys strong right now. We got good headwinds with everything happening and the effects of politics on peoples daily lives, he said, noting the effect of inflation, fuel prices and food prices, particularly on young families. Post-primary, he said he planned to sit down with Lee to discuss how to consolidate support from the large contingent of Republicans who voted for Edwards and Isom, to convince them to back him over McMullin. Lee could be in danger if McMullin can peel off Republican primary voters. Earlier this year, he convinced the states outnumbered Democrats to eschew a nominee from their party and get behind him instead, hoping that consolidating support from Democrats, independents and disillusioned Republicans could help unseat Lee. Im extending an invitation to all voters who are discouraged, frustrated, and exhausted by Lees divisive and ineffective politics, McMullin said in a statement after Lees win, noting that about one-third of primary voters had cast ballots for other candidates, according to unofficial election results Tuesday night. The Lee-McMullin race should test the extent to which criticisms of divisiveness and the increasingly polarized state of politics resonate in the state where the predominant faith is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the political culture is rigorously polite. WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump rebuffed his own securitys warnings about armed protesters in the Jan. 6 rally crowd and made desperate attempts to join his supporters as they marched to the Capitol, according to dramatic new testimony before the House committee investigating the 2021 insurrection. Cassidy Hutchinson, a little-known former White House aide, described an angry, defiant president who was trying that day to let armed protesters avoid security screenings at a rally that morning to protest his 2020 election defeat and who later grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential SUV when the Secret Service refused to let him go to the Capitol. And when the events at the Capitol spiraled toward violence, with the crowd chanting to Hang Mike Pence, she testified Tuesday that Trump declined to intervene. Trump doesnt think theyre doing anything wrong, Hutchinson recalled hearing from her boss, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Hutchinsons explosive, moment-by-moment account of what was happening inside and outside the White House offered a vivid description of a Republican president so unwilling to concede his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden that he acted out in rage and refused to stop the siege at the Capitol. It painted a damning portrait of the chaos at the White House as those around the defeated president splintered into one faction supporting his false claims of voter fraud and another trying unsuccessfully to put an end to the violent attack. Her testimony, at a surprise hearing announced just 24 hours earlier, was the sole focus at the hearing, the sixth by the committee this month. The account was particularly powerful because of her proximity to power, with Hutchinson describing what she witnessed first-hand and was told by others in the White House. Hutchinson said that she was told Trump fought a security official for control of the presidential SUV on Jan. 6 and demanded to be taken the Capitol as the insurrection began, despite being warned earlier that day that some of his supporters were armed. The former aide said that she was told of the altercation in the SUV immediately afterward by a White House security official, and that Bobby Engel, the head of the detail, was in the room and didnt dispute the account at the time. Engel had grabbed Trumps arm to prevent him from gaining control of the armored vehicle, she was told, and Trump then used his free hand to lunge at Engel. That account was quickly disputed on Tuesday, however. Engel, the agent who was driving the presidential SUV, and Trump security official Tony Ornato are willing to testify under oath that no agent was assaulted and Trump never lunged for the steering wheel, a person familiar with the matter said. The person would not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. As the events of Jan. 6 unfurled, Hutchinson, then a special assistant to Meadows, described chaos in White House offices and hallways. Trump's staff several of whom had been warned of violence beforehand became increasingly alarmed as rioters at the Capitol overran police and interrupted the certification of Bidens victory. Trump was less concerned, she said, even as he heard there were cries in the crowd to Hang Mike Pence! Hutchinson recalled that Meadows told aides that Trump thinks Mike deserves it." The president tweeted during the attack that Pence didnt have the courage to object to Bidens win as he presided over the joint session of Congress. The young ex-aide was matter-of-fact in most of her answers. But she did say that she was disgusted at Trump's tweet about Pence during the siege. It was unpatriotic, it was un-American, and you were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie," Hutchinson said, adding that, I still struggle to work through the emotions of that. Trump denied much of what Hutchinson said on his social media platform, Truth Social. He called her a total phony and bad news. Members of the panel praised Hutchinsons bravery for testifying and said that other witnesses had been intimidated and did not cooperate. I want all Americans to know that what Ms. Hutchinson has done today is not easy, said Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican who led questioning. Some of Hutchinsons former colleagues, too, dcfended her account. Mick Mulvaney, who preceded Meadows as Trumps chief of staff, tweeted that he knows Hutchinson and I dont think she is lying. Sarah Matthews, a former Trump press aide who has also cooperated with the committee, called the testimony damning. As she described the scene in the White House after the election, Hutchinson depicted a president flailing in anger and prone to violent outbursts. Some aides sought to rein in his impulses. Some did not. At one point on Jan. 6, Hutchinson said, White House counsel Pat Cipollone barreled down the hallway and confronted Meadows about rioters breaching the Capitol. Meadows, staring at his phone, told the White House lawyer that Trump didnt want to do anything, she said. Earlier, Cipollone had worried out loud that we're going to get charged with every crime imaginable if Trump went to the Capitol after his speech at the rally, Hutchinson recalled. Before the crowd left for the Capitol, Hutchinson said she also received an angry call from House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, who had just heard the president say he was coming. Dont come up here, McCarthy told her, before hanging up. Hutchinson told the panel that Trump had been informed early in the day that some of the protesters outside the White House had weapons. But he responded that the protesters were not here to hurt me, Hutchinson said. She quoted Trump as directing his staff, in profane terms, to take away the metal-detecting magnetometers that he thought would slow down supporters who were gathering for his speech on the Ellipse, in back of the White House. In a clip of an earlier interview with the committee, she recalled the president saying words to the effect of: I dont f-in' care that they have weapons. As a White House insider, Hutchinson told stories of a raging president who was unable to acknowledge his defeat. At the beginning of December, she said, she heard noise inside the White House around the time an Associated Press article was published in which Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department had not found evidence of voter fraud that could have changed the election's outcome. She said she entered a room to find ketchup dripping down a wall and broken porcelain. The president, it turned out, had thrown his lunch at the wall in disgust over the article. Trump denied it in his social media posts. In the days before the attack, Hutchinson said she was scared, and nervous for what could happen on Jan. 6 after having conversations with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Meadows and others. Meadows told Hutchinson that things might get real, real bad, she said. Giuliani told her it was going to be a great day and were going to the Capitol. Eventually, both men would seek pardons related to what happened that day, Hutchinson said. A person familiar with the matter denied that Meadows had ever sought a pardon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity. Hutchinson had already provided a trove of information to congressional investigators, sitting for four interviews with the panel behind closed doors. She detailed meetings in the runup to the insurrection where challenges to the election were debated and discussed at the White House, including with several Republican lawmakers. ___ Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Nomaan Merchant, Kevin Freking, Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller contributed to this report. ___ For full coverage of the Jan. 6 hearings, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) The European Union's delay in allowing visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo has spread dismay and resentment in the continent's newest state, and one Pristina businessman has retaliated by hitting EU officials where it hurts the stomach. Mama's restaurant owner Shpetim Pevqeli, 50, who has catered for more than a decade to employees at the EU's rule of law mission headquarters across the road, put up a sign Tuesday reading: Protest, no entry, for EU citizens without visa. While that may seem no more than a stunt, frustration among Kosovars over the delay in getting into the 27-nation bloc's so-called Schengen visa-free travel area is real. As things are, they have to wait for hours to apply for a visa to the EU, where many have family members living. I have an official invitation from Austria. But I have been waiting and waiting and waiting. What can I do next? said an angry Faik Ibriqi, 60, queueing at the Swiss diplomatic representation office where many Kosovars apply for the Schengen visa. Last week Kosovars had hoped that EU leaders meeting to discuss, among other things, their country's accession prospects would rule on the matter. But it was not discussed. In July 2018 Kosovo fulfilled all required visa liberalization benchmarks. Both the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, and the European Parliament have called for it to join the visa-free regime. It doesn't help that five EU member countries have not even recognized Kosovo as a country. Pristina declared independence in 2008, following its de facto secession from Serbia after a war in 1998-1999. When they still lived in a province in the former Yugoslavia Kosovars, who are mostly ethnic Albanians, were free to move everywhere. Now some of them turn to neighboring Albania which has Schengen access to get a passport. "Someone wants to go to his aunt, or his brother (in the EU) and when we learnt (there was no EU decision) again we were desperate, humiliated and thats where the idea came from for the ban on EU employees, said Pevqeli, the restaurant owner. We need to do something, a protest because (the visa situation) is not right and the protest will show our rancor, our despair, he added. Last week a disillusioned Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said peace and stability in Europe were inconceivable without integrating Western Balkan nations. Kosovo people want more possibilities and progress. They want a no-visa regime to see, feel and live in Europe, she said, adding that Kosovo citizens remain isolated at the heart of the continent where they live. Kosovo lost more than 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, during the 1998-1999 fight to break away from Serbia. It ended after a 78-day NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out and cede control to the United Nations and NATO. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. The United States and most of the West recognize Kosovos independence, but Serbia supported by allies Russia and China does not. Pevqeli said he was confident no EU officials would be coming to eat. They will understand the sign is for them and they do respect that, he said. - Llazar Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BERLIN (AP) A 101-year-old man was convicted in Germany of more than 3,500 counts of accessory to murder on Tuesday for serving at the Nazis Sachsenhausen concentration camp during World War II. The Neuruppin Regional Court sentenced him to five years in prison. The man, who was identified by local media as Josef S., had denied working as an SS guard at the camp and aiding and abetting the murder of thousands of prisoners. In the trial, which opened in October, the centenarian said that he had worked as a farm laborer near Pasewalk in northeastern Germany during the period in question. However, the court considered it proven that he worked at the camp on the outskirts of Berlin between 1942 and 1945 as an enlisted member of the Nazi Partys paramilitary wing, the German news agency dpa reported. The court has come to the conclusion that, contrary to what you claim, you worked in the concentration camp as a guard for about three years, presiding Judge Udo Lechtermann said, according to dpa. He added that, in doing so, the defendant had assisted in the Nazis' terror and murder mechanism. You willingly supported this mass extermination with your activity," Lechtermann said. You watched deported people being cruelly tortured and murdered there every day for three years. Prosecutors had based their case on documents relating to an SS guard with the mans name, date and place of birth, as well as other documents. The five-year prison sentence was in line with the prosecution's demand. The defendant's lawyer had sought an acquittal. Defense attorney Stefan Waterkamp said after the pronouncement of the sentence that he would appeal the verdict, dpa reported. Germany's leading Jewish group welcomed the ruling. Even if the defendant will probably not serve the full prison sentence due to his advanced age, the verdict is to be welcomed, said Josef Schuster, the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The thousands of people who worked in the concentration camps kept the murder machinery running. They were part of the system, so they should take responsibility for it, Schuster added. It is bitter that the defendant has denied his activities at that time until the end and has shown no remorse. For practical reasons, the trial was held in a gymnasium in Brandenburg/Havel, the 101-year-olds place of residence. The man was only fit to stand trial to a limited extent and was only able to participate in the trial for about two and a half hours each day. The process was interrupted several times for health reasons and hospital stays. Efraim Zuroff, the head Nazi hunter at the Simon Wiesenthal Centers office in Jerusalem, told The Associated Press that the sentence sends a message that if you commit such crimes, even decades later, you might be brought to justice." "And its a very important thing because it gives closure to the relatives of the victims," Zuroff added. The fact that these people all of a sudden feel that their loss is being addressed and the suffering of their family who they lost in the camps is being addressed ... is a very important thing. However, Zuroff expressed concern that S. might serve only part of the sentence or none at all because of his planned appeal and his advanced age. Sachsenhausen was established in 1936 just north of Berlin as the first new site after Adolf Hitler gave the SS full control of the Nazi concentration camp system. It was intended to be a model facility and training camp for the labyrinthine network that the Nazis built across Germany, Austria and occupied territories. More than 200,000 people were held there between 1936 and 1945. Tens of thousands of inmates died of starvation, disease, forced labor and other causes, as well as through medical experiments and systematic SS extermination operations including shootings, hangings and gassing. Exact numbers on those killed vary, with upper estimates of some 100,000, though scholars suggest figures of 40,000 to 50,000 are likely more accurate. In its early years, most inmates were either political prisoners or criminal convicts, but they also included some Jehovahs Witnesses and homosexuals. The first large group of Jewish prisoners was brought there in 1938 after the so-called Night of Broken Glass, or Kristallnacht, an antisemitic pogrom. During the war, Sachsenhausen was expanded to include Soviet prisoners of war who were shot by the thousands as well as others. As in other camps, Jewish prisoners were singled out at Sachsenhausen for particularly harsh treatment, and most who remained alive by 1942 were sent to the Auschwitz death camp. Sachsenhausen was liberated in April 1945 by the Soviets, who then turned it into a brutal camp of their own. Tuesday's verdict relies on recent legal precedent in Germany establishing that anyone who helped a Nazi camp function can be prosecuted for being an accessory to the murders committed there. In a different case, a 96-year-old woman went on trial in late September in the northern German town of Itzehoe. The woman, who allegedly worked during the war as the secretary for the SS commandant of the Stutthof concentration camp, has been charged with more than 11,000 counts of accessory to murder. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A man acquitted by reason of insanity of murder in the 2013 stabbing death of his father in Austin has escaped from a state hospital to which he was committed, authorities said Monday. Staff at the North Texas State Hospital in Vernon, near the Oklahoma border and 190 miles (306 kilometers) northwest of Dallas, advised police that Alexander Scott Ervin, 29, was found missing from the hospital shortly after 7:30 a.m. Monday, the Vernon Police Department reported. A review of the hospitals security video revealed that Ervin left his dormitory room about 9 p.m. Sunday and scaled the hospitals 8-foot security fence before heading north on foot about 9:15 p.m. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOSCOW (AP) A Russian court has rejected an appeal by imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who contended that prison authorities illegally prevented his lawyers from bringing necessary equipment including voice recorders and laptop computers to a court session held in a prison. Navalny testified at the Tuesday session by video, the first time he has been seen since being moved to a maximum-security prison. A lower court had previously rejected his complaint about the recording devices ban. Close associates of Navalny have faced criminal charges and many have left Russia. Authorities shut down his groups political infrastructure an anti-corruption foundation and a nationwide network of offices by labeling it extremist. On Tuesday, prominent opposition politician Ilya Yashin was sentenced to 15 days in jail on charges of failing to obey police. He was detained late Monday while walking in a park, and police said he had grabbed one officer by the uniform and vulgarly insulted them. However, Yashin claimed that police approached him while he was sitting on a bench with a friend and demanded he go with them without explanation. I am not crazy, to get in a fight with three policemen, he said on the Telegram messaging app. Yashin has criticized Russia's military actions in Ukraine and in May was ordered to pay 90,000 rubles ($1700) on charges of discrediting the Russian military. He faces 15 days in jail if convicted of disobeying police. Navalny was arrested in January 2021 upon returning from Germany, where he had been recuperating from nerve-agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He received a 2-year sentence for allegedly violating the conditions of his parole while outside Russia. In March, Navalny was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of fraud and contempt of court, allegations he rejected as a politically motivated attempt by Russian authorities to keep him behind bars for as long as possible. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Nebraska state Sen. Mike Flood won a special election Tuesday to replace former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a fellow Republican who was sentenced to two years of probation earlier in the day for a conviction on charges that he lied to federal agents. Flood beat Democratic state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks in the states Republican-leaning 1st District, which includes Lincoln and dozens of smaller, mostly conservative towns in eastern Nebraska. Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, will serve the rest of what would have been Fortenberrys ninth term. Hell be a strong favorite to win a new term in November, when he faces Pansing Brooks again. In a brief interview after his win, Flood promised to be a conservative advocate for the district and a champion for local infrastructure projects and agriculture. Throughout the campaign, he sought to blame President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for rising inflation, and pledged to fight Biden administration policies. Flood acknowledged that he needs to do more to boost his support in the Lincoln area, one of the only pockets of Democratic strength in the district. Flood's victory was narrower than in previous elections, when Fortenberry would easily beat Democratic challengers with more than 60% of the vote. I recognize that I have work to do, Flood said. In a statement, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said the narrower-than-expected margin shows the need for more national party support in rural areas that are often viewed as unwinnable. Sen. Pansing Brooks connected with voters and started to change the political landscape of Nebraska, Kleeb said. Both candidates were nominated by their parties leaders in April to run in the special election. The next month, Nebraska primary voters picked them to run in the general election. In court Tuesday, Fortenberry sat quietly as U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld ordered him to serve probation, pay a $25,000 fine and perform community service. Blumenfeld rejected prosecutors request for a six-month prison sentence, saying the ex-congressman's behavior in the case was out of character. Fortenberry later said he planned to appeal, arguing that prosecutors never should have brought the case and accusing them of taking advantage of his trust. This has been very traumatic and weve got a way to go, he said outside the courthouse. But I am grateful that ... the judge recognized that the pattern of what I wanted to do with my life was simply to serve in public office and to try to help people. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Jenkins said prosecutors disagreed with the decision not to impose prison time, but noted the judges comments endorsing the jurys decision. Fortenberry resigned in March shortly after a California jury found him guilty in the corruption case. He has maintained his innocence and said he plans to appeal. Before he was indicted in October, Fortenberry was expected to sail to an easy win. Prosecutors alleged Fortenberry lied to federal agents multiple times about $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions he received from a foreign national at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Federal law bars donations from foreign nationals. At trial, prosecutors played phone recordings between Fortenberry and a donor-turned-informant, who warned the congressman that the donations had likely been funneled to him from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent. Fortenberrys attorneys argued that he didnt hear the warning due to bad cellphone reception. Fortenberry maintained his innocence, going so far as to release a preemptive denial of the charges before they were announced in a video that he filmed inside a 1963 Ford F-150 pickup, with his wife and dog at his side. He also continued to campaign, decrying his prosecution as politically motivated and airing attack ads against Flood. But as more details of the case became public, Fortenberry quickly lost support among top Nebraska Republicans. Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman dealt him a major blow when they endorsed Flood. Flood stayed mostly positive, airing several lighthearted ads, including one where he described himself as a conservative nerd who would get things done in Washington. ___ Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte ___ Melley reported from Los Angeles. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MENDON, Mo. (AP) The chief elected official in the Missouri county where an Amtrak train slammed into a dump truck said Tuesday that residents and county leaders have been pushing for a safety upgrade at the railroad crossing for nearly three years. Meanwhile, the toll from the accident rose to four deaths and 150 injuries. A day after the deadly crash on Monday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said people were taken to 10 hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious. By Tuesday afternoon, at least 15 people remained hospitalized. The dead three passengers and the truck driver have not been identified. Amtraks Southwest Chief was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it struck the rear of the truck. Two locomotives and eight cars derailed. Amtrak officials said about 275 passengers and 12 crew members were aboard. National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer L. Homendy said at a news conference that the truck was owned by MS Contracting of Brookfield, Missouri, and was transporting material to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project nearby. Homendy said investigators will download recorder information to determine the speed of the train, when the horn was blown and if the emergency brake was deployed. She said some of that information could be released as early as Wednesday. The speed limit at the crossing is 90 mph (145 kph). The crossing in a rural area near Mendon in western Missouri has no lights or other signals to warn of an approaching train. Chariton County Presiding Commissioner Evan Emmerich said in an email to The Associated Press that resident Mike Spencer first brought his concerns about the crossing to a Dec. 2, 2019, commission meeting. He was told to contact the Missouri Department of Transportations Railroad Safety division. A week later, commissioners spoke with officials from the state agency and were told it is on their plans to repair, Emmerich said. After that, Emmerich cited other efforts by the commission. They included a March 2021 meeting with a state Railroad Safety division engineer at the crossing site; an email sent to the Railroad Safety division on May 23 to address concerns about visibility at the crossing; and a May 31 call to BNSF Railway, which owns the track, to express our concerns with the visibility issue at the crossing. In January, the Missouri Department of Transportation submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration its State Freight & Rail Plan plan. It included a proposal to install lights and gates, along with roadway improvements. The project was estimated at $400,000. Typically, the federal government would pay 80% and the county 20%. MoDOT spokeswoman Linda Horn said that with limited funds available, it takes a while to get these prioritized. She said the project has received approval in a four-year plan that runs through fiscal year 2026. BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent declined comment on specific conversations about upgrades to the crossing, citing the NTSB investigation, however, I can tell you that BNSF has a proactive vegetation management program across our network, she said. Spencer told The Associated Press that he is among several people who have complained that the overgrowth of brush and the steep incline from the road to the tracks makes it hard to see oncoming trains from either direction. Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on land surrounding the intersection, said the crossing is especially dangerous for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment. Spencer is on the board of a local levee district. He said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levee on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple of days. Earlier this month, Spencer posted a video on Facebook of the crossing that shows the steep gravel incline leading up to it. We have to cross this with farm equipment to get to several of our fields, Spencer wrote with the posting. We have been on the RR for several years about fixing the approach by building the road up, putting in signals, signal lights or just cutting the brush back. Homendy said passive crossings like the one near Mendon make up about half of all crossings in the U.S. She said there are 130,000 passive crossings nationwide and 3,500 in Missouri. The NTSB has for years recommended actions such as closing passive crossings or adding gates, bells and other upgrades at passive crossings, Homendy said. She said the agency also has recommended technology to alert drivers to the presence of an oncoming train at crossings such as the one at Mendon that are on an incline. Lives could be saved, she said. Kyle Bullard, a 21-year-old student at Lindenwood University in suburban St. Louis, was traveling from a friends home in Kansas City, Missouri, to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for a wedding. He fell 10 feet onto his back when his cab tipped over. Bullard and his friend escaped and returned to help others out of the train, but he said hes still bothered by the image of a woman buried in rubble. He said someone was holding her hand, and he realized he couldnt do anything to help her. We were grateful because we made it out alive, but were also sad because some people didnt. Were sorry for those families," Bullard said. "Yeah, I survived the train crash and I helped people, but its like, I did also see someone die. So its just like, it is what it is. And Im gonna have to move on from it. But its just gonna be always in the back of my head. The incident in Missouri was among three fatal Amtrak accidents since Sunday. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said. Also, on Monday in Detroit, two people died when their vehicle collided with an Amtrak train. Police Chief James White said officers were dispersing drag racers and one vehicle sped away and tried to beat the train. People have been injured or killed in at least six other accidents involving Amtrak trains since 2015. Last year, three people died and others were injured when an Amtrak derailed in north-central Montana as it traveled from Chicago to Seattle. Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between. ___ Ballentine reported from Columbia, Missouri. Associated Press reporters Margaret Stafford in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed to this report. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) U.S. Sen. James Lankford won Tuesdays GOP primary outright in his race for reelection to another six-year term in the U.S. Senate, while U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin and former House Speaker T.W. Shannon advanced to a runoff in Oklahoma's other U.S. Senate race. Oklahoma had the unique situation of races for both U.S. Senate seats on the ballot following Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe's announcement in February that he wouldn't finish his term. Inhofe's announcement set off a flurry of activity among Republican politicians, and Mullin's entry into the race left open his 2nd Congressional District seat in eastern Oklahoma. Oklahoma's Senate races aren't expected to have much of an impact nationally, since both GOP nominees in the U.S. Senate races will be heavy favorites to keep the seats in Republican hands in November. Oklahoma hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than 30 years. Lankford, 54, defeated Tulsa pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, 30, and Joan Farr, 67, of Broken Arrow. Ive had the pleasure of having a few interactions with Sen. Lankford, and I think hes pretty professional," said Evan Sellars, 22, who cast his ballot for Lankford in Oklahoma City. I think for the most part hes doing a pretty good job." Lahmeyer, a political newcomer endorsed by ex-President Trumps former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, had accused Lankford of not being conservative enough and criticized him for not endorsing Trumps false claims about the 2020 election outcome. On the Democratic side, Oklahoma City attorney Jason Bollinger, 30, and cybersecurity expert Madison Horn, 33, are the only candidates in a six-person field who had raised much money, according to the latest campaign finance reports. Neither Horn nor Bollinger captured more than 50% of the vote, setting up a head-to-head showdown between the two candidates in an August runoff. In Oklahoma's other U.S. Senate race, to replace Inhofe, a stalwart in Oklahoma GOP politics since the 1960s, Mullin and Shannon, both 44, emerged from a 13-candidate Republican field seeking to become Oklahoma's newest U.S. senator. Among the other challengers were state Sen. Nathan Dahm, 39; Inhofes longtime chief of staff Luke Holland, 35; and ex-Attorney General and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. There seems to be little difference among the Republican candidates in both races on key issues, as all have expressed frustration with President Joe Biden's administration, opposition to restrictions on firearms and support of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states to ban abortion. The winner in the race for Inhofe's seat will face Democrat and former U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn, 46, who is not related to Madison Horn, along with a Libertarian and an independent, in November's general election. ___ Follow Sean Murphy at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Carbon monoxide poisoning killed three U.S. tourists found dead at a resort in the Bahamas in May, police announced Tuesday. Authorities did not provide further details, saying the deaths were still under investigation. The victims had been identified as Michael Phillips, 68, and Robbie Phillips, 65, from Tennessee; and Vincent Chiarella, 64, from Florida. Chiarellas wife, Donnis Chiarella, 65, was found alive and airlifted to New Providence for medical treatment, then transferred to a hospital in Florida. Her condition was not immediately known. The couples were staying in separate villas next to each other in the same building at the Sandals Emerald Bay resort on the island of Exuma. It was not clear if the villas had carbon monoxide detectors and if they did, whether they were working. Police have said that all four tourists went to a doctor the night before their bodies were discovered and had complained of feeling ill. In a statement issued a month ago, Sandals said the deaths were in no way linked to the resorts air conditioning system, food and beverage service, landscaping services or foul play. It was not clear what was the source of carbon monoxide that killed the tourists. A Sandals spokeswoman referred all questions to police, while Bahamian police spokesman Audley Peters said he was not able to provide the information at this time and did not respond to further questions. Sandals said that carbon monoxide detectors have since been installed in all guest rooms at Sandals Emerald Bay, and will be installed in all guest rooms elsewhere. We have taken additional measures such as engaging environmental safety experts for a comprehensive review of all systems across the resort, the company said. The deaths come seven years after a Delaware family became seriously ill at a resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands. U.S. authorities determined that methyl bromide, a highly toxic pesticide banned for indoor residential use in 1984, was to blame and had been used at that resort several times. AMSTERDAM (AP) Dutch prosecutors demanded life sentences Tuesday for five alleged gangsters accused of six murders, four attempted murders and plotting four more hits, in a long-running trial that exposed the grim reality of the Netherlands' violent criminal underworld. Prosecutors sought sentences ranging from nearly six years to almost 27 years for 11 more defendants as the marathon trial of lead suspect Ridouan Taghi and several of his alleged accomplices drew toward its close in a closely guarded Amsterdam courtroom. The sentence demand for another suspect will be made later. The Public Prosecution Service said in a statement that the defendants were part of a completely unscrupulous murder organization, which has carelessly and indifferently killed people. They said the fallout of the multiple slayings had "not only been felt for the next of kin, but have also had after effects more broadly in society. Taghi was one of the Netherlands' most-wanted men until he was arrested in Dubai in 2019 and flown home to face trial. His lawyers and attorneys for the other suspects will address the court before judges retire to consider their verdicts. Prosecutors said the gang reveled in slayings carried out to consolidate its power and prevent people from betraying its members to police. It is shocking to read how the suspects shared their joy at a successful murder with each other" in encrypted phone messages, the prosecution statement said, "with shouts of Whoopwhoop and other expressions of joy. A human life was treated as a disposable item. Part of the evidence against the gang came from a witness who testified in return for a reduced sentence. The witness, identified only as Nabil B., was previously represented by a lawyer who was murdered in Amsterdam in 2019. Two men were sentenced last year to 30 years for that murder, but judges in the case said they could not link the contract killing directly to Taghi's gang. Crime reporter Peter R. de Vries, who was gunned down in Amsterdam last year, acted as a confidant to Nabil B. Two men stood trial in his slaying. Prosecutors demanded life sentences for both, but have not said who they believe ordered De Vries' killing. Judges are due to deliver verdicts on July 14. WASHINGTON - School shootings in 2020-2021 soared to the highest number in two decades, according to a new federal report that examines crime and safety in schools across the United States. The 31-page report, released Tuesday by the National Center for Education Statistics, also pointed to a rise in cyberbullying and in verbal abuse or disrespect of teachers over the decade that ended with the onset of the pandemic in spring 2020. The surge in school shootings was stark: There were 93 incidents with casualties at public and private schools in 2020-2021, compared with 23 in the 2000-2001 school year. The record year included 43 incidents with deaths and 50 with injuries only. The report uses a broad definition of shootings, including instances when guns were fired or brandished on school property, or when a bullet struck school grounds for any reason and regardless of whether students were present. NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr noted that while nonfatal violent victimization at school was down, shootings with casualties hit their highest number in 2021 since data collection began in the early 2000s. "While the lasting impact of these crime and safety issues cannot be measured in statistics alone, these data are valuable to the efforts of our policymakers, school officials, and community members to identify and implement preventive and responsive measures," she said in a statement. Ron Avi Astor, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, welcomed the broader definition, saying the report reflected a fuller picture, at a time when the 19 children and two teachers killed by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, remains close in mind. "If someone brings a gun to school and shoots it, that's really traumatic," Astor said. "It's obviously more traumatic if somebody dies or is injured but the fear that that causes to all of the kids in school and all of the teachers goes far beyond the people who were hit." A Washington Post analysis showed more than 311,000 children at 331 schools experienced gun violence since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. At the same time, some pointed out that schools are by far one of the safest places around for young people, who are more likely to be shot outside of school than inside. "The increase in shootings in schools is likely a consequence of an overall increase in gun violence and not specific to schools," said Dewey Cornell, a professor of education at the University of Virginia. "However, most schools will never have a shooting, and their main problems will be fighting and bullying." Students ages 12 to 18 did not express great fear about their own schools according to the NCES report. Less than 5% were afraid of harm or an attack during the school year, according to 2019 data the report highlighted. And the rate of nonfatal crime - including theft, robbery, rape and various types of assault - declined from 51 victimizations per 1,000 students in 2009 to 30 per 1,000 in 2019. It was hard to square the positive trends with the rise in shootings, said Annette Anderson, deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools. "It's a good start but I certainly would have liked to have a deeper dive on some of this," she said. Teacher difficulties with students increased in the last decade. Schools reporting verbal abuse of teachers at least once a week jumped to about 10 percent in the 2019-2020 school year, from about 5% a decade earlier. Similarly, schools reporting acts of disrespect for teachers rose to 15% in 2019-2020, from 9% in 2009-2010. Cheryl Bost, president of the Maryland State Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, attributed the increase to more reporting and more problems, adding that schools still do not have enough staffing, training and student supports. "Our students need more counselors," she said, along with smaller class sizes that allow "more time to build a relationship with an educator." "Most of the time acting out, even in what is called disrespect, is students saying in their own age-appropriate way, 'I need help,' or 'I'm struggling with something,'" she said. The increase in disrespect and verbal abuse will probably be even larger when pandemic-years data is released, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. With the country's culture wars and angry politics amplified by social media - and intensified by pandemic anxiety - it becomes a "toxic brew" that extends to the classroom, she said. "All social issues end up in classrooms," she said. "We've seen that before. That's part of the reason why we are saying we need to have the guidance counselors, the social workers, the wrap-around services, making schools into hubs of community where people see each other for who each other is." The percentage of public schools reporting cyberbullying at least once a week doubled in 2019-2020 to 16%, from 8% in the 2009-2010 school year, the report said. Social media became vastly more prevalent during that decade. Amanda Nickerson, a professor of school psychology at the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education, did not attribute the rise in cyberbullying to the pandemic. "Part of that has to do with technology," she said. "Kids are spending so much more time on computers, on cellphones." Twenty-seven percent of gay, lesbian or bisexual students in grades 9 to 12 reported being targeted by electronic bullying during the previous 12 months, compared to 19% of students unsure about their sexual identity and 14% of heterosexual students, according to 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Students were not asked if they identified as transgender. Especially notable as the pandemic continues: Just 55% of public schools offered mental health assessments in 2019-2020 and only 42% offer treatment. "This is not due to concerns about community and/or parent support, but primarily due to inadequate funding or access to licensed professionals," said Stephanie Fredrick, an assistant professor who also teaches at the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education. "Schools in rural areas are even less likely to provide diagnostic services." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) Scotland's leader told lawmakers in Edinburgh Tuesday that she plans to hold a fresh referendum on Scotland's independence on Oct. 19, 2023 even though U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson maintains it wasn't the right time for such a vote. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the question to be asked will be the same as that in Scotlands first independence vote in 2014: Should Scotland be an independent country? The U.K.-wide government of Johnson opposes a new referendum and has repeatedly said the issue was settled in 2014, when 55% saying they wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Scotlands government requires a special order from Johnson to legally hold a referendum. Sturgeon said she will ask the U.K. Supreme Court to rule on the Scottish governments right to hold the vote if Johnson does not give the go-ahead. Scotlands most senior law official has referred the matter to the top court on Tuesday, she said. She added that she would be writing to Johnson to inform him of her plans. Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party and the devolved government in Scotland, insists its time to revisit the matter of independence, not least because of Britains exit from the European Union a move opposed by a majority of Scots. My determination is to secure a process that allows the people of Scotland, whether yes, no or yet to be decided, to express their views in a legal, constitutional referendum so the majority view can be established fairly and democratically, she said Tuesday. Johnson said he would study Sturgeons plans for a second referendum, but stressed that the focus of the country should be on building a stronger economy." We will study it very carefully and we will respond properly ... I certainly think that well be able to have a stronger economy and a stronger country together," he told reporters. A spokesman for Johnsons office said his position is unchanged and he continues to think its not the time to be talking about a referendum. The spokesman said the government will not be drawn into hypotheticals about whether it would open negotiations for Scottish independence if Scots vote for it in a referendum next year. Even if the referendum does go ahead as proposed, a majority vote will not by itself make Scotland independent from the rest of the U.K. For Scotland to become independent following a yes vote, legislation would have to be passed by the U.K. and Scottish Parliaments, Sturgeon stressed. Sturgeon maintains that her party's success in local elections last year gives her a mandate for a fresh referendum. While the Scottish National Party did not win overall control in the Scottish Parliament, the election of a record number of Scottish Green lawmakers means there is a majority for a new independence vote. Sturgeon said that if there was no lawful way for the Scottish government to hold a referendum, and if Johnsons government refused to grant permission for such a vote, she would fight the next U.K. general election on the single issue of independence. Opposition parties have criticized Sturgeon for her obsession with holding a new independence vote and say she should instead be focused on more practical matters such as tackling the soaring cost of living. A potentially illegal referendum next year is the wrong priority for Scotland, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said. We wont play Nicola Sturgeons games. We wont take part in a pretend poll when there is real work to be done." Like Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland has its own parliament and devolved government and makes its own policies on public health, education and other matters. But the U.K.-wide government in London controls matters such as defense and fiscal policy. BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. - Here's how ready I was to disapprove of Taco Bell Defy. I had just eaten a lunch of nettle-ramp soup, foraged from my own yard in Shoreview, Minn. I was also - and you're going to think I'm making this up, but I'm not - scheduled to leave the next day on a flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco, in order to, among other things, make an anchovy-vinaigrette salad for Alice Waters. That really happened. You can ask my wife, Mary Jo. Anyway, that gives you some idea. It was Mary Jo who plucked me from this peaceful slow food bubble and placed me in the path of Taco Bell Defy, the next-generation, mobile-app-friendly, drive-through restaurant concept from the fast-food giant. The first prototype in the nation had recently landed, somewhat resoundingly, in a second-ring Minneapolis suburb named Brooklyn Park. Mary Jo believes tacos are the most consistently satisfying form of food, and, though appreciative of the entire taxonomy of the taco ecosystem, she has recently been on a very specific quest, scouring Twin Cities trucks, stands and restaurants, to find not the best taco in town, not the perfect taco, but the just-right taco - defined as a sort of self-aware palmful of 200 calories or so that understands what it is, and what it isn't. Its primary job, when found, would be to bridge, reliably and unfussily, that peckish hour or so in the car at lunchtime, or between an afternoon latte and a late dinner. How would we know when Mary Jo had found the just-right taco? Because, after taking a bite, she would declare it to be "just right." Mary Jo is a decisive and unafraid liker of what she likes, and disliker of what she does not. I was rinsing out the last green flecks of my irreproachably, almost impossibly, local, seasonal and sustainable soup, when Mary Jo looked up from her computer and said, "Oh my God. Tacos from the sky." She had happened upon an article about Taco Bell Defy's promise to make fast food just that little bit faster by allowing you to order remotely from an app, scan a QR code when you arrive, and receive your meal from a prep kitchen above your head, via an elevator tube - a futuristic sort of dumbwaiter, as envisioned by George Jetson. Brooklyn Park, as it happens, lies a scant half-hour drive from our front door. "We are not going to Taco Bell," I said. "Tacos," she said. "From the sky." It took one minute, forty-six seconds from the time we pulled up to the QR scanner in the drive-through lane that evening, to the time we drove off with a bag containing two hard-shell tacos, a Cheesy Gordita Crunch, and something called a Black Bean Quesarito. The frankly handsome modernist building was neon-lit in what might be called either Vikings Purple or Prince Purple. The drive-through screens were oversized, bright and crisp (quite a bit more Tesla than Buick Riviera), and we were guided from step to step with a comforting techie efficiency. We did not interact with a single human being, and gained no insight into whether our little Quesarito had had a happy childhood, or been humanely slaughtered. If the general compass heading of mainstream American food is in the direction of more, cheaper and faster, this is the next logical step away from merely very fast food, served by people, toward whatever apotheosis awaits us. Perhaps implantable electrodes in our hypothalami, or brain wave sniffing personal delivery drones that sense when, and for exactly what, we are hungry. "This is it," said Mary Jo. "You can't be serious." "This is the taco." "You mean you've spent two years driving past Taco Bells in search of a Taco Bell taco?" "You know what it is?" she asked. "It's my mom's taco. Hard shell. Ground beef. Grated cheddar. Iceberg lettuce. This is the taco I grew up on." I remembered it too, of course. Family dinner in the '70s. The package of nested Ortega hard shells, smelling like dusty popcorn. The foil-lined packet of Ortega spice mix stirred into a skillet of ground hamburger. The taco exploding into shards at the first bite. Its innards plopping onto the plate. That was already not so much a taco as the degradation of somebody's borrowed notion of a taco. But it was a formative age, and those sensations had lodged somewhere ineradicable, waiting to be awakened. And here we were, Mary Jo and I, synapses firing, involuntarily calling up - the way some people remembered roast chickens, or cherry pies, or ribs on the grill all afternoon - the corporate food of our childhoods. And half a century from now, I asked myself, knowing the likely answer, would Taco Bell Defy represent, in the mind of some 50-something parent of two, a simpler time, before the world got so complicated? Was there a 6-year-old in Brooklyn Park right now, whose mouth, decades from now, would water at some sensory trigger, involuntarily resurrecting the exact texture and smell of a Cheesy Gordita Crunch? "This," said Mary Jo. "This bite right here." She held up her half-eaten first taco, and I could see a coarse thread or two of grated cheese amid pale lettuce and triangles of broken shell. I could tell that the beef mix had begun to soften the little gutter at the base of the U-shaped shell, and in spite of myself, I wanted that bite, too. Does Taco Bell Defy do well what it has set out to do - deliver a bag of food in less than two minutes? It does. Did I miss the burst of static and garbled human voice asking me to repeat my order while I leaned out my driver's side window? I did not. The app worked seamlessly, and no one, at any time, asked me whether I was having a good day. When I next feel the urge to, in the language of 1980s marketing, "Run for the Border," would I rather visit this slick new incarnation than the single-lane, bumper-to-bumper drive-throughs of its older siblings? I absolutely would. And there is some comfort to be found in almost anything these days that claims it is new and improved and turns out to be both. Taco Bell Defy is the MP3 that out-convenienced the CD, which had out-convenienced the cassette, and so on back to the romantic, analog and cumbersomely non-portable experience of watching live hands make the strings of instruments vibrate. But is it a good thing that this has been accomplished? Unquestionably, I had just experienced an advancement of some kind. Was it an improvement? As strings of cheese dangled from my Black Bean Quesarito, tasting like what would happen if you could melt Doritos into a bright orange magma, my question felt irrelevant. Any complaints I might lodge about Taco Bell Defy as a proposed next step in America's relationship to food would reduce the traffic through its lanes by exactly zero vehicles and result in the appearance of exactly no new organic polyculture farms. It felt like criticizing a Jimi Hendrix solo for all the ways in which it did not resemble a Bach Partita. There is a rhetorical technique called a Gish gallop in which a debater simply tosses out as many arguments - true, half true, untrue - as can be enunciated within the allotted time. The opponent cannot possibly refute all of them, because it takes less time to detonate a bomb than to clean up after one, and so the first debater ends up looking convincing and hyper-informed, while the second looks defensive and ill-prepared. Taco Bell Defy is a culinary Gish gallop, and I understood, as I pulled past a Chipotle and a Starbucks on my way out of the parking lot, that I was the second debater, shuffling papers around, correcting abstruse misstatements, caviling at the shading of words, looking bad, and, most certainly, losing. In the parking lot across the street - and you're going to think I'm making this up too, but ask Mary Jo if this didn't happen - there stood a small panel truck, a mobile taqueria called La Manguita, with two people in line, which we passed on our way to the highway, balling up the wrappers of our Taco Bell dinner. A week or so later, I texted Mary Jo, asking if I should pick up a sandwich for lunch from Lowry Hill Meats, Minneapolis's rightly revered whole-animal butcher shop. "Getting tacos today," she said. "Sounds good," I said. "Where?" A short pause before she answered. "The sky." - - - Steve Hoffman is a Minnesota writer and tax preparer. UNITED NATIONS (AP) Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Tuesday of becoming a terrorist state carrying out daily terrorist acts and urged Russias expulsion from the United Nations. In a virtual address to the U.N. Security Council, Zelenskyy urged the U.N. to establish an international tribunal to investigate the actions of Russian occupiers on Ukrainian soil and to hold the country accountable. We need to act urgently to do everything to make Russia stop the killing spree, Zelenskyy said, warning that otherwise Russias terrorist activity will spread to other European countries and Asia, singling out the Baltic states, Poland, Moldova and Kazakhstan. What is punished at the level of specific criminals and criminal organizations must not go unpunished at the level of a state that has become a terrorist, he said. Daily terrorist acts. No days off. They work as terrorists every day. In urging Russias ouster from the 193-member United Nations, Zelenskyy cited Article 6 of the U.N. Charter which states that a member which has persistently violated the principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. Russias expulsion, however, is virtually impossible. Thats because as a permanent council member Russia would be able to use its veto to block any attempt to oust it. Ukraine called the council meeting after Russias recent upsurge in attacks including Mondays fiery airstrike on a crowded shopping mall in the central city of Kremenchuk that Zelenskyy said killed at least 18 people and wounded 30 others. Dozens are missing and body fragments have been found including hands and feet, he said, adding that unfortunately there may be more victims. The Ukrainian leader began his speech listing Russias attacks in recent days and giving the first names and ages of many of the victims. He ended his address asking the 15 Security Council members and others in the chamber to stand in silent tribute to commemorate the tens of thousands of Ukrainian children and adults killed in the war. All members rose including Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky. When he took the floor later, Polyansky protested against giving Zelenskyy a second opportunity to address the Security Council, a decision by Albanian which holds the council presidency this month. The Russian envoy said the Ukrainian presidents video address violated the councils traditions and existing practices which state that leaders who wish to speak to the council must be present in the chamber. The U.N. Security Council should not be turned into a platform for a remote PR campaign from president Zelenskyy in order to get more weapons from participants at the NATO summit starting Wednesday in Madrid, Polyansky said. He claimed that there was no Russian strike on the shopping center in Kremenchuk, saying Russian precision weapons struck hangars in the Kremenchuk road machinery plant with weapons and ammunition from the United States and Europe destined for Ukrainian troops in eastern Donbass. The shopping center was some distance away but the detonation of ammunition created a fire which then spread to the shopping center, Polyansky said. The Russian envoy told Western nations that by supplying weapons to Ukraine they were prolonging the time when Ukraines leaders will sit down at the negotiating table with a realistic position rather than with slogans. We began a special military operation in order to stop the shelling of Donbass by Ukraine and so that the territory of this country, which has been turned into anti-Russia at the behest of a number of Western countries, as well as its nationalist leadership, ceases to pose a threat to Russia or the inhabitants of the south and southeast of Ukraine, he said. And until those goals are achieved, our operation will continue. Britains U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward retorted that Russia can try to claim that nothing is true and make outrageous claims of Ukrainian provocations but the undeniable fact is that Russia invaded Ukraine. There is one aggressor here, she said. The evidence will catch up with them and there will be accountability for these crimes." Ambassador Zhang Jun of China, a close ally of Russia, called the conflict a geopolitical crisis with multi-faceted spillover effects and urged the international community to work together to create conditions for Russian-Ukrainian peace talks to end hostilities at an early date. Attempts to weaponize the world economy and to coerce other countries into taking sides will artificially divide the international community, and make the world even less secure, Zhang warned. Delaying and obstructing diplomatic negotiations for geopolitical purposes will only add fuel to the fire to intensify confrontation and magnify conflicts. Inevitably, it will end up hurting themselves. U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills, like many other Western ambassadors, accused Russia of destroying the shopping center, saying the attack fits into a cruel pattern, one where the Russian military kills civilians and destroys civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. He stressed that there is ample publicly available evidence that Russia, and Russia alone is responsible for this and other attacks. BRUSSELS (AP) Ukraine will start trading electricity with neighboring European countries later this week as it continues to move away from Russia's sphere of influence, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) said on Tuesday. The Belgian-based association, which represents dozens of transmission system operators in Europe, said the first phase of commercial exchanges is set to begin on June 30 following the synchronization of power systems in March. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The man considered to be the wealthiest oligarch in Russia, who has been photographed playing ice hockey with President Vladimir Putin, joins a growing list of those transferring or, sailing their prized assets to Dubai as the West tightens its massive sanctions program on Russias economy. Vladimir Potanin, head of the worlds largest refined nickel and palladium producer, may not be sanctioned by the United States or Europe yet; such sanctions could roil metal markets and potentially disrupt supply chains, experts say. As the biggest shareholder in mining company Nornickel, Potanin had a personal fortune of $30.6 billion before the war on Ukraine, according to Forbes. But like an increasing number of blacklisted Russian oligarchs, he has apparently taken the precaution of moving his $300 million superyacht to the safe haven of Dubai, in the U.S.-allied United Arab Emirates. It is called the Nirvana, and the sleek 88-meter-long (289-foot-long) superyacht, equipped with a glass elevator, gym, hot tub, 3D cinema and two terrariums of exotic reptiles, stands out even in a port full of flashy, floating mansions. The giant Dutch-built vessel with a navy blue hull was docked on Tuesday flying the flag of the Cayman Islands when Associated Press journalists observed the ship at Dubais Port Rashid in the eyeshot of sanctioned Russian parliamentarian Andrei Skochs $156 million Madame Gu. Representatives for Potanin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The arrival of Russian-owned luxury vessels in Dubai has become an outsized symbol of the UAEs reluctance to oppose Moscows war on Ukraine and enforce Western sanctions. One of a shrinking number of countries where Russians can still fly directly, the financial center has become a thriving hub for Russia's rich, in part because of its reputation for welcoming money from anywhere both legitimate and shady. They haven't tried to hide the fact they're accepting oligarchs themselves and their yachts, said Julia Friedlander, a former senior policy adviser for Europe in the U.S. Treasurys Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. When it comes to taking sides in the conflict, it's not in their political interest to do so. They want to keep their access to money from around the world. The UAE Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Emirati stance has stoked tensions with the United States, which has sought to pressure its Gulf Arab ally to help combat Russian sanctions evasion. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, one of the main U.S. coordinators on the Russian sanctions strategy, visited the UAE last week to voice American concerns about Russian financial flows and demand increased vigilance. Still, there's no indication that President Joe Biden will impose secondary sanctions, leaving Washington with few pressure points. As Moscows war on Ukraine grinds on, Western economic sanctions have proliferated in an effort to pressure Putin to change course. The European Union has captured billions of dollars in art, yachts and property. Britain, Fiji, Italy, Spain and other countries have impounded oligarchs yachts. The U.S. has seized vessels and aircraft. Some prominent oligarchs, however, have escaped the blacklist because of their strategic holdings. Although Potanin has been hit with Canadian and Australian sanctions for his close ties to the Kremlin, his reputation as the King of Nickel has so far spared him. We're reaching a critical metal shortage and we don't know where those supply chains are headed, so you have to ask, would sanctioning him make things worse?" Friedlander said. Those are serious considerations. People seeking abortions before six weeks of pregnancy cant be prosecuted in certain Texas counties based on pre-Roe Texas state laws from the 1920s, a Harris County judge ruled Tuesday. The judge issued a temporary restraining order barring prosecutors from charging abortion providers and recipients under multiple 1925 laws still on the Texas books that criminalize abortion. The order will allow only abortion providers named in the suit to continue providing care until July 12 when the next hearing in the case is scheduled. Clinics resuming care include Whole Woman's Health, the Alamo Womens Reproductive Services in San Antonio, Brookside Womens Medical Center and Austin Womens Health Center in Austin, as well as the Houston Womens Clinic and Houston Womens Reproductive Services in Houston. Texas attorney general Ken Paxton announced Friday he would support local prosecutors immediately pursuing charges based on these antiquated laws minutes after the Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade Friday, in defiance of the 30-day limitation on enforcement of Texas abortion bans included in a trigger law passed last year. The language of the temporary restraining order levied Tuesday does not wholly clarify where in Texas the block on prosecutions before 30 days from Friday's decision applies, according to Harris County Civil Attorney Christian Menefee. Its not entirely clear that it applies to all Texas prosecutors, Menefee said. The courts jurisdiction is limited to the defendants in the case, Menefee explained, meaning the restraining order technically applies only in counties where defendants have prosecutorial authority. The local prosecutors named as defendants in the suit are the district attorneys for Texas seven most populous counties: Jose Garza, Travis County district attorney; Joe Gonzales, Bexar County DA; Kim Ogg, Harris County DA; John Creuzot, Dallas County DA; Sharon Wilson, Tarrant County DA; Ricardo Rodriguez Jr., Hidalgo County DA; and Greg Wilson, Collin County DA. [The restraining order] isnt necessarily binding on Texas other counties, said David Levine, professor at UC Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. It would depend on how a Texas court would interpret the relationship between the state attorney general and all of those other county DAs, Levine continued. There are 247 Texas counties whose district attorneys are not named as defendants in the case. Still, the judges temporary restraining order is an indication of how Texas courts in general may be looking at the validity of prosecutions based on Texas never-repealed abortion bans from 1925: It certainly sends a signal as to how judges are thinking about this throughout the state, said Menefee. Menefee cautioned that regardless of any temporary reprieve from prosecutions within the 30-day trigger-law window, the legal forefathers of Texas six-week "Heartbeat Bill" abortion ban have been fighting for years to lay the groundwork to prosecute people under old Texas state laws. The idea is to say that prosecutors can enforce these old laws because Roe v. Wade is no longer good law'," Menefee explained. What the judge said today is that these defendants in this case are restrained from prosecuting folks under these 1920s laws." I think its a shameful day, when the Republican party and the attorney general are looking back to laws on the books in the 1920s," Menefee said. "We all know what kind of laws were on the books in Texas in the 1920sthey wouldve stopped me from becoming an elected official, wouldve stopped a lot of people from doing a lot of things." Paxton did not respond to multiple requests for comment. On a sweltering afternoon in Dallas, Kelly Neidert stood alone on a busy corner near the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She waved a handwritten sign reading "Dr. Lopez is transitioning little kids" as drivers passed, her eyes shielded from the summer sun by colorful 80s-style shades. Neidert's sign took aim at Dr. Ximena Lopezs work as the leader of UT Southwesterns Genecis Clinic, which focuses on gender-affirming medical care, offering mental health services and hormone treatments for transgender youth. The clinic won praise from UT Southwestern when it opened in 2015 and Lopez participated in a host of interviews to discuss her teams work with trans youth. However, in recent years, UT Southwestern began to shift away from publicly lauding the clinic and eventually moved to shut it down last November, suggesting Media attention and political and scientific controversy, as well as UT Southwesterns status as a state agency, were considered in the months leading up to these joint decisions, in a statement to the Dallas Morning News. In response, Dr. Lopez filed a lawsuit to keep Genecis open, scoring two major wins in court during the past several weeks: one that granted her a temporary window for taking on new patients, another that suspended Texas attorney general Ken Paxtons office from getting involved in her case. Neidert explained that Geneciss resumption of gender affirmation therapiestreatments a vast body of research shows yield marked improvements in transgender peoples long-term mental and emotional healthpushed her to organize last week's protest of Dr. Lopez. "Thats why were out here: We dont think kids should be getting on hormones, on puberty blockers and all that," said Neidert, the only protester who showed last Wednesday afternoon. Neidert was weathering the heat as a representative of Protect Texas Kids (PTK), an organization she founded in April that grew out of her far-right and anti-trans activism as a student at the University of North Texas Denton campus. As the leader of UNT's Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) chapter, Neidert engaged in activism that earned her national visibility: notoriety among the left and support from prominent political figures on the far-right. The group's site paints transgender identity as a myth pushed by "the toxic, indoctrinating agenda of the left," and gender-affirming therapies as "part of the ongoing assault that has been ruthlessly waged against our children's identities, core development, and traditional values." Neidert plans to expand her ideas and her group from a North Texas base into the Greater Houston area beginning in the next few weeks, she said. PTK will first protest outside of a downtown Houston drag brunch joint on July 10, according to Neidert. She also said she's slated to be a featured speaker at upcoming event with True Texas Project events, another North Texas far-right group that's working to build inroads into Harris County, but its leadership didn't immediately respond to an email confirming her involvement. Expansion of Neidert's anti-trans activism into Houston comes amid a push by Texas lawmakers to eliminate gender-affirming therapies and cast transgender and LGBTQ people as pedophiles and "groomers," defined by the NSPCC as "when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them." Prominent far-right conservatives such as Marjorie Taylor Greene have echoed Texas leaders with proposed legislation aimed at banning drag performance in front of kids and shutting down gender affirming therapies. The strength of a Texas Republican politicians stance against gender-affirming care and drag performance "has definitely become a litmus test" for true conservatism, said Andrea Segovia, senior policy and field advisor with the Transgender Education Network of Texas, following the ratification of the Texas GOPs new platform last week. "It's either you're with us or against us," Segovia said. "That position that they're taking is leading to people's deaths. Them being uncomfortable with who somebody is and playing political games is literally causing people to die." Neidert, who once described herself as a "Christian Fascist" on Twitter, decried Republicans who don't come out strongly enough against gender affirming therapies and drag performance, dubbing them "capitulationist conservatives." However, in the past week, Neidert's personal Twitter account was suspended after she tweeted, "Let's start rounding up people who participate in pride events." PTK's organizational account was also banned. Her TikTok account at one time had more than 64,000 followers, but was suspended months ago. However PTK's Facebook account remains active, but boasts fewer than 500 followers. "Obviously that [tweet] was intended to be provocative," Neidert said. Im not calling for law enforcement to just go like round people up because theyre gay or whatever." She later clarified, however, that she and PTK do advocate for criminal charges against drag performers if kids are exposed to their performances. "When its in front of kids... like at these drag shows where they see the kids and interact with them, then yes I do think there should be criminal charges on those people." Neidert has previously used social media to bolster her reputation as an ultra-conservative firebrand on campus. During her time leading YCT, Neidert became infamous for public displays espousing her far-right beliefs: She shouted through a megaphone advocating for in-person classes during a COVID surge; organized a campus event featuring anti-trans Republican state House candidate Jeff Younger as a speaker; and tweeted that "trans 'women' are men, actually," among other provocations. The backlash from other students catapulted Neidert and the university into the national media spotlight, including appearances by Neidert on Fox News and Newsmax, and profiles of the then-22-year-old marketing major by Daily Beast and Texas Tribune, by which point she'd branded herself "the most hated conservative college student in [Texas]" in a tweet. Former Proud Boys lawyer Jason Lee Van Dyke voiced his public support and offered to work with Neidert if legal battles arose from her activities on campus. An online petition calling for her expulsion on the grounds that she "perpetuated a hostile environment by encouraging and disseminating transphobic rhetoric" on campus received more than 21,000 signatures. Neidert said she is now riding the momentum and visibility she gained at UNT to build up PTK's membership numbers. "A lot of DFW people are familiar with my story at UNT, and know who I am, so I had people watching to see what I was going to do when I graduated," Neidert said. "That led to getting support from these people." This support included financial donations to support the group's activities, Neidert said. However, she declined to name any specific financial supporters. In the lead-up to their planned protest in Houston next month, PTK will target other North Texas clinics that provide trans healthcare, Neidert said. "Well be out here all summer." Evgen_Prozhyrko/Getty Images/iStockphoto A Texas mayor resigned after he was arrested and charged last week with soliciting a minor online. Pilot Point Mayor Matthew Mcllravy, 42, was elected in May and then arrested on June 21 following a five-month police investigation. During a city council meeting, acting interim mayor Chad Major told the public how Mcllravy submitted his resignation on Thursday, June 23. Mcllravy, who is a married father of two boys, is accused of trying to meet up and engage in sex with a girl he thought was 13, according to an arrest warrant pulled from the Dallas Morning News. As many as 50 people are dead after an abandoned tractor-trailer was found in southwest San Antonio Monday evening, and more than a dozen were rushed to nearby hospitals. They are all believed to be undocumented migrants. "This is nothing short of a horrific tragedy," San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg told reporters. "Our job is not to ask why. Our job is to ask how we can help. That's why you're seeing medical assistance. As far as the federal investigation goes, that's in the hands of the feds. I'm sure there will be more questions and hopefully some answers as we move forward." On Twitter, Nirenberg posted: "Migrants seeking asylum should always be treated as a humanitarian crisis, but this evening we're facing a horrific human tragedy." He also urged Texans to "think compassionately, pray for the deceased, the ailing, and their families at this moment." The San Antonio Police Department shared details of the "horrific tragedy" during a news conference near the scene on Monday. Chief William P. McManus said police received a call at approximately 5:50 p.m. Monday from an employee working nearby the scene who said they heard a cry for help. The employee went to investigate and found "a number of deceased people inside" a partially open tractor-trailer, McManus said. Gov. Greg Abbott took to Twitter shortly after the news surfaced to point a finger at the Biden administration's border policies. "These deaths are on Biden," Abbott wrote. "They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law." Abbott's Democratic gubernatorial opponent Beto O'Rourke stopped short of placing blame but called the incident "devastating" and offered his thoughts to the families of those lost. "We need urgent action dismantle human smuggling rings and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration that reflect our values and meet our countrys needs," O'Rourke tweeted. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez directed his ire toward the governor, tweeting, "Another example of @GregAbbott_TX failed policies. Hes now overseen the deadliest school shooting in Texas history & the largest Migrant death in Texas history, but tells us he's got it all under control. Another avoidable tragedy. More avoidable deaths. Tragic and frustrating." Sen. Ted Cruz seized the moment to blame Democrats, tweeting: "Horrific. This..is..WRONG. How many more people have to die before Dems give a damn?" U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose district encompasses the site, tweeted a similar sentiment, writing: "Deadliest border crisis in our nations history. You wont hear one peep from Democrats." U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar tweeted: "This is an absolute tragedy. 47 are now dead after driving through the Laredo checkpoint. We must bring an end to these senseless deaths and hold those responsible accountable. Let us pray for the families of the deceased. May they Rest In Peace." Judy Rouse, the longtime executive director of The Life Center, said Monday theres plenty of work to be done in light of the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. She told the Reporter-Telegram providing education and support for those in need will be the path going forward for the center -- a non-profit, faith-based alternative to abortion organization advocating sexual wellness through three areas of outreach, according to the centers website. The Life Center, with offices in Midland, Odessa, Andrews and Big Spring, lists teaching about sexual risks, helping through pregnancy and healing through restoration as those three areas of outreach. We offer practical educational tools, spiritual support and mentoring to women and men helping equip them to choose, enjoy and nurture healthy relationships, the organizations website says. Center officials and its backers are pro-life. Their annual banquet has featured top voices of the pro-life movement, include former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Dr. Ben Carson. We will continue serving our communities, serving young women and men in terms of next steps, Rouse said. A center to support Supporting those who find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy includes providing consultation with a nurse, checking on the availability of pre-natal classes, providing parenting education and being there with material assistance Diapers, wipes, formula, gently-used maternity and baby clothes and other baby care items up to 36 months. We help young women navigate -- both on an emotional level and a physical level, Rouse said. They are not without basic needs. We alleviate some of those issues. She said resources will be needed, especially if there are more clients because of the courts action. She welcomes those who want to give to go to tlcdonor.org. That includes nurses who can donate their time. The abortion fight continues Rouse also mentioned needing volunteers to help deliver the message of prevention in schools. Rouse said. Your body, your choice requires teens or young men and women to choose the right person and knowing the consequences of actions. She believes sex isnt a casual decision and not the way the media has sold it. She also believes the pro-life battles do not stop with the courts 6-3 decision. Rouse said Planned Parenthoods departure in from Midland-Odessa in 2012 and 2013 didnt stop abortions in the Permian Basin. She said people are not going to interrupt their lifestyle and they will be searching for some place. She worried that potential clients will seek chemical abortions that they believe are safe. Rouse did tell the Reporter-Telegram that while The Life Center has taken necessary safety precautious in light of the violence happening with pregnancy centers across the nation, she doesnt worry about that happening here. Theres too much of a heart for life in the community, she said. Im grateful for support we have received and that our community wants to help people, Rouse said. We are building relationships in an attempt to heal the heart. Brokenness leads us to make rash decisions. Fair warning: This article is about the blood on Mrs. Kennedys pink dress after President Kennedy was assassinated in his Dallas motorcade in 1963. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy declined to change her blood-stained pink dress even at the hurriedly arranged swearing in on Air Force One of Vice President Lyndon Johnson as the new president hours later. Let them see what they have done, she said using biblically vague pronouns for others to fill in. Fifty-nine years later, after an 18-year-old boy gunned down 19 junior high school students in Uvalde, Texas, in May, the former head of homeland security Jeh Johnson wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post calling for an Emmett Till moment, in effect saying, Let them see what they have done. Emmett Till was a Chicago 14-year-old Black boy in 1955 who was sassy to a white woman in Money, Miss., and was shot, killed and dumped in the river by the womans husband and brother-in-law. Emmetts mother, Mamie Till, insisted that his mutilated body be displayed in an open casket. Jeh Johnson in his op-ed asks parents of the dead to consider releasing photos of the bullet-ridden bodies of their children at Robb School in Uvalde to shock peoples moral conscience. But an 11-year-old fourth-grade girl who survived the shootings, Miah Cerrillo, has done something more powerful than the Emmett Till moment Jeh Johnson proposes. She has described for a reporter how she survived the teenage murderers bullets by smearing blood of a deceased classmate on her own body then playing dead. A decade before Emmett Tills murder, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower viewed the corpses of thousands of Jewish prisoners in the Dachau concentration camp in April 1945 and he ordered residents of the nearby German towns to line up and file by the bodies of the dead. Eisenhowers instinct was the same as Mrs. Kennedys: Let them see what they have done. Unfortunately, we became a nation of the numb after the Kennedy assassination. Martin Luther King and Sen. Robert Kennedy would be assassinated seven years later. Then four college students would be killed by Ohio National Guardsmen at a Kent State University demonstration in 1970, beginning decades of American school shootings of helpless children: Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland and now, in 2022, Uvalde. Consider the words of William Faulkner in his novel Light in August. Man performs, engenders, so much more than he can or should have to bear. Thats how he finds that he can bear anything. Thats it. Thats what is so terrible. That he can bear anything, anything. Days after President Kennedy was murdered, his widow, no longer in pink but now in black mourning dress and veil, bravely held the hands of her two children 5-year-old Caroline and 3-year-old John Jr. as they walked in the presidents funeral procession. Mrs. Kennedys dignity and courage erase her image immediately after the shooting when, still in white gloves and pink pillbox hat and pink dress, she crawled on hands and knees out onto the trunk of the open convertible limousine speeding to Parkland Hospital. She was trying frantically to retrieve part of president Kennedys skull which the assassins bullets had shattered and spewed onto the trunk of the topless limousine. Mrs. Kennedy was 33 at the time, and hailed for her glamorous charm and elegant style. Murder had reduced her to a frantic creature on all fours reaching in desperation to retrieve the shattered head of her loved one to try to hold him together. Let them see what they have done deals only with the visible damage of violence. Mrs. Kennedy knew that. And so did Faulkner. The other part the pain part no one ever sees. Paul Keane is a retired Vermont English teacher who grew up in New Haven and Hamden. UPDATE: June 29, 11:40 A.M. CT Law enforcement officers have arrested three individuals suspected of involvement in a human trafficking conspiracy that left 51 immigrants dead inside a parked trailer-tractor in southwest San Antonio on Monday night. A CNN report published Wednesday morning stated investigators traced the Texas registration of the semitruck back to a San Antonio residence, where officers located arrested the suspects after they emerged from the property. Two men, Juan Claudio D'Luna-Mendez and Juan Francisco D'Luna-Bilbao, have been charged with federal offenses for "possession of a weapon by an alien in the United States." Criminal complaints filed Monday in US District Court for the Western District of Texas state "numerous" weapons were discovered at the suspects' residence. --- End of Update --- UPDATE: 4:05 P.M. CT At a Tuesday press conference Precinct 1 Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores raised the death toll of Monday's immigrant trailer-tractor tragedy to 51, according to a CNN report. As many as 34 of the 51 victims have potentially been identified, Clay-Flores told reporters. Due to the number of casualties the county medical examiner's office has requested help from offices in neighboring counties to aid in processing the deceased. In a Tuesday phone interview with CNN, Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio agent Craig Larrabee described Monday's deaths as "the worst human-smuggling event in the United States." "This sheds light on how dangerous human smuggling is," Larrabee told CNN. --- END OF UPDATE --- As many as 50 migrants were found dead or dying Monday evening near Lackland Air Force Base in southwest San Antonio after law enforcement received calls about a trailer-tractor parked on a stretch of road in the area. Sitting near railroad tracks in the vicinity of Quintana Road and Cassin Drive, the vehicle was reported to authorities around 6 p.m. by a city worker who claimed to have heard cries for help coming from the trailer, according to the Dallas Morning News' Nataly Keomoungkhoun. One official told the San Antonio Express-News that as many as 100 migrants were discovered at the scene by first responders. Sixteen individuals were transported to San Antonio-area hospitals on Monday night for treatment, per the Express News. Officers arriving at the trailer reported finding one body outside the truck and the doors to the trailer open. Victims inside the compartment were "hot to the touch," according to San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood, who said many exhibited signs of heat-related illness. "They were suffering from heatstroke, exhaustion," Hood said. No water was found inside the trailer, which was outfitted for refrigeration but lacked an air conditioning unit when discovered by police, according to an Express News report. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Monday's death toll was the highest he could recall for a human smuggling incident in San Antonio. "There are, that we know of, 46 individuals who are no longer with us, who had families, who were likely trying to find a better life," Nirenberg said, citing an earlier estimated death toll. "And we have 16 folks who are fighting for their lives in the hospital. Our focus right now is to try to bring aid to them as best we can. This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy." Three individuals have been taken into custody, according to police, who have yet to provide further details on the arrests. The incident is likely one of the deadliest mass-casualty events involving migrants in U.S. history, and another tragic loss of life involving immigrants traveling in the back of large vehicles. In December 2021, 55 migrants of mostly Central American descent were killed in southern Mexico when the truck transporting them flipped while attempting to turn, breaking apart and spilling occupants across the road. Lone Star State politicians began weighing in on the loss of life in San Antonio hours after the first reports emerged about the incident. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blamed President Joe Biden for the bodies discovered in the trailer, calling it a product of his administration's border policies. "These deaths are on Biden," Abbott tweeted. "They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law." Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar called the deaths "an absolute tragedy" and wrote that as many as 47 are now counted among the dead. On Tuesday morning CNN reported a federal official had raised the official death toll of the event to 50. The majority of victims hail from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, according to the report. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last week seemingly expressed support for the Supreme Court potentially overturning past rulings on cases involving the LGBTQ community following the downfall of Roe v. Wade on Friday. In a separate concurring opinion Friday, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas questioned a number of the high court's past rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the right of same-sex couples to marry, and Lawrence vs. Texasa 2003 decision in which the court ruled against the state of Texas regarding a 1973 law criminalizing the act of sodomy. Thomas also mentioned Griswold v. Connecticut, which established the right of married couples to use contraception without government interference. "In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. Because any substantive due process decision is 'demonstrably erroneous,'" Thomas wrote. "We have a duty to 'correct the error' regarding these established in those precedents." During a Friday appearance on News Nation's "On Balance with Leland Vittert," Paxton said he would support the Supreme Court revisiting the cases mentioned by Thomas and defend Texas' long-unenforced law against sodomy. "I'm sure you read Justice Thomas's concurrence where he said there were a number of other of these issues, Griswold, Lawrence and Obergefell he felt needs to be looked at again," Vittert told Paxton. "Obviously the Lawrence case came from Texas... would you as attorney general be comfortable defending a law that once again outlawed sodomy? That questioned Lawrence again or Griswold or gay marriage? That came from the state legislature to put to the test what Justice Thomas said?" "Yeah, I mean there's all kinds of issues here, but certainly the Supreme Court has stepped into issues that I don't think there's any constitutional provision dealing with," Paxton responded. "They were legislative issues and this is one of those issues and there may be more. So it would depend on the issue and dependent on what state law had said at the time." Vittert pressed on, asking, "For the sake of time here, you wouldn't rule out that if the state legislature passed the same law that Lawrence overturned on sodomy, you wouldn't have any problem then defending that and taking that case back to the Supreme Court?" Paxton responded: "Yeah, look my job is to defend state law and I'll continue to do that. That is my job under the Constitution and I'm certainly willing and able to do that." Asked if he would support the Texas Legislature testing the law, Paxton demurred. "I'd have to take a look at it," the attorney general said. "This is all new territory for us so I'd have to how the Legislature was laid out and whether we thought we could defend it. Ultimately, if it's constitutional, we're going to go defend it." Paxton's statements drew a swift rebuke from his Democratic opponent Rochelle Garza, who took to Twitter to call out the attorney general for his remarks during the interview. "Roe was just the first they wont stop till they roll back all of our civil rights," Garza wrote. "We MUST kick Ken Paxton out of office this Nov. When Im Attorney General, Texans will have a Civil Rights Division to protect ALL of our rights. Yall means all. Period." Conservative leaders from other states have since expressed support for Justice Thomas's opinion, including Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, who said he would support the Supreme Court reconsidering same-sex marriage. Utahs constitutional ban on same-sex unions still exists and could be reinstated if the high court were to overturn its earlier decision. Paxton's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the time of this writing. WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, June 27, 2022 _____ FLASH FLOOD WARNING The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... East Central Upton County in western Texas... * Until 930 PM CDT. * At 631 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen with locally higher amounts possible. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... mainly rural areas of East Central Upton County Flooding may be occurring near the intersection of State Highway 349 and Ranch Road 1555. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, June 27, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 712 PM CDT Mon Jun 27 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central Pecos, east central Reeves and central Ward Counties through 800 PM CDT... At 712 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles southwest of Grandfalls, or 23 miles north of Fort Stockton, moving northwest at 10 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Coyanosa and B F Goodrich Testing Track. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 3125 10286 3115 10291 3121 10330 3145 10316 TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 114DEG 10KT 3122 10296 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Bee County in south central Texas... * Until 745 PM CDT. * At 714 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles west of Blanconia, or 11 miles northeast of Skidmore, and is nearly stationary. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Skidmore. This includes US Highway 181 near mile marker 602. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ 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 Immigration Minister Sean Fraser explained to CIC News the process for fulfilling his mandate letter commitment to waive Canadian citizenship fees. This article is Part 4 of a special CIC News interview series with the minister. No date set for IRCC to waive Canadian citizenship application fees Immigration Minister Sean Fraser explained to CIC News the process for fulfilling his mandate letter commitment to waive Canadian citizenship fees. This article is Part 4 of a special CIC News interview series with the minister. No date set for IRCC to waive Canadian citizenship application fees Immigration Minister Sean Fraser explained to CIC News the process for fulfilling his mandate letter commitment to waive Canadian citizenship fees. This article is Part 4 of a special CIC News interview series with the minister. No date set for IRCC to waive Canadian citizenship application fees Immigration Minister Sean Fraser explained to CIC News the process for fulfilling his mandate letter commitment to waive Canadian citizenship fees. This article is Part 4 of a special CIC News interview series with the minister. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A The Canadian government needs more time to fulfil its promise to waive citizenship fees for applicants. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser made this revelation in a recent sit-down interview with CIC News in Toronto. The Canadian government announced shortly before the pandemic in late 2019 it would waive fees for new Canadian citizenship applicants. The pandemic delayed these plans and then Canada held a federal election last September. After the Liberal Party of Canada won their third straight election, Justin Trudeau asked his new immigration minister, Fraser, to follow through with the promise to waive citizenship fees. This is outlined in Frasers mandate letter, which contains his top immigration policy priorities. Find out if youre eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship Immigration minister says no date for waiving Canadian citizenship fees Transcript BelowIn late 2019, the Canadian government announced it would waive fees for new Canadian citizenship applicants. After the Liberal Party of C When asked by CIC News on when this promise may be implemented, the minister responded We dont have a date for you, and I feel its best to be open. The reason why is the decision to waive citizenship fees is not something that just exists within our [Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC] authorities. He explained that the authority to do so also exists within the federal budgetary process and no decisions have been made yet for the next federal fiscal year. Canada has one of the highest citizenship uptake rates in the world with some 85% of permanent residents becoming citizens. Prior to the pandemic some 250,000 people became citizens each year. However, some advocates argued that Canadian citizenship fees created barriers for low-income individuals to go ahead and become citizens. This explains why the federal government went ahead and said it wanted to waive fees altogether. It appears the government believes this policy will prove popular. A 2019 policy document by the Liberals suggested the government expected Canadian citizenship applications to increase 40% by 2024. The Canadian citizenship application backlog increased significantly during the pandemic, which Fraser explained is a function of factors such as IRCC employees needing to work remotely and the lack of in-person citizenship ceremonies at the start of the pandemic. In April 2020, the citizenship inventory stood at 240,000 persons but it grew to 468,000 persons by October 2021. Recent data suggests IRCC has been making progress, with the backlog now at 395,000 persons. Permanent residents who which to become Canadian citizens must meet certain criteria, such as physically residing in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the five years before they sign their citizenship application. Canadian citizenship by descent is also available to the first generation born abroad to a Canadian parent. Fraser provided assurances that he is committed to fulfilling the policy priorities in his mandate letter. Once we have news on that [waiving citizenship fees], we will be broadcasting it as widely as possible so that people know what to expect and timing for it to actually come into effect. Find out if youre eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship Special interview series with Minister Fraser CIC News sat down with the minister on June 21, 2022 to discuss the future of Canadian immigration. Over the coming weeks, CIC News is releasing a special series of articles elaborating on the interview with Minister Fraser on topics including: Minister Fraser was in Toronto to speak at Collision, one of the worlds largest technology conferences. Find out if youre eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. CIOs often make mistakes when working with consultants. I pointed out three of them in my last installment. Theres a fourth thats potentially more serious than these three combined: failing to take advantage of the consultants edge, either by engaging them or by making their edge your edge. True story: My consulting team, engaged to assess an IT organizations overall effectiveness, found that some of its practices violated fundamental financial compliance requirements in ways that could potentially lead to civil and criminal liability. We presented our concerns to the clients top executives as part of our preliminary findings review. They, quite testily, disagreed. Their books, they insisted, were squeaky clean, not to be challenged in our final analysis and recommendations. As consultants our integrity was, of course, negotiable. But not that negotiable. We wrapped up the engagement and left the clients halls and conference rooms, never to be invited back. Three years later they restated (unfavorably) their balance sheet by a few billion dollars. How was it that in just six weeks our four-person team, none with specialized expertise in forensic finance and accounting, spotted a major problem with the companys finance practices that the CFO, immersed in the subject every day, missed entirely? A fundamental rule of organizational dynamics is what made the difference, namely, that hidden in every company are people who collectively know about everything thats broken, and how to fix it. The consultants edge: Breaking the culture of silence As outside consultants, all we have to do is listen to lots of people, promising all of them anonymity as part of our process. In return they unburden, relieved to finally be talking with someone who cares. Its the consultants secret edge, and its harder to re-create this inside the organization than you might think. Imagine youre an individual contributor and you spot what you think is a serious problem, such as a steadily accumulating balance-sheet misstatement. What do you do? You tell your supervisor, of course. Your supervisor, though, lacks the authority, not to mention the budget and staff resources, to fix the problem. That leaves your supervisor with two choices. They can: (1) bury the problem and hope it isnt excavated until after theyve departed for less-vulnerable pastures; or (2) escalate the problem to their manager, who then has the same two choices. Rinse and repeat until the problem reaches a manager who does have the budget and authority, and can reallocate staff priorities to fix it. That should do it, but it doesnt, because this manager is, by definition, also the manager who will be blamed for the problem if it becomes visible at blamestorming levels. Thats when things get ugly, because while fixing the root cause might not be all that difficult and could be handled quietly, fixing the accumulated damage in this case restating a balance sheet whose inaccuracies have gradually accumulated over a period of years cant be kept under the management radar. Blamestorming: Bureaucracys big fix The most common solution, such as it is, is the practice known as bayonetting the wounded firing or disciplining everyone in the reporting chain directly below the manager who sits at the top of the problem tree and therefore logically owns it. By establishing that they hold people accountable, the bayonetter creates a political buffer that makes them part of the solution rather than the cause of the problem. This layer of protection lets them fix what needs to be fixed without endangering themselves. A less popular solution is whistleblowing. Its unpopular among individual contributors because it isnt a career-enhancing move for those who whistle and frequently leads to bayonetting the aforementioned wounded among their peers. Its also unpopular because its impact is, more often than not, negligible. Employees are, as a result, hesitant to take that path, and management is even less likely to encourage it. The solution? Culture change What actually works, should the organization be led by a braver sort of leadership team, is a change in the culture of management at all levels. The change is that when something bad happens, everyone in the organization, from the board of directors on down, assumes the root cause is systemic, not a person who has screwed up. In the case of my clients balance sheet fiasco, the root cause turned out to be everyone doing exactly what the situation they faced Right Now required. What had happened was that a badly delayed system implementation, coupled with the strategic decision to freeze the legacy system being replaced, led to a cascade of PTFs (Permanent Temporary Fixes to the uninitiated) to get through month-end closes. The PTFs, being temporary, werent tested as thoroughly as production code. But being permanent, they accumulated and sometimes conflicted with one another, requiring more PTFs each month to get everything to process. The result: Month ends did close, nobody had to tell the new system implementations executive sponsor about the PTFs and the risks they entailed, and nobody had to acknowledge that freezing the legacy system had turned out to be a bad call. Everyone involved in the affected financial areas and IT areas that supported them knew about: (1) this house of cards; and (2) that trying to alert management to it would be a career-limiting move. What CIOs should do about this Bad news does not improve with age. Assuming problems are caused by bad systems lets employees call attention to and organizations to acknowledge and fix problems when theyre small and only mildly embarrassing. Assuming problems are caused by bad employees, on the other hand, leads to the problems becoming humiliating money pits. Or else you can bring in consultants every few years to figure this stuff out. Just dont ask them to reveal their sources. Even though the sources are on your payroll, theyre still the consultants edge. Termeni de Referinta pentru selectarea unui/unei expert/e in vederea facilitarii unui training despre ecologizarea organizatiei si elaborarea Politicii organizationale cu privire la protectia mediului a CIDDC Catholic Relief Services, acting as prime recipient on behalf of the Changing the Way We CareSM consortium, is soliciting expressions of interest (applications) from organizations which- with limited financial and technical support- have the capacity and commitment to implement projects and activities focused on participation of people with lived experiences. The applications will be respectfully reviewed in a process described in the Call for Expression of Interest - see the full package of documents HERE. However, submission of an application does not guarantee funding/technical assistance from CRS. Program Description Changing the Way We Care Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC), a global initiative, was launched in October 2018 by a consortium of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Lumos Foundation, and Maestral International. CTWWC is led by a Global Director and overseen by a Governing Board consisting of senior representatives of consortium member organizations, which now include CRS and Maestral. CTWWC is designed to promote safe, nurturing family care for children reintegrating from residential institutions and children at risk of child-family separation. CTWWC has three main components: (1) Governments promote family care through improvement and uptake of policies, investment in social workers, and other social service staff and the national and community systems that serve vulnerable children and families; (2) Children stay in or return to families through family strengthening that includes the voice of children, community engagement, and transitioning institutions to family support initiatives; and (3) Family care promoted globally, through global, regional and national advocacy to advance policies, best practices and redirection of resources by donors and policy makers. CTWWC is currently demonstrating care reform in Guatemala, Haiti, India, Kenya, and Moldova, with influence and advocacy activities at the regional and global levels. The global effort uses learning and evidence from CTWWC demonstration and other countries to influence policies and practice that support family over institutional care. CTWWC/Moldova Recognizing the considerable achievements in Moldovas long process of care reform, and fully committed to enabling local solutions to reforms challenging last steps, CTWWC supports a collective approach to program planning, implementation, and monitoring. That approach consists of sharing a common agenda (the recently approved National Child Protection Plan), coordinating mutually reinforcing activities, using a unified measurement system for the work of the Collective, and manifesting a continuous communication approach. CTWWC/Moldova supports the activities of the collective as a backbone organization, providing coordination and secretariat functions. Infrequently, when expertise is required but not available locally, CTWWC may also act as technical contributor by accessing international experts through its global team. Lastly, CTWWC/MD occasionally acts as a conduit for funding. It is in its capacity as funder that this Call is issued. CTWWCs lead organization in Moldova, Catholic Relief Services, is a US non-governmental organization registered in Moldova on December 4, 2020, under No. 457335. Key definitions and concepts to be considered for this Call for Expressions of Interest: Person with Lived Experience (PWLE): someone with personal experience of the care system. This term includes children in different forms of alternative care, care leavers and parents or care givers of a child who has experienced alternative care. This can include biological parents, foster families and kinship carers. For the purpose of this Call, PWLE does not include residential care staff. someone with personal experience of the care system. This term includes children in different forms of alternative care, care leavers and parents or care givers of a child who has experienced alternative care. This can include biological parents, foster families and kinship carers. For the purpose of this Call, PWLE does not include residential care staff. Alternative Care : A formal or informal arrangement whereby a child is looked after at least overnight outside the parental home, either by decision of a judicial or administrative authority or duly accredited body, or at the initiative of the child, his/her parent(s) or primary caregivers, or spontaneously by a care provider in the absence of parents. : A formal or informal arrangement whereby a child is looked after at least overnight outside the parental home, either by decision of a judicial or administrative authority or duly accredited body, or at the initiative of the child, his/her parent(s) or primary caregivers, or spontaneously by a care provider in the absence of parents. Capacity Building : the process through which individuals, organisations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time. : the process through which individuals, organisations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time. Care Givers: A person with whom the child lives who provides daily care to the child, and who acts as the child's 'parent' whether they are biological parents or not. A caregiver can be the mother or father, or another family member such as a grandparent or older sibling. It includes informal arrangements in which the caregiver does not have legal responsibility. A person with whom the child lives who provides daily care to the child, and who acts as the child's 'parent' whether they are biological parents or not. A caregiver can be the mother or father, or another family member such as a grandparent or older sibling. It includes informal arrangements in which the caregiver does not have legal responsibility. Care Leavers: A person who has left care usually at the legal age, 18 years in most countries. They are young adults who are no longer in the care system but have been affected by it in their past. As they navigate their life in mainstream society, their vulnerability arises because of the lack of guidance and safety nets that children growing in families naturally have. A person who has left care usually at the legal age, 18 years in most countries. They are young adults who are no longer in the care system but have been affected by it in their past. As they navigate their life in mainstream society, their vulnerability arises because of the lack of guidance and safety nets that children growing in families naturally have. Children: a person under 18 years old a person under 18 years old Children and youth in care: With reference to care, it means a child or young person who has experienced family separation, institutionalisation or some form of alternative care. With reference to care, it means a child or young person who has experienced family separation, institutionalisation or some form of alternative care. Meaningful Participation: when participation is not tokenistic or simply a tick box exercise. For participation to be meaningful PWLE must understand the purpose of their participation and the level of influence they can expect to achieve. PWLE are listened to and their ideas properly acted upon. Finally, that they receive adequate feedback and follow up from their participation. when participation is not tokenistic or simply a tick box exercise. For participation to be meaningful PWLE must understand the purpose of their participation and the level of influence they can expect to achieve. PWLE are listened to and their ideas properly acted upon. Finally, that they receive adequate feedback and follow up from their participation. Participation: Being involved in decision making. This incorporates being involved in your own care planning, right up to co-producing services or influencing policies. Being involved in decision making. This incorporates being involved in your own care planning, right up to co-producing services or influencing policies. Peer to Peer Support: When people use their own experiences to help each other. There are different types of peer support, but they all aim to: bring together people with shared experiences to support each other; provide a space where you feel accepted and understood; treat everyone's experiences as being equally important; involve both giving and receiving support. When people use their own experiences to help each other. There are different types of peer support, but they all aim to: bring together people with shared experiences to support each other; provide a space where you feel accepted and understood; treat everyone's experiences as being equally important; involve both giving and receiving support. Self-advocate: A person who draws on their lived experience to advocate for their own rights and the rights of their peers. A person who draws on their lived experience to advocate for their own rights and the rights of their peers. Self-advocacy: The ability for PWLE to speak up for themself and the things that are important to them; to ask for what they need and share their wishes and feelings. Self-advocacy requires an understanding of rights, in particular the right to be involved in making decisions about ones own life. The ability for PWLE to speak up for themself and the things that are important to them; to ask for what they need and share their wishes and feelings. Self-advocacy requires an understanding of rights, in particular the right to be involved in making decisions about ones own life. Tokenistic: When participation is superficial rather than meaningful. This includes when participation is a tick box exercise and PWLE do not have substantial influence. It can also include when PWLE are involved only to share their personal stories. When participation is superficial rather than meaningful. This includes when participation is a tick box exercise and PWLE do not have substantial influence. It can also include when PWLE are involved only to share their personal stories. Youth/Young People: A person aged between 18 and 25. Award Information Purpose. Scope of Work for this Call is presented in Attachment A, which describes CTWWC objectives and proposed implementation approaches for supporting participation of PWLE in Moldova. Note that the successful applicant, and the project that the sub-recipient will implement, are subject to approval and potential amendment by USAID. Period. Projects are expected to begin in September 2022 and continue for one year until September 2023, although any project duration within this period is possible and acceptable. Eligibility. This Call is issued to organizations with legal registration in Moldova. Note: Although collaboration among organizations is encouraged, to promote accountability, no joint expressions of interest will be reviewed. See Attachment Cs Certification of Intention to Comply for critical aspects of potential legal relationships. As above, CRS is not obligated to fund or provide a response to all or any respondents. Amount. The total funding for the work described in Attachment A is 30,000 US Dollars. Applicants are invited to submit budgets of any amount between a minimum of 5,000 USD to a maximum of 20,000 USD. Expression of Interest Response Information All applications should consist of: 1) The following table: Information required To be completed by the applicant Name of Organization Expressing Interest Registration Number and Address Name and Email of the Person Authorized to Make Decisions about Participation Title of the Program to which the Expression of Interest applies Participation of PWLE List SOW strategic objectives that the application will focus on 2) Narrative response describing: why the applicant organization is best placed to implement the SOW objectives 1-page maximum how the activities will be undertaken for successful and timely delivery of the objectives 1 page maximum 3) Response Workbook Attachment B including: DIP detailed implementation plan Budget Past Performance Record - specifically as applicable to the SOW for which Interest is being expressed 4) Certification of Willingness to Comply with 2 CFR 200 and substantial involvement requirements as interpreted and applied by CRS. See Attachment C Expression of Interest Submission Procedures Responses must be written in English or Romanian and submitted in Microsoft Word and PDF formats, with the budget submitted, DIP and Past Performance Record in Excel. The email subject line should follow the following format: CTWWC/MD - Organization Name Participation of PWLE. Responses should be submitted to ctwwcmoldova@crs.org, which is a limited-access address. Any questions on this Call should be documented and sent to ctwwcmoldova@crs.org by July 10, 2022. Applications/Expressions of Interest to this Call must be received no later than July 24, 2022. CTWWC will acknowledge receipt as applications are received and will contact respondents on next steps/outcomes before August 8, 2022. Expression of Interest Review Information The application will be reviewed by a CRS review committee based on the criteria set out below, information the applicant provides, and other publicly available information. Evaluation criteria used by reviewers will include: Criterion Indicators % Technical Capacity to Implement Record of past performance Experience in care reform in Moldova Alignment between the SoW and applicants ongoing programs Documented existing relationships Credentials of staff presented as leads for implementation Evidence of commitment to documenting and sharing learning 40 Proposed Approach Relevance of proposed activities to program objectives (Attachment A) Consideration of principles of participation (Attachment A) Level of detail in the detailed implementation plan 20 Disposition towards participation of PWLE Past performance in activities involving PWLE, participation of children, and other related activities 20 Cost Effectiveness Reasonableness of proposed costs 20 Where required, the review team will reach out to applicants for clarifications; this may include bringing multiple applicants together to discuss coordination among organizations. CRS will also conduct a due diligence assessment of the selected applicants. Once a successful applicant has been identified (expected by August 15, 2022), information about the organization and the project it will implement will be shared with the donor for approval, as required under provisions of the USAID cooperative agreement with CRS. Attachment A: Scope of Work CTWWC vision is that PWLE will have a meaningful voice and influence across all reform initiatives that directly impact them and that these initiatives will reflect the needs and priorities of PWLE. This Call is designed to advance this vision and to support organizations and initiatives that equip and mobilize PWLE to drive change in care reform at the local and national level. Principles of Participation The CTWWC PWLE participation strategy is underpinned by a set of principles. They have been adopted from The Committee on the Rights of the Childs General Comment No. 12 (2009) and broadened to include young people and adults with lived experience. 1. Transparent and informative PWLE are provided with full, accessible, diversity sensitive and ageappropriate information about their right to express their views freely, how the participation will take place, its scope, purpose and potential impact. 2. Voluntary PWLE are not coerced into expressing views against their wishes and they should be informed that they can cease involvement at any stage. 3. Respectful PWLEs views are treated with respect and they are provided with opportunities to initiate ideas and activities. PWLE are treated with dignity and not stereotyped based on their age, gender, care status, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion (including having no religion) or any other background. 4. Relevant Opportunities are available for PWLE to express their views on issues of real relevance to their lives and enable them to draw on their knowledge, skills and abilities. 5. PWLE-friendly environments and working methods Adequate time and resources are available to ensure environments are safe and welcoming for PWLE to participate, promoting non intimidating and collaborative spaces. PWLE are adequately prepared and have the confidence and opportunity to contribute their views. The approaches to working with PWLE reflect their differing levels of support and forms of involvement according to their age and evolving capacities. 6. Inclusive Participation is inclusive, avoiding existing patterns of discrimination, culturally sensitive to PWLE from all communities, and encourages opportunities for marginalized PWLE. 7. Supported by training Adults are provided with skills and support to facilitate PWLESs participation effectively, provided with, for example, skills in listening, working jointly with PWLE and engaging PWLE effectively in accordance with their evolving capacities. PWLE also need training in order participate in a meaningful way. 8. Safe and sensitive to risk Participation and expression of views involves risks. CTWWC takes its responsibility towards the PWLE with whom we work seriously. Precautions are taken to minimize the risk to PWLE of violence, exploitation or any other negative consequence of their participation. CTWWC prioritizes the psychosocial wellbeing of PWLE engaged in our participation work, providing training and additional support where necessary and appropriate. 9. Accountable CTWWC is committed to followup and evaluation. PWLE are provided with clear feedback on how their participation has influenced any outcomes. Wherever appropriate, PWLE are given the opportunity to participate in followup processes or activities. Monitoring and evaluation of PWLEs participation is undertaken, where possible, with PWLE themselves. Program objectives Under this Call for Expressions of Interest, CTWWC is looking to support projects that will follow the participation principles outlined above and that will achieve one or more of the following five objectives: Create an enabling environment for meaningful participation of PWLE in Moldova, including in Moldovas National Child Protection Program (NCPP) Activities under this objective will focus on creating favorable conditions for participation of PWLE and may include promoting new practices for participation, creating opportunities for PWLE to meet decision-makers, and other similar initiatives. Build capacity for safe and meaningful participation Participation of PWLE is often misunderstood. This can result in care leavers and vulnerable families lacking the skills, motivation and confidence to meaningfully engage PWLE in decision making. Similarly, PWLE - particularly those who have experienced residential care or family separation - can lack the confidence and skills to meaningfully participate in decision making processes. Under this objective, CTWWC will support activities that strengthen the capacity of PWLE and that contribute to a culture of participation which is safe, meaningful and inclusive. These may include training and/or mentoring PWLE in areas relevant and close to their needs. Empower PWLE to raise awareness and advocate for care reform Under this objective, CTWWC will support activities that strengthen the skills and opportunities for PWLE to engage in advocacy and influencing. These may include training and/or mentoring PWLE to become 'champions' advocating for family-based care, supporting PWLE to attend events and/or peer-to-peer exchanges. Strengthen and elevate networks of PWLE CTWWC strives to mobilize networks of PWLE to take a leading role in care reform at the local, national, regional and global level. Applicants are strongly encouraged to involve PWLE in planning and developing applications for this Call. People with Lived Experience For the purposes of this call, CTWWC defines PWLE as: children in different forms of alternative care (including tutela/curatela, custody, different types of placement centres and family based care, community centres, auxiliary schools) care leavers biological parents of a child who has experienced any form of alternative care foster parents (specifically APP asistenti parentali profesionisti) adoptive parents care givers of a child who has experienced any form of alternative care (including tutela/curatela, custody) Community of practice In addition, and in parallel to this Call for Expressions of Interest, CTWWC will launch a Community of Practice for operationalizing the international Principles on participation of PWLE in Moldova. All organizations responding to this Call will be invited to join the PWLE Community of Practice, on a voluntary basis, and are welcome to exchange ideas, proposals, challenges and opportunities for advancing meaningful participation of PWLE in Moldova. Police are investigating a cybersecurity attack that has disrupted communications at the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH). Disruption started on Friday 18 March when the charity announced staff were struggling to access email and that some phone lines were affected. In an update this week, SAMH said it had been the victim of a criminal cyberattack. Billy Watson, chief executive at SAMH said: We are devastated by this attack. It is difficult to understand why anyone would deliberately try to disrupt the work of an organisation that is relied on by people at their most vulnerable. Our priority is to continue to do everything we can to deliver our vital services. My thanks to our staff team who, under difficult circumstances, are finding ways to keep our support services running to ensure those they support experience as little disruption as possible. We are working closely with various agencies including Police Scotland - this is an active investigation. We will continue to take the best expert advice to assist us in effectively dealing with this situation. SAMH is a large mental health charity in Scotland and works with adults and young people providing mental health social care support, services in primary care, schools and further education, as well as providing a general information service. For the financial year to March 2021, SAMH had an income of 18m. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, In March 2019, HuffPost sent me to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakota Nation in South Dakota, to cover the work of an affordable-housing program. My editors had a particular story in mind, and so I was dispatched to source the material to write it. The article would be a piece of solutions journalism, positive in outlook and neatly framed, part of a philanthropically funded series called This New World. My assignment letter included potential headlines: How The Poorest County In The U.S. Is Solving The Housing Crisis; How The Poorest County In The U.S. Is Breaking The Poverty Cycle. But a week before I arrived in Pine Ridge, a different story began to unfold. The reservation was pummeled by a blizzard. Gusts reached seventy miles per hour. The snowbank along the highways towered over the cars driving past. Then the storm became a bomb cyclone, the snow melted, and the reservations creeks overflowed. Pine Ridge sits on plains that are typically arid, so these extreme weather events were unusuala result of shifting jet streams and increasing ocean evaporation driven by climate change. They were also catastrophic. Roads became impassable, cutting families off from medicine, food, and outside assistance. Water lines across the reservation broke, depriving eight thousand people of drinking water. At least four deaths were reported. Amid the flooding, I drove all over the reservation to survey the damage, eventually arriving at Wounded Knee, site of the infamous 1890 massacre and 1973 American Indian Movement occupation. I parked and trudged up a small hill, the mud pulling at the heels of my boots. At the top was a mass grave of one hundred forty-six Lakota. Feeling the weight of this solemn place, I was compelled to offer a prayer. Lingering awhile at the peak, I watched residents of a nearby housing development walk along the highway to the closest post office to collect rations from the National Guard. I checked Twitter and learned that Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, had driven onto the reservation with a convoy of military vehicles carrying potable water. She was not welcome. Just two weeks earlier, Noem had passed a bill that held protesters opposing projects like the Keystone XL oil pipeline liable for what the state called riot boosting. (The Oglala were among the tribes opposed to the pipeline and the bill.) Here before me, in one scene, were the interlocking forces of genocide, ecological apocalypse, resistance, and repressionthe imperial roots of the climate crisis and their colonial fallout. After my visit to Wounded Knee, I could not in good conscience write the story that my HuffPost editors had assigned. A fifteen-hundred-word article treating the housing program as a worthy but isolated effort felt like a betrayal of the material I had gathered on the ground. As an Indigenous journalist, I decided the only appropriate way to tell a story like this was to simultaneously hold in frame poverty, climate change, and resilience, and to layer all this on the history of colonization, settlement, and genocideone apocalypse on top of another. To be Indigenous to North America is to be part of a postapocalyptic community and experience. Indigenous journalists have always grappled with earth-shattering stories: either as historical background to current events or in the deep despair of the still-unfolding legacy of Indigenous dispossession, displacement, and death that brought nations like the United States and Canada into being. This perspective tests the limits of journalism, asking reporters to cover marginalized subjects unfamiliar to most readers with an eye on the people, histories, and systems buried and erased by colonizationall without losing the thread of the narrative. The forms and styles that are dominant in journalism practice dont always allow us to get at the historical context that is vital. I got my start in journalism through a fellowship covering Indian Country for HuffPost. The challenge of the beat was to turn stories about an invisible people into news. I generally employed two strategies. The first was to work from a timely headline. Fight For Marriage Equality Not Over On Navajo Nation, I wrote, the week after the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges. The second was to jujitsu ignorance into curiosity. One of my most-read articles was 13 Issues Facing Native People Beyond Mascots And Casinos, with the clickbait subhead These are the problems youre not hearing enough about. These two approaches succeeded in attracting readers, but neither felt adequate. The former forced Indigenous stories into existing media narratives. The latter hinged on disproving misconceptions or explaining unknowns, implicitly re-centering a colonial perspective. I knew there were complicated and emotional stories afoot in Indian Country, and those were the stories I desperately wanted to tell. Yet they felt much bigger than my beat and my skill set at the time. In the years since, as a freelance writer, Ive tried to hone my craft so my journalism can rise to the challenge of my subjects. This is the premise from which journalism begins: the assumption that well-trained reporters can go out into the world, gather up the facts, and shape that material into narrative and argument. Indigenous stories test the limits of this enterprise. They require journalists to draw upon centuries of history, elucidate structures of annihilation, and build trust with people who have learned to be wary of misrepresentation. The task feels almost ludicrous, like balancing a skyscraper atop a tiny plinth. When you consider a news market in which few consumers are seeking Indigenous media and would rather spend their leisure hours with the New York Times or HBO, it feels nearly impossible. Kyle Whyte, a Citizen Potawatomi philosopher and professor of environment and sustainability at the University of Michigan, described the challenge facing Indigenous journalists succinctly: In the space of a short piece thats widely accessible, how do you write in a way that includes a structural analysis and a sense of history that many readers dont initially understand? For insight, I called Candis Callison, an associate professor at the University of British Columbias School of Journalism and a member of the Tahltan people. She described her preferred approach as systems journalisma methodology that treats news items not as isolated events but as windows into whats happening in underlying systems and structures. The narratives we tell about our past and present delineate possible avenues for future action, Callison said. She urges journalists to consider how white and colonial perspectives frame our current society as normative and permanent, erasing the history of genocidal colonialism that brought us here. Systems journalism often brushes up against established methods, however. The forms and styles that are dominant in journalism practice, Callison told me, dont always allow us to get at the historical context that is vital. As a model, Callison pointed to the work of Tanya Talaga, an Anishinaabe journalist. Talaga, a former investigative reporter at the Toronto Star, is the author of Seven Fallen Feathers, which examines the deaths of seven First Nations youths in the town of Thunder Bay, Ontario. To tell stories about immense pain and loss, Talaga developed close relationships with her sources, many of whom she keeps in touch with today. Be careful, be kind, be respectful, and listen, she said. Theres nothing worse than being one of those journalists who crashes in and out of a community, takes a story and leaves. That last point is vital. When I called up Waubgeshig Rice, a member of the Wasauksing First Nation who produced broadcast and radio pieces for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for fourteen years, he said something similar. White journalists assigned to Indigenous or marginalized communities think about the story until the end of the workday, he told me. While they might be empathetic, their relationship to the story is different. You get to go home where youre comfortable and white and its not there anymore. Its not there until the next time youre assigned to one of those stories. CBC segments often adhered to a formula, Rice added: In the morning hed get an assignment. Then hed do research, schedule interviews, and head out to record. Hed do two or three interviews, shoot relevant visuals, write, edit, and go live at six oclock. That experience, he explained, sometimes pushed him into uncomfortable situations; hed be asked to go into Indigenous homes and communities, extract a story, and be ready to air by evening. The nature of broadcasting conflicts directly with our old ways of telling stories, Rice told me. Knowledge of the apocalypse caused by colonialism helps make Indigenous peoples aware of ongoing tragedies. Recently, I picked up Moon of the Crusted Snow, Rices dystopian novel. In the book, a mysterious apocalyptic downturn has led to a mass blackout, bringing the formal economy to a halt. Evan Whitesky, a traditional hunter, and his Anishinaabe community find themselves uniquely prepared for these events. This is a new spin on an old idea in Indigenous literaturethe notion that Indigenous peoples are survivors. Gerald Vizenor, an Ojibwe literary critic, calls this survivance. Its an intriguing ideaone that could bring Natives from the forgotten margins to the center of the humanities in an era of apocalyptic circumstances. Understanding who we are as Indigenous peoples is about understanding how our lives were impacted by colonialism, which was the ending of a world, Rice told me. The knowledge of the apocalypse also helps us make people aware of what the consequences of apocalypse areunderstanding those ongoing tragedies. Since writing the book, Rice has left the CBC, though he maintains his practice as a journalist. His years in the field, he said, have informed his literature, but hes not yet sure how his fiction might shape his nonfiction. As I write, another apocalypse feels close at hand. The coronavirus has killed more than a million people worldwide. Vast swaths of California and many other parts of the western United States have been devastated by wildfire. At times the air quality in Oakland, my hometown, was the worst on earth. The sky looked like a scene out of the Blade Runner sequel. Much of the news coverage has rightly connected the wildfires to climate change, but a reporter keen on telling a more complicated storyone that illuminates the structures underlying the crisismight visit the gentrifying flatlands of West Oakland, to understand how the tech boom pushed families out of the Bay Area and into the smoldering urban-wildland interface. Another might consider how the near extermination of Indigenous peoples, and their land and fire management practices, transformed the Golden State into a tinderbox. A third might consider how past epidemics opened the land to settlement in the first place. All of these stories would, of course, require deep and trusting relationships with sources. Our stories, field notes, and communities ask a great deal of us as journalistsand, particularly, as Indigenous journalists and journalists of colorespecially in moments of grave consequence, like the present. Its hard, and in some cases impossible, to give yourself, your audience, your community, your sourcesand perhaps also your land, your water, your relationseverything they want and deserve in your work. Indigenous experiences and perspectives challenge the notion that a press corps equipped with notepads and recorders can capture the whole truth. More often than not, Im convinced that reality defies the disciplined space of stories, waging an epistemic resistance against the tyranny of language, text, and formsomething we Indians can relate to. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Julian Brave NoiseCat is vice president of policy and strategy with Data for Progress; narrative change director of the Natural History Museum; and a fellow of the Type Media Center, NDN Collective, and the Center for Humans and Nature. His work has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and many other publications. Over the weekend, as world leaders arrived in Germany for the latest G7 summit, Boris Johnson, Britains prime minister, warned reporters about the durability of the so-far-united front of Western support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Realistically, there is going to be fatigue in populations and politicians, Johnson said. I think the pressure is there and the anxiety is there. We have got to be honest about that. Johnson was talking, primarily, about the wars impact on the rising cost of living across the world and the impact of that on international popular support for the war. Fatigue often implies another effect, too: diminished attention. Maintaining international attention has clearly been a significant concern of Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, who proved a master at commanding it in the early days of the war. He has spoken about its importance on numerous recent occasions, calling on the international community to continue to supply it and Ukrainians to continue to demand it. Zelensky has continued to do his personal part, (virtually) touring various foreign Parliaments and other global events while also receiving high-profile guests; in the past two weeks, various top European leaders, Johnson, and the actor Ben Stiller have been among those to travel to Kyiv, with the latter also meeting Ukrainian refugees in Poland in a visit that was explicitly designed to steer attention toward the humanitarian fallout of the war. Ukrainian officials have also reportedly drawn up plans to have an exhibition of destroyed Russian tanks tour various European capitals. The end of this war and its circumstances depend on the worlds attention, Zelensky told the Cannes Lions festival last week. Dont let the world switch to something else. ICYMI: The movement of the Roe story While Zelensky was addressing creative professionals at Cannes (I believe that the power of human creativity is greater than the power of a nuclear state that is stuck in the past, he said), he has also made similar requests of the news media. Every modern person knows well how the media works. It is very difficult to keep attention on one topic for a long time, Zelensky told his countrymen in a video message earlier this month. Please spread the information. Support our needs. Naturally, first of all, this concerns journalists. Media coverage is indeed a key funnel for public attentionand, in various Western countries, its true that the war is getting less coverage now than it did in its early days. Editorial boards, from that of the Wall Street Journal to that of Maines Bangor Daily News, have noticed and lamented the decrease. According to a Stanford University tool that tracks cable-news coverage, discussions of Ukraine peaked when the war began in late February and have since declined steadily to around the same level as early January, with discussions of Russia following a strikingly similar trajectory. In the first week of March, the war consistently dominated the front page of the New York Times, culminating in a huge, five-column photo of corpses in a street near Kyiv. In the first week of June, a jumble of stories competed on the front page every day. Still, on all of these days bar one, the war (or something adjacent to it) was one of those competing storiesand that latter week culminated with a prominent, four-column photo of people taking shelter from Russian shells inside a Ukrainian monastery. Beyond counting column inches on A1, its clear that the Times and many other major Western news organizations are continuing to cover the war extensivelyand clear, too, that it remains greatly more visible than other ongoing conflicts around the world. (Tapping Yemen into the Stanford cable-news tool is a depressing exercise indeed.) Total Western media attention to the Ukraine war hasnt proportionately tracked the changing severity of the situation over time, declining recently even as Ukraine has taken some sharp lossesbut the frantic pace of the early coverage was never realistically going to prove sustainable. And, while the press is certainly important in marshaling ongoing public attention, it cannot do so alone. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Compassion fatigue, as some observers have dubbed dwindling international attention to the war, is, ultimately, a widespread human impulsenews organizations can put reporting in front of their audiences, but they cant force them to care about it. Neal Rothschild, of Axios, reported recently, based on data curated by NewsWhip, that online media outlets have been putting out less Ukraine content of late, with the seventy thousand articles they collectively published in a week at the end of May representing a seven-fold decrease on the first week of the war. The data also showed, however, that social-media interactions with that content (defined as likes, comments, and shares) was subject to a greater decreasetwenty-two-foldin the same period. On a per-article basis, NewsWhip data collected in April and May and reported by Rothschild and Sara Fischer found that content linked to the libel trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard scored more than five times as many interactions as war content, while content about Elon Musk scored more than four times as many interactions. It was inevitable that the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial garnered more views and likes than the war, Oleksiy Arestovych, a Ukrainian military adviser, told The Observers Dan Sabbagh. People are getting weary and tired. Interestingly, Arestovych went on to draw a different conclusion to Zelensky, telling Sabbagh that he couldnt care less about this state of affairs. You dont have to talk about us at all, he said. Just give us the weapons. Many observers would argue that the Western media talking about Ukraine makes Western governments more likely to supply weapons, by driving public pressure. This makes sense. But the relationship here is complicated. While their response has been pretty united, the lengths to which different Western leaders have been prepared to go to help Ukraine have not cleanly or universally risen or fallen with media attentionand public attitudes are shaped by a multiplicity of inputs beyond the medias control, not least the rising cost of living. Ultimately, of course, its not our jobon the news pages, at any rateto lobby our governments to take particular decisions to support Ukraine. We should carefully scrutinize those decisions potential benefits and risks, and explain their factual background. But the buck ultimately stops with leaders themselves. Media attention isnt a reliable proxy for wise policy. The government of Ukraine also has a role to play in shaping media attention to the war, one that goes beyond Zelenskys many public exhortations and bears on how it constructs its war narrative. As Julian E. Barnes, a national-security reporter at the Times, noted on a recent episode of The Daily, while a huge amount of information has helped international observers to track the war in real time, blindspots have persisted and have not always been filled by official updates; Ukraine, Barnes said, touts its victories but is silent on its losses. Its understandable that Zelensky wants to project strength. But being open about losses can generate attention, too, and perhaps more so, by projecting the apparent truth that the war is now hanging in the balancesomething that Ukrainian officials have, perhaps, recently realized as they have, for example, started to publicize the scale of troop casualties after months of caginess on that front. Again, journalists job is to cover facts, and we should always want as much transparency as possible to that end; were trying to cut through the information war, not unconditionally help Ukraine to fight it. Logically, though, the more information we have, the better we can cover the war. Again, we cant force people to care about that coverage with the flick of an attention switch. But audience fatigue is not a good reason for us to stop putting difficult truths in front of them. We should ensure, at minimum, that we are continuing to pay attention and giving news consumers the chance to. Our collective coverage need not match the volume of the wars early days to be effective. Our most useful metrics now, perhaps, are the quality of our work, its prominence, and, to the extent possible, proportionality to the severity of developments on the ground. Im still seeing coverage of the war on a daily basis that is impressive on such grounds. But thats not to say that we always succeed. Yesterday, Russian missiles struck a crowded shopping center in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, relatively far from the wars recent frontlines, killing at least sixteen people and wounding dozens more. Zelensky called the strikes one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history; at the G7, leaders denounced it as a war crime. The strikes got a lot of coverage in the US; this morning, a four-column photo of the destruction topped the Timess front page. On cable, however, the story struggled to cut through in prime time. CNN covered it in its 7pm and 8pm Eastern hours, but not after that, while MSNBC, as far as I can tell, didnt mention it in detail until it was nearly midnight. Its hard not to conclude that, earlier in the war, it would deservedly have been an earlier story. Below, more on the war and the G7: Other notable stories: ICYMI: Boris Johnson, Barbra Streisand, Thunderbirds, and the British media machine Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. The American journalism community fancies itself a completely neutral estate, the poster child for objectivity. But this conceit is, at best, ahistorical. Like all things, the modern press corps was born into an inequitable society, and its strictures show up in the industry everywhere from hiring practices to how certain communities are covered, if they get coverage at all. Debate about whether complete objectivity is possible while reporting inspires heated debate. A new podcast, The View From Somewhere, aims to push this important ethical conversation again to the forefront, this time with a deep look into the archives. Hosted by reporter Lewis Raven Wallace, 34, whose book of the same name is slated for release late this year, the podcast will dig into the history of objectivity in a journalistic context, featuring stories about reporters whose work has poked holes in the myth of its infallibility. Part of [the goal of] this book and this podcast is to tell a whole different story about what journalism has been and what it could be, says Wallace. Related: There are times journalists should become the story In early 2017, Wallace, then a reporter at American Public Medias Marketplace, published a piece on his personal blog in which he considered the role of an objective press as the country transitioned into a new presidential administration, one that had brought with it transphobia, racism, and regular attacks on the press. Some argue that if we abandon our stance of journalistic neutrality, we let the post-fact camp win, he wrote. I argue that our minds and our listeners and readers minds are stronger than that, strong enough to hold that we can both come from a particular perspective, and still tell the truth. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project Wallace was fired when he refused to take down the post, and has spent the months since immersed in research about truth-telling journalists whose strength was their refusal to cling to supposed neutrality, the old defender of the status quo. A lot of great journalism in the United States and all over the world has been journalism that stood for something, says Wallace. Standing up to power requires standing for something. Standing for nothing at all in the Jim Crow era is like, well, we accept segregation. For reporters from underrepresented communitiesreporters of color, queer and transgender reporters, disabled reporters, poor reporterstaking a neutral stance on their own humanity isnt an option. Wallace notes the long history of the black presscoined a fighting pressfor its track record of pursuing stories that challenge white racism, reporting on issues and people that have been traditionally ignored by other news outlets, and for openly advocating for the acquirement of human and civil rights for black people in America. Newspapers by and for other marginalized communities have done similar work. You had LGBT papers doing the preeminent investigative coverage and human interest coverage of AIDS for years and years before mainstream papers covered it, adds Wallace. And those are papers that have been written out of official journalistic history as niche, or as advocacy journalism. The podcast, which will be produced by Ramona Martinez alongside Wallace, will feature a range of episodes about how seminal eras of American history, such as lynching and the spread of AIDS, were reported. It will also tackle contemporary issues, including the Black Lives Matter movement, coverage of transgender people, the #MeToo movement, and coverage of both overt and what Wallace calls status quo white supremacy. Growing distrust in journalistic institutions has led news organizations to take steps to reassert their worth. Outlets have tried everything from community town halls featuring reporters to $10 million Super Bowl ads. But this doubling down might reveal the industrys blind spots. I was really stricken while working in public media by the extent to which the conversation was about how to appear objective rather than about how to be as fair or as impartial as you could in your reporting, says Wallace. And those are obviously really different things, right? Appearing objective kind of inherently has to do with how do people react to the story that you tell. Wallace adds: Some people might not see it as fair or objective if in the morning you said Trump lied and at noon you said Trump lied and at 6:00pm you reported again that Trump lied. But if Trump lied in the morning and at noon and at 6PM, and you were reporting the facts, then it doesnt really matter if somebody perceives that as unobjective. Wallace says it will cost about $40,000 to produce a single season of the podcast. As of Sunday evening, the pair had raised $9,864 from 237 supporters. As concerns about the media industrys shameful, perpetual lack of diversity continue to percolate, it stands to help contextualize why, for reporters from underrepresented communitiesreporters of color, queer and transgender reporters, disabled reporters, poor reporterstaking a neutral stance on their own humanity isnt an option. Undoing the myth of journalistic objectivity, thats one goal, says Wallace. The other goal is helping to create a new canon of diverse journalists who did or are doing work that changed the world, and making space for those voices to be seen as a part of the story of journalism. ICYMI: I was plagiarized by Jill Abramson Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Alexandria Neason was CJRs staff writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow. Recently, she became an editor and producer at WNYCs Radiolab. GAYAN, Afghanistan (AP) The death toll of children in last weeks devastating earthquake in southeastern Afghanistan has risen to at least 155, the United Nations said as the scope of the deadliest quake to hit the impoverished country in two decades comes into focus. The U.N.s humanitarian coordination organization, OCHA, said on Sunday that another 250 children were injured in the magnitude 6 temblor that struck the mountainous villages in the Paktika and Khost provinces near the countrys border with Pakistan, flattening homes and triggering landslides. Most of the children died in Paktikas hard-hit Gayan district, which remains a scene of life in ruins, days after the disaster. The quake has also left an estimated 65 children orphaned or unaccompanied, the U.N. humanitarian office added. Even as badly needed food, medicine and other international aid has trickled into the provinces on precarious dirt roads, despair is growing among newly homeless survivors. Many villagers who were scraping by have lost everything. In ravaged Gayan, villagers are grappling with the extent of the tragedy. When the earthquake last week demolished his house and those around it, Abdullah tried to claw through the rubble and rescue his children. For hours, he called for help, shouting from under a deep pile of mud. When he and his neighbors finally cleared the wreckage, he discovered a nightmarish scene the bodies of 12 family members, including his son and daughter, laying dead in the debris. Four other relatives were injured. What happened that night is very difficult to explain in words, the 65-year-old farmer and teacher, who like many Afghans goes by one name, told The Associated Press. Everything is under the ground now. We have just buried the bodies. He pulled away more rubble from his collapsed mud-and-brick home with a pickaxe, uncovering books that serve as mementos of lives violently upended. Like other villagers, Abdullah now lives with his surviving family members in a donated tent. He fears the freezing winter. Afghanistans Taliban rulers have put the total death toll from the quake at 1,150, with hundreds more injured, while the U.N. has offered a lower estimate of 770, although it has warned the figure could still rise. Abdul Rahman, Abdullahs son, lost two wives, a son and three daughters in the quake. His only surviving child is just a few months old. This little child has been left alone, he said, cradling his swaddled body. The babys hammock, strung in the corner of their destroyed home, swayed with the weight of fallen bricks. Who should take care of him? The disaster _ the latest to convulse Afghanistan after decades of war, hunger, poverty and an economic crash _ has become a test of the Talibans capacity to govern and the international communitys willingness to help. When the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan as the United States and its NATO allies were withdrawing their forces last August, foreign aid stopped practically overnight. World governments piled on sanctions, halted bank transfers and froze billions more in Afghanistans currency reserves, refusing to recognize the Taliban government and demanding they allow a more inclusive rule and respect human rights. The former insurgents have resisted the pressure, imposing restrictions on the freedoms of women and girls that recall their first time in power in the late 1990s, triggering Western backlash. Aware of their limitations, the Taliban have appealed for foreign aid. The U.N. and an array of overstretched aid agencies in the country that have tried to keep Afghanistan from the brink of starvation have swung into action. The U.N. childrens agency said on Monday it was working to reunite children who had been separated from their families in the chaos of the quake. It also has set up clinics to offer mental health and psychological support to children in Gayan traumatized by the disaster. But U.N. agencies face a funding shortfall of $3 billion this year. Authorities and charities are struggling to access the far-flung region and appear overwhelmed by the scale of the damage and the daunting task of debris removal, let alone reconstruction. That has forced many in the quake-ravaged region to fend for themselves, even as the ground rumbles with more aftershocks and the fear of further disaster looms. Still, there are earthquakes. We cant come near our houses, Abdullah said. Everyone has fear. Women and children are shouting inside the tent. Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. About the photo: Afghans receive aid at a camp after an earthquake in Gayan district in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sunday, June 26, 2022. A powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, flattening stone and mud-brick homes in the countrys deadliest quake in two decades, the state-run news agency reported. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Nooroozi) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco granted Teslas motion for a new trial a week after the former elevator operator, Owen Diaz, said he would not accept the judges award. A jury last October had awarded Diaz $137 million, one of the largest verdicts ever in a discrimination case involving a single worker. Orrick in April said Tesla was liable to Diaz for discrimination, but he said the award was excessive and lowered it to $15 million. Diazs lawyers said last week that the lower award was unjust because it undermined his constitutional rights to a trial by jury. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lawrence Organ, a lawyer for Diaz, said we are hopeful that a new jury will see the evidence in a similar light to the first jury and that Mr. Diaz will get the justice that the jury system is supposed to provide to him. Orrick did not set a date for the new trial, but scheduled a conference for July 12. In his 2017 lawsuit, Diaz alleged that his colleagues and a supervisor at Teslas Fremont, California, assembly plant subjected him to a hostile work environment that included racist slurs, caricatures and swastikas. Tesla is facing a series of lawsuits involving alleged widespread race discrimination and sexual harassment at the Fremont factory, including one by a California civil rights agency. This month, a Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit accusing the companys chief executive, Elon Musk, and board of directors of neglecting worker complaints and fostering a toxic workplace culture. Tesla has denied wrongdoing and says it has policies in place to prevent and address workplace misconduct. Dr. Christopher Brigham website is not making an overstatement when it describes him as one of the nations leading authorities on impairment and disability evaluation and management. Brigham is the senior contributing editor for the sixth edition of the American Medical Associations Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. He also played important roles in the drafting of the third, fourth and fifth editions. As a consultant, he lectures to audiences around the world on the appropriate use of the the AMA Guides. He also frequently serves as an expert witness for insurers. But Brighams expertise no longer carries any weight in Kentucky. The state Supreme Court on June 16 ruled that his opinions were irrelevant to Kentucky workers compensation claims because a state statute requires medical experts to be licensed in Kentucky. Brigham says he respectfully disagrees with the ruling. It was more of a ploy to exclude evidence that someone did not find beneficial, he said. The Kentucky Supreme Court declared Brigham and other out-of-state medical experts persona non grata for the state workers compensation system in a case brought by Oldham County police officer Tracy Scott Toler, who injured his knee when he ran into another officer during SWAT training. An independent medical examiner assessed a 4% impairment rating but added 2% because Toler continued to experience pain in his knee. Oldham County hired Bingham to offer his own opinion. Bingham said Tolers subjective complaints about pain did not merit a bump in Tolers disability rating because the rating already accounts for the discomfort. The 5th edition of the Guides allows an increase of up to 3% in a disability rating for pain, but only if it causes a documented interference with daily activities or a change of gait, he testified. Tolers attorney, Bruce Garrett Anderson of Louisville, said the 2% difference had a minimal impact on the size of Tolers permanent disability award, but he wanted to make a point. Anderson said he has been arguing for a long time that physicians who testify if Kentucky workers compensation proceedings must be licensed in the state, but the administrative law officers who hear cases have always disagreed. Anderson said insurers often hire Bingham to argue for lower permanent disability awards. They trot him out all the time, he said. Ive seen him enough and his opinions are arrogant. After an administrative law judge, the Workers Compensation Board and a panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals decided that Brighams report could be admitted into evidence, Anderson took Tolers case to the state Supreme Court. He pointed out that Kentucky Revised Statutes 342.0011(32) defines physicians as one of the specified practitioners acting within the scope of his or her license issued by the Commonwealth unless the context otherwise requires. The Workers Compensation Board noted that the Department of Worker Claims had assigned a physician index number to Brigham, providing significant context that his opinion should be admitted. The Court of Appeals panel agreed. The Supreme Court, however, said it must assume that the state legislature meant what it said when it drafted the statute. The unanimous opinion says Kentucky statutes allow injured workers to choose a treating physician licensed by another state in some circumstances, which is one instance where context allows the statutory definition of physician to be overlooked. But the high court said no statute provides any reason to believe that the statutory definition of physician can be ignored when considering medical reports. The legislature may decide in the future to widen the pool of potential medical experts, the court said. However, the statutory language is limited so only physicians licensed in Kentucky may provide such evidence. Brigham said he is licensed in California, Hawaii and Maine, but not in Kentucky. But he said he based his opinion on his knowledge of the AMA Guides; the states that issued his medical licenses have no bearing on the case. Nonetheless, Anderson said the Supreme Courts opinion will eliminate the admission of all medical reports written by physicians who are not licensed in Kentucky. He said that will be especially helpful for utilization review: Anderson said almost all of the UR decisions in the states system are now done by doctors outside of Kentucky. Attorney Thomas A. Robinson, co-author of Larsons Workers Compensation Law, said in a blog post that the Kentucky Supreme Court decision may have attorneys in other states scurrying back to their respective statutes to check their states definitions of physician.' Robinson said in an email that he cannot yet identify any states that have similar statutes. Determining which, if any, other states might have language similar to that in Kentucky is a research issue that I have not yet undertaken, he said. From my experience, there is likely to be similar language in at least a few other state acts, but that list of jurisdictions is not yet at hand. Many state workers compensation laws have a section near the beginning that lays out general provisions, including definitions of terms. In Kentucky, the workers compensation laws are organized under Chapter 34. Section 11 of that chapter contains a list of definitions of terms. Paragraph 32 of that section states: Physician means physicians and surgeons, psychologists, optometrists, dentists, podiatrists, and osteopathic and chiropractic practitioners acting within the scope of their license issued by the Commonwealth. But the statutes for states adjacent to Kentucky are surprisingly imprecise. Workers compensation statutes for Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana contain no definition of physician in the general provisions section. North Carolinas workers compensation law lists physician as an example of several types of health care providers, but makes no mention of where they must be located or even that they must be licensed. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) An abortion rights protest in Portland, Oregon turned destructive over the weekend, with some people marching down the street breaking windows on businesses and vehicles and scrawling graffiti, police said. Officers were monitoring the crowed but no one was arrested because they did not have the resources to intervene at the moment, police said in a statement Sunday. City police officers were also responding to a shooting, a felony assault, a community festival and drivers doing stunts in various parts of the city at the time, police said. The protest against Fridays U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and leave abortion decisions up to the states began with a gathering of about 200 people at a park on Saturday. A group of about 60 of them most dressed in black marched down a street and smashed windows on banks, coffee shops, a Portland school van, a Tesla and a nonprofit that provides assistance to pregnant people. Most of the damage occurred between 10:05 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. police said. The Mother and Child Education Center does not steer people away from abortion, said Executive Director Maura White. It provides services to people who have decided to have children, she said. Police had warned her that the building might be damaged, she said. The building was left with about $10,000 in damage, including smashed windows and graffiti, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The Portland Police Bureau is asking businesses and community members with surveillance cameras between the areas of Grant Park and the Hollywood District to view footage and see if they captured any evidence that might assist police. The damage in Portland came a night after 10 people were arrested for disorderly conduct during a similar protest in Eugene. Portland saw months of destructive protests against police brutality after police officers in Minneapolis killed George Floyd in May 2020. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Building bridge of friendship between Chinese, Moroccans: president of Morocco-China Friendship Exchange Association 09:27, June 28, 2022 By Zhou Zhou ( People's Daily Mohamed Khalil is a renowned traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor in Morocco who runs a clinic in downtown Casablanca, Morocco. His clinic is ornamented with a number of Chinese cultural elements, such as Chinese hand fans, Beijing Opera masks, as well as bamboo and rattan chairs. Mohamed Khalil (Photo provided by Mohamed Khalil) Khalil has another title which is more known to the locals, the president of Morocco-China Friendship Exchange Association. Everybody calls me a Moroccan doctor from China, he told Peoples Daily. Khalil was among the 10 friendly personages receiving the Award for Outstanding Contribution to China-Arab Friendship, which was presented by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Egypt in January. Khalil said being received by President Xi in Cairo was an honor of his life. This experience was from six years ago, but Khalil still recalls it vividly. President Xi was very amiable and easygoing. I told him it was my greatest honor and thanked him for giving me this unforgettable award in Chinese. He was glad and encouraged me to keep serving as an envoy for Morocco-China friendship, Khalil remembered. Mohamed Khalil in his clinic. (Photo provided by Mohamed Khalil) Khalils bond with China was established at the end of 1970s, after China started sending medical teams to Morocco in 1975. Back then, TCM and acupuncture brought relief to many Moroccans suffering from chronicle diseases, which made me very interested in TCM, Khalil told Peoples Daily. In 1978, he went to China for study. He learned Chinese at Beijing Language Institute, or what's known today as Beijing Language and Culture University, and learned TCM at Beijing Medical College, which is currently known as Peking University Health Science Center. In Beijing, he graduated with a degree of doctor of medicine. When I first arrived in China, the country has just started its reform and opening up drive, and there was vitality everywhere. In the following 10 years, drastic changes happened throughout the country. I saw the energy of an ancient civilization in its transition, Khalil noted. After returning to his motherland, Khalil became a TCM doctor. He always introduced China to his fellow countrymen to promote Moroccans understanding of China and the Chinese people. Photo shows Chinese-style bamboo and rattan chairs in Mohamed Khalil's clinic. (Photo provided by Mohamed Khalil) He told Peoples Daily that he has been receiving more patients after getting the Award for Outstanding Contribution to China-Arab Friendship, which makes him busier, but happier, too. I always remember what President Xi told me. Im acting as an envoy for Morocco-China friendship and building a bridge between the two peoples by spreading traditional Chinese culture, including TCM, he said. The Moroccans are interested in the outstanding traditional Chinese culture, and also impressed by the modern development miracle of China, Khalil said. Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Moroccan would make a couple of annual visits to China. Since China started reform and opening up, I have witnessed the largest and fastest urbanization in the world.. Skyscrapers are soaring and peoples standard of living continuously rising. The achievements are remarkable. Chinas path to national rejuvenation is extraordinary, he noted. These years, Khalil has been spending a lot of time reading the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, through which he has gained a more profound understanding of why China could make such huge changes and become more confident about Chinas development prospects. Ning Jizhe, Deputy Chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita sign the Implementation Plan of Jointly Building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, Jan. 5, 2022. Morocco is the the first country in North Africa to sign a BRI cooperation plan with China. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Morocco) Its unquestionable that President Xi has brilliant political wisdom. Under his leadership, the Chinese peoples aspiration for a better life is gradually turning into reality, he said. Khalil believes that by drawing wisdom from its long history, China has achieved peaceful development, which not only makes China a strong and prospering country, but also contributes to the stability and development of the world. The major initiatives and concepts proposed by President Xi, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and building a community with a shared future for mankind, have played an important role in encouraging countries to tide over difficulties, share opportunities, and strive for common prosperity. President Xi is really forethoughtful, Khalil noted. On behalf of Professor Peng Liyuan, Charge d'Affaires Mao Jun of the Chinese Embassy in Morocco hands over epidemic prevention materials donated by the Chinese government to the Moroccan side, July 21, 2020. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Morocco) He added that the Communist Party of China (CPC) has chosen a development path that suits Chinas conditions, and has led the Chinese people to live a better life. The CPC has also brought development opportunities to many other countries and is constantly making contributions to the peaceful development of mankind, Khalil said. He noted that facing the COVID-19 pandemic, China has actively promoted international cooperation to fight against it, sharing experiences, offering material aid and conducting vaccine cooperation with developing countries including Morocco. China has made important contributions to safeguarding the lives and health of people around the world, Khalil said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Sand contractors in the district are said to be in cahoots with officials and are allegedly mining sand irregularly at several places. (DC) KARIMNAGAR: Instead of keeping check on illegal sand quarrying and transportation, the officials of revenue and police departments are allegedly joining hands with contractors, causing huge loss to the government exchequer in erstwhile Karimnagar district. There is a great demand for sand available in the Godavari delta region as it is good in quality and highly used for construction purpose. Several second-rung contractors and political leaders in Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Sircilla and Jagtial districts became rich in a short time after taking to sand business. Several big contractors from Hyderabad purchase sand from old Karimnagar district and dump it at their secret places for completing their projects, it is alleged. Sand contractors in the district are said to be in cahoots with officials and are allegedly mining sand irregularly at several places in view of the ongoing monsoon season. It also causes severe threats to the environment. The persons who want sand must pay tax to the government online between 9 am to 5 pm on working days and must make use of it for the construction purposes. Apart from that, the officials who discharge duties at sand reaches also impose special tax for extra load of sand by giving permission for one or two trips per day after allocating numbers to the tractors. The contractors, fearing that if heavy rainfall occurred, it would become difficult for them to excavate sand from the canals, rivers and streams, are exerting pressure on the officials concerned using their political influence, it is said. The officials are allegedly giving permission to contractors to carry out mining even during night hours and on Sundays also, violating rules. The contractors are first mining sand from the reaches and then dumping it at secret places. Meanwhile, the locals alleged that by excavating more sand from rivers and canals, several pits are created all along leading to accidents and loss of lives. They even pointed out that recently in Rajanna Sircilla district some school going children lost their lives while trying to swim in the water and urged the higher authorities to take immediate steps to prevent illegal sand mining and protect the environment. ARVADA, CO - OCTOBER 26: The Colorado Supreme Court, including left to right, justices Carlos A. Samour Jr., Richard L. Gabriel, and Monica M. Marquez, hear two cases at Pomona High School before an audience of students on October 26, 2021 in Arvada, Colorado. The visit to the high school is part of the Colorado judicial branchs Courts in the Community outreach program. (Photo By Kathryn Scott) John Mulaney will bring his From Scratch tour to The Broadmoor World Arena on Oct. 23. Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today! Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. News and Info from our Community Partners Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy left for Paris along with his family on Tuesday night from Gannavaram airport by a special flight. (DC) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy left for Paris along with his family on Tuesday night from Gannavaram airport by a special flight. The CM will arrive in Paris on Wednesday. He would attend the graduation day celebrations of his eldest daughter Harsha Reddy who completed her Post Graduation (MBA) at the Insead Business School. The chief minister has kept his Paris visit a low-profile affair, it being a personal tour. He and the family will be in Paris till July 2 and return to Tadepalli after attending the daughters Graduation Day celebrations on July 3. In view of the pending legal cases, Jagan had recently filed a petition in a court seeking permission to travel to the French capital, Paris, and this was granted. YS Rajareddy, son of Jagans sister YS Sharmila, recently completed his graduation from a US university. Sharmila took a break and went to America to participate in the event. YS Vijayamma, Sharmilas husband Anil Kumar, and others also attended the graduation ceremony. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday inaugurated the new facility known as "T-Hub 2.0", at Raidurg, which is five times bigger than the first phase of T-Hub. (Photo: By Arrangement) HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday inaugurated the new facility known as "T-Hub 2.0", at Raidurg, which is five times bigger than the first phase of T-Hub. Built with an investment of Rs 400 crore, the 10-storied building can accommodate 4,000 start-ups and has dedicated spaces for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, accelerators, corporates and other innovation ecosystem partners. T-Hub started with a 70,000 sq. ft. building inside IIIT-Hyderabad campus in 2015 and the new T-Hub at Raidurg has a carpet area of 3.70 lakh sq. ft. The Chief Minister felicitated 20 unicorn and 14 soonicorn startup founders on the occasion in the presence of IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan, T-Hub CEO M. Srinivas Rao and T-Hub board chairman B.V.R. Mohan Reddy. The Chief Minister asked Rama Rao, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and Jayesh Ranjan to focus on creating more infrastructure and quality education to meet future requirements in IT and other sectors. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, "Today, I can proudly say we have created a world-class entity at T-Hub to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. Our states startup policy is progressive and it helped forge fruitful partnerships with both corporates and academia." The Chief Minister stated that the state government wanted Telangana to be known as the start-up state of India and Hyderabad as the startup capital of India. The Chief Minister hoped that day was not far away when the next big breakthrough in startup innovation would come from Hyderabad. "Our states start-up ecosystem is valued as among the top 10 global ecosystems in affordable talent. It is among the top 15 startup ecosystems across Asia in attracting funds. In 2021, the startup ecosystem of Telangana was valued at USD 4.8 billion. Among cities in India, Hyderabad offers the best standard of living, and we want Hyderabad to be known as the startup capital of India. Our startups are providing valuable collaboration to the main sectors of our economy, namely IT, life sciences, aerospace and defence, and automotive including electric vehicles," Chandrashekar Rao said. Reminding that T-Hub was founded in 2015 to bring in the best talent from across the country to nurture a startup ecosystem, the Chief Minister said, The journey of T-Hub started as an idea eight years ago, when Telangana became the youngest state in India. At that time, we made a conscious decision that our state would consistently encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in a big way. We launched T-Hub in 2015, as a commitment to that decision. Today, seven years later, we are here to start our second phase of expansion, to build a resilient startup ecosystem in India. T-Hub has now become a national role model. It has impacted over 2,000 entrepreneurs and seen 1.19 billion US dollars raised in funding by T-Hub startups. It has facilitated connections with venture capitalists and angel investors, establishing a brand name synonymous with innovation." The Chief Minister expressed happiness that many of the startups had also created products and solutions relevant for social sectors like education, health, agriculture, sanitation, and environment. "All this has been made possible due to the very progressive policies in our state like TS-iPass, TS-Bpass, and Telanganas startup and innovation policy. We have made doing business easier for the startups, ensured that they receive mentorship support, get connected with knowledge institutions and corporates as per their requirements, receive funding support, and most importantly receive automatic job orders from government departments if their product or solution is of relevance to us," the Chief Minister added. He appreciated Rama Rao and the team of officials who strived earnestly to create this unique model of innovation and entrepreneurship in Telangana. T-Hub hosted multiple panel discussions on Tuesday by founders and senior officials of well known firms as well as upcoming startups. The keynote address was delivered by actor Rana Daggubati while panellists in other sessions included Swiggy co-founder and CEO Sriharsha Majety, Dream 11 co-founder Harsh Jain, Zomato chief technology officer (CTO) Gunjan Patidar, Delhivery co-founder Suraj Saharan and Redbus founder Phanindra Sama. The topics of the panel discussions were diverse, and ranged from metaverse, building global GTM, emerging tech, building a unicorn and medtech. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form By Rick Palsgrove Groveport Editor As of now, the use of personal fireworks remains banned in Groveport. At its June 27 meeting, Groveport City Council heard the second reading of an ordinance regarding the personal use of fireworks. The proposed ordinance originally restricted the personal use of consumer grade fireworks to only on the Fourth of July within the Groveport city limits. However, by a 4-2 vote, council amended the proposed ordinance to instead allow the use of personal fireworks on 15 days, which would make it consistent with the new state law regarding the personal use of fireworks. (Council members Jean Ann Hilbert and Jack Rupp opposed the amendment.) The new Ohio law, which goes into effect July 1, allows individuals to possess consumer grade fireworks, eliminating a requirement that purchasers transport consumer grade fireworks out of the state within 48 hours of purchase. The new state law allows any person authorized to possess consumer grade fireworks to discharge them on their own property or on another persons property with permission on the following days: New Years Day; Chinese New Year; Cinco de Mayo; Memorial Day weekend; Juneteenth; July 3, 4, and 5 and the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays preceding and following; Labor Day weekend; Diwali; and New Years Eve. However, the law permits local governments to restrict the dates and times when individuals may discharge consumer grade fireworks or to impose a complete ban on the use of consumer grade fireworks. A motion to pass, as an emergency measure, Groveports amended ordinance that would adhere to the new state law failed by a 3-3 vote. (Five votes are needed to pass legislation as an emergency. Council members Ed Dildine, Scott Lockett, and Becky Hutson voted to approve while Jean Ann Hilbert, Jack Rupp, and Shawn Cleary opposed.) This means the amended ordinance goes on to its third reading and a final vote on July 11. If it is passed at that time it would go into effect Aug. 10 and then allow the use of personal fireworks on the days listed in the state law. According to Groveport City Administrator B.J. King, currently under existing Groveport law there is a complete ban on the use of personal fireworks in the city. Because the attempt to pass the ordinance as an emergency measure failed, King said, This Fourth of July our current code (banning the personal use of fireworks) remains in place. Council viewpoints Lockett said he preferred Groveport follow the new state law noting that the city could make changes if problems arise. Dildine also wants Groveport to adhere to the new state law rather than restrict the use of personal fireworks. People do it (shoot off fireworks), said Dildine. It happens anyway. Its already banned yet not typically enforced unless there is property damage or injuries. Dildine said following the state law would result in less confusion about what is legal and when. He added the new state law could give officials an opportunity to provide information to citizens on the safe use of personal fireworks. Hilbert and Rupp favor restricting the use of personal fireworks. Both said they are concerned about the potential injuries brought on by the use of personal fireworks. I want to prevent someone from getting hurt, said Hilbert. Police reaction Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams said 90 percent of calls the police get about the use of personal fireworks occur around July 4 and New Years Eve/Day. Adams said individuals must be responsible when using personal consumer grade fireworks. He said people must ensure everyone in and around a launch is safe and the fireworks are launched away from others and structures that could sustain injury or damage when the fireworks explode and fall to the ground. He said the negligent use of fireworks without proper precautions could lead to criminal charges being filed against those responsible for the fireworks. More about the state fireworks law The new state law also: requires licensed retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers selling consumer grade fireworks to offer safety glasses for free or for a nominal fee and to provide purchasers with a safety pamphlet; prohibits discharging fireworks while in possession of or under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or on someones property without permission; allows the State Fire Marshal to suspend a fireworks manufacturer or wholesaler if they have violated the fireworks law or State Fire Marshal rules; prohibits the State Fire Marshal from unreasonably withholding a variance to allow hobbyists to manufacture, possess, and use individual display grade and consumer grade fireworks and requires cause for revocation of a hobbyist variance; and requires hobbyists seeking variances to demonstrate they can engage in the hobby safely and legally and limits hobbyists to possession of five pounds of raw materials and finished fireworks produced through the hobby. 33 of Ramakrishna supporters in the banned Maoist party, apart from 27 militia members, including eight women, surrendered before DIG S. Harikrishna at Paderu. (Video grab/Facebook) VISAKHAPATNAM: Peda Bayulu police on Tuesday arrested area committee secretary of outlawed Maoist party, Vanathala Ramakrishna, a top leader, from the agency area in Alluri Seetharamaraju district. Following his arrest, 33 of his staunch supporters in the banned Maoist party, apart from 27 militia members, including eight women, surrendered before DIG S. Harikrishna at Paderu. Briefing media, Harikrishna said an amount of 39 lakh in cash, a five-kg mine packed in a steel carriage, five detonators, one nine mm pistol and nine rounds of ammunition had been seized from Ramakrishna. The DIG said the top Maoist is an accused in 124 cases registered in various police stations spread over East Godavari and Alluri districts, apart from Odisha state. The cases include 14 murders, six kidnap, 13 encounters, 13 mine blasts, four public property destruction and 83 other cases. Ramakrishna is one of the main accused in the murder of Araku MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao, former MLA Siveri Soma and seven civilian leaders of the agency area. Harikrishna said the 60 surrendered party and militia members belong to Kundrum, Tagurupadu, Navabari and Jadiguda villages of Peda Bayulu mandal. The most active among them are Anand, Sirisha, Gangajivani, Srikant and Srinu who, on many occasions, have opened fire on police personnel combing the area. Honda needs a big, mainstream hit to put it firmly back on Irish buyers' shopping lists. Is the new, hybrid-only, Civic the car to do it? And can it take on the mighty Toyota Corolla? In the metal Honda has spent years producing ever-more outrageous designs for the Civic (remember the mid-2000s 'spaceship' look?), which means that the new model's sober, restrained look is almost shocking in itself. It takes some of the pared-back styling of the HR-V crossover, but if anything it's even more restrained than that car. The Civic is handsome, unquestionably, but it might also be a bit forgettable. All will be forgiven once you sit inside. The previous Civic had something of a disappointing cabin, which looked messy and felt a bit cheap in places. The new Civic utterly reverses that - the cabin is super-clean and simple in its styling, and the quality levels have definitely taken a big step up. In the instrument panel, there's a 10.2-inch digital display (a seven-inch screen appears in basic models) that has two neat, circular dials. They look quite classy, and you can easily enough customise the information that appears within them, using the buttons on the three-spoke, multi-function steering wheel. In the centre of the dash, there's a nine-inch touchscreen, which gets a menu layout and graphic design that represents a massive improvement compared to that of the old Civic. Helpfully, it keeps a physical volume control and a couple of shortcut buttons, and it features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Below that there are physical controls for the air conditioning system, which feel like high-quality items. We also need to take a moment to note the air vents - not something we'd normally do, but Honda uses a neat stylistic trick to make it appear as if the dash vents are one big vent that stretches the full width of the cabin. They're also bigger vents than normal, and have a wider range of adjustment. Best of all, to change the direction of the airflow, you use sweet little joystick-like controls, which give off a pleasing, and expensive-sounding, click when they return to centre. Down low on the centre console, in our Advance-spec test car, there was a wireless phone charger along with two USB ports and a 12-volt socket. Drive selection is taken care of by a neat push-button control (there's no manual gearbox option now that the Civic has gone fully hybrid) and there are two cupholders next to that. The front seats are excellent - almost armchair-squishy, but supportive on a longer run - and the driving position, at least in this left-hand-drive model, spot on. In the back, space has actually improved slightly compared to the previous Civic, thanks to a longer wheelbase. Although the roof height is a little lower than before, there's no lack of headroom, and plenty of legroom. Really, as before, the Civic has rear seat space closer to that of a bigger saloon model, such as a VW Passat or Mazda6. The boot is good too, although at 416 litres, it's not as far ahead of the competition as it once was. The new Civic retains the older model's sideways-retracting luggage blind, which makes folding the back seats so much easier, but there is a noticeable step as the boot approaches the back seat, which will make loading longer, larger items a touch tricky. Driving it Honda says that the new Civic is 'the Drivers' Hybrid' and wants it to be seen as the sporting choice in the family hatch segment. At first, when you drive it, that seems a bit puzzling... On the good side, the e:HEV hybrid system is much improved over the version Honda launched in the HR-V. Extra care has been taken with refinement, and the e-CVT gearbox (which actually has no gears at all, but a pair of electric motors instead) has been reprogrammed for a more natural-feeling 'change-up' sensation as you accelerate. Thankfully, it all works rather well. The Civic's hybrid setup deploys 183hp and 315Nm of torque, matching the power of the previous 1.5-litre turbo VTEC petrol engine and the torque of the old 1.6 diesel. But it actually has slightly better fuel economy than the old 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo VTEC petrol model. It's quite the combo, and it's very refined. There is a bit of the usual hybrid droning when you accelerate, but the overall refinement means that it won't trouble your ears for very long, and what noises there are, are well-subdued. Fuel economy is excellent - over a lengthy test route that took in mountain roads, motorways, city streets and country roads we averaged 4.5 litres per 100km. That's impressive, especially given that we drove most of the route with the system in Sport mode. Drive in Normal or Eco settings, and it's noticeable how much more frequently the system slips into EV mode. Even driving one brisk country-road section, average consumption never slipped above 5.3 litres per 100km. So the Civic is frugal and refined, but it's not especially sporty. In spite of a decent 7.8-second 0-100km/h time, performance feels closer to languid than rapid, and the Civic bobs gently on relatively soft springs, soaking up road imperfections with ease. There is some fun to be had, though - when pushed, the steering has better weight and faster responses than you'd expect, and the Civic can feel quite enthusiastic in the right setting, but it's always limited in that respect by the softness of the suspension. Ah well, there is a more rapid and aggressive Type R coming next year, although that might not actually be sold in Ireland... What you get for your money The new Civic won't go on sale in Ireland until at least the end of this year, and more realistically will be a 2023 model for us. We'd expect it to come with a price tag in the region of 30-35,000, to keep it competitive with the 2.0-litre versions of the Toyota Corolla, which will be its closest rival. While Irish specs haven't yet been set, European models come as standard with an upgraded safety suite (called Honda Sensing) that includes autonomous emergency braking, a pop-up bonnet to protect pedestrians in an impact, a traffic-jam crawling setting for the adaptive cruise control, improved lane-keeping steering and a blind-spot monitor. Other standard kit includes dual-zone air conditioning, heated front seats, the nine-inch touchscreen, privacy glass, automatic headlights and 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels. Summary This 11th generation of Honda's Civic hatch is very sober and grown-up, albeit with just enough fun in its bones that it's not boring to drive. It is impressively well-built, roomy and exceptionally frugal though. All we need to know now is the price. Technology bootcamps are relatively short-term full- or part-time intensive training programs offering skill sets that in many cases can quickly catapult a previously non-technical person into a high-paying tech career. The schools teach students in-demand skills in areas such as coding, cybersecurity and fintech, and in recent years, the one-and-a-half to six-month long bootcamps have become talent pools for organizations looking for skills-based job seekers. And with the Great Resignation in full swing, more workers are choosing to move into tech for flexible working conditions and high pay. Bootcamp graduates, including coding bootcamps, report quickly finding full-time jobs, a fast ROI, higher salaries, and STEM career opportunities, according to a recent survey of 3,800 US graduates of university coding bootcamps by US tech education platform company 2U and Gallup. Along with new careers, the programs can help existing tech workers gain new skills to grow in their current roles. Globally, there are more than 500 tech bootcamps, according to Source Report, a coding school tracker. While the average bootcamp costs about $14,000, a Source Report survey found the average salary increase for coding bootcamp graduates was 56%, or $25,000. And, in 2021, the average starting salary of a bootcamp grad was $69,000. Some of the more popular tech bootcamps include CareerFoundry, Fullstack Academy, Flatiron School, Wild Code School, Coding Dojo, WBS Coding School, General Assembly online bootcamp, Springboard, and Udacity. 2U works with more than 50 universities to offer more than 200 boot camps across eight disciplines, including coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and fintech. Since 2U launched its platform in 2016, 48,000 students have graduated from its programs, and more than 6,000 companies have hired them, including Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Autodesk, Capital One, Cognizant, Deloitte, Google, Liberty Mutual, SkillStorm, and State Farm. Two graduates from 2U's six-month tech bootcamp are Stephen Powell and Danielle Bowman, neither of whom had any previous experience with technology or coding as part of their careers. Powell, 35, grew up in Washington DC and dropped out of high school before getting a job in retail sales at Verizon at 20. A year later, he got his GED and advanced into a corporate role. To further boost his career, Powell decided he needed more technical training but didnt want to spend four years getting a degree. At age 32 recently married, working full time, and raising a 10-year-old child he enrolled in George Washington University Data Analytics Boot Camp and landed a new role in data engineering at Koverse, an SAIC subsidiary. Based in Atlanta, Bowman spent more than 13 years as a Walgreens store manager before deciding to change careers. After graduating from a University of Central Florida coding bootcamp with a certificate in full stack web development, she now works as software engineering manager at CodeMettle. The following are excerpts from interviews with both bootcamp graduates: Stephen Powell Stephen Powell Stephen Powell What were you doing after getting your GED? "I started working for Verizon in the retail channel at 19. I did that for about four years and then went on to do government telesales. Then I was a federal account manager for a couple of years. Then I became a B2B trainer of B2B reps and managers and then a national client partner of enterprise accounts at Verizon. I was there for 11 years. I was able to move up, mainly through sales and training. "At the end of 2018, I decided to leave Verizon on my own volition and go work at a start-up as a sales engineer [at KryptoWire]. So, from a company of 66,000 to a company of 16, it was quite a culture shock. And, thats kind of where I knew I needed to get a lot smarter around technology. "It was actually my job at KryptoWire that prompted me to think, 'Im going to peak here at some point.' It was a mobile appliction security testing firm. Thats why I decided to go to boot camp in 2019." What was it about your job at KryotoWire that gave you the idea to go to a coding bootcamp? "The first couple of meetings I had at KryptoWire the internal meetings with the engineering team they were saying things I had no clue about. To be candid, I felt kind of stupid. So, I went home and I started researching programs on tech, and coding specifically. I knew at 32 years old, I didnt have four years to give; not only that, I didnt have debt to accrue. "So, I literally Googled programs around Python and data analytics, and thats how I found the bootcamp, and then I took the pretest and applied for it. It was literally researching programs on a Saturday." What was it about the program that you liked, or didnt like? "What I liked was the instruction. "Now, one thing I had over cohorts is that I spent such a long time in corporate America. I knew what it was like to generate and maintain relationships. Thats one thing Im good at. I knew that developing relationships with instructors and teaching assistants was going to make me most successful in my career path. And so thats what I really enjoyed about it. "I cant say I had any dislikes only because I went into program knowing whatever happened would be based upon my effort. I was in sales, so Im used to eating what I kill. So, I applied that same principle to the bootcamp. "It was hard at first, from a work standpoint but thats because I hadnt done Python before. ...But after the first few weeks of me getting repetitious about it and doing some self-study, I was able to catch on." What was it like seeing code for the first time? "I remember the first night we did Python, I went home and told my wife Im probably going to drop out. The first night we did Python, they were very simple tasks, but I simply couldnt catch on. "My wife has been a backbone for me. She told me to stick with it. It was scary. It was foreign. It looked like a foreign language. I know some Spanish, and this looked a lot worse." Along with your wifes support, what kept you from quitting? "I have an acute fear of failure. And also, I knew at KryptoWire, because I worked with such a smart group of people, my skillsets even my ability to build relationships wouldnt carry me into tech. So, if I didnt get any formal training, whether it be boot camp or a four-year degree, I was going to be left out of that pool of people smart enough to maintain a career in technology. "So, that fear of missing out that FOMO and the fear of failing really drove me. I actually developed a personal interest in learning more about code and data science." Was it very expensive? "So, the whole program was $10K. Again, I think I was lucky in the sense that I had a good paying job, so it wasnt a massive financial undertaking for me. I know some of my other cohorts emptied their savings; they got personal loans. But for me, it wasnt a heavy lift financially. I always say, Ive spent more on less." What was the course like? "It was six months long. It was all in person. We did Tuesdays and Thursdays for three hours 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. And Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m." Was the workload manageable, considering you were working a full-time job? "There were adjustments that had to be made, for sure. Because you have a full life, including your personal life, you do have to carve out time outside of regular coursework in order to maintain and upskill in the program. "So, for the first couple of weeks there was a time I really had to adjust myself not only my work schedule, but also my sleep schedule; some of these nights went a little longer than they would have if I werent in the program. It was a tough couple of weeks... just trying to get ramped up and really understand what being in a program like this takes...." What was the most difficult part of the course? "The speed of the course work. They really try to squeeze in about four years of materials into six months. So, keeping up initially was really tough for me. Thats why I had to put in the extra time, not just in the classroom, but also at home. So, there were some personal sacrifices, albeit mostly social, I had to make in order to be successful. "But the speed was it; one week were talking about one thing and the next week were onto another topic, and the next topic might incorporate that thing you learned four weeks ago. So, it was a lot to keep up with...." What did you like best about it? "The teachers. I loved the instruction. It was careful and thoughtful. When you asked a question, you didnt feel stupid. I really appreciated that. In fact, I still keep in touch with my instructors today. Thats how I know I valued them so much. They were always encouraging me, always." What was your first job out of bootcamp? "I was a data analyst. The boot camp was a data science program. Normally, the path is to start off as a data analyst and then you end up a data scientist. So, I went in thinking that would be my path. But in the program you start to understand the skillset youre investing in can fit a wide range of roles. So, once I was in the program, I stopped narrowing my view of what I could do. "Number one, I could keep the job I had and be better at it. I could be a data analyst or data scientist. That was a very buzz-worthy title three or four years ago. But after a while, I realized I could do anything with those skills. I actually got the data analyst job a month before completing the bootcamp program. "Because I had a lot of federal experience, dealing with federal integrators and customers, I got a job as a data analyst with the Department of Justice and I got that right before COVID started. I wasnt comfortable with my coding prowess at that point to be a full-fledged engineer. Thats why I went that route. "Now, Im on my third job since the program. I was a data analyst for a year, and actually got the opportunity to become a data engineer at Koverse, an SCIC company." How has your career change affected your life? "I had a pretty good job before. Job security is a term I stay away from, but now I have skill security. What the program did was give me a sense of always wanting to learn more. Im a heavy reader. I read at least two books a month around what I do. And I wouldnt have gotten that fervor to learn that fire had I not attended that bootcamp. "Engineering to me is a trade that if youre able to learn and upscale it, youll be able to maintain [a career] for a very long time." In terms of income, has this allowed you to earn more? "Yes. Specifically, when I was at Verizon, I earned well, but it was commission-based. So, now Im earning that kind of money at a salary level. And, now I work at a company I started a new job last week that afforded me the ability to actually have equity in the company.... "To be honest, you dont know these companies like Facebook give you equity in the company until you get into that realm. Its made a difference in how I view money, certainly in how I spend it and also how I invest it. Its made a hell of a difference." What advice would you give others considering careers in technology and attending a bootcamp? "Consistency over fear. If youre consistent with it, no matter what youre afraid of, youll get it eventually. I still have imposter syndrome to this day. But, if Im consistent with my work ethic and my ability to program and build things, I can put that fear on the back burner. Because all I have to do is get in front of my computer and say. 'Im just going to do it regardless of what the outcome is.' Consistency will trump everything. "I now work for Gretel. Its an AI and machine learning company. Im super excited." What do you like about your current job? "I like the fact that Im part of a company thats defining a new space in technology. We specialize around synthetic data. We are at the forefront of defining this space, to the point where were going to have to be educating folks in the next few years about what it is, which I absolutely love.... I can look back and say Gretel was the one who introduced me to this amazing new topic of AI and machine learning." Danielle Bowman Danielle Bowman Danielle Bowman What was your career prior to attending the coding bootcamp? "I got my business management degree and started at Walgreens literally the week after as assistant manager. I had my own store within three or four years. Then I managed a bunch of stores. I started in Cleveland, Ohio before Orlando. Then I was managing stores in Orlando. "It was fine. It was a good career. It was well paying. But, I knew it wasnt my long-term career. I just happened to be good at it. But I also knew I didnt want to work holidays; I was tired of working on weekends and dealing with stuff non-stop." How did you learn about the coding bootcamp? "A friend of mine we used to be assistant managers together in Ohio asked me if Id ever thought about coding, and I told him no. Hed become a [software] engineer. No one had ever suggested it as a career path to me. I was naive to all of it. He told me theres a demand for it, and your salary could transition and you wouldnt have to take a huge [loss]. Among a slew of announcements at WWDC this year were some important changes to Apples support for single sign-on (SSO). Heres whats coming when new updates ship this fall. SSO + BYOD = iOS 16, iPadOS 16 Apple first introduced SSO support at WWDC 2019 with Sign in with Apple, which also saw the introduction of extensions to enable this kind of authentication. It allowed a user to access a service or website using their Apple ID, and meant support for identity providers, the use of highly secure token-based signatures and the tools service providers required to implement these systems. That was v.1, and Apple has continued to improve its offerings since then. All the same, the reality is that because apps and services must be equipped to accept SSO, its sometimes necessary to use third-party authentication services such as Okta and others, or simply manual sign in to access some sites. Apple at WWDC 2022 updated SSO with two critical enhancements: SSO support for user enrollment for iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. Platform SSO support to macOS Ventura. Whats new in SSO support for user enrollment Whats changed is that when enrolling an iOS device, users can now download a mobile app from their identity provider (IdP) to enable use of SSO on that device. The system also requires a Managed Apple ID set up using Apple Business or School Manager and use of an MDM (Mobile Device Management) system of some kind, such as Apple Business Essentials, Jamf, or Kandji, to name but three. Apple also made it possible to use Apple Configurator for iPhone to add Macs, iPads, and iPhones to Apple Business or School Manager starting this fall. The company has also made it much easier to enroll personal devices to MDM. The lightest explanation of how Apple's system works is that once enrollment is complete, the IdP app remains active on the device to mediate app and service authentications. For an end user, the experience is that once they sign into their iPhone/iPad, they should not need to authenticate use of other supported apps and services. What is Platform SSO support for Macs? For Macs, the addition of Platform SSO support means users will be signed into all the apps and websites that make use of their company's IdP once they authenticate their Mac at login. As they use their computer, authentication will take place on strength of the first login, which was itself mediated by the IdP and stored in the keychain, which means everything takes place behind the scenes, subject to whatever authentication policy you adopt. (Employees will still need their own logins to access personal sites, apps, and services, of course.) Apple calls Platform SSO a replacement for Active Directory, but it does require that IdPs implement the protocol and also that device management vendors update their profiles to support it. Apple also now supports OAuth 2.0 authentication. Thats an important step for both of the above features, as it makes it possible to support additional identity provision systems from third-party services. Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager now support the federation of Managed Apple IDs with Google Workspace and Microsoft Azure AD. The password is dead, so use strong ones While all the above SSO improvements aim at easing friction for enterprise deployments, Apples focus is also on reducing the need for authorization on a more pluralistic basis. Its work to replace CAPTCHA technology with seamless authorization that also uses that first device login as the standard of trust means passwords will become less important. Ironically, that work and SSO generally also mean the primary passcode you and your employees use to access devices has become far, far more important. You really need these to be strong.... After all, with SSO if your master password is 1,2,3,4 it really isnt going to take much effort to crack into your confidential systems. This rather suggests you should explain the need for strong device passwords (and biometric authorization) to your employees before Apple ships its new systems in later this year. Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. 06/28/2022 Photo source: CPSC The TJX Companies of Framingham, Mass., is recalling about 30,600 Nest Swing Egg Chairs The chair can tip over or collapse when someone is seated in it, posing a fall hazard. The firm has received 27 reports of the chairs collapsing or tipping over, including 19 reports of injuries, including cuts, scrapes, soreness and one report of broken ribs and a collapsed lung. This recall involves nest swing egg chairs sold under the Tommy Bahama and Martha Stewart brands. The chairs have a metal circle base that attaches to a metal pole, from which the oval-shaped wicker chairs hang by hook and chain. The chairs were sold with a round cushion for seating and a hangtag with the brand name Martha Stewart or Tommy Bahama. Eight of the nine styles were also sold with an additional decorative pillow. One of the following style numbers is printed on a second hangtag attached to the product: PMK-6501, PMK-6503, PMK-6503-N, PMK-6505, PMK-6506, PMK-6507, PMK-6508, PMK-6509, or PMK-6510. The chairs, manufactured in Vietnam, were sold at Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods and Homesense stores nationwide from December 2018, through April 2022, for between $300 and $350. What to do Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled egg chairs and return them to any Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, or Homesense stores for their choice of either a full refund or a refund in the form of a store gift card. Consumers can also contact TJX for instructions on how to disassemble and dispose of the chair to receive either a full refund or refund in the form of a store gift card. Consumers may contact Marshalls toll-free at (888) 627-7425 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday or online at https://www.marshalls.com/us/store/jump/topic/Product-Recall/2400019; T.J. Maxx at 800-926-6299 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, online at https://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/topic/product-recalls/2400019; HomeGoods at 800-888-0776 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at https://www.homegoods.com/us/store/jump/topic/find-help/our-product-/2400009#product recalls; Homesense toll-free at (855) 660-4663 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at https://us.homesense.com/recalls, or by email at customerservice@tjx.com. News Details Panasonic to test its electronics engineering materials in space Date: 28-06-22 Due to significant growth in aerospace electronics market, there is a demand for aerospace grade electronic components to fulfil high reliability requirements of radiation prone aero-space. Aiming this growing market, the leading electronic industry material manufacturer Panasonic announces it will conduct space exposure experiments of its electronic circuit board materials and Underfill for board level reinforcement . Experiments include exposure to microgravity, cosmic radiation, high vacuum, and other conditions unique to space environments. It is difficult to reproduce all of these environments simultaneously on Earth. The materials will be launched into outer space within FY2022 (by the end of March 2023) on the Exposed Facility of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and remain there for about six months. Panasonics said these experiments to expose it's products to space to assess the impact on them and utilize the data obtained for future product development. Example of such products quoted by Panasonic include MEGTRON series multi-layer circuit board materials and LEXCM series semiconductor device materials, which are widely used in the field of communication infrastructure. This project allows experiments in space (an environment where microgravity, high vacuum, cosmic radiation, and wide-ranging temperature changes occur simultaneously), which are difficult to duplicate on Earth. Panasonic said it will provide electronic materials to contribute to businesses relating to the moon and Mars, which are expected to expand in the future, and technological innovations for high-altitude platform stations, etc., thereby aiming to realize a sustainable society. Panasonic said it will participate in the Space Delivery Project -RETURN to EARTH-, which is promoted by Space BD Inc., to launch research products collected from domestic and overseas research institutions, educational facilities, and private companies into space in order to conduct space exposure experiments. Further details shared by Panasonic in its release includes: The company's experimental samples will be installed on the Exposed Experiment Bracket Attached on i-SEEP (ExBAS) mounted on the IVA-replaceable Small Exposed Experiment Platform (i-SEEP) of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo on board the International Space Station (ISS). The samples will be launched into space to allow for approximately six months of exposure experiments. Subsequently, the samples will be retrieved by the ISS and returned to Earth via a cargo spacecraft. The company is planning to evaluate changes in their material properties before and after exposure to space. In a riff on the Field of Dreams theme, Russian cybercriminals continue to court their Chinese counterparts in hopes of forming mutually beneficial avenues of collaboration and are finding the Chinese to be a tough date. The latest peek into this engagement of Russia-China frenemies comes to us from Cybersixgill and its The Bear and The Dragon analysis of the two communities. Russian cybercriminals motivated by money, Chinese by knowledge The Cybersixgill findings have the two cybercriminal communities colliding and attempting to form what appears to be a fledgling alliance. This is a step above where the situation stood in November 2021, when Flashpoint Intelligence connected the dots between Chinese and Russian threat actors. Both analyses have arrived at the same conclusion: Russian cybercriminals are driving the engagement and courting of Chinese cybercriminals in hopes of engaging in criminal collaboration. The landscapes of Russia and China are different: The Cybersixgill analysis characterizes the Russian criminal entities to be motivated by money, with their Chinese counterparts focused on establishing powerful and sophisticated Chinese hacking collective. Delilah Schwartz, cyber geopolitics and extremism expert for Cybersixgill, said, Given Russian-speaking cybercriminals sophistication and their constantly evolving modus operandi, the transfer of this knowledge to Chinese threat actors is especially concerning. Should this Russian and Chinese alliance continue, a devastating new non-state cyber superpower may emerge, unchecked by diplomatic concerns or fears of destabilizing the international order. Signs of collaboration tempered by geopolitical realities Russia and China on the nation-state level have an ongoing agreement to not target each others entities for intellectual property (which has been ignored by both countries). That said, the two countries remain engaged diplomatically and have declared their relationship to be a friendship without limits. As noted above, Chinas cybercriminal interest evolves more toward establishing capability, as the results of their actions are often supporting nation-state intelligence requirements. This is evidenced by the never-ending klaxon calls of federal U.S. law enforcement and national security agencies on how China continues to target networks holding sensitive intellectual property, economic, political and military information. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the creation of the Ukrainian cyber army coupled with the actions of a great many nations across the globe to isolate Russia have changed the current digital landscape slightly. As noted in the Cybersixgill report, the technologically savvy citizens in Russia who found their access to western social networks (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) curtailed have morphed to the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to access information in the west. The prior collaboration between the United States and Russia, which resulted in Russia disrupting and detaining individuals involved in ransomware attacks against western entities, has dried up. Indeed, there have been instances where Russian criminal entities have found their own members taking action to disrupt the capabilities of their criminal cohort. In a nutshell, the RAMP (Ransom Anon Market Place) forum in October 2021 evolved into a multilingual environment having successfully added Mandarin, though Russian remains the dominant language, with English as the other linguistic offering. Cybersixgill characterizes it best: This unique forum has emerged as a dedicated platform for unrestricted, cross-country cybercriminal collaboration and community-building, potentially indicating toward a nascent Russian-Chinese cybercriminal alliance in the face of increasing international efforts to tackle the scourge of ransomware. This potential collaboration by criminal entities via the RAMP forum or another avenue of communication does not bode well for enterprise and SMB entities should it ever come to fruition. While every criminal entity has its own skill set and technical capabilities, combining forces could create a bevy of criminal adversaries targeting our networks. The current geopolitical realities appear to be the governor on the accelerator to collaboration, and as long as the Russian invasion and conflict with Ukraine continue, one may expect Chinese criminal entities to be hesitant to join forces with Russian criminals. The Chinese might yet accept the transference of knowledge from Russian criminals to enhance their own capabilities, but it will be measured and only when in the Chinese interests, according to Cybersixgill. Last week Microsoft published an in-depth examination of the early cyber lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, offering fresh insight into the scope of Russia's malicious digital activities and new details about the sophisticated and widespread Russian foreign influence operations surrounding the war. Microsoft has been uniquely positioned to observe the digital landscape in Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24 and even before then. Company President Brad Smith noted in March that in addition to funding humanitarian technical relief efforts, Microsoft deployed its RiskIQ platform to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the Ukrainian government system. The company "provided a list of exposed and vulnerable systems to the Ukrainian government that had unpatched high-impact common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) that could provide a foothold for attackers." Microsoft security specialists were among the first to discover pre-invasion malware attacks in January that took down around 70 Ukrainian government websites. The company also deployed protections for newly discovered and destructive malware into Microsoft 365 Defender Endpoint Detection (EDR) and Anti-virus (AV) protection on-premises and in the cloud. In his foreword to the new report, Smith discusses the importance of the first shot of any war, drawing parallels between the current conflict in Ukraine and the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which launched World War I. In the present context, Russia's first shot against Ukraine was a damaging cyber tool deployed against Ukrainian computers called Foxblade as early as February 23, right before the war began. Smith said that Russia's invasion strategy in Ukraine includes "three distinct and sometimes coordinated effortsdestructive cyberattacks within Ukraine, network penetration and espionage outside Ukraine, and cyber influence operations targeting people around the world." 5 key cyber defense points from Russia's attack Based on Microsoft's analysis, the company draws five conclusions from the war's first four months: Military invasion defense requires distributing digital assets and operations across borders. For example, not only did Russia target Ukraine's defense system in an early missile attack, but it also aimed wiper attacks at on-premises networks. Ukraine made an intelligent defensive move by disbursing digital assets into the public cloud, thwarting these attacks. Ukraine withstood a high percentage of Russian cyberattacks. Microsoft said the Russian military launched multiple waves of destructive cyberattacks against 48 distinct Ukrainian agencies and enterprises. Those attacks sought to penetrate "network domains by initially compromising hundreds of computers and then spreading malware designed to destroy the software and data on thousands of others." Threat intelligence advances, including artificial intelligence and internet-connected endpoint protection, made it possible for Ukraine to identify and disable the malware. Microsoft discovered Russian network intrusion efforts on 128 organizations in 42 countries outside Ukraine. The U.S. was Russia's number one target, but Poland, the Baltic nations, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Turkey were also in Moscow's digital crosshairs. A quarter of the successful intrusions led to data exfiltration. Microsoft remains concerned about government computers running on-premises rather than in the cloud. Russian agencies are conducting global cyber influence operations with broader geographic reach, higher volume, more precise targeting, and greater speed and agility. In addition, they are pre-positioning false narratives in ways similar to pre-positioning malware and other software code. The widely disseminated false narrative around supposed biolabs in Ukraine is a prime example of one successful, false narrative operation. It's time for "a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to strengthen defenses against the full range of cyber destructive, espionage, and influence operations." The Russian government does not pursue its operations in a fragmented manner, and the West should likewise not put them in separate analytical silos. Russia's cyber maliciousness is robust Glenn Gerstell, former U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) general counsel and now a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), gives Microsoft's latest report high marks and praises it for laying out Ukraine-related cyber operations in such rich detail. "It illustrates just how robust and comprehensive, sophisticated and integrated Russian cyber maliciousness is," he tells CSO. "We are facing a very, very sophisticated adversary in terms of Russia with the known capabilities of the GRU and SVR, a sophisticated adversary that uses destructive cyber, as well as disinformation as a tool of their statecraft to achieve their political goals." So far, Russia has not mounted cyberattacks that result in "widespread systemic collapses of operational technology, whether it's in the energy sector or telecommunication sector, or even the banking sector," Gerstell says. Ukraine defends itself well Nevertheless, Ukraine has been subject to some attacks against IT infrastructure that have been successful. Ukraine's cyber defense savvy has been central to this effort. "The sophisticated levels of defense will continue to present an obstacle to Russian cyber maliciousness," Gerstell says. Microsoft's push to the cloud has also proved beneficial to Ukraine. "Microsoft really undertook a Herculean effort right before the invasion to move a substantial portion of the Ukrainian government's online activities from servers based in Ukraine to the cloud," he says. Russia relies on Ukraine's digital infrastructure On top of these defenses, the nature of Ukraine's digital infrastructure and Russia's continued reliance on that infrastructure for its operations have served to defend the country well, according to Gerstell. "In addition to the strong defense, a reason we haven't seen a lot of systemic failures in infrastructure in Ukraine is because it's so dispersed. There are something like 2,000 internet service providers in Ukraine." Attacking Ukraine's internet infrastructure would be self-destructive for Russia, Gerstell says. "Russia has been reluctant to dismantle the cellular network in Ukraine completely, even if they could because they're relying on it themselves. Their troops and commanders are using Ukrainian cellular technology to communicate with themselves." The biggest concern from Gerstell's vantage point is Russia's well-honed disinformation skills. "It's just hard to attack operational technology targets in a successful way with enduring persistent damage, but that's not true in disinformation. So, they are going to continue to step up their disinformation campaigns. I think that's what we need to worry about most." Russia will use battlefield knowledge to sharpen their capabilities. There is no going back to normal. Russia could be sharpening its skills Lauren Zabierek, executive director of the Cyber Project at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, emphasizes Russia's ability to leverage its Ukraine experience to advance its destructive cyber capabilities even further. "War always provides opportunity for belligerents to derive operational lessons. Russia will use battlefield knowledge to sharpen their capabilities. There is no going back to normal," she tells CSO. When it comes to defensive operations by Ukraine, Zabierek says that she thinks "advances in cyber threat intelligence and endpoint protection, as well as other enabling technologies described in the report, will continue to help with defensive measures, especially as the war progresses and its toll on the Ukrainians behind the keyboards continues." Like Gerstell, Zabierek finds Microsoft's report helpful but not unexpected. "I'm not sure if I find anything particularly surprising, except that the term 'advanced persistent manipulator' is new to me, but I am glad to see it. It distinguishes the importance of the threat of influence operations and hopefully enhances discussion and efforts to combat it," she tells CSO. Cyberattacks on the Lithuanian government and private institutions conducted by the Russian cybercollective Killnet, and the group's possible collaboration with the Conti hacking gang, were shared on the Telegram messaging service ahead of a major DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack Monday, according to cybersecurity company Flashpoint. Multiple attacks on Lithuanian entities have been claimed by Killnet on its Telegram channel "WE ARE KILLNET," in response to Lithuania's June 18 restrictions of trade routes with Russia. A Flashpoint blog post confirms that Killnet warned about the attacks on the Telegram channel, highlighting the cloud-based instant messaging platform's use as a popular communication channel for threat actors. In keeping with the UN's sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Lithuanian government put restrictions on trade routes between the Baltic country and the Russian exclave Kaliningrada Russian territory situated between Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic coastfor the transport of steel and other metals. The train routes used for trade, according to the Russian government, are essential for at least half of the exclave's imports, prompting Russian officials to label the move a "blockade." The restricted train transit entails bans over goods including coal, steel, metal, construction materials, and advanced technology. DDoS attacks hit Lithuania infrastructure targets Killnet had declared their allegiance to the Russian government during the invasion of Ukraine. To that end, it launched a retribution campaign against Lithuania for its sanctions, featuring several DDoS attacks on infrastructure targets, such as airports, various prominent businesses, and government websites, including those belonging to Lithuania's police departments, and its defense ministry, according to Flashpoint. DDoS attacks are malicious attempts to temporarily or indefinitely disrupt the traffic of a targeted server, service, or network, making the resources unavailable to the intended users. Killnet sent Reuters a statement saying that, "The attack will continue until Lithuania lifts the blockade," adding that it has "demolished 1652 web resources. And that's just so far." The Lithuanian National Cyber Security Center told Reuters that it expects "attacks of a similar or greater intensity in the coming days, especially in the transportation, energy and financial sectors." Flashpoint revealed that it had identified chatter on various pro-Russian Telegram channels claiming that the "current standoff between Russia and Lithuania could escalate to a full-fledged military confrontation." Flashpoint added that it has not seen any evidence yet pointing to actual physical violence as a result of planning on Telegram. Killnet Telegram communications include a chat on June 25 regarding a plan for a mass coordinated attack on June 27, which Killnet referred to as "Judgment Day." Additional smaller attacks were also observed by Flashpoint analysts, including one that took place on June 22. Additionally, Flashpoint's analysts have identified a post from June 26, wherein Killnet labeled Lithuania a "testing ground for our new skills" and added that their "friends from Conti" are eager to fight, hinting at a collaborative effort between Killnet and another Russia-based ransomware gang Conti. Conti, too, had expressed their allegiance to Russia at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Connecticut lobster roll lovers' preferences may be summed up in two words emblazoned on a T-shirt: "NO MAYO." Employees at Liv's Shack in Old Saybrook and Liv's Dockside in Clinton wear black T-shirts with the sentiment, designed with a graphic of a lobster and a stick of butter. The apparel reflects the restaurants' position that butter is best when it comes to lobster rolls, but the idea initially came about as Robert Marcarelli and other Liv's employees were serving the seafood sandwiches at farmers' markets. Marcarelli, the operations director for the Liv's group of restaurants, found himself repeating "no mayo" frequently as customers asked about the rolls' preparation. When Liv's then signed on to vend at the Durham Fair, he had the idea to make the a T-shirt, so he didn't need to answer the same question "for four days, 12 hours a day," he said, laughing. The cold-with-mayonnaise lobster roll style is more common in Maine and other New England states, but in Connecticut, butter is king in fact, the Nutmeg State said to be the birthplace of the hot lobster roll. According to local lore, the buttery delicacy was apparently first served in the 1920s at the former Perry's restaurant in Milford. In 2010, Robert Gregory, the town's former economic development director, told the Connecticut Post that in all those years, no one contested the claim. Like Liv's, other shoreline lobster roll destinations like Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale in Madison and Westbrook, Lobster Shack in East Haven and Lobster Landing in Clinton stick to butter-only recipes. Lisa Nichols / Hearst CT Media "We serve the hot buttered Connecticut-style roll for no other reason than it just being simply delicious," Lobster Landing's Rachel Steponkus and Angela Morander recently told Delish. "With the cold ones, you can add more fillers, but with the hot ones, its simply lobster, lemon, and butter on a rollthats it." However, a quick survey of about 20 popular Connecticut lobster roll spots' menus found the butter/mayo factor evenly split. Some Connecticut lobster heavyweights make room for a cold version on the menu, including Flanders Fish Market in East Lyme and Captain Scott's Lobster Dock in New London. Ford's Lobster in Noank is famous for its "bisque bomb" (half a pound of buttered lobster in a bread bowl, topped with creamy lobster bisque), but the restaurant also offers a cold lobster roll with mayonnaise and celery. Lisa Nichols There's even a lobster salad roll on the menu at nationally-renowned Abbott's Lobster in the Rough, Ford's Noank neighbor, though its acclaimed hot lobster rolls come in three different sizes. Its sibling restaurant Abbott's Outpost in Mystic also offers both versions, along with other unique lobster dishes like crepes, tacos and dip with bacon and beer cheese. When Matt Storch opened Match Restaurant in South Norwalk, he put a hot buttered lobster roll on the menu as an ode to Abbott's just warm buttered lobster on a round, hollowed-out brioche roll, a nod to Abbott's bread choice of hamburger bun. "I am a Connecticut purist, which is for me just lobster and butter. That's my personal preference," he said. "I think canned tuna fish deserves mayonnaise. I don't think $10.50 a pound or whatever it is these days fresh lobsters, that you have to work so hard to get the meat out, deserve that sort of treatment." Thomas McGovern / Courtesy of Match Burger Lobster But when he opened Match Burger Lobster in Westport in 2017, he added a chilled lobster roll to the menu, figuring he'd have some travelers coming to the restaurant who might want that version. He wouldn't settle for commercial mayo brands, though, making his own condiment with a touch of citrusy yuzu. "To me, that was the purest and cleanest way I could deliver a mayonnaise-filled lobster roll," he said. Still, he says the hot buttered version makes up about 93 percent of his lobster roll sales in Westport. Oyster Club in Mystic has typically served a hot buttered lobster roll since its debut in 2011, but this summer, its seasonal Treehouse menu, served on its rooftop deck, offers a bao bun with chilled lobster salad, aji amarillo, tarragon, chive and shallot furikake. The menu offerings are "inspired by staying cool in the summer heat, featuring chilled, raw or gently cooked dishes," according to the Treehouse website, with raw bar items, crudos, cold salads, gazpacho and other cold seafood buns and maki rolls. Catherine Dzilenski / Idlewild Photo Co. Oyster Club owner Dan Meiser is "a butter guy, all the way, for sure," he said by text. "I love our chilled roll, but our hot buttered is my fave." Then there's LobsterCraft, which got its start as a Fairfield County food truck a decade ago and has expanded to brick-and-mortar locations in Fairfield, Greenwich, West Hartford, Block Island and Sarasota, Fla. "Captain Mike" Harden, a former Coast Guard captain and licensed lobster fisherman, offers a menu fairly daring for the state that popularized the no-frills version: a "Heat Wave" roll with spicy serrano and habanero pepper-infused butter, a lobster BLT roll, a surf-and-turf roll with lobster and flank steak, a "California" version with wasabi soy sauce, cucumber and avocado. The Dirty Maynard is LobsterCrafts take on cold Maine-style lobster salad, with mayonnaise, onions, celery and carrots. Despite the creative flavor profiles, the Coastal Roll, LobsterCraft's flagship hot buttered roll, is still the best-seller by "six to one," Harden told Hearst Connecticut in October. Leeanne Griffin Though Liv's stands by its "no mayo" stance, Marcarelli said the Shack and Dockside will receive occasional requests for it. The question is more common at the Shack in Old Saybrook, which is within walking distance of Saybrook Point Resort & Marina and attracts a lot of travelers from outside Connecticut, he said. "We'll do it for you," he said. "We just do a very minimal mayonnaise. We don't add celery, or any sort of fillers. We don't even stock that sort of thing. We believe in keeping it as pure as possible." LONDON (AP) The European Medicines Agency says it will begin reviewing data to decide if a smallpox vaccine made by the pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic might also be authorized for monkeypox, amid a growing outbreak of the disease across the continent. In a statement on Tuesday, the EU drug regulator noted that the vaccine, known as Imvanex in Europe but sold as Jynneos in the U.S., is already cleared for use against monkeypox by American regulators. In Europe, the vaccine is only authorized in adults for the prevention of smallpox, which is related to monkeypox. The decision to start this review is based on results from laboratory studies suggesting that the vaccine triggers the production of antibodies that target the monkeypox virus, the EMA said. The regulator said that supplies of the vaccine are currently very limited in Europe. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are currently more than 4,300 cases of monkeypox globally, of which the majority are in Europe. The vast majority of cases are in gay and bisexual men, and in other men who have sex with men, although scientists warn anyone who is in close, physical context with someone who has monkeypox or their clothing or bedsheets is at risk of infection. Several countries including Britain, Germany and the U.S. have already begun vaccinating those at highest risk of catching monkeypox using smallpox vaccines. Although the disease has been endemic in parts of Africa for decades, vaccines have not been used to stamp out previous outbreaks there. Britain, which has the biggest outbreak beyond Africa, recently widened its vaccination policy to those at highest risk of monkeypox, which it defined as gay and bisexual men at higher risk of exposure, meaning those who have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attends sex on premises venues. On Tuesday, Britain's Health Security Agency said there were now 1,076 cases of monkeypox across the country, adding that they expected to see infections rise further in the coming days and weeks. Last week, the agency said the outbreak was spreading only in defined sexual networks of gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men. 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. Most people infected with monkeypox recover within weeks without needing medical care but the disease can be more severe in vulnerable populations, like pregnant women and children. The World Health Organization declined last week to declare monkeypox a global emergency, but has said it is working on a vaccine-sharing mechanism that some fear could see vaccines go to rich countries like the U.K. that already have their own stockpiles. According to the health analytics firm Airfinity, Britain has 4.500 doses of the Bavarian Nordic vaccine and has ordered another 20,000 shots. The U.S. has received more than 1 million doses already and has ordered another 13 million. On Tuesday, EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the first deliveries of vaccines were arriving to the continent's most affected countries, with more than 5,000 doses arriving in Spain, out of more than 109,000 procured. The EU said in a statement that member countries with the most cases were being prioritized for deliveries; Portugal, Germany and Belgium will be the next countries to receive doses. To date, there have been more than 1,500 monkeypox cases in Africa, with at least 66 deaths. No deaths beyond Africa have been detected. ___ Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report. COLCHESTER An 8-year-old boy was seriously injured in a two-car crash Monday, state police said. The crash happened about 5:45 p.m. at Middletown and Scofield roads. It was raining when the crash occurred, police said. According to state police, the crash happened when a 2001 GMC Sierra K3500 headed east on Middletown and a southbound 2001 Toyota Echo on Scoville collided. The GMC struck the Toyotas right side, a police report said, causing disabling damage to both vehicles. A child in the back seat of the Toyota suffered what appeared to be serious injuries and was taken to Connecticut Childrens Hospital, police said. The driver also appeared to be injured and was taken to Hartford Hospital, police said. The crash remains under investigation, state police said. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the child is a boy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) The news story that reportedly caused former President Donald Trump to throw his lunch against a White House wall came from an exclusive interview that former Attorney General William Barr had arranged with The Associated Press. The scoop, which was published on Dec. 1, 2020, quoted Barr as saying that the U.S. Justice Department had uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could change the outcome of the 2020 election. It was a bombshell that contradicted the concerted effort by Trump, his boss, to subvert the results of the election. In testimony before the Jan. 6 committee on Tuesday, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson recalled hearing noise coming from down the hallway around the time the AP interview was published. She noticed a door propped open in a West Wing dining room room where Trump had eaten, and a valet who was changing a tablecloth. He motioned for me to come in and then pointed towards the front of the room near the fireplace mantle and the TV when I first noticed there was ketchup dripping down the wall and there was a shattered porcelain plate on the floor, Hutchinson said. The valet told her that Trump was angry about Barr's interview with AP and had thrown his lunch against the wall, she said. I grabbed a towel to clean up ketchup from the wall, she said. The story had been written by AP Justice Department reporter Michael Balsamo, who had been told a day earlier that Barr wanted him to come in for lunch. In videotaped testimony to the committee, Barr said that he felt it was time to say something about the voter fraud claims. Recognizing the importance of the statement when Barr said the department had uncovered no evidence of voter fraud, Balsamo asked him to repeat it, and he did. He quickly filed his story from an office in the Justice Department when lunch was over. Neither Balsamo nor AP editors had any comment Tuesday about Hutchinson's testimony. Shortly after the interview that day, Barr went to the White House for a previously scheduled meeting with Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, for whom Hutchinson was a special assistant. I told my secretary that I thought I would probably be fired and told ... not to come back to my office, so you might have to pack up, Barr said in his videotaped testimony, released in an earlier hearing. He was asked to see Trump, who was as mad as I've ever seen him, and suggested that the attorney general hated him. Barr resigned as attorney general a few weeks later. During his testimony before the Jan. 6 committee, Barr said My opinion then and my opinion now is the election was not stolen by fraud, and I havent seen anything since that election that changes my mind on that. STAMFORD A jury in Texas has found that Spectrum services provider Charter Communications acted negligently in connection with a field technicians fatal stabbing of an 83-year-old Dallas-area customer in 2019 and ordered the company to pay several hundred million dollars in damages. In its verdict Thursday, the jury directed Charter to pay 90 percent of $375 million in compensatory damages to the family of Betty Thomas. The total could increase, with the jury set to consider punitive damages on Monday. Over 11 days of trial ... testimony revealed systemic failures of the companys pre-employee screening, hiring and supervision practices, as well as failures to address known warning signs and control the off-duty use of company vehicles all of which led to the preventable murder of Betty Thomas of Irving, attorneys for Thomas family said in a news release after the verdict was announced. Charter said it would appeal the decision. It has not questioned the guilt of the technician, 45-year-old Roy Holden who pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced last year to life in prison but it disputed Thomas familys attorneys assertion that her death was preventable. Our hearts go out to Mrs. Thomas family in the wake of this senseless and tragic crime, the statement said. The responsibility for this horrible act rests solely with Mr. Holden, and we are grateful he is in prison for life. While we respect the jury and the justice system, we strongly disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal. Robert Bird, a University of Connecticut professor of business law, said in an email that the compensatory damages verdict is quite high, and punitive damages can make the cost to (Charter) Spectrum even greater. An appellate court may reduce the size of a large verdict if it determines those damages to be excessive. Holden performed a service call in Thomas home the day before the December 2019 murder, according to Thomas familys attorneys. They said in the news release that Holden was off-duty the following day, but he still learned that Thomas had reported that she was continuing to have problems with her service. They said he used his company key card to enter a Charter-secured vehicle lot and drove his Spectrum van to her house. After he entered, he stabbed her with a Spectrum-supplied knife and went on a spending spree with her credit cards, they also said. When Charter acquired Time Warner in 2016, it inexplicably ended its pre-employment screening program and Holden was hired even though a cursory review of his previous employers would have revealed firings for forgery, falsifying documents and harassment of fellow employees, Thomas familys attorneys said in the news release. The companys conduct was unusually lax, and allegations that the company was not cooperative with police likely only made matters worse for Spectrum in the eyes of the jury, Bird said. Charter denied that it had not screened Holden and said that Texas law and the trial evidence had shown that the murder was not foreseeable. At Charter, we are committed to the safety of all our customers and took the necessary steps, including a thorough pre-employment criminal background check which showed no arrests, convictions or other criminal behavior, the company added in its statement. Nor did anything in Mr. Holdens performance after he was hired suggest he was capable of the crime he committed, including more than 1,000 completed service calls with zero customer complaints about his behavior. In the days before Thomas murder, Holden made outcries to supervisors about personal and financial issues related to a divorce that left him without money or a place to stay, and he cried in a meeting with his supervisor during which he said he was not OK, according to Thomas familys attorneys. They said that immediately after being denied money, he began scamming elderly female Spectrum cable customers by stealing their credit cards and checks. They also asserted in the news release that he had completely unauthorized access to his Spectrum van and that in the weeks before the murder had likely been sleeping in the van. Thomas family later received a bill that included a $58 charge for Holdens service call, and the bills continued to come and eventually were sent to a collection agency, the familys attorneys added in the news release. Through its Spectrum-branded internet, cable and phone services, Charter serves about 32 million customers across 41 states. It employs more than 93,000 people, with most of them in customer-facing positions that include field technicians and call-center workers. Ranking No. 69 on this years Fortune 500 list, Charters main offices are housed in a new, purpose-built complex at 400 Washington Blvd., next to the downtown Stamford Metro-North Railroad station. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott After refusing for months to release an Internal Affairs investigation report about alleged trooper misconduct, state police sent a copy of the record to Hearst Connecticut Media Group, revealing details about a trooper who attended a party where cocaine was allegedly used by others. The records say the department sustained internal charges against Canaan-based state trooper Roger Lapointe because, while off duty, he stayed at a post-wedding party at a Newington apartment in 2019 for 30 to 45 minutes after he learned other guests were allegedly in possession of cocaine. The report said Lapointe was offered drugs while at the party, but internal investigators concluded he did not consume any drugs. After the party, a photo circulated via text message among friends of the wedding party showing a man holding Lapointes tri-fold wallet and displaying his state police badge, the report said. The man and Lapointe had met just a few hours earlier and, at the party, the man allegedly offered Lapointe cocaine while holding a rolled-up dollar bill, according to the report. An accusation emerged that one or more people at the residence had sniffed cocaine off the back side of Lapointes badge, the report said. But, the report said the allegation that cocaine was sniffed off Lapointes badge could not be proven. Two key witnesses chose not to cooperate & did not provide any testimony in this investigation, the report noted. State police internal investigators said in their report Lapointe denied engaging in any illegal activities, and investigators concluded in the report Lapointe did not consume drugs while at the party. The department sustained internal charges against Lapointe for staying at a party where drugs were present and for not safeguarding his badge. The agency issued a two-day suspension, records show. Hearst Connecticut Media first requested the report in November 2021. State police, in a February 2022 response, refused to provide a copy, citing a state law that protects an officers privacy by allowing the officer to object to release of personnel records. In March, the news outlet filed a complaint with the state Freedom of Information Commission seeking to force the agency to provide the report. Hearst Connecticut Media published an article earlier this month about the departments refusal to provide the report. Meanwhile, a hearing before the FOI commission was scheduled for June 27. Last week, state police agreed to provide the report with minor redactions that omitted the identity of some who attended the Newington gathering and a minimal amount of additional detail. Cynthia Isales, the state police legal director, said the agency decided to release the report after conferring with Lapointe. Trooper Lapointe and I agreed that the record with the applied redactions no longer raised any privacy concerns, Isales said. Lapointe did not respond to an email seeking comment about the report sent to his state police email account. Hearst Connecticut Media subsequently withdrew its complaint before the FOI Commission. The after party According to the report, Lapointe, after attending a wedding reception in Simsbury, traveled to a Newington apartment for an after party. At one point, a man allegedly offered Lapointe cocaine and this person, whose name is being withheld by Hearst because he was not charged with a crime, was observed by Lapointe to be holding a "rolled up dollar bill," the report said. The report added that no illegal substances were taken out in front of [Lapointe] at that time. Lapointe told the man that he was a state trooper, according to the report. The man said he did not believe Lapointe and that Lapointe seemed to be too young to be a trooper. Lapointe said he was 30 years old and displayed his tri-fold wallet containing his badge and ID. He returned the wallet to his jacket and then placed the jacket on a living room couch, the report said. The report said a photo of the same man holding Lapointes badge later circulated via text message. Internal investigators in their report said they did not know who took the photo. The report said internal investigators learned that the man in the photo uses cocaine on a recreational basis per testimony. Investigators recommended sustaining two internal charges against Lapointe conduct unbecoming an officer and failure to protect department property from misuse and he was given a two-day suspension, records show. Tpr. Lapointe failed to remove himself from the apartment in Newington when he was aware he was in the presence of people using & in possession of narcotics, investigators wrote in the report. Instead of leaving the apartment, he stayed for approximately 30-45 minutes within the apartment with identified people known to possess illegal narcotics (cocaine), as it was offered to him & he declined. Investigators added Lapointe did not safeguard his department issued badge & keep it in his possession, [which] provided an opportunity to take possession of Lapointe's wallet & take photographs. The photo was used to create a narrative about Tpr. Lapointe & drug use associated with the CSP badge. This had a negative image on DESPP by the civilians involved in this matter. The fact that this incident was sent via text to several friends of the bridal patty portrayed [state police] in a negative light. The withheld report Through a request under the state Freedom of Information Law, Hearst Connecticut Media last year obtained a copy of a log maintained by state police that listed basic details about hundreds of internal investigations into alleged trooper misconduct. The data was a critical component of a recently published three-part series on alleged state police misconduct and punishment meted out by superiors. For that coverage, Hearst Connecticut Media sought to better understand a select number of cases listed in the log by requesting additional documentation. One such involved an allegation that Lapointe in 2019 allowed illegal narcotics to be sniffed from his CSP badge. The log showed department investigators recommended sustaining internal charges against Lapointe in connection with the case. The log noted that a photograph of an unknown person seen holding his tri-fold wallet displaying his badge was taken and circulated via text. But state police for months refused to release the report. Cynthia Isales, legal director for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said the denial was based on state law that protects an officers privacy by allowing him to object to release of personnel records. With respect to Lapointe, it is the agencys belief that release of that record would constitute an invasion of privacy, Isales wrote in an email. The trooper was therefore afforded the ability to object pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. 1-214. He did object. We will therefore not release that record. The Lapointe report was the only one state police refused to release when Hearst Connecticut Media requested several internal affairs reports. In its complaint to the FOI Commission, the news outlet said the agencys refusal to provide the report constituted a violation of the state FOI law. The legal exemption the agency cited Conn. Gen. Stat. 1-214 was overturned/nullified by the Connecticut General Assembly's passage of Public Act 20-1 in 2020, said the complaint from Hearst Connecticut Media, referring to the Police Accountability Act. Since then, the collective bargaining organization/union that represents State Police troopers has unsuccessfully challenged this law change in court, the complaint added. The union's challenges in court have thus far been denied, including an injunction it sought to bar the release of information pending the resolution in court. Therefore, the agency currently has no legal grounds to withhold these records and must produce them immediately, the news outlets complaint said. At least some U.S. adults may get updated COVID-19 shots this fall, as government advisers voted Tuesday that it's time to tweak booster doses to better match the most recent virus variants. Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration wrestled with how to modify doses now when there's no way to know how the rapidly mutating virus will evolve by fall especially since people who get today's recommended boosters remain strongly protected against COVID-19's worst outcomes. Ultimately the FDA panel voted 19-2 that COVID-19 boosters should contain some version of the super-contagious omicron variant, to be ready for an anticipated fall booster campaign. We are going to be behind the eight-ball if we wait longer, said one adviser, Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego. The FDA will have to decide the exact recipe, but expect a combination shot that adds protection against either omicron or some of its newer relatives to the original vaccine. None of us has a crystal ball" to know the next threatening variant, said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks. But we may at least bring the immune system closer to being able to respond to what's circulating now rather than far older virus strains. It's not clear who would be offered a tweaked booster they might be urged only for older adults or those at high risk from the virus. But the FDA is expected to decide on the recipe change within days and then Pfizer and Moderna will have to seek authorization for the appropriately updated doses, time for health authorities to settle on a fall strategy. Current COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives globally. With a booster dose, those used in the U.S. retain strong protection against hospitalization and death but their ability to block infection dropped markedly when omicron appeared. And the omicron mutant that caused the winter surge has been replaced by its genetically distinct relatives. The two newest omicron cousins, called BA.4 and BA.5, together now make up half of U.S. cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pfizer and Moderna already were brewing boosters that add protection to the first omicron mutant. Their combination shots, what scientists call bivalent vaccines, substantially boosted levels of antibodies capable of fighting that variant, more than simply giving another dose of today's vaccine. Both companies found the tweaked shots also offered some cross-protection against those worrisome BA.4 and BA.5 mutants, too, but not nearly as much. Many scientists favor the combination approach because it preserves the original vaccines' proven benefits, which include some cross-protection against other mutants that have cropped up during the pandemic. The question facing FDA is the correct recipe change. Both companies said theyd have plenty of omicron-targeted combo shots by October but Moderna said switching to target omicrons newest relatives might delay its version another month. Further complicating the decision is that only half of vaccinated Americans have received that all-important first booster. And while the CDC says protection against hospitalization has slipped some for older adults, a second booster that's recommended for people 50 and older seems to restore it. But only a quarter of those eligible for the additional booster have gotten one. Marks said that by tweaking the shots, we're hoping we can convince people to go get that booster to strengthen their immune response and help prevent another wave. The logistics will be challenging. Many Americans haven't had their first vaccinations yet, including young children who just became eligible and it's not clear whether tweaked boosters eventually might lead to a change in the primary vaccine. But the FDA's advisers said it's important to go ahead and study updated vaccine recipes in children, too. And one more complexity: A third company, Novavax, is awaiting FDA authorization of a more traditional kind of COVID-19 vaccine, protein-based shots. Novavax argued Tuesday that a booster of its regular vaccine promises a good immune response against the new omicron mutants without a recipe change. Advisers to the World Health Organization recently said omicron-tweaked shots would be most beneficial as a booster only, because they should increase the breadth of people's cross-protection against multiple variants. We dont want the world to lose confidence in vaccines that are currently available, said Dr. Kanta Subbarao, a virologist who chairs that WHO committee. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on Pakistani police escorting a team of polio workers Tuesday during a door-to-door inoculation campaign in a former Pakistani Taliban stronghold, killing two policemen and a polio worker, police said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in North Waziristan, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack came a day after the government launched another nationwide anti-polio campaign amid a spike in attacks. A passerby was also wounded, said Aziz Ullah, a local police official. The attackers fled the scene. Since April, Pakistan has registered 11 new polio cases all in North Waziristan, where parents often refuse to inoculate children. The outbreak has been a blow to the Islamic nations efforts to eradicate the disease, which can cause severe paralysis in children. Pakistans anti-polio campaigns are regularly marked by violence. Islamic militants often target polio teams and police assigned to protect them, falsely claiming the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic. In 2021, Pakistan reported only one case, raising hopes it was close to eradicating polio. North Waziristan was a base for myriad militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, until a massive military offensive in recent years claimed to have cleared the region, forcing many militants to flee to Afghanistan. But attacks have been increasing lately, adding to concerns the assaults could further jeopardize anti-polio campaigns. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack and ordered an investigation. The U.N. children's agency took to Twitter to condemn the attack, saying @UNICEF joins @GovtofPakistan in condemning the attack which reportedly killed a polio worker & security personnel & injured a child in North Waziristan. Those killed were among hundreds of thousands of heroes who work selflessly to #EndPolio. We express our sympathy to families". Earlier, UNICEF posted an appeal on Twitter, urging parents to inoculate their children. The goal of the latest campaign was to vaccinate 12.6 million children under the age of 5 across Pakistan. Together, we can #EndPolio! Please make sure that every child is immunized against this deadly virus," UNICEF said. Shahzad Baig, a coordinator for Pakistan's polio program, also urged all parents and caregivers to get their children vaccinated instead of hiding them or refusing to (let them) take the necessary drops." It is important to realize that the polio virus still exists in our surroundings and no child is safe until all children are truly vaccinated," Baig added. Shuja Khan, a Pakistani father whose son was stricken by polio in North Waziristan, posted a video message on Twitter. Holding his boy in his lap, he appealed on parents to inoculate their children and avoid his family's ordeal. Until this week, Pakistan's health authorities had carried out three nationwide anti-polio drives this year in January, March and in May. During the March campaign, gunmen in northwestern Pakistan shot and killed a female polio worker as she was returning home after a day of vaccinations. And in January, gunmen shot and killed a police officer providing security for polio vaccination workers, also in the countrys northwest. ___ Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) During Brett Kavanaugh's 2018 Supreme Court confirmation hearings, then-California Sen. Kamala Harris asked the judge if he thought women's privacy rights extended to choosing to have an abortion. Kavanaugh declined to answer. With Justice Kavanaugh now part of the court majority that voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and the senator now the vice president, Harris is warning that the court's decision could trigger some of the same far-reaching privacy limitations she warned of during those hearings. Taking to the issue with a passion linked both to her personal and professional background, Harris has spent recent weeks sounding the alarm that upending Roe could create precedent for new restrictions on everything from contraception and in vitro fertilization to gay marriage and that states restricting such things are also leading the way in new limits on the right to vote. Justice Clarence Thomas seemed to validate such concerns, writing in a concurring opinion to the larger ruling on Roe that the high court should reconsider past decisions on access to contraception and same-sex marriage. Harris has been a leading Biden administration voice on abortion rights since early May, when a leaked draft opinion previewed Roe v. Wades nullification. She was flying to Illinois for a maternal health event when the final decision was announced last week, and read it while still in the air quickly shifting the focus of her planned remarks to the ruling. The decision calls into question other rights that we thought were settled, such as the right to use birth control, the right to same sex marriage, the right to interracial marriage, Harris told her audience Friday at a suburban YMCA, adding that it would spark a health care crisis. During an interview Monday with CNN, Harris said, I definitely think this not over," adding that, of what Thomas wrote, "I think he just said the quiet part out loud. Becoming a leading voice on abortion access could be a better fit for Harris after President Joe Biden tasked her with overseeing other thorny issues that haven't gone well: immigration and expanding voting rights. Sweeping legislation on both issues has stalled in Congress, prompting some advocates to say the vice president and the White House should've done more. Harris symbolically presiding over the Senate didnt stop Republicans from blocking efforts to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law before the court's ruling overturning it. But Democrats are hoping anger around the issue will energize their base for the November midterm elections, when the party faces steep headwinds. Getting straight to the politics of the matter after the ruling was announced, Harris said, You have the power to elect leaders who will defend and protect your rights. With your vote, you can act. And you have the final word. After a Texas law effectively banned abortion in the state in the fall, Harris met providers and patients, which her office believes is the first time abortion providers have visited the White House. She stressed then that gender discrimination persists, saying that womens full participation in our nation was still only a goal, not a reality. After the draft Supreme Court opinion leaked, the vice president convened a virtual discussion with doctors and nurses providing abortion care in states with strict restrictions and met with Democratic attorneys general from states supportive of reproductive rights. Biden has also forcefully defended abortion rights and warned that other rights are now at risk. But as a observant Catholic, he hasn't always had a strong record on the issue. Harris, the first female vice president and Californias former top prosecutor, brings unique personal perspective and legal expertise to the issue. Seeing women fight on behalf of other women is just very true to the core of who she is, said Jacqueline Ayers, senior vice president of policy, organizing, and campaigns at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She added that Harris has framed the issue to underscore the disparity that it creates on Black and brown communities, and for people who are living with low income. Ayers said the high court's action has allowed the vice president to highlight how she's used her office to listen to women and advocate for improving their health care perhaps even in ways Biden can't. Its not necessarily a wedge, its just a continuation of someone who has really staked their career around the issues that are key and drivers for them, Ayers said of differences between Harris and Biden. Rev. John Dorhauer, the general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, attended a recent virtual meeting on abortion rights that Harris hosted, and suggested she's been less afraid than some top Democrats to advocate forcefully on the issue. To hear that from one of the highest offices in the land is incredibly encouraging," Dorhauer said. But some abortion opponents argue that Harris has hurt her cause by equating abortion access with other, more routine medical care. She has become emblematic of the abortion absolutism on the other side, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which advocates for women who oppose abortion in politics. As a senator, Harris introduced legislation to improve maternal health. During a 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate, then-candidate Harris said it was outrageous that abortion had been overshadowed by other issues, despite a woman's right to the procedure being under full-on attack even then. The vice president most forcefully signaled the outspoken role when she declared a day after the draft opinion leaked in May: Those Republican leaders who are trying to weaponize the use of the law against women, well, we say, how dare they?" She then used subsequent weeks to argue that undermining Roe v. Wade could soon wipe out other key privacy rights the same theme she raised during Kavanaugh's hearing. Harris says many states moving to fully ban abortion could restrict in vitro fertilization if legislatures argue that human life begins at fertilization. They could prohibit contraception methods, including intrauterine devices and the morning after pill, she argued. Law enforcement might scrutinize data collected from millions of women who use menstrual cycle tracking apps, or those doing internet searches on getting abortions in other states, the vice president said. Also ultimately at stake, Harris maintains, is the legalization of gay marriage, noting that states with the strictest abortion laws often also have past LGBTQ prohibitions that the Supreme Court could revive. Once those rights have fallen, the argument goes, voting rights could be next. She convened a recent meeting with privacy experts to discuss the matter. That slippery slope is really slippery, said one of the meeting's participants, Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, the women and democracy fellow at the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice in New York. "Were barreling right down it right now. Michele Goodwin, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, told attendees to be prepared for the coming of a new Jane Crow, as efforts to limit abortion begin to emulate antiquated laws that once sanctioned open discrimination against Black people. Dannenfelser countered that Harris and others are exaggerating, saying the current Supreme Court is "the least likely to do what shes saying. They believe in the rule of law. It's intended to scare people and to build a coalition on the other side outside of the abortion issue," Dannenfelser said. Harris' office says she is indeed building a coalition, but it will be one of people who believe that Roe v. Wade's effects far exceeded abortion, and not just for women. To help drive home that point, Harris met recently in Los Angeles with religious leaders, noting that to support Roe v. Wade, and all it stands for, does not mean giving up your beliefs. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion STRATFORD The U.S. Army awarded Sikorsky Aircraft a $2.3 billion contract Sunday for dozens of combat helicopters, the company announced. For the five-year contract, the Stratford-based company will deliver 120 H-60M Black Hawk helicopters. It will have the option to make 255 total aircraft potentially worth up to $4.4 billion, Sikorskys parent company Lockheed Martin said in a news release. The Multi-Year X contract is the 10th multi-year contract between Sikorsky and the U.S. government for H-60 helicopters. With more than 2,100 H-60 variants in the U.S. Armys inventory, the Black Hawk continues to be the workhorse and backbone of U.S. Army Aviation, the company stated. The Army awarded the contract Sunday and said the work will be performed in Stratford. Lockheed Martin said deliveries will begin in July and continue through 2027. Decades of Black Hawk production and enhancements, strong program execution and close partnership with the Army has kept the program thriving, and this contract is a testament to that success, said Nathalie Previte, the vice president of Sikorskys Army and Air Force programs. Additionally, we continue to see strong international interest in the Black Hawk due to its versatility and proven record of providing unwavering support to the U.S. and nations around the globe. Sikorsky, with Boeing, is a finalist in the Armys Future Long Range Assault Aircraft project. The Sikorsky-Boeing team is going up against Bell Textron Inc. to replace the Armys fleet of Black Hawks. The aircraft will develop and field the next generation of affordable vertical lift tactical assault/utility aircraft for the Army, the Army said in a statement. The Army will likely award the FLRAA contract in September, according to BreakingDefense.com. Lockheed Martin, Sikorskys parent company, reached an agreement with the state in late May to keep production work in Connecticut if it secures federal contracts for new helicopter programs. The agreement stipulates that Lockheed Martin will keep Sikorskys headquarters in Stratford until 2024. The company also agreed to maintain more than 7,000 direct jobs at its Connecticut facilities in Stratford, Bridgeport, Shelton, North Haven and Trumbull. Lamont said the agreement would also indirectly support thousands more jobs in the state through the small businesses from which Sikorsky purchases supplies. In May, the company had about 240 suppliers in the state. Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP VENTURA, Calif. (AP) A California judge found Monday that there is enough evidence against a man once briefly married to Britney Spears who showed up uninvited at the pop star's wedding to go to trial on a felony stalking charge. After a two-hour preliminary hearing, Ventura County Judge David Worley ruled that 40-year-old Jason Allen Alexander should be held to answer on the charge, along with misdemeanor counts of trespassing, vandalism and battery, court records showed. BRIDGEPORT Two men were each sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for their roles in a plan to murder the owner of a Bridgeport auto shop and then burn down the business, according to federal prosecutors. Luis Mercado, also known as Pops, 55, of Bridgeport; Luis Mejias, also known as Kermit, 35, of Waterbury, as well as three others, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the plan. Law enforcement discovered the plan after trying to stop a car with its taillights off April 2, 2018. Around 1:30 a.m., Bridgeport police patrolling the West Side of the city tried to stop a Toyota Carolla on Elmwood Avenue that was driving without its taillights on. The car, which was being driven by Mercado, fled from police. As officers chased the car, they saw the driver and passenger throw a clear plastic bag and shiny, metal-like objects out of the window, according to U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and an incident report from police. The car then stopped several blocks away. There, officers arrested Mercado and Dominick Gonzalez, also known as Dom, 31, of Bridgeport. Inside the car, officers found a black ski mask, a pair of binoculars and a container of gasoline, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Later, officers found two loaded handguns and a plastic bag with 10.5 grams of marijuana inside that had been thrown out of the car, according to an incident report from police. Police discovered that Mercado; Gonzalez; Mejias; George Rivera, also known as Pito, 33, of Danbury; and Jason Scott, also known as Hood, 39, of Bridgeport, had a plan to murder the owner of a Bridgeport body shop and later set the business on fire, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Mejias, Rivera and Scott were arrested later that morning at a hotel in Milford. In the hotel, police found two loaded rifles, a loaded revolver, a loaded shotgun, additional ammunition, brass knuckles, binoculars, gloves and a knit mask. Investigators also seized packaged heroin, Ecstasy pills, marijuana, a digital scales and other items in the room, as well as ammunition and shotgun shells in the trunk of their car, the U.S. Attorneys office said. The U.S. Attorneys office said each mans criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, making it illegal for them to possess a firearm. In March, Mercado, Rivera, Mejias and Scott each pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the same offense, as well as conspiracy to commit arson, on May 4, 2021, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport sentenced Mercado and Mejias to 10 years in prison the maximum prison term for the offenses followed by three years of supervised release on Monday. Gonzalez, Rivera and Scott await sentencing. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin's Democratic attorney general filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the state's 173-year-old abortion ban, arguing that statutes passed in the 1980s supersede the ban and it's so old that modern generations never consented to it. Wisconsin passed a law in 1849, the year after the territory became a state, banning abortions in every instance except to save the mother's life. The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling, which essentially legalized abortion nationwide, nullified the ban. The court's decision on Friday to reverse Roe vs. Wade has created questions about whether the ban is back in effect. Anti-abortion advocates insist it is. Abortion providers in the state stopped offering procedures on Friday out of fear of prosecution. Attorney General Josh Kaul had hinted before the Supreme Court's decision reversing Roe vs. Wade that he would challenge the ban's validity. He followed through on Tuesday, filing an action in Dane County Circuit Court. He blasted the ban during a news conference with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to announce the filing. We're talking about returning Wisconsin to the 19th century, Kaul said. Evers said Democrats are taking very, very, very important steps to return rights to the women of Wisconsin. According to the lawsuit, Wisconsin adopted a post-Roe vs. Wade law in 1985 that prohibits abortions after a fetus has grown enough that it could survive outside the womb. That point in time is the subject of debate. Some physicians say it's around 20 weeks, others around 28 weeks. Kaul argues that the 1985 law superseded the ban and therefore abortions before the point of viability remain legal in Wisconsin. Wisconsin abortion providers cannot be held to two sets of diametrically opposed laws, and the Wisconsin people deserve clarity, the lawsuit said. Kaul goes on to contend that the ban should be declared unenforceable because it has become obsolete, saying a law that was enacted so long ago cannot be said to have the consent of the governed." This Court therefore should declare that (the ban) cannot be enforced as applied to abortions until and unless new legislation is enacted into law," the lawsuit says. Republican lawmakers have said they may update the ban when they return to Madison for the next two-year legislative session in January. Evers would veto any of their attempts if he wins reelection in November, however. The lawsuit names Senate President Chris Kapenga, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos as defendants. Vos said in a statement that Evers and Kaul's decision to sue is just as misguided as the original Roe vs. Wade ruling. Once again we will do Attorney General Kaul's job and vigorously defend the law, Vos said. Kapenga and LeMahieu spokesman Adam Gibbs didn't return messages. Julaine Appling, president of anti-abortion lobbying group Wisconsin Family Action, said the 1849 ban is a duly enacted law and Kaul is simply playing to Democratic supporters. What you have here is political grandstanding, Appling said. He's playing to his political base and doing their bidding, unfortunately, rather than doing what he was elected to do. Kaul faces an uphill fight in the courts. The lawsuit is so important it will likely work its way to the state Supreme Court. Conservatives hold a 4-3 advantage on the court. Justice Patience Roggensack isn't running for reelection next April, which gives liberals a chance to regain the majority, but Kaul said during the news conference he wants a quick resolution of the case. We're right on the law, he said. Dr. Kathy King, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin's medical director, thanked Kaul and Evers for taking action. She said her organization has been forced to turn patients away, causing suffering because of a vague law from 1849. Meanwhile, three Republican gubernatorial hopefuls warned they would fire prosecutors who refuse to enforce the ban. Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, management consultant Kevin Nicholson and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun all said during a debate on Monday that they would remove district attorneys who won't enforce the ban. Former President Donald Trump's endorsed candidate, Tim Michels, didn't attend the debate. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne has said he won't enforce the ban. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm has hinted he won't enforce it, either. Ozanne and Chisholm are Democrats. District attorneys are elected officials but state law allows the governor to remove them from office for cause. Also Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced it would hear three new cases, including that of an anti-abortion protestor who lower courts determined was harassing a Planned Parenthood employee in 2020 when he followed her to her car and told her bad things could happen if she didn't repent. The court is expected to determine whether the protestor's statements were indeed harassment and whether the lower court's decision to block him from protesting outside Planned Parenthood for four years violated his First Amendment rights. ___ Associated Press writer Harm Venhuizen contributed to this report. Venhuizen is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DENVER (AP) Colorado Republicans on Tuesday chose a former local official who pledged to keep politics out of running elections as their nominee for secretary of state over an indicted county clerk who gained national prominence by promoting conspiracy theories about voting machines. In spurning Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, Republican primary voters appeared to reject the conspiracy theories and false claims that have spread among conservatives since the last presidential election. Peters has appeared regularly with prominent allies of former President Donald Trump who claim without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from him and on Tuesday night made similar claims of cheating in the primary that were quickly rebutted by the primary winner and the secretary of state. The win by Pam Anderson, the former Jefferson County clerk and past head of the state clerks association, sets up a November match-up with current Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat seeking a second term who ran unopposed in Tuesdays primary. Despite Peters' loss, Griswold's campaign framed the November election as a referendum on voting security and false claims peddled by Republicans across the country that widespread fraud is the reason Trump lost reelection. Griswold campaign manager Kyla Sabado said in a statement that Anderson cannot be trusted to stand up to the far-right extremists that dominate the Republican Party. Anderson doesn't bring the political baggage of Peters and is likely to be a much tougher opponent for Griswold, especially during a year that is widely believed to be a difficult one for Democrats. After her win Tuesday night, Anderson said Republican voters had sent a message that they wanted someone they could trust to be a fair leader in the state's top elections office and vowed to avoid using the post for partisan gain. I will continue my fight for restoring the confidence of Colorado voters against lies and the politicians or interest groups that seek to weaponize elections administration for political advantage," Anderson said. Peters was among several candidates across the country this year running to be their states chief election official while denying the outcome of the 2020 election or questioning the integrity of U.S. elections. She became the latest of those candidates to fail to win their Republican primary. Last month, Georgias Jody Hice lost his bid to oust Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in that states GOP primary despite having Trumps endorsement. Raffensperger drew Trumps ire after he refused the former presidents request to find enough votes to overturn President Joe Bidens win in Georgia. There is no evidence of widespread fraud or conspiracy to steal the 2020 presidential election. On Tuesday, Peters gathered with nearly 100 supporters at a rooftop bar in the historic railroad town of Sedalia. She refused to accept defeat and claimed without evidence that the outcome had been manipulated. Peters was running third, behind Anderson and businessman Mike O'Donnell with nearly all the votes counted. Peters accused Colorado election officials of cheating, adding that looking at the results, it's just so obvious that it should be flipped. "Its not over. Keep the faith, she said. Griswold issued a statement Tuesday night noting that Colorados elections have bipartisan oversight throughout the election process. Peters continued spread of election lies is no surprise, Griswold said. Colorado voters made their voices heard and candidates should respect and accept the results of the free and fair election. Anderson, in response to Peters' claims, praised the work of county election officials overseeing the primary and vowed to continue to push back against lies about elections. "I will do exactly what I have done stand up for the truth, stand up for voters and stand up for our constitutional rights," Anderson said, in a phone interview from a campaign party in Jefferson County. Peters, elected as county clerk in 2018, had been barred by a judge from overseeing this years election in Mesa County and was indicted on seven felony counts by a grand jury in her heavily Republican county. The indictment alleged Peters was part of a deceptive scheme to breach voting system technology. She has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, even though the Mesa County district attorney who convened the grand jury is a Republican. After the indictment was announced, state GOP leaders had called on her to suspend her campaign. In recent months, Peters has been issuing various reports discredited by officials and experts that claim voting system manipulation. The reports are based on an unauthorized copy of her countys voting system, the security breach that is the center of the indictment. Peters has denied wrongdoing, arguing she has the authority to ensure county's elections are secure. At Peters' campaign party, those in the crowd listened to country music and drank beer and cocktails as they watched the results on TV. As it became apparent Peters was losing, the mood dampened as the sun set over the foothills. Supporter Rick Wyatt said he did not see much support for her opponents and that voters loved Peters. How does the top of the ticket become the bottom of the ticket?" Wyatt said. "Elections are rigged. Nationally, nearly two dozen Republican candidates who deny the result of the 2020 presidential election have been on the ballot to be their states top election official, according to States United Action, a nonpartisan advocacy organization tracking the candidates. Among those who have advanced to the November election are Wes Allen in Alabama, Diego Morales in Indiana, Jim Marchant in Nevada and Audrey Trujillo in New Mexico. Kristina Karamo in Michigan and Kim Crockett in Minnesota are favorites to win their primaries in August. ___ Cassidy reported from Atlanta. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A new judge must be assigned to oversee the murder case against a former Texas police officer after defense attorneys successfully argued that the initial judge must recuse himself. Retired Second Court of Appeals Justice Lee Gabriel issued the decision Tuesday after hearing arguments last week. Attorneys for the former Fort Worth officer, Aaron Dean, argued that Judge David Hagerman's pre-trial decisions raised questions about his objectivity. Dean is accused of shooting Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old Black woman, through a window of her home while responding to a call reporting the front door was open. The 2019 killing heightened mistrust between the city's Black community and the police department. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Deans attorneys argued that Hagerman improperly rushed them to move toward trial. Gabriel did not specify a reason for ordering Hagerman's recusal in a written order, according to the Dallas Morning News. Hagerman did not immediately reply to the newspaper's request for comment on Tuesday. Dean's trial has been delayed several times. It was scheduled to begin this month before Dean's attorneys sought the judge's recusal. Dean resigned from the police department after he was charged with Jefferson's murder. Bodycam video showed Dean approaching the door of the home where Jefferson was watching her nephew. He walked around the side of the house, pushed through a gate into the fenced-off backyard and fired through the glass window after shouting for Jefferson to show her hands, according to the video. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MADRID (AP) The Latest on the G-7 summit, the annual meeting of the leading democratic economies, which this year is being held in the Bavarian Alps in Germany; and on the NATO summit in Madrid, where leaders begin gathering later Tuesday: ___ Russias war on Ukraine has dominated a gala dinner hosted by Spains King Felipe VI to welcome some 40 heads of state and government on the eve of the NATO summit in Madrid. War has returned to Europe, he told guests Tuesday. Russias unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of the territorial integrity of a sovereign State. No country is unaffected by this war. U.S. President Joe Biden sat to the kings right in the elaborately decorated dining room of the 18th century Royal Palace of Madrid. Felipe said the palace had never had such a large number of world leaders together. In all, some 60 people were at the table. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS: Turkey lifts objections to Sweden, Finland joining NATO ahead of alliance summit How a G-7 ban on Russian gold would work Zelenskyy tells G-7 summit Ukraine forces face urgent moment The AP Interview: Spanish PM says NATO summit to show unity Tale of 2 summits: Americas back to Americas backsliding ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson says Tuesdays deal with Turkey on her countrys and Finlands membership of NATO will bring more security to the alliance. Its good for Finland and Sweden. And its good for NATO, because we would be security providers to NATO, Andersson told The Associated Press. She said completing the process of membership should be done the sooner the better, not only for Sweden and Finland but for other NATO countries, she said. But there are 30 parliaments that need to approve this and you never know, Andersson added. Asked if the Swedish public will see the agreement as a concession on issues like extraditions of Kurdish militants regarded by Ankara as terrorists, Andersson said Swedes will see that this is good for the security of Sweden. Andersson said that her countrys contribution to the alliance will potentially be a strong military and navy. She said that Sweden is in the midst of the largest military buildup since the 1950s. Andersson said she wasnt too worried about Moscows reaction to Tuesdays announcement: Russia has reacted rather mildly so far, Andersson said. Maybe they see the fact that we have been a partner to NATO for quite some time ... that maybe they dont see this as quite such a big step. ___ A senior U.S. administration official says Washington did not offer any concessions to Turkey to coax it to accept the deal to drop its opposition to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The official said Tuesday that President Joe Biden made a deliberate choice to keep the U.S. from being a party to the negotiations or being in a position where Turkey could ask for inducements from the U.S. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue, said Turkey never asked the U.S. for anything as part of the talks. But the official said the U.S. played a crucial role in helping bring the two parties closer together. Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday morning at the behest of Sweden and Finland to help encourage the talks. The leaders of Sweden and Finland reached out to Biden late Tuesday just before accepting the agreement. By Zeke Miller in Madrid ___ Turkey has agreed to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders summit in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent top-level talks, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Russias invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had blocked the move, insisting the Nordic pair change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the three countries leaders signed a joint agreement after talks on Tuesday. ___ Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko has made a powerful plea for Western allies meeting in Madrid to provide his country with whatever it takes to stop the war in Ukraine. Wake up, guys. This is happening now. You are going to be next, this is going to be knocking on your door just in the blink of an eye, Klitschko said Tuesday, addressing reporters at the venue in Madrid where NATO leaders are meeting. Klitschko and his brother, Wladimir, were in Madrid on Tuesday to attend a defense think tank forum ahead of the 2-day summit. Klitschko, who said he had no plans to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the NATO meeting, rejected the idea that Ukraine should make any territorial sacrifices to end the war. Bully the bully, its the only way how to stop it, he said. And in this case, Russia is the bully. ___ U.S. first Lady Jill Biden, accompanied by Spains Queen Letizia, has visited a welcome center for Ukrainian refugees in Madrid and talked with several young people staying there. Speaking to CBS News, Biden said she had told Ukraines first lady, Olena Zelenska when she met her recently that I would carry forth her message, that we supported her. And so, Im continuing to meet with refugees no matter where I go. At the center, Biden and the queen looked at drawings by the refugees and talked with several of them. Jill Biden flew to the Spanish capital late on Sunday while US President Joe Biden arrived on Tuesday to attend a NATO summit that starts Wednesday. Biden said the first ladies of many countries were committed to helping Ukraine. ___ British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is urging other NATO allies to increase their military spending -- but is being accused by his own defense minister of underfunding the U.K.s armed forces. Britain is among nine of the 30 NATO countries that meets the alliances target of spending at least 2% of Gross Domestic Product on defense. Johnson said Tuesday that the current figure is 2.3%, adding that he would be having a conversation about spending at this weeks NATO summit in Madrid. But Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the military had been underfunded for years by successive governments and had been fed a diet of smoke and mirrors, hollowed-out formations and fantasy savings, when in the last few years threats from states have started to increase. Despite the increased spending, the size of Britains military is shrinking. The British Army is set to be cut from 82,000 troops to 72,500. Wallace told a think tank conference in London that there is a risk Russia will lash out against wider Europe and it is time to mobilize, be ready and be relevant. ___ The United States and Spain have issued a joint declaration condemning Russia for invading Ukraine, emphasizing their defense partnership through NATO and pledging to promote safe and orderly migration. U.S. President Joe Biden is in Spain for the NATO summit. He met Tuesday with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The four-page declaration says Russias February invasion of Ukraine fundamentally altered the global strategic environment. It adds that the aggression constitutes the most direct threat to transatlantic security and global stability since the end of the Cold War. It says both countries will work to strengthen legal migration pathways, especially for people from the Caribbean and Latin America. The U.S. and Spain also recognize the importance of cooperating to address what the declaration calls irregular migration from North Africa -- a pressing problem for Spain. ___ NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance will commit to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for its forces at this weeks summit in Madrid. NATO is determined to set the gold standard on discussing the security challenges of climate change, Stoltenberg said Tuesday in Spains capital as world leaders arrived for two days of talks. Stoltenberg says that NATOs immediate goal will be reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of its military forces by 45% by 2030. He said climate change is a crisis multiplier, so it matters for security. ___ WASHINGTON The United States has announced new sanctions on 29 people and 70 Russian firms related to the Kremlins defense industry, as punishment for Russias invasion of Ukraine. The targeted companies include state-owned Rostec, a state-owned defense conglomerate, and its affiliated companies. The move came in combination Tuesday with the Group of Seven announcement to ban imports of Russian gold, and price caps on Russian oil. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the sanctions will degrade Putins capabilities and further impede his war against Ukraine, which has already been plagued by poor morale, broken supply chains, and logistical failures. ___ The mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko and his brother, Wladimir, are in Madrid and have met Spains King Felipe VI at a NATO Public Forum debate on the eve of the NATO summit in the Spanish capital. The two brothers were in the audience when the king made his address to the forum Tuesday and met the monarch as he left. The king said their presence was a very pleasant surprise and that he had conveyed to them Spains support and our deep thoughts and friendship with your nation, with your people. The brothers, both former heavyweight boxing champions, work together to keep Kyiv running during the ongoing war with Russia. NATO has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the summit, but it is expected that he will appear only by video conference. ___ Italian Premier Mario Draghi says a U.N. plan to bring grain out of Ukraine via safe sea corridors could save as much as a month in emptying silos in time for the autumn harvest, since it doesnt require demining ports. Draghi said a briefing that G-7 leaders received from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the plan was one of the most important of the summit and was, all in all, good news. But he said it requires Russias swift approval. Draghi said Tuesday the key elements of the plan involve using existing safe corridors in and out of ports, ensuring cargo ships are protected by the U.N. from possible Russian attacks, and that the ships are then inspected to prevent weapons from arriving. Draghi said Putin had insisted on this. He said Russia had in principle accepted the three-part involvement in the project of Ukraine, Turkey and the U.N.. ___ Russias state space corporation Roscosmos marked the gathering of leaders for the NATO summit by publishing satellite images and the precise coordinates of a conference hall in Madrid where its being held. It also published on its messaging app channel Tuesday the coordinates of the White House, the Pentagon and of government headquarters in London, Paris and Berlin. It described them as the decision-making centers supporting the Ukrainian nationalists - a reference to Western nations support for Kyiv in the face of Russias invasion. The corporation noted that NATO allies were set to declare Russia an enemy at their summit in Madrid, adding that it was publishing precise coordinates just in case. ___ Italian Premier Mario Draghi says G-7 leaders were concerned about Russian advances in eastern Ukraine but that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was optimistic about Ukraines ability to mount a successful counterattack. Zelenskyy addressed the Group of Seven meeting via video link. One of the things that President Zelenskyy told us was that a counter-offensive would be starting, which he was confident would succeed, Draghi said. Asked about reported doubts from the White House, Draghi said: Its not so much doubts expressed by President (Joe) Biden as concern for the Russian progress that has taken place. I cant say anything more on this. ___ Italian Premier Mario Draghi says the Indonesian presidency of the Group of 20 nations has ruled out in-person participation by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the November meeting of the group in Bali. The Nov. 15-16 summit risked awkward diplomatic encounters if Putin were to have come. The Kremlin had said earlier that Putin intended to go. But Draghi, whose country held the G-20 presidency before handing it off to Indonesia, said Tuesday the G-7 had rallied to support Indonesian President Joko Widodo to organize a successful summit. Asked about the Kremlins announcement that Putin would participate, Draghi said: President Widodo excludes it. He was categorical: (Putin) is not coming. What might happen I dont know what will happen but what might happen is perhaps a remote intervention. ___ French President Emmanuel Macron is calling on oil-producing countries to boost output and thereby lower world prices pushed up by the war in Ukraine. He said Tuesday the prices are putting European economies in an untenable situation. Speaking at the end of a G-7 summit in Germany on Tuesday, Macron welcomed the groups discussions on a price cap for oil as a very good idea, but added: The difficulty is technical. He said its crucial to include all major oil-buying countries in any cap agreement for it to be effective. Macron said he discussed boosting oil production with the president of the United Arab Emirates, and expressed hope that U.S. President Joe Biden gets a positive response in talks about oil in an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia. Macron said oil producers have an immense responsibility given our collective dependence on them. He called for expanding Europes liquefied natural gas processing capacity and lashed out at speculation by energy traders he called war profiteers. ___ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called NATO plans to boost its rapid reaction force measured and proportional and not meant to provoke Russia. Speaking Tuesday at the end of a G-7 summit in Germany and before traveling to Spain for a NATO summit, Trudeau said Canada, is committed to making sure we continue to stand up against Russian threats and Russian posturing. According to the government, about 1,400 Canadian troops are currently deployed in central and eastern Europe as part of NATO assurance and deterrence measures. The response that we are taking to Russias illegal actions is measured and proportional, he said, adding it should not be considered a provocative move. We are looking at ensuring that Russia knows we will be there to defend democracies, Trudeau said. ___ French President Emmanuel Macron says Russia cannot and should not win the war in Ukraine, a day after a Russian missile strike killed 18 people at a Ukrainian shopping mall. Speaking at the end of the Group of Seven summit in Germany on Tuesday, Macron said the seven developed economies have devised a plan to support Ukraine and maintain sanctions against Russia as long as necessary, and with the necessary intensity. As fighting in Ukraine rages into the fifth month, Macron said its not clear when the war will end but the goal of Western democracies is, Russia must not win. His comments came as rescuers searched through the charred rubble of the shopping mall. Macron called the attack a war crime. ___ MADRID NATOs chief says Russias invasion of Ukraine has sparked a fundamental shift in the alliances defense policy, and NATO members will have to invest more in military spending in what is now a more unstable world. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke as the alliances leaders began gathering Tuesday in Madrid for a summit that will set the course of the alliance for the coming years. Stoltenberg said the meeting would chart a blueprint for the alliance in a more dangerous and unpredictable word. Top of the agenda is strengthening defenses against Russia and supporting Ukraine in its fight against Moscows invasion. Stoltenberg said we hope to make progress at the gathering in breaking a logjam over applications by Sweden and Finland to join the alliance. Turkey is blocking the move and says the Nordic pair must change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. The three countries leaders are due to meet in Madrid, alongside Stoltenberg, later Tuesday. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is defending the decision by Group of Seven leaders to soften their commitments on ending public support for fossil fuel investments. The leaders say the war in Ukraine means time-limited support for new natural gas extraction projects may be necessary. The G-7 nations said in a statement Tuesday at the end of their three-day summit that in these exceptional circumstances, publicly supported investment in the gas sector can be appropriate as a temporary response. That contrasts in part with a previous pledge made last month by G-7 climate ministers, who said that the seven major economies would align official international financing with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Environmental campaigners, scientists and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have spoken out against any additional fossil fuel investments by rich, developed nations. But Scholz told reporters that gas will be needed temporarily and that is why there may be investments that make sense, in this transitional phase, and that therefore may need to be supported. One of the arguments made by German officials in favor of supporting new natural gas development projects is that it could spare them having to burn more polluting coal to meet their energy needs. Environmental groups argue that building additional pipelines and other infrastructure for surging U.S. LNG exports to Europe and for other fossil fuels will lock in increased carbon use for years to come. ___ Members of the Group of Seven major democratic economies have vowed to create a new climate club for nations wanting to take more ambitious steps on global warming. The move, championed by G-7 summit host German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, will see countries that join the club agree on tougher measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of keeping global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) this century compared to pre-industrial times. Countries that are part of the club will seek to harmonize their measures so that they are comparable and avoid members imposing climate-related tariffs on each others imports. Speaking at the end of a three-day G-7 summit, Scholz said the aim was to ensure that protecting the climate is a competitive advantage, not a disadvantage. He said details of the planned climate club would be finalized this year. ___ Leaders of the worlds wealthiest democracies have taken a united stance to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, as Russias invasion of its neighbor grinds on for a fifth month. The final statement from the Group of Seven summit in Germany said Tuesday the countries would explore far-reaching steps to cap Kremlin income from oil sales that are financing the war in Ukraine. The statement left out key details on how the fossil fuel prices caps would work in practice, setting up more discussion in the weeks ahead to assess measures on barring the import of Russian oil above a certain amount. That would hit a key Russian source of income and, in theory, ease the energy price spikes afflicting the global economy as a result of the war. Leaders also agreed to a ban on imports of Russian gold and to step up aid to countries hard hit with food shortages by the blockage on Ukraine grain shipments through the Black Sea. Unity in the seven democracies confrontation with Putin was a key theme of the summit at a luxury resort in the Bavarian Alps. The G-7 countries have set aside $29.5 in Ukraine assistance this year, on top of $60 billion since Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimea region in 2014. China-donated earthquake relief supplies arrive in Afghanistan Xinhua) 09:28, June 28, 2022 KABUL, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived at Afghanistan's Kabul International Airport on Monday night and was handed over to the Afghan side. Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu and Ghulam Ghaws Naseri, acting minister of state for disaster management and humanitarian affairs of Afghanistan's Taliban-led caretaker government, attended the handover ceremony at the airport. At the ceremony Wang said the Chinese government has decided to provide 50 million yuan (about 7.5 million U.S. dollars) in emergency humanitarian assistance supplies to Afghanistan, and that the first batch of supplies include tents, folding beds and blankets. Wang said six more Chinese airplanes will deliver relief supplies in the next three days. He added that all food supplies that China has promised in assistance to Afghanistan have arrived earlier. Naseri thanked China for expressing its condolences and offering emergency assistance supplies immediately after the earthquake, and said the moves show the longtime friendship between the people of the two countries. On June 22, a strong earthquake in southeastern Afghanistan killed more than 1,000 people and injured nearly 2,000 others while destroying tens of thousands of houses. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (AP) The boat of a North Carolina man missing for seven months has washed ashore in the Azores Islands, thousands of miles from the marina where it was last seen, officials announced Monday. Joseph Matthew Johnson has not been found, but Carolina Beach police said that authorities in the Azores said a boat registered to his name washed up last week on the small island of Sao Jorge, some 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers) across the ocean. Johnson was last seen leaving Federal Point Yacht Club marina on Nov. 22 on his boat, police said. The 44-year-old Carolina Beach resident was reported missing five days later by a friend who arrived in town for a previously arranged fishing trip, police said. Video surveillance from Nov. 22 shows the boat leaving the marina where he lived and the last ping from Johnson's cellphone was from off the coast of Bald Head Island at 5:17 p.m. that same day, Sgt. Colby Edens said by telephone Monday. The U.S. Coast Guards search for Johnson in November covered nearly 7,500 square miles (19,425 square kilometers), but it was suspended when no new information was found, news outlets reported. When the boat was found June 21, it had a heavy buildup of barnacles and algae, indicating that it had been capsized at sea for quite some time, Edens said. Portuguese authorities are helping the Carolina Beach police department as they gather evidence and continue their search for Johnson. Johnsons mother, Mary Kay Anderson, said his family is confident he will be found alive, The StarNews reported. The retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier served for 24 years with tours in Afghanistan and South America, so Anderson believes he has skills to survive in dangerous conditions and elements. Its not just hope, Anderson said. We know hes alive and are praying for his miraculous rescue. STRATFORD In a narrow vote, the Board of Education on Tuesday approved a contract extension for Superintendent Uyi Osunde. But the seven-member body stopped short of revealing any of the agreements new details, making it unclear how long the districts top administrator will serve the school system or how much he will be paid. After meeting in executive session for more than 90 minutes, the board voted 4-3 to approve an extension for Osunde, a former Windsor High School principal who was named superintendent last year. The new contract was supported by Chair Andrea Corcoran, Vice Chair Lisa Carroll-Fabian, Secretary Amy Wiltsie and Janice Cupee. Kristen Bedell, Sean Kennedy and Michael Henrick voted in opposition. Henrick said he voted against the proposal because he wanted to see a little more accomplished by the first-year superintendent before offering him an extension. In my opinion it's a little premature, he said. Im not saying I want him to leave, but I am just saying I would like to see a little more done moving in a positive direction. Bedell and Kennedy both expressed concern about the process involved in granting the extension, but did not elaborate. None of the board members who voted to approve the contract spoke during the public discussion period prior to the decision. Osunde, a former UConn student-athlete who holds a doctorate in educational leadership, was appointed to replace retiring Superintendent Janet Robinson, beating out a field of 21 other applicants. Under the original three-year contract approved unanimously by the board, Osunde was paid a base salary of $210,000 in his first year. He was also provided a $3,000 annual stipend in recognition of his doctorate degree and a $350 monthly transportation allowance. Osundes initial contract, which ran from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024, states that the salary in his second and third years shall be in an amount agreed upon by the Parties, but in no event shall be less than the amount then in effect. The agreement also says the school board, at Osundes request, could vote on whether to offer him a new contract prior to the end of the first year. Requests for a copy of the newly-approved contract extension were not immediately returned. Despite being paid more than $20,000 less than his predecessor, Osundes pay package is still in the top half of superintendents in the state but significantly less than his peers in the region, according to an investigation by Hearst Connecticut Media. The investigation found that the average annual salary for a full-time superintendent in Fairfield County during the 2020-21 school year was $253,312. richard.chumney@hearstmediact.com If you've ever delved into the world of self-tanning, then you'll be familiar with the name Bondi Sands as the No.1 tanning brand in the UK and Ireland*. Now after conquering the tanning market, the Aussie fan favourite has branched out into skincare with Bondi Sands Everyday Skincare, a 12-piece, budget-friendly range (everything is under 12.99) that's set to sort out any of your skincare woes. It's tested by real people and approved by experts, with the added bonus of being available at just a fraction of the price of other brands! Now available at Boots, you can try out the range that is loved by influencers and beauty experts from around the world! Whether you're looking for a moisturiser that will leave your skin hydrated but not sticky, or an under-eye cream that will banish eye bags for good, there's a purse-friendly product for everyone. Plus, if you want to know exactly which items are best for you there's no need to worry, as Bondi Sands have created a handy skincare quiz that will create a bespoke routine for you, based on your skin concerns. With summer officially on the horizon why not start with checking out our must-have summer skincare heroes, the Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream (costing just 9.99) and Sunny Daze SPF 50 Mineral Moisturiser (a steal at 12.99). Combine the two for the perfect no make-up look, with this ultimate ingredient powered duo working together to achieve glowing, dewy skin. Fashion blogger Emily Shak is a big fan of Bondi Sands Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream Illuminating summer skin must haves! As we move into the summer months, its natural to want to switch to illuminating, lightweight, skin-glowing products that will nourish your skin. Here are our top picks from the range... Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream (9.99) With our busy lifestyles and long summer nights ahead, you can be forgiven for not getting your full eight hours of beauty sleep. Luckily, the Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream is the ultimate beauty secret, combining Vitamin C and illuminating particles that will brighten and reduce dark circles instantly and over time. This hero product, which has been seen all over Tiktok, achieves similar results and has been compared to a supremely popular eye dark circle corrector - but comes at a fraction of the price, at just 9.99 for the same handy 15ml size. But don't just take our word for it, a whopping 96% of lucky Bondi Babes that got to try out the products first credited Eye Spy with making their under-eye area appear more luminous and awakened after 30 days**, with 100% of participants saying they would buy it after their 30-day trial**. Enriched with Vitamin C, Green Coffee Bean and Carrot Oil, this handbag-sized product helps soothe and hydrate tired eyes, while also moisturising and nourishing dark patches. Even if you've only had 3 hours of sleep, barely anyone will notice! How to use: Step one: Squeeze a small amount of Bondi Sands Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream on your ring finger. Step two: Apply gently to the under-eye area whilst dabbing to allow product to absorb. Step three: For best results, apply in the morning to clean skin as the first step in your skincare routine. Sunny Daze SPF 50 Mineral Moisturiser is the perfect daily essential to protect your face against UVA and UVB sun exposure Sunny Daze SPF 50 Mineral Moisturiser (12.99) One of the brand's best-selling products, and for good reason! This Mineral Moisturiser combines hydrating and soothing ingredients with SPF 50 sun protection, ensuring your skin is prepped, hydrated and protected from the elements. Our top 3 tips for glowing skin this summer Know your skin! Its important to understand your skin concerns and how to target them. Create a bespoke routine and find out what products are right for you with the Bondi Sands Everyday Skin Quiz. SPF is your BFF! Come rain or shine, we should always protect our skin from harmful UVA & UVB rays. Make sure to apply SPF daily by incorporating either hybrid two-in-one products such as Sunny Daze Mineral Moisturiser SPF 50 or stand alone SPF into your routine. We recommend Bondi Sands Fragrance Free SPF50+, which can be used as the perfect base to your makeup. Consistency is key! Skin results take time, so make sure to embrace your routine every morning and evening you'll thank us later! And remember, all 12 products are suitable for sensitive skin, won't clog your pores, have been dermatologically tested and are fragrance free. Ready to become a Bondi Babe? Check out the full Everyday Skincare range available at Boots. L-R: Bondi Sands Gold'n Hour Vitamin C Serum 30ml (9.99), Sunny Daze SPF 50 Moisturiser 50g (12.99) and Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream 15ml (9.99) Sunny Daze SPF 50 Mineral Moisturiser is the must-have daily essential to protect your face against UVA and UVB sun exposure, with Vitamin E, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Fruit Extract and Zinc Oxide working together to provide up to 72 hours of hydration. Plus, 100% of the everyday people who tried out the Sunny Daze SPF 50 Mineral Moisturiser for 30 days said the texture of the product was easy to apply***, while also noting that after just 24 hours of use the product felt gentle on their skin***. There's no need to break the bank on a moisturiser that also offers SPF protection. As the must-have SPF BFF this summer and the ultimate fan-favourite by editors and influencers alike, Sunny Daze SPF 50 Mineral Moisturiser comes at the purse-friendly price point of 12.99. Suitable for all skin tones, including those with sensitive skin, this mineral moisturiser contains a universal tint and there's no need to worry about ghosting, as it counteracts the white cast left behind by some other moisturisers, resulting in a dewy, invisible finish. How to use: Step one: Shake well before use. Step two: Apply cream liberally and evenly to the face 15 to 20 minutes before exposure to the sun. Step three: Remember to re-apply every two hours or more often when sweating and after swimming, exercise or towel drying. Now you've heard about two of our summer skincare heroes, why not check out the other 10 products in the Bondi Sands Everyday Skincare range. Each product has been formulated with everyday skin in mind, and you can mix and match to tailor your regime to your specific needs. Check out the full Bondi Sands Everyday Skincare range at Boots now. *2021 IRI & Nielsen Data Jan-Dec 2021. For more information, please contact info@bondisands.co.uk **Based on an independent user trial of participants, after 30 days of using Bondi Sands Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream 15ml. ***Based on an independent user trial of participants, after 30 days of using Bondi Sands Sunny Daze SPF 50 Mineral Moisturiser 50ml. A 27-year-old woman who married her ex-boyfriend's father has revealed how the pair formed a close connection when she was in sixth grade - despite a 24-year age gap - before going on to start a romantic relationship when she was just 16 years old, much to the horror of her friends and family. Sydney Dean, from Ohio, first met her now-husband Paul, 51, when she was a sixth grader and dating his son. After she and her then-boyfriend ended their romantic relationship, the pair remained friends - and Sydney continued to spend time with him and his family, including Paul, at their home. It was then that she started to form a connection with Paul, despite their vast age difference and her tender age - although it wasn't until Sydney turned 16 - the legal consenting age in her home state - that the pair's romance began to blossom. Despite the pair facing furious backlash from their loved ones over the controversial age-gap relationship, their romance went from strength to strength, and in 2016, they tied the knot. More than a decade later, the couple are still going strong - although Sydney admits that people around them have struggled to come to terms with the romance and the two-and-a-half decades between them but she doesn't care as she's having the best sex of her life. A 27-year-old woman in 24-year age gap relationship has revealed she married her ex's dad Sydney Dean, 27, from Ohio, met her now husband, Paul, 51, when she was just a sixth-grader Since tying the knot, the pair have received support from their family and friends, and Sydney says her parents love Paul 'He is the only person I have had sex with and he is the best,' Sydney said. 'I can't really compare the sex to other relationships, as he is the first real relationship I have been in.' Sydney concedes that their relationship is far from traditional, however she insists that she wouldn't have it any other way, saying: 'I never expected to fall in love with Paul and we met in a non-traditional way, but I'm so happy I did.' Although she says that the pair are blissfully happy together, Sydney admits that there have been several ups and downs on their road to true love - particularly when it came to convincing their loved ones, who were initially very resistant to the match. 'My mom already knew who Paul was and from the few times they have talked, they got along just fine,' Sydney confessed. 'But when I first told my mom that we were together, she was not happy.' However, the couple persevered, and eventually, Sydney says her mother came around to the idea of them being together. She said: 'The age gap really got to her and it stayed that way for about a year - eventually she came around. [After this] we would go to her house almost every weekend just to hang out or have a BBQ.' While Sydney never expected to meet her now husband when she was just a kid, she says she is so happy she did After Sydney and Paul's son broke up they remained friends which prompted a connection between Paul and Sydney The pair began dating when Sydney was just 16, the legal age of consent in Ohio, and tied the knot in 2016 Sydney's mother's relationship with Paul has also been strengthened by the fact that the couple now lives near her - meaning that they have been able to form their own bond. 'Now that we live pretty close to each other, she comes over all the time,' she explained. 'She is 100 per cent supportive of us and absolutely loves Paul. In fact, they probably chat more than me and her do.' But Sydney's mom wasn't the only family member she had to convince - with her father also taking issue with his daughter's new romance. 'In the beginning my father didn't like the age gap either and as he lives out of state, he didn't see him as much, but now, he really likes him,' she explained. As for Paul's two children, the couple believe that his youngest took their romance the 'hardest' as Sydney already knew him. Sydney said: 'He didn't agree with the relationship for a couple years, but now that we have been together and are married, he supports us being together. 'He comes over with his girlfriend and their three children every other weekend just to hang out with us and BBQ.' Family feuds aside, the couple has also had to deal with personal struggles, particularly when Paul got into a terrifying car accident that landed him in the hospital for three weeks. 'Paul got into a horrible truck accident last July and was in the SICU for nearly three weeks,' she recalled. However, in the end, this actually helped Sydney to get closer to Paul's children, including her ex-boyfriend, because they all came together in order to help him through his injuries. 'While [Paul] was in [the hospital], I would talk to his son everyday and we would come see him together,' Sydney said. 'Now all the family is OK with us being together.' When the pair first began dating, they struggled to convince their friends and family of the authenticity of the relationship Sydney has said that she is having the best sex of her life and although the two met in a 'non-traditional' way, she is happier than ever Although the two are madly in love, Sydney says she has lost friends because of the relationship However, not everyone has come around, she said that she 'did have one friend that wasn't OK with [her] and Paul's relationship.' 'This friend would never want to come hang out or even talk to me much at all if he was around.' She added: 'She eventually didn't want to be my friend anymore because of the age difference in the relationship.' Sydney hopes sharing her story will help to remove the stigma towards age gap relationships. She added: 'I wish people would understand that couples with an age gap can truly love and care for one another. 'There are a lot of negative assumptions about age gap relationships, but that doesn't mean couples can't be in it for the right reasons. 'He is the best husband I could have asked for, and he treats me so great.' While there are plenty of means of communication available, sometimes a poster in your neighbourhood is the most effective way of getting the message out there in an emergency situation such as a lost pet. And if you really want to grab people's attention, then injecting some humour into your efforts will definitely make them take notice. Hightally has rounded up a selection of the funniest missing posters from around the world, including a woman who put up a sign to say that someone's cat has been trying to move into her house. Elsewhere, a woman in London made a play for a boyfriend who looks like Ryan Gosling by asking if anyone knows his doppelganger. Hello! This person has clearly gone to a lot of effort to recreate Lionel Richie's classic song. This poster allows fans to choose their favourite lyric. Although the purpose isn't entirely clear, it's certainly fun Could this be the best lost cat poster ever? In Missouri Bronwen is desperate to get rid of this cat, who is trying to move in Anyone similar will do! In London a woman called Isabella put up signs looking for Hollywood star Ryan Gosling Now we have! Not too sure what the point of this one is... But at least the cat will laugh when he's a viral meme Crazy Klaus! This poster proves that not everyone loves their pet, especially if they are hostile. Hopefully the public will see this before making eye contact Optical illusion! This is some nifty photoshop skills but we don't really understand the point of this poster, but at least the computer genius who created it did Tweet tweet! Which poster came first? Parrots need to be careful in California with BBQ delicacies popping up on every street corner Lost pet! Aaron is trying to wreak havoc but luckily someone is on the case. However, let's hope that all passers by see the funny side Thank you for the information! Burglars in New York are rejoicing at this person's error is handfeeding them the perfect crime Let's be friends! Maybe this person in the US hasn't heard of Facebook. We do wonder if they did provide their correct information The opposite of lost! Pierre has the blood of French revolutionaries running through his veins and sought his freedom Advertisement She plays Isabel Belly Conklin in Amazon Primes smash-hit series, The Summer I Turned Pretty a role which has seen newcomer Lola Tung jump start her acting career in a way thats worthy of its own Hollywood script. The Asian-American actress, who hails from New York, landed the coveted part in the television adaptation of To All The Boys Ive Loved Before author Jenny Hans popular book series while at the esteemed Carnegie Mellon University in The School of Drama Acting and Music Theater. The teen romance series was the first project Lola, 19, ever auditioned for with the young talent having only teamed up with her manager a few weeks into her first year in college. It girl: Lola Tung has become Hollywood's hottest new star thanks to the success of her Amazon Prime series, The Summer I Turned Pretty - pictured in June 2022 Leading lady: The actress stars as the protagonist, Isabel Belly Conklin, in the romance series - pictured with co-star Christopher Briney However, a career in acting has long been the aim for Lola, whose mother, Pia, briefly worked as an actress while her father spent time as a musician. Now, as fans across the globe praise the stars debut performance in the multigenerational drama, Lola seems set to join TATBILB star Lana Condor as another actress whose star has risen to the top thanks to their portrayal of a character created by Jenny Han. With the actress is preparing to delight viewers again in the second season of the binge-worthy show, the sky truly is the limit for Hollywood newest superstar. Though Lola could easily be seen as an overnight success, the actress has always shown promise after falling in love with acting in sixth grade. The perfect choice: Lola was chosen for the role by the book trilogy's author Jenny Han - pictured in June 2022 Love triangle: Lola had to do chemistry reads with her co-stars Christophey Briney (left) and Gavin Casalegno (right) via zoom Recalling the moment when she played the Tin Man in her middle school production of The Wizard of Oz, Lola told Collider: From there I fell in love with the process and loved being on stage and telling the stories, all of it. That was the moment that started that love for me. She continued: It was just the thrill of being on stage and making people laugh I remember my parents being so excited afterwards. My dad was a musician for a little while and my mum sort of dabbled in acting for a little bit so they are both artists and were so happy that I found something. Growing up in New York City, with the likes of disc jockey Ken Dashow as her neighbor, allowed the star to enjoy plenty of live theater and musicals which further invigorated her love of the arts. Soon Lola secured a spot at the prestigious LaGuardia High School, which boasts the likes of Timothee Chalamet, Sarah Paulson and Jennifer Aniston amongst its alumni. Inspiration: Lola says she was raised by 'creative' parents - pictured as a baby with her mother Pia Tung Starting early: The actress fell in love with acting during middle school and often took part in school plays - pictured in 2016 Her time at LaGuardia ended with a virtual senior showcase in 2020, before Lola then went on to begin her college experience at Carnegie Mellon Universitys School of Drama. Just weeks into her second semester as a freshman, Lola was approached by a manager who quickly put the actress forward for the role as Belly. Looking back at how she locked in the role after her first professional audition experience, Lola told Seventeen magazine: I auditioned completely over Zoom and I was in my first year at Carnegie Mellon. So I was living in Pittsburgh and I sent in tapes for the role that I recorded with my roommates at home. Then I did the entire callback process on Zoom for Jenny and some of the producers. It was really wonderful to work with or to get to read with so many different actors and to read for Jenny. Focused: Lola chose to study drama during her school years in order to pursue her dream - pictured while studying drama at high school Ready for fame: Lola graduated from the world famous Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in June 2020 Beginner's luck: Lola's audition for the Amazon Prime series was her first time going for a professional acting role - pictured at a The Summer I Turned Pretty discussion in June 2022 Luckily for the actress, rushing home to do zoom auditions after her college classes paid off. She eventually found out she got the part during a zoom chat, leaving the star with the unique challenge of trying to finish her first year of college while already having booked a huge role. I was in shock and first and then I called my mom crying on the phone and we freaked out together a little bit, but it was super exciting, she told Teen Vogue. With the help and support from her teachers, Lola was able to complete her freshman year before put her college education on pause in order to focus on filming the series. Speaking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the her CMU experience, the star explained: I dont think Id be where I am right now without my one year at CMU. I learned a lot about acting ... and also about myself as a person being away in a different city and learning what its like to be in that environment. Main character: Lola plays Belly as she suddenly becomes the object of fascination and desire during a summer getaway with her mom, brother and close family friends I learned a lot about professionalism and working with people who are as passionate as I am about acting and theater. I take all the tools I got at CMU with me, and Im very, very grateful for them. Han's trilogy of 'Summer' novels follows 16-year-old Belly as she suddenly becomes the object of fascination and desire during a summer getaway with her mom, brother and close family friends. Belly has had a long-time crush on the older brother, Conrad (Christopher Briney), who might finally be seeing her as more than a little sister but then suddenly his younger brother, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), reveals his feelings for Belly. Lola has likened the experience of filming the series to summer camp, with her social media updates showcasing plenty of bonding moments with her castmates. Instant hit: Reaction to the series has been overwhelmingly positive from both longtime lovers of the book series and new fans The actress also expressed her appreciation when it came to not only working directly with Han who worked as both a writer and showrunner for the series but for the chance to create something that further represented the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. Speaking to Teen Vogue, she explained: I think it's really special to have stories about love and about family [and see] different families. It's not just the same thing over and over again. To be working with other Asian-American actors Sean Kaufman, who plays my brother, Jackie Chung, who plays my mom, and Minnie Mills who's also in the show and to have an Asian-American creator, writer, and showrunner who has that voice and that understanding is so incredible. Lola continued: We had an Asian-American director, too, Jeff Chan, who was amazing. [I was] constantly being surrounded by incredible Asian-American artists. Did I just binge watch the entire season of The Summer I Turned Pretty the first night it came out, in one night? Yes. Did I also bawl my eyes out, fall in love and have a gigantic need for more? Yes. fel (@fallintheflames) June 17, 2022 Star girl: Fans have been flocking online to share their praise for Lola's performance To have that also be my first experience on a set was really, really cool. It's a story about love and family, and the family happens to be Asian-American, which is so cool, because it's just family, it's just love. So far, reaction to the series has been overwhelmingly positive with new fans and longtime lovers of the book series all heaping praise onto the cast and all involved in the making of the show. One fan tweeted: 'Can we talk about how The Summer I Turned Pretty has the best cast, best music, and is possibly one of the best shows to come out in a LONG time.' Another added: 'Did I just binge watch the entire season of The Summer I Turned Pretty the first night it came out, in one night? Yes. Did I also bawl my eyes out, fall in love and have a gigantic need for more? Yes.' 'I need season 2 of the summer i turned pretty more than I need air,' a third wrote. Dream summer: The actress and the cast filmed the series in Wilmington, North Carolina between July and October 2021 When asked about the positive reactions rolling in online by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Lola gushed: Everyone has been very lovely. Social media has been a little overwhelming. But I feel very lucky there was already such a wonderful fan base of the books, and theyve been so kind after the show came out. I think people have been so accepting of the changes and updates, which is really lovely. Indeed, fans have been flocking to share praise for Lola's performance specifically as one wrote: 'lola tung is still so unbelievably stunning to me... and she's perfect as Belly Conklin.' Another tweeted: 'ok but Lola Tung as Belly is the definition of perfect casting.' 'Ik almost everyone's drooling over the boys but a BIG Shout out to Ms Lola Tung for her amazing performance as Belly in #TheSummerITurnedPretty,' a third gushed. 'It is her 1st ever acting job and she did so good! Such a graceful and strong screen presence, hope she gets lots of good roles in future.' Another fan stated: 'Lola Tung is the perfect Belly I cant stop watching The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Exciting times: Lola eagerly looks forward to what's to come in her career, with the actress hoping to make a return to musical theater - pictured in May 2022 Apart from her work, Lola has been vocal about representation and societal issues close to her heart such as climate change and womens rights. During the 2018 March For Our Lives protest in NY, she posted on Instagram: 'Heres to an extremely empowering day. We will never stop fighting. @nycmarchforourlives #enoughisenough #neveragain #guncontrolnow #vote2018 #marchforourlives'. Elsewhere, she saw Environmental activist Greta Thunberg speak in 2018, before joining the school strike for climate change in 2019. With her influence growing thanks to the success of the first seasons of her series, the star is sure to use her newfound platform to raise further awareness for causes she believes in. Campaigner: Lola has been vocal about representation and societal issues close to her heart such as climate change - pictured in March 2018 Using her platform for good: The actress is sure to use her newfound platform to raise further awareness for causes she's passionate about - pictured in September 2019 For now, Lola eagerly looks ahead to what might come next in her career, with the actress expressing a desire return to her first love musical theater. I think it's just been cool to continue auditioning and seeing different projects that are out there. I started as a theater kid, and it'd be really cool to do theater at some point again, live theatre, she told InStyle. If the singing videos Lola has shared on social media are anything to go by, the rising star is already taking the steps needed to make that dream come true. The Summer I Turned Pretty is available to stream on Amazon Prime. This is the emotional moment a woman was finally reunited with her daughter on Long Lost Family, 50 years after her partner secretly took their child to Morocco to be raised by his strict sister, who couldn't have children. Birmingham-based Hazel Chick, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was left 'crying every night' for months when her 18-month-old daughter Sanae was taken away from her by her partner. Her ex-husband claimed he was taking their child to Morocco to meet his relatives, however four weeks later her returned without Sanae, explaining to Hazel that he had given their daughter to his sister to care for, because she couldn't have children of her own. Sanae, who only discovered her 'father and mother' weren't her biological parents after 30 years, had an unhappy childhood; she was forced to leave school at eleven-years-old and worked at home until she had an arranged marriage aged nineteen with a 'controlling' husband. She was eventually told the truth about her parents by a distant family member and moved to England with her four children in search of her mother. Sanae, who is now happily married to someone else and has a fifth child, contacted Long Lost Family for help, and in emotional scenes which aired last night, she was finally reunited with her mother Hazel. This is the emotional moment a woman was finally reunited with her daughter on Long Lost Family, 50 years after her partner secretly took their child to Morocco to be raised by his strict sister, who couldn't have children Birmingham-based Hazel Chick, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was left 'crying every night' for months when her 18-month-old daughter Sanae (pictured as a baby) was taken away from her by her partner Sanae recalled of her childhood: 'I had a hard life in Morocco. My parents were very strict, especially my father. 'If you do something wrong, he's going to beat you. I had to stay at home, doing the cleaning, the washing or sewing clothes.' The situation only grew worse when she was married to a man over 20 years her senior at the age of just 19. 'It was an arranged marriage. He's very, very in control. He liked to think I was his slave,' admitted Sanae. Sanae had four children and was almost thirty when a distant family member, from England, revealed a devastating secret - that she was not who she thought she was. Her ex-husband claimed he was taking their child to Morocco to meet his relatives, however four weeks later her returned without Sanae (pictured as an adult, recently), explaining to Hazel that he had given their daughter to his sister to care for, because she couldn't have children of her own Sanae (pictured, aged nine), who only discovered her 'father and mother' weren't her biological parents after 30 years, had an unhappy childhood; she was forced to leave school at eleven-years-old and worked at home until she had an arranged marriage aged nineteen with a 'controlling' husband 'I found out the truth: my father and my mum, its not my real family All my life is fake,' she recalled. 'I feel like my heart is broken. You feel all your life is a lie. I want to know my real mother. I hope she loved me. Like I love her.' The people whod brought her up were in fact her paternal aunt and uncle. Her birth mother is a British woman called Hazel Chick. Sanae had been born in Birmingham and taken to Morocco by her father when she was 18-months-old. She was eventually told the truth about her parents by a distant family member and moved to England with her four children in search of her mother (pictured) Hearing this shocking news, Sanaes thoughts immediately turned to her mother in England and she went to the British Embassy in Rabat and traced her British birth certificate. Then, as a British citizen, Sanae move to the UK with her children. She is now happily remarried and surrounded by family. But without knowing her birth mother, she felt she could not feel truly complete. She's spent 20 years living in Britain and searching for her mother. 'From my heart I wish to meet her one time in my life. See her, hug her because its so hard you know because its my mum,' said Sanae. Sanae, who is now happily married to someone else and has a fifth child, contacted Long Lost Family for help, and in emotional scenes which aired last night, she was finally reunited with her mother Hazel The Long Lost Family team found Hazel still living in Birmingham, and when told about her discovered daughter, she said: 'I am over the moon. Im overjoyed. [] to actually see my daughter before I pass on.' 'Since her dad took her away, I've never, never stopped thinking about her,' the mother added. After fifty years apart, mother and daughter were finally reunited in emotional scenes on yesterday's programme. 'Today has meant everything to me. She is my life not in my life, she is my life. I love her, I always have, I always will... I'm glad she's back in my life,' said Hazel. 'Today is the best day, an amazing day,' added Sanae. It is well known that the sun is responsible for the vast majority of visible ageing, with UV rays accounting for 80 per cent of skin ageing, including wrinkles. Now research by the Clarins Beauty Daily team has found the top 10 UK cities and towns where residents are most at risk of skin ageing due to UV exposure. The findings are based on the number of sunshine hours per UK cities, with Chichester named the sunniest of all, with a total of 1,919 hours (80 days) on average a year, according to Met Office data. Long-term UV exposure can also lead to pigmentation, reduced skin elasticity and a degradation of skin texture, including yellowing. Clarins Beauty Daily team have revealed the top 10 UK cities and towns where residents are most at risk of skin ageing due to UV exposure Residents in Derry, Northern Ireland, were the least at risk of sun damage, experiencing the lowest hours of sunlight per year among all UK cities at 1,222 hours (51 days). Glasgow residents have little cause for concern, with a total of 1,234 hours of sunlight on average a year. But Chichester, other coastal cities in the UK also had high annual average hours of sunshine. Top 10 UK cities and towns where residents are most at risk of UV damage Chichester - 1,919 hours Brighton and Hove - 1,892 hours Southend-on-Sea - 1,884 hours Portsmouth - 1,772 hours Canterbury - 1,737 hours Plymouth - 1,732 hours Southampton - 1,706 hours Salisbury - 1,699 hours Cardiff - 1,692 hours Bristol - 1,658 hours Advertisement Brighton and Hove came in second place with a total of 1,892 hours, Southend-on-Sea came in third place with 1,884 hours, and Portsmouth followed at 1,772 hours. Residents in these places are even more at risk of skin damage than other cities in the UK, without proper skincare. When looking at the 20 most-populated cities in the UK, Southampton was first among them, with a total of 1,706 hours of sunshine a year. London ranked sixth for UV among the most-populated cities, with a total of 1,559 hours of sunshine, or 65 days a year. With a total of 1,670 hours (70 days), the South East had the highest average hours of sunshine per year out of all regions in the UK, meaning that residents living here are at the highest risk of UV exposure day-to-day. This is in comparison to northern Scotland was the lowest with 1,104 hours per year or 46 days. UV risk is usually at its highest between 10am and 4pm, as well as during the spring and summer months. Although the sun is not as intense on overcast days, UV rays can penetrate through the clouds, so it's essential to use SPF throughout the year. There are two types of UV light that cause skin damage from the sun: These are ultraviolet A (UVA) rays have a longer wavelength known to cause ageing, whilst ultraviolet B (UVB) rays have a shorter wavelength which can burn the skin without SPF use. The findings are based on the number of sunshine hours per UK cities, with Chichester (pictured) named the sunniest of all, with a total of 1,919 hours (80 days) on average a year, according to Met Office data. Dr Paul Banwell, founder and previous head of The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit (MASCU) in East Grinstead, one of the largest skin cancer units in the UK says: Everyone should incorporate a high factor SPF into their daily skincare routine. 'This will not only protect against the suns UVA rays which can cause premature aging and skin cancer, but also protect against UVB rays which can cause melasma and premature skin ageing. The first signs of ageing that are noticeable on the skin's surface start around the age of 25. This is accelerated if you've been exposed to sunlight, and it begins with fine lines and a loss of moisture and progresses over time. Skin ageing is sped up by exposure to the sun in the summer. Dr Paul Banwell says: 'The most important reason for protection and prevention of sun damage is to reduce the risk of skin cancer including pre-cancers called actinic keratosis, basal cell cancers and the potentially deadly melanoma.' He says that wearing SPF is the only safe way to get a tan. NHS guidelines recommend that when buying a sunscreen you should always look for a SPF of at least 30 to protect against UVB, and at least 4-star UVA protection. Aesthetic doctor, Dr Galyna Selezneva : 'Not wearing sunscreen will leave the skin exposed to the sun's UVA and UVB rays. 'Ultraviolet radiation causes DNA changes to the skin that can lead to premature ageing. 'Sun damage can destroy collagen and elastin in your skin too. 'Collagen and elastin degradation in the deeper skin layers can result in premature signs of skin ageing, such as wrinkles and fine lines, because your skin loses its elasticity and firmness. 'We need to be wearing an SPF of at least 50 on the face and once youve applied your broad-spectrum SPF you should reapply it every two hours. Overexposure to UV rays can lead to the development of wrinkles, texture, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, red blotches, brown spots and even lack of firmness in the skin. In a 2017 Statista survey, 31% of men in the UK said they dont wear sunscreen during the summer, even if theyre on a sunny holiday, compared to only 15% of women. In addition, a 2021 survey revealed that 37% of the male respondents reported that they never apply sunscreen when outside of their home. 31% said they use it some of the time and only 11% said that they always use it. Products featured in this article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com will earn an affiliate commission. Malia Obama exuded California cool-girl style as she was spotted stopping by a beauty salon before heading to Starbucks to pick up some coffee in Los Angeles this week. The TV writer opted for a tie-dye shirt dress she teamed with barely there shorts and she completed her look with a pair of white cotton socks and a pair of box fresh New Balance sneakers. The 23-year-old, who is currently working on Donald Glover's upcoming Amazon project, Hive, opted for minimal accessories, seen just carrying her mobile phone and car keys in hand. Summer kicks! Malia Obama was spotted out on a coffee run in L.A. wearing a tie-dye shirt with short shorts and a pair of New Balance sneakers New Balance counts a long roster of celebrity clients like Kaia Gerber, Alessandra Ambrosio, Hailey Bieber, Rihanna and even the Duchess of Cambridge all rocking various sneaker styles over the years. The brands fresh and cushioned designs always keep your feet in the utmost of comfort while providing just the right support for your soles. Make like Malia this summer and step out in these stylish kicks for $89.99 or pick up one of our favorite styles that are just as stylish and won't break the bank. Australian author Sally Hepworth has described herself as a 'mad wig lady' after falling down the faux-hair rabbit hole when she found a bald spot on top of her head Australian author Sally Hepworth has opened up about her hair loss after falling down the faux-hair rabbit hole when she found a bald spot on her head. The 42-year-old mother of two revealed she has been living with a compulsive hair pulling disorder for thirty years - leaving her locks much thinner than she would like. 'I have trichotillomania, which is fancy for 'I pull my hair out at the crown', it is a nervous condition,' she told her followers on Instagram recently. The popular author told Mamamia it is something she has been struggling with since she was in primary school. 'The first time I recall pulling out my hair was around age 12, during a long drive from Melbourne to Queensland. Thirty years later, I've never quite shaken the habit, despite hypnotherapy, psychology, and a rapidly growing bald spot.' Over the last few weeks the mother-of-two has been experimenting with ways to make her hair look fuller, she explained. But the extensions and weaves on offer didn't cover the top of her head - which is where she needed the most coverage. Scroll down for video The 42-year-old mother of two revealed she has been living with a compulsive hair pulling disorder for thirty years - leaving her locks much thinner than she would like This new obsession continued to build until she found herself sitting for a wig maker, and trawling Youtube for advice on how to wear them. 'Some of you may know I am a woman who doesn't do things by halves,' she said in a video to her 40,000 followers. She then revealed she was in fact wearing a wig and took it off to show the camera. 'Christian didn't even notice I was wearing a wig, he had no idea,' she said of her husband. 'Look at the hairline, isn't it amazing? I just think it looks so real,' she mused. After taking the synthetic hair off she went on to explain exactly how to put it on again, starting with clipping her onw, much thinner hair up at the back. She then put her wig grip band on, like a head band before holding her wig upside down in front of her chest. Sally revealed her husband didn't even notice her new hair and she thinks it looks real 'You dive into it, head first like diving into a pool,' she said. Before deciding to buy her first wig Sally weighed up the reaction of her loyal fans. 'I thought it will either look amazing or I will be the mad author who is the mad wig lady. Both are good,' she laughed. Adding she doesn't mind being a mad wig lady at all. The blond 'tussled' bob is the first of what could shape up to be a major collection. 'I have told Christian if we move I will need a wig room,' she said. Sally revealed her hair has been left thin and with a bald spot following 30 years of hair pulling and the onset of peri menopause What is Trichotillomania? Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh), also called hair-pulling disorder, is a mental disorder that involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body, despite trying to stop. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves patchy bald spots, which causes significant distress and can interfere with social or work functioning. People with trichotillomania may go to great lengths to disguise the loss of hair. For some people, trichotillomania may be mild and generally manageable. For others, the compulsive urge to pull hair is overwhelming. Some treatment options have helped many people reduce their hair pulling or stop entirely. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement 'I have ordered a lot of wigs,' she added. 'Not going to lie, having a good hair day at my fingertips is a game changer. And the upside is that I cant pull out my hair while the wig is on,' she said. Before warning her Instagram is going to feature wigs heavily until she puts out her next book. Sally says she has periods where she doesn't pull her hair as much, but the habit always returns when she gets stressed. This combined with peri-menopausal hair thinning has left her 'follically challenged'. In the video, which has been seen by 40,000 people she says she hopes her bald spot recovers and her hair begins to grow back while she uses the wig. She also said she is excited not to have to dye her hair - because she plans to cover it up anyway. And while a human hair wig can cost up to $3000 Sally says they are worth it and thinks they will become the new normal. Products featured in this Mail Best article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com will earn an affiliate commission. You may have noticed that self-tans can vary greatly in terms of color, ease of application and how long they last on the skin. But if you want the very best at an affordable price, you may be interested to hear that the first self-tan in the whole world to use squalane is here in the form of the Malibu Bronze 100% organic tan. Squalane is an exceptional hydrator and helps the skin retain moisture, meaning that the Malibu Bronze tan won't just give you color but it will work hard to nourish your skin and make it feel softer and silkier. Now reduced by 15 percent if you use the code GLOW15 at checkout, the tan offers multiple benefits for your skin for less than $30. Malibu Bronze Self-Tan This luxurious formula contains five super hero ingredients - Squalane, Vitamin B3, Vegan Collagen, Orange Blossom, Certified Organic Aloe Vera. These combine to nourish and moisturize the skin, giving you a premium skincare product and a tan for less than $30 There are no chemicals, no fake smell and it can be washed off in as little as one hour. Use the code GLOW15 to save. Shop Founded by Irish influencer Tiffany Stanley, who lives in Los Angeles, the Malibu Bronze tan delivers natural, even coverage and a golden sun-kissed glow And as squalene is rich in antioxidants, it can fight the damage caused by free radicals to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, scars, sun damage, and hyperpigmentation - with no need for you to do anything except apply the tan as normal. To make life even easier Malibu Bronze offer a Glow Bundle with a tanning mitt and an exfoliating glove for perfect application. Use the code GLOW15 at checkout and it will be reduced to $42.50, which is the same price as just a bottle of other better-known tanning brands. The perfect tan: Malibu Bronze offer an exfoliating mitt and tanning glove bundle to make applying the self-tan fast and fuss-free Using Malibu Bronze is like using professional grade anti-aging and moisturizing skincare and tan in one product thanks to the natural skin-hydrating and anti-ageing ingredients. The tan is buildable so you can rinse it off in one hour for a lighter glow or leave on for four hours to make it look like you've just returned from a vacation. Excellent on naturally pale skin, the Malibu Bronze self-tan offers a safe way to tan as you're not at risk of burning or aging under the sun's UV rays Just one application of this tan will give you a naturally sun-kissed glow so it will save you time on lying out in the sun and protect your skin from the potentially life-threatening dangers of exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Malibu Bronze was founded by Irish influencer Tiffany Stanley and her siblings after losing their mother to skin cancer in 2019. Influencer Tiffany Stanley is a great ambassador for her own product, showing just how natural the color looks to her 872,000 Instagram followers Tiffany says: 'Malibu Bronze is not like any other product out there. This is a personal mission of our family to highlight the dangers of the sun, and offer a healthier alternative. 'We use super clean formulas and spare no expense on creating the best products on the market.' Remember to use the code GLOW15 when you visit the Malibu Bronze website to save on your summer skin appearance and health. A pet behaviourist who was arguing against using animals for likes was branded 'hypocritical' by Good Morning Britain viewers after it was revealed she'd dressed her own dog in Union Jack flags. Anna Webb, an East London-based expert, was left red-faced after Susanna Reid called her out for the snaps on today's show, which showed her English Bull Terrier wrapped in the flags for the Queen's Jubilee earlier this month. The pet lover, who owns two dogs and a cat, had just been arguing against using animal pictures for likes on social media, and stressed the importance of respecting the pet's dignity. She claimed some owners are 'crossing a line' and could cause their pets distress. But when the presenters jokingly asked whether her English Bull Terrier Prudence was 'comfortable' with this picture, the expert brushed it off, saying Prudence 'loves the lens'. A pet behaviourist who was arguing against using animals for likes was branded 'hypocritical' by Good Morning Britain viewers after it was revealed she'd dressed her own dog in Union Jack flags Anna Webb, an East London-based expert, was left red-cheeked after Susanna Reid called her out for the snaps on today's show, which showed her English Bull Terrier wrapped in the flags for the Queen's Jubilee earlier this month Viewers took to Twitter as they called Anna out for the double standard, saying she contradicted her previous statements about animal dignity. This comes as the Cats Protection voiced concerns against funny social video centered around pets, saying they could be distressing for the animals. Anna was discussing the Cats Protection's warning on the show. She said: 'I do think they triviliase pet ownership at times, there is a line that is being crossed.' The pet lover, who owns two dogs and a cat, had just been arguing against using animal pictures for likes, and stressed the importance of respecting the pet's dignity, as she said some owners were 'crossing a line' and could cause their pets distressed Anna's cat Gremlin, pictured, has an agent and has appeared in campaigns for animal charities, it was revealed on the show While she admitted she took pictures of her dog Prudence, she added these were 'artistic pictures' and 'educational' snaps that were 'giving the best life to my pets.' She later said: 'What the pandemic has done is create a lot of pet ownership that's been promoted and encouraged through social media now, for good and for bad.' She said people need to understand that 'pets are revered creatures'. 'I really believe they need to be treated as such and not a cheap circus act,' she added. She added that while taking a picture of your dog whilst training is 'a great opportunity, we mustn't think dog are little people. Anna said her dog Prudence 'joins in' on the pictures, 'takes it in her stride' and 'love the lens' after arguing against using pets for social media likes Anna said her pictures of Prudence are 'artistic' and 'educational.' She said pets should not be used as 'cheap circus acts' The charity Cats Protection has warned against video of pets on social media, saying some pets might be distressed if they're being made to perform 'Dogs are dogs are thanks heaven for that.' As she made her point, several pictures of her dog Prudence were shown on the screen, including one were the dog was dressed in an Union Jack, with two small flags poking out from behind her ears. Susanna, immediately called Anna out for the photo, asking the expert how she could know whether her dog was comfortable with her pictures or not. 'Prudence joins in, she loves posing for the camera,' Anna explained. 'We're blessed with a cameraman here in my tiny living room and, she's taking all this in her stride, she loves the lens,' she added. Susanna also pointed out that Anna's cat, Gremlin, has his own agent, however, the expert said he had only participated in campaigns for cat charities in order to educate people on how to properly care for and play with a cat. Viewers branded Anna a 'hypocrite' and that she contradicted her whole previous statement on the show Susanna poked Anna further, pointed out the cat could get paid for such campaigns and asked whether the expert was 'exploiting' her pets 'for pounds' instead of likes.' But the expert replies she is treating her pets with the dignity they deserve. Pet agent Loni Edwards, who is based in Chicago, was defending the counter argument in the debate, saying that 'as a pet owner you know your pet'. She said: 'You know what they're okay with, happy or stressed, it is your responsibility to make sure your pet is not doing uncomfortable things,' she said. She added performing tricks with your pet can also be great 'mental stimulation' when 'done properly.' She also added: 'The pets don't know what social media is. They're not worried about videos being on the internet, they like getting treats, getting the reward and the praise. 'As long as it's done right, there truly is no harm,' she concluded. Viewers called Anna a hypocrite and said she had contradicted everything she said earlier. 'This Anna woman has just contradicted everything she says she's standing for. Absolute mess. She should be embarrassed,' one said. 'Bit hypocritical,' another said. However, one person said there was a difference between dressing a pet up and filming them incessantly. 'Big difference between dressing a dog up and doing tricks for likes. Pet might be in distress. Wonder how many takes they do to get the perfect video. Pets aren't there to perform for likes.' A besotted man who got his new girlfriend's name tattooed on his neck and moved countries to be with her two weeks after they met has revealed that they have already split up - after living together for 13 days. Terrance Green, 23, from Detroit, and Alisa Thomas, 27, from Toronto, first matched on Hinge on April 17 and she flew 230 miles to spend the weekend with him. The 23-year-old had boasted that he and Alisa were trying for a baby one month after they matched on the dating app and two weeks after they met. He also admitted that he had been planning to propose to her on June 18. The smitten 23-year-old got Alisa's name inked on his neck and moved up to be with her in early June, telling his followers on Twitter that he wanted to have a baby with her. However, when he moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Toronto, Canada, to be with her, his relationship with the admin assistant soured and he claimed that her 'toxic' friends 'caused too much drama' and the relationship ended. Terrance Green, 23, from America, and Alisa Thomas, 27, from Canada, first matched on Hinge on April 17 and she flew 230 miles from Toronto to Detroit to spend the weekend with him The smitten 23-year-old got Alisa's name inked on his neck, pictured, and moved up to be with her in early June, telling his followers on Twitter that he wanted to have a baby with her However, when he moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Toronto, Canada, to be with her, his relationship with the admin assistant soured and he claimed that her 'toxic' friends 'caused too much drama' and the relationship ended Terrance, an entrepreneur, who is now living in Atlanta, tweeted: 'We broke up but Ima [sic] leave this posted to show n***as what not to do'. But now he is back on the dating scene, he does not seem too upset about their ill-fated romance, and boasted that 'everybody' had been waiting for him to be single again. He added that he has gained more followers online due to the 'viral' relationship. Terrance said: 'Her friends would start arguments and make her cry. For me to be there and to have her crying almost every other day, saying "My friends said this and now I'm sad", it was just so much stress. 'I told her she'd have to cut them off if she wanted our relationship to work. Her friends were a big problem. Terrance, an entrepreneur, who is now living in Atlanta, tweeted that their relationship had ended and quipped that he will leave the post up to show people 'what not to do' Terrance revealed that Alisa's friends made her cry and that they started toxic drama. Once one created a fake Instagram page and pretended that Terrance had created it. The paged slammed the food at a friend's birthday party 'We had a sit-down with one of her friends that I really didn't like because she was the main one making her cry. 'This friend had thrown a birthday party for her daughter. Alisa went without me, and then somebody made a fake Instagram page to say the party food looked nasty and the chicken was uncooked. 'This friend thought I'd made the page. She was texting Alisa saying: "I can't believe your boyfriend made that Instagram page". This was all over food at a kid's birthday party. That's why we had this friend come over, to have a sit-down conversation and clear things up. 'We thought everything was cool after that, then her friend went off and told all the other friends what we talked about, made up a whole load of stuff.' He said he chose to leave because he wanted to remove himself from the situation before things got worse He said that he grew tired of the 'toxic' drama and this incident was the last straw for him. Terrance said: 'I woke up the next morning and Alisa was bawling. It was just too much. I said If you're not going to cut out the toxic people in your life, I'm just going to remove myself before the whole situation gets toxic'. 'So I just left, I chose to leave. The situation was getting too toxic. I hadn't even been there for a month. If she didn't want to cut them off, I didn't want to be there. We were going to get married and have kids. I didn't want these people around my kids or at my wedding. 'I can't be fake. I didn't want to have fake-like these people for my relationship to work. 'It's too early in the relationship for me to have to be fake and deal with so much crying. We hadn't even gotten past the honeymoon stage. The 23-year-old told Alisa he was packing his things and leaving. He said that she was sad but thought she wanted him to go as it was too much for her 'They were all older than me, nearly 30-years-old, and acting like high schoolers. I couldn't deal with it. I told Alisa I was packing my stuff and leaving. She was sad about it but I think she wanted me to leave. It was all too much for her. 'Her friends didn't like me. A lot of her friends didn't like the fact that I was planning a proposal and didn't want to invite certain people. 'I was going to propose to her on June 18th, I had a restaurant booked. We had a YouTube channel flying out to film it for us.' Terrance had tweeted about their whirlwind romance before the break-up happened. He has no regrets about their relationship as he said it helped him gain followers online and attention Even though their relationship was short-lived, Terrance has no regrets about it because the 'viral' status of their romance has helped him gain followers online and he says he will get the tattoo covered up one day. He said: 'Looking back, I'm not mad about it. I gained a lot more attention, my YouTube is popping now. I got a lot of girls I used to talk to back in my life. My life is kind of lit again. Life is lit. I'm back in the dating game again. Everybody's been waiting on me to be single. 'I don't regret moving too quickly with the relationship. I gained more fans on my platforms, I don't regret anything I do in life.' 'I live life with no regrets - that's why I got the tattoo and moved to Canada. 'I'm going to get the tattoo of her name covered up one day, I'm not rushing though. I wasn't too upset about the break up. I've been having girlfriends my whole life, it doesn't really hurt my feelings.' After Terrance posted that the couple had broken up, he racked up more than 39,000 likes and 13,000 retweets on Twitter but he was slammed for rushing his relationship. One person wrote: 'I saw this happening from a mile away' After Terrance posted that the couple had broken up, he racked up more than 39,000 likes and 13,000 retweets on Twitter but he was slammed for rushing his relationship. One user wrote: 'You f**ked up when y'all moved in together.' Another said: 'I saw this happening from a mile away.' One tweeted: 'Tattoo of someone you've known for under two weeks is just wild I'm sorry but glad the lesson was learnt.' Another commented: 'Besides trusting Hinge with your life, you got a tattoo of her name, you moved to Canada, she was possibly pregnant, and all this happened when you had known her for 24 days?' Alisa declined to comment on their break-up - however speaking about the relationship before it ended, she had said: 'My family and friends had been nervous and had a lot of opinions about it moving too fast. 'I'd like to say that they support me and will come with me in time, but it's my walk to walk. I think if we didn't live countries apart, people wouldn't have thought it was a fast process. But because we live in different places, everybody was like 'oh gosh, they did that?' Queen Maxima of The Netherlands has once again ensured all eyes on her, donning a lavish grey lace outfit during an appearance in Vienna today. The 51-year-old Dutch royal is currently on a three-day state visit of Austria with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 55. Today they met Ukrainian refugees while visiting a community cooking project at Brotfabrik, a former bread factory which has been turned into a social enterprise featuring art displays as well offering other cultural and education initiatives. Afterwards, they walked through Vienna, before going to the Spanish riding school, where they posed for pictures with one of the horses. During the trip, Maxima donned a very glamorous grey ensemble, matching a one-shouldered lack gown with an elegant hat in matching fabric. Queen Maxima chose a very glamorous look today as she attended a community cooking project in Vienna Despite her elegant look, the Dutch royal showed she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty, as she got stuck into cooking Good spirits: the mother-of-three was snapped beaming as she took part in the cookery demonstration at Brotfabrik in Vienna While she seemed happy to give cooking a go, at times, the Queen looked less than confident about how the dish was going Pinned onto her dress was a large brooch featuring a pale blue gemstone, which matched her dangling earrings. Her other pieces included sparkling diamond bracelets and silver rings. The mother-of-three finished the glamorous look with a polished make-up look, pairing her dewy base with a smoky grey eye, and lashings of black mascara. To keep attention on her eye makeup, she chose a natural pink lip, and soft peach blusher. Meanwhile, her blonde locks were styled into a side parting, then pulled into a low chignon, which sat neatly underneath her grey lace hat. In a sensible move, the royal pulled on a black apron, protecting her elegant gown while showing off some cooking skills. The couple were snapped looking stylish as they walked through Vienna today, following an earlier appearance at a community cooking project After their morning visit to a community cooking project, the royal couple visited Vienna's Spanish Riding School, where they were snapped petting one of the horses The couple appeared to be enjoying themselves, as they horsed around with the magnificent animals Maxima added a pair of stylish sunglasses to her glamorous grey ensemble, making it more appropriate for the bright Austrian sunshine King Willem-Alexander opted for a slightly lower key, though still smart, look, donning a grey two-piece suit, crisp white shirt, and red and white tie. The couple was snapped enjoying themselves as they took part in the cookery demonstration, with Maxima showing she isn't afraid to get stuck in and get her hands dirty. She was photographed beaming as she wielded a rolling pin, and shaping dough for the dish she was making. The royals, who arrived in Vienna yesterday, will spend time in the country until Wednesday after they were invited by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. Glamorous: 51-year-old Maxima matched her lavish outfit to a polished make-up look, pairing smoky eyes with a natural pink lip Maxima appeared deep in concentration as she seasoned the dough (pictured, left), but looked less than confident about how her creation was coming along (right) Royal couple: King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima seemed to approach the cookery task with enthusiasm during their visit today All eyes on her: onlookers watched the glamorous royal as she prepared the dish, rolling out the dough After cooking the dish, Queen Maxima was pictured speaking with refugees from Ukraine at the community project King Willem-Alexander (pictured, right) appeared to look pensive as he listened to a refugee from Ukraine during the visit Today's appearance follows the pair stepping out for a state banquet in Vienna last night. Once again, Queen Maxima stole the show with her glamorous look, wearing a floor-length, one-shoulder white dress, paired with a stunning pearled tiara and drop earrings. Her beautiful gown, clinched at the waist to show off her envious figure, was paired with gold metallic sandals with a chunky high heel and a metallic clutch bag. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands wowed on a state visit to Vienna to meet the President of Austria yesterday The Queen linked arms with her husband King Willem-Alexander as they posed for photos with President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wide Doris Schmidauer Queen Maxima wore a stunning diamond and pearl tiara with matching earrings, which complemented the brooch on her dress Meanwhile, she wore her hair pulled into a classic chignon, and finished off her elegant look with a striking red lip. Posing for photos, the King and Queen smiled next to the President and his wife, Doris Schmidauer. The Austrian First Lady wore a chic blue satin gown with long sleeves, paired with gold jewellery and a low black heel. The King and President also dressed up for the occasion, each looking dapper in tuxedos and bow ties. Viewers of Channel 4's Murder in the Alps were left stunned after learning the secret American ex-husband of the British mother slaughtered in the 2012 massacre died on the same day. The documentary explores the September 2012 case, which saw Saad al-Hilli, a 50-year-old Iraqi-born British tourist and his wife Iqbal shot dead in front of their two young daughters in a forest car park close to Lake Annecy, near France's border with Switzerland. Iqbal's mother was also killed in the execution-style attack, as was a French cyclist who apparently stumbled upon the scene on a remote mountain road. French investigators have struggled for more than nine years to identify a motive for the killings. During the show, family and friends of Iqbal's first husband James Thompson explained how he had suffered a heart attack and died while driving his car- on the exact same day as the massacre. Many of those watching were left stunned, with one writing: 'Literally jaw dropping episode! #MurderInTheAlps.' Viewers of Channel 4's Murder in the Alps were left stunned after learning the secret American ex-husband of the British mother slaughtered in the 2012 massacre died on the same day Saad al-Hilli, a 50-year-old Iraqi-born British tourist and his wife Iqbal were shot dead in front of their two young daughters in a forest car park close to Lake Annecy, near France's border with Switzerland Another commented: 'Was not expecting that! Husband number 1 dies on the same day too #murderinthealps.' A third added: 'Strange how the wife's ex husband died on the same day #MurderInTheAlps.' In the documentary, which aired last night, American relatives of James explained how they first came to know Iqbal when she married him in 1999. Years before she married Saad, she had moved to Louisiana to live with Jim Thompson where she used the name 'Kelly'. Many of those watching were left stunned to learn that Iqbal's ex-husband died the same day as the massacre His son Joshua explained: 'My dad back then was the best, very charismatic, very sociable. 'When he told me about Kelly, I was probably 12 or 13. He said she'd be staying with us for a while.' Joshua said Kelly 'fit into the family very easily', adding: 'They were very happy and it was all just very loving. They cared for each other. 'I never saw a frown on her face. I loved her man, she was a good lady. I wish she could have stuck around a bit longer.' The couple got married in July 1999, with James' sister Judy Weatherley confessing she had been stunned by the decision by her brother. Iqbal lived as Kelly in the US for 18 months, with Judy saying: 'We fell in love with her from day one, but we could feel the pressure on her.' However she recalled how Iqbal left the US suddenly, adding: 'I just remember she came and told me she had to leave, and it just broke my heart. Previous suspects and 'witnesses' arrested over the case During the course of the investigation, several individuals have been questioned but none has been charged. Saad al-Hilli's brother Zaid: Arrested on suspicion of murder in 2013 but released after police found there was insufficient evidence to charge him with a crime. French former soldier Patrice Menegaldo: Questioned in April 2013 - though police later maintained this was as a witness, not a suspect. Menegaldo took his own life in June 2014 and left a suicide note that referred to 'feeling like a suspect'. Iraqi prisoner known as Mr S: Questioned after he claimed to have been offered 'a large sum of money' to kill Iraqis living in the UK. Former local policeman Eric Devouassoux: Arrested in February 2014 in connection with the tragedy but later cleared. Convicted killer Nordahl Lelandais: Questioned in connection with the case while being suspected of two murders that happened nearby. After a review, authorities said they no longer believe Lelandais was connected to the al-Hilli family case. He was later convicted for the murder of Corporal Arthur Noyer, 23, and faces another trial this year after he admitted killing Maelys de Araujo, eight, in August 2017 - though he maintains both deaths were accidental. Advertisement 'I told her I didn't understand, and she just hugged me and cried.' Joshua confessed he had known very little about why Kelly was leaving, adding: 'I just thought she went to be a dentist in Iraq.' After she left the US, Judy never saw her again, adding: 'It was just so all of a sudden but I didn't want to question her.' It is believed she never told her second husband about the marriage and instead kept it secret. She certainly lied about it when she married Saad in Surrey on August 28, 2003, two years after abandoning her first husband. Signing herself by her maiden name Iqbal Al-Saffar she failed to declare her first marriage to officials at the register office in Weybridge. Under UK law, those who have been married previously must produce documentary evidence of their divorce. Instead, Iqbal declared that she was a spinster the legal term for an unmarried woman raising the possibility that she did not even tell her new husband about her previous marriage. The attack on the Al-Hillis happened on 3.45pm on September 5 2012. Iqbal, her husband Saad, and her mother were each shot in the head several times while in their BMW car at a layby close to Lake Annecy, eastern France. More than two dozen spent bullet casings were found near their British-registered BMW estate car. The Al-Hillis' daughter, Zeena, four, hid in the footwell of the vehicle and was unscathed, while her sister, Zainab, seven, was shot and pistol-whipped but recovered. Sylvain Mollier, a 45-year-old French cyclist thought to be an innocent bystander, was found dead nearby after being shot seven times at point blank range. It is not clear if Jim was aware of the development when around 3pm local time in Natchez, some seven hours later, he came out of an antique shop and told a friend he was not feeling well. According to local newspaper reports, 60-year-old James Dudley Thompson stopped at a red light and sat dead in the drivers seat for 45 minutes until onlookers realised he hadnt simply broken down. However his family and friends questioned the death in the documentary, with one of James' friends, Cecil Martin saying: 'It was strange to me he did not have a post mortem test, it was just declared he had a heart attack. 'That's unusual to happen here in the US. If it's a questionable death, it's automatically required. I don't know, I find that strange.' Surrey businessman Saad al-Hilli, 50, (left) his wife Iqbal, 47, and his mother-in-law Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, were gunned down in their BMW car on September 5, 2012, alongside French cyclist Sylvain Mollier, 45, (right) who also died in the bloodbath In the Channel 4 documentary, the family of Jim Thompson described their shock at his death on the same day as his ex-wife Iqbal Jim's sister Judy said she believed 'someone was after' Iqbal, whom she knew as Kelly, and pointed to the 'FBI, CIA or secret service' How did events on the day of the 2012 gun massacre of a British family and French cyclist in the Alps unfold? During the morning of September 5, 2012, Iqbal, her mother Suhaila and her daughters, Zainab and Zeena, were seen picking apples together. Around 1pm the family left the campsite and drove towards the village of Chevaline. After 3:45pm an RAF veteran overtook another cyclist on a heavily forested road south of Chevaline in the French Alps. Moments later he pulled into a car park and found Mr Mollier lying dead beside the family's bullet-ridden BMW, which still has its engine running and was in reverse. He spotted injured Zainab walking towards him before collapsing. He put her in the recovery position and called for help. The cyclist saw the dead bodies of Saad al-Hilli, his wife Iqbal and his mother in law Suhaila, inside the car, which was locked. Each of them had been shot twice in the head while Mr Mollier was shot seven times. Around 4:20pm police arrived but did not disturb the crime scene because forensic experts from Paris were on their way. More than two dozen spent bullet casings were later found near the vehicle. Zainab was taken to hospital in Grenoble while her sister Zeena remained hidden, cowering under her mother's legs in the rear footwell for eight hours before she was discovered. Around 11pm a family who had been camping next to the al-Hilli's told police the couple had two children leading to a rescue mission involving helicopters and search dogs to find Zeena. A helicopter fitted with thermal imaging flew over the BMW but failed to detect Zeena. Around midnight on September 6, the police eventually opened the vehicle's doors and discovered the four-year-old cowering under her death mother's legs. Advertisement Judy added: 'I just felt like there was something more to it - maybe someone was after her. The FBI, CIA, secret service. Whatever.' Questioning Iqbal's sudden decision to leave the US, and the deaths of both Iqbal and her ex-husband Jim on the same day, Cecil added: 'I think she came over here to escape, something ordered her back over there. 'Or that they threatened the family to make her go back. They had a hold of her, I don't know who it was.' Judy said: 'She probably told him what was going on in her previous life. 'I know Jim knew something because he told me I'd understand later. I knew that things weren't right.' Cecil added: 'She had told him something the family didn't want to get out and they took care of it.' Judy added: 'I knew this sounds really crazy but I think somehow he was poisoned.' Joshua said: 'Everyone has skeletons in the closet. Everyone has secrets.' The FBI requested to exhume Jim's body later, however the family refused the request. Joshua said: 'I disagreed [with his body being brought up]. I was told he was killed of a heart attack ad I didn't think anything of it.' Many of those watching the documentary were shocked by the programme, with one writing: 'This has got more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel.' 'What a fascinating documentary!' another added. The film comes months after the lead prosecutor said investigators are close to solving the brutal 2012 murder. 'I think we're nearly there', Annecy public prosecutor Line Bonnet said in an interview with Swiss daily la Tribune de Geneve. 'We'll succeed thanks to scientific evidence', she said. 'This is not a cold case at all', said Bonnet, who took up her post in September 2021. She said three people were working on the murder full-time. 'They decided to start from the beginning again and check all the sealed files', she added. 'We're regularly detaining people so we can close the doors, one after the other.' The man held for questioning in January had taken part in a recent reconstruction of the crime scene as a witness. Local newspaper Le Dauphine Libere identified him as the mystery motorcyclist who had been seen near the murder site in 2012. Prosecutors declined to confirm if it was the same man. The motorcyclist was tracked down in 2015 after police trawled through all the 4,000 mobile phone numbers logged in the area on the day of the murders and rang each one. Meanwhile Jim's son Joshua described how his father had been in a 'very loving' relationship with the woman he knew as 'Kelly' Meanwhile Jim's friend Cecil Martin said he felt it was 'strange' he hadn't had a post mortem after his death Prosecutor Lise Bonnet originally said there had been 'inconsistencies' with the man's alibi, but these were resolved before he was released. An e-fit photo of a 'prime suspect motorcyclist' with a goatee beard was released in November 2013 and showed him in a distinctive black helmet, of which only about 8000 were made. The image, mainly produced by two forest rangers who briefly spoke to the man, finally led to a first arrest of the biker a businessman from the French city of Lyon in 2015. He told police he had been on his way home from a paragliding trip in the Alps and was released without charge for the first time. Jean-Christophe Basson-Larbi, the arrested man's lawyer, said his client had been wrongfully arrested and been 'put through hell'. A woman who was conned out of 500,000 by her partner has revealed how he used their son as a 'pawn' in his scam. Mother-of-four Chrissy Handy, from Cheltenham, was conned by Marc Hatton in the noughties after they met in a coffee shop and he introduced himself as a financial consultant under the fake name Alexander Marc d'Ariken de Rothschild-Hatton. The couple got engaged and had a son Marcus, who is now 17, but Chrissy admitted she admitted she soon began to question why her partner kept asking her for money and going on business to Geneva. She found out he'd defrauded other people and had taken half a million pounds from her, eventually leaving her without a trace. After she issued a plea on Lorraine in 2008, Marc was found in the US and jailed for 18 years in 2010. He served 12 years of his sentence and was released under license for five years, and is currently living in the UK. Returning to Lorraine today, 14 years on, Chrissy, who recounted her ordeal in her book Seduced by a Sociopath, said her son Marcus told her he 'knew [his father] never cared about him' and that he felt he was 'used as a pawn.' She said Marc intensifiedhis demands for money for 'investments' after Marcus was born, taking advantage of the fact she was tired from looking after the baby and increasing his trips abroad. Mother-of-four Chrissy Handy, from Cheltenham, was conned by scammer Marc Hatton in the noughties after they met in a coffee shop and he introduced himself as a financial consultant under the fake name Alexander Marc d'Ariken de Rothschild-Hatton After their relationship developed into a serious attachment, with Chrissy thinking they would be getting married, the couple had a son Marcus, who is now 17 Speaking of Marcus, Chrissy said: 'It's tough. I sat down and watched an old documentary the other night which was made in 2011, and he came in and said, "Can I see that?",' she recounted. After the mother and son watched the documentary, Chrissy revealed Marcus told her: 'I knew he never cared about me but I didn't think he used me as a pawn.' 'And that's heartbreaking,' she told Lorraine Kelly. The host of the show sympathised with the mother-of-four and said: 'You've had to be mum and dad, especially to your youngest.' After she issued a plea on Lorraine in 2008, Marc, right, was found in the US and jailed for 18 years in 2010. He served 12 years of his sentenced and was released, now being under license for five years and living in the UK. Chrissy and Marc had Marcus in 2005, at the height of the conman's illegal activities. She revealed how he wheeled her into giving him more money, asking for loans to finance his business school. The mother, who was left on Universal Credit after Marc defrauded her of 500,000, said she did question her partner's motive for money. She explained he abused her trust after the pair began a romantic relationship and would get money from her, pretexting he was investing the money on her behalf through his account in Geneva. 'Everything seemed plausible,' she told Lorraine. Chrissy appeared on Lorraine in 2008 when she was trying to locate Marc, who had runaway after defrauding her of $500,000. He was found two years later in the US It was a tip the mother-of-four received after appearing on the show that led to Marcus's arrest. He was jailed for 18 years She said Marc intensified this scam after the birth of Marcus, taking advantage of the fact she was tired from looking after the baby and multiplying his trips abroad. She said she would 'question him all the time' and would ask to see the contract notes of the investments he claimed to have made for her, but that he would find an excuse not to show them to her. She added that if she questioned him too much, he would turn the tables on her and make her feel guilty. 'He would accuse me of not trusting him,' she said, adding Marc would tell her things such as 'we're getting married and you don't trust me.' Marc was released 12 years into his sentence and is now on licence for another five years. He currently lives in the UK Over the years, the relationship began to deteriorate, with Chrissy saying Marc was 'not holding up his end of the bargain' and that he 'never fulfilled the promises he made.' She said she was eventually tipped off to the fact something was not right by her sister-in-law, who told her 'I hope you're not financially involved with him. That is when Chrissy found out Marc had defrauded another woman in Italy and his own brother. Following her appeared on Lorraine in 2008, Marc was arrested and jailed in 2010, but he was released 12 years into his sentence and is now on license for another five years. Lorraine said Chrissy's book is 'a warning to everybody out there, not just about him, but that it can happen to everybody. 'These people are clever. they know, they're manipulative and devious,' the presenter added. And the mother-of-four said she now things Marc could strike again, because 'a leopard doesn't change his spots' 'He must be 62, now, with not much prospects, what is he going to do? Who's he is gonna tap on next?;' she said. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have hired an Oscar-nominated, left-leaning director to work on their Netflix docuseries as part of their $100 million streaming deal. According to PageSix, Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan Markle, 40, who are currently living in their $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara having stepped back from royal duty last year, have hired Liz Garbus for the reality show, which they have been working on for a year. Garbus, who was also due to work on the Duchess' series Pearl before it was scrapped by Netflix, is a documentarian and filmmaker and also helmed the last season of 'The Handmaid's Tale,' which earned her an Emmy nomination in 2021. Cameras from her crew were spotted during the couple's trip to New York last September, where they appeared to 'hide their equipment' to 'keep the project under wraps.' Reports of the couple's alleged docuseries has undoubtedly sparked major concerns behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace over what allegations they could drop about the royal family in front of the cameras. The Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, have hired an Oscar-nominated, left-leaning director to work on their Netflix docuseries as part of their $100 million streaming deal She runs a Brooklyn-based production company, Story Syndicate, with her husband Dan Cogan. The fimmaker was nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar in 2016 for 'What Happened, Miss Simone?' and again in 1999 for 'The Farm: Angola, USA.' The organisation made Amazon's political documentary 'All In: The Fight for Democracy' and HBO's true crime documentary 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark,' both released in 2020. The fimmaker was also nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar in 2016 for 'What Happened, Miss Simone?' and again in 1999 for 'The Farm: Angola, USA.' Meanwhile her Instagram page is openly political, with recent posts urging for women's abortion rights and comments about 'brilliant' Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. According to PageSix, Garbus, who was also due to work on the Duchess' series Pearl before it was scrapped by Netflix, is a documentarian and filmmaker News of the series first emerged in May, when reports emerged the couple had even welcomed cameras into their $14 million Montecito mansion to capture content for the candid show. According to Page Six, the Sussexes have been working with production crews on an 'at-home with the Duke and Duchess-style' show for several months now, which the streaming giant allegedly hopes to release at the end of the year in order to coincide with the publication of Prince Harry's upcoming memoir. However, sources suggest that the Sussexes are angling for the docuseries to be held over until next year. 'The timing is still being discussed, things are up in the air,' a 'producer in the know' said. Cameras from her crew were spotted during the Duke and Duchess' trip to New York last September It is unclear whether the Netflix cameras have been allowed to film the couple's two children, three-year-old Archie and 11-month-old Lilibet. Exclusive DailyMail.com images taken during Meghan and Harry's trip to New York and New Jersey in September showed a team of two women and one man bundling camera equipment hidden under coats and bags out of the couple's high-end residence at 860 United Nations Plaza - and even joining them in an Airstream van on their way to a veterans' gala. Another Page Six insider described the plans for the docuseries as Netflix 'getting its pound of flesh' from the Sussexes, who have yet to create any real content for the streaming giant - despite signing their lucrative deal with the company in September 2020. DailyMail.com has reached out to a Netflix spokesperson and Archewell Productions for comment. Earlier this month, a royal expert claimed Prince Harry and Meghan's failure to land pictures alongside senior royals dismayed Netflix executive. The filmmaker runs a Brooklyn-based production company, Story Syndicate, with her husband Dan Cogan (pictured, at work) Prince Harry's biographer Angela Levin told GB News she'd heard the streaming-giant was desperate for the pair to secure images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with royals like the Queen and Prince William as part of the series they are filming. Ms Levin's comments came a day after it emerged Harry and Meghan had also failed to persuade the Queen to pose alongside daughter and name-sake Lilibet. The 96-year-old is said to have met Harry and Meghan's daughter during the celebrations. However, they were allegedly told 'no chance' of an official photo because it was a 'private family meeting'. Palace insiders may have worried any photos taken by Harry and Meghan would be shared with TV networks in the US or in Harry's upcoming memoirs. Speaking to GB News, Ms Levin, said this image would have been 'very, very valuable', adding: 'They would have used it for Netflix. It would give them a kudos that they had her with her great grandmother, you know.' News of the series first emerged in May, when PageSix reported Prince Harry and Meghan were filming an 'at-home docuseries' - and had even welcomed cameras into their $14 million Montecito mansion to capture content for the candid show The news of the hiring comes after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted on their way to pay a visit to Oprah's $100million Montecito mansion over the weekend, DailyMail.com can reveal. Exclusive photos show the erstwhile royals, 37 and 40, turning into the 70-acre property late Saturday afternoon accompanied by a woman believed to be the pair's friend, actress Janina Gavankar. What looked like a baby car seat was strapped in next to Meghan, but it is unknown if either Lilibet or Archie were in the car to visit Auntie Oprah. Sources told DailyMail.com the trio spent an hour at the palatial estate and made the five-minute journey from their own Montecito home in a convoy of cars that included a Range Rover carrying security personnel. Harry was driving the lead car, while Meghan could be seen chatting to both occupants from the backseat. News of the couple's visit to Oprah could come as a surprise to Queen if another tell-all interview is in the works less than 18 months after their sensational chat with the talk show host, 68, made global headlines and sparked a royal racism scandal. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands looked as elegant as ever this evening as she stepped out with her husband King Willem-Alexander in Vienna, Austria. Maxima, 50, who is on a state visit to the country, wore a flowing three-tone gown with a splash of red on top when meeting the Dutch chamber choir at Konzerthaus concert hall. The Argentine-born royal paired the floor-length, long-sleeve gown with black heeled sandals and a black clutch to match the black block stripe on the dress. Queen Maxima looked the picture of elegance as she stepped out in Vienna this evening in a stunning flowing gown The Queen was all smiles as she posed for photos with her husband King Willem-Alexander The Dutch King and Queen are on a state visit to Vienna after being invited by Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen and First Lady of Austria Doris Schmidauer (pictured right) She accessorised the look with a stunning statement diamond necklace complete with diamond earrings. Her blonde locks were worn down, with waves, and tucked behind one ear. The Queen's return to a statement splash of colour came after she stepped out yesterday evening in a beautiful white gown at a state banquet. The off-shoulder, floor-length dress complimented her envious figure, while her tresses were styled in a laid-back up-do. Queen Maxima, 50, wore a classy nude-coloured gown with a flowing cape and a statement flash of red The Queen appeared to point to something on the floor that captured the attention of Austria's President and First Lady The Argentine-born Royal stunned as she stood next to Austrian First Lady Doris Schmidauer, who also looked glamorous in sequinned black trousers The Queen beamed as she shook hands with Doris Schmidauer on arrival at the Konzerthaus in Vienna The mother-of-three stole the show once again this evening as she stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet before posing for photos with her husband. She also smiled with the President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen, who has invited the royals to visit his country, and his wife Doris Schmidauer. The First Lady of Austria was also looking glamorous as she posed alongside her husband and the King and Queen, sporting a satin cream top and sequinned black trousers. The King and Queen were joining the President and his wife at Konzerthaus concert hall where they were due to meet with the Dutch Chamber Choir. The couple, who share three daughters, arrived in Vienna yesterday and are due to leave tomorrow. Queen Letizia of Spain appeared effortlessly elegant when hosting a lavish dinner for world leaders attending the NATO summit in Madrid this evening. The mother-of-two, 49, joined her husband King Felipe VI to greet guests, including Joe and Jill Biden, who was dressed equally sophisticated in a white suit. Letizia ensured she stood out from the crowd in a stunning black gown from the Spanish brand The 2nd Skin, which she debuted last October for the Princess of Asturias Awards in Oviedo. Left-right: Queen Letizia posed with US President Joe Biden, King Felipe VI and US First Lady Jill Biden Jill Biden (pictured right) wore a stunning white suit not dissimilar to an outfit Letizia wore when the pair visited a Ukrainian refugee centre The Queen stood with her husband as they chatted to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte The King and Queen also welcomed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the Royal Palace in Madrid during the NATO summit King Felipe appeared deep in conversation with Mr Johnsons as Letizia looked on fondly The Queen appeared to share a joke with US President Jo Biden as the pair chatted President Biden appeared to have said something that tickled Letizia while other world leaders chatted amongs themselves Letizia welcomed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with a warm handshake as he arrived at the Royal Palace The King and Queen beamed as they posed for a photo with Mr Sanchez (left) and his wife Maria Begona Gomez Fernandez Letizia looked the picture of grace and stood out from the crowd as she posed with male world leaders The Queen paired the dress with black stiletto heels and accessorised with a black patent belt. She wore her brunette tresses in a bun and opted for stunning diamong teardrop earrings. Letizia, who often wears understated make-up, kept a nude lip but opted for smokey eyeshadow to mark the evening occasion. The Queen was all smiles as she greeted world leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. She also posed for photos with President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and French President Emmannuel Macron. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also appeared with the royal couple. Enchante! French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to charm Letizia by kissing her hand as she greeted him at the Royal Palace The King and Queen smiled for the camera as they welcomed Macron and his wide Brigitte, who looked stunning in an aqua gown with balloon sleeves and black stilettos The King and Queen also posed for a photo with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) flashed a huge grin as he posed next to the King and Queen of Spain Earlier today Letizia met with US First Lady Jill Biden at a Ukrainian refugee centre in the Spanish capital city. Meeting the Bidens' granddaughters Finnegan and Maisy, The Queen gave each of the girls a warm hug to welcome them to the country. Wearing a stunning white suit and her hair in a mid-ponytail, she posed for selfies with the First Lady and met with families who have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded in February. A yellow clay mask has been dubbed a 'secret weapon' for tackling hormonal acne and enlarged pores - and it's only been on the market since April. The $59.99 Australian yellow clay mask by Lono Skin promises to detoxify and brighten the skin, protect against toxins and pollutants and fight acne. It also hydrates and moisturises the complexion and is 100 per cent vegan and cruelty free. The $59.99 Australian yellow clay mask by Lono Skin promises to detoxify and brighten the skin, protect against toxins and pollutants and fight acne 'I came off the pill eight months ago and my skin has gone down hill. I tried Lono skin because I wanted an all natural product that works! I've tried Alya skin/Sand and Sky and this is honestly so much better,' one woman wrote (pictured) The secret lies in the formula's ingredients, which include the allantoin, an effective anti-irritant for the skin, almond oil, which reduces puffiness and under-eye circles and aloe vera, which is a known and very powerful anti-inflammatory. It also contains camellia seed oil, coconut flesh extract, curcumin powder, Kakadu plum, macadamia oil and koalin clay. The latter is a highly desired skincare ingredient thanks to its ability to rehydrate and repair through its enriching kaolinite mineral. The secret lies in the formula's ingredients, which include the allantoin, an effective anti-irritant for the skin, almond oil, which reduces puffiness and under-eye circles and aloe vera, which is a known and very powerful anti-inflammatory It also contains camellia seed oil, coconut flesh extract, curcumin powder, Kakadu plum, macadamia oil and koalin clay It is a drying agent and gently purifies and detoxifies the pores without stripping your face of its natural oils. To use the mask you simply apply a thick even layer to clean and dry skin and leave it on 10 minutes or until completely dry. Then simply wash off the mask and any residue. Reviews have flooded in from thrilled customers about the mask - each who have raved about their glowing, blemish-free complexions after just weeks of use. 'I came off the pill eight months ago and my skin has gone down hill. I tried Lono skin because I wanted an all natural product that works! I've tried Alya skin/Sand and Sky and this is honestly so much better,' one woman wrote. To use the mask you simply apply a thick even layer to clean and dry skin and leave it on 10 minutes or until completely dry. Then simply wash off the mask and any residue 'This organic clay mask has absolutely chanced the way my skin feels and looks,' another added. 'It's smoother, brighter and so clear - I highly recommend - it's been a dream for my oily skin. 'Not only is the best part of this product its affordability but it has gotten my amazing results. It's been a game changer for my skin. Do yourself a favour and pamper yourself.' Foodies are queuing for up to an hour to get into a little-known authentic Chinese restaurant they say serves 'the best' yum cha. Sydney's Canterbury Leagues Club in Belmore is home to a range of eateries but it's The Dynasty Restaurant that is causing a stir. Popular food blogger Adrian Widjy documented his visit to The 'super busy' Dynasty in a viral video saying the decor will 'surely transport you to ancient China' and the food was worth his one-hour wait to be seated. Scroll down for video Foodies have discovered a hidden gem restaurant they say serves 'the best yum cha in Sydney' People are queuing for hours to eat at Canterbury League Club's The Dynasty Restaurant in Belmore for an authentic Chinese dining experience Food blogger Adrian Widjy documented his visit to eatery in a viral video saying the decor will 'surely transport you to ancient China' and the food was worth his one-hour wait to be seated Going through the 'hidden gem's stunning entrance is like a portal to China with 'Pagoda style timbers, bamboo curtain roof, dramatic artworks and its watercourse giving diners the impression that the restaurant is floating on a lake' according to the website. The extensive menu is filled with authentic Chinese and Cantonese dishes with the yum cha being the most popular among diners. 'Their yum cha selection is all listed in the paper for you mark so that way you are not missing out on any! And they also all come out in one hit!' Adrian wrote on Instagram. The extensive menu is filled with authentic Chinese and Cantonese dishes with the yum cha being the most popular among diners Going through the 'hidden gem's stunning entrance is like a portal to China with 'Pagoda style timbers, bamboo curtain roof, and dramatic artworks' according to the website 'I did not book, so learn from my mistake, this place is SUPER BUSY! The vibe is so LEGIT! Amazing yum cha place!' Many of the Sydney foodie's 165,200 followers in the comments were keen to try out his secret find while others agreed The Dynasty served 'the best yum cha in Sydney'. 'Yesss I love this place!! How amazing is the interior,' one viewer wrote. 'Been there and it is definitely yummy, said another while a third commented: 'Excellent food, great service.' 'I dined at this restaurant years ago, and its definitely giving that authentic Yum Cha experience! Definitely recommend for any locals in the area, a fourth replied. The NHS has ditched the terms 'women' and 'woman' from its menopause guidance, despite ministers promising to crackdown on woke gender-free language in medical advice. Last month, MailOnline revealed how NHS Digital had quietly scrubbed all mention of women from its landing pages for ovarian, womb and cervical cancer. The move was condemned by Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who said 'common sense and the right language' should be used to 'give people the best possible care'. Now MailOnline has found 'women' and 'woman' have also been omitted from official advice about the menopause, which is unique to biological females. In its online overview about the menopause, NHS advice used to contain six gender-specific mentions. But it was updated on May 17 to remove the terms. Experts have warned de-gendering medical advice could be dangerous for women by over-complicating vital health messaging. NHS Digital, which manages health information webpages, told MailOnline it wanted to ensure language was 'inclusive'. A spokesperson added: 'The NHS website provides information for everyone. We keep the pages under continual review to ensure they use language that is inclusive, respectful and relevant to the people reading it.' The NHS has quietly omitted the terms 'women' and 'woman' from its webpage on menopause. Pictured here is the older version of the menopause overview page (May 16) which mentioned women six times But the new version omits women from the overview entirely. Experts have warned women could be disadvantaged by de-gendered medical advice confusing health messaging The menopause describes changes that occur when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Hormonal changes that happen during the menopause can cause a wide range of debilitating symptoms, including depression, brain fog and hot flushes. Rising awareness about the condition means an increasing number of women are coming forward for advice or medication. The NHS webpage on menopause used to describe the condition as 'when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally'. But the new, gender-neutral description says: 'Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels'. The old advice also highlighted that menopause usually occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, but about one in 100 women experience it before 40. Say women not people with ovaries, Sajid Javid orders NHS Sajid Javid said he is prepared to wage war against gender-free language after he demanded the NHS stop dropping the word 'women' from its online health advice. The minister has repeatedly said he does not agree with the health service removing the word from its ovarian cancer guidance webpage. 'Women' does not appear in the overview of the disease on the NHS.uk website, instead being replaced with the ambiguous and gender-neutral term 'anyone'. The word first appears on the third page of the ovarian cancer section of the website. 'Anyone with ovaries can get ovarian cancer. This includes women, trans men, non-binary people and intersex people with ovaries,' it states. NHS Digital bosses have been warned future changes to gendered language must be rubber-stamped by officials at Mr Javid's Department of Health, reports The Sun. The Health Secretary previously told Sky News 'common sense and the right language' should be used to 'give people the best possible patient care'. Advertisement But none of this information is included in the overview section of the updated webpage. The first mention of 'women' in the new version is on the third page, in a section about drugs to treat the condition. Dr Karleen Gribble, an expert in nursing and midwifery from Western Sydney University in Australia who has previously spoken about the dangers of gender-free medical language, slammed the changes. 'The risk of de-sexing this information remains that women who have low English or health literacy may not know that the information applies to them,' she said. 'That first sentence of the older version "The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally" is really important in signposting to women that they should read further.' She added the new version of the page violates a 'basic principle' of health communication that identifies who the information is for. 'The fact that some women might have low literacy and not know basic terms is shown by the fact that they included a link to a definition of what periods are in the earlier version,' she said. 'In desexing the page they have removed the links to further information.' Dr Gribble called for greater transparency from the NHS on who was approving these changes and when. MailOnline approached Mr Javid's Department for Health for comment. It comes amid ongoing concerns about trans-inclusive language in NHS guidance, with services currently in a 'woke' storm about de-gendering language surrounding women and pregnancy by erasing terms like breastfeeding. Some student midwives have even been taught how to help biological men give birth, even though it's scientifically impossible. Mr Javid last month publicly condemned the NHS for removing women from its advice about ovarian, womb and cervix cancers, saying he doesn't 'think it's right'. The term was missing from the landing pages of three sections explaining cancers only found in biological women. In a message to patients at the time, he said: 'You won't be surprised to know that, as the Health Secretary, I think that your sex matters, your biological sex is incredibly important to make sure you get the right treatment, the very best treatment.' Pressed on whether he will get the wording changed back, Mr Javid said: 'I am looking into this and you'll know, look, the NHS, there (are) many different trusts and I want to listen to why someone might have taken a different approach - I don't just want to assume - but I think I've made my views clear on this.' He added: 'I know there's some sensitivity around this language, but we have to use common sense and use the right language so that we can give people the best possible patient care.' Wraps made from human placenta could reduce the risk of men being left impotent after prostate cancer surgery. The wraps, which come from placental tissue normally discarded when a woman has given birth, are folded around the delicate nerves that control a mans erections. This is done during cancer surgery to remove the prostate a procedure which can damage the sensitive nerves, leaving men impotent afterwards. The tissue, called amnion, is a tough, flexible membrane that forms the innermost layer of the placenta the source of nutrients and oxygen for a baby in the womb. Wrapping it around the nerves not only protects them physically but amnion tissue also contains a cocktail of different compounds including growth factors and stem cells that can help to repair any nerve damage done during the operation. Around 5,000 men a year in the UK undergo a radical prostatectomy (where the whole prostate and a small amount of surrounding tissue is removed) to try to get rid of cancer Animal studies also suggest these compounds dampen down any harmful inflammation as they leak out of the placental tissue. Now research shows the technique speeds up the rate at which men recover their sexual function after the operation, called a radical prostatectomy. Around 5,000 men a year in the UK undergo a radical prostatectomy (where the whole prostate and a small amount of surrounding tissue is removed) to try to get rid of cancer. Although modern operating techniques known as nerve-sparing surgery can reduce the risks, the charity Prostate Cancer UK estimates that up to 80 per cent of men undergoing prostate removal later experience erectile dysfunction severe enough to jeopardise their sex lives and put their relationships under strain. The challenge for surgeons is that the area around the prostate is a dense forest of nerves that control erections, as well as urinary continence. Any accidental damage or bruising to them can result in incontinence or impotence. Research suggests many men struggle with what they see as a loss of their masculinity, due to the impact of the surgery on their sex lives with more than two-thirds claiming they would rather live shorter lives if it meant they could be sexually active again. Wraps made from human placenta could reduce the risk of men being left impotent after prostate cancer surgery But the placenta wraps could be an unlikely solution. After birth, the placental tissue is sterilised and dried out, instead of being thrown away. When a surgeon then uses it during prostate surgery, the dehydrated wraps become moist on contact with blood and other bodily fluids instantly sticking to the bundles of nerves without the need for stitches. After use during the surgery the wrap is removed. A recent study in the Journal of Robotic Surgery, by U.S. researchers from Harvard University, the University of Central Florida and the State University of New York, involving 600 men treated with the placenta wrap, found they regained full erectile function in an average of just four months. In some cases, their sex lives were back to normal in just a few weeks. Even with nerve-sparing surgery, it can often take up to a year to recover fully when the nerves are not protected in this way. Commenting on the research, Professor Raj Persad, a consultant urologist at the private clinic Bristol Urology Associates, said: This is interesting but we need a randomised controlled trial to investigate its effectiveness and safety. Just how it could work is unclear. Its possible that stem cells in the tissue repair the damaged erectile nerve cells. Sometimes nerves have to be sacrificed deliberately during surgery to get rid of all the cancer cells. Eating more fruit and veg can lower the risk of prostate cancer in men under 65. Doctors from Harvard University tracked nearly 50,000 men over several decades, and found those eating the most fruit and veg were 16 per cent less likely to develop a tumour and almost 20 per cent less likely to die from one, according to results in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Try this Howdah Tandoor Chilli Ancient Grain Crisps are spiced snacks made from grain flours, including the ancient wholegrain sorghum, chickpea and split gram, making them higher in fibre than their contemporary counterparts, according to the maker 130g, 2.60, sainsburys.co.uk Snail slime helps wounds to heal Could mucus from a type of snail help wounds to heal more quickly? Thats the theory behind a study in the journal Membranes. The mucus is produced as a defence mechanism by the chocolate-band snail, found in eastern Mediterranean countries, and contains two compounds, allantoin and glycolic acid, which have anti-microbial properties and can heal skin damage, researchers found. The study, from Alexandria University in Egypt, based on lab rats, showed that after just one day, wound size was around 25 per cent smaller in those treated with a dressing containing the snail mucus compared to a control group. It is hoped that the research may pave the way for dressings containing snail mucus. Air quality linked to hyperactivity Children living in polluted towns and cities are at a significantly higher risk of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggest researchers. They compared ADHD rates in 37,000 children with the percentage of green spaces in their neighbourhood and pollution levels. The team at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that cases of ADHD were 62 per cent higher in youngsters who lived in built-up areas, reports the journal Environment International. But exposure to green spaces was found to halve this risk. Toxic particles may trigger inflammation in nerve cells in the brain, the researchers said. Children living in polluted towns and cities are at a significantly higher risk of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggest researchers Vitamin D lowers risk of psoriasis Vitamin D and omega-3 supplements cut the risk of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, reports the BMJ. Scientists from Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, U.S., asked 25,000 older adults to take different combinations of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid pills, or placebo tablets, and record their health for five years. All the supplement regimens, apart from placebo, led to lower rates of autoimmune diseases over the study period. The U.S. researchers believe that this is because of the supplements anti-inflammatory effects. Jeremy Vine has encouraged vulnerable people to start shielding again amid a fresh wave of Covid infections. The Channel 5 presenter, who is ill with the virus himself, criticised the Government for playing down concerns about rising numbers. An outbreak on the set of his show has seen several crew forced off work with Covid in recent days, including his pregnant co-host Storm Huntley. In a video posted on Twitter, Vine, 57, said: '100 per cent of our presenters have got it. That means there must be a lot of it about. 'Why isn't the Government mentioning it? Why isn't it saying anyone vulnerable, you know, stay indoors?' Nearly 4million extremely vulnerable people were told they were no longer advised to shield from April 1, as part of No10's 'living with Covid' plan. Showing his positive lateral flow test to the camera, Vine added: 'That's a big red line there, there is a lot of it around. 'Shouldn't they [the Government] be saying... just stay in if you are vulnerable, but we've not heard a peep. I guess they are just too busy.' Nationally, Covid infections have nearly doubled in a fortnight in England and more than 1,000 patients are now being admitted with the virus each day. The Government has said it will monitor the situation 'very quickly' but insists it does not plan to reintroduce restrictions. Ministers and their advisers have taken confidence from the fact only a fraction of Covid patients are primarily admitted because they are unwell due to the virus. Separate figures show just 20 Britons are dying from the virus each day now. Covid infections have nearly doubled in a fortnight in England, rising to about 1.4million in the latest week Admissions have breached 1,000 for the first time in two months but the majority of patients are not primarily ill with Covid Vine described his Covid symptoms in a video posted to the official Jeremy Vine on 5 Twitter account. The bed-ridden presenter said: 'Sore throat, headache [coughs]. Aches and pains. He added: 'I am in bed with it. It being Covid. Years ago I would have come to work with this. If you can walk you can work. But obviously that's not possible now.' His co-host Storm Huntley, who is less than a month away from giving birth, is also off work with the virus, along with several members of their TV crew. The presenting duo are being covered by stand-ins Trisha Goddard, Anne Diamond and Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije. The show airs on weekdays from 9.15am to 12.15pm. Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests 1.36million people in England were infected during the week to June 18. That is 70 per cent more than the 797,000 who were estimated to have had the virus at the very start of June. Bed-ridden Jeremy Vine presenter revealed he had Covid and was suffering from a 'sore throat, headache, aches and pains' After a coughing fit, he criticised the Government for not ramping up its public health messaging for vulnerable people He held up a positive lateral flow and said it was proof 'there is a lot of it about' at the moment No10 closely watching two Covid sub-variants responsible for virus' recent comeback Downing Street confirmed it is keeping tabs on the two Omicron variant spin-offs responsible for a recent spike in Covid infections. Boris Johnson's official spokesman claimed on Monday the situation was being monitored 'very closely' amid early signs that hospitalisations are also starting to rise. He insisted the Government was not considering imposing further curbs at this point and would stick to its 'living with Covid' plan. 'We are obviously seeing the emergence of two Omicron sub-variants, which is likely the driving cause for the rise in cases,' the No10 spokesman said. 'The latest data suggests these are now the dominant strains in the UK. But, so far, vaccination means those rising cases haven't translated into a rise of severe illness or death with no increase in ICU admissions.' They added: 'The key thing for us is vaccination has meant the rise in cases is not translating into ICU admissions and deaths. But we've always been clear Covid hasn't gone away, which is why we have always continue to urge people to come forward and receive vaccinations when they were due them. 'As you would expect, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continue to monitor the situation very closely.' Advertisement The outbreak has been fuelled by the spread of BA.4 and BA.5, which are thought to be more infectious but just as mild as the original Omicron strain. There has been some concern about daily hospital admissions breaching 1,000 for the first time in two months. But only a third of patients are primarily admitted because they are unwell due to the virus, NHS data shows. And the latest ONS Covid fatality report showed the virus was directly responsible for just 161 deaths in England and Wales in the most recent week, or 23 per day, on average. Sir Jonathan Van-Tam last week dismissed hysteria that a recent uptick in Covid cases marks a new wave of the pandemic, saying Britain has to learn to live the virus. Referring to hospital admission and death data, the country's former deputy chief medical officer claimed there is 'nothing alarmist in these figures'. Sir Jonathan revealed even he had abandoned wearing his face mask. The spread of the new variants is thought to have been accelerated during large gatherings for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and half-term holidays. Some have also pointed to Britons mistaking Covid symptoms for hay fever. The UKHSA estimated that BA.4 and BA.5 account for approximately 22 per cent and 39 per cent of cases, respectively. Latest analysis suggests BA.5 is growing 35 per cent faster than the formerly dominant Omicron BA.2, while BA.4 is growing approximately 19 per cent faster. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant variant in the UK. Meanwhile, the latest ONS data show roughly one in 40 people in England had Covid in the week ending June 18, equating to 2.5 per cent of the population. The weekly infection survey is now considered the best barometre of the outbreak after free-testing was axed in spring. The prevalence of the Omicron subvariants has nearly doubled every week, according to data from the Sanger Institute one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres. The strains' combined 57.4 per cent share of infections in the week to June 11 is up from 41.7 per cent in the week to June 4, 21.2 per cent in the week to May 28 and 11 per cent in the week to May 21. Dominant strain BA.2, which was behind nearly all cases when infections hit a record high in March, now accounts for just 41.7 per cent of cases It found infections were highest in Scotland, where one in 20 people (250,700) were infected, followed by Northern Ireland, where one in 40 (59,900) were carrying the virus. One in 45 people in Wales (68,500) were thought to be infected. The figures, based on swabs taken from a sample of thousands of Britons, show that cases were on the rise across England apart from the North East and South East, where the trend was uncertain. Infections were highest in London, where 2.9 per cent of people were infected, followed by the North West (2.6 per cent), the South West (2.5 per cent) and Yorkshire and the Humber (2.4 per cent). Meanwhile, the number of people testing positive shot up across all age groups. Those aged 25 to 34 were the most likely to be infected (3.3 per cent), followed by 50 to 69-year-olds (3.1 per cent) and 16 to 24-year-olds (2.9 per cent). Infections were slightly lower among 35 to 49-year-olds (2.7 per cent), the over-70s (2.3 per cent), 11 to 15-year-olds (1.5 per cent) and two to 10-year-olds (0.9 per cent). Advertisement Monkeypox cases in the UK have risen above 1,000 as the rare disease continues to spread, officials confirmed today. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses said there had been 1,076 infections as of Sunday, almost double the number a fortnight ago. Authorities said they expect cases to continue to rise further in the coming days and are advising anyone going to large events or having sex with new partners to 'be alert' for symptoms. Cases continue to be predominantly among gay and bisexual men and the UK's outbreak has been linked to raves, saunas and dating apps, with the virus mostly spreading through sex. It came as modelling by a Strathclyde University professor warned the outbreak could continue for another year and infect tens of thousands of Britons daily in a worst-case scenario. The simulation assumes all under-50s the last age group to get a smallpox vaccine, which provides cross-protection are susceptible to monkeypox. Other scientists do not expect the virus to ever reach the heights of Covid waves because monkeypox requires prolonged close contact or contaminated surfaces to spread. Announcing Britain's new cases today, Dr Sophia Makki, incident director at the UKHSA, said: 'The monkeypox outbreak in the UK continues to grow, with over a thousand cases now confirmed nationwide. 'We expect cases to continue to rise further in the coming days and weeks. If you are attending large events over the summer or having sex with new partners, be alert to any monkeypox symptoms so you can get tested rapidly and help avoid passing the infection on. Monkeypox cases in the UK have risen above 1,000 as the rare tropical disease continues to spread. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there had been 1,076 infections as of Sunday, almost double the number a fortnight ago, in a sign the outbreak is not slowing down Dozens of countries have logged cases of monkeypox, which is usually only spotted in Africa and has until now fizzled out after a handful of cases in other parts of the world LARGE POPULATION RISK: Professor Kleczkowski calculated the monkeypox outbreak based on the virus R rate, herd immunity threshold and incubation period. Under one 'very pessimistic scenario', infections peak at 60,000, the total number of people infected nears 20million and the epidemic lasts for more than one year. 'The virus will continue spreading, effectively searching for pockets of high-risk and non-immune communities,' Professor Kleczkowski said. ENDEMIC: Under separate modelling, Professor Kleczkowski said that due to monkeypox's low transmissibility and long incubation period which allows it to survive at low levels in the population it is possible that the virus has already been spreading in the UK 'for a long time'. Following the current spike in infections, the disease may 'settle on a long-term, relatively constant level' similar to how smallpox and chickenpox spread before vaccines were rolled out. Under this model, 'mass vaccination programmes might be needed to eradicate the disease', he said RECURRENT LARGE EPIDEMICS: In a separate model from Professor Kleczkowski, the current outbreak could be 'the first instance of a serious of outbreaks' fuelled by zoonotic transmission when the disease jumps from an animal to a human and cause sporadic surges of infection in the future. 'As the cross-immunity from smallpox vaccines wanes, the epidemics can become even more substantial,' he said. While little is known about monkeypox's potential to mutate, there is room for it to 'evolve into a more rapidly spreading variant', Professor Kleczkowski said SELF-LIMITING OUTBREAK: However, in his least severe set of calculations, he suggested that the outbreak took off due to a super-spreader event involving a network of men who have sex with men. In this scenario, the outbreak 'ends quickly' once the population at risk becomes immune and heard immunity is reached locally Timeline of monkeypox 1958: Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research. 1970: The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the infection has been reported in a number of central and western African countries since then. 2003: A Monkeypox outbreak occurred in the US after rodents were imported from Africa. Cases were reported in both humans and pet prairie dogs. All the human infections followed contact with an infected pet and all patients recovered. SEPTEMBER 8, 2018: Monkeypox appeared in the UK for the first time in a Nigerian naval officer who was visiting Cornwall for training. They were treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London. SEPTEMBER 11, 2018: A second UK monkeypox case is confirmed in Blackpool. There is no link with the first case in Cornwall. Instead, the patient is though to have picked up the infection when travelling in Nigeria. They were treated at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital. SEPTEMBER 26, 2018: A third person is diagnosed with monkeypox. The individual worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and treated the second Monkeypox case. They received treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. DECEMBER 3, 2019: A patient was diagnosed with monkeypox in England, marking the fourth ever case. MAY 25, 2021: Two cases of monkeypox were identified in north Wales. Both patients had travel links to Nigeria. A third person living with one of the cases was diagnosed and admitted to hospital, bringing the total number ever to seven. MAY 7, 2022: A person was diagnosed with Monkeypox in England after recently travelling to Nigeria. The person received care at the expert infectious disease unit at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London. Experts have suggested the virus was spreading in the UK for months before this case was spotted. MAY 14, 2022: Two more cases were confirmed in London. The infected pair lived in the same household but had not been in contact with the case announced one week earlier. One of these individuals received care at the expert infectious disease unit at St Mary's Hospital in London. The other isolated at home and did not need hospital treatment. MAY 16, 2022: Four more cases were announced, bringing the UK total to seven. Three of these cases are in London, while one of their contacts is infected in the north east of England. The UKHSA first confirms that the spate of cases, described as 'unusual' and 'surprising', are mainly among gay and bisexual men and advises them to look out for new rashes. MAY 19, 2022: Two more cases were revealed, with no travel links or connections to other cases. The cases were based in the South East and London. Fears began to grow that infections are going undetected. MAY 20, 2022: Eleven more cases are announced, meaning Britain's monkeypox outbreak have doubled to 20. Minsters discuss the possibility of a public health campaign to warn gay men the disease may be more prevalent for them MAY 23-26, 2022: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland log their first ever monkeypox cases. MAY 29, 2022: World Health Organization (WHO) says risk of monkeypox is 'moderate', citing concerns about virus infecting children and immunosuppressed people if it becomes more widespread. JUNE 7, 2022: The UKHSA declares monkeypox a notifiable disease. It means all medics must alert local health authorities to suspected cases. The tropical virus now carries the same legal status as the plague, rabies and measles. Advertisement 'Currently the majority of cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with men. However, anyone who has had close contact with an individual with symptoms is also at increased risk. 'If you are concerned that you may have monkeypox, dont go to events, meet with friends or have sexual contact. Instead, stay at home and contact 111 or your local sexual health service for advice.' Dozens of countries have logged cases of monkeypox, which is usually only spotted in Africa and has until now fizzled out after a handful of cases in other parts of the world. Almost all infections so far have been spotted in men who have sex with men abroad, as well. Professor Adam Kleczkowski, a mathematician at the University of Strathclyde, warned Britain's infections could keep rising until the end of year when a peak of 60,000 people could be catching the virus every day. 'Unless a combination of contact tracing and ring vaccination stops the spread, the monkeypox will continue spreading,' Professor Kleczkowski said. To calculate how the monkeypox outbreak could continue to spread in the UK, Professor Kleczkowski estimated that each infected person would go on to infect two more people known as the R rate. He said 53 per cent of a population would need to be infected for enough people to have immunity to stop the virus spreading known as herd immunity. And the incubation period the length of time from catching the virus to when symptoms start was five to 21 days. Based on these parameters, he modelled how the outbreak would unfold if all males aged 50 and under are susceptible to the virus. This equates to 40 per cent of the UK's population around 26.8million people and is classified as a 'large population at risk'. He said the parameters are based on the over-50s likely having some immunity from smallpox vaccinations, which the UK stopped rolling out in 1971, and the spread so far mainly occurring among men. Anyone can catch the virus, which is spread by close contact with an infected person. But most cases in the ongoing surge are among the 'sexual networks' of men who have sex with men. Monkeypox is not normally a sexually-transmitted infection. But sex is thought to be the main mode of transmission in the ongoing outbreak. The virus, first discovered in lab monkeys in the 1950s, can also be spread through touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone who is infected. Under the 'very pessimistic scenario', infections peak at 60,000, the total number of people infected nears 20million and the epidemic lasts for more than one year. 'The virus will continue spreading, effectively searching for pockets of high-risk and non-immune communities,' Professor Kleczkowski said. However, he noted that he does not have a 'working model' of the outbreak but aimed to produce 'believable scenarios of what could happen in the near future'. The calculations are based on modelling up to June 17 and are 'likely to change' as new data emerges, he said. And since his modelling on June 17, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed some gay and bisexual men will be offered the smallpox Imvanex vaccine which is 85 per cent effective against monkeypox to control the outbreak. Under the plans, which come from the same experts who advised on the Covid vaccine rollout, medics will offer the jab to men who have multiple partners, participates in group sex or attends 'sex on premises' venues. Until the move was announced last week, the jab was only offered to confirmed cases and their close contacts under a strategy called ring vaccination, which has been proven to work in other outbreaks. Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at UKHSA, said: 'By expanding the vaccine offer to those at higher risk, we hope to break chains of transmission and help contain the outbreak.' Under separate modelling, Professor Kleczkowski said that due to monkeypox's low transmissibility and long incubation period which allows it to survive at low levels in the population it is possible that the virus has already been spreading in the UK 'for a long time'. Following the current spike in infections, the disease may 'settle on a long-term, relatively constant level' similar to how smallpox spread before vaccines were rolled out. Under this model, 'mass vaccination programmes might be needed to eradicate the disease', he said. A third model from Professor Kleczkowski sets out that the current outbreak could be 'the first instance of a series of outbreaks' fuelled by zoonotic transmission when the disease jumps from an animal to a human and cause sporadic surges of infection in the future. 'As the cross-immunity from smallpox vaccines wanes, the epidemics can become even more substantial,' he said. While little is known about monkeypox's potential to mutate, there is room for it to 'evolve into a more rapidly spreading variant', Professor Kleczkowski said. However, in a fouth model his least severe set of calculations the outbreak 'ends quickly' once the population at risk becomes immune and herd immunity is reached locally. 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 The infection often starts with small bumps that scab over and are contagious It comes as US health chiefs yesterday announced that monkeypox has mutated between six to 12 times the generally believed rate for the virus. A team from the NIH studied 15 samples of the virus from the current outbreak. They restructured the viruses genetic information to find the number of changes the virus had undergone since this strain began its circulation. The researchers could not determine why the virus is changing faster than expected. But they believe that the finding could be playing a role in how the virus has managed to storm the world this year, which has seen 201 cases in the US. Meanwhile, the UKHSA last week set out a strategy for some gay and bisexual men at 'higher risk' of exposure to monkeypox to be offered a vaccine to control the outbreak. Officials have not put a number on how many men will be included in the rollout. Under the plans, endorsed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), those eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) a pill that protects against HIV will also be eligible for the vaccine. This includes people who do not always use condoms during sex and are likely to continue not using them, as well as sex workers or their clients who report having unprotected sex. NHS England is due to set out details on how eligible people can get vaccinated. People are advised not to come forward for the vaccine until contacted. As well as gay and bisexual men, the list of NHS staff eligible for the jab is also being expanded. Healthcare workers caring for monkeypox patients in specialist high consequence infectious disease (HICD) wards are already offered the jab. But now staff in other hospitals designed to care for monkeypox patients will also be offered the jab, as well as workers in laboratories that test for the virus. The UKHSA is urging all Britons to be alert to any new spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body, particularly if they have had close contact with a new partner. Those with symptoms are told to avoid close contact with others and call NHS 111 or your local sexual health centre. A Tiktok sensation is seeking the help of her millions of followers to bring to justice at least one of the suspects that shot her son dead over the weekend. Ophelia Nichols, popularly known on the online platform as Mama Tot (@shoelover99) uploaded a video pleading to her 7.3 million TikTok followers to help find the culprit for the killing of her son Randon Lee. Lee was shot a day before his 19th birthday at Prichard, Alabama on Friday, per Fox News. Nichols told her followers in the video: "I ain't never ask y'all for anything, but I need your help with this. There are almost 7 million people that follow me. Somebody's gotta know something." "I know they're out there, in my town, They're out there. They're out there, living and breathing when my son's dead," she added. The TikTok star warned the suspects that they "will be found" eventually and "reap what you sow in this world." "You may not be caught now but it is coming. I hope you see my son's face every day of your life." Investigation Still Ongoing In a subsequent post, Nichols disclosed that she had a "lead" on two persons. However, she did not mention the specific source of that information. In an interview with local WKRG, Nichols provided additional details, stating that her son was shot at a gas station before he went to another gas station down the street where he was later found dead. @shoelover99 You will be found! You will reap what you sow in this world. You may not be caught now but its coming. I hope you see my sons face eveyday of your life original sound - ophelia Prichard Police are investigating a Friday night shooting around 7:45 p.m. a few miles northwest of Mobile. Authorities said the crime remains under investigation, as per a WGNTV report. Police have not yet released additional details as of present writing. Read Also: Chicago Crime: 5-Month-Old Baby Fatally Shot While Sitting in Car After Unidentified Woman Opened Fire New Gun Safety Law Will 'Save Lives' The fatal shooting incident occured hours after President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan federal gun safety bill into law, which marked the first significant gun safety measure in the United States in three decades. Biden remarked that though the bill "doesn't do everything" that he and his party had advocated for, it is still "going to save lives." The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act intensifies background checks for firearms buyers between the ages of 18 and 21. Furthermore, it aims to close the "boyfriend loophole" and outlaw gun ownership for domestic abusers who are not married to their spouses. The new gun control law would also give funds to states to support red-flag regulations, which allow law enforcement or close family and friends to ask the court to order the confiscation of a gun if the owner is determined a threat. Under the law, mental health and school safety programs will also receive funds. Critics, however, say the scope of the measure is too small for a country with the highest gun ownership numbers worldwide and the highest yearly frequency of mass shootings among developed nations, as per an Al Jazeera report. Last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated in a report that the gun deaths in the US have increased by 35% in 2020 to the highest level since 1994, with dangerous rates for young Black men. Related Article: Donald Trump Used $1 Million Donor Funds To Pay Private Businesses After Election Loss, Review Finds @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement The Food and Drug Administration's leading vaccine regulator is hoping the next COVID-19 booster shots will be available as early as October - just over a year after the original booster shots became available. Dr Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the agency's top regulatory body for vaccines, said during an advisory panel meeting on Tuesday morning the aim was to make Omicron-specific jabs available by later this year. His remarks came during a meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), a group of outside advisors who advise the FDA in matters related to vaccines, which convened to discuss the merits of the next Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters. Both of America's leading Covid vaccine manufacturers have developed new formulations of their jabs specific to the Omicron variant - as all previously available shots were tailored to the original Wuhan strain that emerged over two years ago. Whether Americans will want the additional shots is still up in the air, though, especially as the nation's Covid situation stabilizes. Daily cases have increased 20 percent over the past week, to 113,629 per day. It is the highest daily case figure since late May. Covid deaths remain steady at 388 per day. The VRBPAC meeting Tuesday is the first step towards approving the additional shots. If the advisors recommend the jabs, they will then be sent to the agency itself, where Marks and other leaders are likely to give the green light. Approval would mean a fourth short for the general population, and a fifth for Americans over the age of 50 and for those who are immunocompromised. Dr Peter Marks (pictured), the FDA's lead vaccine regulator, said he hopes the Omicron-tailored COVID-19 shots will be available as early as this October In preparation for Tuesday's meeting, Pfizer unveiled data on Saturday showing its updated vaccine's effectiveness against the highly infectious strain of the virus. Data included over 1,200 people who has already received both the original two-dose vaccine series and a booster shot. The trial found a significant increased in Omicron-effective antibodies in participants. Moderna, Pfizer's largest competitor in the rollout of the shots revealed similar data for its Omicron-specific shots earlier this month as well. 'The data show the ability of our monovalent and bivalent Omicron-adapted vaccine candidates to significantly improve variant-specific antibody neutralization responses,' Dr Ugur Sahin, CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech - a German firm which partnered with Pfizer in the development and manufacturing of the shots. 'Omicron has newly evolving sublineages that have outcompeted BA.1 and exhibit a trend of increasing potential for immune escape.' These shots were long sought after in January, when the then-new strain was causing up to 800,000 new cases per day as mutations on its spike protein allowed it to bypass vaccine immunity. In the time since, though, experts have realized that while the variant may be more transmissible it is also more mild than its predecessors. This has led to plummeting demand for the additional shots, though, and declining worry about the pandemic from the general population. A May Gallup poll found that only 31 percent of Americans report being either 'somewhat worried' or 'very worried' about catching COVID-19. The poll signals the shifting state of the virus as America approaches the summer months. In previous years, the warm weather months have come with large, devastating virus surges. The survey was conducted in mid-April, when the trend of declining cases that had existed for nearly three months to that point coming off of the mid-January peak of the winter Omicron surge began to reverse. Participants were asked of their feelings about the pandemic, the virus and what sort of personal mitigations strategies they were using - or ignoring - in their day-to-day life. The study also found that 64 percent of Americans believed that the pandemic was 'getting better'. At the time of the survey, cases had just dropped below 30,000 per day, making it one of the lowest points since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Around 21 percent of Americans said they believed the situation was about the same, and only 12 percent believed it was getting worse. The last time this little amount of Americans believed the situation was getting worse was summer 2021, when cases were at a low point just before the explosion of the Delta variant. These good feelings have led to some changes in behavior as well. Only 17 percent of Americans reported that they were still social distancing, the lowest point of the pandemic so far. Just under a third of Americans said they have avoided large crowds, a fifth reported avoiding public places and just 15 percent avoided small gatherings. Those figures are also all pandemic-lows, Gallup reports. Despite shifts in social distancing, Americans seem to be clinging on to masks. The poll found that half of Americans still wear a face mask in public places. While the 50 percent figure is also a pandemic low, it is significantly higher than the number of people reporting they are still worried about the virus. Pharmacy giants CVS and Rite Aid have restricted sales of 'morning after' pills to three per woman as demand spirals after the Roe v Wade decision and Walgreens has sold out of the drugs that it can put up for delivery. CVS America's biggest pharmacy chain said it still had enough of the pills that can prevent a pregnancy in stock, but wanted to ensure 'equitable access'. The new guidelines affect Plan B pills, which are sold for $49.99 each, and the Aftera brand, retailed at $39.99. Rite Aid which has more than 2,500 pharmacies across northern states said 'increased demand' forced it to cap sales of Plan B and Option 2, sold at $32.99. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade which protected abortion in the constitution has sparked panic nationwide, with many women now rushing to stock up on pills. A justice has suggested they could also re-examine rulings on contraception, although at present there is no suggestion that any state will block the sale of 'morning after' pills. The above screen capture from the CVS website shows they are now limiting orders of 'morning after' pill Aftera to three per person. They are also limited for Plan B sales Rite Aid has followed suit, also limiting sales of Plan B medication to three per person It has done this with both the Plan B and Option 2 (Pictured) brands Walgreens has sold out of 'morning after' pills for delivery. It says there are still enough in store and that it is working to re-fill its warehouses as soon as possible Morning after pills are a type of emergency contraception reserved for after unprotected sex or as a last resort when other devices like condoms have failed. They are available over the counter, with one pill needing to be taken within 72 hours of intercourse in order to stop a pregnancy. It works by preventing ovulation or altering the lining of the womb to stop an egg becoming implanted. The pills are about 87 percent effective, manufacturer data shows. Biden faces calls to set up abortion clinics on federal lands Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are both calling for Democrats to take extreme measures to protect abortion rights after the reversal of Roe vs. Wade, but Vice President Kamala Harris signaled the Biden administration is not considering such action at the moment. Both Warren and Ocasio-Cortez, Democrats from Massachusetts and New York respectively, lobbied for the administration to set up what they called 'emergency abortion clinics' on federal lands. Warren, speaking on ABC's This Week, said Biden should 'make abortion as available as possible with the tools he has, including medication abortion, including using federal lands as a place where abortions can occur.' Ocasio-Cortez echoed these requests at a rally in New York City's Union Square, calling federal abortion clinics 'the babiest of baby steps.' However, when asked about the possibility of doing so, Vice President Harris told CNN's Dana Bash that it was unlikely. Advertisement They differ from abortion pills such as Mifeprex which require a prescription and involve taking two different pills ten weeks apart. Many women may only buy one packet of 'morning after' pills at a time, with those who purchase more looking to stock up. CVS put the limit in place on Saturday, and Rite Aid followed suit on Monday. A spokeswoman for CVS said they saw a 'sharp increase' in sales immediately after the ruling, triggering the limit. But now as sales have 'returned to normal' they are in the process of removing the restriction. They added: 'We continue to have ample supply of emergency contraceptives to meet customer needs.' Rite Aid also has Plan B pills available for $47.49 each and Option 2 pills for $32.99 for one. Walgreens said it was still able to meet 'in store demand' and was 'working' to re-stock its online inventory. The pharmacy did not say when it sold out of the pills for home delivery. Other pharmacies including Walmart are yet to put limits on the sale of 'morning after' pills in place. It comes as women hurriedly stockpile abortion pills and contraception over fears that access could be banned. Last week the court's longest serving justice Clarence Thomas warned that they could 'reconsider' rulings on access to contraception suggesting the right to the 'morning after' pill could also be at risk. This has sparked panic in many circles, with women now hurrying to restock. In the days since Roe v Wade was overturned some clinics say their appointments have spiked four-fold since the Roe v Wade ruling. Abortion organization Planned Parenthood Southeast, in Atlanta, Georgia, also says they have faced a surge in women wanting to know how many pills are available. But amid the rush many are being urged not to completely 'clear the shelves' of abortion pills to ensure they remain available for women who need them right now. It is expected that abortion pills will become the focus of many legal battles in the states to outlaw abortion. So far, 13 states have already imposed new laws, with Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri completely banning them with no exceptions for rape or incest. In a statement on its website, Just The Pill said it is 'undaunted by the Supreme Court decision and will continue to bring care to the people who most need it. We are here for you. 'You can still get care from us in Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Let us know if you need help with travel arrangements and costs.' Medication abortion is still authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. It requires a woman takes two drugs 24 to 48 hours apart to cause contractions similar to a miscarriage which expels the fetus, causing heavy bleeding. Medication is less expensive and invasive and the pills can be mailed to your home, meaning it is a common choice for women choosing to carry out an abortion. People who use marijuana recreationally are more likely to require emergency room care or be hospitalized that their peers are, a new study finds. Researchers at the University of Toronto, in Canada, found that those who use the drug recreationally are 22 percent more likely to need emergency services for any reason than the general population. The most common reasons were physical injury or respiratory issues - though it is unclear whether these problems were tied to smoking itself. Marijuana use has become common place in America as it slowly earns legalization and decriminalization across the country. While it is generally seen as a 'safe' drug compared to others, it may carry significant downsides as well. A person that uses marijuana is 22% more like to need hospital care than their peer that does not use the drug, a new study finds (file photo) 'After adjusting for a broad range of covariates ... all-cause ER visits or hospitalizations was significantly greater among cannabis users than among control individuals,' researchers wrote. Is marijuana safe? Studies show long-term negative impacts of the popular drug Use of marijuana in America is growing, with over half of millennials reporting using it at some point A study published by researchers at the University of Toronto found that users are more than 20 percent more likely to require emergency room care or hospitalization for any reason An NIH study found that frequent adolescent users are twice as likely to suffer occupational injury than their peers Ohio State University researchers found that those that use the drug are also more likely to self-harm and die of any cause There are also established links between cannabis use and cognitive issues Advertisement 'Respiratory-related reasons were the second most common cause for ER visits and hospitalizations in the all-cause outcome.' Researchers, who published their findings Monday in BMJ, gathered health record data from over 35,000 residents of Ontario for the study. Participants were between the ages of 12 to 65, and data from 2009 to 2015 was included in the research. Each person who self-reported cannabis use was matched to another person with a similar medical profile that did not use the drug recreationally. The participant who did use the drug was found to have a 22 percent increased risk of needing either emergency care or hospitalization than their non-using peer over the six year study period. Marijuana users were not more likely to die as a result of any illness or injury, the researchers found. Researchers warn that their findings do not establish causation, and they were unable to tie any of the hospital visits directly to use of the drug in any way. This is not the first study to tie marijuana use with increased risk of suffering injury, though. A 2012 study found that students who used cannabis more than 40 times in a 30 day period - indicating they were frequent users - were at an increased risk of suffering occupational injury than their peers. A study published last year also found that adolescent frequent users were more likely to self harm, and also die of an overdose of another drug or be a victim of homicide than their peers. Recreational marijuana use is reaching all-time highs in the United States, as it becomes more socially and legally acceptable to use the drug. Marijuana is now legal to use recreationally in 17 U.S. states, and allowed medicinally in another 17 states as well A Gallup poll from last summer found that half of U.S. adults had used the drug at least once in their life, with more than one-in-ten being active users. Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, were the group most like to have experimented with it at some point. Use of the drug is only expected to rise as well as it slowly gains acceptance around the country. Many employers that previously banned workers from using the drugs and performed pre-employment drug screenings have since dropped those requirements. The long-banned drug is starting to become legal as well, with 17 U.S. states allowing for recreational use, and the list only expected to grow in the coming years. A panel of independent advisors has recommended new formulations for the COVID-19 vaccines to specifically target the Omicron variant. By a 19-2 vote, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) approved plans to rollout newly formulated vaccines this fall - citing the vaccine resistant traits of the Omicron variant. Dr Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) top regulatory body for vaccines, said Tuesday morning he hoped to make the new shots available as early as this October. The move opens the door for fourth vaccine shots for the general American population and fifth shots for the immunocompromised and for people over 50. An FDA advisory panel voted in favor of newly formulated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the Omicron variants. Previous vaccine versions were built to combat the original Wuhan virus strain from two years ago. Pictured: A soldier in Fort Knox, Kentucky, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine in September, 2021 All currently available versions of the COVID-19 vaccines are formulated to the original Wuhan strain that emerged two years ago. While they are still effective at preventing severe infection or death in a majority of cases, the Omicron variant has mutated in a way to avoid front end protection from infection. This change allows for both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to begin distribution of newly formulated shots that should be able to prevent infection from the Omicron variant - along with previous versions of the virus. The FDA is expected to follow the lead of its advisors and issue emergency use authorization to the new jabs at some point this week. After the FDA, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also likely authorize the shots. In preparation for Tuesday's meeting, Pfizer unveiled data on Saturday showing its updated vaccine's effectiveness against the highly infectious strain of the virus. Data included over 1,200 people who has already received both the original two-dose vaccine series and a booster shot. The trial found a significant increased in Omicron-effective antibodies in participants. Moderna, Pfizer's largest competitor in the rollout of the shots revealed similar data for its Omicron-specific shots earlier this month as well. 'The data show the ability of our monovalent and bivalent Omicron-adapted vaccine candidates to significantly improve variant-specific antibody neutralization responses,' Dr Ugur Sahin, CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech - a German firm which partnered with Pfizer in the development and manufacturing of the shots. 'Omicron has newly evolving sublineages that have outcompeted BA.1 and exhibit a trend of increasing potential for immune escape.' These shots were long sought after in January, when the then-new strain was causing up to 800,000 new cases per day as mutations on its spike protein allowed it to bypass vaccine immunity. In the time since, though, experts have realized that while the variant may be more transmissible it is also more mild than its predecessors. This has led to plummeting demand for the additional shots, though, and declining worry about the pandemic from the general population. Whether Americans will want the additional shots is still up in the air, though, especially as the nation's Covid situation stabilizes. A May Gallup poll found that only 31 percent of Americans report being either 'somewhat worried' or 'very worried' about catching COVID-19. The poll signals the shifting state of the virus as America approaches the summer months. In previous years, the warm weather months have come with large, devastating virus surges. The survey was conducted in mid-April, when the trend of declining cases that had existed for nearly three months to that point coming off of the mid-January peak of the winter Omicron surge began to reverse. Participants were asked of their feelings about the pandemic, the virus and what sort of personal mitigations strategies they were using - or ignoring - in their day-to-day life. The study also found that 64 percent of Americans believed that the pandemic was 'getting better'. At the time of the survey, cases had just dropped below 30,000 per day, making it one of the lowest points since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Around 21 percent of Americans said they believed the situation was about the same, and only 12 percent believed it was getting worse. The last time this little amount of Americans believed the situation was getting worse was summer 2021, when cases were at a low point just before the explosion of the Delta variant. These good feelings have led to some changes in behavior as well. Only 17 percent of Americans reported that they were still social distancing, the lowest point of the pandemic so far. Just under a third of Americans said they have avoided large crowds, a fifth reported avoiding public places and just 15 percent avoided small gatherings. Those figures are also all pandemic-lows, Gallup reports. More motorists need to hold their nerve and appeal unfair parking charges. Money Mail analysis shows that few people contest their parking tickets. Yet they have more than a 50 per cent chance of success if they do. Keeping up the fight is more important than ever since the Government temporarily withdrew vital new rules to protect the nations 36 million drivers from cowboy parking practices. Its a devastating blow for the tens of thousands of drivers slapped with obscene charges every year for innocent mistakes. We explain how to tell a council PCN from a private parking charge, and why those aren't technically fines, but can be legally pursued, and how to challenge both types of parking ticket. Contested: An official council PCN is different to a private parking charge but the latter can seem to mimic the former What's going on with private parking charges The Government introduced the Private Parking Code of Practice in February designed to take full effect at the end of 2023, giving operators time to comply. But parking firms have taken legal action against a proposed cap on fees. This essentially presses pause on the new code while the Government conducts a further review. Minister Neil OBrien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Levelling Up, summarised the need for tighter rules, citing a labyrinthine system of misleading and confusing signage, opaque appeals services, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees designed to extort money from motorists. New rules include clear signage and compulsory grace periods so no one is unfairly charged for running a few minutes late. They would also pave the way for a single independent appeals service. Operators which fail to follow the rules could then be banned from issuing parking charges altogether. But while new consumer protections are on hold, parking perils rumble on. And firms profit mercilessly from simple human errors. So anyone who feels they have been unfairly targeted should strike back. Consumer expert Martyn James says: Dont delay make your complaint straight away. Its free to argue your case and the charge wont increase while matters are being investigated. My bill went from 25 to 394 Shock: Ann Marie White was hit with a 394 demand from Warrington Borough Council NHS nurse Ann Marie White was hit with a 25 fine after failing to display a ticket at a station car park in 2020. The 64-year-old (pictured) made the payment by credit card within a fortnight, before it doubled to 50. But last month Warrington Borough Council sent an enforcement officer to her home who told her the charge had increased to 394. Ann, who lives in Warrington, says: I did explain that I paid the fine and could show him a screenshot of my payment, but he was adamant that I had to pay. When Money Mail contacted the council, it said it had issued a second parking ticket in 2020, which she hadnt paid. But Ann claims she never received any correspondence about another penalty. A council spokesman says it will be refunding her the additional fees added to the second fine, so that she will only pay 25. He adds: We acknowledge that given both fines were issued within a short space of time, it is likely this may have caused confusion. The rogue charges - including too long inflating tyres Money Mail has heard from dozens of readers affected by rogue practices. Many are tired of the nitpicking after being fined for tickets slipping from the dashboard. They are then pursued for money even after showing evidence of having paid to park. Parking firms have also come under fire in recent years for trying to force more people to use smartphone apps which isnt always easy for older people. One blue-badge holder, a driver in his 80s, was charged 100 for spending too long inflating his tyres at a petrol station. He stayed beyond the permitted 20 minutes because he had taken a bad fall and needed time to recover. Another reader paid her initial fine for parking at a station but was still then chased by debt collectors. And one unhappy motorist was told his ticket had been cancelled, only to then be chased for payment. Worried because the charge had gone up, he paid. At which point the operator agreed that in fact his ticket was cancelled. But after 111 days he was still waiting for the company to refund his money. Some drivers have been caught out because they didnt pay within ten minutes of arriving at a car park even when there was a long queue and only one ticket machine working. Others have been caught out by fat finger errors. Having typed their vehicle registration number into the ticket machine, one letter or digit was wrong. This paves the way for penalties, no matter how honest the driver. Everyday annoyance: If you are caught out fair and square a parking ticket can be infuriating but chalked up to experience, but those treated unfairly are rightly aggrieved Ticket types: know your parking charge from a PCN Deciding how to tackle an unfair parking charge depends on the type of ticket. Expert Barrie Segal runs consumer champion website appealnow.com. He says: In law there is a vast difference between council parking tickets and private parking tickets. Many local authorities in their pursuit of parking ticket income act unfairly in dealing with motorists. The behaviour of many private parking companies is even worse. Check what is written on the ticket itself. Its only official if it features the word penalty. This means that it has been issued by a local authority and is an official penalty charge notice, or PCN for short. If you think your PCN is wrong, appeal first to the local authority that issued it. You have 14 days to do this, or 21 days if it was sent in the post. Include any evidence such as photos and witness statements, as well as details including your car registration number, PCN number and your contact information. If youre unsuccessful at the end of the first stage, theres usually still an option to pay a fine at a discounted rate of 50 per cent. But if youre adamant about taking it further, you have another 28 days to make a free formal appeal. Should this be rejected too, there is another step. You can refer to an independent tribunal. In London this is the London Tribunals service, in England and Wales it is the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. In Scotland, motorists have 28 days to appeal to the General Regulatory Chamber. For penalty fines relating specifically to parking, the success rate for appeals to London Tribunals is 51 per cent. There were 7,496 parking appeals won out of 14,702 decisions made. But nearly three million parking PCNs were issued in the financial year to 2021. The success rate for drivers appealing to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal is higher at 64 per cent. There were 4,249 successful appeals out of 6,633 in the financial year to 2021. But a whopping 3.18 million parking PCNs were issued in that time. Tech required: Parking firms have also come under fire in recent years for trying to force more people to use smartphone apps How to challenge private parking charges If you have received a ticket for parking on private land, the rules are different. In these cases, rogue operators flourish and can exploit drivers ignorance of different parking ticket features. Martyn James says: Private parking fees are tickets or invoices not fines. They can be pursued legally though. Private parking fees are tickets or invoices not fines He adds: Some tickets mirror the look, style and even typeface of council tickets quite deliberately so people are confused about their rights. Though a parking charge notice has the same initials as a PCN, they arent the same. In the absence of the word penalty, its a private operator ticket, not a council fine. If you identify one of these, its important to find out whether the company is part of an accredited trade association. If it isnt then do not write to the company unless they write to you. The company cant access your address from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, so writing to them gives information they didnt have and a way to hassle you. If the operator is a trade association member, appeal to the company about your ticket first. You can check if a firm is a member of the British Parking Association at britishparking.co.uk or email membership@britishparking.co.uk. Its members issued four million tickets in 2020 but less than a quarter made the leap to appeal. For those who did, 51.7 per cent were successful. A tiny 1 per cent took their cases to the Parking on Private Land Appeals service, also known as POPLA. Its most recent figures show that out of 61,214 appeals handled in a year, 37 per cent were successful at this end stage. Another trade body is the International Parking Community, which refers complaints to the Independent Appeals Service. The IAS handled 16,769 appeals between October 2020 and September 2021. The success rate for motorists was 24 per cent. To give yourself the best chance of victory with an appeal, Mr James suggests turning detective. He says: Collect evidence about where you were if the fine is applied to you incorrectly. Mistakes can and do happen, so dont lose your temper if you get ticketed. Grit your teeth and make detailed notes. Dont get into fights with parking attendants, just take down their details and use them in the complaint. For step-by-step information about how to deal with unfair parking charges, visit citizens advice.org.uk/law-and-courts. You can also get help from the online complaints service Resolver.co.uk. In November 2019 I was involved in a car accident and injured my back. The driver who hit my vehicle admitted full liability to both his and my insurance companies. Minster Law Solicitors took on my compensation claim but as yet I have had nothing. I run my own dog-walking business out of my van, so once the vehicle was written off, I had to purchase a new one out of my own pocket or, should I say, with the help of my parents. Claim: A reader has been left waiting almost three years to be fully compensated after they were involved in a car accident that left them in pain and without a vehicle for work Due to the injuries I sustained, and while looking for a new van, I was off work for several weeks. I was referred to a physiotherapist appointed by Minster Law, which did not help, and my lower back pain remained. Eventually I referred myself to a chiropractor at my own expense and have spent the past two-and-a-half years going weekly to try and resolve the back pain. I went back to work as soon as I obtained my new van in December 2019. It is a physical job and so being in pain constantly is unpleasant, but I had to pay the bills and couldnt afford to take any more time off. I have been chasing Minster Law about my compensation for nearly three years. The firm sent me to a doctor who assessed my symptoms and agreed that the injuries are a result of the accident. I was referred to a specialist for a spinal nerve injection in October 2021. I am always the one chasing for an answer and every time it is the same: either the firm hasnt heard back yet from someone, or the wrong document has been sent by that person. Every step seems to take weeks. I am in a tricky financial spot right now, what with this all happening just before Covid struck and being self-employed and single. I am now facing possibly losing my home and having to move in with my parents, which is something I dont wish to have to do. If I could just get the compensation I deserve for an accident that wasnt my fault, I think this would help. J. M., Wakefield. Sally Hamilton replies: Living with pain while trying to make a living must be unbearable. When we spoke, you explained how the other drivers insurer paid out for your van with no quibble. But the trouble is you had leased your vehicle and the payout simply paid off the finance companys loan. You had to turn to your parents for a loan; you really do not want to lose your home and your independence. I contacted Minster Law on your behalf and asked them why it was taking so long to arrange compensation with the third partys insurer after your debilitating accident. Stuart Hanley, head of legal practice at Minster Law, went away to investigate your case. A couple of days later he admitted you had faced poor service. A member of the team then apologised to you directly. Mr Hanley says some aspects of your case that contributed to the delays have been out of the firms control. He says issues surrounding the accuracy of your medical assessment and the fact you are still receiving treatment means the case is complex. He says: However, we accept that more could have been done to counter at least a proportion of these delays. Unfortunately, the firm cannot say yet how much you are in line to receive. But in the meantime, after my intervention, they agreed to send you 500 as an apology for the poor service, unrelated to your compensation claim, plus it has appointed a more senior claims handler to the case. It has also arranged a 1,000 interim compensation payment. I hope this will keep the wolves from the door. Straight to the point My wife and I were travelling by train from Leighton Buzzard to Doncaster. At the station my wife was knocked down an escalator, causing severe injuries which resulted in a trip to the hospital before we headed home. I asked for a refund from the Trainline but we were refused. T. S., via email. Rail industry rules mean the type of ticket you purchased is non-refundable but, after Money Mail intervened, a spokesman agreed to provide you with a full refund. *** After buying Kinder egg products for my grandchildren at Easter they all had to be thrown away because salmonella was found at one of its factories. I asked for a refund and received no response. S. C., Bromley. Ferrero, which owns Kinder, says the situation was completely unprecedented and apologises for not responding. You have now been offered a voucher worth the price of the affected products. *** I bought two travel insurance policies from Staysure by mistake. That was four months ago and I have been fighting for a 228.46 refund since. C.M., The Wirral. A Staysure spokesman says it processed your refund the day before I got in contact and will call you to make sure it has cleared. The insurer also paid an extra 50 to apologise for the inconvenience. Energy services group Petrofac has revealed that trading and forecasts remain in line with projections following a strong rebound in the price and production of oil. The London-listed company expects to generate more than 500,000 barrels per day of petroleum in the first half of 2022, thanks partly to output from two developments situated off the Malaysian coast. This compares to just 210,000 daily barrels in the equivalent period last year when Covid-related lockdown rules discouraged travel and caused factory activity to dwindle, sending oil demand plummeting. Forecast: Petrofac expects to generate over 500,000 barrels per day of oil in the first half of 2022, thanks partly to output from two developments situated off the Malaysian coast Petrofac predicts production will continue rising in the latter half of 2022, helping full-year underlying earnings in its integrated energy services division to rise to $80million-$90million, assuming average oil prices remain at around $100 per barrel. The business also anticipates revenues in its asset solutions arm will further increase over the next six months, having already made an estimated $500million so far this year on the back of new or extended contracts. Among deals recently won by the firm regarding operations in the North Sea include one from i3 Energy to manage wells and a two-year extension from Spirit Energy to provide maintenance support for its York platform. Outside the UK, Petrofac has gained contracts to decommission three offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico and one in the Timor Sea from the Australian Government. Yet even though the division has attracted a robust order intake, it forecasts a slight decrease in second-half profit margins because of the mix of contracts. By contrast, the company expects its engineering and construction segment to rebound to a 'marginal profit' in the coming six months from a loss of about $35million-$45million in the opening half of the year. Deals: Outside the UK, Petrofac has gained contracts to decommission three offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico and one in the Timor Sea from the Australian Government Petrofac admitted that such an outcome will be dependent on certain commercial settlements, some of which it has described as 'relatively unfavourable.' But it is optimistic that the division will continue to prosper due to steep energy prices, an enhanced focus on energy security and a gigantic pipeline of potential new contracts. Chief executive Sami Iskander said: 'We have made good progress in the first half of the year to position the business strategically to capitalise on the expected multi-year upcycle ahead, supported by a strong energy price environment and ambitious growth plans from clients in our core markets.' The firm additionally anticipates cutting net debts after seeing them double to $345million between January and late June due to paying a $104million fine to the Serious Fraud Office and receiving slower payments from clients. Last year, Petrofac pleaded guilty to seven charges of failing to prevent bribery that helped it secure projects across Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia from 2012 to 2015. Chairman Rene Medori called the episode a 'deeply regrettable period of Petrofac's history.' Laura Hoy, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'With the Serious Fraud Office investigation finally in the rearview, this year was meant to be one of rebuilding for Petrofac. 'But lingering supply chain issues from the pandemic and inflationary headwinds have put somewhat of a damper on the group's engineering & construction business. 'The good news is that other parts of the business are picking up some of the slack - with higher oil prices and strong demand for onshore and offshore asset management keeping a floor under profits.' Petrofac shares closed trading 2.7 per cent up at 122.2p on Tuesday, although their value has declined by over a fifth in the past month. Protective: Raymond McKeeve with his wife, the ex-Brexit Party Euro MP Belinda De Lucy A High-flying lawyer advising one of Ocados co-founders panicked before seeking to destroy evidence rather than hand it over to the online supermarket, a court heard yesterday. Raymond McKeeve ordered an IT manager at a firm set up by Jonathan Faiman to burn messages to stop them falling into Ocados hands during a corporate espionage probe. At the time, Faiman was embroiled in a legal dispute with Ocado, which accused him of using confidential company information to launch his rival venture Today Development Partners. That case was settled in June last year, ending a bitter legal battle between Faiman and fellow Ocado co-founder Tim Steiner, who were childhood friends. Steiner remains chief executive of the online supermarket, which is now pursuing McKeeve for contempt of court over the destruction of the files, which could see the lawyer jailed or hit with an unlimited fine. In court yesterday, McKeeve apologised for his serious error of judgment but said he should not be found guilty of a criminal offence. He said he panicked when making the burn instruction and insisted the deleted material did not contain highly sensitive or confidential information about Ocado. He previously said in a statement his gut reaction was to protect the identity of his wife, ex-Brexit Party Euro MP Belinda de Lucy, whose name was referenced in the messaging app that was deleted. But the FTSE 100 firm said the case of contempt against McKeeve was clearly made out. Ocado has rejected McKeeves claim he wanted to protect the identity of his wife and claimed that he wanted to destroy material Lawyers for the company told the court: McKeeves actions, as a solicitor and officer of the court, are unprecedented. We have been unable to find any case where a solicitor has acted this way. They also claimed he does not appear to appreciate the gravity of his conduct. David Cavender QC, who is representing Ocado in the High Court, said the case was one of utmost seriousness. He encouraged the judge to deal with the severity of McKeeves actions, adding that he knew what he did was wrong and was looking to hide it. Food fight: Ocado founder Tim Steiner When responding to Ocados remarks, McKeeves barrister said his clients liberty is at stake in the case. He said the defendant admits he made a serious error of judgment which he greatly regrets. Robert Weekes QC told the court that McKeeve made a mistake on the morning of July 4, 2019 but said he wanted to apologise sincerely for that. He added: What he did, while it was a serious lapse in judgment, did not constitute that criminal offence. McKeeve has argued that he was not aware of the search orders terms. The deletion of innocuous text messages cannot, and did not, interfere with the administration of justice, his lawyers told the court. Ocado, which claims to be the victim in the case, has said it is pursuing McKeeves alleged contempt as a matter of justice. It has rejected McKeeves claim he wanted to protect the identity of his wife and claimed that he wanted to destroy material. Cavender told the court: Whatever his motive was, he acted intentionally. The case continues, with Ocado applying for some parts of the hearing to be held in private. Ocado and McKeeve were both contacted for comment. IPO: Chip maker Arm Arm employs 6,400 people globally, 3,500 of them in the UK Arm's chief executive said its upcoming 40billion stock market listing would spark a hiring boom and accelerate its expansion. Rene Haas said the Cambridge-based chip designer would use the cash generated from the IPO to pursue takeovers and speed up hiring. It will boost Arms push beyond mobile phones into cars, data centres and hardware underpinning the metaverse. Arm which employs 6,400 people globally, 3,500 of them in the UK designs the processors that run virtually every smartphone and its customers include tech giants Apple, Qualcomm and Samsung Electronics. Haas told the Financial Times that the timing is good for Arms listing. But he said the location of the float was a decision for its owner, Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, refusing to be drawn on questions about whether it will be in London or New York. Thousands of shoppers are discovering items ordered from reputable retailers are not what they expected. Complaints about goods that were poor quality, faulty or not as described rose by 138 per cent last year, according to the dispute service Resolver. In many cases, items were described as being made of quality natural materials, like wood or leather, but turned out to be constructed from cheap synthetic imitations. Misleading: One jumper (left) sold on the M&S website as a 'wool actually contained only 36% wool - while a 28 'satin' green dress (right) from PrettyLittleThing is in fact 100% polyester Not only are these cheaper materials worth less, they tend to be flimsier and less durable. Here, Money Mail investigates misleading online descriptions and how you can avoid being caught out... Dodgy descriptions Caroline Blight, 43, spent 30 on three wooden shelves from Homebase. The website described them as timber shelves with a hard-wearing timber finish. But when the baking blogger, from Hertfordshire, collected the shelving, the packaging stated the products were actually made from the synthetic material melamine. I said to the assistant I thought I had been given the incorrect order and she told me that things on the website arent always labelled the same as they are in real life, says Caroline. I was really annoyed. Ratula Chakraborty, professor of business management at the University of East Anglia, describes misleading product descriptions on websites as a modern twist on a classic bait-and-switch ploy. Traditionally, consumers were hooked by a marketing claim and then steered to buy something else, but here the ploy is to sell inferior items that do not match the intended quality, she says. She recommends shoppers examine the small print carefully for any clues that the product is not what it seems and look out for phrases such as effect or pattern next to words like wood. Customer complaints about furniture, kitchens, bathrooms and other home improvements including misleading descriptions rose by 25 per cent between 2017 and 2019, compared with the previous two years, according to the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman. Other unhappy customers include those who bought 64 knotty pine doors from B&Q and complained on its website that the surface bubbled when they attempted to paint or varnish it. They said it was not made from solid pine, as the description suggested, but a thin wood veneer glued on to cheaper materials. After Money Mail contacted Homebase and B&Q, the retailers edited their websites to make it clear the products were not made from real wood. Homebase says: We always aim to make sure product descriptions are accurate. Were sorry we didnt make it clear this time. B&Q adds: Delivering high quality products that our customers love is so important to us. Misleading ads When shopping online, your first step might be to do a Google search for the item you want. But watch out for the shopping results shown at the top as these are adverts paid for by retailers and may not give an accurate description. Descriptions: In many cases, items described as being made of quality natural materials, like wood or leather, turned out to be constructed from cheap synthetic imitations Prof Chakraborty says some retailers exploit the weaker regulations governing search engine adverts to use misleading language to entice customers to visit their websites, which are subject to stricter rules on accurate descriptions. One 369.99 Wayfair chair, which appeared in a Google Shopping result for wool chairs, was described as a Scandi Wool Tub Chair. But when Money Mail clicked through to the Wayfair website, we found the word Wool had been replaced with the word Wide in the product title. And although the description said it was made from original fabric pattern wool, another link to the small print revealed the chair was actually upholstered in a cheap polyester blend fabric printed with a picture of wool. Wayfair did not respond to our requests for comment but the description of the chair was later updated. Misleading adverts waste consumers time and result in wrong purchases and money wasted, which also causes environmental waste, says Prof Chakraborty. [The practice] can only be stopped by search engines being more responsible or tighter advertising rules and stronger regulation. Gold tricks Shoppers are also being misled by online descriptions of clothes and jewellery. Last year, a Money Mail investigation revealed how some jewellery advertised as gold online contains as little as 0.6 per cent of the precious metal. Complaints about goods that were poor quality, faulty or not as described soared by 138% last year, according to dispute service Resolver A solid 18ct gold ring is worth around 400, but one that looks similar made of plated cheap base metal could be worth less than 1, says Harriet Kelsall, deputy chairman of the National Association of Jewellers and owner of Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery. She advises consumers to look for a hallmark and buy directly from the jewellery makers website, rather than through a third party such as eBay. Some retailers imply clothes are made from quality natural materials when, in reality, they are predominantly made from cheaper fabrics. One jumper by White Stuff, which was sold on the M&S website as a wool jumper for 59, actually contained only 36 per cent wool the rest was nylon and acrylic. M&S said the wording was an error and had been updated. The product is no longer on sale. Retailers may describe polyester items as silky or satin. One 28 satin green dress from Pretty LittleThing turned out to be 100 per cent polyester. The company did not respond to requests for comment. What you can do The law says consumers are entitled to products that match the description, are of satisfactory quality, are free from defects and last a reasonable length of time. So if you are caught out by a misleading website description, you can request a refund and should not have to pay for return postage. The same protection may not apply with retailers based overseas. If you are concerned about an online description, contact the Advertising Standards Authority. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk At least 11 people were killed and 50 wounded as two Russian missiles hit a crowded mall in the city of Kremenchuk in central Ukraine on Monday. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there were more than 1,000 people in the mall when the missile attack happened that resulting in a massive fire in the area. Firefighters and soldiers conducted a search operation for survivors as they remove debris in the area of the incident, as per a report from Reuters. Zelensky noted on Telegram that it is "impossible even to imagine the number of victims." He also blasted Russia, saying it is "useless to hope for decency and humanity" from Moscow, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin. Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a video of a fire in a shopping center in Kremenchug "The occupiers launched a missile strike at shopping center. There were more than a thousand civilians. The mall is on fire, rescuers are extinguishing fire, number of victims is unimaginable." pic.twitter.com/Src2qh3Tdf NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 27, 2022 Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, condemned the missile strike and dubbed Russia a "disgrace to humanity" and stressed that they "must face consequences," per Business Insider. Kuleba posted on Twitter: "The response should be more heavy arms for Ukraine, more sanctions on Russia, and more businesses leaving Russia." The attack has already been verified to have killed 11 people, according to Dmytro Lunin, the governor of the central Poltava area, who also stated on Telegram that more fatalities are likely to be discovered as rescue personnel continues to search through the burning ruins. Lunin also posted on Telegram that 29 additional persons received first assistance without being admitted to the hospital, while 21 other people were hospitalized. Russian Forces Continue To Pound Ukrainian Cities The incident "hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain to have no connections to the armed forces," Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy posted on Facebook. At the time of the attack, Russia was "pouring fire" on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and the air, according to the local governor, as it was waging a full-scale assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. Read Also: USA Secret Meeting With Israel, Arab Nations Revealed; Iran Threat Discussed Kremenchuk is a city in central Ukraine on the Dneiper River, approximately five hours drive southeast of Kyiv and removed from the frontlines of battle in the country's south and east. After driving Ukrainian troops from the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days, Russian forces looked to increase their longer-range assaults on the country. US, NATO Vow Support For Ukraine Meanwhile, as per Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of NATO, leaders of the West vowed to continue their support to Kyiv. During the alliance's summit in Spain, they will decide to provide more military assistance to Ukraine, including secure communication and anti-drone equipment, as reported by NPR. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed that the US support for Ukraine will continue and will hold Russia accountable for its "string of atrocities." Zelenskyy delivered a remote message to the G7 conference this week, pleading with the leaders of the participating nations to dispatch more air defense systems and strive to finish the war this year. According to a senior US defense official, Russia launched up to 60 airstrikes on Ukraine over the weekend. Per Reuters, it was unclear whether most of the strikes were a reaction to the G7 summit or the deployment of HIMARS in Ukraine. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Conducts Late-Night Secret Meeting To Talk with Fellow Dictator About Nuclear Weapons [RUMOR] @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A falling out between two once close friends on a fishing trip might seem as trivial a motive for murder as could be found in Sydney's volatile underworld. But that was one suggested reason behind the execution of former Comanchero boss Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi by ex-Lone Wolf member Yusuf Nazlioglu. The case against Nazlioglu for murdering Hawi four years ago was ultimately rejected by a jury in 2020 but fate appears to have caught up with the 40-year-old. Nazlioglu was shot up to ten times at Rhodes in Sydney's inner-west on Monday night in the city's latest gangland hit and died on Tuesday morning. Onetime Lone Wolf bikie Yusuf Nazlioglu (left) was acquitted in September 2020 of murdering his former friend and Comanchero president Mick Hawi (right) in February 2018. Nazlioglu was repeatedly shot in an underground carpark on Monday night and died on Tuesday morning Nazlioglu was shot up to ten times below the apartment he shared with his wife at Rhodes in Sydney's inner west near his black Mercedes. He is pictured with his wife The brazen attack occurred in front of Nazlioglu's wife in the underground carpark of their apartment block about 6.30pm near the dead man's black Mercedes. He was hit in the head and torso. A silver hatchback believed to have taken the assassin to the carpark was set on fire a few streets away from the apartment block. While police have described the shooting as targeted they have not publicly speculated whether it was linked to any of the 13 other gangster murders across Sydney in the past two years. But considering Nazlioglu's links to the cold-blooded daylight assassination of Hawi, detectives might have a head start in their investigations. A balaclava-clad gunman repeatedly shot Hawi in the head and body after the 37-year-old got into his black Mercedes-Benz SUV outside Fitness First Rockdale in the city's south on February 15, 2018. CCTV from a camera across the road from the gym captured the gunman firing at Hawi then running to a waiting vehicle. Police have described Nazlioglu's shooting (above) as targeted but have not publicly speculated whether it was linked to any of the 13 other gangland hits across Sydney in the past two years Nazlioglu's Mercedes is pictured with a bullet hole in the driver's window. The gangster died after being repeatedly shot in the head and torso Six months later Nazlioglu, then 37, was charged with Hawi's murder, along with his friend and fellow Lone Wolf member Ahmad 'Adam' Doudar, 38. Nazlioglu was accused of being the triggerman and Doudar of disposing of a getaway car. At the time, Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon, head of the State Crime Command, said Hawi's death was linked to the Sydney construction industry and not a rift between outlaw motorcycle gangs. 'We will allege that there was a financial motive to Mr Hawi's murder and his death was to prevent further money being paid to Mr Hawi rather than any outlaw motorcycle gang conflict,' Assistant Commission Lanyon told reporters. A third man, 31-year-old Jamal Eljaidi, was charged with murder in March 2019 and accused of being the getaway driver. Doudar would plead guilty to being an accessory after the fact to Hawi's murder and was sentenced to a non-parole period of three years and four months in jail. Beirut-born Hawi, who joined the Comanchero when he was 18, became national president of the gang in 2003 when he was just 22, having deposed 'supreme commander' Jock Ross A balaclava-clad gunman repeatedly shot Hawi in the head and body after the 37-year-old got into his black Mercedes-Benz SUV (above) outside Fitness First Rockdale on February 15, 2018 Beirut-born Hawi, who joined the Comanchero when he was 18, became national president of the gang in 2003 when he was just 22, having deposed 'supreme commander' Jock Ross. Ross had led the Comanchero into the Father's Day 1984 Milperra Massacre in which four of his men, two Bandidos and a 14-year-old girl were slain. Under Hawi, the Comanchero further expanded their recruitment to include young men with Middle Eastern, Greek and Serbian backgrounds. Hawi's leadership also coincided with growing tensions between the Comanchero and the Hells Angels. On March 22, 2009, Hawi was on a flight from Melbourne to Sydney with other Comanchero. Hells Angels president Derek Wainohu was also on the plane. Nazlioglu was accused of being the triggerman who killed Hawi while Jamal Eljaidi (above) was alleged to be the getaway driver. Both were acquitted by a jury of murder Wainohu, feeling intimidated by the Comanchero's presence, contacted gang members in Sydney who headed for the airport. Comanchero members followed. When the two groups met in the domestic terminal, 12 Comanchero confronted five Hells Angels, punching and kicking each other in front of horrified travellers. Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervas, brother of patched member Peter Zervas, was bludgeoned with a bollard and stabbed in the abdomen and chest. He died in the brawl. Hawi was eventually charged with the murder of Zervas, found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in jail. After his conviction was overturned on appeal in 2014, Hawi pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was released in 2015, which is when he and Nazlioglu became close. Nazlioglu and Eljaidi stood trial for murder before a Supreme Court jury in a case the Crown admitted was circumstantial and featured no direct evidence either man was responsible for Hawi's murder. 'There are eyewitnesses... but no witness will say they saw the accused Mr Nazlioglu shoot the deceased,' prosecutor Lou Longo said in his opening address. One of the Crown's first witnesses was Hawi's widow Carolina Gonzalez, who said Nazlioglu had once been very close to her late husband. That friendship had soured during a fishing trip to the NSW Central Coast in the summer of 2016/17, when Hawi called his wife and said the pair had fallen out. One of the Crown's first witnesses at Nazlioglu's trial was Hawi's widow Carolina Gonzalez, who said Nazlioglu had once been very close to her late husband. Ms Gonzalez is pictured 'Mike said he had had a disagreement with Yusuf and that he'd asked him to go back to Sydney,' Ms Gonzalez said. 'He said, "He did something that embarrassed me with someone"... I said, "OK, I'm sure you'll get over it".' Ms Gonzalez saw Nazlioglu after the fishing trip and tried to speak to him about the dispute with her husband. 'He was angry just clenching his fists,' she said. 'He didn't want to talk to me. His eyes were just bulging a little bit.' Hawi did not get over whatever had happened and months later told his wife the friendship with Nazlioglu was finished and 'he couldn't handle his behaviour anymore'. It was not in dispute at the trial that Hawi and Nazlioglu were no longer friends but the latter's barrister Avni Djemal said that was not a motive for murder. The Crown alleged after Nazlioglu shot Hawi through the driver's side window he had jumped into a grey Mercedes driven by Eljaidi. CCTV from a camera across the road from Fitness First Rockdale captured a gunman firing at Hawi as he sat in his Mercedes (above) then running to a waiting vehicle Both men allegedly left the scene then torched the Mercedes and escaped in a silver Toyota Aurion, which was found a month later at Roseberry. The court heard Nazlioglu and Eljaidi's genetic profiles were linked to DNA evidence found in the Toyota, where police also found gunshot residue on a balaclava. Both defendants denied during the month-long trial they were the men seen in CCTV running away from the scene of Hawi's murder. Alternative theories were offered for why Hawi was killed, including tensions between him and one of his successors as Comanchero president, Mark Buddle. Buddle has been living overseas since 2016 - two years before Hawi was murdered - and Hawi's widow told the court any disagreements the pair had were not 'bikie related'. Nazlioglu's barrister suggested Hawi had been extorting $500,000 from a property developer, which Ms Gonzalez also denied. Instead, the property developer had 'offered' the money. The man who shot Hawi and his getaway driver both left the scene in a Mercedes they soon torched (above) and escaped in a Toyota Aurion, which was found a month later at Roseberry After a week of deliberations the jury found Nazlioglu and Eljaidi not guilty of murder. The dead bikie's sister Zeinab Hawi shouted out that the acquitted men were 'motherf***ers'. 'F*** you both,' she screamed. 'F*** the Crown too, motherf***ing s*** prosecution.' Following Nazlioglu and Eljaidi's acquittals Ahmad Doudar's earlier guilty plea could be reported, along with what Hawi's widow said in a victim impact statement. 'A bunch of cowards... decided to play God, and what did you achieve? What satisfaction did you get from doing this?' Ms Gonzales had asked. 'There will come a day, Ahmad, when you will stand before the ultimate judge, and you will not be able to make a deal nor plead with anyone to save yourself. 'You will be held to account for your actions... your punishment will be eternal and divine.' Justice Robert Hulme relied on an agreed set of facts signed by Doudar - who was not called to give evidence against Nazlioglu or Eljaidi at their trial - when sentencing him for disposing of the getaway car. After a week of deliberations the jury found Nazlioglu and Eljaidi not guilty. The dead bikie's sister Zeinab Hawi shouted out that the acquitted men were 'motherf***ers'. A mourner is pictured holding a picture of Hawi on the day of his funeral 'Mr Doudar knew that the vehicle was used by Nazlioglu as a getaway car,' Judge Hulme said, and 'assisted in the disposal of the car to help Nazlioglu evade justice'. 'The murder itself was horrifying, it was a dangerous and public execution and Mr Doudar knew this. 'Mr Doudar was well aware the murder was well planned by his associates his morality was no better than the principal offenders and others involved.' Justice Hulme said Doudar shared Nazlioglu 'arrogant and immoral belief' that he was entitled to take the life of another man. 'He knew that his friend Yusuf Nazlioglu was the brazen and brutal executioner,' he said. Nazlioglu subsequently pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of possessing a firearm and was jailed for three years. He was released in September last year. Nazlioglu (above) pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of possessing a firearm and was jailed for three years. He was released in September last year While in custody at Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in 2020, Nazlioglu was secretly recorded talking to another prisoner about his likely fate. 'I used to hear people outside were going to knock me, yeah?' he said. 'I used to still leave my house, brother, knowing that one day someone's going to sneak up on me and put one in my head. 'But I still f***ing went to the same hairdresser, went to the same f***ing restaurants, yeah. 'I still showed my face in front yard and hung out with boys at their porches at their houses, yeah knowing I'm gonna get knocked one day.' Two years later that day has come in a hail of bullets near another black Mercedes. The mother of Helen McCourt has described the death of her daughter's killer two years after he was released from prison as a 'great relief'. Marie McCourt has said she now hopes that someone connected to murderer Ian Simms will come forward and reveal where he hid her daughter's body after she vanished in Merseyside in 1988. The insurance clerk was walking home from work in Billinge, Merseyside, when Simms, a pub landlord, murdered the 22-year-old. Simms, 65, a former pub landlord, died last week in 'supervised' accommodation and it's understood no cause of death has yet been given. Mrs McCourt from St Helens in Merseyside, told the Mirror: 'It's a great relief knowing that this man is at last wiped off this earth. 'He's got what he deserved. I'm hoping now maybe he spoke to somebody in prison or maybe one of his friends or family who were perhaps too scared to come forward when he was alive, will do so now.' It comes after years of campaigning by Mrs McCourt for legislation dubbed Helen's Law - supported by the Mail - to force the Parole Board to consider a killer's failure to reveal where their victim's body is before release. She was not able to take advantage of the law and lived in fear when he was released from prison with a tag on in 2020. Marie McCourt, the mother of Helen McCourt (pictured, victim), has said she now hopes that someone connected to murderer Ian Simms will come forward and reveal where he hid her body following his death Reports have said Ian Simms (pictured in August 2014) died last week and it's understood no cause of death has yet been given Mrs McCourt (pictured), from St Helens in Merseyside, said: 'It's a great relief knowing that this man is at last wiped off this earth' WHAT IS HELEN'S LAW? Marie McCourt wants Britain to adopt 'Helen's Law' legislation which would prevent the release of killers who have hidden the locations of their victims' bodies. She writes on change.org: If parole is granted, my hopes of finding my daughter may never be realised. No other family should live this ordeal. I, hereby, petition the Prime Minister Theresa May and Home Secretary Amber Rudd to acknowledge the pain and distress caused to the families of missing murder victims by: Denying parole to murderers for as long as they refuse to disclose the whereabouts of their victim's remains Passing a full life tariff (denying parole or release) until the murderer discloses the location (and enables the recovery) of their victim's remains Automatically applying the following rarely-used common law offences in murder trials without a body*; preventing the burial of a corpse and conspiracy to prevent the burial of a corpse, disposing of a corpse, obstructing a coroner (*as in the case of R v Hunter, 1974 (from Archbold, Criminal Pleading Evidence and Practice 2015) Advertisement Simms was married, 31, and a father of two when he ran the George and Dragon pub before Helen from Bootle vanished on her way home from work in 1988 and whose body has never been found. He was handed a life sentence in 1989 after being convicted by a jury on overwhelming DNA evidence of Ms McCourt's abduction and murder. Since his conviction in 1989, Simms has shown no remorse and steadfastly refused to reveal what he had done with the insurance clerk's remains. Marie McCourt said Simms died on Friday and she was told yesterday during the day and it was later confirmed by the Ministry of Justice. She said last night: 'I just pray now that somebody may have some details of where he said he had done it. 'It breaks my heart but not just mine but all families who've had loved ones taken. 'It's hard to lose a child through illness, it's worse when someone deliberately takes her life.' After his release Simms could not come in a 50 mile radius of where she lives but Mrs McCourt would have 'sleepless nights' worrying about him 'sneaking' up to where she lives. The 78-year-old also spoke about how she searches an area of the North West which also has a similar clay to what was found in Simms' car and on his jeans and boots. And Mrs McCourt added she will continue to search for her daughter's body. Simms was told he would serve at least 16 years and one day behind bars. He was eligible to be considered for release in February 2004. Mrs McCourt previously said she was 'in shock' at the decision to consider Simms' release. The summary of the Parole Board's original ruling said Simms was deemed suitable for release due to factors including the 'considerable change in his behaviour'. The decision to release him was subject to a number of conditions including residing at a designated address, having to wear a tagging device to monitor his whereabouts, observe a curfew and avoid any contact with the family of his victim. In the meantime, Simms was given a parole hearing and judges agreed he could go free. They claimed that Simms was low risk, despite agreeing he would probably never reveal what he had done with Miss McCourt's remains because during his three decades inside he has convinced himself he is innocent. Marie McCourt holding a photo portrait of her murdered 22-year-old daughter, Helen Ian Simms leaves The George and Dragon pub in Billinge under police guard after Helen's disappearance in 1988 Ian Simms at St Helen's Magistrates Court. The murderer who has refused for more than 30 years to disclose what he did with his victim's body was allowed out of jail on temporary release Mrs McCourt said the Parole Board's logic was flawed and its argument proved Simms was a 'psychopath'. She also cited a menacing letter he wrote to her from jail in 1991, in which he threatened her family and vowed 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,' and to get 'justice' for himself once released. In September 2020 two judges ruled against her after considering Mrs McCourt's judicial review application at a virtual High Court in July, saying that the Parole Board's decision 'involved no arguable public law error'. The case is a rare example where a murder conviction has been obtained without the presence of a body, and was one of the first in the UK to use DNA fingerprinting. In a written ruling, the judges said: 'The panel were acutely aware of the sensitivities in this case and adopted a careful and balanced approach both to the procedure to be adopted and to the assessment of Simms' current risk.' Tom Little QC, representing Mrs McCourt, told the court that this decision was 'unreasonable' and had asked the judges to quash it. 'He must have known, and still knows, the location of Helen's body. Despite this, he has refused to disclose this for over three decades,' he said at the time. Mrs McCourt's campaigning following her daughter's death led to the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act, dubbed Helen's Law, being enacted in 2021. The law makes it harder for killers and paedophiles who hold back information on their victims to receive parole. Under the legislation, killers could still be released if no longer deemed a risk to the public even if they refuse to disclose information. Advertisement Ghislaine Maxwell, 60, will be sentenced today after being convicted of sex trafficking in December Ghislaine Maxwell finally turned on Jeffrey Epstein and apologized to her victims as she spoke out minutes before being sentenced to 20 years in prison. 'Your honor, it is hard for me to address the court after listening to the pain and anguish expressed today,' Maxwell said in a blue prison uniform with her ankles shackled. 'The terrible impact on the lives of so many women is difficult to hear and even more difficult to absorb in its scale and extent. I want to acknowledge their suffering. I empathize deeply with all of the victims in this case. 'I acknowledge with that I have been a victim of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes.' 'I realize I have been convicted of assisting Jeffrey Epstein to commit these crimes. My association with Epstein will permanently stain me. It is the biggest regret of my life that I ever met him.' She added that Epstein 'fooled all of those in his orbit.' 'His victims considered him a mentor, friend, lover. Jeffrey Epstein should have stood before you. In 2005. In 2009. And again in 2019. But today it is for me to be sentenced. Turning to her victims, she said, 'I'm sorry for the pain that you have experienced. I hope this brings the women who have suffered some measure of peace and faintly to help you put those experiences of so many years ago in a place that allows you to look forward and not back.' Maxwell spoke after the judge determined the guidelines dictate she serve just 15.6 years to 19.5 years - not the expected 55-year maximum. In a big win for Maxwell's defense, Judge Alison Nathan ruled to use sentencing guidelines from 2003 - the year Maxwell's last offense took place. In 2004, sentencing guidelines were raised, which could have seen Maxwell facing a maximum of 55 years. Prosecutors had asked Judge Nathan to impose a sentence of at least 30 years because of Maxwell's 'utter lack of remorse.' Maxwell claimed she should serve just four years as she is not a danger to the public. Assistant US attorney Alison More told the judge, 'The 2003 guidelines were inadequate. Consider the sophistication of her predatory conduct. We ask the court to send a message no one is above the law.' 'This is one of the rare cases for an above Guidelines sentence.' The judge who will hand down Ghislaine Maxwell's sentence has determined the guidelines dictate she serve just 15.6 years to 19.5 years - not the expected 55-year maximum Ghislaine Maxwell will be sentenced today after being convicted of sex trafficking in December. The sentencing marks the end of a decades-long fight for justice by victims of Maxwell and Epstein In a big win for Maxwell's defense, Judge Alison Nathan ruled to use sentencing guidelines from 2003 - the year Maxwell's last offense took place. In 2004, sentencing guidelines were raised, which could have seen Maxwell facing a maximum of 55 years. But the judge ruled to now lower the maximum to 235 months - or 19.5 years The shocking ruling came as one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims detailed her two suicide attempts when the trauma from the sexual abuse, enabled by Maxwell, became so unbearable. Sarah Ransome was in court Tuesday for Maxwell's sentencing where she claimed in her victim impact statement, 'I was nothing more than a sex toy with a heartbeat and soul used to entertain Epstein, Maxwell and others.' She then shared photos of herself in a hospital bed after she tried to kill herself - one from 2008 and another in 2018 when Epstein was under investigation. Ransome also spoke outside of the courthouse, and said, 'Ghislaine must die in prison. I've been in hell and back for the past 17 years.' The sentencing will mark the end of a decades-long fight for justice by victims of Maxwell and Epstein. Ransome said in her victim statement, 'On one visit to the island, the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation ensued me to try to escape by jumping off a cliff into shark-infested waters. I was caught by Maxwell and company moments before jumping. At the time, that extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time,' she said. 'Maxwell is today the same woman I met almost 20 years ago - incapable of compassion or common human decency,' she added. 'Sentencing her to the rest of her life in prison will not change her, but it will give survivors a slight sense of justice.' Victims Annie Farmer, Elizabeth Stein and the woman known only as 'Kate' also read their testimony in person and faced down Maxwell. Farmer asked the judge to take into account the ongoing suffering of the victims when decided on a sentence for Maxwell. 'Judge Nathan, I hope when you consider the appropriate prison sentence for the role Maxwell played in this sex-trafficking operation, you take into account the ongoing suffering of the many women she abused and exploited as we will continue to live with the memories of the ways she harmed us,' Farmer said. 'I hope you weigh the systemic effects of the crimes she perpetrated -- the ways that our family members, romantic partners and friends have been hurt through our suffering. 'I ask you to bear in mind how Maxwell's unwillingness to acknowledge her crimes, her lack of remorse, and her repeated lies about her victims created the need for many of us to engage in a long fight for justice that has felt like a black hole sucking in our precious time, energy, and well-being for much too long now. 'These things cannot be replaced.' Sarah Ransome was in court Tuesday for Ghislaine Maxwell's sentencing where she claimed in her victim impact statement, 'I was nothing more than a sex toy with a heartbeat and soul used to entertain Epstein, Maxwell and others.' Victim Elizabeth Stein (left) read her victim statement to the court Ransome shared photos of herself in a hospital bed after she tried to kill herself - one from 2008 and another in 2018 when Epstein was under investigation 'On one visit to the island, the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation ensued me to try to escape by jumping off a cliff into shark-infested waters. I was caught by Maxwell and company moments before jumping,' Ransome said. 'At the time, that extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time' Victims Sarah Ransome (right) and Elizabeth Stein (left) showed up to court Tuesday morning for Maxwell's sentencing Annie Farmer (left) was seen arriving to the Manhattan courthouse Tuesday morning flanked by her lawyer Kate said that women 'must take a stand of zero tolerance to those who use their power to groom and traffic the vulnerable.' 'Every single child must have their innocence defended,' Kate says. 'No person should be shielded from the consequences of their actions.' 'Maxwell's lack of remorse and her blatant refusal to take responsibility is her final insult. She is not sorry and she will do it again. 'Today is not a happy day. I take no pleasure in being part of a world where this is necessary. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave women and to do what is necessary to stop Ghislaine.' Elizabeth 'Liz' Stein told the court that the things that happened to her at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were 'so traumatizing that to this day I am unable to speak about them.' 'I don't even have the vocabulary to describe them. In the most literal sense of the word Epstein and Maxwell terrified me.' But she did reveal she had to have an abortion after getting raped 'countless times.' Virginia Roberts was not in court, but her lawyer Sigrid McCawley read her statement. 'Ghislaine, 22 years ago, in the summer of 2000, you spotted me at the Mar-a-Lago Hotel in Florida, and you made a choice,' McCawley reads from Giuffre's statement. 'You chose to follow me and procure me for Jeffrey Epstein. Just hours later, you and he abused me together for the first time. Together, you damaged me physically, mentally, sexually and emotionally. Together, you did unthinkable things that still have a corrosive impact on me to this day.' 'When you did that, Ghislaine, you changed the course of our lives forever,' she wrote. Ghislaine's sister and brother, Isabel and Kevin Maxwell, showed up to court to support their sister at her sentencing Tuesday 'Rogue' juror Scotty David is seen waiting on line to go into Manhattan Federal court for Maxwell's sentencing. David was a juror in her trial and lied about his history of sexual abuse Judge Nathan overruled several objections Maxwell's lawyers made over the pre-sentence report in court on Tuesday. The lawyers objected to multiple claims in the report that involve details of payments, sex acts and recruitment tactics. Judge Nathan said the testimony given during the trial validates the claims in the report. After Epstein hanged himself while awaiting trial in 2019, their attention turned to Maxwell who was arrested a year later and found guilty in December following her sensational trial. She has said she will appeal her conviction and claims that she is being made a 'scapegoat' for Epstein. It is unclear if Maxwell will speak herself but during the trial and earlier hearings she has only uttered a few words when given the chance. Four women gave evidence against Maxwell during her trial: a victim known as 'Jane', Annie Farmer, Kate and another woman called Carolyn. Over three weeks, the jury heard how Maxwell 'served up' underage girls for Epstein and relished her role as the 'Lady of the House' at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Between 1994 and 2004 Maxwell was Epstein's 'right hand' and paid $200 for sexualized massages or even took part in the abuse. The victims, some as young as 14, were given a similar amount of money if they brought friends to Epstein, the jury was told. During the trial, prosecutors called 24 witnesses to give jurors a picture of life inside Epstein's homes - a subject of public fascination and speculation ever since his 2006 arrest in Florida in a child sex case. A housekeeper testified he was expected to be 'blind, deaf and dumb' about the private lives of Epstein, a financier who cultivated friendships with influential politicians and business tycoons. Pilots took the witness stand and dropped the names of luminaries - Britain's Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump - who flew on Epstein's private jets. Jurors saw physical evidence like a folding massage table once used by Epstein and a 'black book' that listed contact information for some of the victims under the heading 'massages'. There were bank records showing he had transferred $30.7 million to Maxwell. The woman known only as 'Kate' read her testimony in person and faced down Maxwell Four women gave evidence against Maxwell during her trial: a victim known as 'Jane' (left) , Annie Farmer, Kate and another woman called Carolyn (right) Jurors saw physical evidence like a folding massage table once used by Epstein and a 'black book' that listed contact information for some of the victims under the heading 'massages' Prosecutors produced a 58-page household manual covering every single aspect of running the house in Palm Beach that they indicated Maxwell had written. There were dozens of checklists for each area of the house, instructions on when to replace the toothpaste and what brands of creams to buy. One instruction to all household staff that was seized on by the prosecution read: 'You see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing'. But the core of the prosecution was the testimony of four women who said they were victimized by Maxwell and Epstein at tender ages. Three testified using first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, a former model from Great Britain; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Farmer, who chose to use her real name after being vocal about her allegations in recent years. The most gut wrenching was Carolyn who testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epstein's Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to give massages in exchange for $100 bills. Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. The couple appeared to vacation to a cold destination. Seen together with warm coats and large fur hats in an undated photo submitted into evidence during the trial The couple appear in one photo in what appears to be a European city. Ghislaine is seen kissing Jeffrey on the cheek. Many have testified that they believed Epstein and Ghislaine were boyfriend and girlfriend The pair are seen sitting in the grass with a dog in this undated photo submitted into evidence by the government Jane said in 1994, when she was only 14, she was instructed to follow Epstein into a pool house at the Palm Beach estate, where he masturbated on her. Jane told the jury: 'I was frozen in fear', adding that the assault was the first time she had ever seen a penis. She also directly accused Maxwell of participating in her abuse. Maxwell's lawyer asked Jane why it had taken so long to come forward. She responded: 'I was scared. I was embarrassed, ashamed. I didn't want anybody to know any of this about me'. Kate said she was recruited by Maxwell in London in 1994 when she was 17 and described in vivid detail how she invited her round for tea and then asked her back to give Epstein a massage. In chilling testimony Kate described how Maxwell closed the door behind her as a naked Epstein lay on a massage table in front of her. After one such encounter Maxwell told her: 'Did you have fun? Was it good?' Farmer described how she was lured to Epstein's ranch in New Mexico at the age of 16 with the promise there would be dozens of other bright students that he wanted to help. Instead it was just her and Maxwell proceeded to massage her breasts before Epstein got into bed with her. Summing up her experience, Farmer said: 'I think this was all a pattern of them working on confusing my boundaries and malign me question myself about what was right and what was not right with the ultimate goal of sexually abusing me'. Jurors deliberated for five full days before finding Maxwell guilty of five of six counts. In court Maxwell often hugged her lawyers appeared in good health despite claims from her lawyers she had been losing weight and losing hair due to the grim conditions in prison pre-trial. She declined to testify, telling the court: 'You honor, the government has not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt so there is no reason to testify'. Maxwell's fall from grace is all the more astonishing given her background as a wealthy socialite and the daughter of Robert Maxwell, the late newspaper tycoon who fell off his yacht in the Canary Islands in 1991 in mysterious circumstances. Four of Maxwell's siblings - Kevin, Christine, Isabel and Ian and - are seen arriving to court to support their sister during her trial in December Ghislaine was Robert Maxwell's youngest child, born on Christmas Day 1961 She's pictured with her father in 1984 Her lawyers tried to argue that Robert Maxwell's abusive behavior around his children made Maxwell 'vulnerable' when she met Epstein around the time of her father's death. Prosecutors asked Judge Alison Nathan to impose a sentence of at least 30 years because of Maxwell's 'utter lack of remorse,' while Maxwell claimed she should serve just four years as she is not a danger to the public She appears to have replaced one controlling, manipulative father with a nearly identical man - Epstein - who she dated before becoming the boss of his sex trafficking organization. The true number of Epstein's victims may never be known but the fund set up to pay compensation to them paid out $121million to 150 women around the world. Most of the victim impact statements were released ahead of sentencing and they were blistering in their condemnation of Maxwell. They included Virginia Roberts, who earlier this year settled a lawsuit with Prince Andrew for a reported $12m over claims that she was forced to have sex with him three times when she was 17. According to Roberts, Maxwell recruited her when she was 16 at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. In her victim impact statement reads that Maxwell and Epstein did 'unthinkable things' to her. The statement says: 'Without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible pedophile. 'But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it. 'Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell. You deserve to be trapped in a cage forever, just like you trapped your victims.' Among Maxwell's former high-powered ties include Prince Andrew. The infamous photograph of Prince Andrew (left) with Virginia Roberts (center) in front of Ghislaine Maxwell (right), early 2001 Maxwell, Naomi Campbell, Donald Trump and Melania Knauss in November 2002 at a Dolce and Gabbana show in New York In 2010 Maxwell attended the wedding of Clinton's daughter Chelsea in Rhinebeck, upstate New York And image shows Jeffrey Epstein and his 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell holding a private audience with John Paul II at the Vatican during his blessing almost 20 years ago Ghislaine studied history at the University of Oxford in the early 1980s where she began building connections of her own, including Prince Andrew, who would later invite her and Epstein to Windsor Castle and Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth's country estate Farmer's victim impact statement reads: 'I remember sitting at my desk in a Houston hospital physically shaking after seeing the photo of Maxwell with Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew because it became clear to me how their scheme had continued'. Sarah Ransome, a former model from South Africa who grew up in Scotland, said that Maxwell and Epstein turned her into 'nothing more than a sex toy with a heartbeat'. While trying to escape from Epstein's private island in the Caribbean she tried to jump off a cliff but was found by Maxwell before she could. Ransome wrote: 'Maxwell was his right hand woman. She was the Five Star General of several recruiters and many others who provided the means and cover for Epstein's predation. 'Epstein and Maxwell were masters at finding young, vulnerable girls and young women to exploit. Like Hotel California, you could blindly check into the Epstein-Maxwell dungeon of sexual hell but you could never leave. Jeffrey and Ghislaine made sure of that'. The sentencing was delayed after Maxwell's lawyers raised questions over comments by one of her jurors, Scotty David. He said that he did not disclose his past history of sexual abuse when filing out his jury questionnaire. David was recalled to the court by judge Nathan for a hearing where she interrogated him and later ruled his nondisclosure had been an unintentional error. Maxwell's family have been unequivocal in their support of her and have refused to believe she is guilty. In a recent newspaper column her brother Ian said that Maxwell, who is a French citizen, should have fled to France when Epstein was arrested in 2019 rather than stay in the US. Maxwell only did so because she 'had a clear conscience' but her decision meant that she fell victim to a 'lynch mob'. GHISLAINE MAXWELL AND JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S BRAVE VICTIMS WHO SPOKE OUT ABOUT ABUSE With enormous courage, two British victims of Ghislaine Maxwell attended court to speak in harrowing detail about their horrific ordeals at the hands of the child sex predator and the mental torment they still suffer. A British woman who testified under the name 'Kate', and Sarah Ransome who was not included in the indictment at Maxwell's trial late last year penned victim impact statements which spelt out in graphic detail how their lives had been destroyed by the fallen socialite. They made a point of turning up at the courthouse in New York and reading out extracts of their impact statements in person before the judge jailed Maxwell for 20 years for recruiting girls for herself and her former boyfriend, the pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, to molest. The British victims were among four Maxwell survivors who wanted to come face-to-face with the Oxford-educated sex trafficker and tell the world how her crimes had affected them. Ransome even provided the court with shocking images of her in hospital following a failed suicide attempt, after she struggled to come to terms with the abuse she had suffered at the hands of Maxwell. An impact statement from Prince Andrew's teen accuser Virginia Roberts, now known by her married name Giuffre and who was unable to attend court due to a 'medical issue', was read out by her lawyer. Sarah Ransome Miss Ransome, 37, whose father is Scottish Lord Macpherson, said she was raped up to three times a day during months imprisoned on Epstein's private Caribbean island, having been tricked by Maxwell into his sordid web of abuse. She said in her impact statement: 'I became nothing more than a human sex toy with a heartbeat and soul for the entertainment of Epstein, Maxwell and others. On one visit to [Epstein's private island], the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation became so horrific that I tried to escape by attempting to jump off a cliff into shark-infested waters. 'They pounced, ensnaring us in their upside-down, twisted world of rape, rape and more rape. Like Hotel California, you could check into the Epstein-Maxwell dungeon of sexual hell, but you could never leave. Ghislaine by her own hand, forced me into Epstein's room to be raped.' 'I have never married and do not have children, something I always wished for, even as a little girl. 'I have attempted suicide twice since the abuse both near fatal.' Elizabeth Stein Preyed on by Maxwell after moving to New York aged 18 in 1991, with the ambition of working in the fashion industry, Miss Stein said she was first abused by the British socialite and Epstein at a hotel on the very first day she met Ghislaine. 'That night in the hotel was the first of many times they sexually assaulted me,' she said. 'Afterwards, I tried to pretend everything was normal...' Miss Stein said she was 'assaulted, raped and trafficked countless times' during a three-year period after Epstein who died in prison in 2019 and Maxwell lured her into their sex trafficking ring by 'seizing upon her vulnerability'. She had to have an abortion after getting pregnant by one of the 'countless' men who raped her while she was being trafficked to their friends. 'Things happened that were so traumatizing that to this day I'm unable to speak about them; I don't even have the vocabulary to describe them. 'In the most literal sense of the word, Epstein and Maxwell terrified me. They told me that if I told anyone, nobody would believe me and if they did, they would kill me and the people closest to me. After meeting Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, it felt like someone shut off the lights to my soul.' Annie Farmer The fourth and final accuser in Maxwell's trial told jurors how the privately-educated predator gave her a nude massage and groped her as a teen at Epstein's New Mexico ranch. 'One of the most painful and ongoing impacts of Maxwell and Epstein's abuse was a loss of trust in myself, my perceptions, and my instincts,' she said. 'When predators groom and then abuse or exploit children and other vulnerable people, they are, in a sense, training them to distrust themselves. When a boundary is crossed or an expectation violated, you tell yourself, 'Someone who cares enough about me to do all these nice things surely wouldn't also be trying to harm me. 'This pattern of thinking is insidious, so these seeds of self-doubt took root even as I learned my sister [Maria] had also been harmed by them, and came to find out years later that many others had been exploited. 'For years these memories triggered significant self-recrimination, minimization and guilt. 'I blamed myself for believing these predators actually wanted to help me. I felt tremendous survivor guilt when I heard what other girls and young women had experienced at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein. 'I remember sitting at my desk physically shaking after seeing the photo of Maxwell with Virginia [Roberts] and Prince Andrew, because it became clear to me how their scheme had continued. 'Maxwell had many opportunities to come clean, but instead continued to make choices that caused more harm. When my sister and I first spoke out to the media about what happened to us, Maxwell lied about us and threatened Maria, thus helping shut down investigations into Epstein's behaviour so they could together continue to harm children and young women.' Virginia Roberts Prince Andrew's teen sex accuser, Miss Roberts now based in Australia is the most famous Epstein victim of them all. Although she did not give evidence at Maxwell's trial, the jury found Miss Roberts was one of her sex trafficking victims. In her impact statement, the American vowed to Maxwell: 'If you ever get out of prison, I will be here, watching you, making sure you never hurt anyone else again.' She also told her: 'Without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. 'For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. 'And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it. You could have put an end to the rapes, the molestations, the sickening manipulations that you arranged, witnessed and even took part in. 'Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell. You deserve to be trapped in a cage forever, just like you trapped your victims.' 'Kate' When British victim 'Kate' was a lonely teenager in 1994, Maxwell dressed her as a schoolgirl for sex with Epstein and branded her a 'good girl'. She said: 'The many acts that were perpetrated on me by Epstein including rape, strangulation and sexual assault would have never occurred had it not been for the cunning and premeditated role Ghislaine Maxwell played. What happened to me at that young age changed the course of my life drastically, forever. 'I witnessed on numerous occasions, over many years, Ghislaine Maxwell trying to recruit other girls and making consistent and insistent demands on me and others to do the same. 'There was never any ambiguity or doubt about her having full knowledge of what was to take place once she recruited girls.' In the years following the abuse, she struggled with drug addiction, panic attacks and night terrors, and she told of feeling 'unable to trust my own instincts in choosing romantic relationships'. Kate said testifying in the trial had been 'both terrifying and re-traumatizing' but added: 'I do not, however, regret it for one moment.' Advertisement Ian Maxwell wrote: 'I know that Ghislaine is innocent and that she would never have been found guilty in any civilized country'. A concerning number of 'pandemic babies' with no immunity to respiratory viruses are ending up seriously ill in ICU. Doctors have revealed children born during the Covid-19 pandemic are requiring intensive care 'from encountering viruses they haven't come across before', such as influenza, RSV and Covid. The children had been born and raised when there were virtually no other viruses circulating in Australia, other than Covid-19. The Children's Hospital at Westmead infectious diseases paediatrician Dr Philip Britton said an analysis of ICU admissions across shows babies are testing positive for influenza and Covid at the same time. 'Over the last month or so, we have seen four times the admissions to hospital for flu in children as for Covid,' Dr Britton told The Daily Telegraph. Infectious diseases paediatrician Dr Philip Britton said an analysis of ICU admissions across shows babies are testing positive for influenza and Covid at the same time Dr Britton said five per cent of the children presenting with co-infections were being admitted to ICU, a statistic he described as 'very concerning'. About half of the children had no pre-existing health conditions, with the elevated number of admissions putting pressure on the hospital system. Some of the 'pandemic babies' are presenting with inflammation of the chest, brain and heart caused by influenza, Covid, and RSV. RSV - respiratory syncytial virus - is a major cause of lung infections in children and can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, which is particularly dangerous in young infants. Severe cases can kill babies and toddlers, whose tiny airways have not yet fully formed and who struggle to cope with the infection. 'Among that group who are previously well It's not just a chest infection, some of these children can be impacted with the flu affecting the heart and the brain,' Dr Britton told The Daily Telegraph. Some of the 'pandemic babies' are presenting with inflammation of the chest, brain and heart caused by influenza, Covid, and RSV. A warning was sounded about RSV three weeks ago when there were just 355 cases a week in NSW, but three weeks later that has rocketed up to 3,775 in a week. Around a fifth of those developed the potentially lethal bronchiolitis, with 40 per cent of them ending up in hospital. Infectious disease researcher Dr John-Sebastian Eden said the triple whammy of RSV, flu and Covid was packing out the emergency department of Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital. 'There is a widespread three-way outbreak occurring,' he told Daily Mail Australia. International borders opening up has seen flu come back and new strains of RSV. 'With Covid layered up on top, these are three main viruses which will lead to hospitalisation.' Potentially lethal respiratory syncytial virus which attacks kids and has no vaccine has exploded in NSW with cases increasing tenfold in just three weeks During Covid, RSV continued to spread and split into two separate strains in the east and west of the country in the wake of Western Australia's prolonged isolation. Infectious disease researcher Dr John-Sebastian Eden said the triple whammy of RSV, flu and Covid was packing out the emergency department of Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital Researchers were shocked by the sudden rise of the disease in the first year of lockdowns, fuelled by keeping childcare centres open despite Covid restrictions. 'It was something we had never seen before,' said Dr Eden. 'Even in lockdown there was a lot of effort to keep childcare open. 'You only need a small amount of virus to build up a chain of transmission.' The disease subsided in 2021, but has now bounced back with the current outbreak. Dr Eden believes cases in NSW have yet to reach their peak, but is now braced for the outbreak to spread nationwide. He expects the disease to spread across the southern half of the country at similar levels in the coming weeks. 'What happens is where you have an outbreak in NSW and we've got all those people travelling to other states from there, it then feeds outbreaks in other parts,' he said. The disease subsided in 2021, but has now bounced back with the current outbreak. Voters in seven states are taking to the polls Tuesday in races that will test Trump-backed candidates, a pro-abortion Republican and the popularity of New York's new Gov. Kathy Hochul. The Supreme Court's overturning Roe v. Wade will add a new element to Tuesday's races, playing out across New York, Colorado, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah. Here's what to watch: New York New York's primaries were supposed to be even more contentious, but its U.S. House primaries were postponed until Aug. 23 after a court struck down the state's first draft of a redistricting map. Hochul, who was launched into the executive seat upon the resignation of disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is trying to hold onto her job amid challenges from Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate Democratic congressman from Long Island, and Jumaane Williams, a progressive public advocate from New York City. Suozzi, running to Hochul's right, has suggested that the governor is not tough enough on crime, suggesting she should have gone further to restrict the state's bail law. Gov. Hochul, who was launched into the executive seat upon the resignation of disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is trying to hold onto her job amid challenges On the Republican side, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's son Andrew is facing off against GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin Williams, running to Hochul's left, has said that she is not taking enough progressive action, accusing her of being 'consistently shamefully out of the loop.' On the Republican side, Rep. Lee Zeldin is the frontrunner in a race with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's son Andrew Giuliani, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and businessman Harry Wilson. Former Vice President Mike Pence has endorsed Zeldin, but former President Trump has stayed out of the race. Utah GOP incumbent Sen. Mike Lee, one of former President Trump's close allies, will be forced to fend off attacks from two challengers about his ties to the former president in the moderate right-leaning state. Former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and political operative Ally Isom, both Republicans who did not vote for Trump in 2020, have accused Lee of being more concerned with TV appearances and Trump's favor than running the state. Both have highlighted Lee's post-election text messages sent to Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows, highlighting his involvement in the election fraud conspiracy that led to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Edwards, meanwhile, has said that she does not agree with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The primaries will test both the popularity of Edwards' pro-Roe stance in the largely Mormon state and Trump's political sway there. Oklahoma In the Sooner State Republican voters are picking nominees in both Senate races. A crowd of Republicans are running to replace GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe, including Trump's former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt, who resigned from the agency after a slew of ethics scandals. GOP Rep. Markwayne Mullin is favored to garner the most votes but the race will likely go into a runoff since no candidate is expected to garner more than 50 percent of the votes in the crowded field, which also includes Luke Holland, Inhofe's longtime chief of staff, and T.W. Shannon, the state legislature's first black House speaker. Illinois The Illinois GOP gubernatorial primary will test Trump's political sway in Darren Bailey, a Bible-toting, conservative farmer who scored Trump's endorsement last weekend. Facing off in the six-candidate field are also Richard Irvin, the first Black mayor of Illinois' second-largest suburb. Irvin scored $50 million from billionaire Ken Griffin but Democrats heavily targeted Irvin as they viewed Bailey as easier to defeat for Democratic incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker in November. The Illinois GOP gubernatorial primary will test Trump's political sway in Darren Bailey, a Bible-toting, conservative farmer who scored Trump's endorsement last weekend Democrats viewed Bailey as easier to defeat for Democratic incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker, above, in November There are two incumbent-on-incumbent races in Illinois - Trump-backed, first term Rep. Mary Miller will face off against Rep. Rodney Davis, a more moderate, five-term Republican. Miller made headlines over the weekend when she said that the Supreme Court's overturning Roe was a 'historic victory for white life.' A spokesperson said she misspoke and meant to say a 'historic victory for the right to life.' Two Democratic incuments - Rep. Marie Newman and Sean Casten, are vying for the same seat after a redistricting plan redrew Chicago's suburbs. While both candidates have very liberal records, Newman is positioning herself as the candidate further to the left in the race. She supports the Green New Deal and attacked Casten for voting for 'anti-choice' President George H.W. Bush by detailing her own experience getting an abortion in the 1980s. Rep. Mary Miller, above, will face off against Rep. Rodney Davis, a more moderate, five-term Republican. Colorado In Colorado two Republicans at opposite ends of the party are facing off in the Senate primary to take on Sen. Michael Bennet. GOP businessman Joe O'Dea has said he backs a federal ban on late-term abortions and federal funding of the procedure, but would leave the decision to terminate a pregnancy in the initial months 'between a person and their God.' O'Dea's top rival is state Rep. Ron Hanks, who opposes abortion in all cases and attended the Jan. 6 'Save America' rally before the Capitol riot. Bennet is uncontested on the Democratic side. Colorado's primaries will also test the star power of Rep. Lauren Boebert whose sprawling western Colorado district is even more heavily Republican after redistricting. GOP businessman Joe O'Dea has said he backs a federal ban on late-term abortions and federal funding of the procedure, but would leave the decision to terminate a pregnancy in the initial months 'between a person and their God' Mississippi Mississippi already had its primaries on June 7, but two Republicans were forced into a runoff after they failed to breach the 50 percent threshold. Rep. Steven Palazzo is seeking a seventh term and fighting off criticism after a 2021 congressional ethics report accused his office of misusing campaign funds, doing favors for his brother and using staff for political and personal errands. Palazzo is facing off against former sheriff Mike Ezell. Rep. Michael Guest is looking to win a third term, forced into primary after he voted to create an independent commission to investigate Jan. 6 and was criticized as disloyal to Trump. He'll face off against Michael Cassidy, a former Navy fighter pilot. South Carolina In the Palmetto State Democrats will pick who they would like to take on Republican Sen. Tim Scott come fall. Scott has said it will be his last term if he is reelected and has raised over $44 million in his endeavor. South Carolina state Rep. Krystle Matthews, Catherine Fleming Bruce, an author and preservationist, and Angela Geter, an Air Force veteran and former Spartanburg County Democrats chair will face off against each other. Scott is being touted as a 2024 contender for president and won both of his previous races with over 60 percent of the vote. He is running uncontested on the Republican side. A Vermont man was caught on camera wildly swinging an excavator near two state troopers who were arresting his son for burglary. Troopers Gabe Schrauf and Skylar Velasquez were seen on the dashcam grappling with Brandon Tallman, 24, before throwing him to the ground during the arrest outside a home in Hardwick, Vermont on June 14. Brandon's mother Amy, 48, then joined the melee before she too was arrested. All the while, a big, red excavator could be seen approaching the officers down the driveway, as they struggled to cuff the mother and son. The excavator, which police say was being driven by Brandon's father Wayne Tallman, 52, looms closer to the rabble and the machine's heavy metal shovel begins swinging. The officers then notice the machinery and one drew his gun and dodged the machine's shovel while the other restrained Amy and Brandon on the ground. Nobody was hurt in the incident and all the Tallmans were arrested. Wayne was charged with aggravated assault on a protected official, resisting arrest, impeding, and reckless endangerment. Amy was cited for impeding an officer, and Brandon Tallman, 24, was arrested on his original charge of aggravated assault and burglary. A Vermont man was caught on camera wildly swinging an excavator near two state troopers who were arresting his son for burglary Wayne Tallman, 52, and Amy Tallman, 48. Wayne was charged with aggravated assault on a protected official, resisting arrest, impeding, and reckless endangerment. Amy was cited for impeding an officer Brandon Tallman, 24. He was being arrested for aggravated assault and battery when his parents stepped in to try to stop it Officers had arrived at a house in Hardwick, Vermont, on June 14 to arrest Brandon in connection to an incident that had occurred a few days prior. 'It could have been, 'Sir, turn around, put your hands around your back, you're under arrest for an assault,' and they would have driven away,' Vermont State Police Captain Matt Daley said. Instead, Brandon's parents both desperately attempted to stop the officers from arresting him. Footage taken from the dashboard of a state trooper squad car showed a police SUV parked in the driveway of the house, with the red arm of an excavator looming in the background. Officers Schrauf and Velasquez are then seen grappling with Brandon down the driveway, as his mother chases after and grabs onto them. The officers wrestle Amy and Brandon to the ground, while in the background the excavator arm is seen lurching to life and moving towards the brawl. Wayne approaches in the excavator, and as he lifts its massive arm and shovel in the air Schrauf leaps back and draws a weapon from his belt. Wayne first approached the police in the excavator and held its shovel over their squad car. Amy and Brandon can be seen being held down by the officers on the right On the right, state trooper Gabe Schrauf can be seen seen pointing a weapon at Wayne inside the excavator's cab As Velasquez holds Brandon and Amy to the ground, Schrauf can be seen speaking to Wayne, and appears to be ordering him to lower the shovel or get down out of the excavator. Wayne continues to approach the officers, and can be seen arguing back at them from the machine's cab. Wayne pitches the shovel towards the roof over the squad car, then lifts it up and lowers it quickly at the officers. Velasquez ducks to avoid the blow, while Schrauf dodges aside and points his gun at Wayne. The video cuts off as Wayne swings the shovel back over the squad car. Daley commended Schrauf and Valesquez for their performance during the arrest. 'It was a dangerous situation that you were put in, and in the end, you came out on top, you affected the arrest, you guys both went home that night. That's the goal of why we went there,' he said. 'They don't have a scenario at the academy where we practice this one.' Hefty fines and substantial jail terms ushered in to deter protests are unlikely to stop climate activists grinding Sydney peak hour to a halt, a lawyer says. Environmentalists from Blockade Australia sparked commuter chaos across the city on Monday and Tuesday, with dozens of demonstrators marching through the CBD and blocked the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. The high-profile group's antics - which have included blocking coal ports, bridges, and fossil fuel terminals - prompted the NSW government to introduce tough anti-protest laws in April. Under the new penalties, protesters face a maximum penalty of two years' jail and $22,000 fines for disrupting traffic or preventing access on roads. Blockade Australia caused commuter chaos on Monday after a protester in a white hatchback blocked the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and locked herself to her steering wheel with a bike lock (pictured) But as the group forge ahead week-long 'mass disruptions' to traffic, Australian Lawyers Alliance national criminal justice spokesman Greg Barns SC has warned the sanctions will not curb protest activity. 'People who are engaging in protest generally are happy to take the risk of being jailed or fined large sums of money because they're motivated by the cause,' he told ABC News. 'You've got to ask the question: 'Why do you pass this legislation? Is it going to have a deterrent effect?' And the evidence seems to be that it won't have a deterrent effect.' Ten people were arrested during the 'unauthorised protests' on Monday, including one woman who chained herself to a car steering wheel with a bicycle lock in North Sydney. Another 12 arrests were made on Tuesday as Blockade Australia launched a second march through the CBD to Hyde Park. Police have said they will use the new laws to prosecute those charged and have vowed to be out in force through to July 2 to stamp out planned protest activity. The extreme environmentalists have planned a week-long 'mass disruption' of Sydney traffic (pictured, protesters blocking a car in Sydney on Monday) despite tough new anti-protest laws, which include a maximum of two years' jail and $22,000 fines Police knock a Blockade Australia protester to the ground in Sydney. The march was for tougher action to tackle the #ClimateCrisis pic.twitter.com/2ouo32ySNj Michael Dahlstrom (@mb_dahlstrom) June 27, 2022 One female protester was knocked to the ground by a police officer during Tuesday's demonstration New South Wales Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the delays caused by rallies, such as the one on Monday, potentially cost millions in lost productivity. He said the old laws that featured $400 fines were no deterrent and authorities need to give the new ones a go, as they will likely scare off a large portion of protesters. Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said that police would continue to maintain a highly visible presence. 'It is unacceptable that a small number of people - who have little to no regard for everyday individuals going about their lives, are causing unnecessary disruptions to their morning commute,' A/Assistant Commissioner Dunstan said. 'What these individuals are doing is both illegal and unsafe, putting the lives of themselves, the general public and our officers in danger by running on roadway and blocking roads by other means to disrupt traffic.' The arrested activists, seven of whom were refused bail, face multiple obstruction and disruption charges and will appear in court on Tuesday. Police Minister Paul Toole said it was infuriating. 'I'm furious. The public are furious,' he told the Nine Network on Tuesday. 'These are professional pests. 'These people say that they are out there trying to actually protect the climate but yesterday what they were doing was littering all over Sydney.' Blockade Australia spokesman Jonah Shabtay told AAP the protests were designed to demonstrate the effects of the collapse of the climate. '(The protests are) really for making it quite known and unavoidable that disruption is going to come from climate collapse, in which Sydney's economy is largely responsible,' he said. 'In order to respond to that we're choosing to disrupt the city.' Ten people were arrested on Monday after dozens of protesters stormed Sydney's centre demanding action for climate change (pictured) Mr Shabtay said the group had moved away from its previous tactic of targeting ports and was focusing on roads in Sydney's CBD. 'It's essentially going to be traffic disruptions that we'll see throughout the week.' Labor leader Chris Minns said it was not sustainable for the protesters to routinely bring Sydney to a standstill. 'We may have had women waiting to get to emergency departments, birthing centres to give birth to children, or (other) emergencies,' Mr Minns said on Monday. The opposition leader also noted the new federal Labor government had committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and had ambitious interim targets for 2030. A New York man dubbed the 'duck sauce killer' after allegedly killing his Chinese food delivery man has been released from jail Monday after he posted $500,000 bail. Glenn Hirsch, 51, from Queens, was arrested earlier this month and charged with murder and the criminal possession of a firearm in the deadly shooting of Zhiwen Yan, 45, on April 30. Hirsch's brother posted the $500,000 in a certified check earlier today, though attorney Michael Horn says that the money came from his client. Bail was set at $500,000 cash or $10million in secured bond or $15million in partially secured bond, according to the Queens Chronicle. He must stay in his Jamaica, Queens home 24 hours day, excluding an hour of exercise a day and allowing for visits to his lawyer, doctor and court. He must wear an ankle bracelet monitor at all times. His release conditions also stated he must stay away from The Great Wall - the Chinese restaurant he feuded with in the buildup to the shooting. On Monday, Queens Criminal Court Judge Kenneth Holder reminded him that the people would be watching. 'Apparently there are enough people around who just hate you that I'm sure they're going to take a picture of you if they see you in an area where you should not be and send it to the court,' Holder said. Glenn Hirsch, 51, from Queens, was arrested earlier this month and charged with murder and the criminal possession of a firearm in the deadly shooting of Zhiwen Yan, 45, on April 30. He is being forced to wear an ankle bracelet monitoring him and he's not allowed to leave his neighborhood in Jamaica, Queens and is, of course, not allowed to go anywhere near The Great Wall, the restaurant he feuded with in the buildup to the shooting 'Apparently there are enough people around who just hate you that I'm sure they're going to take a picture of you if they see you in an area where you should not be and send it to the court,' Queens Criminal Court Judge Kenneth Holder said Zhiwen Yan, 45, (right) in this undated image on the day of his wedding, was making a delivery on his scooter in the Forest Hills neighborhood Queens at around 9:30 pm on April 30, cops say, when he was fatally shot in the chest Hirsch is also banned from Grand Central Station, Penn Station, any PATH train station (all outlets that would allow him to leave New York City) and cannot go within a mile of any airport. Horn claimed to be happy with the result and maintained Hirsch's innocence. 'I'm happy with the way things worked, I thought the judge made a nice compromise about public safety versus the rights of an individual not convicted of a crime,' Horn said. 'Our position is that he's not the guy who did this, that that person is still out there,' he added. 'And we're going to try and find that person as much as anybody else.' Hirsch has nine prior arrests and while he has been in custody, a police search was conducted at the home of his wife, who he doesn't live with, during which eight guns were recovered. Over at Hirsch's Briarwood home, cops discovered his refrigerator packed with sweet and sour duck sauce. 'His whole refrigerator was filled with duck sauce,' a police source told the New York Daily News. 'And other condiments.' 'He's a hoarder. And when you open the refrigerator, it's like, condiments - there's duck sauce, soy sauce, ketchup.' The source suggested the piles of condiments at his apartment on 141st Street were all a part of what was going on in Hirsch's brain that may have lead him to kill. 'I guess in some pathology people like that take that stuff very seriously - you didn't give him enough duck sauce,' they said. Hirsch, who had nine prior arrests on his record, has pleaded not guilty. Hirsch has not yet been charged with a hate crime in the case, a source of contention for some of the protesters outside Queens Supreme Court Tuesday, June 7th Both Hirsch's mother and brother are pictured at Queens Supreme Court earlier this month Supporters of Zhiwen Yan, who was allegedly killed by Glenn Hirsch, 51, hold a demonstration outside Queens Supreme Court The marchers held signs suggesting police did a poor job at protecting Yan, as well as photos of the victim The marchers held signs suggesting police did a poor job at protecting Yan, as well as photos of the victim, as well as a sign that said: 'This was a HATE CRIME. Don't ignore that.' There were also protests against gun violence and anti-Asian discrimination. Yan, a father-of-three who moved to New York from more than two decades ago, was doing delivery-rounds on his scooter in Forest Hills, Queens, cops say, when he was blasted in the chest. The shooting saw Yan and Hirsch, who was believed to be driving an older model of a Lexus RX3 SV at the time, briefly exchange words at a traffic light before Yan was hit near 108th Street and 67th Drive, in what is usually a quiet and close-knit area. The altercation, police say, saw Yan and the suspect briefly exchange words before he was shot once in the chest near 108th Street and 67th Drive, in what is usually a quiet, close-knit community. Cops are pictured at the crime scene, looking over Yan's scooter A witness nearby later told investigators that Hirsch fled the scene. Police revealed they captured Hirsch on surveillance footage pacing around the restaurant for roughly an hour on the night of the shooting before following Yan. Hirsch's lawyer, Michael Horn, told DailyMail.com that a warrant was issued for his arrest after the grand jury's proceeding. However, he added that the Queens District Attorney's office 'decided not to honor my professional courtesy to bring [Hirsch] in whenever as possible, where's necessary and they basically broke down his door last night and forced their way to a scared man who doesn't know what's going on.' Yan, who worked seven days a week and held three jobs to support his family, had been working at the Great Wall restaurant for more than a decade prior to his death, 53-year-old employee Kai Yang told the New York Daily News. Hirsch was arrested 9 times between 1995 and 2012, but none of them are disclosed as they are sealed. One of the arrests is related to Hirsch committing a robbery with a gun, police sources told the Daily News. Horn said: 'They're not relevant. We know that accusations are meaningless without any judication... The District Attorney is taking what I consider to be a thin case and trying to put as much garnish as possible to make the sandwich look bigger.' Michael Horn, attorney for Glenn Hirsch, spoke to DailyMail.com outside court earlier in June A restaurant employee, Soi Chung, 70, told DailyMail.com that Hirsch had 'multiple' disputes with staff at the eatery and pulled a gun on staffers during one incident in January. Another incident last year saw the angry customer become peeved over the amount of duck sauce given to him in one of his orders, Chung told The New York Post, spurring a campaign of harassment, vandalism, and threats from the customer. The most brazen threat from the customer, Chung said, came earlier this year, when Hirsch menacingly waved a gun at the restaurant workers, spurring them to call 911. Restaurant owner Kai Yang told the Post that the angry customer was put to the ground by employees, which included Yan, shortly after he came inside with the firearm. Horn said on Thursday: 'If my client had an argument with the manager, then why is he having a fight or assaulted a delivery guy who everybody seems to like. There was no delivery.' Police say the incident transpired immediately after Yan - a father-of-three and Forest Hills resident who moved to New York from China more than two decades ago - had dropped off a delivery at a nearby address in the usually quiet residential neighborhood According to a colleague of Yan's at Great Wall restaurant, pictured, Hirsch had 'multiple' disputes with the Forest Hills eatery, and pulled a gun on staffers last January Meanwhile, Yan leaves behind a wife and three children, aged two, 12, and 14. 'This was a father of three children working three jobs - all food delivery,' Yan's nephew, who identified himself as Michael, said during a presser in April held outside the family's home in neighboring Middle Village. 'He came here in 2001,' the relative went on. 'He has been in this country over 20 years.' He added: 'It's unacceptable that this happened. This is a very peaceful community. This never happened, this kind of issue.' Despite Yan's colleagues' claims concerning Hirsch's threatening behavior, it is currently unclear if the delivery man was a specific target. A GoFundMe page was created by Kunying Zhao - Yan's wife. 'I'm starting a fundraiser for my husband because he passed away last night,' Zhao wrote on May 1. 'He was a hardworking delivery man and always provided for his family.' The page surpassed its initial goal of $100,000, raising $216,194 as of Thursday night. Liberal National Party senator Matt Canavan wants late-term abortions to be banned in Australia after the US rolled back abortion rights. All Australian jurisdictions apart from the ACT, Tasmania and WA allow elective abortions after 20 weeks. Senator Canavan, a Catholic who has four sons and a daughter, believes abortions beyond this time are 'barbaric' and should be banned except in rare circumstances. Liberal National Party senator Matt Canavan (pictured with his family) wants late-term abortions to be banned in Australia after the US rolled back abortion rights Although the science is contested, he subscribes to the view that beyond 20 weeks foetuses can feel pain and even try to avoid surgical equipment in the womb. 'The science has evolved massively where we now have these 3D ultra sounds and much more evidence about what happens to a baby,' he told Sky News on Tuesday morning. 'Past about 20 weeks the scientific consensus is that babies can feel pain. 'We can see and observe in late-term abortions that babies seek to avoid the instruments of the procedure. 'I think that has changed a lot of views.' Senator Canavan said Australia is 'isolated' in the world because only six other nations allow elective abortions after 20 weeks: Canada, China, the Netherlands, North Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. His list appears to be based on a 2014 report by the Charlotte Lozier Institute which was fact-checked as correct by the Washington Post in 2017. Lisa Turner,47, holds her daughter Lucy Kramer,14, during a candlelight vigil outside the United States Supreme Court in Washington to protest the overturning of Roe v Wade Abortion rights supporters protest after the United States Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v Wade decision on Friday Senator Canavan, who represents Queensland, also cited data provided to the Queensland Parliament by then health minister Cameron Dick in 2016 which revealed 200 babies had been born alive after abortions in the state since 2005. 'They are not the more common form of abortion but they do happen,' he said of late-term abortions. 'Our laws should surely reflect what we think is right or wrong not what we think is more common.' He said it was wrong for late-term abortions to occur 'except in the rarest and exceptional cases,' adding: That's not what our laws now maintain.' 'I don't think this issue of late-term abortions had enough conversation when those laws were changed.' In a tweet, he called late-term abortions 'barbaric' and said they would be outlawed. In a discussion about NSW abortion law in 2019, Opposition leader Peter Dutton said he backs abortion but believes 22 weeks 'is too late'. Senator Canavan said Australia is 'isolated' in the world because only six other nations allow elective abortions after 20 weeks 'It's a matter ultimately for the mother but 22 weeks is too late,' he said. 'I mean if you Google an image of a 22-week-old foetus I think it's a very difficult circumstance for women obviously in any of those situations but that's the most contentious element of the NSW debate and I wouldn't vote for it on that basis.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he supported NSW's law to allow abortions up to 22 weeks and with two doctors' approval after that. 'I think women do have a right to choose,' he said. On Friday the United States Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling which gave women the constitutional right to an abortion. The move allowed conservative states to immediately ban or limit abortions and sparked mass protests across the nation. Australians heading to Europe from next year will need to fill out an application online under a new visa waiver scheme that's being rolled out in the EU. The visa waiver scheme will be launched from May 2023 and requires visitors from 60 countries to fill out a form to get approval. Visitors will need to apply through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - a 'largely automated IT system created to identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors'. Aussies heading to Europe from May next year will need to fill out an application on the European Travel Information and Authorisation System under the EU's new visa scheme (pictured, a tourist in Santorini, Greece) The form is completed online and requires no biometric system. Travellers between the ages of 18 and 70 will be charged a fee of 7 - or $11 Australian - per application. It's unknown if those outside that age bracket wanting to travel to Europe will be charged a reduced fee or be exempt from paying. The ETIAS will process and authorise a new application 'within minutes' for a 'vast majority of cases' - or about 95 per cent of applicants. While most travellers will have their form approved in minutes, the EU website states that the approval process in certain 'exceptional cases' could take up to a month maximum. Anyone whose application is denied can easily appeal the decision online. The ETIAS will be enacted mainly for security purposes in the EU. The forms provide authorities in Europe with 'vital information necessary to assess potential risks with individuals travelling to the EU'. A successful ETIAS application provides international travellers with an unlimited number of visits to Europe over a three year span. Aussies can spend up to 90 days in the bloc for every 180-day period. Those wanting to stay longer will need to apply for a visa (pictured, Catalonia, Spain) Aussies and visitors from other countries will only be allowed to spend up to 90 days in the bloc for every 180-day period. Those staying for a longer period of time will need to apply for a visa. The visa waiver scheme applies to 60 countries across the globe including Australia, the US, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Israel, Ukraine, Japan and Hong Kong. The UK is also included in the list of countries after the nation left the EU in January 2020. Travellers already residing in the EU are exempt from the scheme. The announcement from the European Union comes as Qantas launched its very first direct flight from Perth to Italy on Saturday. The news from the EU comes as Qantas launched its first direct flight from Perth to Italy on Saturday (pictured, Qantas planes at Sydney Airport) Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told News.com.au that long-haul flights from Australia to Europe will be more commonplace in the near future. 'We're seeing an increasing preference for a non-stop flight to and from Australia to make the travel experience as efficient and easy as possible and we expect that will be a permanent shift in the way people want to travel.' Travellers can already fly direct from Perth to London on Qantas flights. Qantas will be launching direct flights from Sydney to London and New York from 2025. Amid rising gas prices in the United States due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, some stations in Virginia and throughout the Mid-Atlantic are lowering the price of gas to as low as $3.49 per gallon. The convenience store chain has lowered the price of its Unleaded 88 gas to $3.99 a gallon and the price of its E85 gas to $3.49 a gallon. A spokesperson for the company said in a statement that Unleaded 88 is approved by the EPA for use in vehicles for model years 2001 or newer as well as light-duty trucks, SUVs, and Flex Fuel vehicles, as per WTVR. Low Gas Prices They added that E85 contains more ethanol, roughly 51% to 83%, and is incompatible with all vehicles. The type of fuel was specifically designed for "flexible fuel vehicles" or FFVs. The severely lower price will only last until the Jul. 4 holiday weekend, an announcement by the gas station said. The lowered price comes as the average gas price around Richmond is $4.71 a gallon and comes amid Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine. Some drivers might be able to take advantage of the prices as there are more than 650 Sheetz locations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and North Carolina. According to CBS News, on Monday, the average price of gas in Pittsburgh dropped below $5, but prices still sit 30 cents higher than they did last month. The reduced prices in some regions were made to "help reduce pain at the pump for customers." Read Also: Germany Raises Alert Level in Emergency Gas Plan Amid Dwindling Supplies from Russia Despite this and the relief in gas prices seen in the latter half of June, a return to previous prices could be difficult to achieve. CIBC Senior Energy Trader Rebecca Babin said during an interview that price decline potentially continues if there is a drop-off in demand. They noted that prices at the pump have come off roughly 2% to 3%, whereas the prices of commodities have come off 10% to 15%. This shows an unequal relationship and comes as demand continues to remain high and comes as China is starting to reopen. Rise of Oil Prices Consumers are now starting to see some pressure taken off their wallets when making their stop at the local gas pump. The average price of regular unleaded gas dropped for the second straight week last week. Currently, the average price of regular gasoline nationwide is $4.91 a gallon, which is down from an all-time high of $5.03 a gallon in Jun. 3. However, motorists continue to pay through the roof to fill up the tank compared to previous periods. In the past month, the national average price for regular unleaded gas increased by $0.28 and is $1.79 per gallon higher compared to a year ago. Furthermore, diesel prices are still hovering around $6 a gallon on average across the country. Forecasts estimated that gas prices could drop by $0.20 a gallon ahead of the Jul. 4 holiday and then increase again as people go take summer vacations. Babin said similar trends could also occur, with prices going back on the rise amid tight refining capacity in the oil industry, Yahoo Finance reported. Related Article: Russia Becomes China's Largest Oil Supplier; Xi Jinping Says Ukraine War Is "Alarm for Humanity" Despite Not Giving Indication To Resolve It @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Four of Australia's tech billionaires will bankroll their American staff, plus a companion, to reach a safe and legal abortion as the fiery aftermath of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision continues. Graphic design platform Canva has joined software juggernaut Atlassian, both Sydney-based companies that have become spectacularly successful globally, offering to pay for travel and accommodation for US employees. The Supreme Court controversially elected to strike down Roe v. Wade, a nearly 50-year-old decision that granted women the constitutional right to abortion, sparking widespread protests. In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Canva said it would cover travel and accommodation for its US staff to reach safe abortions and that it is 'concerned for [US] society' In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Canva said it was 'concerned for [US] society' Atlassian will immediately pay 'travel and accommodation' costs for US-based employees - and 'a companion' - so they can get a safe abortion (Pictured co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes who tweeted the policy on Saturday morning, with wife Anne Cannon-Brookes) But while it was a federal ruling, women can travel to a state that allows abortion if they have the means. The move and accompanying statements by the four ultra-rich Aussies behind two of Australia's most successful tech companies in recent memory are a notable flex against the American conservative right. Joint Atlassian CEOs Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar are respectively worth $27.83billion and $26.41billion, while Canva bosses Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht are jointly valued at $13.82billion. All four are in the top 10 richest Australians released last week by the AFR. In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Canva said it was 'concerned for [US] society.' 'We are deeply concerned by the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade concerned for the millions of people who have lost access to safe healthcare, concerned for our team in the United States who are directly impacted by changes to the law, and concerned for society as a result of the precedent this decision sets, a Canva spokesperson said. The Australian companies are among several to have quickly offered such benefits - despite being threatened not to do so by Republican senators. Atlassian is believed to have around 3,000 US-based employees, while Canva is thought to have around 100. Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Starbucks, Tesla, Meta (Facebook), Uber, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have all pledged material support for staff wanting abortions. The Supreme Court controversially elected to strike down Roe v. Wade, a nearly 50 year-old decision that granted women the constitutional right to abortion, sparking widespread protests The Australian company is among several to have quickly offered such benefits - despite being threatened not to do so by Republican senators (Pictured Atlassian's co-founders and joint CEOs Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar) With millions of women expected to cross U.S. state lines to access legal abortions, many employers have added 'critical healthcare' packages to employees benefit programs. Its statement added that 'While we appreciate the spectrum of personal views on this topic, we believe that safe healthcare is a human right'. 'In addition to our current wellbeing offerings ... as a first step, from today, were covering the cost of travel and accommodation for U.S. based Canvanauts and their chosen support person to access abortion care in a state where it is not restricted or banned.' Mike Brookes-Cannon was quick to alert social media on Saturday to his company's official position on the US Supreme Court decision on abortion Atlassian made it clear on Saturday morning it would immediately pay 'travel and accommodation' costs for US-based employees - and 'a companion' - so they can get a safe abortion. Atlassian's billionaire co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes tweeted his company's 'dismayed' reaction on Saturday morning and a defiant statement. Half of US states are expected to ban abortion after the Supreme Court decision including Texas, Utah, Mississippi and Georgia. Florida may extend an existing ban on abortions after 15 weeks. Abortion remains legal in California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. Atlassian's billionaire co-founder and joint-CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes tweeted his company's 'dismayed' reaction on Saturday morning with a defiant statement. 'Starting today US employees living in states that have restricted or banned abortions will be offered reimbursement for travel and accommodations for themselves and a companion should they seek care outside their state,' the statement said. 'Today's decision by the Supreme Court not only strips away rights from women and pregnant people but puts their health and safety at risk. 'At Atlassian we are dismayed at this decision and stand firmly against the restriction and removal of rights.' It also said the health and safety of employees was a 'priority', including their 'right to access safe and legal reproductive healthcare'. Australian social media users praised Cannon-Brookes for Atlassian's stand. NEW YORK CITY: A crowd gathered on Friday evening in Washington Square Park to protest the Supreme Court's reversal on Roe v. Wade He and Scott Farquhar, who is the co-CEO, founded Atlassian in 2002 and are believed to live next to each other in Point Piper mansions. Cannon-Brookes is married to fashion designer Anne Brookes-Cannon and in 2018 they bought Australia's most expensive house for $100million at Point Piper. Atlassian has over 3,000 US employees and the company has previously said about a quarter of its employees are women, but that it's trying to 'do better' on diversity. US polls show Americans favor legislation that would legalise abortion nationwide by over 20 per cent. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill to the US senate designed to prohibit employers from deducting expenses related to their employees abortion travel costs. The No Tax Breaks for Radical Corporate Activism Act would also ban them from claiming expenses for 'gender affirming care' for young children of employees. 'Our tax code should be pro-family and promote a culture of life.' Mark Drakeford's Labour-run Welsh Government has been accused of handing out 'free money' today as it presses ahead with its 'radical' 20million basic income scheme pilot that will offer hundreds of teenagers 1,600 monthly handouts without needing to work. Welsh Labour will hand out payments to 18-year-olds leaving the care system amounting to a salary of nearly 20,000 before tax for two years in a pilot scheme from this Friday. More than 500 people will be able to apply to the three-year programme, where the money is put in their bank accounts with no demands on what they do to earn it or how it is spent. The cash is equivalent to 70% of the average salary in Wales, which was 582.60 a week - or 2,251 a month - last year. But critics have today blasted Mr Drakeford's scheme, calling the project 'free money' which offers no long-term solutions, and pointed out that similar schemes in other countries have either failed to get more people into jobs or have met with only limited success. Others accused Welsh Labour of 'being good with other people's money' and said that the Labour administration will now have to impose more taxes to fund the 20million programme. Joel James, shadow minister for social partnership, said: 'It's been proven time and again that so-called Universal Basic Income doesn't work. Look at Finland, who ditched their scheme after two years in favour of a new scheme that encouraged people to actually take up employment or training. 'We recognise that this is a vulnerable group and they need extra support, but this is completely the wrong way to go about it and could well create more problems than it solves. It's typical Labour, but it's obvious that giving out free money won't be a quick fix.' Welsh Government handout photo of Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford meeting with care leavers at Tramshed in Cardiff In what is one of the most generous schemes of its type in the world, young adults leaving the care system will be eligible for the payments for two years. Twitter users blasted Mark Drakeford's pilot as they questioned: 'How is this being paid for?' 'Free money' makes people happy but does little for employment Basic income schemes have tried around the world for decades, but success usually depends on what is being measured. Many schemes, including those in Finland and Spain, he recorded a boost in happiness and a fall in stress when people are handed free money. But critics point to the schemes often having little or no impact on improving employment despite millions of pounds spent. Here are some of the schemes and how they panned out. FINLAND A 2017-2018 experiment saw 2,000 unemployed people given a 560 (490) basic income every month in a two-year trial. At the end they were 'more satisfied with their lives and experienced less mental strain, depression, sadness and loneliness'. But they also worked for only six more days over a one-year period. SPAIN The B-Mincome programme handed 1,000 households in Barcelona 1,675 euros (1,405) a month in 2017, with some having to do nothing to earn it and others having to take part in social programmes to earn it. It similarly had little effect on employment, but did make people happier and less stressed. IRAN The hardline regime introduced a nationwide programme in 2011 as it phased out subsidies on bread, water, utilities and fuel. A study found it 'did not affect labor (sic) supply in any appreciable way' and was later reduced. KENYA The charity GiveDirectly has given more than 10,000 families $1,000 dollars in three payments spread across three months. It provided a short-term stimulus to the local economy and improved the lives of those who got it, but the effects compared to areas where no money was handed out was negligible. INDIA A Unicef-funded programme gave $2.80 a month to 6,000 people in the state of Madhya Pradesh in 2011 and 2012. It improved sanitation, nutrition and school attendance. UNITED STATES The state of Alaska has given citizens an annual payout as a dividend from oil industry revenues since 1982. It can vary between $1,000 and $2,000 based on the oil price at the time. A study found 'the dividend had no effect on employment' but has created a surge in the birth rate. Advertisement The Welsh First Minister said: 'We want all our young people to have the best possible chance in life and fulfil their full potential. 'The state is the guardian of people leaving care and so has a real obligation to support them as they start their adult life. Our focus will be on opening up their world to all its possibilities and create an independence from services as their lives develop. 'Many of those involved in this pilot don't have the support lots of people myself included have been lucky enough to enjoy as we started out on our path to adulthood. 'Our radical initiative will not only improve the lives of those taking part in the pilot but will reap rewards for the rest of Welsh society. If we succeed in what we are attempting today this will be just the first step in what could be a journey that benefits generations to come.' Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt added: 'We're in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis like no other and we therefore need new ways of supporting people who are most in need. Our Basic Income pilot is an incredibly exciting project giving financial stability to a generation of young people. 'Too many people leaving care face huge barriers to achieving their hopes and ambitions - such as problems with getting a safe and stable home, to securing a job and building a fulfilling career. This scheme will help people live a life free of such barriers and limitations. 'We will carefully evaluate the lessons learnt from the pilot. Listening to everyone who takes part will be crucial in determining the success of this globally ambitious project. 'We will examine whether Basic Income is an efficient way to support society's most vulnerable and not only benefit the individual, but wider society too.' The pilot will be limited to care leavers who reach their 18th birthday between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. It will run for three years with each person taking part receiving the basic income payment for 24 months from the month after their 18th birthday. And participants can choose whether to receive the money monthly or fortnightly. Advocates of a so-called universal basic income argue that it cuts bureaucracy and say that people will be more willing to take on temporary or part-time work if their benefits will not be cut as a result. However, previous schemes have questioned their value. An experiment with 'free money' in Finland made people happier but did not improve employment levels and would be 'unsustainable'. A 2017-2018 experiment saw 2,000 unemployed people given a 560 (490) basic income every month in a two-year trial to see whether the system would work better than traditional benefits. Participants in the Finnish study 'were more satisfied with their lives and experienced less mental strain, depression, sadness and loneliness,' researchers said. But the Finnish study found that the handout led to people being employed for only six more days over a one-year period. A similar scheme in Spain yielded similar results. The B-Mincome programme handed 1,000 households in Barcelona 1,675 euros (1,405) a month in 2017, with some having to do nothing to earn it and others having to take part in social programmes to earn it. It similarly had little effect on employment, but did make people happier and less stressed. In 2020, German researchers launched a programme that sees a group of people 1,080 per month. The study sees 120 people handed the cash with no means testing or limits on how it is spent, then monitored to see how their attitudes and behaviours change. Left, Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt. Right, Welsh Tory shadow minister Joel James Other Twitter users said: 'Welsh Labour, very good with other people's money' Undated Welsh Government handout photo of Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford meeting with care leavers at Tramshed in Cardiff Another group of 1,380 people will not be given any money but will still have their attitudes and behaviours monitored, to see how they compare. The experiment, which is being funded by an economic institute called My Basic Income using donations, runs until 2023. UBI was among the ideas considered by Boris Johnson when working out how to deal with the economic impact of the Covid pandemic. But it was eventually rejected in favour of the furlough scheme and other work programmes. A DWP spokesman said: 'We recognise how important it is to support care leavers and already provide a specific, comprehensive package of support and protections for those of them in need, including changing regulations last year to provide additional support with housing costs for those under 26. 'As we have advised the Welsh Government, Universal Credit is a means tested benefit and income such as money from this pilot is factored into any benefit payments. The UK Government will continue to support care leavers and other vulnerable people through targeted measures that prioritise those most in need of support.' A French fashion boss accused of hiring a bungling hitman who murdered Jill Dando instead of a BBC journalist who exposed him as a sex abuser has described the allegations as fanciful nonsense. Gerald Marie, 72, is said to have used the Russian Mafia to try and kill Lisa Brinkworth, who is now 55. But their gunman may have assassinated TV presenter Ms Dando by mistake, according to extraordinary allegations contained in legal papers filed in Paris. They are part of an enquiry into multiple rape complaints against Marie, ex-husband of supermodel Linda Evangelista. Ms Dando was 37 when she was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, south west London, in a notorious cold case dating back 23 years. Miss Dando was gunned down on the doorstep of her home in Fulham, west London, in 1999 Miss Brinkworth (pictured recently, left; and in the 1990s, right) claimed she was sexually assaulted in 1998 while working undercover alongside Donal MacIntyre to expose sex crimes in the fashion industry. France's statute of limitations, however, means sexual abuse claims must be reported within 20 years. Lawyers for Miss Brinkworth have filed papers to the Paris prosecutor arguing that the statute does not apply in her case due to years fearing for her safety Now Ms Brinkworth claims Marie, former boss of the Elite agency, wanted her dead because she claimed he sexually assaulted her in 1998 while she was working undercover to expose crimes in the fashion industry. In the court papers, Ms Brinkworths lawyers reference an alleged conversation witnessed by a former Elite executive in which Marie considered hiring the Russian mafia to deal with a problem. The papers read: Shortly afterwards, in April 1999, Jill Dando, another BBC journalist, was shot dead. Frances statute of legal limitations for prosecutions at the time stated that sexual assault had to be reported within three years, and rapes within 10 years. Marie therefore claims that the links with the Dando case have been made up so as to try and get the statute of limitations removed. Documents submitted to a Paris court suggested that Marie hired a Russian hitman to murder Ms Brinkworth Gerald Marie, pictured with ex-wife Linda Evangelista, is being investigated over alleged sexual assaults and rapes One of his legal team said on Monday: Its fanciful nonsense aimed at suggesting that Lisa Brinkworth was in fear of her life, and so was too scared to report the alleged attack within a reasonable time limit. In fact, Lisa Brinkworth made no effort to report any kind of sexual abuse at the time, and only started to take action decades later. Ms Brinkworth claims she was kept in a safe house following the broadcasting of her expose on the BBCs MacIntyre Investigates programme, presented by veteran journalist Donal MacIntyre. Ms Brinkworth also claims that the BBC did not want her taking legal action, according to the legal papers. They say that Omar Harfouch, who is now 53 and a Lebanese businessman and politician, was with senior Elite management at a Paris restaurant in 1999, when they discussed the MacIntytre programme. Jill Dando is pictured with her fiance Alan Farthing in 1999, months before she was shot dead on the doorstep of her home in Fulham. A French court has heard sensational claims that a Russian hitman hired to assassinate journalist Lisa Brinkworth may have mistaken her for Ms Dando. Lawyers pointed out that Ms Dando's fiance Mr Farthing was also Ms Brinkworth's doctor Britain's biggest police probe since the Yorkshire Ripper: Timeline of the Jill Dando case April 26, 1999: Jill Dando, the 37-year-old television presenter, is shot dead with a single bullet to the head on the steps of her home in Fulham, south-west London. May 25, 2000: Police arrest Barry George, also known as Barry Bulsara, following surveillance of his home. May 29, 2000: Police charge George with murdering Dando. July 2, 2001: A jury finds George guilty of murder. He is later sentenced to life imprisonment. July 29, 2002: George loses an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal in London. Three judges rejected his claim that his conviction was "unsafe". December 16, 2002: The House of Lords refuses permission for George to mount a further challenge to his conviction. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) continues to look at the case. March 25, 2006: It emerges that lawyers for George have submitted new evidence to the CCRC which they believe undermines the safety of his conviction. They say they have new medical evidence which suggests George's mental problems would have made him incapable of carrying out the crime, and that new witnesses who were not heard at the original trial may provide an explanation for why a particle of gunshot residue was found on his coat. August 1, 2008: He receives a unanimous acquittal by a jury after being granted a retrial. January 2010: His claim for compensation for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment is rejected. 2012: Serbian 'warlord' Arkan is named as a suspect in the case, although he had died in 2000. June 2022: Court documents claim that BBC journalist Lisa Brinkworth was the target of a hit ordered by modelling agency boss Gerald Marie but was confused for Miss Dando. He denies the claims. Advertisement Were in the shit, Marie is said to have told the others, after learning that a BBC report about Donal MacIntyre and Lisa Brinkworth going undercover for six months at Elite will soon broadcast. Ms Brinkworth, then 31, had pretended to be a fashion model, and Gerald Marie said: I got tricked. He then described Ms Brinkworth as a huge problem, to which Vitali Leiba, an Elite agent based in Moscow and allegedly with strong links to the Russian Mafia replied: Consider it done. Mr Harfouch claims this was an oblique reference to making [Brinkworth] disappear, according to the legal papers. The Harfouch testimony is now being used by lawyers for 15 plaintiffs - including Ms Brinkworth - to try and get the statute of limitations thrown out. In a file sent to Paris prosecutors, William Bourdon, Amelie Lefebvre and Anne-Claire Lejeune refer to the fear of physical reprisals, going as far as a contract killing, preventing a filing of a complaint within the required time frame by Lisa Brinkworth, who accuses Gerald Marie of sexual assault in the context of her report. The lawyers report adds: They are therefore requesting, in an unprecedented approach, an extension of the limitation period, paving the way for a future trial. Paris prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into Marie in September 2020, after he was accused of rape and sexual assault by the 15 women. However, all of the alleged facts took place in the 1980s and 1990s, making them time barred as far as prosecutions are concerned. No charges have been brought, and Marie remains a free man. The BBC aired the MacIntrye programme in November 1999, and it alleged that Ms Brinkworth was attacked in a nightclub in Milan, Italy, in October 1998. In her complaint finally filed to the French legal authorities on September 20, 2020, Ms Brinkworth describes an obscene atmosphere created by Marie, who allegedly asked her to perform oral sex on Elite executive and to let me fuck you for money. (500 euros is mentioned in the legal papers, although France did not start using euros until 2002) Ms Brinkworth was told: No one refuses the president of Elite and its an honour to sleep with this man, according to the legal papers. Ms Brinkworth claimed Marie rode her while she was sitting on a chair, and she was terrified of being raped when he started pushing his penis into her lower abdomen. Other Elite executives were said to be laughing and applauding at the time. Film footage shows Ms Brinkworth straight after the incident, telling Mr MacIntyre about what happened. Elite sued the BBC over the allegations, and in 2001 the Corporation agreed never to broadcast the programme again, as part of a confidentiality agreement. Ms Brinkworth was not part of that agreement and so, according to the latest legal documents, pressure was put on her by Elite to stay silent. She says she was given protection by the BBC for three years, between 1999 and 2001, and put in three safe houses, at least one of which was surrounded by electric fences. During a meeting organised in the Paris Senate in September 2021 with the other plaintiffs, Ms Brinkworth met Omar Harfouch, who made a multi-million pounds fortune in Ukraine following the fall of the Soviet Union. Mr Harfoch said he himself became a target for death threats following his support for former Elite models who claimed they were sexually abused. In the legal documents, Ms Brinkworth is described as being blonde, and of the same height and similar build; as Jill Dando, They say Ms Brinkworth and Ms Dando were neighbours in Fulham, and that Ms Dandos partner, Alan Farthing, was Ms Brinkworths doctor. Lawyers for Ms Brinkworth now say that the parallels contributed to a climate of fear for their clients, and that she was convinced that her silence ensured her life. All of this prevented Ms Brinkworth from filing a sexual assault complaint agaisnt Maire within the three year time limit. Celine Bekerman, a lawyer for Gerald Marie, said the attempt to repeal the statute of limitations had no chance of success, because it was based on fanciful arguments. Ms Bekerman said Ms Brinkworth was never a party to the agreement concluded between Elite and the BBC, and there was thus never anything stopping her from complaining about sexual assault in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Ms Bekerman said Mr Harfouchs testatment about the Paris restaurant conversation was not considered a reliable one. She said Marie denies any wrongdoing and refuses to be the scapegoat for a system and an era. Ms Bekerman said a diary kept by Donal MacIntyre during the undercover operation did not even mention any allegation of a sexual assault. A spokesman for the Paris prosecutors office confirmed that the enquiry into Gerald Marie was ongoing, and that nobody had been arrested or charged. Convicted cocaine smuggler Cassie Sainsbury has bit back at a troll after she was hit with a wave of sarcastic suggestions when she asked her followers what advice she should give social media fans. Sainsbury was quickly dubbed 'Cocaine Cassie' after she was busted trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine out of Colombia in April 2017 in sets of headphones when she was just 22 years old. She was released in April 2020 to serve the remainder of her six-year sentence under house arrest in the Colombian capital Bogota as officials sought to reduce overcrowding in jails during Covid. Sainsbury often uses her freedom from prison to capitalise on her new-found fame and on Monday asked her 15,000 followers for advice on starting up a YouTube channel. While she was met with some good options, plenty of followers used the question as an opportunity to troll the drug smuggler with one suggesting: 'How to smuggle drugs and not get caught.' But Sainsbury didn't take the comment lying down, hitting back at the follower. 'You think you're funny? That joke is kinda getting old', she said. Sainsbury (pictured) told her social media followers about her stint behind bars, saying she was exposed to 'the worst ways people treated each other' and was forced to mature a lot The social media post (pictured) shows the terse exchange between Sainsbury and the troll Sainsbury walked free from a Colombian jail in 2020 after she was caught out trying to leave Colombia with almost 6kg of cocaine (pictured) stashed in headphone boxes in 2017 Sainsbury's comments come a year after the ex-prisoner announced she would be offering Spanish lessons to people. The 27-year-old perfected her Spanish during her three-year stint in Colombia's notorious Buen Pastor prison. Sainsbury maintained her innocence throughout her 2017 trial and said she had proof on her mobile phone, but couldn't remember the pin code to access the information. She said during her time as a sex worker at Club 220, in western Sydney, she met a man who offered her a role as a 'courier'; a 'shady' job that led to her foiled drug smuggling effort. She has always maintained she believed she would only be transporting documents, and not drugs, and only agreed to the job because she 'needed the money'. 'I know how it sounds, because obviously I accepted to come into it for money, I needed money, but I wasn't exactly like, I came there thinking, yes I'm going to go and smuggle drugs, it wasn't like that,' Sainsbury said. In April 2017, Sainsbury flew from Adelaide to Bogota, via Guangzhou and Los Angeles. Sainsbury was just 22 years old when she was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden in her luggage at Bogota airport (pictured, arriving for a court hearing in Bogota in 2017) It was at a hotel in the Colombian capital that she claimed to have met up with the 'mastermind' behind the plot, a Brazilian drug lord named 'Angelo'. Angelo reportedly threatened to kill all of Sainsbury's loved ones if she did not agree to carry the drugs, though she has never been able to verify her claims. In a social media live chat with her followers, she opened up about her jail experience and what she had learnt. During her stint behind bars, Sainsbury said she was exposed to 'the worst ways people treated each other.' 'I've seen people stabbed hundreds of times,' she said. 'They had knives stuck into them. It's absolutely horrible.' The experience was eye opening for the 27-year-old, who said she was forced to 'mature a lot in prison'. 'There were a lot of people worse off than me... I learnt to value a lot of things,' she said. 'I learnt a lot about myself, I learnt a lot about people I've learnt how to analyse people better.' After her release she went on 60 Minutes and said she had become a stronger person after her ordeal. 'Everything that I have been through in prison, everything that I learnt, I wouldn't change it, because it has made me a stronger person, who I am today', Sainsbury said. Sainsbury married her girlfriend Tatiana last March, where she was reunited with her mum for the first time in four years who flew over for the wedding. Cassie Sainsbury (pictured) became headline news in Australia when she was caught with almost 6kg of cocaine in April of 2017 in Colombia Sainsbury was reunited with her mum (pictured) last March in Colombia before her wedding. The Texas sheriff who President Joe Biden nominated to lead Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April of last year announced on Monday that he was withdrawing himself from consideration for the role. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he informed the White House over the weekend in a series of Twitter posts where he also condemned the 'political gridlock' in Washington. It's the latest in a string of defeats for Biden in the Senate, which has approved his senior-level Cabinet picks without much issue but tanked nominations for key mid-level administration positions. That includes the director of ICE, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security that's been a political lightening rod since it was first created under George W. Bush to police illegal immigration and related crimes. Gonzalez' stalled nomination means the agency was led by someone on an acting basis through a year that saw hundreds of thousands of migrants strain the US immigration system at the southern border as well as state and local infrastructure. May saw a record 239,416 encounters between law enforcement and migrants at the southern border. That's despite a judge blocking the Biden administration from lifting a COVID-19 pandemic-era expulsion policy known as Title 42, which had been expected to usher in a new surge of asylum-seekers. In his withdrawal announcement, Gonzalez pointed out that ICE has not had a Senate-approved director since Barack Obama's presidency. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez was a vocal critic of Donald Trump's immigration policies and clashed with ICE, the agency he was tapped to lead, in the past He announced on Twitter Monday evening that he told President Biden he'd withdraw his nomination after it was first put forward in April 2021 He noted that the politically controversial agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director since President Barack Obama's administration 'I arrived at this decision after prayerfully considering what's best for our nation, my family, and the people of Harris County who elected me to serve a second term as Sheriff,' his statement continued. 'I am grateful to President Biden for the honor of nominating me, and I wish this administration well as it strives to overcome the paralyzing political gridlock that threatens far more than our nation's border.' He warned, 'Frankly, the dysfunction threatens America's heart and soul.' Gonzalez pledged he'd continue to focus on his law enforcement role in the Lone Star state's most populous county - the third-heaviest populated in the country overall. 'My love for America and my desire to serve during these contentious times is stronger than ever,' he concluded. 'Ensuring the safety and security of the people of Harris County is a great honor, and I am fully devoted to continuing to fulfill this responsibility.' Before being elected sheriff in 2016, Gonzalez served on the Houston City Council and rose to the rank of sergeant in the Houston Police Department. Migrants from Honduras give a Border Patrol agent their details after being apprehended near Mission, Texas on June 17 A US Border Patrol officer interacts with a son of a Russian migrant Yevgeny as they wait to have their identities checked by US Border Patrol agents and to be taken to a processing center as hundreds cross the border between Mexico and the US in Yuma, Arizona on June 21 But his confirmation to lead ICE has seemed uncertain for months. Biden was forced to re-submit his nomination in January after it expired in the Senate's last term. He advanced out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee along party lines in February but never received a full floor vote, and it's not certain he would have gotten the votes. Gonzalez's withdrawal is the latest in a series of setbacks for Biden nominees to lower-profile but key positions As sheriff, he's clashed multiple times with the agency he was tapped to lead. Gonzalez in 2017 severed Harris County's cooperation agreement with ICE, and the Houston Chronicle reported that he refused to take part in an ICE raid himself in 2019. In a 2017 letter to the then-Republican led Senate State Affairs Committee, Gonzalez criticized what he called 'anti-sanctuary city legislation' that he said was 'creating a climate of fear and suspicion that could damage our efforts to reinforce trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve.' And his nomination was hampered when Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma raised concerns over a domestic complaint. An affidavit filed in 2019 - unrelated to Gonzalez - includes mention of 'an alleged domestic dispute' investigated by an officer involving Gonzalez's wife Melissa Gonzalez. Both she and her husband have denied the claim. The White House shared Melissa Gonzalez's denial with news outlets and stood by the sheriff at the time. DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment on Gonzalez's withdrawal. Also over the last 12 months, Biden's nominee for the Federal Reserve Sarah Bloom Raskin, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency pick Saule Omarova and David Chipman, the president's nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were all forced out before facing a confirmation vote on the Senate floor. The Queen greeted fans in Scotland with a wave and a smile as she arrived in Edinburgh as part of her first outing since the Platinum Jubilee yesterday- and new video shows he alighted the Royal train without any assistance. A Royal assistant stood ready to help Her Majesty down the steps on to the platform, but she descended the steps without any help dressed in a powder blue coat with a pearl and diamante trim hat. Her Majesty is shown stepping off the Royal train and smiling before waving to her fans. Policemen stand in front of the entourage in the video which soon fills up the platform as the Queen departs using her walking stick. The footage comes as the Queen begins her traditional trip to Scotland on Monday for a week of royal events. An assistant helps Her Majesty down the steps on to the platform in Edinburgh Her Majesty is shown stepping off the train before waving for the camera and departing The 96-year-old, who has cut back on public engagements due to mobility issues, showed no sign of discomfort when handling the journey. Royal sources prior to the Jubilee that the Queen would miss the Epsom Derby for the third time of her reign in order to 'pace herself' for the festivities, which took place over a four day weekend marking her 70 years on the throne. But she was all smiles as she took part in the historic Ceremony of the Keys on Monday - the traditional opener to Holyrood week for the Royal Family. The Queen, who has a deep love for Scotland, has been joined by her youngest son, Edward, and his wife, Sophie, known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar while they are in Scotland, for the event, which is taking place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The ceremony sees the monarch handed the keys of the city and welcomed to her 'ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland'. A Guard of Honour was provided by the Balaklava Company, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Her Majesty hopes to carry a out several engagements this week - and will meet Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during her stay. The Queen seemed delighted to be taking part in the ceremony at the Palace of Holyrood House The Queen smiled as she arrived in Edinburgh today as she continues public duties - her first since the Jubilee However, Her Majesty will not take part in the annual garden party in at Holyroodhouse on Wednesday, the BBC reported. More than 30,000 people are usually invited each year to Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The events are normally used to recognise and reward public servants but require many hours of standing, with the Royal Family taking the view that such events will be too taking for Her Majesty who has only recently recovered from Covid-19. The Queen last hosted a Buckingham Palace garden party in 2019, before the virus. Her children, including Prince Charles, will be supporting her all week - but Prince Andrew will stay away because of controversy about his settlement with Virginia Roberts Giuffre - an abuse victim of his friend Jeffrey Epstein. Dressed in a powder blue silk wool coat and dress by Stewart Parvin, paired with a hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan, the Queen was symbolically offered the keys to the city by Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge. The tradition dictates that the monarch returns them, entrusting their safekeeping to the city's elected officials. The Queen was joined by her youngest son, Edward, and his wife, Sophie, known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar while they are in Scotland. The Guard of Honour was provided by the Balaklava Company, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, which was inspected by Edward on the forecourt of the palace during the ceremony. Music was provided by the pipes and drums of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II meets Lord Provost Robert Aldridge at the Ceremony of the Keys on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh The Lord Provost speaks to Her Majesty as officials salute the 96-year-old monarch Royal Regiment of Scotland during the Ceremony of the Keys on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The trip comes after the recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the Queen, in which she pledged to continue to do her job 'to the best of my ability supported by my family'. Charles, known as the Earl of Rothesay in Scotland and the Princess Royal will all take part in a series of public engagements north of Hadrian's wall over the coming days. However, Andrew, known as the Earl of Inverness in Scotland, no longer carries out public duties and will not be involved. It emerged over the weekend that The Queen has defied doctors by getting back in the saddle on her beloved horses just days after she was seen without the walking stick she has relied on recently. Nine months after she was advised to stop riding, the 96-year-old monarch has reportedly been on horseback in Windsor. She is also due to attend an Armed Forces Act of Loyalty Parade at the palace on Tuesday, although some engagements during the week will be covered by other members of the royal family. Struggling families could be paid to use less energy this winter as the National Grid tries to cut the risk of blackouts. Consumers with smart meters will be paid to cut their usage during peak times under plans being considered by the company. National Grid sees the plans as a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way to keep the lights on than paying fossil fuel power plants to increase production. The firm responsible for transmitting and distributing electricity and gas is scrambling to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It has led to Russia restricting energy supplies to Europe. Customers with smart meters could be paid to not use as much energy during times of peak demand, according to new proposals The proposals could see households paid up to 6 for each kilowatt-hour they avoid using at peak times, The Times said. That compares with the 28.34p homes pay per kilowatt-hour, enough to power a 100 watt lightbulb for ten hours. National Grid, which is looking to offer the scheme to millions of families, said: 'Demand shifting has the potential to save consumers money and reduce carbon emissions.' Families are struggling with energy bills that have jumped by 54 per cent (an average of 693) this year. They are set to jump a further 800, to an average of 2,800 a year, when energy regulator Ofgem raises the price cap in October. National Grid ESO trialled the proposals with customers this year and is now looking to offer the scheme to millions of households. It is believed to have written to suppliers last week asking them to assess how much less energy their customers could be persuaded to use at peak times. The cost of the scheme would be added onto energy bills but the National Grid is said to believe the additional charge would be less than the cost of paying power plants to increase supply. Ministers were warned last month six million households could experience blackouts this winter because of the war in Ukraine. The Government's 'reasonable' worst case scenario, drawn up by Whitehall, shows there may be significant gas shortages if Russia cuts off Europe's supplies. Whitehall's worst-case scenario modelling says Britain would have to implement its gas emergency plans, which would see gas-fired power stations closed. This would lead to a shortage of electricity that could force the Government to ration it in a manner similar to Edward Heath's three-day week in the 1970s. Postmen are to start checking on vulnerable residents during their rounds as part of a Royal Mail scheme. Checks on the elderly and frail will be introduced as part of a new health division with a trial planned in Northumberland. If successful, the scheme could be rolled out nationally. Postmen and women already provide a similar role informally as they regularly visit millions of homes and get to know customers. Checks on the elderly and frail will be introduced as part of a new health division with a trial planned in Northumberland. If successful, the scheme could be rolled out nationally Chief executive Simon Thompson said Royal Mail was still exploring how the scheme would work. 'If we know that there are vulnerable people in a certain property, there's an opportunity for us to check,' he said. 'And if we check that they're okay, then how can we alert services to help them out? At the moment we do this quite informally. But actually we could do this formally to provide a unique service to society and our customers.' No details have been given on funding or if postmen, who are threatening to strike over pay, would be paid more. Age UK's charity director Caroline Abrahams welcomed any help for older people. But she added: 'Knowing someone is going to pop in from time to time to check everything is okay may provide some valuable reassurance but is no substitute for the health and care support older people need' Yesterday Age UK's charity director Caroline Abrahams welcomed any help for older people. But she added: 'Knowing someone is going to pop in from time to time to check everything is okay may provide some valuable reassurance but is no substitute for the health and care support older people need.' Liberal Democrats deputy leader and health spokesman Daisy Cooper praised the initiative, reported in The Times, but added: 'I can't help but feel it is also a damning indictment of the state of social care.' Royal Mail Health is also working on expanding a link with online retailer Pharmacy2U, with an app for NHS patients to order supplies. The market is currently worth 5 per cent of prescriptions. The man who claims he created Qantas' iconic 'Spirit of Australia' slogan has angrily demanded they remove the title saying it is a 'tragically inappropriate' to describe the under fire airline. Phillip Adams, a columnist for The Weekend Australian magazine and ABC Radio National host, says he convinced former chairman Jim Leslie to adopt the tagline in the 1980s and Peter Allen to allow his iconic tune I Still Call Australia Home to become Qantas' anthem. However, last week the former advertising guru directed an angry message towards the airline's boss Alan Joyce demanding they drop his catchphrase due to ongoing scandals involving laid-off staff, cancelled flights, lost luggage and extensive delays. 'Alan Joyce. You force to repeat myself. I'm the author of 'the Spirit of Australia'. Then deserved, now tragically inappropriate,' he wrote to Twitter. 'My slogan is hereby vetoed. Please remove it from all fuselages, tickets and advertising.' In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Qantas said: 'The Spirit of Australia tagline is an iconic part of the Qantas brand and isn't going anywhere.' Phillip Adams claims he pitched the 'Spirit of Australia' tagline to former Qantas boss Peter Leslie in the 1980s - and he now wants the airline to drop its iconic slogan 'Alan Joyce. You force to repeat myself. I'm the author of 'the Spirit of Australia'. Then deserved, now tragically inappropriate,' Mr Adams wrote to Twitter It's the latest run-in between Mr Adams and Qantas after the airline stripped the columnist of his membership to its Chairman's Lounge - described as the 'most exclusive club in Australia'. Decked out in designer furniture, the lounges serve top-shelf liquor, five-star food and provide private meeting rooms, large shower suites and fluffy bathrobes. Those lucky enough to step inside can expect to rub shoulders with the Prime Minister, A-list celebrities and influential businessmen. The Chairman's Lounge is deemed such a privilege that Mr Adams was furious that Qantas refused to renew his membership in 2019. 'I was hardly cluttering up the facility and I was really quite surprised because I do have a large media footprint,' a disappointed Mr Adams told The Australian. Members invited to be a part of the exclusive club are given a matte black card after being personally signed off by Qantas bosses. Each membership lasts for two years and invitations have nothing to do with frequent flyer points or status. Mr Adams said members of the lounge would likely see high profile figures or media identities (pictured, lounge in Brisbane) Broadcaster Phillip Adams (pictured) was furious that Qantas refused to renew his membership for the Chairman's Lounge 'Membership is very sought after and it's a great asset for Qantas to utilise for our commercial endeavours' Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said of the club in the past. Mr Adams said he has 'no idea' why he was kicked out of the exclusive club, admitting he had any number of secrets to tell about the goings on behind the secretive doors. 'So many CL stories I could kiss and tell but won't (on being admitted you have to sign the Official Secrets Act). And now I'm out on my arse. No idea why,' he wrote in The Australian. 'I was given the bad news a few days after they expelled Fraser Anning, so it may have been a left-wing right-wing thing, to keep the books and Boeings balanced. 'There are other potential reasons, though. Too old? Then no need to expel me let nature take its course. Too infrequent a flyer? Well, I haven't flown much lately, thanks to ill-health and bad weather. 'A long lifetime of loyalty rewarded with disloyalty. Is this the spirit of Australia? With a breaking, pacemaker'd heart I can no longer call Qantas home.' Members of the federal government are known to also be gifted membership to the exclusive lounge (pictured, lounge in Brisbane) The airline has revealed last week it will reduce the number of domestic flights by five per cent for July, August and September - adding to the 10 per cent announced in May. Qantas Domestic reportedly made 4,500 flights per week in the lead-up to the Covid pandemic, meaning a 15 per cent cutback would lead to 675 fewer flights. It was also forced to apologise to more than 300 passengers recently who were left stranded at Dallas/Forth Worth Airport for 24 hours - with many forced to sleep on the floor. Customers said there was no Qantas presence at the airport, and the airline were unreachable despite numerous attempts from Aussies waiting to fly home and American staff. Disgruntled workers recently revealed to Daily Mail Australia last month what it's really like to work for the Flying Kangaroo, levelling extraordinary allegations against the airline amid a bitter court battle that could result in a multi-million dollar payout. The Transport Workers Union took Qantas to court in late 2020, when it was ruled the airline illegally sacked nearly 2,000 baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff before outsourcing their jobs to foreign-owned providers, including Swissport. The trickle-down effect has seen jaded customers, including Frequent Flyer members, saying they are looking to other airlines when flying. Customers say there is a complete lack of support staff at airports which is leading to massive delays, missed flights and lost luggage The Trade Workers' Union says Qantas's issues start at the top, and point to Alan Joyce's mismanagement of the airline over the pandemic and its thousands of laid-off staff. 'The fish rots from the head. The short-term focus of senior management on boosting profits to see share price blips has devastated Qantas' once trusted service and left Australians outraged,' TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine told Daily Mail Australia. 'Blaming passengers for delays over the Easter long weekend while refusing to reinstate the highly trained workers it illegally sacked despite there being obvious demand for experienced workers in the industry shows how out-of-touch the Joyce-led management team has become.' The airline, which argued the outsourcing was a necessary financial measure during the Covid pandemic, appealed the ruling and lost - but has since taken the case to the High Court in a last-ditch bid to avoid paying a mammoth compensation bill. Cost-cutting was magnified by the pandemic, with 15,000 workers laid off without pay or forced to take leave in mid-2020, while another 2,500 were stood down in August, 2021 - despite Qantas receiving $2billion in government assistance. Qantas maintain the moves were necessary due to losing $22billion in revenue and losses in excess of $5billion over the pandemic. It also said the government handouts in part went towards continuing repatriation and freight flights during the pandemic. With enormous courage, two British victims of Ghislaine Maxwell attended court to speak in harrowing detail about their horrific ordeals at the hands of the child sex predator and the mental torment they still suffer. A British woman who testified under the name 'Kate', and Sarah Ransome who was not included in the indictment at Maxwell's trial late last year penned victim impact statements which spelt out in graphic detail how their lives had been destroyed by the fallen socialite. They made a point of turning up at the courthouse in New York and reading out extracts of their impact statements in person before the judge jailed Maxwell for 20 years for recruiting girls for herself and her former boyfriend, the pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, to molest. The British victims were among four Maxwell survivors who wanted to come face-to-face with the Oxford-educated sex trafficker and tell the world how her crimes had affected them. Ransome even provided the court with shocking images of her in hospital following a failed suicide attempt, after she struggled to come to terms with the abuse she had suffered at the hands of Maxwell. An impact statement from Prince Andrew's teen accuser Virginia Roberts, now known by her married name Giuffre and who was unable to attend court due to a 'medical issue', was read out by her lawyer. Sarah Ransome Miss Ransome, 37, whose father is Scottish Lord Macpherson, said she was raped up to three times a day during months imprisoned on Epstein's private Caribbean island, having been tricked by Maxwell into his sordid web of abuse. She said in her impact statement: 'I became nothing more than a human sex toy with a heartbeat and soul for the entertainment of Epstein, Maxwell and others. On one visit to [Epstein's private island], the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation became so horrific that I tried to escape by attempting to jump off a cliff into shark-infested waters. 'They pounced, ensnaring us in their upside-down, twisted world of rape, rape and more rape. Like Hotel California, you could check into the Epstein-Maxwell dungeon of sexual hell, but you could never leave. Ghislaine by her own hand, forced me into Epstein's room to be raped.' 'I have never married and do not have children, something I always wished for, even as a little girl. 'I have attempted suicide twice since the abuse both near fatal.' Elizabeth Stein Preyed on by Maxwell after moving to New York aged 18 in 1991, with the ambition of working in the fashion industry, Miss Stein said she was first abused by the British socialite and Epstein at a hotel on the very first day she met Ghislaine. 'That night in the hotel was the first of many times they sexually assaulted me,' she said. 'Afterwards, I tried to pretend everything was normal...' Miss Stein said she was 'assaulted, raped and trafficked countless times' during a three-year period after Epstein who died in prison in 2019 and Maxwell lured her into their sex trafficking ring by 'seizing upon her vulnerability'. She had to have an abortion after getting pregnant by one of the 'countless' men who raped her while she was being trafficked to their friends. 'Things happened that were so traumatizing that to this day I'm unable to speak about them; I don't even have the vocabulary to describe them. 'In the most literal sense of the word, Epstein and Maxwell terrified me. They told me that if I told anyone, nobody would believe me and if they did, they would kill me and the people closest to me. After meeting Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, it felt like someone shut off the lights to my soul.' Annie Farmer The fourth and final accuser in Maxwell's trial told jurors how the privately-educated predator gave her a nude massage and groped her as a teen at Epstein's New Mexico ranch. 'One of the most painful and ongoing impacts of Maxwell and Epstein's abuse was a loss of trust in myself, my perceptions, and my instincts,' she said. 'When predators groom and then abuse or exploit children and other vulnerable people, they are, in a sense, training them to distrust themselves. When a boundary is crossed or an expectation violated, you tell yourself, 'Someone who cares enough about me to do all these nice things surely wouldn't also be trying to harm me. 'This pattern of thinking is insidious, so these seeds of self-doubt took root even as I learned my sister [Maria] had also been harmed by them, and came to find out years later that many others had been exploited. 'For years these memories triggered significant self-recrimination, minimization and guilt. 'I blamed myself for believing these predators actually wanted to help me. I felt tremendous survivor guilt when I heard what other girls and young women had experienced at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein. 'I remember sitting at my desk physically shaking after seeing the photo of Maxwell with Virginia [Roberts] and Prince Andrew, because it became clear to me how their scheme had continued. 'Maxwell had many opportunities to come clean, but instead continued to make choices that caused more harm. When my sister and I first spoke out to the media about what happened to us, Maxwell lied about us and threatened Maria, thus helping shut down investigations into Epstein's behaviour so they could together continue to harm children and young women.' Virginia Roberts Prince Andrew's teen sex accuser, Miss Roberts now based in Australia is the most famous Epstein victim of them all. Although she did not give evidence at Maxwell's trial, the jury found Miss Roberts was one of her sex trafficking victims. In her impact statement, the American vowed to Maxwell: 'If you ever get out of prison, I will be here, watching you, making sure you never hurt anyone else again.' She also told her: 'Without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. 'For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. 'And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it. You could have put an end to the rapes, the molestations, the sickening manipulations that you arranged, witnessed and even took part in. 'Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell. You deserve to be trapped in a cage forever, just like you trapped your victims.' 'Kate' When British victim 'Kate' was a lonely teenager in 1994, Maxwell dressed her as a schoolgirl for sex with Epstein and branded her a 'good girl'. She said: 'The many acts that were perpetrated on me by Epstein including rape, strangulation and sexual assault would have never occurred had it not been for the cunning and premeditated role Ghislaine Maxwell played. What happened to me at that young age changed the course of my life drastically, forever. 'I witnessed on numerous occasions, over many years, Ghislaine Maxwell trying to recruit other girls and making consistent and insistent demands on me and others to do the same. 'There was never any ambiguity or doubt about her having full knowledge of what was to take place once she recruited girls.' In the years following the abuse, she struggled with drug addiction, panic attacks and night terrors, and she told of feeling 'unable to trust my own instincts in choosing romantic relationships'. Kate said testifying in the trial had been 'both terrifying and re-traumatizing' but added: 'I do not, however, regret it for one moment.' President Joe Biden blasted Russia's attack on Kyiv on Sunday as "barbarism," as he attempted to rally Western leaders against Vladimir Putin. "It's more of their barbarism," he declared at Schloss Elmau's ceremonial welcoming ceremony for G7 leaders. On Sunday, as G7 leaders convened for a meeting overshadowed by the crisis in Ukraine and its impact on food and energy supplies, as well as the global economy, Biden urged allies that "we have to stick united" against Russia. At the start of the summit in the Bavarian Alps, four of the Group of Seven wealthy nations voted to restrict Russian gold imports, tightening the sanctions grip on Moscow and cutting off its sources of funding for the invasion of Ukraine. Biden, Other G7 Leaders Condemn Latest Russian Attack in Ukraine It was unclear whether the plan received G7 backing, with European Council President Charles Michel suggesting that the matter would need to be handled cautiously and further investigated. Russia's attack on civilians at a shopping mall is cruel. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. As demonstrated at the G7 Summit, the U.S. along with our allies and partners will continue to hold Russia accountable for such atrocities and support Ukraines defense. President Biden (@POTUS) June 27, 2022 According to the British government, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, and Canada have agreed to a freeze on new Russian gold imports. According to Britain, the ban is aimed at wealthy Russians who have been buying safe-haven bullion to offset the financial impact of Western sanctions. Russian gold exports totaled $15.5 billion last year. As per a German government source, the G7 leaders of the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada were also conducting "extremely excellent" negotiations on a possible Russian oil price cap. Paris would press for an oil and gas price ceiling and is willing to discuss a US proposal. The G7 leaders did agree on a vow to generate $600 billion in private and public financing for poor nations to counter China's expanding influence and mitigate the effects of rising food and energy costs, NDTV reported. Read Also: Joe Biden, Democrats Launch Fundraising in the Wake of Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade Reversal as Protests Spark, Clinics Close Across US Biden Will Increase US Troops in Poland Biden intends to announce the continuation of part of the expanded US troop presence in Poland, as well as modifications to US deployments in other Baltic states that he approved before Russia invaded Ukraine. Changes to the US troop presence may have an impact on nations such as Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Officials indicated the number of fresh troops deployed to the region permanently would be limited, but several hundred might remain in Poland permanently, according to Reuters via MSN. On Sunday, Biden opened his first day at the G7 conference by complimenting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and assuring coalition solidarity against the invasion of Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine will dominate the conference as G7 leaders assess the effectiveness of sanctions. They will also debate the world's deteriorating economic situation. Scholz was waiting for Biden on the decking at a pavilion with breathtaking Alpine views. Before sitting down to discuss the day's agenda, the two leaders took the time to take in the surroundings. The president will spend the day meeting with the leaders of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union in both official and informal settings. Russia and its conflict in Ukraine will be at the top of the agenda, according to a senior administration official. Biden will also use his time later this week at the G7 and the NATO meeting to keep Western allies united on Russian sanctions. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan have imposed additional sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin to financially isolate him. The nations have banned importing Russian gold, the country's second-largest source of revenue after oil. The West has already slapped restrictions on Russian energy, luxury goods, and other products. However, doubts remain about the efficacy of such financial penalties, as per Daily Mail. Related Article: Zelensky: Russian Troops Fire Missiles At Shopping Mall in Ukraine With 1,000 People @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Cafes and restaurants are facing potential ruin as the cost of raw ingredients like green beans soar from $1 a kilo at market to a budget-blowing $240 for a 10kg tray. That amounts to a 2,300 per cent increase, with the price of beans soaring from $1 a kilo wholesale to $24 a kilo. And insiders warn it's about to get even worse, with the cost of grain now rocketing because of the Ukraine war - which could send the price of meat and dairy sky high. The price of eggs is already starting to go up as chicken farmers pass on the cost of the increased feed prices, while rising fuel costs will affect a whole range of foods. Now chefs and cafe owners are struggling to rewrite their recipes in a bid to survive as everyday essentials vanish from the shelves or cost too much to be viable. Cafes and restaurants are facing potential ruin as the cost of raw ingredients like green beans soar from $1 a kilo at market to a budget-blowing $240 for a 10kg tray. 'With everything going up, we can't find things to put on the menu,' Vessel diner owner Vicky Vardis from Sydney's glitzy Barangaroo business strip admitted. 'I'm annoying the chefs so they do meals at as low a cost as possible.' Market prices for vegetables have hit record highs in the wake of the floods which ravaged NSW and Queensland farmland, swamping crops and washing away topsoil. Official government data reveals how green bean prices spiralled exponentially in the space of three months, going up 400 per cent week-on-week at one stage. 'We would pay less than $10 for 10 kilograms of green beans normally,' said Ms Vardis. 'But we were charged $240 at market today. 'And it's even worse in the shops - I went to Harris Farm Markets the other day and they were charging $40 a kilogram. 'I'm seriously worried - not just for the business but for the global economy. There's a lot going on at the moment. 'I don't know what the solution is. We don't know what will happen from one moment to the next.' chefs and cafe owners are struggling to rewrite their recipes in a bid to survive as everyday essentials vanish from the shelves or cost too much to be viable Melbourne's Brick Lane cafe in the city's famous laneways has had to raise its prices three times in as many months to keep up with the soaring costs. 'It's right across the supply chain - meat, veg, fruit...and with fuel prices going up, that's just adding to the bill as well,' said manager Lindsay, who declined to give his surname. 'It affects the customers most of all as we just keep putting the prices up - but eventually you can only pay so much for something until it becomes ridiculous. 'You can ruin your recipes by swapping ingredients, you can cull some of the foods, you can make them smaller meals - you can do all those types of things. 'But the customer is the one that hurts whichever way you go, whether it's putting the price up or lowering the quality or going for cheaper ingredients or changing the recipes. 'It all comes back down to the customer. They're the ones who hurt.' The price hikes for green beans are even outstripping the cost of iceberg lettuces which also hit all-time highs, with the going rate tripling week-on-week in late May to $12 a head. The price hikes for green beans and broccoli are even outstripping the cost of iceberg lettuces which hit all-time highs when the going rate tripled week-on-week in late May to $12 a head. Broccoli prices also exploded, going up 350 per cent according to the most recent government figures. And there's even more pain on the way. 'Egg suppliers have raised the price of their eggs, mainly due to a large increase in the cost of grain used to feed the birds,' market specialist Sydney Fresh warned. 'It is possible there may be further increases. The international supply of grain is a worldwide issue, largely due to the Russia/Ukraine situation.' Grain is also used to feed cattle and pigs which is now set to impact meat and milk prices in coming weeks, pushing up the cost of even the humble bacon and egg roll. Snow peas, cabbage, leeks, zucchini, cucumber and cauliflower are spiralling to new heights - if you can even get them - and onions have been on their way up too Snow peas, cabbage, leeks, zucchini, cucumber and cauliflower are also spiralling to new heights - if you can even get them - and onions have been on their way up too. Herbs and salad greens like rocket are also desperately scarce and expensive. 'The flooding in NSW a month or so ago is still affecting the supply of herbs and leafy greens,' added Sydney Fresh. 'The more recent heavy falls in QLD have made many vegetables very scarce, such as broccoli and iceberg lettuce.' But Sydney Fresh offer some hope for the future: 'The supply issues are temporary and should hopefully ease in the coming weeks.' Advertisement Former Full House star Jodie Sweetin was seen Monday for the first time since was shoved to the ground by police officers during an abortion rights protest march in Los Angeles over the weekend. Sweetin, best known for playing Stephanie Tanner on 'Full House,' also describes herself on her social media profiles as an activist. She was with a large group of protesters marching on a freeway this weekend, one of the many demonstrations that took place in response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Video posted to Instagram shows Sweetin, dressed all in black toting a megaphone, close LAPD officers who had formed a line across the freeway. The officers suddenly push Sweetin back toward the crowd, causing her to stumble over the curb and into the freeway where a group of protesters caught her. She was seen Monday arriving at her Southern California home with visible bruising around her arms stemming from the incident. She was wearing a green tank top, jeans and sunglasses, with blue slippers, a drink in her hand and a bag around her arm. Scroll down for video Former Full House star Jodie Sweetin was seen Monday for the first time since was shoved to the ground by police officers during an abortion rights protest march in Los Angeles over the weekend. She was seen Monday arriving home with visible bruising around her arms stemming from the incident Sweetin appeared to be in decent spirits Monday morning as cameras caught her arriving home Actress Jodie Sweetin was shoved to the ground by police officers during an abortion rights protest march in Los Angeles over the weekend Sweetin is shoved back causing her to stumble over the curb and into the freeway where a group of protesters caught her At one point, perhaps in a nod to her activism, Sweetin was seen carrying a rainbow-colored bag with various liberal slogans on it, including 'Black Lives Matter' and "Silence is Violence.' The original poster of the Instagram video, photographer Michael Ade, claimed in his post that Sweetin was thrown to the ground while trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freeway. 'It pained me to see @JodieSweetin thrown to the ground by members of the LAPD as she was trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freewaySMH @LAPDHQ what are y'all doing? 'Jodi is the definition of a real one and fortunately she's okay! But for others who choose to protest today move with caution and keep your head on swivel. It's going to be a very long summer.' Sweetin, best known for playing Stephanie Tanner on 'Full House,' also describes herself on her social media profiles as an activist She was with a large group of protesters marching on a freeway this weekend, one of the many demonstrations that took place in response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade Sweetin goes to and from her car in Los Angeles as she arrives home Monday morning The original poster of the Instagram video, photographer Michael Ade, claimed in his post that Sweetin was thrown to the ground while trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freeway 'Jodi is the definition of a real one and fortunately she's okay! But for others who choose to protest today move with caution and keep your head on swivel. It's going to be a very long summer' At one point, perhaps in a nod to her activism, Sweetin was seen carrying a rainbow-colored bag with various liberal slogans on it, including 'Black Lives Matter' and "Silence is Violence.' Sweetin told TMZ that she's OK following the incident and said she was proud of the hundreds who showed up for the protests. 'I'm extremely proud of the hundreds of people who showed up yesterday to exercise their First Amendment rights and take immediate action to peacefully protest the giant injustices that have been delivered from our Supreme Court,' Sweetin told TMZ. 'Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free.' On January 17, Jodie - who's 13 years sober - announced her fifth engagement, this time, to 51-year-old drug and alcohol therapist Mescal Wasilewski, who's 25 years sober. A Sydney chiropractor has been jailed for at least five years and six months for repeatedly sexually assaulting a Japanese patient who sought treatment for her lower back and groin pain. Riaz Behi, 47, was convicted by a jury at his second trial of 13 charges including aggravated sexual touching and aggravated sexual assault of a person under his authority. Judge Sarah Huggett in the NSW District Court on Monday sentenced Behi to a full term of nine years in prison. Chiropractor Riaz Behi was sentenced to nine years in jail and will serve at least five years, six months for the crimes Over the course of 17 appointments in early 2019, the practitioner assaulted the then-31-year-old woman in the treatment rooms of The Back Guys practice in Sydney's CBD. During the tourist's first consultation, Behi pulled the woman's underpants down exposing her buttocks completely, she said in evidence through an interpreter. She came to believe removing underpants before a massage was normal practice in Australia, saying it absolutely never happened before an appointment in Japan. He progressed from massaging her buttocks to brushing his hands near her genitals until the eighth appointment when she had fallen asleep and was startled awake by his finger inside her, she told the court. The woman tearfully told the court she booked another appointment after the assault because she thought she would be in trouble if she left without an appointment. She had earlier been advised by a friend that Behi was a medical doctor with good reviews, and did not want to be rude to him. The victim tearfully told the court she thought it was 'normal' to remove her underpants at each session At another appointment, she was again directed to undress and felt Behi's hands close to her anus and vagina when she felt pain inside and 'froze' unable to speak. Behi asked her 'how do you feel?', prompting the woman to shake her head and say 'no'. At some point, he asked 'do you want me to stop' and she said 'yes, yes, yes'.' Behi used Google Translate to communicate with the woman, who told him that she wanted a regular massage and for him to never do that again. The woman said she continued going back as the massages in other areas had reduced the lower back pain she was suffering. Behi gave evidence at his first trial in March 2021 that on the woman's 10th appointment she nervously laughed after directing his hand 'south'. He claimed she motioned his hand up and down on top of her genital area for about 20 or 30 seconds, before opening her eyes and moving the towel above her nose, giggling. 'I awkwardly laughed as well ... and then repeated, "we shouldn't have done that",' he told the court. He denied ever inappropriately touching the woman who he said wore underpants at every session, but the jury rejected his version of events. Behi will first be eligible for parole in September 2027. A heated debate on The Project left Chrissie Swan 'terrified' after she clashed with Steve Price over radical environmental activists. The panel was discussing the recent chaos caused by Blockade Australia as protesters marched through the streets of Sydney, intentionally forcing traffic to come to a standstill. Price said he couldn't understand why the group thought they'd gain more support when they spent the week 'throwing rubbish into the street and disrupting an entire city'. 'I just think it's pathetic that they fill barrels with concrete and throw rubbish through the streets, I mean none of us would do that,' he said on Monday night. Swan then responded saying she acknowledged it was 'deeply inconvenient', before Price cut her off. 'It's pathetic!' he cried out, as a visibly uncomfortable Swan awkwardly laughed and then muttered 'I'm terrified'. A heated debate on The Project left Chrissie Swan 'terrified' after she clashed with Steve Price over climate change activists The Project co-host looked visibly uncomfortable after Price cut her off to tell her the climate change activists were 'pathetic' and should be jailed Price continued on his rant, saying the protesters needed to be locked up - before co-host Peter Helliar jumped in to lighten the mood. 'Chrissie's trying to chat and you're saying (the protesters) are disruptive,' he said as the crowd laughed. Swan was eventually able to make her point saying the 'price for apathy is extreme caring like that'. Price butted in again and said 'what, breaking the law?'. 'Well, yeah. I'm OK with it. I would never do that, but I think that's the price of democracy,' Swan replied before Price again insisted the activists go to jail. The tense debate comes after Sydney's CBD was overrun with Blockade Australia protesters once again on Tuesday morning with 12 arrested. One woman was aggressively shoved to the ground by police as the group marched to Hyde Park. A live-stream of the group's action was shared to Facebook showing dozens running through the city's CBD while loud chants of 'what do we want? Climate justice!' rang out through the streets. One man was dragged away by three officers while shouting 'this is not a violent protest!'. In a tweet, the group said pepper spray was used on some of their members. Police knock a Blockade Australia protester to the ground in Sydney. The march was for tougher action to tackle the #ClimateCrisis pic.twitter.com/2ouo32ySNj Michael Dahlstrom (@mb_dahlstrom) June 27, 2022 One female protester was knocked to the ground by a police officer during Tuesday's demonstration The woman had a Blockade Australia banner ripped out of her hands before she was pushed over One man was dragged away by two officers with the group claiming pepper spray was used One protester holds up a cross as things took an unusual turn during climate change demonstrations on Tuesday in Sydney The woman was holding a banner for Blockade Australia before it was ripped out of her hands and she was knocked to the ground The crowd of Blockade Australia activists were seen storming the streets of Sydney on Tuesday One female protester is seen being dragged away by police. The group caused havoc for a second day on Tuesday Blockade Australia has vowed to keep up the protests everyday this week after ten were already arrested and charged on Monday 'Come to Sydney to resist climate inaction by taking strategic direct action in the heart of Australia,' the group said. 'Coordinated action is more important than ever.' About 50 members were seen in Tuesday's action - many wearing face masks - while a long line of police officers walked nearby. 'This is about all the things that are necessary for life to survive on earth,' one activist filming the demonstration said. Police were seen questioning one woman while two men were dragged away in handcuffs. Blockade Australia protesters have filmed themselves charging down the streets of Sydney for another day of wild climate change demonstrations Tuesday marked another day of protests from climate change group Blockade Australia Multiple police officers were on watch as the activists stormed the streets Another member, James Woods said the human species was 'teetering on the edge of total collapse'. 'We are facing a catastrophic climate collapse, the biggest existential threat our species has ever known, and the system that we call Australia is driving us straight past the point of no return,' he said. 'There is no possibility of meaningful change within this system. Australia has been designed to operate as a project of extraction and exploitation, and without a total upheaval of this project, we have absolutely no chance of survival.' The group have urged more Aussies to join them for another day of chaos on Wednesday. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the activists would face consequences. 'It can't go on for much longer, these people are dumb, divisive, disrespectful and they're bloody idiots who will face the full force of the law,' he told 2GB. 'These are not isolated incidents, it's a coordinated campaign.' LNP Senator Matt Canavan blasted the protesters as 'eco terrorists' and called for law-breakers to be shown the 'full force of the law'. A live-stream of the group shared to Facebook showed dozens running through the city's CBD towards Hyde Park on Tuesday morning, while loud chants of 'what do we want? Climate justice!' rang out through the streets 'This just shows the folly of negotiating with eco-terrorists. These people will never be happy,' he told Sky News on Tuesday morning. 'Give them an inch they'll take a mile. We signed up to net zero and now they want to end coal next year. 'They have no idea how world works they want to threaten and bully people into submission. 'We have to stand up to it and say no more. 'People who break the law should be arrested face the full force of the law and there should be no sympathy for them.' He described the protesters as 'unreasonable and violent'. Earlier Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek backed the right to protest but said demonstrators must obey the law. Ten Blockade Australia members were charged after similar demonstrations in Sydney on Monday. Police allege 60 people were involved the unauthorised demonstration, which saw a hoard of activists storm the streets blocking off traffic at various locations. Six women and four men aged between 21 and 49 from three states were arrested and charged with a string of offences related to willfully preventing the free passage of a person or vehicle. Blockade Australia caused more havoc on Monday, blocking the road leading into the Harbour tunnel All but one were refused bail to appear in either Central or Downing Centre Court on Tuesday and could be facing heavy fines and up to two years in jail. Police established Strike Force Guard vowing to maintain a highly visible presence in the CBD for the rest of the week after Blockade Australia warned of further disruptions. 'It is unacceptable that a small number of people - who have little to no regard for everyday individuals going about their lives, are causing unnecessary disruptions to their morning commute,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said. 'What these individuals are doing is both illegal and unsafe, putting the lives of themselves, the general public and our officers in danger by running on roadway and blocking roads by other means to disrupt traffic.' Dozens of specialist officers were deployed to assist in the operation, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, Mounted Police, Rescue Squad, Dog Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol and Transit Police. Protesters hold a sign outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as a car blocks off traffic on Monday Both sides of the NSW government condemned the protestors' actions. 'I would say this to the protesters: Go and get a real job,' Deputy Premier Paul Toole said. 'Go and talk to somebody who's actually been delayed in getting to work today.' Protesters can be fined up to $22,000 and put behind bars for two years. Desperate and despairing teachers have spoken out about why they are quitting the profession in droves, painting a picture of struggling to meet impossible workloads and expectations while being undermined and undervalued. A federal inquiry back in 2019 heard that more than a third of teachers had quit within the first five years. And testimonies gathered from former teachers this week showed why. 'Teachers do not feel valued,' former primary school teacher Gabbie Shroud wrote in The Guardian on Tuesday. Although teachers were devoted to the job, describing it as a 'calling', many said they often decided to leave the job due to impossible demands. 'Heartbreakingly, I know the victims of this will be the students, but I can't stay. It's not enough,' one said. Teachers are speaking out about the workload that is forcing many to leave the occupation Burn out was a common complaint. 'The expectations, directives, mandates and overloaded curriculum are destroying me. The joy has faded,' one teacher said. 'We are expected to work miracles,' said a former primary school teacher of 20 years. 'In every lesson, every day we have to make sure we're meeting every need of every child, from the one who's experienced trauma through to the [parent diagnosed] child-genius.' There was plenty of frustration expressed about the expectations being lumped on teachers by distant politicians and bureaucrats, with no real concept of how they were affecting the quality of education being delivered. 'My days are filled with behaviour management, the bombardment of emails, writing programs, marking work, giving feedback, reporting to parents, setting student goals, writing individual programs, attending meetings and professional development to remain registered,' one teacher said. 'And, dare I forget, the uploading of data into the system before deadline. If only I could just teach!' The shortages of teachers are forcing many schools to use non-specialists to teach areas such as maths and science The pandemic also added to the levels of stress. 'Our skills are not respected or valued,' a high school teacher, who is planning to leave the job, said. 'I am a university-educated professional, but this year I have spent hours of planning time handing out RATs to students, a task that anyone could do. Why am I doing this? 'Our deadlines are not extended when planning time is taken away because we're expected to use our weekend to catch up on work.' Teachers say that constantly increasing levels of admin, piled on by politicians and bureaucrats far removed from the classroom, is eating away their time and energy to educate the young Insecure working conditions were also highlighted, with many teachers now on one-year contracts. One teacher said when she expressed concern about the mental health effects the casualisation of the workforce had on them she was told: 'That is the lot of the temporary teacher.' 'Heartbreakingly, I know the victims of this will be the students, but I can't stay. It's not enough,' one teacher said Mr Shround, who described herself as 'a recovering teacher', resigned from an eight-year career as a primary school teacher to become an author. She has argued that the standardised testing, such as NAPLAN, destroy the ability of teachers to cater to the individual needs and talents of children. The teacher shortage is being felt across Australia, particularly in NSW and Queensland. In NSW, the opposition Labor party called for a parliamentary inquiry into how to address the 2300 teacher vacancies registered in the state's public schools. NSW Shadow Education Minister Prue Car said it wasn't just pay that motivated the unprecedented joint strike by the state's public and Catholic school teachers, set for Thursday, but also the severe staff shortages. Every day I am hearing there are children at every school across the state being in minimal supervision, merged classes, were talking about 80 to 100 kids being supervised by one teacher, she told Sky News Australia. In Queensland, three quarters of schools were using non-specialist teachers, such as principals, or teachers operating outside their areas to fill gaps, the ABC reported. Anthony Albanese, here seen posing for a selfie with students during a visit to his old school at St Mary's Cathedral, has promised to address Australia's teaching shortage The problem is set to get worse with a Monash University survey released in January finding 59 per cent of high and primary school teachers want to do something else. Federal parliament has been told that on current trends Australia will be about 4000 teachers short by 2025. Anthony Albanese promised to tackle the problem with new programs offering cash incentives to encourage 'high achievers' both at school level and already working in industry to be trained as teachers. The emphasis will be on finding teachers in the maths and science areas, where the shortage is most pronounced. Southern Cross University Professor of Education Pasi Sahlberg argued that those strategies would not address the teaching exodus. 'This is because the root cause of this current crisis is not a shortage of teachers: its the lack of adequate compensation and support for existing teachers,' he wrote in The Conversation earlier this month. 'If we dont understand why teaching is not an attractive career, current strategies and promises funded by the governments will not be enough to solve the crisis.' A Sydney teacher has revealed how they've been forced to work as a bartender after refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate set in the education sector. The teacher, who remained anonymous, emailed 2GB radio host Ben Fordham, who read out their message live on air on Tuesday morning. 'Ben - I am a highly sought after teacher specialising in a subject with critical shortages,' the teacher wrote. A Sydney teacher revealed to Ben Fordham that they've been unable to work as as educator and have been unemployed for 'most of the last six months' due to their unvaccinated status 'A dozen schools have offered me jobs, but I've had to turn them down because of my vaccine status.' They revealed that they've been unemployed for 'most of the last 6 months' and were making ends meet as a bartender. NSW teachers must have three Covid vaccine doses under the current mandate. But that mandate could be thrown out in NSW from July 18, as the education department reveals plans to scrap vaccine mandates for most staff. It would mean unvaccinated teachers could work in schools again from the beginning of Term 3. Victoria and Queensland have ended vaccine mandates in schools. The teacher who emailed the 2GB radio host said they were working as a bartender to make ends meet The NSW Department of Education is set to scrap mandates for teachers from July 18 Radio presenter Ben Fordham (pictured) also recounted stories from an unvaccinated Bondi lifeguard who was about to lose their job and an RFS member who can't work due to the vaccine mandate While the education sector is set to wind back the mandate, unvaccinated workers in other industries won't be as fortunate. A lifeguard working in Bondi revealed to Fordham that unvaccinated lifeguards, like himself, were about to be sacked. 'I have over ten years' experience on the beach. I am about to be fired due to the council's vaccine policy'. 'I'm now advised that I cannot patrol beaches from July 1. I have never been so depressed and worried about my future.' The lifeguard said the council is already understaffed and is desperately searching for more staff, despite the policy banning unvaccinated workers. Meanwhile, a NSW Rural Fire Service member also shared their experience of being unable to volunteer due to their unvaccinated status. 'I want to volunteer at my local command centre, but my vaccination status bans me from entry,' they said. 'Why are we continuing down this path of discrimination? Didn't the Premier recently state the mandates must end?' they added. NSW RFS staff and volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated to work. Chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, Professor Catherine Bennett, made the argument that mandates have become 'outdated' and 'don't really make sense' NSW premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) said earlier this month that vaccine mandates in the state would be coming to an end Professor Catherine Bennett, chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, believes now is the time to start reconsidering mandates. 'There is no doubt that mandates served a role,' she began. 'But I don't think there is an argument for keeping them in place. 'The difference between being unvaccinated and vaccinated is disappearing.' Professor Bennett had told 3AW earlier this month that having two dose mandates is 'outdated' and 'doesn't really make sense' due to the changing nature of the virus. It comes as premier Dominic Perrottet told Fordham earlier this month that Covid vaccine mandates would be coming to an end. Mr Perrottet said he had 'made it very clear that we are ending vaccine mandates' and had met with top bureaucrats to ask them to do so'. 'They are working through those risk-based assessments and I expect them to come back to me shortly,' he said. 'I expect them to implement my direction.' Bill Gates is purchasing a palazzo in Rome to convert into a lavish six-star hotel through Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts - which he co-owns with a Saudi prince. Four Seasons has put down a $21 million down payment toward the $170 million purchase price of the Palazzo Marini, a sprawling 17th-century complex just steps away from the Trevi Fountain, the Daily Beast reported, citing documents viewed at Rome's City Hall. Gates, through his Cascade Investment LLC, controls Four Seasons alongside a minority investment from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saudi Arabia's self-styled answer to Warren Buffett. Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding Company has made millions investing in companies such as Uber, Citigroup and Lyft, and the firm is one of the outside financial backers of Elon Musk's pending Twitter buyout. Bill Gates' Four Seasons has put down a $21 million down payment toward the $170 million purchase price of the Palazzo Marini in Rome (above) Gates, through his Cascade Investment LLC, controls Four Seasons alongside a minority investment from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal (right) Cascade and KHC first partnered up to take Four Seasons private in 2007. In January, Cascade upped its stake in the joint venture to 71.25 percent, buying half of KHC's prior 47.5 percent stake for $2.21 billion. It left KHC with a 23.75 percent stake in Four Seasons. Four Seasons founder Isadore Sharp, the company's chairman, also retains a 5 percent stake in the luxury hotel chain. Alwaleed, 67, had long kept a tight grip on Kingdom's shares, owning all but the 5 percent traded on the Saudi stock market, until Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund purchased a 16.87 percent stake for $1.5 billion last month. A spokesperson for Four Seasons did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the company's plans for the Palazzo Marini on Monday evening. By all accounts, Four Seasons will face a major project in converting the sprawling Palazzo Marini into Rome's first six-star hotel. The complex consists of four separate blocks and takes up one side of the Piazza San Silvestro in central Rome. Several years ago, much of the ground floor was converted into a pop-up Ikea store selling affordable home goods to Rome's urban dwellers. Several years ago, much of the building's ground floor was converted into a pop-up Ikea store selling affordable home goods to Rome's urban dwellers Much of the ground floor of the historic palazzo is currently an Ikea store, seen above The upper floors host a cafeteria for lawmaker's in the lower house of Italy's parliament, which is a few streets over. However, the building boasts an envious location for attracting tourists, located not far from the famed Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Via Condotti, the center of fashion shopping in Rome. Construction on the palazzo was started, but not finished, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1650, and over the years it was home to a string of nobles. At one point Pope Innocent XII took possession and converted the building into the headquarters of the Pontifical Tribunal. But in recent years the property has languished after real estate developer Sergio Scarpellini unloaded in a fire sale following his 2016 arrest on bribery charges. A fund snapped up the palazzo from Scarpellini as part of an $800 million bundle of properties, and several developers had shown interest until the COVID-19 pandemic decimated Rome's tourist trade. Construction on the Palazzo Marini (above) was started, but not finished, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1650, and over the years it was home to a string of nobles Now, Four Seasons plans to spend $120 million renovating the building, according to the purchase papers reported by the Daily Beast, which are only visible in person at Rome's city hall. The luxury hotel is expected to have about 100 rooms, and could include space for a conference center, gym and spa. Four Seasons has an existing portfolio of 122 hotels and resorts and 48 residential properties in 47 countries around the world. The company announced in January that it has more than 50 new projects under planning or development, including in Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Colombia, Belize and across key markets in the US. A jury found Yusuf Nazlioglu (pictured) not guilty of Comanchero boss Mick Hawi's execution in 2018 A killer waited in the basement of a carpark for a bikie to park his black Mercedes before spraying the man with bullets - in front of his horrified new wife. Yusuf Nazlioglu was raced to Sydney's Westmead Hospital about 6.30pm on Monday with about ten bullet wounds after the unidentified killer opened fire in the parking complex under his apartment in Rhodes, in the city's west. Daily Mail Australia understands the gunman was waiting in a silver hatchback for Nazlioglu to get out of the car before he unleashed on the underworld figure. Nazlioglu's wife frantically rang police. The pair married just months ago. Police confirmed the 40-year-old died in hospital about 7.15am on Tuesday. A black Mercedes with a large bullet hole in a window on the driver's side was towed from the carpark on Tuesday morning. Scroll down for video Nazlioglu's wife (pictured together) frantically rang police. The pair married just months ago Police towed a black Mercedes from the carpark on Tuesday morning. The car had a large bullet hole All eight levels of the parking lot were closed to residents until about 11.30am, when detectives left the scene holding a brown bag filled with evidence. The silver hatchback was set on fire a few streets away from the shooting. Detective Superintendent Martin Hayston said detectives believe the attack was 'targeted'. 'The person who approached the 40-year-old male and shot him clearly was there to do that, there is various lines of inquiry underway in relation to motive,' he said. Footage showed police sprinting down the ramp of the carpark after Nazlioglu's wife raised the alarm. Multiple paramedics could be seen walking through the complex, before a heavily bandaged man was stretchered out of the building. Yusuf Nazlioglu is pictured with his wife in April. The couple got married in January Yusuf Nazlioglu proposed to his new wife with an enormous diamond ring - just months before he was gunned down Pictured: The former bikie's black Mercedes, being towed from the residential carpark on Tuesday Paramedics treat the former Lone Wolf bikie shot in Sydney's inner west on Monday as police watch on (pictured) The building includes a shopping centre, apartments and basement carpark. Plain-clothed detectives arrived at the scene throughout Tuesday morning, as the investigation into the senseless killing continues. Nazlioglu was charged with murder after Hawi, the ex-kingpin of the Comanchero bikie gang who was he gunned down as he climbed into his luxury four-wheel-drive outside a Fitness First gym in Rockdale in Sydney's south in 2018. He was found not guilty but had another brush with the law when he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm. The underworld figure was sentenced to three years in prison and walked free in September 2021. Emergency crews responded to reports of a shooting in Rhodes (pictured) about 7pm with Nazlioglu rushed to hospital The carpark in Rhodes was blocked off by police on Tuesday morning. All eight levels of the complex were closed Pictured: The basement carpark where Nazlioglu was gunned down on Monday Bullet holes could be seen dotted into one of the walls inside the basement car park Fragments of the wall chipped off by the bullets were scattered across the ground Haunting covert recordings played in court during his sentencing revealed that Nazlioglu knew he was a marked man. 'I used to hear people outside were going to knock me, yeah?' he said while inside Sydney's Silverwater Prison in 2020, the Daily Telegraph reported. 'I used to still leave my house, brother, knowing that one day someone's going to sneak up on me and put one in my head. 'But I still f*****g went to the same hairdresser, went to the same f*****g restaurants yeah. I still showed my face in front yard and hung out with boys at their porches at their houses, yeah knowing I'm gunna get knocked one day.' Bodies have been piling up in the Harbour City in the past 18 months with at least a dozen contract killings linked to the bitter feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime clans Detectives and officers on the scene at Walker Street in Rhodes (pictured) The Australian that was raised by Turkish parents even bragged that he still visits the same mosque 'where all our enemies know we pray'. 'They could wait for us to walk out brother, did we s**t ourselves? Were we scared? No.' While Nazlioglu was found not guilty by a jury of the hit on Hawi, his friend, furniture removalist Ahmad Doudar, 40, was jailed for four-and-a-half years. Father-of-one Doudar was sentenced after admitting to being an accessory after the fact to Hawi's murder. Doudar's role in the crime involved him picking up a hidden silver Aurion with a tow truck and intending to dispose of it, alongside others, the court heard. Justice Robert Allan Hulme said on sentencing that '(Mr Doudar) intended to assist in disposing of the vehicle in order to assist' in the murder. Nazlioglu, then 39, and alleged getaway driver Jamal El-Jaidi, then 32, were both found not guilty by a jury, following a week of deliberations. Police responded after being called to Walker Street Rhodes after shots were fired (pictured) A basement carpark on Walker Street is searched by officers (pictured) Doudar, who accepted their involvement in the crime when making his plea, was not called to give evidence at their trial. In sentencing Doudar for being an accessory, the judge said murders like this 'do not happen by chance... they require the involvement of multiple people.' Doudar's motive remains unknown. 'For all I know, Mr Doudar may have been motivated by one or more other purposes,' the judge said. Hawi's wife, Carolina Gonzalez, sister Zeinab and parents Ahmad and Nahdi read statements at his sentencing hearing. They gave 'very moving accounts of the loss and grief that has resulted from the taking of their loved one in the most horrendous of circumstances.' Doudar was jailed with a non parole period of three years and four months while Nazlioglu and El-Jaidi walked free. Former Comanchero boss Mick Hawi (pictured) was gunned down outside a Rockdale gym A fashion model dubbed South Sudan's third most handsome man alive has broken his silence after admitting to stealing credit card information to go on spending sprees at Chemist Warehouse stores across Sydney. Anei Dut, 27, who has strutted the catwalk for some of the globe's hottest designers including Camilla and Marc, Jack London, Tommy Hilfiger and Calibre, pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud in Newtown Local Court earlier this month. He was due to face a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, but the case was adjourned for six weeks after his lawyer asked the judge for more time to approve Dut's mother's address before the ruling. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia outside court, the fashionista said he was remorseful and claimed he had already reimbursed the retail giant the stolen funds. 'I paid them back already,' he said, jumping into an Uber. Anei Dut, 27 (pictured), has strutted the catwalk for some of the globe's hottest designers including Camilla and Marc, Jack London, Tommy Hilfiger and Calibre Dut (pictured in 2017 at Australian Fashion Week) pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud in Newtown Local Court 'I have apologised.' Dut, who moved to Australia in 2003 after fleeing war in South Sudan, stole credit card numbers from 19 people after perusing illegal websites selling their personal information. Dressed in a black tracksuit and sneakers, Dut appeared pensive and sat with his arms crossed throughout the brief mention. Before dismissing his case, the judge told the court she supported his legal team's decision to get the alternative address approved, a move that allows for more sentencing options, such as home detention. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Chemist Warehouse for comment. Dut is pictured leaving Newtown Local Court on Tuesday, where his sentencing hearing was adjourned for two weeks How the fashionista's scam worked Anei Dut bought stolen credit card information from illegal websites acting as a marketplace for fraudsters. The model would then visit Chemist Warehouse stores in Sydney and buy up a haul of expensive items. Shortly after he would go back to the store and return the goods, requesting staff refund the purchases price to his own personal Westpac account. The con came undone when financial institutions and their customers alerted police, along with Chemist Warehouse. Advertisement In March 2021, Dut scammed the pharmacy chain by visiting several stores and buying bulk items by manually entering the details of the stolen credit cards, the Daily Telegraph reported. He would later return the goods and request a refund be sent to his personal Westpac account. Once Chemist Warehouse and customers from financial institutions Caixa, JP Morgan, Capital One and OCBC Bank became aware of the con, an investigation was launched by NSW Police. Investigators quickly identified Dut on CCTV, and the Sydneysider was arrested. Earlier this month, police told the court that when they seized his mobile phone, he had a tab open for a website called 'CCVstore.net' and items in an online shopping basket. The marketplace for scammers sells credit card numbers along with their expiry dates and CVV numbers. Dut was named South Sudan's third most handsome man alive by an African publication The court heard that Dut also shared six of the 19 credit card numbers with a third party via text. Although Dut is a sought-after model, he also has a number of criminal offences to his name. He was convicted of assault in 2013 and had his license suspended in 2016 and 2020 for drink driving and getting behind the wheel with a suspended license. Dut is currently serving an intensive corrections order for contravening a domestic restraining order. Dut, who was modelling for David Jones at major fashion shows before signing with the prestigious Chadwick Models agency when he was a teenager, told the Herald Sun in 2016 that he wanted to inspire other Sudanese-born Australians to believe that 'anything is possible'. He will return to Newtown Local Court on August 9 for sentencing over the charges of dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence. A horrified car lover was forced to watch his beloved ute speed away after a knife-wielding man allegedly robbed him at a petrol station. Daniel Buss, 25, was walking out of the petrol station on NSW's Central Coast when he was confronted by the man and allegedly robbed of his keys. Mr Buss told Daily Mail Australia he was 'shocked' at his brush with danger. 'I felt like it couldn't be real that something like that was happening and once I realised it was real, I thought I was about to die,' he said. He said he thought of his family as he watched his brand new, bright orange Ford ute driving away. 'All I wanted to do was let my family know what happened and that I was OK because family means everything to me,' Mr Buss said. 'All I wanted to do was let my family know what happened,' Mr Buss told Daily Mail Australia about the alleged assault caught on camera (pictured) Mr Buss had pulled up at the service station on the way to his father's place in Newcastle on Sunday. After paying for his fuel, the petrol station's CCTV captured the moment he was approached by a knife-wielding man, who allegedly demanded the keys to his car. Mr Buss had only had the ute for a week, after buying the brand new car in June. But the bright colour of the car helped cops in their search, who discovered the ute abandoned hours later. After the car enthusiast fuelled up, a man allegedly menaced him with a knife demanding the keys to his car (pictured) A day after allegedly stealing the ute, the man was accused of assaulting an attendant at another service station 30km away, before trying to open a cash register. Police allege the man's spree didn't stop there. Hours later, a tradie's van with a trailer attached was stolen from the same area, where police allege the thief tried to use a sledge hammer to remove the trailer. The 29-year-old man was arrested not long after and charged with a range of offences including aggravated robbery inflict actual bodily harm, and take and drive conveyance without consent of owner. It was revealed after the arrest that Nepean Police had an outstanding warrant for alleged shoplifting and aggravated assault charges against the same man. He will appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday after being refused bail. Meanwhile, Mr Buss' ute was returned to him. 'Cars mean everything to me, that's my way of expressing myself,' Mr Buss told 9News. 'I felt like it couldn't be real that something like that was happening,' Mr Buss told Daily Mail Australia about the alleged confrontation NATO has put roughly 300,000 of its troops on high alert as part of its move to increase the strength of its rapid reaction force in order to respond to Russia's threat to allied nations. Currently, the Western alliance's reaction force consists of about 40,000 soldiers which can quickly deploy where they are needed if necessary. In combination with other measures including the deployment of forces to defend specific allies, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the decision was part of the "biggest overhaul of collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War." NATO's Increased Forces The official said that the troops will conduct exercises together with home defense forces and will become familiar with local terrain, facilities, and new prepositioned stocks. This would allow them to respond smoothly and swiftly to any emergency. Stoltenberg's remarks were made during a press conference ahead of a NATO summit that will be held later this week in Madrid. During the discussions, the 30 allies are expected to also agree on further support to Ukraine in its war against Russia, as per Fox News. The NATO chief said that he was expecting allies to make clear that they consider Russia "as the most significant and direct threat to our security." In the alliance's new strategic concept, it also expected to address for the first time the security challenges posed by China, said Stoltenberg. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Conducts Late-Night Secret Meeting To Talk with Fellow Dictator About Nuclear Weapons [RUMOR] He added that allies will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine when they convene in Spain as NATO members are set to adopt a "strengthened comprehensive assistance package." This would include deliveries of secure communication and anti-drone systems to support Kyiv. According to CNBC, Stoltenberg said that the NATO Summit in Madrid this week will be "transformative" and will include many important decisions. The decision to bolster the response force follows a coordinated appeal from Russia's neighbors to shore up defenses on Europe's eastern flank. Russia-Ukraine War The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have said that Russia's war against Ukraine requires a fundamental change to the Western alliance's existing military construct. The three countries have repeatedly called on NATO to provide a substantial increase in the number of foreign troops stationed in the region. Estonia's foreign ministry has also pushed for a "deterrence by denial" strategy which could ensure that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania can credibly fight to protect their territories in the event that Russia decides to invade as they wait for reinforcement from the broader alliance. Stoltenberg, in comments on newly released defense spending figures, said that 2022 will be the eighth consecutive year of increased spending across European allies and Canada. By the end of the year, the NATO chief said that they will have invested "well over" $350 billion extra since the group's Defense Investment Pledge in 2014. The situation comes as Stoltenberg said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has agreed to meet with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Tuesday in Madrid to try and resolve an ongoing issue with the latter two's NATO membership applications, The Guardian reported. Related Article: Zelensky: Russian Troops Fire Missiles At Shopping Mall in Ukraine With 1,000 People @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement Anthony Albanese has already travelled over 43,000km overseas less than six weeks since winning the May 21 election. The Prime Minister set the tone for his jet-setting premiership on his first day in office when he flew to Tokyo just hours after being sworn in on May 23. He later visited Indonesia to meet president Joko Widodo and is now in Madrid as a guest of a NATO meeting before a trip to Paris to meet President Macron. Mr Albanese's travels so far have taken him to two continents - Asia and Europe - and would have earned him more than 50,000 Qantas points if he had flown commercially in business class. Labor's last Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, was also known for his jet setting ways and copped the nickname Kevin 747 for his string of VIP flights around the world after his election in 2007. Anthony Albanese has already travelled over 43,000km overseas less than six weeks since winning the May 21 election. He has been to Tokyo, Indonesia, Dubai and Spain During his Tokyo trip Mr Albanese held a Quad leaders meeting with President Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 79-year-old US President, who famously fell asleep during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow last year, was impressed that Mr Albanese seemed so alert just after the election campaign, saying: 'If you fall asleep while you're here, it's OK'. Mr Albanese assured the leaders that Australia's commitment to the Quad remained steadfast despite the change in government. 'We have had a change of government in Australia, but Australia's commitment to the Quad has not changed and will not change,' he said. Joe Biden praised Anthony Albanese's energy after the new Prime Minister flew to Tokyo on his first day in the job Albo's overseas trips Japan: 23-25 May Indonesia: 5-7 June UAE: 27 June Spain: 27 June Advertisement On June 5 Mr Albanese made his first bilateral overseas visit to Australia's neighbour Indonesia, best know to Aussies for the holiday island of Bali. The nation of 273million people is developing rapidly and Australia wants to improve market access for its exports as a way of diversifying from China. Mr Albanese met President Widodo and the pair took a bike ride around his palace grounds. Despite wobbling and later complaining the pace was too slow, he said he greatly appreciated the ride and even took the bike he used back to Australia. The Prime Minister then had three weeks in Australia - which included tackling an energy crisis - before his next overseas trip to Madrid for a NATO summit on June 26. On the way to Spain, Mr Albanese stopped in the United Arab Emirates where Australia has a military operating hub at the Al Minhad airbase just outside Dubai. Accompanied by his girlfriend of two years, Jodie, he met defence force personnel and Australian embassy staff at the hub known as Camp Baird. Some 2,750 Afghan evacuees were processed there after the US withdrawal of Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August last year. Speaking to about 30 troops, Albanese thanked them for their service in keeping the nation safe, and said Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a 'reminder of the unsafe world we live in'. 'Our values of maintaining international rule of law, maintaining a sense of order in the global environment is one that can't be taken for granted,' he said. 'It does have to be defended, and those of us in political life are humbled by the knowledge that it's defended each and every day by our men and women in uniform.' The PM arrived in Spain on Monday night where he will join the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand alongside the 30 NATO members. NATO was founded in 1949 as a security alliance to counter the Soviet Union, now Russia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon disembark the plane after arriving in Madrid Anthony Albanese poses for photographs with members of the Australian Defence Force during a visit to Camp Baird at Australia's main operating base in the Middle East In Madrid, Mr Albanese will meet his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He will also meet the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and give an address to the OECD council. High on the agenda at the NATO meeting is Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as the increasing assertiveness of China. 'Australia has been unequivocal in its support for Ukraine and its condemnation of President Putin,' Mr Albanese said. 'We will continue to stand up for freedom and democracy.' Mr Albanese has been invited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to visit the war-torn country, but his security team are still deciding whether to accept given logistics and security concerns. The Prime Minister said he was 'honoured' to accept an invitation to Paris to President Emmanuel Macron. 'France is an important partner and friend to Australia, particularly in our shared vision for peace and stability in the Pacific,' he said. The relationship with France soured after former prime minister Scott Morrison scrapped a $90 billion submarine deal with French company Naval Group. The home invasion of a single mum has rocked neighbours of celebrity WAG Bec Judd in the wealthy Melbourne suburb she says is being hit by a terror crime wave. Judd has been vocal in demanding increased police protection for glitzy Brighton, 13km from the CBD, after a series of break-ins, burglaries and expensive car thefts. Now neighbour and former My Kitchen Rules reality show contestant Zana Pali has chimed in, backing Judd and alleging two more incidents have locals on edge. Former My Kitchen Rules contestant Zana Pali (seen here with partner Gianni Romano) has backed neighbour Bec Judd over the crime wave hitting Melbourne's wealthy Brighton suburb Another two incidents have rocked the neighbours of celebrity WAG Bec Judd which she says is being hit by a terrifying crime wave 'Another home invasion in Brighton last night,' she wrote on Instagram on Monday. 'This time it was a friend of ours who woke up crying and screaming. 'My friend's house was broken into. She is a single mother - thankfully her and her children are safe.' Ms Pali claims the latest incident happened just two days after a group of youths were spotted in the area allegedly scouting out homes to target. She reposted a warning from another neighbour late last week which said the gang matched the description of other youths seen in previously in the area. 'Please keep alert!' warned the post. 'There has been a group of four or more men wandering around the streets and driveways in Asling street. 'They are probably going around the neighborhood. No photos but clear description from my neighbour appears to be similar groups of people from past events.' The incident comes after footy WAG Bec Judd spoke out about the rising crime wave affecting Brighton and her war of words with Victorian premier Dan Andrews The latest fears come after Ms Judd got into a war of words with Victoria Premier Dan Andrews about rising crime in the city's well-heeled Bayside area. Victoria Premier Dan Andrews Andrews dismissed Bec Judd's comments as a 'sweeping assessment She took to social media to rage: 'So sick of the rapes, bashings and home invasions at the hands of gangs in Bayside. 'The state government dont seem to care. We feel unsafe.' Mr Andrews dismissed her comments as a 'sweeping assessment' but said he wasn't '...interested in having an argument with Ms Judd.' He added: 'Im also obliged to point out, though, I think there are more than 70 additional police in the Bayside area. 'And the most recent crime statistics released by an independent agency would not support those sweeping assessments about patterns of crime.' Zana Pali claims the latest incident happened just two days after a group of youths were spotted in the area allegedly scouting out homes to target However it later emerged the 70 additional police have since been stood down, and the latest crime data paints a more complex picture. Burglaries and break-in stats for Brighton in 2022 reveal a sharp spike over last year, soaring from 115 incidents to 145. But that figure is actually the lowest in 10 years if you exclude lockdown-affected data from of 2021. And overall crime for the suburbs is also at its lowest level for 10 years. Ms Pali insisted though: 'Take care. 'Crime data [for] 2022 has finally been released and there is an increase in aggravated burglaries in Brighton despite it initially being denied due to the low rates of crime from 2020-2021 data of lockdowns. 'Action needs to happen this is NOT OK.' Earlier this month a Melbourne mother-of-two told Daily Mali Australia of her terror after a gang of teenage home invaders wandered around her house while she and family were asleep upstairs. The teen thieves made off on a crime spree in the Brighton family's luxury cars before the gang was shot at by police in St Kilda. Two boys aged 13 and 14 were later arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, car theft and other offences. Mum Emily Meredith-Smith demanded: 'What are they going to do about it? 'We need more protection around here. It's awful. 'For the first couple of days afterwards, I was just in shock. Now I'm just angry. 'I'm told one of the boys had 13 charges out against him before he stole my car and was on his way to commit more crimes. 'I know they're just young kids - but why are they not being detained longer by the authorities...and where are their parents?' CCTV footage showed the gang trying to steal another car in the street before one was caught on Ms Meredith-Smith's doorbell cam sneaking into their home. The gang wandered around inside the home in Brighton's Cochrane Street before they grabbed the keys to the family's Audi SQ5 and Subaru Outback and sped off into the night around 1.30am. One of the cars was almost out of fuel when they stole it and 50 minutes later they had to stop to refill at a St Kilda service station when a patrol car spotted them, before one officer opened fire on the vehicle when it hit a cop and tried to flee the scene Melbourne mother-of-two Emily Meredith-Smith has told of her terror over a gang of teenage home invaders wandering around her house while she and family were asleep upstairs The four youths wandered around inside while Ms Meredith-Smith and her husband and two daughters, aged 13 and 15, slept upstairs at their home in Brighton's Cochrane Street. The teen thugs grabbed a handbag and the keys to the family's Audi SQ5 and Subaru Outback before speeding off into the night around 1.30am. One of the cars was almost out of fuel when they stole it and 50 minutes later they had to stop to refill at a St Kilda service station when a patrol car spotted them. As police tried to make a routine check on the vehicle, the gang drove at one of the officers and knocked him down before they raced off. The gang knocked down one officer and another cop opened fire on the vehicles as it fled the scene, shattering the rear window and puncturing the bodywork Another officer opened fire on the car, with the shots smashing the rear window and hitting the bodywork, but the car didn't stop and fled the scene. The family fears the home invasion followed a car break-in two weeks earlier - and are now terrified the gang will come back to hit them again. 'That's the scariest thing - just knowing that they broke into my car and then they came back two weeks later and broke into the house,' said Ms Meredith-Smith. 'That feeling of not feeling safe. Thinking, "Okay, they're probably going to come back in a month time and try again." Who knows? 'You just don't feel very reassured that they're not going to do it again.' Victoria Police said they could no find record of the latest alleged offences. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Pali for comment. A home carer in Ohio has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and theft after she allegedly stole $50,000 from a 93-year-old man she was looking after, and then when police began investigating tried to poison him. Police bodycam recorded Mallory Giles, 34, of Huron, Ohio, telling arresting officers on Thursday that: 'I don't know why I did it'. She is currently being held in the Erie County Jail on a bond of $560,000. The elderly patient's daughter had contacted the police in April after noticing strange transactions on his credit card. Mallory Giles, 34, is seen in her booking photo released by Erie County Sheriff's Office. She is currently being held in jail in Ohio, on charges of attempted murder and theft A handcuffed Giles is seen on Thursday in body camera footage from detectives who questioned her at her home in Huron, Ohio The patient, who has not been named, had given the card to Giles, as his carer, so she could purchase his essentials. But police on the body camera footage tell Giles: 'You basically outfitted your entire house with all of these credit cards.' Lt. Scott Dahlgren told Fox 8: 'We believe there were shoes that were included in that, clothing, furniture for her residence, wall decor, outside lawn care items.' During the police investigation, the victim was suddenly rushed to hospital with a suspected drug overdose. He was given Narcan and successfully revived but doctors discovered he had several powerful narcotics in his system. Asked on Thursday, during her interview under arrest, Giles is asked whether he had a drug problem. 'No,' she says. Giles's home in Huron, Ohio, was furnished with items bought on the 93-year-old's credit card, police said Lt. Scott Dahlgren said the police believe Giles stole the money to buy clothes and shoes, and furnish her own home Dahlgren said that they believe Giles had been mixing opioids into the victim's food in a bid to keep him sedated and unaware of what she was doing. 'She was trying to keep him medicated to a point where he wasn't looking at bank statements and credit card statements and things like that, where she could just handle those kinds of things without him noticing,' he said. 'It's sad. It's very upsetting that somebody would take advantage of someone who's just so vulnerable, you know. 'Unfortunately, our elderly are vulnerable in society and people continue to prey on them. 'We're just glad that a family member noticed it when they did, instead of it actually going any further.' A British backpacker has revealed the top three jobs for tourists hoping to rake it in while on holidays in Australia. Lisa Bailey came to Australia in 2019 from the UK and shared the best experiences she's had working Down Under in a video on Monday. In the TikTok video, she revealed the top jobs she'd had in the past few years, including earning $26.50 an hour and a $70 rental allowance while working as a campsite housekeeper and raking in $27 an hour as an 'all-rounder' at the iconic NT Daly Waters pub. But no money came close to the wage she earned while working as a fly-in, fly-out utility worker, where she took in $34 an hour. '(FIFO utility worker) is definitely the best for saving money as a backpacker in Australia,' she said, noting in the comments that her favourite job experience was working on the campsite because of the people she'd been with. Scroll down for the video. Lisa Bailey (above) shared her favourite casual jobs after backpacking in Australia for nearly three years Ms Bailey said she worked as a casual employee in all the listed jobs. Housekeepers in Australia typically earn about $30 per hour, pub workers about $29.50 per hour and FIFO utility workers about $32 per hour, according to job site Indeed. Commenters on the video joined in with their working holiday experiences. 'I worked on Fraser (Island) and everyone was on $21 to $24 an hour and had to pay $240 for rent and food. Ten days on, 10 days off,' one person wrote. In the video, Ms Bailey revealed she was paid $26.50 an hour and $70 rental allowance while working as a campsite housekeeper, $27 per hour as a Daly Waters (NT) pub 'all-rounder' and $34 as a FIFO utility worker (above) Ms Bailey (above) said working as a FIFO utility hand was the best job for saving while working as a campsite house cleaner was the best experience because of 'the people' 'Working away from the cities is the best way to see the country and save the coin,' another said. However, Ms Bailey said in a separate video that she was often dismissed by employers in favour of Aussies. In another TikTok titled 'Things employers have said to me as a backpackers in Australia' she said she was abused by local bosses. 'It's more important that Australian residents and international students get paid first,' one said to her, Ms Bailey claimed. 'You're just using me for money,' another said, according to the backpacker. She also said employers would also ask her why she thought she should be hired over an Australian. Australia is facing a massive labor shortage at the moment thanks to the Covid pandemic, with closed borders forcing backpackers to move elsewhere. On ABC's Q&A last week, former agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie said vegetable prices had surged because farmers were reluctant to plant crops - only weeks after growers in Queensland and NSW cleaned up the second set of floods this year. 'You want to know why your lettuces are $12? 'Farmers are not planting because they do not have the people to get the crop in. 'That means the price of food goes up it's that simple.' Senator McKenzie, a Nationals Opposition frontbencher, linked high food prices to a lack of backpackers even though foreigners with working visas have been allowed back into Australia again since December 2021. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are both calling for Democrats to take extreme measures to protect abortion rights after the reversal of Roe vs. Wade, but Vice President Kamala Harris signaled the Biden administration is not considering such action at the moment. Both Warren and Ocasio-Cortez, Democrats from Massachusetts and New York respectively, lobbied for the administration to set up what they called 'emergency abortion clinics' on federal lands. Warren, speaking on ABC's This Week, said Biden should 'make abortion as available as possible with the tools he has, including medication abortion, including using federal lands as a place where abortions can occur.' Ocasio-Cortez echoed these requests at a rally in New York City's Union Square, calling federal abortion clinics 'the babiest of baby steps.' However, when asked about the possibility of doing so, Vice President Harris told CNN's Dana Bash that it was unlikely. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are both calling for Democrats to take extreme measures to expand abortion rights after the reversal of Roe vs. Wade Ocasio-Cortez echoed these requests at a rally in New York City's Union Square, calling federal abortion clinics 'the babiest of baby steps' When asked about the possibility of doing so, Vice President Harris told CNN's Dana Bash that it was unlikely 'I think that what is most important right now is that we ensure that the restrictions the states are trying to put up that would prohibit a woman from exercising what we still maintain is her right, that we do everything that we can to empower women to not only seek but receive the care where it is available. When pushed further by Bash, Harris left the possibility open but seemed quick to pivot to suggest that it might not be in Democrats best electoral interests ahead of the midterms. 'It's not right now what we are discussing but I will say that when I think about what is happening in terms of the states, we have to also recognize that we are 130-odd days away from an election, which is gonna include Senate races. The court has acted, now Congress needs to act.' She specifically cited races in Georgia, North Carolina and Colorado as places where Dems could either hold or make gains to their tiny Senate majority (a 50-50 tie in which Harris is entitled to the tie-breaking vote) that would allow them to codify Roe into law. When asked what the Biden administration can do, Harris suggested they will expand access to abortion medication. 'Forcing women to carry pregnancies against their will, will kill them,' Ocasio-Cortez said on NBC's Meet the Press program Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said her state, one of 13 conservative states with 'trigger' abortion bans now in effect or soon to activate, will stick to its prohibition on mailed abortion pills On the various Sunday shows, both Warren and Ocasio-Cortez were unequivocal in stating that the administration had to do more. 'Forcing women to carry pregnancies against their will, will kill them,' Ocasio-Cortez said on NBC's Meet the Press program. Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams urged Democrats in Congress to codify Roe v. Wade into law by casting aside the U.S. Senate filibuster rule that enabled Republicans to block such an effort last month. 'We know that the rights to choose should not be divvied up amongst states, and that the sinister practice of taking constitutional rights and allowing each state to decide the quality of your citizenship is wrong,' Abrams told CNN's State of the Union. 'I would reject the notion that this is the will of the people,' she said in a separate interview on Fox News Sunday. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has filed a lawsuit to stop a severe 1931 state abortion ban from being enforced after the fall of Roe v. Wade, called on the Biden administration to take every possible step to preserve reproductive rights 'I am urging every pro-choice leader to use every tool in their toolbox. So I'm hopeful and I believe that the Biden administration is going to do that,' Whitmer told CBS Democrats also urged Biden to defend women's access to a pill used for medical abortion, against state efforts to ban its availability, a major new legal fight that his administration indicated it would take on. Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said her state, one of 13 conservative states with 'trigger' abortion bans now in effect or soon to activate, will stick to its prohibition on mailed abortion pills. 'What the Supreme Court said was that the Constitution does not give a woman the right to have an abortion. That means that at each state they will make the decision how they handle these situations,' Noem told CBS' Face the Nation. 'I love that about this country, that we have a very limited federal government,' she said. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has filed a lawsuit to stop a severe 1931 state abortion ban from being enforced after the fall of Roe v. Wade, called on the Biden administration to take every possible step to preserve reproductive rights. 'I am urging every pro-choice leader to use every tool in their toolbox. So I'm hopeful and I believe that the Biden administration is going to do that,' Whitmer told CBS. The man in charge of protecting the Senate during the Capitol riot has died just a day before the Committee investigating the attack was set to reveal new evidence in a surprise session. Michael Stenger, 71, was the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate on the day of the attempted insurrection. He resigned amid criticism he had failed to react effectively to the building being overrun. His sudden death on Monday came the same day an unexpected additional hearing of the committee investigating the riot was announced. The surprise meeting will 'present recently obtained evidence and receive witness testimony.' The committee is set to hear from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to Donald Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows, on Tuesday. Punchbowl News reported that the hearing was set because of 'sincere concerns' for Hutchinson's physical safety over her revelations to the panel, including her claims that Trump approved of 'hang Mike Pence' She will be the first White House employee to testify publicly before the committee. Michael Stenger, 71, (pictured) who was Sergeant at Arms of the Senate during the Capitol riot, died on Monday He resigned after the riot amid criticism he had failed to react effectively to the building being overrun. His sudden death on Monday came the same day an unexpected additional hearing of the committee investigating the riot was announced Stenger, right, is seen with Mike Pence heading to the House chamber on January 7, 2021, for the final certification of the election. Stenger would resign hours after this photo was taken In a private meeting Hutchinson previously said Meadows was warned in advance that there could be trouble on January 6. Her video deposition was used to support the committee's argument that several of the Republicans later sought presidential pardons. 'We had intel reports saying that there could potentially be violence on the 6th,' Hutchinson told the panel, in a portion of a transcript shared in court documents in April. 'And Mr Meadows said: 'All right. Let's talk about it.' Cassidy Hutchinson is seen speaking to the January 6 Committee. On Tuesday she will testify in public in a surprise hearing Hutchinson's testimony is seen being broadcast to the committee hearing on June 23 Hutchinson was present during meetings between Meadows and multiple House Republicans who backed Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election. She also said that she saw Meadows burn documents. Meadows has been subpoenaed by the committee, but refused to cooperate. 'I know that he was on several calls during the rally,' Hutchinson testified. 'And I went over to meet with him at one point, and he had just waved me away, which is out of the ordinary.' The shock additional hearing was reportedly kept a secret in part owing to security threats to a witness, the Washington Post reported. Stenger (left) and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont (right) are seen speaking on January 6 after the riot, as Congress resumed its session. The pair are watched over by police The Capitol was placed under lockdown and Vice President Mike Pence left the floor of Congress as hundreds of demonstrators swarmed past barricades surrounding the building where lawmakers were debating Joe Biden's victory in the Electoral College Stenger previously served in the United States Marine Corps, and spent 35 years in the Secret Service. He was the chief law enforcement officer and head of protocol for the chamber since April 2018. In February 2021, Stenger told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the role of 'professional agitators' needed to be investigated. He said: 'There is an opportunity to learn lessons from the events of January 6. 'Investigations should be considered as to funding and travel of what appears to be professional agitators. 'First Amendment rights should always be considered in conjunction with professional investigations.' Stenger was born in New Jersey, and attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in the state, graduating with a BA in arts. He lived in Falls Church, Virginia, with his wife Janet. The pair are believed to have two adult children. Stenger rose to be a captain in the Marines, before joining the Secret Service. Karen Gibson is the current Sergeant at Arms for the Senate He worked on protective details before taking leadership roles - first as an assistant director for the Office of Investigations, and then in the Office of Protective Research. By the time he left the Secret Service, he had risen to be the third in command, Roll Call reported. In 2011, he first took a job at the Senate, serving as Assistant Sergeant at Arms for protective services and continuity. In 2014, when Drew Willison, a longtime aide to former Democratic leader Harry Reid, became Sergeant at Arms, he made Stenger his deputy. 'Mike and I are definitely planning to work as a team,' Willison said in 2014, in an interview with Roll Call. He said at the time that he expected Stenger will 'naturally gravitate' toward security. 'Security is going to be critically important, but I want to continue to focus on the back half of it, which is going to be everybody's day-to-day interaction on the customer service end.' Stenger also served as deputy to Frank Larkin, who served as Sergeant at Arms from 2015-18. When Larkin stepped down, Mitch McConnell appointed Stenger to succeed him. 'I appreciate Mike stepping up to this critical role,' said McConnell at the time. 'He is extremely well-qualified and will continue to serve the Senate and our nation well.' Stenger's full-time replacement, who currently serves as Sergeant at Arms, is Karen Gibson, who took over on March 22, 2021, after a 33-year military career. An Australian teacher says her life has 'essentially been ruined' after developing a blood disorder a month after getting a Covid vaccine, something she blames on the jab. Bek Bickerton, from Queensland, claims she experienced side effects after receiving her first Pfizer shot in October last year and was then barred from work after refusing to get her second dose. A month after her first shot, the 27-year-old teacher was hospitalised for a week with blurred vision, tingling down the arm, low blood pressure, extreme fatigue and dizziness. Bickerton was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and sent home where she spent the next two months in bed, news.com.au reported. There is no evidence that the vaccine caused her syndrome to develop and doctors insisted it wasn't, but the teacher is convinced the two are linked. Queensland teacher Bek Bickerton (pictured) claims she suffered a severe reaction after receiving the first Pfizer vaccine The mother-of-two struggled to look after her young children and was unable to return to work as the state's vaccination mandate, which ends this week, required all 'high-risk' workers to have two Covid doses by January 23. Ms Bickerton was one of more than 1,200 teachers and staff members affected by the mandate. 'My heart would accelerate to extreme levels when I stood up,' she explained of her condition. 'A brain MRI showed multiple lesions and inflammation. I also had trouble regulating blood pressure and heat. I had a wide range of symptoms but the worst ones were severe brain fog and fatigue.' Ms Bickerton decided not to get the second dose and has not been able to return to work as a number of doctors refused to write her an exemption, having found no evidence her condition was caused by the vaccine. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) announced the state will scrap Covid-19 vaccine mandates for workers in schools, prisons and airports and visitors to aged care and disability care facilities from 1am on June 30 The school teacher said she spoke with multiple GPs and two neurologists - all who refused to link her side effects with the vaccine - and encouraged her to get the second dose. Ms Bickerton felt doctors and friends categorised her as an 'anti-vaxxer' anytime she mentioned developing symptoms after receiving the jab. The mother-of-two eventually found a GP who specialises in POTS in the Gold Coast who agreed the vaccine was the likely cause of her illness and wrote her a three-month exemption. Ms Bickerton said it's a 'lose-lose situation' as schools would only hire her for relief work which left the family on a single income unable to afford a mortgage to upgrade their home. 'My life has essentially been ruined as we're now on a single income,' she was quoted saying. Decisions around mandatory vaccinations will now be made by employers in schools, daycares, prisons and airports instead of the state (pictured, a patient receiving a Covid vaccination at a pop-up clinic at a Bunnings store in Brisbane) As of June 19, the Therapeutic Goods Administration recorded 132,155 adverse reactions from Covid vaccines from more than 59.9 million doses. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday said Queenslanders will no longer need to be double vaccinated to work in schools, childcare, prisons and airports or to visit jails, aged care and disability facilities. The changes will come into effect from 1am on June 30. 'Restrictions that have protected us have eased in sensible stages, and today I announce with the advice of the Chief Health Officer, we are removing some of the last remaining Covid restrictions,' she told parliament. Ms Palaszczuk said individual employers will still be allowed to continue mandates in schools, daycare, prisons and airports. She said mandates will remain in force for workers in healthcare, hospital, aged care and disability care facilities. Ms Bickerton told news.com.au she fears many schools will opt to keep double dose requirements despite the state lifting Covid vaccination mandates. A total of 549 teachers and 660 non-teaching staff were suspended due to the state's vaccine mandate. They will now be allowed to return to their school workplace once the state mandate is lifted (pictured, empty primary school classroom in Brisbane) The Queensland Department of Education said 549 teachers and 660 non-teaching staff were suspended due to the state's vaccine mandate. 'Vaccination requirements will remain in place until this time (June 30),' Queensland Department of Education said. 'This means that they (unvaccinated teachers and non-teaching staff) will be able to return to their school workplace where they are normally based.' Nationally, more than 95 per cent of Australians over the age of 16 have received two doses of a Covid Vaccine. 'Vaccination against Covid-19 is the most effective way to reduce deaths and severe illness from infection,' the Therapeutic Goods Administration website says. 'The protective benefits of vaccination continue to far outweigh the potential risks.' The young woman who locked herself onto the steering wheel of a car blocking Sydney's harbour tunnel in peak-hour traffic has been granted conditional bail along with fellow climate protesters. Mali Poppy Cooper, 22, appeared in Central Local Court via video link on Tuesday when she was given liberty under strict conditions that she return home near Lismore and abide by a curfew between 10pm and 6am. She is one of 10 Blockade Australia activists who were charged with multiple obstruction and disruption offences following the mass interference campaign in Sydney's central business district on Monday. Mali Poppy Cooper, 22, was given liberty under strict conditions that she return home near Lismore and abide by a curfew between 10pm and 6am The group of up to 60 activists converged on Hyde Park about 8am before marching towards the harbour, chanting, playing drums, pulling down signs, dragging wheelie bins onto the road and blocking intersections. Some of the charges laid include entering Sydney Harbour Bridge disrupting vehicles, obstructing drivers and other pedestrians, and wilfully preventing the free passage of a person, vehicle or vessel. Cooper's lawyer Mark Davis on Tuesday acknowledged her alleged offending was more serious than others in the group but that she had strong family support with her grandmother and aunt present in court, and no prior criminal history. He said the onerous conditions including reporting to police three times a week, restrictions from entering Sydney's CBD, and prevention from contacting co-accused would be enough to cause her to 're-think activities of protest'. She began to livestream the protest when an angry driver walked up to her window and began to verbally abuse her before storming off A white hatchback was parked sideways over two lanes of traffic - causing chaos for the thousands of people who use the tunnel every hour Brad Homewood, 49 and Harley McDonald-Eckersall, 24, were also granted bail on Tuesday to return to their home addresses in Victoria's Williamstown and Preston respectively. The court was told Jemika Lancaster, 22, was arrested after throwing objects, while Isabel Sleiman, 21, stood in front of police officers and a vehicle with her arms extended, and both were also granted conditional bail. Lancaster must return to Queensland while Sleiman who resides in Petersham has been prohibited from the northern end of Sydney and the CBD. Police officers surrounded the white hatchback as blocked traffic backed up for several kilometres Cooper is one of 10 Blockade Australia activists who were charged with multiple obstruction and disruption offences following the mass interference campaign in Sydney Monro Monroe, 25, Su-Min Lim, 34, and Jack Matthew Oswald, 25, await their bail applications from custody. Mr Davis outside court said his clients were brave in the face of the newly implemented penalties that target protests on major roads, ports and railways. Some face two years in prison and a fine of $22,000. The group will next return to court on July 19 where they are expected to enter pleas. The wife of a bikie who witnessed her husband gunned down in a hail of bullets in the carpark of a luxury apartment complex has broken her silence. Yusef Nazlioglu, 40, was hit with up to ten bullets as he parked his black Mercedes in the building under his Rhodes unit in Sydney's west on Monday night. His wife Jade Nazlioglu watched the horrific shooting unfold and frantically rang paramedics but her husband was confirmed to have died in hospital about 7.15am on Tuesday. Ms Nazlioglu, who only married the former Lone Wolf Bikie earlier this year, was spotted in tears talking to friends outside the apartment block on Tuesday morning. It is now the 14th fatal shooting linked to the Harbour City's spiralling gang war in less than two years. Jade Nazlioglu married Yusef earlier this year with photos on her Facebook page showing the couple beaming with happiness (pictured) Jade Nazlioglu watched the horrific shooting unfold and frantically rang paramedics 'Of course I'm not all right, what do you think?' she told The Daily Telegraph. Recent pictures on her Facebook profile - where she refers to Yusef as her 'king' - show Ms Nazlioglu beaming with happiness as she poses with her husband and shows off her impressive diamond ring. But that all came crashing down on Monday night. Bullet holes in the wall, a pool of blood near a fire escape and five orange cones blocking access to a parking space are all that's been left behind in a carpark where her the underworld figure was killed. Yusuf Nazlioglu, 40, was shot up to ten times after parking his black Mercedes in the complex under his apartment in Rhodes, in Sydney's west on Monday night. Nazlioglu's wife (pictured together) frantically rang paramedics Daily Mail Australia understands the unidentified gunman was waiting in a silver hatchback for Nazlioglu to get out of the car before opening fire. The carpark spanned eight floors, with the 40-year-old peppered with bullets in his head and torso in the corner of the fifth level. Gunshots and screams echoed throughout the cold and cavernous complex as Nazlioglu staggered to the fire exit, where he left spatters of blood. Despite forensic investigators pressure-hosing the scene, a few bullet holes and blood stains could be seen in the gyprock walls once the police tape was removed. A black Mercedes with a large bullet hole in a window on the driver's side was also towed from the carpark on Tuesday morning. Bullet holes could be seen dotted into one of the walls inside the basement car park after the shooting Fragments of the wall chipped off by the bullets were scattered across the ground Pictured: The basement carpark where Nazlioglu was gunned down on Monday Police towed a black Mercedes from the carpark on Tuesday morning. The car had a large bullet hole All eight levels of the parking lot were closed to residents until about 11.30am, when detectives left the scene holding a brown bag filled with evidence. The silver hatchback was set on fire a few streets away from the shooting. Detective Superintendent Martin Hayston said detectives believe the attack was 'targeted'. 'The person who approached the 40-year-old male and shot him clearly was there to do that, there is various lines of inquiry underway in relation to motive,' he said. Footage showed police sprinting down the ramp of the carpark after Nazlioglu's wife raised the alarm. Multiple paramedics could be seen walking through the complex, before a heavily bandaged man was stretchered out of the building. The building includes a shopping centre, apartments and basement carpark. Plain-clothed detectives arrived at the scene throughout Tuesday morning, as the investigation into the senseless killing continues. Yusuf Nazlioglu proposed to his new wife with an enormous diamond ring - just months before he was gunned down Pictured: The former bikie's black Mercedes, being towed from the residential carpark on Tuesday Paramedics treat the former Lone Wolf bikie shot in Sydney's inner west on Monday as police watch on (pictured) Emergency crews responded to reports of a shooting in Rhodes (pictured) about 7pm with Nazlioglu rushed to hospital The carpark in Rhodes was blocked off by police on Tuesday morning. All eight levels of the complex were closed Nazlioglu was charged with murder after Mick Hawi, the ex-kingpin of the Comanchero bikie gang who was he gunned down as he climbed into his luxury four-wheel-drive outside a Fitness First gym in Rockdale in Sydney's south in 2018. He was found not guilty but had another brush with the law when he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm. The underworld figure was sentenced to three years in prison and walked free in September 2021. Haunting covert recordings played in court during his sentencing revealed that Nazlioglu knew he was a marked man. 'I used to hear people outside were going to knock me, yeah?' he said while inside Sydney's Silverwater Prison in 2020, the Daily Telegraph reported. 'I used to still leave my house, brother, knowing that one day someone's going to sneak up on me and put one in my head. 'But I still f*****g went to the same hairdresser, went to the same f*****g restaurants yeah. I still showed my face in front yard and hung out with boys at their porches at their houses, yeah knowing I'm gunna get knocked one day.' Bodies have been piling up in the Harbour City in the past 18 months with at least a dozen contract killings linked to the bitter feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime clans Detectives and officers on the scene at Walker Street in Rhodes (pictured) The Australian that was raised by Turkish parents even bragged that he still visits the same mosque 'where all our enemies know we pray'. 'They could wait for us to walk out brother, did we s**t ourselves? Were we scared? No.' While Nazlioglu was found not guilty by a jury of the hit on Hawi, his friend, furniture removalist Ahmad Doudar, 40, was jailed for four-and-a-half years. Father-of-one Doudar was sentenced after admitting to being an accessory after the fact to Hawi's murder. Doudar's role in the crime involved him picking up a hidden silver Aurion with a tow truck and intending to dispose of it, alongside others, the court heard. Justice Robert Allan Hulme said on sentencing that '(Mr Doudar) intended to assist in disposing of the vehicle in order to assist' in the murder. Nazlioglu, then 39, and alleged getaway driver Jamal El-Jaidi, then 32, were both found not guilty by a jury, following a week of deliberations. Police responded after being called to Walker Street Rhodes after shots were fired (pictured) A basement carpark on Walker Street is searched by officers (pictured) Doudar, who accepted their involvement in the crime when making his plea, was not called to give evidence at their trial. In sentencing Doudar for being an accessory, the judge said murders like this 'do not happen by chance... they require the involvement of multiple people.' Doudar's motive remains unknown. 'For all I know, Mr Doudar may have been motivated by one or more other purposes,' the judge said. Hawi's wife, Carolina Gonzalez, sister Zeinab and parents Ahmad and Nahdi read statements at his sentencing hearing. They gave 'very moving accounts of the loss and grief that has resulted from the taking of their loved one in the most horrendous of circumstances.' Doudar was jailed with a non parole period of three years and four months while Nazlioglu and El-Jaidi walked free. Former Comanchero boss Mick Hawi (pictured) was gunned down outside a Rockdale gym The newly elected Republican congresswoman who accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of shoving her daughter during a swearing-in ceremony has admitted that the girl didn't notice anything amiss at the time. Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas was sworn-in by Pelosi last Tuesday, and took to Twitter on Sunday to accuse the powerful Democrat of elbowing her daughter after video of the incident surfaced online. On Monday, Flores that she discussed the incident with her daughter afterwards, but that during the ceremony the girl 'was so focused on the event that she honestly didn't see what had just happened'. 'She kept on smiling and didn't allow that to ruin such a special moment so I'm very proud of her, she is a queen,' she added in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Flores said that the alleged shove only came to her attention when she later watched video of the event, which purported to depict Pelosi jabbing an elbow into the young girl. Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas accused Nancy Pelosi of shoving her daughter during her swearing-in ceremony last week, but says the girl did not even notice at the time A newly elected Republican congresswoman has accused Nancy Pelosi of 'pushing' her young daughter to the side during a photo op 'I saw it afterwards and yes I was very disappointed and very disgusted by it. No child should be pushed aside for a photo,' the newly elected representative said. Flores made history to become the first Mexican-born congresswoman elected to the House, after flipping a longstanding Democratic seat in an open special election earlier this month. She is mom to four children, and hasn't released their names or ages - but the girl Pelosi is accused of pushing appears to be her second-youngest. In the video of the incident, Pelosi is seen extending her right elbow as the girl standing next to her tilts to the side as if being jabbed. Pelosi's defenders argue that the video does not show the San Francisco Democrat elbowing the girl, but rather moving her arm in front of her as the child sways on her feet. Pelosi's spokesman Drew Hamill denied Flores' allegation, and said the Speaker was actually trying to ensure the youngster remained in the frame. The shoving controversy erupted as this official swearing-in picture was being taken Flores (pictured here with her children) became the first Mexican-born congress member after winning a special election. She has four children with her husband who is a Border Patrol agent Pelosi's spokesman Drew Hamill denied the House Speaker had been trying to shove the youngster out of the way He also accused 'news outlets' of twisting the story, despite Flores herself making the claim on Twitter. He said: 'Its sad to see news outlets that know better misrepresent the Speakers effort to ensure Rep. Flores daughters wouldnt be hidden behind her in all of the photos of such an important moment for their family.' Flores, 36, who is married to a Border Patrol agent, and has four children, had accused Pelosi on Twitter, saying: 'No child should be pushed to the side for a photo op. PERIOD!! 'I am so proud of my strong, beautiful daughter for not allowing this to faze her. 'She continued to smile and pose for the picture like a Queen.' Video on social media shows Pelosi gesturing and beckoning over the family pastor. She then looks down at the young girl and appears to move her elbow towards her as the daughter moves away. Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas was getting sworn-in by the House Speaker last week when she posed for a photograph at the White House The congresswoman's two daughters were standing beside Pelosi who appeared to 'elbow' one of them during the ceremony Flores did not appear to notice it at the time but she since commented after the footage was widely shared. Actor turned Republican commentator James Woods shared the clip and said: 'I love this princess stood her ground, while Nancy showed her true colors.' Flores won a special election this month to replace Texas Democrat, Rep. Filemon Vela, who retired before the end of his term. During the ceremony, Pelosi said: 'It's a great honor to welcome Congresswoman Flores to the Capitol and to the Congress of the United States with great congratulations. And again, grateful for her leadership and her beautiful family who is here today. 'Thank you Congresswoman Flores for your courage to run for office and best wishes for your success. It's an honor to work with you.' Flores, a GOP organizer who is the daughter of migrant workers and a respiratory care practitioner, will hold the seat for several months Who is Mayra Flores, the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House Republican Mayra Flores made history this month by becoming the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House after beating a Democrat in a primary election in Texas. She is the first Republican Latina from the state of Texas to serve. Flores, who has echoed Trump's fraudulent election claims, immigrated to the United States when she was six-years-old from Burgos Tamaulipas in Mexico and her parents were farmworkers in Texas. During her childhood, Flores worked alongside her parents in the cotton fields in Memphis to earn extra money for school clothes and supplies. She graduated in 2014 as a Respiratory Care Practitioner and currently works caring for the elderly and disabled with chronic respiratory issues - and has helped those suffering Covid-19. Flores, who later graduated with a Bachelors in Organizational Leadership, now serves as the Hidalgo County GOP Hispanic Outreach Chair. She has four children with her Border Patrol agent husband and promotes strict immigration policies. Advertisement Flores, a GOP organizer who is the daughter of migrant workers and a respiratory care practitioner, will hold the seat for several months before the district is redrawn to be more favorable to Democrats. But her victory in the heavily Hispanic Rio Grand Valley is an ominous sign for Democrats - and demonstrates that Republicans are making inroads with Hispanic voters. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he had voted for Republican for the first time in order to vote for Flores. He tweeted: 'I voted for Mayra Flores first time I ever voted Republican. Massive red wave in 2022. Flores lauded former President Donald Trump in her victory speech. 'We have to state the facts: That under President Trump, we did not have this mess in this country,' she said. 'And I want to see the Hispanic community rise up. And I want equal representation on both parties - I am the first Mexican-American ever elected to Congress,' she said to cheers. Flores' win makes her the first Mexican-born American to serve in the US House, but also the first Republican Latina from the state of Texas to serve. Flores had 51 per cent of the vote compared to Sanchez's 43 per cent when the Democrat conceded the race in a district where 85 per cent of residents are Latino. Her victory also has implications for Democrats' ambitions in Congress, denying Pelosi an opportunity to add to her slim two-vote margin to pass legislation. Flores, who has echoed Trump's fraudulent election claims, immigrated to the United States when she was six-years-old from Burgos Tamaulipas in Mexico and her parents were farmworkers in Texas. During her childhood, Flores worked alongside her parents in the cotton fields in Memphis to earn extra money for school clothes and supplies. She graduated in 2014 as a Respiratory Care Practitioner and currently works caring for the elderly and disabled with chronic respiratory issues - and has helped those suffering COVID-19. Flores later graduated with a Bachelors in Organizational Leadership, and now serves as the Hidalgo County GOP Hispanic Outreach Chair. Flores, who is describes herself as 'Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, and Pro-Law Enforcement,' has four children with her Border Patrol agent husband, and promotes strict immigration policies. According to her website, Flores believes in fortifying the legal immigration system, securing the borders, lowering the costs of healthcare, lowering taxes, promoting small businesses, and less government. Flores faces another election in November against Democrat nominee Vicente Gonzalez. A voicemail to his son discloses that President Joe Biden spoke with Hunter about his business contacts with a Chinese criminal his son nicknamed the espionage head of China. Despite strong evidence to the contrary, the president has consistently denied, both personally and via his press secretary, that he ever discussed Hunter's international business with his Hunter. Voicemail Unveils Joe Biden's Awareness to Son's Business Deals The evidence now comes from POTUS' mouth, via a voicemail left on Hunter's iPhone. Joe phoned Hunter on December 12, 2018, stating he wanted to speak with him after reading a New York Times article concerning Hunter's contacts with the Chinese oil firm CEFC. Files on Hunter's abandoned laptop, which DailyMail.com previously revealed, suggest that he signed a deal with the Chinese corporation for millions of dollars after bragging about his family ties. According to The New York Times, CEFC's chairman, Ye Jianming, was detained in China, and his senior deputy, Patrick Ho, was convicted in the United States for bribing African authorities to assist Iran to avoid oil sanctions. It was discovered that Ye met with Hunter at a Miami hotel in 2017 to explore a partnership to engage in American infrastructure and energy agreements.' When Ho was detained, he contacted Joe's brother Jim Biden, who told the newspaper that he thought the call was intended for Hunter. The White House stated that it was "unclear if Hunter Biden established any commercial transactions with CEFC," not understanding the extent of his contacts with his Chinese business associates at the time. Joe contacted Hunter and left a voicemail after viewing the tale online. The communication contradicts the president's repeated claims that he and his son ever discussed Hunter's offshore business operations. Hunter's iPhone XS backup, which was kept on his abandoned laptop, included the newly discovered voicemail, Daily Mail reported. As stated in emails published by The Washington Post in October 2020, one of Hunter Biden's business partners, James Gilliar, explained the planned percentage split of shares in the company. According to another former Hunter Biden partner, US Navy veteran Tony Bobulinksi, the proposal contained a suggested 10% stake for Hunter for "the big person," an apparent allusion to Joe Biden, who was then the Democratic contender for president. Read Also: Ghislaine Maxwell Suicide Watch: Jeffrey Epstein's Pal Not Suicidal, But Sudden Decision Could Cause Delay Joe Biden Pays For Hunter's Frolics Meanwhile, Hunter's buddies teased him about James Biden's Times article tying him to Ho. Devon Archer, a former business partner condemned to a year and a day in jail for scamming a Native American tribe in February, texted him the next day. Text messages on Hunter's laptop clearly show that he panicked when the New York Times began inquiring why Ho contacted James Biden seeking for him. Other texts revealed Hunter's attorney, George Mesires, bragging about diverting Times writer David Barboza's attention away from Hunter and James' connection with CEFC, as per New York Post. Furthermore, according to a story released Monday, President Biden unwittingly paid for his son Hunter's trysts with an escort ring located in Russia before becoming president. During his presidential campaign, the older Biden transferred his son $100,000 to assist him to pay bills from December 2018 to January 2019. The documents came from a laptop Hunter Biden left at a computer repair shop in Delaware, according to the publication. Between November 2018 and March 2019, Hunter Biden spent more than $30,000 on sex workers, many of whom were linked to Russian email accounts and an exclusive model agency called UberGFE. Joe Biden transferred $5,000 to his son while Hunter was "actively involved" with one escort, and another $20,000 to pay for Hunter's stay at a New York drug recovery facility that never happened. There's no evidence that the future president was aware that any of the money he transferred to his son was being used to buy prostitutes, according to Washington Times. Related Article: Donald Trump Used $1 Million Donor Funds To Pay Private Businesses After Election Loss, Review Finds @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An ex-bikie boss has made a vile suggestion to a female television reporter after she asked him how his mate was recovering in hospital from four gunshot wounds. Former Mongols boss Toby Mitchell was caught on camera outside Royal Melbourne Hospital before visiting another ex-Mongol, Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim, who was shot four times in the chest during his cousin's funeral procession on Saturday. Mitchell was seen putting some rubbish into a bin on the street before being approached by Channel Nine reporter Gillian Lantouris. 'Toby, how's Sam going?' she asked Mitchell, who was wearing a very expensive red and black designer shirt. Mitchell turned around to look at her, leant in to the microphone Lantouris was holding and said 'Suck my d***.' Ex-bikie boss Toby Mitchell verbally lashed a television reporter as he arrived at a hospital to visit fellow former Mongol 'The Punisher' EXCLUSIVE: Former Mongols bikie boss Toby Mitchell and his associates arrive at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to visit Sam Abdulrahim after he was shot leaving his cousins funeral on Saturday. Im told Sam is doing well. More on @9NewsMelb at 6. #9News pic.twitter.com/NAg6AB9H2f Gillian Lantouris (@gillianlant) June 28, 2022 The ex-bikie then continued on his way to the hospital as if nothing had happened. Lantouris tweeted that she was told Abdulrahim is 'doing well'. On Monday, Abdulrahim issued a warning from his hospital bed with a photo of his bullet-riddled chest. The 32-year-old wrote alongside the picture: 'Allah is bigger than all these flops, they'll get there (sic) day.' Four bullet holes were evident in the picture, running diagonally across his chest. Abdulrahim was dumped from the Mongels Melbourne chapter last year alongside Mitchell and their allies, Mark Balsillie and Jason Addison. Police are investigating whether low level members of the gang are behind the latest attack acting on commands from senior hierarchy within the club. Just a week before Abdulrahim was set upon, Addison was brutally bashed at a motorbike show at the Knowsley-Barnadown Road raceway. Gillian Lantouris (pictured) was verbally attacked by an ex-bikie boss in Melbourne on Tuesday The 57-year-old later presented to hospital with serious facial injuries. A photo of the aftermath show Addison bloodied and bruised, with his eyes so swollen he could hardly open them. 'At this stage it appears a targeted attack and parties are believed to be known to one another,' a police spokeswoman said. There are now concerns Melbourne's underworld is on track to explode like it has in Sydney in the past 18 months. Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim (pictured) wrote: 'Allah is bigger than all these flops, they'll get there (sic) day' Abdulrahim was shot while driving his $300,000 Mercedes G-Class during his cousin's funeral procession near Fawkner Cemetery, in Melbourne's north, on Saturday. While the assailants did manage to shoot him several times in the chest, Abdulrahim has no life-threatening injuries. He has damage to his lungs, liver and kidney. Police are also investigating whether Abdulrahim fired any shots back. Jason Addison is pictured bloodied and bruised, with his eyes so swollen he can hardly open them The Mazda SUV used during the hit was captured on fire a short distance from the scene. Police also reportedly found the gun and clothing dumped nearby. Early investigations suggest this hit was the work of amateurs and, while police are exploring multiple lines of inquiry, it appears as though it could have been the work of new or soon-to-be Mongols members. Abdulrahim and his associates were booted from the club for supposed 'treachery', with one underworld source describing the four men as 'targets'. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews warned any person found to have links to these crimes will face 'the full force of the law'. 'I'm very confident that the people involved in this completely unacceptable behaviour will feel the full force of the law,' he said. 'This is just not on. I send my best wishes to those members of the public who've been caught up in this. 'Victoria Police Command takes issues of gangs and gun crime very, very seriously, just as I do. 'I'm confident that Victoria Police have the laws, they've got the powers and they've got the people to keep us safe.' Families struggling with homelessness have resorted to breaking into holiday houses to take baths and catch up on sleep as spiralling rent and lack of housing forces them to take extreme measures. Recent CCTV video showed a young family breaking into an Airbnb property near Perth on June 20 with the mum caught on camera leading a boy and a toddler into the home. Holiday Homes Made Easy property manager Davinia Gillard told Daily Mail Australia that she thought the main motivation for the break-in had just been to have 'somewhere to stay'. 'I think it's just really sad to see that there was a small child, a baby or toddler, out at midnight walking into a house to get five hours sleep and then leaving,' Ms Gillard said. 'Especially with the weather we've been having lately. It's been really wet.' CCTV footage emerged of a group who are suspected of being serial holiday house hoppers entering a vacant property near midnight with two small children for a five-hour stay Ms Gillard said she found the property had been left with a sink tub half full, after reportedly being used as a children's bath and the washing machine beeping with a child's shirt left inside. Ms Gillard had been told by police the group was serially targeting holiday homes as there had been three similar break-ins over the past week. The group were later joined by other men, who came in through the night to take tea, coffee and sugar, pillows, doonas, bathroom flannels, four mugs and two lamps. 'Theyre not your everyday thieves looking for a quick smash-and-grab,' she told 7News. Ms Gillard said there had been a spike in people invading holiday houses, which is something she had not experienced before in her 10 years in the short-stay industry. One incident two weeks ago had involved someone breaking into a house through a window to apparently only have a night's sleep and use the shower. 'We also had another instance when just between two bookings, someone rocked up to the house and in the back al-fresco area there was all clothing bits and pieces and it looked like someone was going to be setting up for the night,' she said. Once inside the house, the group used its facilities to bathe the children and wash their clothes She thought people might be using websites, such as Airbnb, to target vacant properties. 'I reckon they have because there's no other way for them to know. I don't have signs up on the houses,' she said. 'For them to know it's vacant they must be finding out online and checking if it has people in it or not.' Ms Gillard said that the increase in homelessness was very visible in WA and was particularly apparent in Perth. 'I was recently walking about the streets and the amount of people in sleeping bags and in alleys - it's pretty disturbing,' she said. 'It's to the point where it is getting uncomfortable walking around the city.' Australia is suffering a severe crisis of affordable accommodation with six out of eight Australian capital cities showing vacancy rates at less than one per cent. A report by CoreLogic showed rental listings across the nation's capital cities were down by around one-third from pre-pandemic levels and six out of eight capitals had vacancy rates around only one per cent. A driver has been hit with a fine and lost a handful of demerit points after he ploughed through a pack of climate change demonstrators on Monday. The 31-year-old man from Bondi almost ran the protesters over as they blocked a key Sydney road as part of their week-long scheduled campaign to disrupt the harbour city. The driver was slapped with a $469 fine for negligent driving and lost three demerit points. No-one was injured by the driver however a number of protesters were almost caught under the wheels of his car. Two men carrying a white banner and wearing high-vis vests banged the front of the driver's bonnet before chasing him through the intersection. Protesters marched down the street before a car drove through the intersection and almost hit two activists carrying a banner. Protesters then chased the car as it drove past Extraordinary footage captured the chaotic moment the group of protesters were almost hit by the grey SUV while standing in the middle of an intersection. Traffic had come to a standstill in the middle of the city as members of the Blockade Australia activist group marched - one activist blocking the Sydney Harbour Tunnel with her hatchback, while chained to a steering wheel with a bike lock. The city was thrown into chaos on Monday and Tuesday as dozens of demonstrators hit the streets after long warning of a week of action to raise awareness about global warming. Police frantically tried to stop the protest with barricades. The protest dispersed within an hour with 10 activists charged by police. A driver has rammed through a climate change demonstration taking place in the middle of Sydney On Monday, a woman from the group's Lismore contingent proudly posted footage online of herself chained to her steering wheel by the neck while her white hatchback blocked traffic from entering the Harbour Tunnel. The tunnel is one of the major thoroughfares taking commuters across the city's harbour, and is used by up to 2,000 cars every hour. 'I'm Mali, I'm 22. I'm [here] in protest of the climate destruction that is happening in this continent right now,' she said. 'There are some really angry people who are screaming and threatening me - banging on windows and doors.' The protester, Mail, 22, (pictured) blocked the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and locked herself to her steering wheel with a bike lock before proudly posting the footage online The woman's white hatchback was parked sideways over two lanes of traffic - causing chaos for the thousands of people who use the tunnel every hour In marketing material for the June 27- July 2 rally, the group said they intend to converge' on Sydney to 'blockade the streets of Australia's most important political and economic centre and cause disruption that cannot be ignored'. The protest comes just days after police raided their Blue Mountains compound on June 19 amid an investigation into 'unauthorised protest activity'. Blockade Australia has made headlines in recent months over a series of high-profile climate protests which have included blocking coal ports, bridges, and fossil fuel terminals. A police officer picks up milk crates left on the street as demonstrators were seen throwing bins and objects into the path of police to slow them down In April, NSW Parliament ushered in a raft of new laws and penalties aimed at discouraging protesters who disrupt traffic on bridges and tunnels in response to the group's stunts. Protesters face a maximum penalty of two years' jail and $22,000 fines for disrupting traffic or preventing access on roads. The legislation also created new offences targeting people blocking access to major facilities such as ports and railways. Australia is looking for new ways to support Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion, according to the acting prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Australia had so far promised almost $300 million worth of assistance to Ukraine, although not all had yet been handed over. As Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko called for more Bushmaster vehicles to be delivered to the eastern European nation, Mr Marles agreed assistance was necessary. Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko called for more Bushmaster (pictured) vehicles to be delivered to the eastern European nation despite Australia commiting 40 Bushmasters - 20 of which have already arrived The call for more support comes after a fresh round of attacks on Ukraine by Russia on June 27 (pictured, Rescuers work at a site of a shopping mall hit by a Russian missile strike in Kremenchuck, in Poltava region, Ukraine) 'We're also looking at additional ways in which we can support Ukraine,' the Defence Minister told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. 'While Ukraine is a long way from Australia, we really do see that the principles which are at stake in the conflict - which is essentially that the global rules-based order that Australia stands for and helped build and protect - needs to be protected everywhere.' As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighs an invitation to visit the war-torn country, Mr Myroshnychenko said Australia had been one of Ukraine's key allies against Russian aggression. 'Australia is punching above its weight,' he told Sky News on Tuesday. 'There is a tradition of Australia standing up to the bullying behaviour, and Prime Minister Albanese understands it really well. '(The new government) haven't yet been able to announce any new assistance package but I'm sure it's in the making.' Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko (pictured) said the cost of rebuilding the war-torn country would be at least $1 trillion and would take generations before it fully recovers Australia has committed to providing 40 Bushmasters to Ukraine, with 20 of those having already arrived. Mr Myroshnychenko said the cost of rebuilding Ukraine after the war would be at least $1 trillion and it would take 'a generation or two' to fully recover. While the prime minister is yet to indicate whether he will visit Kyiv, Mr Myroshnychenko said other world leaders have made the trip, despite the danger. 'When I say nobody's safe in Ukraine, it's just the reality of the war - because it's war,' he said. '(UK Prime Minister) Boris Johnson visited Ukraine last week. We had the visit of the Italian, German and French leaders ... visitors come on a regular basis.' Should Mr Albanese go to Ukraine, it would be the first time an Australian prime minister has done so. 'Australia is very well regarded in Ukraine ... everybody is very positively surprised by how Australia has been able to stand out in this war because previously, in the past, we are so far away,' Mr Myroshnychenko said. 'My president has assured me Prime Minister Albanese is very welcome, he'd be delighted to see him.' Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he wanted to see further action from Australia. 'There's more that we can do and I'm sure that will be considered by the government,' he said. 'We would strongly support fresh decisions ... to provide that support to the Ukrainians because they need it, and the Russians will continue this onslaught. 'This war is not going to come to an end quickly.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has been invited to the Ukraine but has yet to indicate whether he will make the journey. If Mr Albanese visits the war-torn country, he will become the first Australian prime minister to have travelled to the Ukraine Mr Myroshnychenko also expressed hope Australia's ambassador to Ukraine, Bruce Edwards, would be able to return to the country. Australian embassy staff have been working out of Poland since the crisis began. In the latest fighting, Russian missiles struck a centre in the city of Kremenchuk, with at least 16 people killed. The invasion is set to be the main topic of discussion at the upcoming NATO summit in Spain, where Australia is in attendance. 'This brutal invasion is having real consequences for the people of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine are inspiring the world with struggling to defend their national sovereignty, struggling against this brutal invasion,' Mr Albanese said. Advertisement 'Spaghetti' has become a secret code word adopted by the climate protesters from Blockade Australia who have caused havoc on Sydney's streets' for the past two days. The activists, who headed towards Hyde Park on Tuesday, were heard shouting the word at one point during the demonstration as police closed in. 'Spaghetti' is code for members to disperse and flee in different directions. Climate protesters from Blockade Australia have been using 'spaghetti' as a secret code word during demonstrations in Sydney The word is code for the climate activists to disperse and flee the area in different directions. It was used during Tuesday's protests as police closed in The word ultimately brought an end to the protests when officers started arresting demonstrators. A female Blockade Australia protester was shoved to the ground by officers as the group charged down through the CBC for another wild day of climate change demonstrations. The activist had a large banner for the group ripped out of her hands by one officer, before another aggressively pushed her over, sending her crashing onto the pavement. Other protesters were also knocked around by police as they sprinted through towards Hyde Park with 12 people placed under arrest. A live-stream of the group was shared to Facebook showing dozens running through the city chanting 'what do we want? Climate justice!' One man was dragged away by three officers while shouting 'this is not a violent protest!'. In a tweet, the group said pepper spray was used on some of their members. Police knock a Blockade Australia protester to the ground in Sydney. The march was for tougher action to tackle the #ClimateCrisis pic.twitter.com/2ouo32ySNj Michael Dahlstrom (@mb_dahlstrom) June 27, 2022 One female protester was knocked to the ground by a police officer during Tuesday's demonstration The woman had a Blockade Australia banner ripped out of her hands before she was pushed over One man was dragged away by two officers with the group claiming pepper spray was used One protester holds up a cross as things took an unusual turn during climate change demonstrations on Tuesday in Sydney Chaos erupted as police tried to hold back the protesters in Sydney on Tuesday morning Police disperse climate activists as they attempt to stage a Blockade Australia protest in Sydney, Australia, on June 28 Police are seen trying to control the crowd of protesters that gathered at Hyde Park The woman pictured was holding a banner for Blockade Australia before it was ripped out of her hands and she was knocked to the ground The crowd of Blockade Australia activists were seen storming the streets of Sydney on Tuesday One female protester is seen being dragged away by police. The group caused havoc for a second day on Tuesday Blockade Australia has vowed to keep up the protests everyday this week after 10 were already arrested and charged on Monday 'Come to Sydney to resist climate inaction by taking strategic direct action in the heart of Australia,' the group said. 'Coordinated action is more important than ever.' About 50 members were seen in Tuesday's action - many wearing face masks - while a long line of police officers walked nearby. 'This is about all the things that are necessary for life to survive on earth,' one activist filming the demonstration said. Police were seen questioning one woman while two men were dragged away in handcuffs. Blockade Australia protesters have filmed themselves charging down the streets of Sydney for another day of wild climate change demonstrations Activists' held up a giant banner that they carried throughout Tuesday's demonstration before police ripped it out of their hands Multiple police officers were on watch as the activists stormed the streets Another member, James Woods said the human species was 'teetering on the edge of total collapse'. 'We are facing a catastrophic climate collapse, the biggest existential threat our species has ever known, and the system that we call Australia is driving us straight past the point of no return,' he said. 'There is no possibility of meaningful change within this system. Australia has been designed to operate as a project of extraction and exploitation, and without a total upheaval of this project, we have absolutely no chance of survival.' The group have urged more Aussies to join them for another day of chaos on Wednesday. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the activists would face consequences. 'It can't go on for much longer, these people are dumb, divisive, disrespectful and they're bloody idiots who will face the full force of the law,' he told 2GB. 'These are not isolated incidents, it's a coordinated campaign.' LNP Senator Matt Canavan blasted the protesters as 'eco terrorists' and called for law-breakers to be shown the 'full force of the law'. A live-stream of the group shared to Facebook showed dozens running through the city's CBD towards Hyde Park on Tuesday morning, while loud chants of 'what do we want? Climate justice!' rang out through the streets 'This just shows the folly of negotiating with eco-terrorists. These people will never be happy,' he told Sky News on Tuesday morning. 'Give them an inch they'll take a mile. We signed up to net zero and now they want to end coal next year. 'They have no idea how world works they want to threaten and bully people into submission. 'We have to stand up to it and say no more. 'People who break the law should be arrested face the full force of the law and there should be no sympathy for them.' He described the protesters as 'unreasonable and violent'. Earlier Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek backed the right to protest but said demonstrators must obey the law. Six women and four men aged between 21 and 49 from three states were arrested and charged on Monday during similar demonstrations where hoards of activists blocked off traffic at various locations. The group were hit with a string of offences related to willfully preventing the free passage of a person or vehicle. Blockade Australia caused more havoc on Monday, blocking the road leading into the Harbour tunnel All but one were refused bail to appear in either Central or Downing Centre Court on Tuesday and could be facing heavy fines and up to two years in jail. Police established Strike Force Guard vowing to maintain a highly visible presence in the CBD for the rest of the week after Blockade Australia warned of further disruptions. 'It is unacceptable that a small number of people - who have little to no regard for everyday individuals going about their lives, are causing unnecessary disruptions to their morning commute,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said. 'What these individuals are doing is both illegal and unsafe, putting the lives of themselves, the general public and our officers in danger by running on roadway and blocking roads by other means to disrupt traffic.' Dozens of specialist officers were deployed to assist in the operation, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, Mounted Police, Rescue Squad, Dog Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol and Transit Police. Protesters hold a sign outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as a car blocks off traffic on Monday Both sides of the NSW government condemned the protestors' actions. 'I would say this to the protesters: Go and get a real job,' Deputy Premier Paul Toole said. 'Go and talk to somebody who's actually been delayed in getting to work today.' Protesters can be fined up to $22,000 and put behind bars for two years Read the extreme writings of climate pest leader who caused mayhem across Sydney as she plots to do it again TODAY - and how she was almost hacked to death in a massacre By Nic White for Daily Mail Australia The woman leading climate protests that paralysed Sydney during Monday peak hour is a career activist with a colourful history. Zelda Grimshaw, 56, has waged war against the Adani coal mine, written bizarre protest music and once condemned the whole idea of ironing clothes. She was also nearly hacked to death by militia during a massacre in East Timor and campaigned against weapons sales by calling war 'peak toxic masculinity'. Now the Queenslander, occasional firefighter and cabaret dancer is the figurehead of Blockade Australia, a radical group that causes mayhem around Australia to draw attention to climate change. Protesters on Monday parked a car sideways over the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and marched through the CBD hurling debris at police, with 11 arrested. Blockade Australia has promised a week of disruption to 'blockade the streets of Australia's most important political and economic centre and cause disruption that cannot be ignored' and is armed with a $75,000 legal war chest. Ms Grimshaw last week invoked American civil rights hero Martin Luther King to call for 10,000 people to join the protest in Sydney. 'To paraphrase Martin Luther King, when climate destruction becomes laws, resistance becomes duty,' she said. The group shut down the main freight route in and out of the Port of Botany in March and blocked freight trains carrying coal in Marrickville and Tempe in May. Ms Grimshaw has been active in various protest causes for decades, mostly in Queensland where she lives in Cairns. Her activism has involved opposing: the Adani coal mine in Queensland, cuts to arts funding, military spending and weapons production, forest logging, an wealth inequality. Profiles by other activist groups credit her with being a driving force behind the Stop Adani group that waged a war of attrition against the mine by blockading trains and freight routes and harassing its financial backers. G7 leaders condemned Russia's 'war crime' while Zelensky branded it a 'brazen terrorist attack' after two Russian AS-4 guided missiles struck the mall A prominent Russian state TV propagandist has shamelessly accused Ukraine of staging the shopping mall bomb atrocity to secure more military help from the West. Vladimir Solovyov, known as 'Putin's voice', unashamedly said Ukrainians 'do the same trick' when they need additional military help - 'they start screaming'. He claimed Kyiv had staged the attack, alleging that a lack of cars at the shopping mall indicated it was almost empty at the time of the bombing. But in reality, it was a Russian missile strike on the crowded mall in central Ukraine that killed at least 18 people in what G7 leaders branded 'a war crime' at a meeting in Germany. The Amstor shopping mall was blown up on Monday afternoon - during the mall's busiest hours - while an estimated 1,000 people were inside by what Kyiv says was two Russian AS-4 guided missiles, Soviet-era weapons originally designed to take out US aircraft carriers. But Solovyov shamelessly claimed that it was all a lie and Ukraine had staged the bombing and killed their own citizens. Solovyov also mocked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for having 'no hint of macho' and taunted him to declare war on Russia. Vladimir Solovyov, known as 'Putin's voice', unashamedly said Ukrainians 'do the same trick' when they need additional military help - 'they start screaming' He claimed Kyiv had staged the attack on the shopping mall, alleging that a lack of cars at the shopping mall indicated it was almost empty at the time of the bombing Smoke rises from the ruins of the Amstor shopping mall in the city of Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, after it was struck by long-range guided missiles that Ukraine says were fired by Russian bombers Emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish flames that ripped through the complex, warning that the chances of anyone who was trapped survived the blaze are slim Onlookers gather as the shopping centre is engulfed by flames shortly after it was struck by two Russian guided missiles on Monday, while an estimated 1,000 people were inside Speaking of the shopping mall bomb atrocity, Solovyov said on the state-owned Russian television channel Russia 1: 'Ukrainians do the same trick as always when they need additional [military] help. 'They start screaming - they had Bucha earlier, today they have Kremenchuk. 'Supposedly a shopping mall. There are supposedly many deaths, though for some reason there were few cars [in the car park]. He added: 'And there were almost 1,000 [dead]. Then they talked about 100 [dead]. There are no photos. Everything is as usual.' Images and video from the scene of the mall attack show those injured in the attack laying in hospital beds with bandages around their faces whilst emergency workers were pictured scouring the burnt remains of the shopping centre for survivors. People wounded during the missile strike on a Ukrainian shopping centre in Kremenchuk are pictured recovering from their wounds in hospital, with many of them suffering from burns A couple wounded in a shopping mall hit by a Russian missile strike hold hands in a hospital, amid expectation that the number of people killed will continue to rise Weeping survivors of the attack embrace each-other outside the devastated building as emergency crews search the ruins, but warn the chances of finding any more survivors is low Kremenchuk is an industrial city in the centre of Ukraine spanning the Dnipro River, and is more than 100 miles from the closest frontline with Kyiv insisting it contains no military targets Earlier, Russia claimed that Ukrainian and Western allegations of rape and massacres in Bucha were a stunt to make Putin's troops appear barbaric. But satellite images show the dead bodies of 410 civilians lining the streets of Bucha whilst Russian troops were in the Ukrainian town, debunking Russian claims they were placed there after their troops left the area. Horrific images show many civilians with bound hands, close-range gunshot wounds and signs of torture. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the accusations that Russian troops committed the atrocities as a 'staged provocation' but has yet to provide the 'empirical evidence' he says proves they are not responsible. Meanwhile, Russia's Ambassador to the UN claimed the bombing of a theatre in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol where women and children were sheltering is 'fake news'. Vasily Nebenzya denied that Russia had carried out an attack on the theatre where up to 1,000 men, women and children were sheltering. Images show civilians with bound hands in Bucha on April 4. Pictured: Ira Gavriluk walks next to the corpses of her husband and her brother Pictured: Bodies of civilians lay in a mass grave in Bucha which was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 4 In March, Russia was slammed for peddling 'fake news' after claiming a pregnant survivor of the Mariupol hospital bombing was a beauty blogger in makeup. Nadine Dorries, the UK culture secretary, denounced a tweet by Russia's London embassy which identified a bloodied patient seen evacuating from Mariupol maternity hospital as 'Marianna' - a beauty blogger from the city. The tweet - which has since been deleted for violating Twitter's 'community guidelines' - claimed the blogger 'played' the roles of two victims in photos it said were taken by a 'propagandist', who is actually a photographer for respected news wire Associated Press. Images and video from the scene clearly show several pregnant women taken out of the badly damaged hospital with injuries. Ukraine said three people died in the attack, including a six-year-old girl, while 17 others including hospital staff were wounded. Meanwhile, Solovyov led a media offensive against Boris Johnson, threatening again to use the Kremlin's Satan-2 hypersonic nuclear missile against the UK. In his latest TV diatribe, Solovyov declared: 'So, Johnson says he'll deliver tanks [to Ukraine] in August. 'I've got a question: Why are you so timid, Boris? Go on, declare war on Russia 'Go on, throw all your giant British army, your planes, your rusty submarines, all your nuclear ammunition - go on, throw them at Russia. The fact is that you are actually scared.' 'You are sending your [mercenaries], then abandon them in the Donetsk People's Republic courts,' Solovyov added, referring to Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner who have been sentenced to death after being caught fighting along side Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol. Solovyov continued: 'What are you scared of Brits? Do you want to declare a war on us? Do! Go on, finally do it! 'Do it! Pluck up your courage, don't you want to show how cool you are? Lead your troops, land somewhere 'This might give [space chief Dmitry] Rogozin a chance to test his Sarmat [hypersonic missile]. Meanwhile, Solovyov led a media offensive against Boris Johnson, threatening again to use the Kremlin's Satan-2 hypersonic nuclear missile against the UK. Pictured: Boris Johnson with world leaders at the G7 Summit Delving back into history, he claimed the British royals had betrayed their Russian cousin Nicholas II in his hour of need after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. 'We remember you Brits, when you betrayed Nicholas II and his family,' he said. 'Remember that Boris? You seem to like history, don't you? 'Ask Liz Truss what you did to the Tsar's family, how you promised to save them - and betrayed them! But this is your British tradition, to betray, and to be scared.' Solovyov also mocked Johnson for urging other G7 leaders to show Putin 'our chest muscles'. 'Well, that is important for Johnson,' said the propagandist known as Putin's Voice. 'And it is important that when showing his chest muscles he doesn't step on them accidentally. 'Because, well this is what Boris Johnson looks like.' The camera showed Johnson on a morning run, provoking hilarity among pro-Putin TV pundits. Solovyov said: 'This is how he was going for a walk. Well, to be blunt, there is no hint of macho here.' Another pundit body shames Johnson: 'This is a special type of macho.' Solovyov goes on: 'A new type of macho, gender appropriate. At the same time, he doesn't change his underwear. These underwear-shorts, he always runs only in them. 'Apparently, this is his lucky underwear . Today, he went for a run. 'He was offloaded [from a car] and he immediately started running. As far as I understand, he ran straight into a hotel, so it's not too far [for him to run]. Perfect run. 'If you run out of the car and run to the hotel, then it's perfect. I hope he simply didn't sell his underwear to get booze.' A single father desperately searching for a house has revealed how he's been rejected from 360 rentals - and insisted his face tattoo is not to blame. Ash Brown, 32, and his two kids have been homeless for five months, forcing them to sleep on a single mattress together at his mother's house in Adelaide. The father has blamed the huge demand for rentals for his situation, revealing he is regularly forced to compete against more than 50 people at property inspections. As a single parent, he says he struggles to compete with multiple income families - and is adamant his housing troubles have nothing to do with the ink on his face after a social media backlash following a TV interview. 'They don't give me any reasons, ' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'They just never contact me back. It's because of the rental crisis. Every inspection I go to, there are at least 50 to 60 other people there applying for the same houses - and I dare say a lot of these are multiple income families and households. 'People on social media have been saying 'oh its because of your face tattoo' but this isn't the case. Not once have I ever been visually judged by any real estate agent because of my tattoos. In all honesty, the only judgement I have ever received for my tattoos has been since the interview on Channel 7. Ash Brown, 32, has revealed his struggles to find a home for him and his two kids to live in They have been homeless for five months, forcing them to sleep on a single mattress together at his mother's house in Adelaide 'And the thing about that is, it's there for a reason, the tattoo that is. It says 'Blessed'. I got it when i became a single father, and had to start raising my kids on my own. 'The whole concept of being a solo parent was very new to me and difficult. I was personally struggling with depression with the whole situation and wanted something to remind me every time I looked in the mirror exactly what it is I'm fighting for. Which is my two kids.' In the Channel 7 interview, he also added: 'We really wanted to be in a home by my son's fifth birthday. 'I feel like I'm failing my kids by not being able to provide them with a home even though I'm doing everything I possibly can.' Mr Brown's son Benjamin celebrated his fifth birthday Tuesday, with the father taking his children to a hotel so they could enjoy a change of scenery. 'I went to three property inspections today and the same story at each one, between 40 and 60 people there, and obviously some of these people are in a better position financially than me. I know I will be overlooked yet again. I have always paid my rent weeks in advance. I have good references. My previous rental was 5 years at the same place. The only reason we had to leave was the owner wanted to renovate and then sell the property. 'I am desperate to find myself and my kids a place to call home. I have even written multiple letters to the state premier which have gone unanswered, and 13 other members of parliament.' Michelle Gegenhuber, Believe Housing Australia's Executive General Manager, told 7News that more people were currently on the verge of homelessness than pre-pandemic levels. Anglicare Australia's 2022 Rental Affordability Snapshot also revealed that only eight out of 6,000 rental listing across the country were affordable for a person on JobSeeker, and just one listing was affordable for a person on Youth Allowance. Mr Brown's son Benjamin celebrated his fifth birthday Tuesday, with the father taking his children to a hotel so they could enjoy a change of scenery (pictured at a friends' house) As a single parent, he says he struggles to compete with multiple income families - and insists his housing troubles have nothing to do with his face tattoo after social media backlash following a TV interview For full time workers on a minimum wage, 778 rents were affordable, and for those on the Age Pension, just 336 were affordable. Earlier this month, research by analysts Compare the Market found 49 per cent of renters in Australia had their rent increased in the past 12 months, leading many to fear how high the next rent rise will be. The average house rent in Australia's state and territory capitals jumped by 16.3 per cent to $657 a week in the past year, according to SQM Research. About 41 per cent of all renters said it affected their ability to save, including for a deposit to buy a property of their own. Rental increases deemed 'excessive' are different in each location, but generally, rental bodies deem increases to be excessive if they are too different from similar market rents, if there's a sizeable difference compared to the current rent, or if the property has outstanding repairs needed. The national vacancy rate for rental properties is just 1.1 per cent of all properties. In regional areas, the vacancy rate is below 1 per cent. Compare the Market's Chris Ford said it is a very tough market for struggling renters. The G7 summit in Germany wrapped up on Tuesday with leaders pledging to fight back against Vladimir Putin's war on food with $5 billion to help protect supplies. President Joe Biden left the summit to fly from Germany to Madrid for a NATO summit after three days in the Bavarian Alps, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has dominated proceedings. A senior administration official said more than half the funding - some $2.76 billion - will come from the Unite States to fight Putin's impact on food security. 'His actions have strangled food and agricultural production, have used food as a weapon of war, including through the destruction of agricultural storage, processing and testing facilities, the theft of grain and farm equipment, and the effect of blockaded back Black Sea ports. 'Estimates suggest that up to 40 million people could be pushed into poverty in 2022 as a result of Putin's war in Ukraine and its secondary effects, most especially around food security around the globe.' At the first meeting of the day, Biden ignored a question about what the leaders were doing about getting grain out of blockaded Ukraine. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson answered instead, saying: 'We're working on it.' The G7 summit in Germany wraps up on Tuesday with leaders pledging to fight back against Vladimir Putin 's war on food with $5 billion to help protect supplies, according to a senior U.S. official. From left to right British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi meet on the sidelines of the summit this morning President Joe Biden is due to fly from Munich to Madrid on Tuesday as G7 leaders head to a NATO summit. Both summits will be dominated by the war in Ukraine and its fallout The leaders met at Schloss Emlau, a German resort, where the Bavarian Alps provided a spectacular backdrop for open-air speeches As well as Ukraine, the rise of China and its impact on global markets has exercised the delegations during their three days of discussions. The leaders of the U.S., Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., Canada and Japan agreed to develop a joint approach to remedying Beijing's 'non-market' international trade practices, according to the official. 'You'll see leaders release a collective statement, which is unprecedented in the context of the G7, acknowledging the harms caused by China's non-transparent, market-distorting industrial directives,' the official said. On Monday, they heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who joined by video link. He asked for urgent help to end the war before the bitter winter months undermined his troops' ability to fight back. Hours later they condemned an 'abominable' Russian strike on a crowded shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. 'Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime,' they said. 'Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account.' Some 1,000 shoppers were believed to be in the Kremenchuk center when it was hit. The death toll stood at 18 on Tuesday morning, but that number was expected to increase as rescue teams searched the debris. People watch as smoke bellows after a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping mall, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, Monday, June 27 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to G7 leaders on Monday by video link, and used the occasion to urge the US to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism Tuesday's announcement on food security highlights another front in Putin's war. Russian warships are blockading Ukraine's Black Sea ports, which account for almost all of the country's grain and wheat exports. The result has been a surge in food prices around the world and warnings that as many as 47 million people face acute hunger this year. International Rescue Committee President David Miliband said recently: 'Ukraine has long been the bread basket not just for its neighbors in the region or for Europe, but for the world. 'Blockades on ports in the Black Sea are holding thousands of tons of wheat, grain and fertilizer hostage - with devastating consequences for millions already caught in growing hunger crises worldwide. These blockades must be lifted immediately.' A Malawi court on Monday sentenced a Catholic priest to 30 years in prison over the gruesome 2018 murder of a man with albinism, whose body parts he had planned to sell. Judge Dorothy NyaKaunda Kamanga said Thomas Muhosha had planned to traffic 22-year-old MacDonald Masambuka's tissue. Mr Masambuka was violently killed in a graveyard after being told by people close to him that they had found him a potential wife and he should meet her. He was reported missing in February 2018 and his body was discovered a month later, with the legs and arms had been removed. Malawi is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for people with albinism, a lack of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes, because their body parts are used in magical potions and other ritual practices. In total, five people were jailed for life for murdering the man including his own brother. Along with the priest, four others received a lesser sentence of 30 years in prison. Malawi Catholic priest Thomas Muhosha and several other men have been jailed for killing MacDonald Masambuka, 22, who had albinism. Many in Malawi believe that albino body parts bring wealth and luck (Pictured: Malawi support group for people with albinism) 'The offence was motivated by the disability of the deceased, that of albinism,' she said in a ruling handed down in the city of Blantyre. She said the priest, who led a parish in Machinga, 100 kilometres northeast of the country's second city Blantyre, had breached the trust many had placed in him. The killing occurred at the height of a spree that saw over 40 people with albinism murdered and scores of others assaulted. 'The convicts took advantage of the deceased's psychological need for love,' the judge said. 'They lured him into believing that they had found a prospective wife for him and that they should go and meet her - that ended up being his death trap.' A total of 12 people were handed various sentences over the killing. People with albinism in Malawi have been given personal alarms by police to help protect them From 2014 Malawi suffered a wave of assaults against albinos, whose body parts were used in witchcraft rituals in the superstitious belief that they brought wealth and luck. The number of reported crimes against people with albinism in Malawi is estimated to be over 170 cases, including more than 25 murders since November 2014. In 2016 it was estimated there are around 10,000 albinos in Malawi. The United Nations' top expert on albinism has said people with the condition risk 'extinction' in Malawi due to relentless attacks fuelled by superstitions. In nearby Tanzania, a full set of albino body parts could sell for more than 50,000. Last year, following another murder of a man with albinism in the country, Amnesty International's Director for East and Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena, said: 'This brutal murder is the latest reminder that Malawi remains a dangerous place for persons with albinism. 'The Malawian government must protect this vulnerable group from murder, abduction and persecution, in a context where perpetrators are rarely held to account.' To help address the concerns, the Malawi Police Service began distributing personal security alarms to help people with albinism fend off attackers. Advertisement They were men with facial injuries so severe they were slapped with labels that simply read 'GOK' God Only Knows. For these soldiers, who had been wounded in the horrendous fighting of the First World War, hope of any sort of normal life was scant. But pioneering surgeon Sir Harold Gillies offered an olive branch that transformed the prospects of dozens of disfigured young men who fell under his care. Now, a new book by historian Dr Lindsey Fitzharris explores the work of Gillies, who is widely regarded as being the 'grandfather' of plastic surgery. Stunning images reveal how the appearances of men who had horrendous wounds many to their noses and mouths were transformed with Gillies's unprecedented techniques. One soldier, Sergeant Sidney Beldam, had a large portion of his nose torn off by a piece of shrapnel so that his upper lip was permanently lifted in a snarl. After having nearly 40 operations under Gillies, during which a flap of healthy tissue was sutured in place to fill out the missing parts of his cheek and nose, Beldam went on to marry the love of his life a pianist who had visited the wounded in hospital. They were men with facial injuries so severe they were slapped with labels that simply read 'GOK' God Only Knows. Above: How Sergeant Sidney Beldam's face was transformed by pioneering surgeon Sir Harold Gillies Stunning images reveal how men who had horrendous wounds many to their noses and mouths were transformed with Gillies's unprecedented techniques The combatants in the First World War utilised unprecedented advances in weaponry, with machine guns, shells and mortar bombs doing extreme damage to their victims. Whilst in previous conflicts disfiguring injuries had been rare, in the trenches of France and Belgium they were extremely common. Men had their noses blown off, their jaws shattered, their skulls broken and sometimes their entire faces destroyed. One doctor, Ward Muir, who worked at a hospital in Wandsworth in London, described men with wounds to their faces as 'broken gargoyles'. He feared that his own facial expression when treating the disfigured may gave away his own feelings that they were 'hideous'. Dr Fitzharris's new book, The Facemaker, explores the work of Gillies and the lives of the men he treated. A new book by historian Dr Lindsey Fitzharris explores the work of Gillies, who is widely regarded as being the 'grandfather' of plastic surgery. Above: Gillies during his time serving in the First World War, and right, in 1951 This series of six images, taken between the end of May 1918 and March the following year, shows the transformation in a soldier who suffered severe injuries to his left cheek and mouth A soldier is seen above left midway through his treatment under Gillies after suffering a severe injury to his nose. Right: The young man after his nose has been reconstructed A soldier is seen with horrendous injuries to his neck and chin in April 1918, before Gillies's surgery transformed his injuries. In December 1918, only much smaller scars remain One patient Gillies treated, Private 'Big Bob' Seymour, went on to become his private secretary after being delighted with the new nose he had built for him using one of his pioneering techniques. Above: Seymour is seen in various stages of his treatment This soldier is seen initially with a severely disfigured mouth. By October 1918, his mouth and cheek had largely been restored The surgeon, from New Zealand, was an ear, nose and throat specialist who had volunteered for service in the Red Cross on the Western Front when the war broke out. There, he was taught how to do bone grafts which were crucial to successful facial reconstructions by Franco-American dentist Charles Valadier. Gillies initially worked on dealing with the cascade of wounded soldiers who were carried from the front to operating tables. Then, in 1916, he was sent back to Britain to work in plastic surgery and eventually settled at Queen's Hospital in Sidcup, south-east London. Gillies would take bits of bone from patients' ribs to form cartilage of the nose, or skin from other parts of the body that would be grafted on to mens' faces to replace what they had lost. There, once connected to the patient's blood supply, it would grow and replace much of the horrendous scarring. One patient he treated, Private 'Big Bob' Seymour, went on to become his private secretary after being delighted with the new nose he had built for him using one of his pioneering techniques. A soldier named Sergeant Butcher is seen after his treatment under Gillies. Dr Fitzharris's new book, The Facemaker, also underlines how doctors realized that photography was a useful tool for patient documentation This soldier is seen from June 1918 until October that same year, with the progress in the correction of his facial wounds remarkable This soldier is seen first in November 1917 and finally in September 1918, after the lower part of his face had been largely restored This soldier is seen during his treatment, with his mouth at one point virtually non-existent. By the end of the photo documentation, in May 1917, the lower part of his face had largely been restored Gillies also performed one of the first ever skin grafts in 1917 on a British sailor named Walter Yeo who had been horribly burned in combat. Using skin from Yeo's neck and upper chest, Gillies made a mask of skin that he transplanted across Yeo's face. This helped repair the damage that had been done, hiding his disfiguration and allowing him to close his eyes at night once more. Yeo even returned to active duty and lived a long life after he was discharged back to his hometown of Plymouth. Sir Harold was also an early adopter of photography in his work, precisely documenting a patient's journey from when they first began receiving treatment from Gillies to when they left. Sergeant Beldam was serving with the 9th Scottish Division when the front of his face was ripped off by shell and he fell forward. Lying in the mud on a field in Belgium, during the Battle of Passchendaele, Beldam fell in and out of consciousness before help arrived. The Facemaker, by Dr Lindsay Fitzharris, is published by Allen Lane He likely survived initially because of the fact he had fallen on his front, meaning he did not suffocate on his own blood. Beldam was not expected to survive his injuries but because of Gillies's work he went on to live for another 60 years. While recuperating at Queen's Hospital, Beldam met his wife, Winifred, a local girl who visited the hospital and played piano to the patients. He later became a chauffeur to Gillies. The surgeon continued his work for more than four decades after the war. He died aged 78 in 1960 after suffering a minor stroke while operating on an 18-year-old girl whose leg had been shattered in a car accident. Dr Fitzharris's new book, The Facemaker, also underlines how doctors realized that photography was a useful tool for patient documentation. 'The photographer directed the patient into a chair with a headrest and took photos from as many as five different angles,' she writes. 'The precision of the posing allowed for exact comparisons at various stages of the reconstructive process. In time, these photographs provided another historical record of the birth of modern plastic surgery,' reads an extract from the book. 'By the late nineteenth century, many doctors believed that the lens of a camera was a powerful tool for achieving objectivity. 'As a result, the medical community embraced photography as a technology with great potential, especially as photos could be taken with relative ease and at a low cost. Only later would the ethics of such images be challenged.' Iran says "indirect" sanctions talks with U.S. to resume in days Xinhua) 09:30, June 28, 2022 TEHRAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- "Indirect" talks between Iran and the United States aimed at removing U.S. sanctions will resume this week, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said here Monday. "The time and place of the talks are not certain, but the talks will take place this week and in one of the regional countries," Khatibzadeh said during his weekly press conference. "I confirm that there has been an agreement in content, form and subject matter" of the next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, which are the extension of previous talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, he said. The nuclear deal is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Concerning the recent visit by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to the Iranian capital of Tehran, Khatibzadeh said, "we hope that Borrell's messages (from the United States) will be implemented in practice as well," while expressing Iran's "distrust" of the United States. He said that Iran is waiting to see whether the Americans will drop the "legacy" of former U.S. President Donald Trump. "What we will do in the next round of talks is not about the nuclear dimensions, but about a few issues concerning the lifting of sanctions," he said. Khatibzadeh said nothing would be added to the already-agreed-upon points in the Vienna talks. Negotiations will be held "indirectly" with the United States over differences. Now the "ball is in Washington's court, and if they come with a reply, an agreement is available," he noted. Trump pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact. Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA to revive the deal, but the talks have been suspended since March over "political" differences between Tehran and Washington. At a joint televised press conference on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Borrell announced that the talks would resume in the coming days to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal. On Sunday, Iran's Nour News, affiliated with the country's Supreme National Security Council, reported that the new round of nuclear talks would likely be held in Qatar's capital Doha. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Russian President Vladimir Putin has only two years left to live amid deteriorating eyesight and a battle against other "grave" illnesses, Ukrainian spy chief Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov claims. Budanov said that spies in Kyiv were able to infiltrate the Kremlin and gathered sufficient evidence and information based on "human intelligence" regarding the claims. In an interview, the general said that Putin does not have a long life left ahead of him. Vladimir Putin's Health The Ukrainian spy chief's remarks are the latest in a series of rumors surrounding the despot's ailing health that have circulated since the beginning of Russia's war on Ukraine. Earlier this month, Putin was filmed tightly gripping a table while meeting with his Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu. Later, the Russian president was seen swaying and seemed unsteady on his feet as he presented a prize to Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkob in Moscow. Telegram channel General SVR reported in May that the Kremlin leader looked weak while rising from his chair during a video conference with officials due to feeling a "sharp sickness, weakness, and dizziness," as per Mirror. Much of the speculation surrounding Putin's health has been related to the Russian president's puffy face and shaking limbs during public appearances. The rumors also come after Western officials suggested that the speculation is mounting in Russia over who will succeed the tyrannical leader when he passes away. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Conducts Late-Night Secret Meeting To Talk with Fellow Dictator About Nuclear Weapons [RUMOR] However, authorities did not give a timescale and said that there was no "immediate threat" to Putin's grip on power but instead on "more chatter" about his future. While the loss of support for the Russian president is likely to come too late to bring the war to a swift end, an official said that there were growing talks about who will replace him in the near future. According to Insider, Budanov's recent remarks come after his comments last month that claimed Putin was suffering from cancer. The Russian president's health has been a hot topic for several years but much more so in recent months amid Moscow's war on Ukraine. Not Long to Live The last time that the Kremlin confirmed Putin was sick was in 2012 after he disappeared from public view and canceled several meetings. However, Russian authorities have continuously denied the recent allegations that the Kremlin leader is battling serious health issues. The reports come as an unidentified Russian spy to FSB defector Boris Karpichkov said that Putin was losing his eyesight and was suffering from frequent headaches. The unnamed officer said that they were told that the Kremlin leader was having headaches and needs pieces of paper with everything written in huge letters to read what he was going to say when he appears on TV. The Russian spy added that the president's limbs were now also "shaking uncontrollably" in support of previous claims. General SVR also claimed that Putin's doctors warned him that surgery might incapacitate him for a "short time" during which he could briefly hand over power over the country to an aide until he recovers enough, the Independent reported. Related Article: Lavrov Comments on Putin's Health Rumors Amid Claims That Russian President Has 3 Years Left To Live @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An ex-soldier has been accused of faking trench foot as he makes a record 2.9 million damages claim against the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Brian Muyepa claims he has been left waddling 'like a penguin' after being left in wet boots for more than five hours following a training exercise in a water-filled Welsh tunnel in winter 2016. The 33-year-old says he suffered severe 'non-freezing cold injuries' and has been left so disabled he has been reduced to shuffling around and relying on a walking stick or his wife to help him get around. He is claiming 2.9 million in compensation from the MoD, but it claims he is 'lying' in order to 'ramp up' his claim for money. The MoD says there is evidence that the entire claim is a 'fraud' and that Mr Muyepa had planned to make it after discussing the idea of packing his boots with ice to 'fool' medics. Footage posted on Facebook also shows him dancing to loud music at a barbecue and seemingly walking 'normally' at a friend's wedding party in Nottingham in June 2019, MoD lawyers say. Brian Muyepa, pictured, claims he suffered severe 'non-freezing cold injuries' during a training exercise in Wales in winter 2016 But Mr Muyepa, who was based at Salisbury, denies lying and told judge Mr Justice Cotter: 'That's not the way I used to walk before my injury. I used to walk with a big stride. 'Now I don't - I walk like a penguin.' The London court heard the former Royal Artillery gunner's case revolves around a promotion exercise he attended in Sennybridge, Wales, in March 2016. During the exercise, he spent time in a cold water-filled tunnel, but then had to continue for another five-and-a-half hours afterwards in wet boots. He was later diagnosed with non-freezing cold injury, a disabling condition which is characterised by pain in the extremities and an oversensitivity to cold. Mr Muyepa, pictured here with his wife, said he is left needing her help or the aid of a walking stick to get around Most commonly experienced by servicemen, it was first noted in the trenches of Europe during the First World War, resulting in its more commonly used description as 'trench foot.' Following his diagnosis, it was recommended that Mr Muyepa be protected from cold in future, his lawyers claim. But after a stay on Ascension Island, he was exposed again at Salisbury Plain in early 2017, when he spent much of his time working outdoors on vehicles. His condition subsequently worsened and he was diagnosed as having 'very severe' cold sensitivity in his feet. The serious condition that killed 75,000 Brits during WWI: What is trench foot? When did it become known? Trench foot is a serious foot condition that first became known during the First World War. Troops fighting in wet and cold trenches without spare socks or boots would often go down with it. It was so serious it killed about 75,000 British soldiers and 2,000 Americans during the conflict. What causes it? The condition comes when feet get wet and are not dried properly. It usually happens at around 30F to 40F but can still happen in the desert. It is more likely to be caused by wet feet rather than cold ones, with wet socks and shoes staying on the foot for a while usually making it worse. But with cold and wet socks and boots the feet start to lose nerve function and are deprived of oxygen and blood. When the nerves are damaged like this, it can make it harder to realise one has trench foot. What are the symptoms? Sufferers get blisters, blotchy skin, redness and skin can peel off. It can also make a one's feet feel cold, heavy, numb, painful when around heat, itchy and tingly. What happens to the foot? Depending on the severity of trench foot, a person could have to be amputated, will have severe blisters, struggle to walk, suffer gangrene and ulcers and also have permanent nerve damage. How can you prevent it? To prevent getting trench foot in the first place, a person should take off their socks, not wear dirty socks to bed, clean the affected area quickly, dry their feet and apply heat packs to the affected area. Source: Healthline Advertisement Claiming 2.9m damages, Mr Muyepa told the judge that the injury had severely impacted on most aspects of his everyday life. He almost always requires a walking stick, sometimes cannot get out of bed, suffers sleeplessness and often feels 'like a prisoner' in his home, he said. But cross-examining him, MoD barrister Andrew Ward suggested that Mr Muyepa had told a pack of 'lies' to inflate the value of his compensation claim. 'Whenever you go to see somebody to claim money like benefits or to see an expert in relation to your claim, you put on an act to...ramp up your entitlement to damages or benefits,' he put to him. The barrister produced a stream of videos, taken from Facebook or from covertly-recorded surveillance, which he said showed Mr Muyepa has 'ramped up and exaggerated' an 'extravagant claim.' In one video, Mr Muyepa can be seen in an apron, marinating chicken at a barbecue, while dancing around to loud music. Mr Ward suggested it showed that Mr Muyepa had misled care experts about his disability. But Mr Muyepa - who was medically discharged from the Army in January 2018 - said, like his walking had changed, he now cannot dance enthusiastically as he once would have done. 'I am dancing like I'm at a wedding,' he said. 'I'm not jumping around in the air. I am dancing like a penguin, from side to side.' He said the various videos may have been recorded on 'good' days when his symptoms are not so bad, such as when it is warm outside or he has drunk alcohol, numbing the pain. 'My injury fluctuates. I can be feeling a bit okay, but in the next hour or 30 minutes, things can turn around,' he told the judge. 'I need a walking stick every day of my life. That stick helps me move around better and give me confidence. 'In a true sense, I hate my stick, but I have to have the stick to move around.' And he claimed it was 'unfair' that the videos did not show him on the bad days when he is more affected by his 'invisible' injury. 'Nobody knows my struggle,' he told the judge. 'You can only see 30 minutes or an hour on the video. I suffer in silence.' Mr Ward suggested that Mr Muyepa had repeatedly shown himself to be 'making things up as you go along to cover your tracks.' The trial continues. An Army Sergeant has been jailed for stripping off and 'gyrating' at a female colleague after drinking a huge 'boot' of alcohol. Staff Sergeant Samuel Haseltine, 32, was 'completely and utterly drunk' after necking a two-litre stein filled with beer and spirits during a leaving party thrown for him. The 'lewd' soldier took his clothes off and approached the woman, who was sober and the only female solider at the party, a court martial heard. He walked up behind her as she was sat on a sofa and began to 'gyrate' his genitals, just 'inches from her face'. Married SSgt Haseltine, of 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, apologised to the woman the following day after colleagues told him he had 'overstepped the line'. SSgt Haseltine served in the army for nearly 15 years, boasts several medals of honour and has served one tour in Afghanistan. He was allowed to complete an 18-month course that earned him the rank of Staff Sergeant before the hearing, and narrowly avoided a reduction in rank despite being jailed. The soldier admitted one charge of disgraceful conduct and was said to be 'full of guilt' towards his 'humiliated' colleague at the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) in Colchester, Essex. Staff Sergeant Samuel Haseltine, pictured at Bulford Military Court, has been jailed for six months over his 'lewd' actions towards a female solider at his own leaving do. He was described by his victim as being 'completely and utterly' drunk The married father had downed a huge boot of alcohol, as part of a leaving bash tradition, just before stripping off and 'gyrating' at his colleague who was sitting on a sofa at the base in Suffolk But Judge Advocate Edward Legard told the disgraced officer his actions would 'not be tolerated' in the Army and jailed him for six months for his 'appalling' actions. Judge Legard said: 'The behaviour that forms the basis of this charge represents an appalling example of gross misconduct. 'Let me make this absolutely clear: such behaviour should not and will not be tolerated in Her Majesty's Army. 'Moreover, incidents of this nature can cause serious reputational damage to the Armed Forces.' Bulford Military Court, in Wilts, heard that the incident happened when SSgt Haseltine's unit threw him a 'leaving do' before he enrolled on the course which took him from the rank of Corporal to that of Staff Sergeant. He completed the course ahead of the court martial hearing, and risked a reduction in rank as a result. The group of soldiers attended the leaving party at the unit bar of Rock Barracks at MoD Woodbridge in Suffolk - including senior officers and his commanding officer. The hearing was told his unit employ a tradition that those departing have to stand on a chair and drink a giant, two-litre 'glass boot' of alcohol in one. David Richards, defending SSgt Haseltine, explained: 'It was the tradition within that unit that those leaving would have a particular drink. 'A glass boot, two litres or thereabouts. A large stein filled with beer, spirits - whatever. 'The person leaving was required to stand up on a chair and down it in one. Corporal Haseltine, as he was then, went along with the tradition.' Bulford Military Court heard that SSgt Haseltine's actions caused others to laugh, with the female officer leaving the room after the incident. Prosecuting, Captain Rebecca Slee said: 'He took his clothes off so his genitals were exposed. SSgt Haseltine was told by a judge that his behaviour was 'appalling' and that it could cause 'serious reputational damage' to the British Army 'He approached the victim from behind whilst she was sat on a sofa and proceeded to gyrate close to her right shoulder whilst others laughed. 'She left the room. This was a specific targeting of the only female in the room.' Mr Richards added that though SSgt Haseltine's 'crass' behaviour was inexcusable it had been a result of the 'social pressure of the event'. He added that SSgt Haseltine is not a 'heavy drinker' and that was why he was 'completely and utterly drunk' after the boot-drinking tradition. Mr Richards told the court: 'The next day he had no recollection of the incident but was told by others what he had done. 'SSgt Haseltine approached the victim to apologise, but she didn't want to speak to him and sent him away. 'Later, his wife approached her and apologised on his behalf, and she accepted that apology. 'It was an act of crass stupidity which was wholly out of character. One witness put it best, saying SSgt Haseltine 'overstepped the line'.' In a statement to the court, the victim said that she was 'disgusted' to have been 'singled out' as the only woman. He was jailed for six months at Bulford Military Court, in Wilts, after admitting one charge of disgraceful conduct and was said to be 'full of guilt' towards his 'humiliated' colleague She also said the incident justified this kind of behaviour to junior soldiers in the unit and taught them it was 'acceptable and normal'. Passing the sentence, Judge Advocate Legard said: 'The victim was the only female present in the bar and she was sober. She was sitting on a sofa and was engaged in chatting. 'You, in a state of extreme inebriation, approached her from behind, exposed your genitals and gyrated inches away from her face. 'There was laughter and no doubt encouragement from others. It was a deeply humiliating and embarrassing incident for the victim. 'This was an episode which had the potential to cause reputational damage to the Armed Forces and one that runs contrary to the modern Army.' SSgt Haseltine's Regiment forms part of the 12 Armoured Brigade Combat Team which, on operations, is part of the Army's 3rd UK Warfighting Division. The 3rd Division, based on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, is also known as The Iron Division and is the only division which retains continual operational readiness in the UK. During wartime, 4 Regt RLC provides ammunition, fuel and rations to front line units. Boris Johnson is the most popular foreign leader in Ukraine, new polling has revealed. Data published by Lord Ashcroft polls show the British Prime Minister with a 90% approval rating among Ukrainians - just three points behind war leader President Volodymyr Zelensky. Boris Johnsons popularity in Ukraine will come as a welcome respite from a turbulent few weeks in the UK, including a vote on no confidence in which 41% of Conservative MPs voted against him and the loss of two by-elections on June 23. Mr Johnsons popularity in Ukraine is almost four times better than his approval rating in his own country, which stood at just 24% in early June - according to a poll by YouGov. However, Mr Johnsons decision to throw his support behind President Zelensky and Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February has made him hugely popular among Ukrainians. Boris Johnson meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his second visit to Kyiv in June Mr Johnson and President Joe Biden were well ahead of their German and French counterparts owing to their support of Ukraine since Russia invaded Mr Johnson has proved hugely popular in Ukraine after lending strong support to the country since Russia invaded. President Zelensky (right) described the PM as a 'great ally' said he was 'very happy' to see him survive his confidence vote in June The two leaders lighting candles in St. Mikhailovsky Cathedral in Kyiv during the Prime Minister's surprise June visit Ukrainian confidence in defeating Russia has grown far more since the start of the war than Russian belief in victory. However, support for the invasion remains strong in Russia The Prime Minister has visited Ukraine twice since the start of the war - in April and June - to meet with the Ukrainian President to pledge support, supplies and weapons as the country continues to fend off Vladimir Putins forces in the east of the country. The two leaders have built a strong relationship since the war began, with President Zelensky saying he was very happy that Mr Johnson had survived his confidence vote, adding that he was an important ally. Mr Johnsons pro-active support of Ukraine has gone down well with the Ukrainian people - especially when compared with the less enthusiastic support of German chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. President Macron has been criticised for insisting that the West should avoid 'humiliating' President Putin over his invasion of Ukraine, while Germany has come under fire for not lending support quickly enough to Ukraine and relying on Russian gas. Lord Ashcroft Polls published approval ratings in Ukraine with President Zelensky, unsurprisingly, the most popular with 93% approval. Boris Johnson was a close second on 90%, while US President Joe Biden was just behind on 89%. Chancellor Scholz and President Macron trailed far behind with just 42% approval among Ukrainians. Russian support for the invasion remains strong, although it has fallen slightly since the war began Polling shows support for Putin's regime and the invasion has not waned among the Russian people, but most were surprised at Ukraine's strength in fighting back Most Russians blamed Ukraine, the US, NATO and EU for the war, though a substantial minority admitted Russia also had responsibility The vast majority of Ukrainians want to join NATO, and most say they would feel safer with nuclear weapons, following Putin's suggestions that he could use nuclear missiles in Europe The polling data also showed that Ukrainian resolve in fighting the Russian invasion was solid, with 60% of Ukrainians saying they were more confident of victory than at the start of the war. This compares to just 38% of Russians who say they are more confident than when Putin launched his invasion. However, the polling also showed the Russian people firmly behind Putins autocratic regime - the Russian President enjoys an approval rating of 85%, behind only the Russian military which has 86%. A clear majority of 57% also said they were surprised at how strong Ukrainian resistance had been - a reflection of the Russian leadership's assumption the country would be easy to invade. Over three quarters of Russians also blamed Ukraine for the war, despite the fact that Russia invaded the country. Most also blamed US, NATO and EU, but a substantial minority (41%) also said Russia had 'a great deal' or 'some' responsibility. Over 80% expressed trust in Russian leadership and said they thought the country would come out of the war stronger. Support for the invasion of Ukraine also remains strong. Polls show that 51% of Russians strongly support the so-called special military operation - a small drop from 57% in March. The vast majority of Ukrainians (81%) said they wanted their country to join NATO, and 68% said they would feel safer if they had nuclear weapons. Seven Jeffrey Epstein victims, including Virginia Giuffre and Annie Farmer, are set to face Ghislaine Maxwell in court today as she is finally sentenced for up to 55 years for sex-trafficking crimes. Former socialite Maxwell faces more than half a century in jail after being convicted of procuring young girls for Jeffrey Epstein. She will be sentenced in New York at 11 a.m. today, with prosecutors saying she deserves 30 to 55 years behind bars. Victims Annie Farmer, Virginia Giuffre and 'Kate,' a former model, have been given permission to read victim impact statements to the court, although it's unclear whether Giuffre will definitely attend. Although Giuffre was not part of the indictment she was mentioned in Maxwell's trial. Annie Farmer's older sister, Maria, as well as victims Sarah Ransome, Teresa Helm, Elizabeth Stein and Juliette Bryant are also set to look Maxwell in the eye in court and have submitted written statements. Sarah Ransome told the Daily Telegraph she was happy her statement would be read in court because she had 'a lot to say.' Farmer blasted Maxwell today for her lack of remorse ahead of her sentencing for sex-trafficking crimes. Annie Farmer, 43, who was the only victim to testify using her real name, said it was upsetting that Maxwell, 60, was focusing on how her own life was ruined. Maxwell's attorneys asked US District Judge Alison J. Nathan to impose a sentence of no more than five years because they said her 'life has been ruined' and she was 'vulnerable to Epstein' because of 'a difficult, traumatic childhood.' Farmer hit out at the 60-year-old for not 'taking ownership' of her crimes. 'I felt again that there had been an opportunity for her to take ownership of what she had done, for her to in some ways express remorse to the victims of her crimes,' she told BBC Radio 4. 'It was all about her and about how she was victimized.' She added: 'These crimes had not only impacted the victims that experienced them but also there's a systemic impact for those people's partners, families and loved ones. If you think about all the people involved in this the harm she caused is almost immeasurable.' Seven Jeffrey Epstein victims, including Virginia Giuffre (left) and Annie Farmer (right), are set to face Ghislaine Maxwell in court today as she is finally sentenced for up to 55 years for sex trafficking crimes A photo of a young Annie Farmer - shown as evidence in Ghislaine Maxwell trial Farmer told the court she first met Maxwell in 1996 when she was taken to Epstein's New Mexico ranch and got the impression that the two were 'romantic partners' Maxwell, a US, British and French citizen, 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. The maximum term Maxwell can serve is 55 years. Maxwell has denied abusing anyone. For nearly two years since her July 2020 arrest, Maxwell 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; last month she was moved into an area with 40 other inmates. Maxwell's attorneys claim the British socialite 'is not a dangerous criminal or a habitual offender.' 'Ms Maxwell cannot and should not bear all the punishment for which Epstein should have been held responsible,' her attorneys said. 'Her life has been ruined. 'She had a difficult, traumatic childhood with an overbearing, narcissistic and demanding father. It made her vulnerable to Epstein, whom she met right after her father's death. Witness Annie Farmer is questioned by prosecutor Lara Pomerantz during the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking, in a courtroom sketch in New York City, Dec. 10, 2021 Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell at the socialite's home in Britain 'It is the biggest mistake she made in her life and one that she has not and never will repeat.' Her attorneys added: 'She is someone who wants nothing more than to live a normal family life something she was denied because of her association with Epstein and will now almost certainly never have. 'Ms. Maxwell has already experienced a hard time during detention under conditions far more onerous and punitive than any experienced by a typical pre-trial detainee, and she is preparing to spend significantly more time behind bars. 'The public does not need to be protected from Ms. Maxwell and such considerations should have no weight in determining her sentence.' Many 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. During Maxwell's trial Farmer testified how Maxwell had rubbed her breasts and Epstein had abused her. Farmer today said she'd been advised to look at Maxwell as soon as she walked into the court to testify against Epstein's ex. Sarah Ransome told the Daily Telegraph she was happy her statement would be read in court because she had 'a lot to say' She told the BBC: 'Walking into the courtroom was very intimidating. There was a lot of anticipation and anxiety but I had received some really helpful advice from a friend to look at her as soon as I walked into the courtroom and remind myself that I had the opportunity to confront her. 'That the 16-year-old that she harmed had grown into a woman and was able to use her voice to tell her story and tell the truth about what happened.' Farmer took the witness stand on Day 10 of Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-trafficking trial. Her older sister, Maria, was the first person to report Epstein and Maxwell's alleged sexual abuse of underage girls in 1996. Farmer met Epstein in New York in 1995 when she was 16. She was introduced to Maxwell at Epstein's Santa Fe ranch in New Mexico. She described to the court how the two lavished her with gifts and offered to help her academic endeavors before subjecting her to unwanted fondling and cuddling. Farmer testified she was living in Phoenix, Ariz. with her mother and younger sister. Maria, who is nine years older than Annie, was living in New York and working for Epstein. Annie Farmer, one of the four accusers in Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-trafficking trial took the stand on Friday. Farmer, who is the only accuser in the case to testify under her real name, described meeting the late pedophile in New York in 1996 when she was 16. She told how Epstein brought her to his ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she met Maxwell Farmer testified that she was introduced to Epstein by her older sister, Maria Farmer, and he took them to see the 'Phantom of the Opera' and then a movie in New York, where she sat next to the pedophile. At some point during the movie she said Epstein 'caressed' her hand and then her leg. 'I felt sick to my stomach,' she told the court. The abuse she suffered started the second time Annie Farmer met Epstein, when she and her sister went to see a film with the billionaire. Farmer said: 'Initially when the lights went down we watched the movie and at some point he reached over and puts his hand on the arm rest between our seats and started to reach for my hand and caressed my hand, interlocking his hand with mine and holding my hand'. Farmer said her legs were crossed and Epstein 'was rubbing the bottom of my shoe and rubbing my foot and my leg.' 'I was very surprised. I was very surprised and anxious. I felt sick to my stomach. It was not something I was expecting. I noticed that when he integrated with my sister he'd stop doing that. When he was looking forward again he would return to touching me,' she said. Annie Farmer (pictured as a young girl) says she was introduced to Epstein and Maxwell when she was 16 Farmer said that she didn't tell her sister because she was 'very protective' and she would've gotten 'upset.' Worse, Epstein was her employer and she worried Maria 'could lose her job.' The jury was shown an entry from Farmer's diary from Jan. 7, 1996 in which she said that 'the best night' of her trip was when she 'went to Jeff Epstein's house and had champagne' followed by 'The Phantom of the Opera.' She wrote that Epstein seemed 'down to Earth'. The jury was shown another diary entry from Jan. 25, 1996 in which Farmer caught up on recent events, including more about her trip to New York. She recounted the incident while watching the film and said it was 'a little weird, one of those things that's hard to explain.' She wrote that Epstein reached for her hand and they were 'holding hands' and that he 'rubbed my arm.' Farmer wrote: 'It gave me a weird feeling but it wasn't that weird,' adding that it was 'probably normal' and that it made her feel 'mad' because Epstein stopped doing it whenever he was talking to Maria. In her testimony, Farmer recalled the unwanted physical contact making her feel like she 'just wanted to be done with it' Looking back at her diary now, Farmer said she appeared to be 'conflicted' at the time because she knew what had happened was 'not normal.' Farmer stayed in touch with Epstein by phone and in the spring of 1996 she was invited to his ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the weekend. She said that she was 'not eager' to go after what happened in New York. 'I had been told that Maxwell would be in New Mexico with Epstein so that made me feel more comfortable,' she said. Farmer said she understood that Maxwell and Epstein were in a 'romantic relationship' so Epstein 'couldn't do anything while they were together.' When Farmer arrived at the ranch having flown commercial and been picked up by Epstein's driver, she recalled Maxwell as being 'trim, attractive' with short dark hair and a British accent. Farmer observed Maxwell and Epstein being 'very intimate with each other, touching each other.' Farmer thought they were in a relationship because of the 'way they spoke and interacted.' Farmer said it seemed 'unusual' that a 16-year-old would be on the ranch alone with them, apart from staff, but she felt 'special' that they wanted to spend time with her. She was also conscious of the possibility of a foreign trip that Epstein said he could pay for and she couldn't otherwise afford. Farmer stayed in touch with Epstein by phone and in the spring of 1996 she was invited to his ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the weekend It was at Epstein's Zorro Ranch that Farmer first met Maxwell Maxwell began to talk to Farmer about her life, school and her plans for the future, she told the jury. The three of them went shopping and Maxwell and Epstein bought Farmer a pair of cowboy boots costing over $100. Farmer said they seemed 'very expensive' and even though they were not the kind of thing she normally wore, she accepted the gift. On a trip to the movies to see 'Primal Fear' things took a more disturbing turn; before the movie Farmer said she saw Epstein and Maxwell 'being very playful with each other and grabbing each other.' She said Maxwell 'wanted to pull Epstein's pants down' which seemed 'odd' to her, saying that kind of behavior was 'something you expect from younger people.' Maxwell, pictured, is facing 55 years in prison for her role in arranging young girls for Epstein Maxwell sits as the guilty verdict in her sex-abuse trial is read in a courtroom sketch in New York City, Dec. 29, 2021 During the film, Epstein reportedly did the same thing as before, only this time it was more 'blatant.' 'He right away began to hold my hand and caress it and rubbed my foot and my arm. It was for the majority of the movie,' she said. The only difference being that Epstein didn't stop when he was talking to Maxwell. Later, Maxwell 'wanted to show me how to rub his (Epstein's) feet' so they sat together in an area she called a 'den' inside the house and she 'instructed' Farmer on how to hold Epstein's foot and where to press it. Maxwell told her to 'pull back his big toe' and to press on a certain part of Epstein's foot. When asked by a prosecutor at the start of her testimony if she saw anyone in the courtroom who had ever given her a massage, Farmer identified Maxwell, who was sitting at the defense table looking at Farmer Epstein made 'groaning noises' and appeared to enjoy it, Farmer said. Maxwell asked Farmer if she had ever received a massage and, when she said no, Maxwell insisted on giving her one. They went to the room Farmer was staying in and Maxwell pulled out a fold-up massage table. Maxwell put a sheet on top and told Farmer to get on it. 'I was wearing nothing,' she said. 'She told me to get undressed and lay under the sheet and I did. She started rubbing my body, rubbing my back and she's making small talk and then at some point she had me roll over so I was laying on my back. 'She pulled the sheet down and exposed my breasts and started rubbing on my chest and upper breasts.' Prosecutor Lara Pomerantz asked what Farmer's reaction was. She said: 'When she pulled down the sheet I felt frozen because it didn't make sense to me. I was surprised and I wanted so badly to get off of the table and have that massage be done.' Asked who was in the room, Farmer said it was just Maxwell. 'The door to the room was open and I was fearful, especially at that moment. I had this sense that Epstein could see me.' The next incident happened one morning when Epstein 'suddenly opened my (bedroom) door and bounded into the room in a playful way saying he wanted a cuddle.' Farmer said. 'He climbed into bed and lay behind me and reached his arms around and pressed his body against me' Asked if Farmer wanted this, she said: 'No.' She said that she felt 'isolated' and if I could 'get through this it would be fine. I didn't say anything' while it was happening. 'He had his arms around me and I felt frozen.' Farmer said she went to the bathroom as an 'excuse' to get out of the situation. She said: 'I can't remember how long I was in there. I wanted to be in there long enough that this situation would be over.' By that point Farmer said she 'just wanted the weekend to be over.' Farmer thought Maxwell and Epstein were interested in her academic pursuits, but now realizes they had a 'very different interest in me.' Maxwell's sentencing in New York at 11 a.m. today is the culmination of a prosecution that detailed how the power couple flaunted their riches and prominent connections to lure vulnerable girls as young as 14 and exploit them. Prosecutors said Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, and couldn't have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion and one-time girlfriend. In a court filing prosecutors wrote: 'Maxwell's conduct was shockingly predatory. She was a calculating, sophisticated, and dangerous criminal who preyed on vulnerable young girls and groomed them for sexual abuse.' Ghislaine Maxwell, pictured here alongside Jeffrey Epstein aboard a private jet, has been convicted of trafficking girls for sex and 'serving up' schoolgirls for the pedophile and herself Victims of Jeffrey Epstein, from left, Sarah Ransome, Virginia Giuffre and Marijke Chartouni find support in each other Some of Maxwell's victims will be in court this week to watch when she faces a 55-year sentence for child sex trafficking According to Maxwell's lawyers, 'The witnesses at trial testified about Ms. Maxwell's facilitation of Epstein's abuse, but Epstein was always the central figure: Epstein was the mastermind, Epstein was the principal abuser, and Epstein orchestrated the crimes for his personal gratification.' Epstein and Maxwell's associations with some of the world's most famous people were not a prominent part of the trial, but mentions of friends like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Britain's Prince Andrew showed how the pair exploited their connections to impress their prey. Over the past 17 years, scores of women have accused Epstein of abusing them. Many described Maxwell as acting as a madam who recruited them to give massages to Epstein. The trial revolved around allegations from only a handful of those women. Four testified they were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein's mansions in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. What will Epstein victims' impact statements say at Maxwell's sentencing? Victims Annie Farmer, Virginia Giuffre and 'Kate,' a former model, have been given permission to read victim impact statements to the court, although it's unclear whether Giuffre will definitely attend. Although Giuffre was not part of the indictment she was mentioned in Maxwell's trial. Annie Farmer's older sister, Maria, as well as victims Sarah Ransome, Teresa Helm, Elizabeth Stein and Juliette Bryant are also set to look Maxwell in the eye in court and have submitted written statements. Virginia Giuffre 'Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. 'But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. 'For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell.' Annie Farmer 'This toxic combination of being sexually exposed and exploited, feeling confused and naive, blaming myself all resulted in significant shame. 'That sickening feeling that makes you want to disappear. 'Maxwell had many opportunities to come clean, but instead continued to make choices that caused more harm.' Kate 'It was the very skilled grooming, perpetrated on me, intentionally and consistently, that instilled in me the belief that I could not say no to Ghislaine Maxwell, or Epstein. 'I witnessed her relentless and insatiable drive to meet the sexual needs of Epstein, at any cost to the vulnerable girls and women, upon whom she preyed and fed to Epstein and other powerful men, to whom she wished to ingratiate herself.' Teresa Helm 'You crafted your impact on me. 'You groomed me. Then, you sent me off to another monster.' Juliette Bryant 'Thinking about them still gives me frequent panic attacks and night terrors.' Sarah Ransome 'To Ghislaine I say, you broke me in unfathomable ways. But what you didn't break is my spirit, nor did you dampen my internal flame that now burns brighter than ever before.' Advertisement Three were identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, an ex-model from the UK; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Annie Farmer, who identified herself in court by her real name after speaking out publicly. They described how Maxwell charmed them with conversation and gifts and promises that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to help fulfill their dreams. Carolyn testified she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epstein's Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to massage him in exchange for $100 bills in what prosecutors described as 'a pyramid of abuse.' Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. The allegations against Epstein first surfaced publicly in 2005. He pleaded guilty to sex charges in Florida and served 13 months in jail, much of it in a work-release program as part of a deal criticized as lenient. Afterward, he was required to register as a sex offender. In the years that followed, many women sued Epstein over alleged abuse. One, Virginia Giuffre, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had also pressured her into sexual trysts with other powerful men, including Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations; Giuffre ultimately settled a lawsuit against Prince Andrew out of court. Eleven months later after Epstein's 2019 death, Maxwell was arrested at a New Hampshire estate. Seven victim impact statements will be made at Maxwell's sentencing today. The Duke of York's accuser, Virginia Giuffre, is set to have her statement heard, in which she will say Maxwell used her 'femininity to betray us' like she was 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'. Ms Giuffre's statement will say: 'I want to be clear about one thing: Without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. 'But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. 'For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell.' Two accusers who were part of the trial indictment have also submitted statements for the court's consideration. Annie Farmer, who was the only victim to testify under her full name, asked Judge Alison Nathan to consider the 'significant shame' she felt as a result of Maxwell's crimes. Her statement reads: 'This toxic combination of being sexually exposed and exploited, feeling confused and naive, blaming myself all resulted in significant shame. 'That sickening feeling that makes you want to disappear. 'Maxwell had many opportunities to come clean, but instead continued to make choices that caused more harm. 'Judge Nathan, I hope when you consider the appropriate prison sentence for the role Maxwell played in this sex trafficking operation, you take into account the ongoing suffering of the many women she abused and exploited as we will continue to live with the memories of the ways she harmed us. 'I ask you to bear in mind how Maxwell's unwillingness to acknowledge her crimes, her lack of remorse, and her repeated lies about her victims created the need for many of us to engage in a long fight for justice that has felt like a black hole sucking in our precious time, energy and wellbeing for much too long now. These things cannot be replaced.' The second accuser from the trial indictment to submit a statement, who testified under the pseudonym 'Kate', also urged the judge to consider Maxwell's 'heinous manipulation and abuse'. Her statement reads: 'It was the very skilled grooming, perpetrated on me, intentionally and consistently, that instilled in me the belief that I could not say no to Ghislaine Maxwell, or Epstein. 'I witnessed her relentless and insatiable drive to meet the sexual needs of Epstein, at any cost to the vulnerable girls and women, upon whom she preyed and fed to Epstein and other powerful men, to whom she wished to ingratiate herself. 'Being around her was like being spun really fast in a circle and then trying to maintain balance. 'It was like a roller coaster ride, designed to disorient and disempower me as a vulnerable, young girl, for the sole purpose of providing me to Epstein for sexual abuse.' Farmer's sister, Maria, said of Maxwell: 'She wasn't happy just destroying my career, she also assured me my future was destroyed and she did everything in her vast power to accomplish this goal.' Another accuser, Teresa Helm, addressed Maxwell directly with her statement submitted to the court, in which she said: 'You crafted your impact on me. 'You groomed me. Then, you sent me off to another monster.' Juliette Bryant also described Maxwell as a monster, adding: 'Thinking about them still gives me frequent panic attacks and night terrors.' Elizabeth Stein said she 'felt like I was in prison' for 'two-and-a-half decades', adding: 'She needs to be in prison so her victims can all finally be free.' The final accuser, Sarah Ransome, told the court how Maxwell saw her as 'nothing more than a human sex toy.' She ended her statement by saying: 'To Ghislaine I say, you broke me in unfathomable ways. But what you didn't break is my spirit, nor did you dampen my internal flame that now burns brighter than ever before.' Theresa May gave successor Boris Johnson a political pummelling last night as she tore into his plans to override parts of the Brexit deal covering Northern Ireland. Mrs May, who was defenestrated by Tories loyal to Mr Johnson in 2019 over her attempts to do a deal with Brussels, served her revenge ice cold as she tore into his proposals in the Commons. In a withering intervention, the ex-prime minister told MPs the Government's bid to take unilateral action over the Northern Ireland Protocol was illegal, would not work and would 'diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world'. And in a stinging rebuke to the PM she suggested he was in a similarly weak position to that she found herself in after she faced a no confidence vote in her leadership. He faced down his own no confidence vote earlier this month, with 141 of his MPs demanding he quit. The former premier spoke in the House of Commons as MPs debated the Government's proposed legislation to sweep away key parts of the Protocol. As well as attacking Mr Johnson she appeared to mock Foreign Secretary Liz Truss for saying that she backed the bill because she was a 'patriot'. MPs voted 295 to 221, majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks. But more than 70 Tories abstained, and while as many as 30 were allowed to miss the vote, a hardcore of around 40, including Mrs May, were giving notice that the PM faces a rebellion if he pushes ahead. in a stinging rebuke to the PM she suggested he was in a similarly weak position to that she found herself in after she faced a no confidence vote in her leadership. MPs voted 295 to 221, majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks. Mrs May told the Commons the Bill would give ministers 'extraordinarily sweeping powers' as she lashed out the Government's plan to rip up the Protocol that Mr Johnson struck with the EU in October 2019. 'The UKs standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions,' she said. 'As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. 'I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it.' Mrs May, who also faced a no confidence vote in her leadership while she was PM, spoke of her own travails in dealing with the EU over Brexit when in Downing Street. She suggested that, after Mr Johnson witnessed a recent attempt by Tory MPs to oust him from Numer 10, his negotiating power had been weakened. 'My experience was, the EU looked very carefully at the political situation in any country,' she added. 'As I discovered when I faced a no confidence vote, despite having won that no confidence vote, they then start to ask themselves, "well, is it really worth negotiating with these people in Government, because will they actually be there in any period of time?". 'Also, I suspect they are saying to themselves, why should they negotiate in detail with a Government that shows itself willing to sign an agreement, claim it as a victory, and then try to tear part of it up in less than three years time?' The Government is aiming to fast-track the Bill through the Commons before Parliament's summer recess. However, some MPs who opted not to block it at second reading appear likely to seek amendments, and the House of Lords is also expected to contest parts of the Bill, setting up a lengthy showdown between the two Houses. The European Union has also launched fresh legal action against the UK in retaliation over the Government's move. Mr Johnson's Government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. "What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement," he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. "You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really aren't working in a way that they like or understand, you've got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. "All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market." Asked if the measures could be in place this year, Mr Johnson said: "Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing." A German court on Tuesday handed a five-year jail sentence to a 101-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard, the oldest person so far to go on trial for complicity in war crimes during the Holocaust. Josef Schuetz was found guilty of being an accessory to murder while working as a prison guard at the Sachsenhausen camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin, between 1942 and 1945, presiding judge Udo Lechtermann said. But despite his conviction, he is highly unlikely to be put behind bars to serve the five-year prison sentence, given his age. The Lithuanian-born pensioner, who now lives in Brandenburg state, had pleaded innocent, saying he did 'absolutely nothing' and was not aware of the gruesome crimes being carried out at the camp. 'I don't know why I am here,' Schuetz, who is the oldest person so far to face trial over Nazi war crimes committed during the Holocaust, said at the close of his trial on Monday. But prosecutors told the Neuruppin Regional Court, which is being held in a prison sports hall in Brandenburg an der Havel, that Schueltz 'knowingly and willingly' participated in the murders of 3,518 prisoners at the camp and called for him to be punished with five years behind bars. It is understood that Schuetz will undergo a medical check to determine he is fit to go to prison. He is also understood to be appealing the conviction - and due to the time it will take the Supreme Court to process the appeal, it could take up to 12 months before he goes to prison. More than 200,000 people, including Jews, Roma, regime opponents and gay people, were detained at the Sachsenhausen camp between 1936 and 1945. Josef Schuetz was found guilty of being an accessory to murder while working as a prison guard at the Sachsenhausen camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin, between 1942 and 1945, presiding judge Udo Lechtermann said Prosecutors say Schuetz 'knowingly and willingly' participated in the crimes as a guard at the camp and are seeking to punish him with five years behind bars. Pictured: Holocaust survivor Leon Schwarzbaum holds a picture in the courtroom during the trial at the Landgericht Neuruppin court in in October last year Schuetz said he did 'absolutely nothing' and was not aware of the gruesome crimes being carried out at the camp. Pictured: Prisoners in the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen in December 1938 What is the history of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp and how many people were killed there? The front gate of Sachsenhausen Built in the summer of 1936 by internees from other camps First concentration camp built after Himmler was made chief of police More than 200,000 people were interned between 1936 and 1945 Prisoners included political opponents and those deemed 'racially inferior' such as such as Jews, Sinti and Roma, and people persecuted as homosexuals Prisoners forced to work in factories 13,000 Soviet prisoners, including many Jews murdered in autumn 1941 A gas-chamber was built in Spring Source: www.sachsenhausen-sbg.de Advertisement Tens of thousands of inmates died from forced labour, murder, medical experiments, hunger or disease before the camp was liberated by Soviet troops, according to the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum. Prosecutors said Schuetz had aided and abetted the 'execution by firing squad of Soviet prisoners of war in 1942' and the murder of prisoners 'using the poisonous gas Zyklon B'. He was 21 years old at the time. The Soviet prisoners of war were killed in a gruesome 'neck shot' facility. Here SS guards donned white medical overalls and pretended to prisoners they were doctors concerned with their well-being. They then lined up prisoners against a wall and measured them. Meanwhile in a neighbouring room, other armed SS guards used the measurements as a setting for their guns. They would open a slit in the wall and fire into the prisoner's neck. Josef Schuetz managed to escape justice for 80 years. During the trial, Schuetz made several inconsistent statements about his past, complaining that his head was getting 'mixed up'. At one point, the centenarian said he had worked as an agricultural labourer in Germany for most of World War II, a claim contradicted by several historical documents bearing his name, date and place of birth. After the war, Schuetz was transferred to a prison camp in Russia before returning to Germany, where he worked as a farmer and a locksmith. Schuetz remained at liberty during the trial, which began in 2021 but has been delayed several times because of his health. His lawyer Stefan Waterkamp told AFP ahead of the verdict that if found guilty, he would appeal. Schuetz evaded justice for decades, but his luck ran out in 2018 when Investigators from the Central Office for the Investigation of Nazi Crimes in Ludwigsburg came across the name of Josef Schuetz in the old files in the State Military Archive in Moscow. These so-called 'booty files' were taken by Russian soldiers to Moscow at the end of the war. The 101-year-old former security guard of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp appears in the courtroom before his trial verdict at the Landgericht Neuruppin court, in Brandenburg, on Tuesday Meanwhile Holocaust survivor and contemporary witness Leon Schwarzbaum, 100, told press this was 'the last trial for my friends, acquaintances and loved ones who were murdered, in which the last guilty party will hopefully be convicted.' A month later, Josef Schuetz celebrated his 101st birthday. By March 2022, Leon Schwarzbaum had passed away. Thomas Walther, a lawyer representing several camp survivors and victims relatives, told the court in May: 'What can possibly be a fitting punishment, when the leading SS officers in the Reich Security Main Office were indicted for the murder of hundreds of thousands of people, but were able to get off scot-free, because of the lapse in time and their "incapacity to stand trial"?' 'What can possibly be a fitting punishment for a 101 year old man who is having to face up to his own responsibility after 80 years after committing the crime, and who could have been taken to court 70, or 50, or 30, or most definitely 10 years ago?' 'Over the past years it has been general practice that, in their closing remarks, the representatives of joint plaintiffs refrain from stating any figures when calling for a particular sentence. 'Nevertheless, I must state here that a sentence of less than five years imprisonment would be extremely difficult for my clients to comprehend, even if the defendant were to change his mind and express some kind of remorse in his "final statement". Some of the most damning evidence against Schuetz included the material presented by concentration camp expert, historian Dr. Stefan Hoerdler. 'All the cruellest methods were invented there and then exported,' said Antoine Grumbach, 80, whose father died in Sachsenhausen. Pictured: The entrance tower of the former concentration camp This included a document dated 1941 from the Central Immigration Office (EWZ), showing the entire Schuetz family from Lithuania. The document showed his father, Wilhelm, who was born in 1862, his mother, Maria who was born in 1886, alongside Josef Schuetz himself and six of his seven siblings born between 1911 and 1927. Here a date of birth and other personal details are listed, and passport photos. Under this was a picture of Josef Schuetz, the exact same photo which appears on an SS document. Through his lawyer, Schuetz has continued to claim that he was never at Sachsenhausen camp, although his name, his date of birth, and military rank at the time are all listed on a wide range of official documents. These include documents from the Koblenz Federal Archives, the Stasi (East German secret service) archives, and the archives at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial site. The material shows that Schuetz served in six different companies of SS guards from October 23, 1941 to February 18, 1945 and that during this period, he was promoted from the rank of Private to SS-Rottenfuhrer (Corporal) at Sachsenhausen. 'I don't know why I am here,' Schuetz insisted to the court. Pictured: A roll call in front of the camp gate of Sachsenhausen. In the foreground on the tower a machine gun pointed at the prisoners More than seven decades after World War II, German prosecutors are racing to bring the last surviving Nazi perpetrators to justice. The 2011 conviction of former guard John Demjanjuk, on the basis that he served as part of Hitler's killing machine, set a legal precedent and paved the way for several of these twilight justice cases. Since then, courts have handed down several guilty verdicts on those grounds rather than for murders or atrocities directly linked to the individual accused. Among those brought to late justice were Oskar Groening, an accountant at Auschwitz, and Reinhold Hanning, a former SS guard at Auschwitz. Both were convicted at the age of 94 of complicity in mass murder but died before they could be imprisoned. A former SS guard, Bruno Dey, was found guilty at the age of 93 in 2020 and was given a two-year suspended sentence. Separately, in the northern German town of Itzehoe, a 96-year-old former secretary in a Nazi death camp is on trial for complicity in murder. Irmgard F, a former secretary for the SS commander of the Stutthof concentration camp, is accompanied by a member of the forensic medical service as she arrives in a wheelchair for the continuation of her trial in a courtroom in Itzehoe, northern Germany, on Tuesday Irmgard Furchner, a typist who has been dubbed the 'Secretary of Evil', is accused of being an accessory to the murder of 11,412 at the camp through her work as the secretary to the SS commander at Stutthof. Furchner denies the charges. She dramatically fled before the start of her trial but was caught several hours later. On Tuesday, she arrived at the courtroom in Itzehoue, northern Germany, in a wheelchair for the continuation of her trial. While some have questioned the wisdom of chasing convictions related to Nazi crimes so long after the events, Guillaume Mouralis, a research professor at France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), said such trials send an important signal. 'It is a question of reaffirming the political and moral responsibility of individuals in an authoritarian context (and in a criminal regime) at a time when the neo-fascist far right is strengthening everywhere in Europe,' he told AFP. Karen Pollock CBE, the Chief Executive of the British charity Holocaust Educational Trust, told MailOnline: 'The passage of time is no barrier to justice when it comes to the heinous crimes of the Nazis and their collaborators. 'Every time someone is found guilty of these crimes, regardless of their age, the truth of the Holocaust is reaffirmed for all to see. 'As the Holocaust and other Nazi crimes fade from living memory, bringing perpetrators to justice, regardless of age, has never been more important. Advertisement An enormous 50-year-old elephant was pictured enjoying its twilight years as he peacefully roamed around the African wilderness, while a Maasai Warrior was also seen keeping the gentle giant under continuous supervision to deter poachers from his 100lbs tusks. The ageing elephant was photographed dusting himself off to cool down while trudging through the undergrowth in his native Amboseli National Park, Kenya. The awe-inspiring shots were captured by professional photographer Clint Ralph, 59, who said the half-a-century-old bull goes by the name Craig. 'He is fifty years old this year with each tusk weighing around 100lb (50kg),' said Clint. 'He has Masai Warriors that guard him from a distance 24 hours a day to prevent him from being hunted or poached.' Craig the 50-year-old elephant was pictured dusting himself off as he roamed around Amboseli National Park in Kenya The elephant is constantly guarded by Maasai Warriors to prevent poachers hunting him for his enormous tusks Craig's tusks are thought to weigh around 100lb (50kg), making them some of the largest in the world Craig's tusks weigh more than 100lb each, making him one of only 20 estimated 'super tuskers' left alive today. The African Savanna Elephant, also known as an African Bush Elelphant, was born in 1972. Savanna elephants can live up to 70 years old, longer than any mammal, except humans. 'I always strive to get something different to the masses of images worldwide. I love the uniqueness of both the image and the subject,' said Clint. 'My friends and I spent some time with him, watching his movements. At a point we figured his path out and positioned the vehicle some way in front of him, hoping he would walk past us. He did.' Clint followed Craig through the national park, taking these images on a Canon R5 mirrorless camera. 'I travelled to Kenya specifically to photography Craig in his twilight years,' said Clint. 'It was emotional to be so close to such a legend in our time. 'I feel very blessed and privileged to have met Craig and to spend such quality time with him.' African Savannah Elephants grow to be up to 13-feet-tall and weigh up to seven tonnes The price of ivory fluctuates, but tusks weighing 100lbs (50kg) could sell for $5,000 each or far more on foreign black markets The elephant population in Amboseli National Park is one of the few that has been able to live a relatively undisturbed existence in natural conditions A man who grew up in public housing and regularly attends church for Catholic mass has become Australia's most powerful outlaw bikie boss. The notorious Comancheros Sydney and Canberra chapter commander Allan Meehan was appointed as the new national president in Melbourne this week following months of turmoil. He takes over from former Melbourne-based boss Mick Murray, who recently stepped aside over a murder charge. Meehan, 35, grew up in public housing in Sydney's south-west and has spent his half his life rising through the bikie gang ranks. He joined the Rebels when he turned 18 and later became a Cronulla chapter president before he defected to the Comancheros. Allan Meehan (right) is the new national president of the Comancheros. He's pictured with former national president Mick Murray (centre) and national sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed (left) Sources claim he was lured to switch allegiances by a mentor, Comanchero 'commander of the world' Mark Buddle, who is one of Australia's most wanted men over the 2010 shooting of Armaguard security guard Gary Allibon in Sydney. Buddle remains on the run from authorities overseas and was last known to be in Cyprus. Meehan is well 'respected' among both the gang's old guard and its new recruits, the Herald Sun reported. 'He's spent his entire adult life in bikie gangs,' one source told the publication. 'He doesn't know any other life.' He was promoted to commander of the Canberra chapter early last year after the murder of former president Pitasoni Ulavalu and became the Sydney commander six months later. It's understood Meehan has told members he'll oversee the Comancheros from Sydney but is expected to regularly travel to Melbourne. Allan Meehan (pictured) has spent his half of his life progressing through the bikie gang ranks He was regarded as next in line to take over from Murray, 44, was arrested in April over the 2019 gangland killing of Mitat Rasimi, an associate of high-profile drug lord Tony Mokbel He was charged with one count of murder and remains behind bars. It's been a chaotic few months for Australia's most powerful bikie club still reeling from the recent underworld shooting which left national sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed with serious injuries and claimed the life of his brother Omar. Dozens of other members have been also arrested in AFP raids as part of Operation Ironside, one of the biggest and most significant crackdowns of organised crime in Australia's history. One source recently said Meehan was regarded as 'pretty full on' but has a level head to control some of the gang's more volatile elements. Advertisement A British mother returning from a life-saving brain operation in Spain has endured a 'traumatic' search by UK Border Force officials after she and her husband were accused of international drug smuggling. Shocking pictures show Rachel Pighills, 36, sobbing while lying on a stretcher and connected to an oxygen tank inside a warehouse at the docks in Plymouth, where she was forced to wait for four hours while border agents meticulously searched their vehicle. The couple, from Pershore, Worcestershire, had travelled by ferry on June 17 in a small second-hand ambulance driven by husband Guy, 41, which he claims agents 'stripped to pieces' in their failed bid to find narcotics. Photos show their suitcases and belongings laid out on the ground of the docks during the search, which Guy said saw them 'treated like criminals.' The officials even brought out sniffer dogs, who in an ironic twist, failed to detect the powerful opiates Rachel had been given to control her post-op pain. The mother-of-one was still recovering from a pioneering surgery she had received four weeks earlier after a ceiling fan struck the back of her head in August 2018, leaving her with atlanto axial instability and basilar invagination. The conditions meant she was at risk of being 'internally decapitated', as her brain was literally sinking into her spine. After a 20-hour overnight ferry from Santander to Plymouth, Rachel Pighills and her husband Guy were stopped by Border Force officials who accused them of drug smuggling. (Pictured: Rachel lying on a stretcher while connected to an oxygen tank inside a warehouse at the docks) Disturbing images show a sobbing Rachel lying on a stretcher while connected to an oxygen tank inside a warehouse at the docks Rachel and husband Guy, 41, (pictured together) spent almost four years trying to raise 215,000 for pioneering surgery which is not available on the NHS. What are atlanto axial instability and basilar invagination? Often described starkly as internal decapitation, atlanto-axial instability can leave sufferers prone to excessive movement in their neck. It occurs when the joints connecting the spine and base of the skull become too floppy, causing the spinal cord to become distorted and injured. In rare cases, the illness can be deadly. Sufferers may need to undergo traction when pressure in the neck is eased and joints move back into place and then wear a brace to stabilise the neck until the joint has firmed up. The condition occurs is up to one in five patients with Downs syndrome and is a known complication of other joint disorders. But outside of these groups, doctors arent sure on how common it is. The condition can often present itself with basilar invagination. Basilar invagination causes the bone at the top of the spine to move towards the base of the skull. Due to the abnormal position, the brain stem and top of the spinal cord have less space and they may become compressed - which can be fatal. Some are born with basilar invagination, while others have the condition due to an injury, such as a bike accident, driving accident or fall. Basilar invagination can cause no severe symptoms in some, while it can kill those whose brainstem is squashed. Signs of the condition can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, difficulty swallowing, weakness and numbness when the neck is bent. The condition can be treated with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medicines or a neck brace. Some people may require surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and stabilise the joint so bones cannot move out of place again. Advertisement It meant she could no longer turn her head because each time she did her spine would partially dislocate, increasing the risk of paralysis or death. MailOnline has contacted the Home Office for comment. Rachel and Guy, who share a 14-year-old daughter, spent almost four years trying to raise 215,000 for pioneering surgery which is not available on the NHS. They finally reached the milestone earlier this year thanks to a woman in her 60s from Warwickshire who loaned them 130,000. After being told it was too risky for Rachel to travel to Barcelona by plane for the operation, Guy drove her 1,055 miles in the ambulance. The 13-and-a-half-hour surgery on May 20 involved inserting metal rods into her spine and re-setting the position of her skull and brain stem. The operation was a success and after almost four weeks in hospital, Rachel and Guy drove back to the UK on June 17. But after a 20-hour overnight ferry from Santander to Plymouth, they were stopped by Border Force officials who accused them of drug smuggling. Rachel said: 'After all we've been through, after the operation we were so looking forward to coming home. 'When we arrived in Plymouth border force literally leapt on our vehicle and accused us of being drug smugglers. 'I couldn't believe it. We had all the documentation but they wouldn't listen. One of them was really rude and looked quite disappointed when they couldn't find anything. 'Bizarrely, neither the sniffer dog or the officials found the big bag of opiates and painkillers I'd been given by the clinic.' Guy, who had been forced to drive at just 40mph to avoid any sudden movements, comforted his wife while they were 'treated like criminals'. The operations manager said: 'We got spotted by border control and they stripped our ambulance to pieces. 'They were convinced we were smuggling drugs into the country and we were there for three and a half hours. 'They stripped the panels took the air panels off and shoved a camera everywhere and they found nothing. 'It was horrendous, it was painful for Rachel and it has affected her recovery and set her back. Officials took almost four hours to complete their meticulous search of the ambulance before allowing the couple to continue on their journey Border Force agents search the small ambulance Guy was using to transport his wife home after her surgery Rachel Pighills, 36, was left at risk of being 'internally decapitated' following a freak ceiling fan accident. She was moving into a new house in August 2018 when the whizzing blades of the fan smashed her on the back of the head. (Pictured: Rachel's neck after surgery) The mother-of-one was still recovering from a pioneering surgery she had received four weeks earlier after a ceiling fan struck the back of her head in August 2018, leaving her with atlanto axial instability and basilar invagination Rachel and Guy (pictured before the 2018 accident), who share a 14-year-old daughter, spent almost four years trying to raise 215,000 for pioneering surgery which is not available on the NHS 'They asked her to get off the stretcher but we wanted her to stay which made them suspicious that we were trying to hide something. 'They made us wheel Rachel off the ambulance and bless her, she was screaming her head off when she was going down and then they stripped the ambulance and this affected her breathing and her oxygen levels due to the stress that this caused her. 'They made us wheel the luggage off. We took months worth of Rachel's medication but the dog didn't even find that. All they found was a 20 note in Rachel's purse. 'As soon as we propped her up and they could see the dressing all down her back the mood changed. But we didn't get an apology. It was the most traumatic experience I've ever been through. 'We are British citizens, we have paid our way our whole lives. It's a disgrace.' Neurosurgeon Dr Vicenc Gilete performed the painstaking operation at Teknon Hospital in Barcelona. The 13-and-a-half-hour surgery on May 20 involved inserting metal rods into her spine and re-setting the position of her skull and brain stem (Pictured: Sarah at home on June 27, 2022) Guy, who had been forced to drive at just 40mph to avoid any sudden movements, comforted his wife while they were 'treated like criminals' during the Border Force search The couple, who have a 14-year-old daughter, eventually made it back home to their home in Pershore, Worcestershire, where Rachel (pictured) is now recovering Rachel said: 'The recovery time for this operation is 12 months minimum. 'Dr Gilete showed us a picture of the operation and it looked like a shark attack, which shows how severe it is. 'I'll be doing physiotherapy every day to regain my strength. I'll always have to turn from my hips but my one goal is to take the dogs for a walk with my family.' The couple are now raising money to pay back the 130,000 loan on their GoFundMe page. Advertisement A 15 year-old Boy Scout comforted a dying trucker in the wake of Monday's Amtrak derailment in Missouri that killed three and injured 50. Eli Skrypczak was traveling home to Wisconsin from a backpacking excursion to New Mexico when the train he was on struck the truck, with the youngster rushing to care for the mortally-wounded trucker during his final moments. Eli's father Dan Skrypczak, who is master of Appleton Troop 73, told the New York Post : 'He was pretty upset, he wishes he could have done more. 'Just trying to explain to him, you get hit by a high speed train, nobody could have done much for the truck driver. He did everything he could, he did the right thing. He provided comfort and aid.' None of the 16 Scouts or eight adults supervising them were injured on the smash. They were headed home to Appleton from the Philmont South Ranch when the Los Angeles to Chicago Southwest Chief train struck the truck at a public crossing, and came off the track. Survivors of a horror crash between an Amtrak passenger train and a dump truck in Missouri have told of the chaos that unfolded inside the carriages as the train left the tracks. Boy Scout Eli Skrypczak (pictured in red neckerchief both left and right) helped comfort a dying trucker in the wake of Monday's Amtrak derailment in Mendon, Missouri. He was traveling home to Wisconsin with his troop leader father Dan and other Scouts from a backpacking trip to New Mexico when tragedy struck Three people were confirmed dead in the crash - two on the train and one in the dump truck - after the eight cars and its two locomotives derailed when they collided with the vehicle, which was blocking a public crossing. More than 50 people were injured, at least nine of whom were rushed to a University of Missouri Health Care hospital in Columbia with severe injuries, the Chariton County Ambulance Service said. Rob Nightingale said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth. 'It was like slow motion. Then all of a sudden I felt it tip my way. I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust,' Nightingale said. 'Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didn't hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying.' Nightingale was unhurt in the crash, and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window. The collision completely destroyed the dump truck, he said. 'It was all over the tracks,' said Nightingale, an art gallery owner from Taos, New Mexico, who said he rides Amtrak regularly to Chicago. Passenger Dian Couture was in the dining car with her husband celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when she heard a loud noise and the train wobbled and then crashed on to its side. 'The people on our left-hand side flew across and hit us, and then we were standing on the windows on the right-hand side of the car,' Couture told WDAF-TV. 'Two gentlemen in the front came up, stacked a bunch of things and popped out the window and literally pulled us out by our hands.' Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, after a backcountry excursion at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Cheryl Benjamin, a passenger who was on her way home to East Lansing, Michigan when the accident occurred, confirmed the Boy Scouts on board helped her climb out of the train and onto the ground. She was spending Monday evening in a local high school gym, where community members had brought in food for the passengers as they waited for buses to take them to hotels. Shocking photos taken in the immediate aftermath of the train wreck show a female passenger being helped out of a window, while others were seen atop overturned cars. Missouri officials have declared a 'large fatality event' after an Amtrak train collided with a dump truck at a public railroad crossing and overturned An Amtrak train which derailed after striking a dump truck is seen beyond a corn field Monday, near Mendon, Missouri The Southwest Chief Train 4, which was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, collided with the truck that was obstructing the public crossing and came off the tracks at Mendon in Missouri around 12:42 p.m. CT Monday A worker looks over the decimated remnants of a dump truck that that was struck by an Amtrak train, causing it to derail The derailment is seen in an aerial image. The federal National Transportation Safety Board is deploying a 14-member 'go-team' to the site of the derailment to investigate The collision occurred at the uncontrolled Porch Prairie Avenue gravel road crossing, which has no electronic warning devices or gates, officials said Rob Nightingale, one of the train passengers, went live on Facebook, showing the aftermath of the accident as the passengers awkwardly prop themselves against the side of the toppled over train car, and avoid stepping on glass The wreck occurred at 12.42pm CT yesterday, when the Southwest Chief Train 4 collided with a truck that was obstructing a public crossing and came off the tracks near Mendon, Missouri, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, Amtrak confirmed to DailyMail.com. The collision occurred at the uncontrolled Porch Prairie Avenue gravel road crossing, which has no electronic warning devices or gates, officials said. Amtrak said in a statement there were 243 passengers and 12 crew members aboard at the time of the crash. State troopers said the total number of people on the train may have been lower, but estimated that it was at least 200. The federal National Transportation Safety Board deployed a 14-member 'go-team' to the site of the derailment to investigate, while State Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Brown said there was still an 'active and ongoing investigation at the scene' yesterday evening, confirming that all the injured had been transported to area hospitals. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement that he was 'saddened by the tragic loss of life and injuries in the Missouri train derailment today,' adding that Federal Railroad Administration staff would support the investigation. 'We ask Missourians to join us in praying for all those impacted,' Missouri Governor Mike Parson said on Twitter. Journalist Nylah Burton, who was on a separate Amtrak train set to depart Albuquerque, says she was informed of the possible deaths and injuries by a staff member who came into her car to announce a delay caused by the incident. She tweeted: 'An @Amtrak train just derailed in Kansas City (there are likely fatalities but they don't know all the details) so I'm stuck in Albuquerque tonight because the train can't go any further.' A Twitter user called Durand shared the shocking snaps, saying: 'Oh no.. #Amtrak derailment somewhere in #Missouri.' Amtrak confirmed to DailyMail.com that multiple injuries were reported, but no additional details were released. The Amtrak train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it collided with a dump truck at a public crossing in Mendon, Missouri and derailed from the tracks. Mendon is about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, Missouri Survivors of an Amtrak crash in Missouri shared a photo of themselves atop the overturned train A broken truck axle was photographed close to the track in the aftermath. It's still unclear why the truck was in the crossing One person in the dump truck, presumed to be the driver, was killed in the collision. The truck's chassis is seen above Amtrak said in a statement that there were 243 passengers and 12 crew members aboard at the time of the crash One passenger tweeted that the survivors (above) took refuge at a local high school in Mendon, Missouri, writing: 'So thankful for the people here, safely at the Northwestern high school near Mendon. This town pulled together to help everyone' Amtrak tweeted that the Southwest Chief Train 3, which was scheduled to depart Chicago, was canceled. Amtrak asks passengers whose travel plans are affected to contact 1-800-USA-RAIL for further assistance. Individuals with questions about their friends and family who were traveling aboard the derailed train should call 1-800-523-9101. The derailment came one day after another Amtrak train collided with a car at a crossing in Brentwood, California, on Sunday afternoon, killing three women, and injuring several others. Three women, all over the age of 50, were pronounced dead at the scene in Sunday's crash, according to The Mercury News. Authorities say the car pulled into a long rural dirt driveway near the intersection of Orwood Road and Bixler Road around 1pm when the Amtrak train rammed into it. The car then careened off the road and hit another vehicle. A child and two men were also hospitalized with serious injuries, and another person suffered from moderate injuries. In total, a spokeswoman for BNSF Railway told the New York Times there were 'approximately' five people injured, though the number remains in dispute. On Sunday (above), three women were killed and four others were injured in a separate crash when an Amtrak train slammed into a car at around 1pm in Brentwood, California. Authorities say the car careened off the road following the impact and hit another vehicle in Sunday's crash (above) Those who were seriously wounded were rushed to the John Muir Medical Center after the crash on Sunday afternoon, according to ABC News. One of the adults was airlifted and the child was transported by the ground, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The victims were all inside the four-door sedan when it was struck, officials say, and Battalion Chief Craig Auzenne, of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, told reporters at the scene that none of the 81 passenger or five crew members on board the train were injured. In fact, he said, the train came to a stop about a quarter-mile from where the sedan slammed into an SUV. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. But East Contra Costa Fire Department officials say they'd already been called out to that train crossing twice last year because it does not have a traffic guard. 'It's a bad crossing,' Steve Aubert, a fire marshal said, noting that trains travel at about 80mph on the tracks. 'It's just a recipe for disaster unfortunately.' An Amtrak passenger train also derailed in north central Montana in September. Three people were killed. Astronomers discovered two craters on the moon after what is considered to be a mysterious rocket crash of a forgotten rocket stage that struck the far side of the moon in March. Scientists still do not know for sure which rocket the wayward debris originated from and they continue to be perplexed about why the impact excavated two craters and not only one. Mark Robinson said that the incident was "cool" because it was an "unexpected outcome." Mysterious Double Crater on the Moon Robinson, a professor of geological sciences at Arizona State University and serves as the principal investigator for the camera aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The craft has been responsible for photographing the moon since 2009. He reported the discovery of the craters on Friday on the website that stores images taken by the lunar orbiter. The controversy surrounding the rocket crash began in January when Bill Gray, who is the developer of Project Pluto, a suite of astronomical software used in calculating the orbits of asteroids and comets, tracked what seemed to be the discarded upper stage of a rocket, as per the New York Times. The crash was found to have occurred at around 7:25 a.m. Eastern time on Mar. 4, but the exact orbit of the object was unknown. This means that there was some uncertainty about the time and place of the impact. Read Also: Researchers Assume a Nearly Oxygen-Free Environment on Mars Where Some Life Forms Thrive Gray noted that the rocket part was the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 that launched the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in February 2015. According to CNN, the incident came as the moon lacks a protective atmosphere similar to our planet, causing it to be littered with craters created when objects like asteroids regularly slam into its surface. However, the recent discovery is the first time a piece of space junk unintentionally hit the lunar surface that experts know. Craters on the Moon's Surface But there have been previous instances of craters being a result of spacecraft deliberately being crashed into the moon. For instance, four large moon craters are attributed to the Apollo 13, 14, 15, and 17 missions and are all much larger than each of the two new craters discovered. Gray later said that his initial theory of the rocket part being from a SpaceX rocket was wrong, changing his claim to the object coming from a 2014 Chinese lunar mission, which NASA has agreed with. However, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that the booster was from its Chang'e-5 moon mission Chinese authorities said that the rocket in question burned up on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. The situation comes as no agencies systematically track space debris so far away from our planet and the confusion regarding the origin of the craters has underscored the need for official agencies to monitor deep-space junk more closely. So far, no spacefaring nation has taken credit, or blame, for the mysterious rocket part that struck the moon's surface. In a press release, NASA said, "Since the origin of the rocket body remains uncertain, the double nature of the crater may indicate its identity," Business Insider reported. Related Article: NASA Discovers Half-Exploded Star That Survived Supernova, Became Even Brighter @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Ukrainian family-of-nine who escaped their war-torn home to Britain are now facing eviction. Has your Ukrainian family been hit by an eviction from your home in Britain like this? Has your Ukrainian family been hit by an eviction from your home in Britain like this? E-mail: dan.sales@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Maxim, 36, and wife Olga Hyryk fled from Kyiv with their children and elderly parents just last month. They were given sanctuary in a two bedroom bungalow in Fareham, Hants, which was next door to their hosts. Maxim and Olga moved in with their mothers Olena, 60, Hanna, 69, twins Maksym and David, 7, Amiran and Tamerlane, 2, and daughter Nikol, 1 on May 11. But three weeks ago the family were told by Hampshire County Council that Maxim and his family had to move. Then on June 15 they got a legal letter from their landlord's solicitor telling them they would have to get out by July 15. Their internet access was shut off immediately and now the family have been forced to turn to fundraising to find somewhere else to live. Maxim told The Sun: 'We came here with nothing, just the clothes we were wearing and as much stuff as we could cram into a rucksack. Maxim and Olga moved in with their mothers Olena, 60, Hanna, 69, twins Maksym and David, 7, Amiran and Tamerlane, 2, and daughter Nikol, 1 on May 11 Maxim, 36, and wife Olga Hyryk fled from Kyiv with children and elderly parents last month Hanna, 69, was among the family and now also has to find a new home after the eviction notice 'We love this country and want to make it our home. 'We fled as the Russian's started bombing Kyiv, we got in the car and drove with everything we could fit inside it. 'The children didn't know what was happening but it was very scary, it took us nine days to get to Poland as we had to stop driving during the curfew.' 'Everyone has been so incredibly friendly right from the start, we've been made to feel so welcome here. 'England is full of good people and everybody we've met or who has helped us since we've been here has been very kind. 'After the trauma of driving through a warzone with our children and elderly parents, we just want a bit of normality after everything that's happened.' The bungalow where the family of nine from Ukraine are currently living but facing eviction On June 15 they got a legal letter from their landlord's solicitor saying they would have to go The large family traveled by car from Kyiv to Poland on March 11 and had stayed for two months The family's desperation has meant they now have to crowdfund to try and get rent together The large family traveled by car from Kyiv to Poland on March 11. They stayed there for two months before the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme secured them a place to live. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme says hosts will provide residence for at least six months and should give guests two months' notice. Maxim added: 'We don't know why we have to go, no one has given us a reason. 'Being told we have to leave was awful, we've got very young children, one of whom has autism and we also have elderly parents. 'After all of the upheaval we've been through we just wanted a bit of normality and stability. Olena, 60, with one of the children in happier times before the eviction was then activated Four of the youngsters in the family beam despite their ordeal after the Russian invasion 'At first, the landlord was very helpful and helped us get set up with some of the local services while other friends have helped with schools and the doctor. 'Things were going really well and they were so helpful to Olga and I.We were looking at settling in the area properly and making it our home.' A spokesman for Hampshire County Council said: 'The national guidance relating to the Homes for Ukraine scheme outlines the desire for sponsors to be able to provide accommodation for six months or more, to give time for individuals and families to find their feet and integrate into life in the UK. 'Most arrangements appear to be working well but occasionally hosts or guests may wish to end the sponsorship arrangement. 'In those situations, they are asked to contact the local authority as quickly as possible so that support can be provided to either rematch or identify independent accommodation. 'The County Council and Fareham Borough Council, the local housing authority, are aware of this case and are working together to ensure support is in place.' The landlord declined to comment when approached. The family has set up a JustGiving page to raise money to pay for some new accommodation. To donate click here. How Homes for Ukraine red tape has left kind-hearted families in Britain frustrated and bewildered British families frustrated by Home Office red tape have revealed their fury at a 'broken' Homes for Ukraine application process that sees children asked if they are security threats and fathers fighting on the front line made to fill out consent forms. Kind-hearted hosts from across the UK have told MailOnline of how their efforts to open their homes have been hit with snags as thousands of desperate refugees remain stuck in limbo. The Government has come under fire for the slow processing of visa applications as Ukrainian evacuees, some as young as seven and travelling just with their siblings, are stuck in neighbouring countries with little money and no food or spare clothes. Of further concern to hosts is the cumbersome 50-page application process, which asks schoolchildren to divulge if they have ever been considered a threat to the national security of the United Kingdom. Some hosts claim their sponsorship forms were 'lost', while other horror stories reveal visa applications for the same family saw one half allowed to come to the UK, while the other half were left waiting for a reply for a week. Meanwhile, another host from Manchester told MailOnline how the pair of Ukrainian girls his family hope to sponsor were asked, as part of the visa application, to attach a letter of consent from their father - who was conscripted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the start of the war. Of further concern to hosts is the cumbersome 50-page application process, which asks schoolchildren to divulge if they have ever been considered a threat to the national security of the United Kingdom Another host from Manchester told MailOnline how the pair of Ukrainian girls his family hope to sponsor were asked, as part of the visa application, to attach a letter of consent from their father - who was conscripted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the start of the war In March the Government announced the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme which will pay families 350-a-month to take in those fleeing Russian brutality for at least six months. Within hours of launching, the website for registering interest had crashed and subsequently more than 200,000 people signed up to the programme. Dr Paul Murray, a consultant scientist based in Bristol, has called on senior ministers and civil servants to quit Dr Paul Murray, a consultant scientist based in Bristol, hoped to house Ukrainian lawyer Yevheniaa Filippova, her son Lev, nine, and daughter Nelly, two, who are fleeing from port city of Odessa. He thinks senior ministers and civil servants should offer their resignations in the face of the 'national embarrassment' that is the Homes for Ukraine visa scheme. 'These are women and children who are vulnerable and need protecting', he told MailOnline. 'The incompetence is astounding. It is time for some senior civil servants and ministers to go. Dont they understand the situation for these refugees? 'The constant messaging of "we are simplifying the process", and "they dont need to go to a visa centre" is all bull****. This family break down in tears every time they call me because theyre stuck. This system is broken, and it's absolutely ridiculous. People must lose their jobs over this.' Ukrainian lawyer Yevheniaa Filippova, 39, and her daughter Nelly, 2, fled the port city of Odessa on the Black Sea, which has come under fire from Russian rockets in recent weeks Lev, nine, and Nelly have fled invading Russian troops in the west of Ukraine Other examples of the bureaucratic web that has delayed countless Homes for Ukraine applications have come to light in recent days. Compliance manager Andy Johnston and his family first submitted their applications to house two Ukrainian girls, Oleksandra, aged 15 and Anastasiia, 19, in their Manchester home four weeks ago. The girls' father was signed up to stay and fight for the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the start of the Russian invasion, meaning the sisters had to travel to Poland alone. Because Oleksandra doesn't own a passport, she was asked to travel to a visa processing centre hundreds of miles away in Warsaw, where she provided her evidence on March 31. Compliance manager Andy Johnston (pictured) and his family first submitted their applications to house two Ukrainian girls in their Manchester home four weeks ago Ukrainian refugees Oleksandra, and Anastasiia, 19, (right) are stuck in Poland with their supply of money, food and clothes rapidly running out Included within Oleksandra's forms was a question asking her to provide a letter of consent for her travel, authorised by a parent or guardian, before she could come to the UK. But as they wait for the results of her application, the girls are now stuck in Poland with no money, food or spare clothes, Andy explains. 'It's a really worrying situation', he tells MailOnline. 'We sent them some money to help them get to Poland, and now we're going to have to send them some more to help support them with the essentials. 'It has been 26 days since our initial priority application was submitted and we've not had any updates on their applications at all. It's shocking really.' Responding to the parental letters of consent, a Government spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The safety and wellbeing of asylum seeking children is paramount. Due to safeguarding requirements, unaccompanied minors are not currently eligible for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.' Home Secretary Priti Patel has been forced to apologise over delays to the visa scheme. Earlier this week, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the Home Secretary was 'looking very closely at this to look at whatever else can be done to remove any barriers'. He told Sky News: 'Well obviously it's different for countries that are bordering the Ukraine, because people fleeing a war like this obviously will cross the nearest land border, and that's why countries like Poland and Hungary obviously are getting more of those refugees coming in. 'But we have now issued visas under the two schemes we've got, in particular the sponsorship scheme, to around 40,000 Ukrainians and around 12,000 of those are already here. 'We've made some changes already, making clear for instance that those with a Ukrainian passport don't need to attend an appointment in person, and I know that Priti Patel's looking very closely at this to look at whatever else can be done to remove any barriers as and when those arise.' Home Secretary Priti Patel last week apologised 'with frustration' over the amount of time it was taking for Ukrainians to arrive in the UK under current visa schemes In only six weeks of war in Ukraine, close to five million children have been forced to flee their homes and immigrate as refugees to neighbouring countries. Pictured: Ukrainian mothers in Krakow, Poland attend a protest against the killing of children in Ukraine People who fled the war in Ukraine rest inside an indoor sports stadium being used as a refugee center, in the village of Medyka, a border crossing between Poland and Ukraine Ruth Girardet, a leadership coach who lives in London, faced multiple hurdles before her refugees' claims were accepted and describes the application system as 'utterly broken'. She filled out sponsorship forms for a Ukrainian mother and her two daughters, aged seven and 11 on March 21. Within one of the pages on the 50-page application, the questionnaire asks the schoolchildren if they have ever been considered a threat to the UK's national security. 'I was astonished. The system is utterly broken', she told MailOnline. Ruth Girardet, a leadership coach who lives in London, faced multiple hurdles before her refugees' claims were accepted and describes the application system as 'utterly broken' To compound her frustration, Ruth was told by the office of her MP, Emily Thornberry, that documentation for the third and final visa had been 'lost'. After enquiring about this, the final visa was eventually processed and accepted five days later, but the group only had one permission to travel form for the children. That delay meant they were stuck in Poland and were told by border officials that their UK visas were ready to go, but they were not authorised to print them. Several of those who offered their homes to Ukrainians within the first few days of the Homes for Ukraine scheme opening say they feel left behind as they claim more recent applications appear to be fast-tracked ahead of theirs. Senior civil servants, including Second Permanent Secretary Simon Ridley, who worked on the Government's Covid Task Force, and policy expert Louise Horton were understood to have been parachuted in to help streamline the process. A Home Office hotline and separate email address were initially set up to deal with the thousands of incoming requests, but have since become less responsive, several hosts have said. In some cases, hosts say that their applicants' visas letters were due to arrive within two days - but are still yet to materialise weeks later. The first four days appear to be the biggest hurdle, people who applied when the scheme first launched are being left behind, while those applying now are getting through quicker', Ruth adds. Thats shocking because those applying first were the ones who are most in need and in danger.' Her frustration is being shared by other prospective hosts hundreds of miles away. Businessman David Steward slammed the government's 'failed' efforts to house Ukrainian refugees - comparing their plight to the 1940s generation of Brits who leapt into action to save more than 330,000 British soldiers stranded at Dunkirk. He says conversations with the Ukrainian family he had been trying to sponsor have become more difficult to face as he hears the deafening blare of air raid sirens in the background. 'The opportunity to help those fleeing a land war in Ukraine is this generation's Dunkirk Little Ships moment. 'The government are either hindering it with an under-resourced, hopeless system, or are actively obstructing it.' A government spokesman told MailOnline: 'We continue to process visas for the Homes for Ukraine scheme as quickly as possible, but accept progress has not been quick enough. 'The Home Office has made changes to visa processing the application form has been streamlined, Ukrainian passport holders can now apply online and do their biometrics checks once in the UK, and greater resource has gone into the system. 'UK Visa and Immigration caseworkers are working as quickly as possible to process applications, but it is absolutely essential to ensure that issues of human trafficking are addressed and that safeguarding processes are in place to ensure children are travelling with their parents.' Pictured: Suspected sex traffickers at the border with Ukraine, who could be looking for women. (Their faces have been pixellated for legal reasons) An ex-army soldier talks to a Ukrainian refugee mother and child at the Polish/Ukraine boarder. (His face has been pixellated to protect his privacy) It comes as the United Nation's refugee agency warned Ukrainian women and children should not be matched with single male hosts over fears they could be exploited. A spokesperson for the UNHCR said: 'Matching done without the appropriate oversight may lead to increasing the risks women may face, in addition to the trauma of displacement, family separation and violence already experienced.' Those concerns were echoed by the UK's Charity Commission who want to 'raise awareness of the risk of sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment of those in need of assistance'. Unbound Now, a network of anti-human trafficking agencies, say they had seen lone men try to lure women into vehicles at the Ukraine-Poland border. 'It's a challenging situation at the moment,' concedes a spokesman for the charity. A climate activist who allegedly blocked peak hour traffic and stranded thousands of commuters on one of Sydney's busiest roads has been accused by The Project hosts of being privileged. Mali Cooper, 22, was among 10 people charged on Monday evening after dozens of Blockade Australia protesters hit the streets in the morning to cause chaos for commuters in Sydney's CBD. She filmed herself behind the wheel of a car blocking the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel causing kilometres of gridlock, leading to one furious commuter screaming insults at her. Appearing on The Project on Tuesday evening after spending a night behind bars, Ms Cooper said she was glad to have the opportunity to speak about climate issues. Activist Mali Cooper (pictured) defended allegedly gridlocking Sydney traffic because she believes it will get people talking about climate change and not Blockade Australia protesters, but she also acknowledged the protesters were acting in a privileged way Ms Cooper's white hatchback allegedly blocked the entrance to Sydney Harbour Tunnel on Monday morning (pictured) 'I'm glad to be out and to have had a chance to see my family and to be here to have this conversation,' Ms Cooper said. She explained her 'anxiety' about the way the planet is being treated led her to allegedly chain herself to the steering wheel of a car blocking the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel - leaving Sydneysiders stuck in their cars as they tried to go about their day. Critics of the stunt said there could have been emergencies such as ambulances or women in labour that were trapped in the gridlock. But Ms Cooper defended the Blockade Australia's actions to The Project's audience. 'There are people who are determined to extract vast numbers of resources from this planet,' she said. 'It's typically less privileged people who experience the impact of climate change and climate devastation that is happening now.' Host Kate Langbroek questioned whether the group's tactics were the best way to win widespread support for action on climate change or whether they were damaging the cause. 'What do you think that your disruption has to do with climate change? People find you to be extremely divisive,' Langbroek said. 'You talk about privilege but the ultimate privilege was probably you deciding whether people could get to work or not?' The white hatchback Ms Cooper was allegedly driving was parked sideways over two lanes of traffic - causing chaos for the thousands of people who use the tunnel every hour (pictured) Ms Cooper said she believed her actions were prompting a conversation on climate issues and she 'has no regrets'. 'There's a bigger conversation that needs to happen about climate change and I think that not a lot of people get a chance to speak on national television about this really important situation that impacts all of us.' 'I recognise my privilege in the world and I recognise that I'm privileged talking to you.' 'It is so important that I am here and I am having this conversation and we open up a discussion about how we move forward and how we take steps to support our life systems, support one another and ensure that we take climate action.' Host Waleed Aly then asked if Ms Cooper's intention was to 'cause chaos, perhaps get arrested and then get on television to be able to talk about these issues'. She replied that the disruption itself was the goal because that 'has been proven time and again to have an effect that allows change to happen'. 'We need radical change to save the planet'. 'I don't regret anything. I also don't want to be in this position but I think it's important in this critical time that we don't stay silent and we speak up.' Ms Cooper allegedly chained herself to the steering wheel with a bike lock (left) causing gridlock for kilometres with one furious commuter hurling disgusting insults at her (right) The woman was eventually arrested by several officers and the tunnel reopened around 9am Ms Cooper was released after being held by police on Monday night but is still facing up to $22,000 in fines courtesy of new laws brought in to crack down on disruptive and dangerous protests. Mali is accused of parking a white hatchback across the road leading into the busy tunnel leaving motorists on their way to work banked up for kilometres. She was confronted by a furious driver while filming a livestream of her alleged protest and later had to be cut from the car by officers from the Police Rescue Squad. Six women and four men aged between 21 and 49 from three states were arrested and charged with a string of offences related to willfully preventing the free passage of a person or vehicle. Police established Strike Force Guard vowing to maintain a highly visible presence in the CBD for the rest of the week after Blockade Australia warned of further disruptions. 'It is unacceptable that a small number of people - who have little to no regard for everyday individuals going about their lives, are causing unnecessary disruptions to their morning commute,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said. 'What these individuals are doing is both illegal and unsafe, putting the lives of themselves, the general public and our officers in danger by running on roadways and blocking roads by other means to disrupt traffic.' Dozens of specialist officers were deployed to assist in the operation, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, Mounted Police, Rescue Squad, Dog Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol and Transit Police. Dozens descended on Sydney's centre, carrying signs and chanting as they demanded action for climate change Both sides of the NSW government condemned the protestors' actions. 'I would say this to the protesters: Go and get a real job,' Deputy Premier Paul Toole said. 'Go and talk to somebody who's actually been delayed in getting to work today.' Labor opposition leader Chris Minns added: 'We may have had women waiting to get to emergency departments, birthing centres to give birth to children or [other] emergencies,' Blockade Australia warned on its Facebook page on Monday night that resistance will continue every day this week. Mali began to stream the protest when an angry driver walked up to her window and began to verbally abuse her with a string of swear words before storming off. 'You're f***ing everyone's day up,' he yells. 'Get the f*** out of the way!' An unfazed Mali continues to look at the camera before she responds: 'To this man I would say I stand with you. It is for you, it is for your family that we do this.' She allegedly staged the protest as dozens of Blockade Australia demonstrators marched through the streets kilometres away in the CBD, disrupting traffic and clashing with police. A police officer picks up milk crates left on the street as demonstrators were seen throwing bins and objects into the path of police to slow them down One fed-up driver was filmed edging their car through the crowd forcing people to jump out of its way with one protestor banging on the hood of the car as they were pushed backwards. Mali, who moaned about climate destruction in her stream, then sipped water from a plastic water bottle as she continued her alleged protest on the other side of the city. 'The police are here,' she said into the camera. 'Not sure if you can see. Thank you everyone who has listened. 'I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to hold this phone and hold this space. It's a big day ahead.' The tunnel is one of the major thoroughfares taking commuters across the city's harbour, and is used by up to 2,000 cars every hour. All traffic had been diverted via the Harbour Bridge and drivers were backed up for several kilometres. A man picked up a barricade fence and ran away as protests choked traffic in the CBD on Monday Extraordinary footage captured in Sydney's CBD shows the moment members of the extremist Blockade Australia group were almost hit by an SUV while standing in an intersection near Wynyard Park. One enraged driver drove straight through the demonstration, as protesters fruitlessly tried to stop the vehicle and chase it across the road - almost getting run over in the process. Acting Assistant Commissioner Dunstan slammed the protester's actions and said Mali 'placed herself at risk, placed members of the public at risk, and placed rescuers at risk.' 'The throwing of bicycles, the throwing of garbage bins, the throwing of other items in the path of police, in the path of media, in the path of innocent members of the public just walking by will not be tolerated and cannot be by the people of NSW.' Advertisement More people have risked choppy seas in the English Channel to reach the UK by small boats today despite new laws threating to jail migrant captains for life coming into force. One group of migrants on a black inflatable dingy was filmed this morning by a passenger on board a cross Channel ferry heading between Calais and Dover. The passenger saw the boat struggling across the Channel at approximately 7.30am. The witness said: 'It barely seemed to be moving against the speed we were going. Once you see it upfront with your own eyes it hits home just how treacherous it is.' Hours later, a Border Force vessel disembarked a group of approximately 50 migrants in Dover, including women and children. The Border Force vessel Defender brought the group ashore at the harbour at the Port of Dover to be processed by immigration officers. A small boy, apparently upset and crying, was carried by his father as they got off the boat and walked up the gangway. The Nationality and Borders Act came into force today introducing the tougher sentencing for those who smuggle migrants into the UK - up from 14 years imprisonment. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'This is one of the most crucial milestones in delivering on our promise to the British public to take back control of our borders. 'While there is no single solution to the global migration crisis, these reforms which come into effect today play a vital role in overhauling the broken asylum system as we put our New Plan for Immigration into action. 'We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that we offer protection and sanctuary to those in genuine need; but these new measures will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people-smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment as a result of this law coming into force.' This small rubber dingy was filmed today from a cross channel ferry as it struggled between northern France and Dover These migrants, including children, arrived in Dover shortly before lunchtime on board Border Force Typhoon Almost 2,800 migrants have been intercepted crossing the Channel this month - more than the entire figure for 2020 Almost 29,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, compared with 5,654 and 2,449 over the same time in 2021 and 2020 respectively Dover MP Natalie Elphicke has said: 'These shocking figures underline yet again why urgent action is needed. 'It's disappointing that the efforts being made by the Government to save lives and stop the people traffickers are being undermined by people who should know better. 'They should think again and support the action being taken to bring these treacherous journeys to an end. 'Let's not forget that these criminal smuggling gangs have a callous disregard for everyone. 'Too many lives have been lost in doomed attempts to cross the English Channel. It needs to end.' According to the MoD, a total of 153 migrants on four boats were intercepted by the UK authorities on Monday June 27 with almost 2,800 people arriving during June. Today's official figure will not be available until tomorrow morning. Today's migrants face being dealt with parts of the new Nationality and Borders Act came into force today, including provisions to jail migrant boat captains for life. The new rules also allow the government to strip foreign born offenders of their British citizenship, including the ability to deport people ahead of their release from prison. Also, migrants arriving on small boats today have fewer rights and less access to public services as part of the Government's clampdown. The recent crossings bring the total of people reaching the UK so far this year to 12,312 compared to 5,654 by this point in 2021 and 2,449 in 2020. Last week, 12 boats were intercepted with 516 people on board, a further 153 arrived yesterday on four boats Those arriving in the UK today will have fewer rights and less access to public services than previous migrants provisions contained with the Nationality and Border Act came into force overnight No migrants were spotted attempting to cross into the UK on 11 days during, June. Although on June 14, 444 people made it across the channel (pictured, people arriving in Dover this lunchtime) One migrant vessel struggling across the Channel was a small inflatable dingy filmed from a cross channel ferry. A passenger on board the 7am DFDS freight ferry from Calais to Dover filmed the heavily laden black inflatable boat as it barely made headway across the 21 miles separating France from England. The migrant boat was spotted around 7.30am today. One witness said: 'I was sitting in the cafe at the front of the ferry and just out of the corner of my eye I spotted the small raft. 'I rushed to the back of the ferry where you can go outside.' He added: 'It looked to have around 15 to 20 on board and was approximately one mile off the coast of Calais. 'It was a clear day, and the sea was like a millpond, you could see the amount of large freighters tracking the channel. 'It barely seemed to be moving against the speed we were going. 'Once you see it upfront with your own eyes it hits home just how treacherous it is. 'It must have been 500 metres from the ferry.' Figures for today are not available yet, though a group of approximately 50 migrants were seen disembarking a Border Force vessel in Dover shortly before lunchtime Home Secretary Priti Patel has brought in new rules for dealing with asylum seekers who enter the UK on small boats, giving them fewer rights and less access to public services than earlier arrivals The Home Secretary is determined to continue her plan to send migrants to Rwanda for processing At the weekend, Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to give a figure by which Channel crossings needed to come down before the Government's Rwanda migrant policy could be declared a success The first flight to Rwanda, planned for June 14, was cancelled at the last minute following an order from the European Court of Human Rights, (Pictured: Migrants arriving in the UK today at Dover) Border Force personnel assisted the migrants ashore in Dover following their interception earlier today in the channel What is the Nationality and Borders Act and how will it impact cross channel migrants Under the Nationality and Borders Act (NABA) which comes into force on Tuesday June 28, anyone caught piloting a boat carrying migrants in the Channel could face life behind bars. The measures, which received Royal Assent in April, include tougher penalties for those who pilot a small boat or smuggle migrants into the UK by other dangerous or illegal means, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Also the maximum penalty for illegally entering the UK or overstaying a visa has increased from six months to four years' imprisonment. Those who did not come to the UK directly, did not claim without delay, or did not show good cause for their illegal entry or presence, may be given a shorter grant of permission to stay with a minimum of 30 months instead of five years. Immigration officers have also been given new powers to search containers for illegal migrants and foreign national offenders held in UK prisons can now be removed 12 months before the end of their custodial sentence. Home Secretary Priti Patel, pictured here in Parliament, said the new rules were part of the government's plan to 'take back control' of the nation's borders Also, the Government has powers to limit visas for those from countries which pose a 'risk to international peace and security and those that refuse to take back their own citizens who have no right to be in the UK. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'This is one of the most crucial milestones in delivering on our promise to the British public to take back control of our borders. 'While there is no single solution to the global migration crisis, these reforms which come into effect today play a vital role in overhauling the broken asylum system as we put our New Plan for Immigration into action. 'We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that we offer protection and sanctuary to those in genuine need; but these new measures will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people-smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment as a result of this law coming into force.' The NABA also includes changes to laws that previously denied British nationality to some children of British Overseas Territory citizens. Previously, women with British Overseas Territory citizenship could not pass on British nationality to children born outside the UK and its territories before January 1 1983. Similarly, children born to unmarried British Overseas Territory fathers before July 1 2006 could not acquire British nationality through their father. Rules requiring children born outside an Overseas Territory to British Overseas Territory citizen parents to be registered within 12 months of their birth in order to qualify for citizenship are being scrapped. Advertisement So far this month, the MoD said 2,748 migrants were intercepted on 67 boats with 444 arriving on June 14 alone - they day when Home Secretary Priti Patel's 500,000 flight to Rwanda was abandoned due to court challenges. At the weekend, Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to give a figure by which Channel crossings needed to come down before the Government's Rwanda migrant policy could be declared a success. The first flight to Rwanda, planned for June 14, was cancelled at the last minute following an order from the European Court of Human Rights. Home Secretary Priti Patel has previously described the court's decision as politically motivated while Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said it was wrong for the injunction to be granted. Ongoing court battles have created uncertainty over when any further attempts to fly asylum seekers to the African country will be made, although Ms Patel has said the Government 'will not be deterred from doing the right thing, we will not be put off by the inevitable last-minute legal challenges'. Amnesty International condemned the new rule changes which came into force today claiming they break the UK's commitments under the 1951 Refugee Convention, with Ms Patel 'unlawfully rewriting' what it means to be a refugee. Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK's Refugee and Migrant Rights Director said: 'It's a truly bleak day for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution. 'Despite widespread opposition, including on its own backbenches, the Government has today ripped up the 1951 Refugee Convention and shamefully abandoned the international responsibility it owes to refugees. 'Priti Patel's talk of targeting criminal gangs is a cynical distraction from her true intent - which is to penalise, punish and deter people from ever seeking asylum in this country. 'Completely contrary to the Home Secretary's claims, the measures in this act will make people even more vulnerable to smugglers and abusers while doing further damage to the UK asylum system and dragging the UK's reputation through the mud.' Home Secretary Priti Patel has previously described the court's decision as politically motivated while Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said it was wrong for the injunction to be granted One group of migrants today was spotted by passengers on a Cross Channel ferry that was on its way to Dover Today's migrants will be dealt with under a new system which gives them fewer rights following a change in the law Migrant boat filmed just 500 yards from a Cross Channel ferry One migrant vessel struggling across the Channel was a small inflatable dingy filmed from a cross channel ferry. A passenger on board the 7am DFDS freight ferry from Calais to Dover filmed the heavily laden black inflatable boat as it barely made headway across the 21 miles separating France from England. The migrant boat was spotted around 7.30am today. One witness said: 'I was sitting in the cafe at the front of the ferry and just out of the corner of my eye I spotted the small raft. 'I rushed to the back of the ferry where you can go outside.' The boat risked crossing one of the world's busiest shipping lanes to make its way to the UK He added: 'It looked to have around 15 to 20 on board and was approximately one mile off the coast of Calais. 'It was a clear day, and the sea was like a millpond, you could see the amount of large freighters tracking the channel. 'It barely seemed to be moving against the speed we were going. 'Once you see it upfront with your own eyes it hits home just how treacherous it is. 'It must have been 500 metres from the ferry.' Advertisement Boris Johnson is on the verge of ditching a Tory manifesto pledge on boosting defence spending despite Ben Wallace warning the 'peace dividend is over'. A senior government source has acknowledged that the 2019 promise to increase budgets by 0.5 percentage points above inflation might have to be abandoned. The source pointed out that the public finances had been battered by Covid and inflation is set to hit 11 per cent this year. 'The intention is always to honour manifesto commitments but they were made before 400 billion was spent coping with a global pandemic that none could have possibly foreseen,' the source said. But Mr Wallace has been cranking up demands for higher military spending to counter the threat from Russia. He warned at a RUSI think-tank event defence can no longer exist on a 'diet of smoke and mirrors', pointing out that ministers had behaved like 'corporate raiders' for decades as they diverted money to the NHS and other services. He is believed to be arguing for budgets to rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2028 - well above the Nato minimum of 2 per cent. That would be equivalent to around 10billion a year more. In a letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Wallace highlighted alarming gaps in capabilities such as a lack of drones, not enough pilots to fly multi-billion-pound stealth jets and a shortage of crew aboard Royal Navy nuclear submarines. Speaking as he left the G7 summit in Germany today, the PM played down the prospect - saying the government was already making 'massive commitments'. Paul Johnson, director of respected IFS think-tank, tweeted a chart showing how more money for health budgets had been found by easing back on military spending since the 1950s. 'Reduction in defence spending over past 60 years made way for welfare state without need to raise taxes,' he said. 'No further scope to cut it and taxes are rising to record levels. If spending on defence *rises* again then more tax rises, or curtailing of welfare state, will be needed.' In a speech at a RUSI conference today, Ben Wallace argued that the UK's annual defence budget needs to keep rising Director Paul Johnson pointed out that the tax burden is already due to reach record levels as the government tries to balance the books in the wake of Covid Mr Johnson tweeted a chart showing how more money for health budgets had been found by easing back on military spending since the 1950s Speaking as he left the G7 summit in Germany today, the PM (pictured with Joe Biden) seemed to play down the prospect of a defence spending surge - saying the government was already making 'massive commitments' The speech is the second time in recent months Mr Wallace has called for more cash to prop up the Armed Forces. In March he wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak warning spending is at risk of dropping below the 2 per cent Nato minimum. Mr Wallace would use the additional funding to target specific capability gaps rather than upping the size of the Army which is expected to shrink to just 72,500 by 2025. However, the PM said: 'Clearly we have to respond to the way threats continue to change but don't forget that we now have got a defence budget that is 24billion bigger under the spending review the biggest increase since the end of the Cold War. 'Last year the UK was the third biggest defence spender in the world. We are making massive commitments. 'As a result of what we have already committed we have put the biggest increase since the end of the Cold War, we have more that met our pledge to exceed the 2% floor.' In his speech, Mr Wallace said there was a 'real danger' Vladimir Putin could 'lash out' against Europe. 'If the threat changed so must the funding. If governments historically responded every time the NHS has a winter crisis so must they when the threats to the very security which underpins our way of life increases,' he said. 'For too long defence has lived on a diet of smoke and mirrors, hollowed out formations and fantasy savings when in the last few years threats from states have started to increase. 'Right now Russia is the most direct and pressing threat to Europe, to our allies and these shores. I am serious when I say there is a very real danger Russia will lash out against wider Europe. In these days of long range missiles and stealth distance is no protection. 'The threat is growing, is global and multidomain. It is now time to signal that the peace dividend is over and investment needs to continue to grow before it becomes too late to address the resurgent threat and the lessons learned in Ukraine. It is time to mobilise, be ready and be relevant.' In another dramatic intervention at the RUSI conference, the new head of the Army General Sir Patrick Sanders said the country faces a '1937 moment' over Vladimir Putin's 'brutal aggression'. In a reference to the notorious policy of giving ground to the German dictator before the Second World War, he said the will to 'act rapidly' was the only way to prevent Russia's expansionism ending in all-out conflict in Europe. 'I will have an answer to my grandchildren should they ever ask what I did in 2022,' General Sanders said, adding that Beijing will be 'watching carefully' to see how the West responds. 'If we fail to deter there are no good choices,' he said. 'We must therefore meet strength with strength and be unequivocally prepared to fight.' Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with world leaders yesterday to give him the firepower to end Russia's war on Ukraine before winter. The Ukrainian President fears freezing temperatures in the country's eastern regions later this year will favour the Russian invaders and limit his troops' ability to defend their lands. In an impassioned address to the G7 summit, he asked for long-range weapons and air defence systems to be supplied before then. Speaking on a live-link to the Bavarian resort where the leaders are gathered, Mr Zelensky also asked for tougher sanctions on Moscow to thwart the Kremlin's war machine. He also requested further Western assistance to breach Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports which is preventing the export of the country's grain stocks. 'If Ukraine wins, you all win,' he said during his speech by video link. It came as Nato announced a seven-fold increase in numbers of troops on high readiness, from 40,000 to more than 300,000, as the defence alliance gathers for its own summit today. Soldiers would respond to any Russian incursion into Nato territory but would not enter Ukraine. National troops would be put on different alert levels so the alliance has more combat-ready forces ready on short notice. Pressure on the government's finances was laid bare last week when figures for May showed the cost of servicing the near-2.4trillion debt mountain surged to 7.6billion, a record for the month The government has been bringing in more revenue taxes as it struggles to balance the books after the Covid crisis Last night it was claimed that as part of the Nato pledge, Boris Johnson could announce a significant reinforcement for Estonia, potentially more than doubling the number of British troops available to the Baltic State. Urging the Western allies to increase their support for the war effort, Mr Zelensky pleaded yesterday: 'Don't let it drag on over winter' and urged them 'not to lower the pressure' in terms of sanctions. In a joint statement, the G7 leaders promised to support Ukraine 'for as long as it takes'. Ukrainian military chiefs want to mount a counter-offensive against the Russians this summer and autumn but lack the necessary firepower. Mr Zelensky is also desperate to address the vulnerability of his country's major cities to Russian missile attacks and yesterday received a boost from Washington with Joe Biden pledging the same air defence system which protects the White House and the Pentagon. More than 20 UK-purchased M109 howitzers are expected to reach the front line in days while the US pledged to provide the NASAMS system, which can destroy incoming missiles and aircraft at a range of up to 86 nautical miles. Military sources said it could be used to protect Kyiv and other cities. Russia's former president has warned any encroachment on the Crimea peninsula by a NATO member-state could amount to a declaration of war on Russia which could lead to 'World War Three'. Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin ally, also said that if Finland and Sweden joined NATO, Russia would be ready for 'retaliatory steps' - and that could include installing Iskander hypersonic missiles 'on their threshold'. 'For us, Crimea is a part of Russia. And that means forever. Any attempt to encroach on Crimea is a declaration of war against our country,' Medvedev told the news website Argumenty i Fakty. 'And if this is done by a NATO member-state, this means conflict with the entire North Atlantic alliance; a World War Three. A complete catastrophe.' Crimea, a peninsula along the northern coast of the Black Sea in Eastern Europe, was claimed by Ukraine after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia annexed it in 2014 after a military intervention by pro-Russian separatists and Russian Armed Forces. That was followed by a controversial Crimea-wide referendum, illegal under the Ukrainian and Crimean constitutions, whose official results showed over 90% support for reunification. Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev has warned any encroachment on the Crimea peninsula by a NATO member-state could amount to a declaration of war on Russia which could lead to 'World War Three' Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a military intervention by pro-Russian separatists and Russian Armed Forces. That was followed by a controversial Crimea-wide referendum, illegal under the Ukrainian and Crimean constitutions, whose official results showed over 90% support for reunification The vote, however, was boycotted by many loyal to Ukraine and declared illegitimate by Western governments and the United Nations. Russia formally annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014. Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, also said that if Finland and Sweden joined NATO, Russia would strengthen its borders and would be 'ready for retaliatory steps,' and that could include the prospect of installing Iskander hypersonic missiles 'on their threshold.' Breaking with decades of a policy of neutrality, Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a historic move last month. NATO's existing 30 members are set to discuss the issue this month. Turkey has threatened to hold up the applications over the two countries' perceived support for Kurdish groups. Finland and Sweden have sought security assurances from the U.S. and other NATO countries during the application period. Russia has threatened 'military and political consequences' if the countries join NATO. Breaking with decades of a policy of neutrality, Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a historic move last month Medvedev's warning comes as NATO chief Jens Stolenberg said the NATO allies will boost high readiness forces to 'well over 300,000' troops as they strengthen their defences in response to Russia's war on Ukraine Leaders from the US-led military alliance will meet in Madrid this week for what Stoltenberg said would be a 'transformative' summit as it grapples with the fallout of Moscow's invasion of its pro-Western neighbour. Stoltenberg said allies would bolster some of their battle group formations along NATO's eastern flank 'up to brigade level' - tactical units of around 3,000-5,000 troops - and ratchet up high readiness numbers to 'well over 300,000'. In addition, more heavy weaponry including air defence systems would be shifted forwards and forces pre-assigned to defend specific NATO members on the alliance's exposed eastern edge. 'This constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective defence and deterrence since the Cold War,' Stoltenberg said. NATO currently has a high readiness force of around 40,000 troops under its command, but the more than 300,000 troops are expected to form a larger pool that the alliance could tap into in the case of an emergency. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg chats with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as they arrive at the NATO summit venue in Madrid on Tuesday French troops inspect military vehicles at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, near the city of Constanta, Romania, on Tuesday A NATO official said the new system would be in place next year and improve the alliance's 'ability to respond at very short notice for any contingency' with land, sea, air and cyber assets. Stoltenberg also said leaders would agree to bolster NATO's essential support to embattled Ukraine, whose President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to call in via video link. That package would include 'substantial deliveries' of gear like secure communications, anti-drone systems and fuel, and help Ukraine over the longer term to pivot to using more advanced NATO-standard arms. This support is separate from weaponry that NATO members - spearheaded by the United States - are already funnelling to Ukraine, including anti-tank rockets, artillery and air defence to help it hold back Russia's onslaught. NATO has been building up its forces in the east of the alliance since Moscow first moved into Ukraine with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The alliance has rushed tens of thousands more troops to the region since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on February 24. NATO now has eight battle groups across its eastern members and Stoltenberg said some of these - likely in the Baltics and Poland - would be bolstered to 'brigade level'. Jittery leaders in the Baltics have pushed for major and permanent troop deployments that could stop the Kremlin's forces at NATO's border. Germany has said it would take the lead on a new brigade in Lithuania - where it already has forces - but most of those troops would be permanently stationed back on home soil. Britain's defence minister has said his country will likely propose a similar set-up for Estonia - where it commands the existing battle group. Stoltenberg said he expected other allies to announce forces dedicated to protecting specific eastern members at the summit that starts on Tuesday evening. CCTV footage captures the moment a one-year-old tot plummets headfirst from a balcony but is saved by bouncing off the back of a stunned shopper below. Unwitting hero Ruhi Asci was gazing through the window of a shop when the baby slipped between railings and fell from the first floor, hitting him below his shoulders. The youngster can be seen bouncing off and landing on the pavement behind him in the Haci Ilyas neighbourhood in the northern Turkish city of Amasya. Astonished, Ruhi turns around and finds the baby, named as Khatira Amiri, sitting on the concrete. As he picked up the youngster, the child's Afghan-born mother came running out and the baby was rushed to hospital by paramedics. A one-year-old baby fell from a balcony in Turkey and hit an unsuspecting shopper below, which may have saved her from hitting the pavement headfirst Ruhi Asci initially thought a flower pot had fallen and hit him, he was shocked to see a baby when he turned around The baby bounced off the floor having landed on the ground at a slower speed after hitting the man Local media reported that Khatira had been playing on a first-floor apartment balcony when the tot slipped through the railings. Amazed Ruhi said: 'At first, I thought a flower pot had fallen on me. When I turned around, I realised it was a child. 'They rolled off my back and hit the ground. A little blood came from their mouth and teeth.' Asci added: 'The ambulance arrived on the scene and they were taken to hospital with their mother.' Khatira was rushed to the Amasya University Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Education and Research Hospital for further medical care. Reports said the child was admitted to hospital in a stable condition in the company of their mother. It is unclear if the local authorities are investigating the incident. A young oil broker allegedly smashed a whisky glass into another city professional's head and slashed his ear during a late-night row over whose job was better, a court heard yesterday. Albie Crathern, 22, is said to have attacked 27-year-old headhunter Juan Carlos Roberts as the latter celebrated his birthday at a five-star London Hotel. Crather, of Romford, Greater London, denies wounding and claims Mr Roberts and his work colleague were 'taking the mickey' out of his claim to be a Square Mile broker. The alleged attack took place in the Nickel Bar of The Ned, near the Bank of England on February 18, 2019. Mr Roberts told Inner London Crown Court he had five whiskey cocktails and a beer with his workmate Tom Andrews when the defendant and a friend sat nearby at 9.30pm. Albie Crathern (pictured), 22, allegedly attacked 27-year-old headhunter Juan Carlos Roberts as the latter celebrated his birthday at a five-star London Hotel Initially Crathern seemed interested in what smart suited Mr Roberts was wearing and what he and his friend did for a living in the City, the trial heard. 'They started speaking to us and it got progressively more aggressive. He asked me where I went to university and told Tom if he had gone to university he would have a better job than recruitment. 'He made some sort of derogatory comment about us working in sales and I told him broking is also a sales job. 'It escalated and the defendant said to Tom, "Shut up, or I'll knock you out." I asked for the bill and started leaving and I stood in between both of them. 'He picked up my whisky glass and swung it and I saw it at the last second and turned my face away and the glass smashed my ear and neck.' However, after watching CCTV from the witness box Mr Roberts changed his evidence and admitted Crathern and his friend were face to face. The alleged attack took place in the Nickel Bar (pictured) of The Ned, near the Bank of England on February 18, 2019 He also conceded the whiskey glass was in his own hand. 'He takes it from my hand and hits me in the head, you can see it clearly,' added Mr Roberts. 'I had a laceration. My ear was hanging down and a shard of glass went through the back of my head and I had two surgeries. 'A few seconds after I lost some sort of consciousness and was ushered to the back of the hotel. When I took the shard of glass out of my head blood started gushing everywhere.' An ambulance rushed Mr Roberts to the Royal London Hospital. 'It was a fifty fifty chance they could save my ear and the first surgery was to reconnect the ear and the second surgery to remove broken glass.' He denied a defence suggestion of 'making up' the university jibe from Crathern and 'talking bull****' about the defendant being a legitimate oil trader. Crathern's lawyer Josh Normanton said: 'The suggestion is you are taking the mickey out of this defendant, ribbing and bullying him that he is making up being an oil trader.' Juan Carlos Roberts, 27, told Inner London Crown Court he had five whiskey cocktails and a beer with his workmate Tom Andrews before they encountered Crathern at 9.30pm Mr Roberts denied this, saying: 'I disagree that we antagonised him about his profession,' while also rejecting a suggestion that Crathern accidentally knocked the whiskey glass into his head. Crathern says he was striking at Mr Andrews and accidentally caught Mr Roberts' arm. 'You walk into this and as the defendant strikes across he hits your whiskey glass into your face,' suggested the lawyer. 'Is it true you are standing up to get in the defendant's face? It is an accident. You have gone into the confrontation and that glass has got knocked into your head.' Mr Roberts insisted: 'It was not accidental.' 'You are trying to find a way to ensure this defendant pays the penalty for the injuries you have suffered,' suggested Mr Normanton. 'It is a far from honest account. You have lied.' Mr Roberts quit his City job after the incident and no longer works in the area. 'I have slight paranoia about being outside and in the first year or so it was very challenging. 'I have a large amount of scarring where the shard of glass went through the back of my head.' He told the court he turned down the option of further cosmetic surgery. Earlier prosecutor John Livingston told the jury: 'He suffered tear injuries to his left ear and Mr Crathern inflicted the wound. 'A shard of glass was smashed into his ear, causing a severe wound. He tears part of the outside of the lobe and part of the ear behind.' Security staff detained Crathern and police were called to the hotel. He claimed he was acting in self-defence and told the officers: 'I have been provoked. I was reacting to what was said to me.' Advertisement Harsh critics have slammed the G7 leaders for 'sitting around for photo opportunities' as they posed without ties looking like they've 'woken up after a stag do.' The world's seven most powerful leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have been blasted online for their seemingly blase approach to the summit, as they were accused of trying to look 'hip and trendy.' Images of the politicians posing during a photo-call at Elmau Castle, Bavaria, have gone viral on social media - with many pointing out how 'relaxed' they looked. One critic online wrote: 'Why does the G7 Summit look like the dads and uncles at the end of a wedding who had 35 Heinekens and are accosting the photographer while their wives tell at them that their taxi is outside?' Another added: 'Of course Johnson's trousers are slipping down. Stag night mooning ready' while a third said that the Prime Minister looked as if he had been on a 'night out.' But others questioned the seriousness of the situation - accusing the leaders of the US, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Canada and Japan of just sitting around for 'endless photo opportunities.' The person said: 'G7 just sitting around for endless photo opportunities. Where's the agendas, minutes of these meetings? How long do they last? 'It's all staged nonsense. White shirts? Next they'll be wearing Primark military green t-shirts.' The G7 summit in Germany wrapped up on Tuesday with leaders pledging to fight back against Vladimir Putin 's war on food with $5 billion to help protect supplies, according to a senior U.S. official. From left to right British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi meet on the sidelines of the summit Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) welcomes Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) ahead of a bilateral meeting during the G7 leaders summit President Biden (right) playfully touches Prime Minister Johnson's arm during the G7 meeting Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President of France Emmanuel Macron during a 'quad' meeting at the G7 summit at Elmau Castle G7 leaders pose during a photocall at Elmau Castle, Bavaria yesterday. Left to right: Italian PM Mario Draghi, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, US President Biden, Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British PM Boris Johnson, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, French President Macron, and European Council chief Charles Michel Another critic was quick to spot that none of the seven male leaders were wearing a tie with their shirts and jackets. They added: 'This G7 looks so fake, all trying to look hip and trendy with no one wearing a tie.' Many onlookers mocked that the picture in Bavaria looked as if they were all part of a stag do or wedding party - with each leader playing their particular comical role. One person said that France's President Macron looked like a 'father in law, smiling politely but not overly joyful to be there.' And 'Uncle Boris' looked as if he had drunk a 'whole bottle of brandy' while Canada's Justin Trudeau was painted as the stag having a blast with his friends before the big day. Mr Johnson's personal photographer, Andrew Parsons, was present at the moment the G7 leaders stood and posed for the photo at Elmau Castle. He's employed as a Special Advisor part-time on the equivalent of 100,000 a year. Mr Parsons was previously employed by David Cameron while opposition leader and then on a short-term contract after he became Prime Minister. He however lost his cabinet desk and was moved onto Conservative Party payroll after Mr Cameron bowed to intense criticism about the appointment. Mr Parsons provided photographs for Boris Johnson during the 2019 election, for which his company was paid 45,000. He has since been put back on the public payroll by Mr Johnson. The photographer is also entrusted with taking photographs at Johnson family events - as well as at big political events like the G7. Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida during a 'quad' meeting at the G7 summit at Elmau Castle The men were called out by critics for their 'relaxed' attire during the G7 Summit Critics were quick to spot the dress code - and claimed that the G7 leaders were trying to look 'hip and trendy' in their pictures The G7 summit in Germany wrapped up on Tuesday with leaders pledging to fight back against Vladimir Putin's war on food with $5 billion to help protect supplies. President Joe Biden left the summit to fly from Germany to Madrid for a NATO summit after three days in the Bavarian Alps, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has dominated proceedings. A senior administration official said more than half the funding - some $2.76 billion - will come from the U.S. to fight Putin's impact on food security. As well as Ukraine, the rise of China and its impact on global markets has exercised the delegations during their three days of discussions. The leaders of the US, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Canada and Japan agreed to develop a joint approach to remedying Beijing's 'non-market' international trade practices, according to the official. 'You'll see leaders release a collective statement, which is unprecedented in the context of the G7, acknowledging the harms caused by China's non-transparent, market-distorting industrial directives,' the official said. On Monday, they heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who joined by videolink. He asked for urgent help to end the war before the bitter winter months undermined his troops' ability to fight back. Hours later they condemned an 'abominable' Russian strike on a crowded shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. 'Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime,' they said. 'Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account.' A pro-EU activist famed as the 'Stop Brexit Man' who blasts loud music and abused MPs outside Parliament was silenced by policer today as new protest laws came into force. Failed Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Steve Bray accused police of harassment today as he had his powerful music system confiscated in Westminster. Under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which came into force today, he was told by the Metropolitan Police this morning he could not conduct a 'noisy protest' within a designated area outside the palace of Westminster. He had been playing loud music and rambling abuse at politicians for years, either side of a failed bid to win a seat for the Lib Dems in his native Wales at the 2019 election. The 52 year old did not take the news badly, telling polite police officers they were 'a bunch of fascists' as they explained the new rules to him. He added that he was 'not a happy chap, getting harassed a lot', before seeing a police officer filming the scene and shouting 'up yours Priti Patel' at the camera. He later filmed himself approaching a car carrying Health Secretary Sajid Javid, tweeting: 'I'm not relenting or stopping. Nothing has changed.' But minutes later he tweeted a video showing police moving in and removing his sound system, leaving him to shout unaided. Failed Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Steve Bray accused police of harassment today as he was prevented from setting up his powerful music system in Westminster. The 52 year old did not take the news badly, telling polite police officers they were 'a bunch of fascists' as they explained the new rules to him. He added that he was 'not a happy chap, getting harassed a lot', before seeing a police officer filming the scene and shouting 'up yours Priti Patel' at the camera (file picture). From Port Talbot to Parliament: EU fanatic's one-man protest Steve Bray has been making noise outside Parliament since September 2017. The coin collector from Port Talbot initially become part of the landscape on Westminster's College Green, with his colourful ensemble of a EU-inspired top hat and a Union Flag cape regularly seen lurking in front of TV cameras. When the grandfather first shot on to the Westminster scene to interrupt news reports by floating behind interviewees with his anti-Brexit signs, the broadcasters forked out for raised towers to keep him out of shot. But he continued to heckle politicians and blast music at Parliament, despite vowing to stop in 2019. But his attempt to enter politics proper failed. Standing for the Lib Dems at the 2019 election in Cynon Valley in Wales, he came sixth with fewer than 1,000 votes and lost his deposit. While the daily protest may seem a thankless task for the numismatist, who uprooted from his Welsh home, Mr Bray has raised thousands of pounds in donations from Remain activists to sustain his comfortable lifestyle. It was revealed in 2019 that he had moved into a plum Westminster townhouse opposite Jacob Rees-Mogg, after receiving a handsome lump sum from Remainer plumbing mogul Charlie Mullins. One of his most memorable spats was with Theresa May's former deputy Damian Green who Mr Bray had asked how he felt about the crunch withdrawal deal vote. Mr Green refused to answer and said: 'No you can't, because you've just tried to shout over an interview I've done like you do everyone else. 'In a competitive field, you are the biggest w***ker.' Advertisement A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'The man was using the equipment in a zone where the use of amplified equipment is prohibited. 'He was spoken to by officers on multiple occasions in relation to specific legislation regarding the use of the amplifying equipment and that it would be seized if he persisted.' The statement added: 'He was also reported for the offence. (This means that he will be considered for prosecution for the offence).' The laws came as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which included measures to curtail noisy protests. Officers said the equipment was being seized under section 145 of The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, which on Tuesday was extended to a wider area around the Houses of Parliament. Mr Bray started his one-man demonstration shouting about Brexit but has since focused on targeting Boris Johnson and Conservatives. His set list of songs from artists including the Bay City Rollers, the Sex Pistols, the Fun Boy Three and Sam Cook, on a heavy rotation. He plays regularly outside the palace on Wednesdays when he knows Mr Johnson will attend for Prime Minister's Questions, but also turns up on other days. People working in the side of the Parliamentary estate facing his protest have made noise complains but local authorities were hitherto unable to take action against a legitimate political protest. Today an offence of intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance is now available in an effort to crack down on disruptive 'guerrilla protests'. These are the sort of tactics which have been used by climate change protesters who have taken their campaigns to the streets. Oliver Feeley-Sprague, Amnesty International UK's policing expert, said: 'The measures taken against Steve Bray are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. 'Unfortunately, we fear there is now going to be a cascade of cases where people are being prevented from legitimate protest on grounds that are both petty and punitive. 'The deeply authoritarian new policing laws are a charter for the suppression of legitimate protest a dark day for liberty in our country and something we need to see repealed as soon as possible.' And Grahame Morris, Labour MP for Easington, condemned the action to 'silence' Mr Bray. He told the House of Commons: 'I know many of us have had brushes with Mr Bray but his voice is being silenced today - by tomorrow there could be many others who have never demonstrated previously who are subject to prosecution under this law.' Mr Bray also is known for standing in shot of live-television broadcasts outside the Houses of Parliament while brandishing his anti-Brexit placards. He has been accused of abusing politicians - which he denies - and has also been on the receiving end of abuse. In May a Tory MP threatening to sue him , alleging that he wrongly suggested he was the politician caught watching porn in the Commons. In a now-deleted tweet, Mr Bray appeared to hint at the unnamed MP's identity. As the story broke, Mr Bray posted a picture of a well-known Tory and a link to a previous story about him, adding: 'Has a lot of relevance now, maybe not the story but the person!!! I'm just going to check my mobile phone for some interesting websites.' But it became clear 48 hours later it was another politician when Tiverton and Honiton MP Neil Parish admitted he had used his phone to look at porn in the Commons chamber. Also in May, the anti-Brexit campaigner posted a video of himself interrupting a dinner at the Welsh Tory conference on Friday before being bundled out of the room. Dudley North MP Marco Longhi told the Commons that Mr Bray should be 'locked up in the Tower with a loudspeaker playing Land Of Hope And Glory on repeat at maximum volume' because of the disruption he causes. Gabby Petito's mom has slammed Brian Laundrie's notebook confession where he claimed her death was a mercy killing after she slipped in a stream and hit her head. Laundrie, 23, admitted murdering his 22-year-old fiancee at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on their country-wide road trip in August 2021. Petito's mom Nichole Schmidt said she was 'fed up' after Laundrie's notebook confession was revealed. She shared an image on Twitter that said 'narcissists rewrite history', along with hashtags including 'the truth will be revealed', 'selfish' and 'justice for Gabby'. Laundrie claimed in the notebook she fell into a creek and injured herself but as she was severely hurt, crying in pain and shivering from the cold, he decided to kill her. Petito's death was ruled a homicide by manual strangulation. Petito's mom Nichole Schmidt said she was 'fed up' after Laundrie's notebook confession was revealed. She shared an image on Twitter that said 'narcissists rewrite history', along with hashtags including 'the truth will be revealed', 'selfish' and 'justice for Gabby' Gabby Petito's mom Nichole Schmidt (pictured) has slammed Brian Laundrie's notebook confession where he claimed her death was a mercy killing after she slipped in a stream and hit her head In newly-unearthed notebook passages, Brian Laundrie, 23, admitted to killing his fiancee Gabby Petito, 22, right, when they were on a cross-country van trip Laundrie was the main suspect in Petito's disappearance and murder after he arrived back home, alone, in North Port, Florida on September 1, from a cross-country road trip he embarked on with Gabby in her white 2012 Ford Transit van. The couple was previously seen on police body camera footage from Moab, Utah after fellow travelers said Laundrie hit her. He also reportedly got into a fight with wait staff at a restaurant in Jackson shortly before Petito's death, which Kelly says shows signs of extremely narcissistic personality disorder and sociopathic disorder. Laundrie's notebook was found in a dry bag beside his body on October 20 last year after he fled to the alligator-infested Carlton Reserve near his home in North Port, Florida. He shot himself in the head. Images of eight waterlogged pages of his notebook were handed to DailyMail.com by the Laundrie family's attorney Steve Bertolino on Friday. In a bid to explain his version of events, Laundrie wrote: 'I am sorry to my family, this is a shock to them as well as a terrible grief. 'Please do not make this harder for them, this occurred as an unexpected tragedy.' Laundrie's notebook contained a letter written to the late Petito before he killed himself following a large manhunt for him. Laundrie said he heard 'a splash and a scream', which he claimed was Petito slipping in a stream Laundrie said: 'I carried her as far as I could down the stream'. He added: 'I wanted her out of the cold back to the car'. Laundrie claimed Petito 'couldn't tell me what hurt' after he allegedly pulled her from the stream In this note (left), the 23-year-old said he 'ended her life' because she was in pain and he 'thought it as merciful'. He then said: 'I rushed home to spend my time I had left with my family' Laundrie apologised to his fiancee's family for killing her. He said he had killed himself and hoped 'animals may tear me apart' The couple were at the national park after visiting Utah on their trip west in Gabby's 2012 white Ford Transit. They were cataloguing the trip on social media. Laundrie wrote in his notebook: 'Rushing back to our car, trying to cross the steam of spread creek before it got too dark to see, too cold. I hear a splash and a scream. I could barely see, I couldn't finder her for a moment, shouted her name. 'I found her breathing barely, gasping, she was freezing cold, we had just come from the blazing hot national parks in Utah. 'The temperature had dropped to freezing and she was soaking wet. I carried her as far as I could down the stream towards the car, stumbling, exhausted in shock, when I knew I couldn't safely carry her.' He continued: 'I started a fire and spooned her as close to the heat, she was so thin, had already been freezing too long. I couldn't at the time realize that I should've started a fire first but I wanted her out of the cold back to the car. From where I started the fire I had no idea where the car might be. Only knew it was across the creek. Petito and Laundrie were on a cross-country van trip when Laundrie said she fell into a shallow creek and got hypothermia An autopsy later revealed that Petito's cause of death was homicide by manual strangulation 'When I pulled Gabby out of the water she couldn't tell me what hurt. She had a small bump on her forehead that eventually got larger. Her feet hurt, her wrist hurt, but she was freezing, shaking violently, while carrying her she continually made sounds of pain.' He wrote: 'Laying next to her she said little, lapsing between violent shakes, gasping in pain, begging for an end to her pain. She would fall asleep and I would shake her awake fearing she shouldn't close her eyes if she had a concussion. 'She would wake in pain, start her whole painful cycle again, furious that I was the one waking her. She wouldn't let me try to cross the creek, thought like me that the fire would go out in her sleep.' 'I don't know the extent of Gabby's injuries, only that she was in extreme pain. 'I ended her life. I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistake that I made. I panicked. I was in shock. But from the moment I decided, took away her pain.' Police and FBI officials retrieved items belonging to Brian Laundrie, including a notebook, near where his body was found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in October Laundrie's remains were found north of the entrance to Myakkahatchee Creek, in the Big Slough Preserve, off an unpaved trail near a bridge where Brian's parents said he liked to visit. It is four miles north of their home in North Port, Florida 'I knew I couldn't go on without her. 'I rushed home to spend any time I had left with my family. 'I'm ending my life not because of fear of punishment, but rather because I can't stand to live another day without her. 'I've lost our whole entire future together, every moment we could have cherished. I'm sorry for everyone's loss. Please don't make life hard for my family, they lost a son and a daughter. The most wonderful girl in the world I'm sorry. Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito were engaged to be married prior to their deaths The pair had been travelling on a cross-country trip together since July 2, when they left New York. Petito was reported missing on September 11 'I have killed myself by this creek in the hope that animals may tear me apart that it might make some of her family happy.' 'Please pick up all of my things. Gabby hated people who litter.' Laundrie had begun the notebook with the personal message to Gabby, writing: 'I wish I could be at your side, I wish I could be talking to you right now. I'd be going through every memory getting even more for the future. But we've lost our future. 'I can't be without you. I've lost every day we (indistinct) spent together I'll never get to play with (indistinct) again. Never go hiking with T.I can't bear to look at our photos, to recall great times because it is why I cannot go on. 'When I close my eyes I will think of laughing on the roof of the van, falling asleep to the sight of a (indistinct) at the crystal geyser. I will always love you.' Kwon Young-se, the newly appointed unification minister of South Korea, claims that North Korea is prepared to carry out its first nuclear test in five years. At a conference for international media conducted on Monday in Seoul, he stated, "Everything is ready; the only thing left is a political decision." The regime has apparently finished all the preparations for the nuclear test, which would be its seventh overall, but has not yet conducted it. The dictatorship began speeding its missile program in January, as per The Straits Times. North Korea's Nuclear Test Delayed Due to COVID-19 Outbreak Some experts theorized that the test's postponement was caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea, which has so far been linked to 4.72 million cases, while others blamed the monsoon season for the delay. The first nuclear test by Pyongyang took place in October 2006, and further ones were carried out in May 2009, February 2013, January 2016, September 2016, and September 2017. The much-discussed seventh test has yet to take place, according to Kwon, who entered office three days after Yoon Suk-yeol's May 10 inauguration. Kwon said that "it is unclear to us" why this hasn't happened yet. Kwon said the Yoon government is still studying the specifics of its North Korea strategy but that "sudden change is not ideal" and compared ties between South Korea and the North to a "long relay race." The historic first meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former American president Donald Trump, which took place in Singapore in 2018, was facilitated by former liberal president Moon Jae-in, who was pro-engagement. Since the second Trump-Kim summit collapsed in 2019 over disagreements on sanctions relief and denuclearization stages, negotiations have stagnated. Read Also: Russia Becomes China's Largest Oil Supplier; Xi Jinping Says Ukraine War Is "Alarm for Humanity" Despite Not Giving Indication To Resolve It South Korea Asks China, Russia To Convince North Per ABC News, a senior South Korean official claimed on Monday that North Korea is increasingly aiming its nuclear program at the South and pleaded with China and Russia to pressure the North to postpone the widely anticipated nuclear test. After North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his nuclear aspirations at a crucial military summit last week and authorized vague new operational responsibilities for front-line army units, Unification Minister Kwon Youngse made his remarks. According to experts, North Korea may have plans to place nuclear weapons near its tense border with South Korea. North Korea has spent a significant portion of the last three years increasing its arsenal of short-range solid-fuel missiles, which could be used to evade missile defenses and strike targets throughout South Korea, including US bases there. This has occurred during a protracted standoff in nuclear diplomacy. According to US and South Korean sources, North Korea has nearly finished preparing for its first nuclear test since it claimed to have exploded an intercontinental ballistic missile warhead in September 2017. North Korea may use its next nuclear test to claim that it has acquired the ability to build small nuclear warheads that can be placed on short-range missiles or other new weapons systems it has demonstrated in recent months, analysts say. If war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea now has a "far higher possibility to utilize its tactical nuclear weapons on a battlefield," according to Kim Yeol Soo, a specialist at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs in South Korea. The arsenal that would presumably be stationed at the border includes some of North Korea's more portable, solid-fueled, short-range missiles that have been tested since the failure of nuclear negotiations with the United States in 2019. North Korea has referred to those missiles as "tactical" weapons, meaning that it intends to equip them with lower-yield nuclear warheads. Foreign analysts claim that these missiles may be able to dodge South Korean and US missile defenses, according to Washington Times. The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons by North Korea could occur at any time, according to Kim Taewoo, the former director of the Seoul-based, state-funded Korean Institute for National Unification. Kim Taewoo believes North Korea has likely already acquired the technology to equip its missiles with nuclear warheads. Related Article: Experts Depict How China Could Destroy US Bases as Beijing, Washington Spat Over Suspected Taiwan Invasion @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement Police believe that 51 migrants died after they were loaded into a semi-truck and driven 150 miles from the southern border in sweltering Texas heat before the vehicle suffered mechanical problems. Officials believe the migrants were loaded into the truck in Laredo on Monday and then abandoned on the outskirts of San Antonio, next to a railroad track in an area surrounded by auto scrapyards, around 6pm. Police suspect several migrants may have jumped or started falling out of the back of truck before the traffickers discarded it along the roadway. At least three bodies were found scattered down road, with the furthest one located about 75 yards from the truck, law enforcement sources confirmed to The New York Times. Officials also said it was possible that those found along the road had died inside the truck, but fallen out when its doors opened. Police are now searching nearby fields for bodies and are trying to determine if anyone escaped the trailer alive. Firefighters found 'stacks of bodies' in the truck after temperatures reached a high of 103 degrees Monday and officials claim there were no signs of water in the semi. Some of the victims staggered out of the trailer before dying and were found several blocks away, police told The Texas Tribune. The migrants had been sprinkled with steak seasoning in apparent bid to cover up their smell as they were being transported. Sixteen survivors, including four children were rushed to nearby hospitals for heat stroke and exhaustion. They were found by a local worker, who investigated the scene after hearing a faint cry for help emanating from the truck. Police say they are not confident they have accounted for everyone from the truck and do not know what the total number of victims is. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the semi-truck driver, whose identity was not disclosed, is in federal custody. He was detained by officers in a nearby field after having fled the area on foot. Initial reports indicate three individuals have been arrested in connection to the deaths. It is unclear what role the other two suspects played in the incident. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blamed the deaths on President Joe Biden's 'deadly open border policies' and 'refusal to enforce the law.' Biden, addressing the tragedy Tuesday, called the deaths 'horrifying and heartbreaking' and said it further underscores the 'need to go after the multi-billion dollar criminal smuggling industry preying on migrants and leading to far too many innocent deaths.' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tried to deflect blame on Tuesday, but instead made a confusing statement that appeared to take ownership for the tragedy by saying the border is 'closed.' 'The fact of the matter is the border is closed, which is, in part, why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks,' Jean-Pierre told reporters during a flight from Munich, Germany to Madrid, Spain. The incident marks the deadliest human smuggling on American soil since 2003 when 19 migrants died after riding inside the rear compartment of sweltering 18-wheeler while they traveled from South Texas to Houston. The death doll rose to 51 from 46 on Tuesday. It also comes as the U.S. has reported a record number of migrant crossings, rescues and deaths under the leadership of the Biden Administration. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blamed President Joe Biden for the deaths of the 51 migrants found dead inside an abandoned tractor-trailer. The truck was found abandoned by railroad tracks and salvage yards by an individual who worked nearby Law enforcement officers carry a body at the scene where people were found dead inside a trailer truck in San Antonio Local priests from the San Antonio Archdiocese stand near the scene where a tractor-trailer was discovered with migrants inside outside San Antonio Officials believe the migrants were loaded into the truck in Laredo on Monday and then abandoned on the outskirts of San Antonio, next to a railroad track in an area surrounded by auto scrapyards, around 6pm What are the deadliest migrant tragedies in the US? June 27, 2022: At least 53 migrants were found dead Monday in and around a large trailer truck that was abandoned on the roadside on the outskirts of of San Antonio, Texas. The tractor-trailer was found on a road near I-35 amid 103-degree heat. August 4, 2021: Ten people were killed and at 20 others injured after a van transporting migrants crashed near the border in Encino, Texas. The driver had attempted to make a right turn at an intersection before veering off the road and hitting both a utility pole and stop sign. March 2, 2021: Thirteen migrants were killed and several including children injured after Ford SUV 'with 25 immigrants crammed inside' crashed into a gravel truck near the Mexican border in California. Witnesses recalled the sounds of crunching metal and glass, and how bodies flung dozens of feet across the pavement. June 5, 2019: A SUV packed with more than a dozen undocumented migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico, crashed after a chase with police in rural South Texas. The vehicle had veered into a ditch in rainy weather. July 23, 2017: Eight immigrants were found dead in a sweltering trailer at a San Antonio Walmart parking lot. Two others died later in hospitals. The driver was sentenced to life in prison. July 22, 2012: A Ford pick-up truck carrying 23 migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico crashed into two trees in a rural South Texas town. Fifteen people were killed in the incident. May 14, 2003: 19 migrants died inside a sweltering tractor-trailer while they traveled from South Texas to Houston. Advertisement A city worker heard a cry for help from the truck parked on a lonely San Antonio back road late Monday afternoon and discovered the gruesome scene inside the trailer. Forty-six people were found dead at the scene, authorities said. Four more later died after being taken to hospitals, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the county's top elected official. Officials said the dead included 39 men and 11 women. No children were among the deceased. Mexico's foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed Tuesday morning that the deceased includes 22 migrants from Mexico, seven from Guatemala and two from Honduras. The other migrants have yet to be identified. Officials disclosed later Tuesday that they believe the truck came from Laredo, a border city about 150 miles. 'They had just parked it on the side of the road,' Wolff told reporters. 'Apparently had mechanical problems and left it there. The sheriff thinks it came across from Laredo.' Officials were asking neighboring counties to help with the number of bodies. President Biden blamed the tragedy on 'human traffickers who have no regard for the lives they endanger and exploit to make a profit.' 'Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy,' the president said, reiterating he was dedicated to combatting the skyrocketing migration at the southern border. He added: 'My Administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry.' Biden's remarks came after several GOP members took to social media blaming his immigration policies for the deaths. 'These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies,' Abbott tweeted Monday night, hours after the bodies were discovered. 'They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.' 'Horrific. This..is..WRONG' Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted. 'How many more people have to die before Dems give a damn?' Secretary Mayorkas responded to the incident, alleging he was 'heartbroken' and issued his prayers for the injured. 'I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of life today and am praying for those still fighting for their lives,' he said. 'Far too many lives have been lost as individuals including families, women, and children take this dangerous journey.' The DHS secretary called the human smugglers 'callous individuals who have no regard for the vulnerable people they exploit and endanger in order to make a profit' and alleged the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was investigating the incident. Democrats hit back, placing blame on the GOP for the tragic loss of life. Congressman Joaquin Castro said: 'We must end Title 42 which has put desperate, oppressed people in grave danger of death. Title 42 has created more business, repeat business, for human smugglers.' Texas gubernatorial candidate for former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke said: 'We need urgent action dismantle human smuggling rings and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration that reflect our values and meet our country's needs.' Democrats claim that Republicans ire toward Biden and his party over the migrants' death is just 'right wing talking points' to further peg the southern border crisis on the left. Sixteen survivors, including four children were rushed to nearby hospitals for heat stroke and exhaustion. They were found by a local worker, who investigated the scene after hearing a faint cry for help emanating from the truck. No children were among the dead A K-9 search team arrives at the area near I-35 where dozens of migrants were found dead in a tractor-trailer on Monday. Police are searching for additional bodies. Authorities suspect several migrants may have jumped or started falling out of the back of truck before the traffickers discarded it along the roadway A group of individuals, lead by local priests, are pictured in apparent prayer at the scene of the human smuggling incident Police Chief William McManus said on Monday that three individuals were taken into custody, but that it had not been established whether they were 'absolutely connected to this or not' Lorena Gomez, an immigrant from Guatemala, visited the area of San Antonio on Tuesday where dozens of migrants were found dead in a tractor-trailer the night before Texas Governor blames Biden's border measures for tragedy Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a fresh condemnation of President Biden's border measures - and blamed them for Monday's tragedy. He tweeted: 'At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.' Abbott has repeatedly crossed swords with Biden over immigration in recent months, as the number of illegal crossings over the southern border into states including his soared to record levels. In April, Abbott sought to embarrass Biden over the crisis by busing migrants to Washington DC and leaving them on the steps of the US Capitol. Abbott also announced a $500 million package of measures to try and slash immigration. That included deploying Texas National Guard members to try and stem the flow of migrants into the US. Advertisement The truck had U.S. and Texas registration numbers listed on the cab. State department on transportation records connected the tags to an Alamo resident. However, the resident's son-in-law, Issac Limon, claims those running the smuggling ring fraudulently printed the tags on the truck. 'It was a perfect setup,' Limon told The Washington Post. 'The truck is here. I'm looking at it right now. Sad to say, but he's a bit of a victim, too, because people believe it was him.' Limon claims the truck that actually corresponds with the registration is a Volvo and was being used to haul grain over the past week in another part of Texas. He noted that is father-in-law was 'shaken up' by the incident. The truck was found abandoned by auto salvage yards and railroad tracks around 6pm Monday. McManus said a nearby worker 'heard a cry for help and came out to investigate', before finding the trailer's doors partially opened upon arrival and discovering dozens of bodies. Texas has been experiencing a near-record heat wave, while temperatures in San Antonio, which is about 160 miles from the Mexican border, swelled to a high of 103F on Monday with high humidity. 'The patients that we saw were hot to the touch. They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion,' fire chief Charles Hood said in a Monday press briefing. '[There were] no signs of water in the vehicle. It was a refrigerated trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig.' Local workers allege the area where the truck was discarded, along Quintana Road, has been a popular migrant drop-off spot since the early 1990s. 'I know when I first started in the yards a lot of people came from Mexico,' Rose Ann Iniguez, manager of Junk Yard Dogs auto salvage, told The New York Times. 'They were hungry and thirsty. They'd come through the yard and wanted to work, but we didn't have work. We'd let them pick up whatever parts were on the floor to get them going with a little money.' She added: 'They're human. I know why they are coming. They have to survive, too.' Christine and Michael Ybarra embrace at the scene where people were found dead inside a trailer truck in San Antonio, Texas, U.S. June 27, 2022 Body bags lie at the scene where a tractor trailer with multiple dead bodies was discovered, Monday, June 27, 2022, in San Antonio San Antonio Police chief McManus said he could not confirm whether all the victims had been found, and that canine units would be deployed in the morning to continue searching Onlookers stand near the scene where the semitrailer was found on Monday in South Texas Texas trucker's license plate was stolen by smugglers who left 51 migrants to die The family of a Texas man said he was wrongfully identified as the owner of the truck used by human smugglers who left 51 migrants to die inside the vehicle in 103 degree weather along the U.S.-Mexico border. The truck's license plate and registration linked the vehicle to an Alamo man, but his son-in-law, Isaac Limon, said the information was stolen and that the real truck belonging to his family was out hauling grain in another part of Texas. 'It was a perfect setup,' Limon told the Washington Post. 'The truck is here. I'm looking at it right now. Sad to say, but he's a bit of a victim, too, because people believe it was him.' Limon told the Post that the plates and registration identified in the tragedy belong to his father-in-law's Volvo, and was outraged over Telemundo's reporting that suggested his truck was used in the crime. '[I] just want to help clear my Father-In-Law's name,' Limon wrote on Facebook after the news broke. 'He is not the owner of the truck in San Antonio that is involved in this tragic event. 'His DOT Number was illegally copied onto the truck... Telemundo did not verify the facts before airing the story.' Limon said that his father-in-law has been left 'shaken' by the misreporting. Advertisement McManus said Monday searches to find any survivors that may have escaped were ongoing. 'We had our canines out there going through the woods and we may have to do that again tomorrow in the light of day,' he said. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the 51 who died had 'families who were likely trying to find a better life'. 'The plight of migrants seeking refuge is always a humanitarian crisis,' said Nirenberg. 'But tonight we are dealing with a horrific human tragedy.' Locals said that the location where the truck was found was a known drop-off point for migrants, according to The New York Times. 'You can tell they just got here. We see them with backpacks or asking for food or money,' Ruby Chavez, 53, told The New York Times. 'They know this area. They jump off the train and get picked up,' Chavez's husband said. The I-35 highway near where the truck was found runs through San Antonio from the Mexican border and is a popular smuggling corridor because of the large volume of truck traffic, according to Jack Staton, a former senior official with ICE's investigative unit who retired in December. Staton said migrants have regularly been intercepted in the area since the 2017 incident. 'It was only a matter of time before a tragedy like this was going to happen again,' he said. Yesterday's deaths highlight the challenge of controlling migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, which have reached record highs. The issue has proven difficult for U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat who has pledged to reverse some of the hard-line immigration policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. Texas Governor Greg Abbott hit out at the President following the deaths, blaming the deadly incident on the Biden administration's lax approach to border control - a key issue for the upcoming November elections. The deaths 'are the result of his deadly open border policies,' Abbott wrote. 'They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.' Monday's tragedy was one of the deadliest incidents of illegal smuggling of people across the southern U.S. border. Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck that was parked at a Walmart in San Antonio. In 2003, 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of San Antonio. Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas, which were then the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. Prior to that, people paid small fees to mom-and-pop operators to get them across a largely unguarded border. As crossings became exponentially more difficult after the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S., migrants were led through more dangerous terrain and paid thousands of dollars more to smugglers. Heat poses a serious danger, and temperatures can rise severely inside vehicles. An ambulance leaves the scene where police said dozens of people were found dead in a semitrailer in a remote area in southwestern San Antonio Police block the scene. It may be the deadliest tragedy among thousands who have died attempting to cross the U.S. border from Mexico in recent decades Police block the scene where a semitrailer with multiple dead bodies were discovered Other incidents have occurred long before migrants reached the U.S. border. Last December, more than 50 died when a semitrailer filled with migrants rolled over on a highway in southern Mexico. In October, Mexican authorities reported finding 652 migrants packed into six trailers near the U.S. border. They were stopped at a military checkpoint. Border Patrol reported 557 deaths on the southwest border in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30 2021, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Most are related to heat exposure. The International Organization for Migration, which documents migrant deaths, alleges that the number of people who died attempting to cross the border in 2021 was actually more than 650. CBP has not published a death tally for this year but recorded data shows at least 87 migrants have died while trying to come into the U.S. Migrants - largely from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - have been expelled more than 2 million times under a pandemic-era rule in effect since March 2020 that denies them a chance to seek asylum but encourages repeat attempts because there are no legal consequences for getting caught. People from other countries, notably Cuba, Nicaragua and Colombia, are subject to Title 42 authority less frequently due to higher costs of sending them home, strained diplomatic relations and other considerations. Border Patrol performed 14,278 'search-and-rescue missions' in a seven-month period through May, exceeding the 12,833 missions performed during the previous 12-month period and up from 5,071 the year before. Dan Andrews has come under fire after Melbourne's ambulance services were forced to issue a 'code red' on Tuesday morning. A critical shortage of staff meant there were no ambulances available to be deployed to assist the sick and injured. The Victorian Premier on Tuesday palmed off blame for the ongoing health system crisis facing the state, insisting the crippling workforce shortage on the heels of the Covid pandemic is due to a downturn in skilled migrants and the flu. An emergency alert was issued just after midnight for the metropolitan region and was in place until 4am (pictured, ambulance services in Melbourne) An emergency alert was issued just after midnight for the metropolitan region and was in place until 4am. Ambulance Victoria is understood to have enforced the code-red alert due to 'limited fleet availability'. Meanwhile, Victorian Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill said the shock development showed the system was under 'enormous strain' and warned the demand wouldn't stop anytime soon. 'There's nothing scarier than the truth, which is that for Melbourne's entire population at one point last night...no matter how short that time frame was...no ambulances were available to respond to an emergency at that particular point in time,' Mr Hill told The Herald Sun. 'Paramedics are just so burnt out,' he added. Victorian Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill said the code showed the system was under 'enormous strain' and warned the demand wouldn't stop anytime soon (pictured, paramedic outside of St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne) 'We still have major issues with filling shifts and ultimately that leads to less ambulances being able to respond.' Mr Hill believes that the state, 'is not even close to being out of this increased demand'. Premier Andrews responded to the statewide staffing issues at a Rural Press Club lunch at Victoria's State Library on Tuesday shifting blame away from his government. 'With Covid-19 and flu spreading widely this winter, 1547 staff across the state's health system and about 150 Ambulance Victoria paramedics were off work on Monday, Mr Andrews said. Premier Dan Andrews (pictured) responded to the statewide staffing issues at a Rural Press Club lunch at Victoria's State Library on Tuesday Mr Andrews expressed that Australia's sluggish skilled migration has been one of the factors impacting Victoria's health system over the past few years. He believes that clearing the backlog of skilled migrants waiting to enter the country, will be the key to solving the crisis in regional health staffing. Mr Andrews pushed for extra resources to process the 'tens of thousands' of visa applicants, a request agreed to by the Commonwealth, during Anthony Albanese's first national cabinet meeting as prime minister on June 17. 'At my urging, he's (Anthony Albanese) put...extra staff on to move through that backlog,' Mr Andrews said . A Met Police officer posted a meme to his colleagues that likened Meghan Markle to a Golliwog, a gross misconduct tribunal heard this afternoon. PC Sukhdev Jeer - along with PC Paul Hefford and former officer Richard Hammond - is accused of sharing racist and offensive messages in a WhatsApp group. They also failed to challenge or report the other members of the chat after receiving the offensive posts, it is claimed. One was of a young boy in a hoodie which was captioned 'monkey in the jungle'. Another was of a disabled man struggling to walk which was set to the Jurassic Park theme music. A further said 'Everyone is so politically correct these days. You can't even say, 'Black paint,' you have to say, 'Tyrone can you please paint that wall?''. All three officers deny that their behaviour amounts to gross misconduct. If it is proven against them, they will be sacked. Vishal Misra, for the Met Police, this afternoon quizzed PC Jeer about a meme which showed the image of a 'Golliwog' toy that was captioned: 'A sneak preview at Meghan's wedding dress.' Responding to this, PC Jeer said he did not find this funny even at the time. 'The fact that someone is out there can create this, that is not a nice thing to do but I posted this on the group not to laugh at it but [to show] that there are people out there who still do this and find it funny.' PC Sukhdev Jeer outside a Met Disciplinary hearing into a number of WhatsApp messages he sent. The panel heard that PC Jeer posted an image of a young boy in a hoodie captioned as a 'monkey in the jungle'. Serving Met Police officer PC Paul Hefford is accused of sharing inappropriate messages Former Met officer Richard Hammond was in a WhatsApp chat called 'But They Promised'. He is said to have sent a 'discriminatory message' about the London borough of Tower Hamlets. PC Jeer explained that he regarded memes as 'jokes' and tried to 'find humour' in what he posted. During cross-examination, Mr Misra went through more of the content PC Jeer shared on the group. One meme said: 'We asked a hundred normal people, 'What do you associate with Islam?' 1. Terrorism 2. Pedofilia 3. Hate Preaching 4. Unwelcome invaders 5. Excessive breeders 6. Goat/Camel f******.' Mr Misra told this morning's hearing in Fulham that PC Jeer contributed to the group the most, followed by PC Hefford and then former PC Hammond. The trio were all part of a unit at Bethnal Green Police Station and were members of a WhatsApp group called 'But They Promised' that was active between January and December 2018. Giving a 'flavour' of the kind of messages shared, Mr Misra said: 'All of the content in the log is submitted to be explicitly racist, homophobic, sexist, ableist and islamaphobic.' He added: 'All of the respondents failed to challenge one another with regards to the content being posted.' The panel heard that PC Jeer posted an image of a young boy in a hoodie captioned as a 'monkey in the jungle' and superimposed with an image of a penis. This is understood to be one of the clips that forms part of the gross misconduct tribunal The trio were all part of a unit at Bethnal Green Police Station and were members of a WhatsApp group called 'But They Promised' that was active during 2018 The worst WhatsApp messages from the 'But They Promised' group chat at the heart of the misconduct tribunal An image showing a nun on the left and a woman wearing a Muslim headscarf on the right. The image is captioned: 'Why is the first one not judged but the second one offends?' One comment read: 'Nuns don't randomly explode.' Another meme showed two black men lying next to two white women. It was captioned: 'Girls' trip to Jamaica. One came back pregnant, the other came back with syphilis. (Just kidding, they're both still missing.)' Another was of the message: 'Everyone is so politically correct these days. You can't even say, 'Black paint,' you have to say, 'Tyrone can you plea paint that wall?'' A clip was from the movie Jurassic Park and plays the film's theme tune and to footage of a man with disabilities is walking out of a building with the assistance of his carer. Another said 'We asked a hundred normal people, 'What do you associate with Islam?' 1. Terrorism 2. Pedofilia 3. Hate Preaching 4. Unwelcome invaders 5. Excessive breeders 6. Goat/Camel f******.' A picture of a young boy in a hoodie was captioned 'monkey in the jungle'. One meme showed the image of a 'Golliwog' toy that was captioned: 'A sneak preview at Meghan's wedding dress.' A clip showed a white woman stating that if you want to get good exercise in effect they will arrange for a black man to chase her around so that she can get exercise. Message to the effect that people from the Bangladeshi community seem to accept election fraud as part of their democratic processes. One message was a reply to a female colleague who had texted saying three boys had threatened to throw acid on her. She had added, '2xIC1 and 3xIC3', which the tribunal heard meant two white boys and one black boy. Mr Hammond replied: 'Black kid leading those poor white kids astray.' Another video showed somebody who suffers from dwarfism jumping into a body of water with sound effects designed to mock. Advertisement PC Hefford allegedly superimposed the same image with a disabled person. Former PC Hammond is said to have sent a 'discriminatory message' about the London borough of Tower Hamlets. 'In explaining the message, former PC Hammond in effect said that people from the Bangladeshi community seem to accept election fraud as part of their democratic processes,' Mr Misra said. Giving evidence former PC Hammond accepted that a message he sent to the group was 'wrong and racist'. 'This is one that I'm really kind of ashamed of. 'It is not something that I would defend more than giving context. 'It is not something appropriate for a police officer to say.' Mr Hammond denied having a negative perception of Bangladeshi people. 'Absolutely not, it is a community I enjoy protecting. 'That is what we were there for. 'I had very good relationship with Bangladeshi residents.' He was also asked about another message he had sent to the WhatsApp group. This message was a reply to a female colleague who had texted saying three boys had threatened to throw acid on her. She had added, '2xIC1 and 3xIC3', which the tribunal heard meant two white boys and one black boy. Mr Hammond replied: 'Black kid leading those poor white kids astray.' The former officer laughed and shook his head, insisting it was 'absolutely not' a racist message. 'Clearly they are all little sh***, to use the phrase that I used before. 'I have no doubt in my mind that the two white kids there were absolutely as culpable as the black kid. 'It had no bearing what colour they were. 'That comments has been put there as a sarcastic one. One to lighten the mood a bit. What you do as police officers, dark humour. 'But also I'm being sarcastic like 'poor white kids'. 'They're clearly as responsible as anyone else there. 'It is a dig at the prejudice.' The lawyer added that six discriminatory videos were uploaded onto the group. The first five were posted by PC Jeer and the sixth by PC Hefford, the panel heard. Summarising one video, Mr Misra said: 'It takes a scene from the movie Jurassic Park and plays the Jurassic Park theme tune and to that theme tune a man with disabilities is seen walking out of a building with the assistance of his carer.' Describing another: 'It pertains to a website called funnyordie.com which shows a white woman stating that if you want to get good exercise in effect they will arrange for a black man to chase her around so that she can get exercise.' Of a third: 'It shows somebody who suffers from dwarfism jumping into a body of water with sound effects designed to mock.' It is alleged that the behaviour was 'prolonged' as the group was active for a year. 'There has been a persistent and prolonged failure by all of the respondents to adhere to the relevant professional standards,' Mr Misra said. 'The communities that are lampooned by all of the respondents in the WhatsApp group form part of the communities that they police.' All three officers deny that their behaviour amounts to gross misconduct. The tribunal continues. A 'cold war' has erupted between warring ice cream vendors in one of Britain's most famous beauty spots. A new ice cream van at a popular landmark in the New Forest has received an icy reception from shops on the nearby high street who say the newcomer is stealing their business. Independent ice cream parlours and cafes in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, argue the van's location next to a free car park at Bolton's Bench mean some customers will no longer bother to visit them. The van, run by company Warren's Ice Cream, had its license approved by both Forestry England (FE) and the Verderers - an ancient group responsible for the preservation of the New Forest. However, local businesses in Lyndhurst - which is known as the capital of the New Forest - say they are confused as to why they weren't consulted before the 'ridiculous' decision. David Pearson, who runs Sweet Chillies cafe in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, is angered by the appearance of a new mobile ice cream van in a free car park at Bolton's Bench Since its installation at Bolton's Bench, named after the Forest's 18th Century Master Keeper the Duke of Bolton, the area's New Forest District Councillor, Hilary Brand, has been inundated with complaints from locals. The 48-year-old, who runs the Lyndhurst Tea House on the high street just a two minute walk away from the van, said: 'Lots of businesses on the high street came to me complaining of the new ice cream van. 'We thought 2022 was going to be a better year for us, but so far it hasn't been as good as before the pandemic and we are struggling. 'We know our footfall on the high street is down 20 per cent compared to pre-Covid. 'We don't know if that's because people don't have the money, or are going abroad - but the new ice cream van could be a factor as to why people aren't coming to the high street. 'Maybe the new van is stopping customers visiting and spending money in shops. The ice cream van at Bolton's Bench, Lyndhurst, has provoked the ire of nearby cafes who say it is stealing their business. But the van has already had its license approved by both Forestry England (FE) and site wardens the Verderers 'People can just park their cars, go for a walk, get an ice cream and go home without visiting the high street.' Tim Laine, 71, who runs the Forest Glade Ice Cream parlour on the high street, added: 'It's not just the ice cream parlours that will suffer - all the traders on the high street are upset about it because it stops people from going to the high street and spending money. 'We have nothing against the person who runs the van, but we feel the license should not have been granted. 'We are a family business and we only operate during the summer, so we rely on taking sufficient business to last us over the winter. 'We were hoping for a good season after the pandemic and, obviously, there are other things at play like the cost of living crisis and the price of fuel. 'But the new van has to be a deterrent to some people who buy ice cream. It must have an effect.' Tim Laine, owner of Forest Glade Ice Cream in Lyndhurst, says that all of the traders on the high streets are upset about the new van Warren Dickens, director of Warren's Ice Cream, declined to comment on complaints regarding his van at Bolton's Bench. David Pearson, 59, who has run the Sweet Chillies cafe on the high street for nearly a decade, added: 'It's strange for them to put up down the road when there's 17 places that sell coffee and cake on the high street. 'I think it's awful. Absolutely ridiculous. You wouldn't stick an ice cream van on the pier in Bournemouth, would you? 'We're still busy but normally we would have a line all down the street in this weather.' A Forestry England spokesman said: 'For many years now, licences have been issued for ice-cream vendors to sell from mobile units within a limited number of Forestry England car parks across the New Forest. 'The specific location and overall number of vendors we are permitted to licence requires approval from the Verderers of the New Forest and is debated in the publicly open Verderer's Court. 'In relation to the new location at Bolton's Bench it was felt that this would join the existing wide range of competing hospitality and catering options situated both in and around the village. The ice cream vendor joins this already wide range of offers.' Ice cream van locations will be reviewed in the Verderer's Court in March 2024, with members of the public having their say. Women suffering domestic violence are facing huge delays in receiving vital $5000 cash payments to flee their abusers. As of April, there was a backlog of more than 4000 unresolved cases of women seeking the payment after leaving a dangerous partner. The delay is believed to have been caused by a wait of 20 business days for applications to be approved. The move was announced by the Morrison government last year and they pledged $145 million for a two-year trial. There is a backlog of more than 4000 unresolved cases of women seeking payment after leaving a dangerous partner The previous government expected demand for 12,000 packages each year, but there have been 13,000 applications already since the trial began back in October. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has now pledged to reform domestic violence support. 'One of the challenges that I'm already looking at is how we improve the escaping domestic violence payment,' she told the Australian. 'This is something that seems to be very rushed by the previous government. It almost seems like they felt they had to do something, so we actually have problems in that program that need to be addressed, wait times in particular. 'There has been a lot of delays. It was very rushed in its implementation and so what we face is an overwhelming need and delays in that payment.' In last year's budget, the Morrison government committed funding to establish a two-year trial of the program, to be rolled out by Christian social services provider UnitingCare Network. It is the latest attempt by the government to address domestic violence in Australia. Back in May, millions of Australians were given access to 10 days' paid domestic violence leave under a landmark ruling by the Fair Work Commission. The decision allows more than 2.6 million workers employed under modern awards access the leave on a yearly basis at their base rate of pay. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has now pledged to reform domestic violence support The historic move is likely to set a precedent for Australian employers as alarming statistics reveal the prevalence of domestic violence - which has already claimed the lives of 18 women across the country so far this year. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in six women and one in 16 men, have experienced at least one incident of violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15. In handing down its decision, the full bench of the commission noted domestic violence is a 'gendered phenomenon', which has soared in the wake of the Covid pandemic. 'Family and domestic violence is a ubiquitous and persistent social problem. While men can, and do, experience FDV, such violence disproportionately affects women,' the commission wrote. 'We have concluded that the merits strongly favour a paid FDV leave entitlement. 'In comparison to women with no experience of [family and domestic violence], women experiencing or who have experienced FDV have a more disrupted work history; are on lower personal incomes; have had to change jobs frequently; and are more likely to be employed on a casual and part-time basis.' Annastacia Palaszczuk has been slapped with another wake-up call after a scathing report into the culture and accountability of her government's public sector was handed down. The Queensland Premier vowed to implement all recommendations after a four-month review into the integrity of the state's public service uncovered a culture 'too tolerant of bullying and dominated by the occupational hazard of all governments, short-term political thinking'. The latest headache for the embattled state leader comes after insiders claimed she had 'checked out' from her role and was more interested in socialising and being on the red carpet. Public administrator and academic Professor Peter Coaldrake warned the only way to restore public faith in the government was to be 'more accountable and transparent ... and behave with integrity' when he handed down his 131-page report on Tuesday. Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured with her boyfriend Dr Reza Adib at the Logies) has been hit with another crisis following the release of a damning review of the state's public sector He made 14 recommendations including reigning in the access and influence of lobbyists - including an explicit ban on 'dual hatting' of professional lobbyists during election campaigns. 'They can either lobby or provide professional political advice but cannot do both,' Prof Coaldrake said. He also unearthed allegations of bullying and belittling of public sector officials by staff in ministerial offices and more senior bureaucrats. 'Public service officials can feel pressured, sometimes by ministerial staff, sometimes by more senior officers, to moderate advice developed with a 'public interest' goal in mind, to fit with a perceived ministerial preference which may or may not be real or to avoid giving advice on difficult issues in writing,' Professor Coaldrake said. 'Personal interactions with some ministers and ministerial staff, and indeed some senior officers, can be disrespectful, belittling or bullying, and [cause] long-term detriment to careers real or apprehended. 'If unreasonable deadlines, bullying interactions, and intemperate demands for action or for compliant advice become pervasive, a fear-based response becomes entrenched in the culture. 'It puts the organisation itself at risk.' Titled 'Let the sunshine in', the review called for a strengthened framework surrounding ministers, their staff and senior public service officers to be continually reviewed and reinforced. Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured in parliament last week) vowed to implement the integrity recommendations 'lock, stock and barrel' The report urged for Queensland's auditor-general to be granted more independence and given broader scope to monitor the departmental use of consultants and contractors. It also called for a 'single clearing house' to track and streamline the progress and outcome of complaints, as well as pushing for greater protections for whistleblowers and the mandatory reporting of data breaches. The recommendations included that the ombudsman be able to investigate complaints against private organisations carrying out functions on behalf of the government, and for public service bosses to be given five-year contracts, unaligned to the electoral cycle. 'This review aspires to influence a cultural shift which encourages openness from the top, starting with cabinet processes and a resulting shared focus on identifying and dealing with the challenges Queensland faces,' Prof Coaldrake said. 'Any good government, clear in purpose and open and accountable in approach, should have fewer integrity issues. 'It is now up to the government to make this focus a wake-up call to support for a more open system of government.' Premier Palaszczuk welcomed the report, which will go to Cabinet next week and promised Queensland will have the most transparent and accountable government in Australia when the recommendations are adopted. 'We will accept all of his recommendations and we will implement them lock, stock and barrel,' she said. 'I would not have asked Professor Coaldrake to conduct this review if I did not want reform.' The Queensland Premier (pictured with her partner on the red carpet earlier this month) has also been forced to deny claims from insiders she's had 'checked out' from her role But not everyone embraced the report. Opposition leader David Crisafulli described the review as 'laughable' and will continue campaigning for a royal commission into government integrity. 'It doesn't address the integrity inferno at the heart of the corruption risk that is the Palaszczuk government,' he said. 'Nothing short of a royal commission will fix the integrity issues that are burning through the state government.' Sky News editor Peter Gleeson says a dark cloud still remains over integrity in the Sunshine State. 'Peter Coaldrake had a great opportunity to call for a royal commission, to get to the bottom of the dysfunctionality of the public sector in Queensland. Instead, he's just rolled the arm over,' Mr Gleeson told Sky News host Chris Kenny on Tuesday night. 'He actually identified in the report that the culture within the public service is too tolerant to bullying and that is the result of short-term political thinking.' 'That in itself is damning enough, but then the report and the recommendations are just throwing the arm over. 'I think it's incredibly disappointing. There will be a lot of disappointed people today.' Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli will continue campaigning for a royal commission into government integrity. Premier Palaszczuk pre-empted several of the report's key recommendations on Monday by tightening of regulations surrounding lobbyists and their level of access. Anyone working for a lobbying firm would be deemed a lobbyist, and only be allowed to contact a minister's chief of staff. All meeting requests must be made in writing. Lobbyists will no longer be allowed to write 'other' in the official register as the subject of meetings with ministers. 'If you are working for a lobbying firm and you may be called an adviser, a consultant, a communication specialist, you will now be deemed to be a lobbyist,' Ms Palaszcuk said. 'Secondly lobbyists will only be able to make contact through the chief of staff in a minister's office.' Last week, Labor insiders claimed Ms Palaszczuk has 'checked out' of her role and showed more interest in attending social events than running Queensland. The claims prompted former premier Peter Beattie to urged her to start a new agenda and prove she still wants to be premier. 'You've got to keep renewing your vision, because if you don't, you get stale and people see you're stale and they will want someone else to have a go,' he told Courier Mail. Ms Palaszczuk hit back by insisting she was on top of her workload - and visiting high-profile events was 'part of her job'. 'I work seven days a week,' Ms Palaszczuk told 7News while on the red carpet at the Logies. 'I've got a budget coming down, I'm across that, and I'll be back at my desk first thing tomorrow morning. 'And most of these events are on weekends so, we could be at home watching television but we're out here doing the job Queenslanders expect me to be doing.' A British Army medic has been jailed after he asked a 12 year-old girl to be his 'sugar baby' and offered her hundreds of pounds to take her virginity. Private Peter Harries, 28, believed he was messaging a child called Chloe while using the app Kik, but he was actually talking to two undercover police officers, a military court heard. The married father, stationed in Tidworth, Wilts, was told the girl was 12 years old and from the UK before he offered to pay her 5 for naked pictures, 10 for a naked video and up to 100 for sex. But when 'Chloe' asked whether it mattered that she had not had sex before, he said he would pay her 300 because it was her first time, the military court was told. Pte Harries, of 1 Medical Regiment, was arrested and upon investigation, indecent images - including one Category A, the highest category - were found on his computer in his living quarters. JAILED: Private Peter Harries, 28, was sentenced to 30 months after he messaged who he thought was a 12 year-old girl, trying to solicit sex and naked pictures. He was in fact speaking to two undercover police officers The military court also heard Pte Harries had been in possession of indecent images. Sentencing him, the judge said: 'Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime... it is people like you who feed the market' The medic, who has served in the army for almost four years, pleaded guilty to three charges of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one count of making indecent images. He has now been handed a 30-month prison sentence and dismissed from the Army. Bulford Military Court, Wilts, heard that in February 2020, Pte Harries began speaking to what he thought was a 12 year-old girl called Chloe from the UK on chat messaging app, Kik. Shortly after a brief introduction, Pte Harries began to ask the fake profile, which did not have an image, for nudes and sex, the court heard. Major Jon Griffiths, prosecuting, said: 'The online persona says she was 12 and from the UK and he asks "would you like to be my sugar baby?" 'She asks what a sugar baby is. 'He says "I pay you, I have sex with you, you send pics and videos'. 'The girl then replied: "Oh wow, you pay me, I don't get pocket money. Does it matter if I've not done sex before?" 'He said "I will f*** you even though you have never done anything before." He said he would pay 5 for three nudes, 10 to 15 for a video and up to 100 for sex. 'But he then said "because it's your first time, I will give you 300." 'During those conversations, he told her that he was a medic at a hospital from Wiltshire. He asked for her phone number, but she did not give it so he gave a phone number instead. 'The police then tracked it back to him and his parents' address.' Following his arrest in March 2020, Pte Harries gave a no comment interview to police before pleading guilty to the four charges. Jonathan Lynch, defending, told the court: 'He is a decent, compassionate ,caring father, husband and soldier. 'He is disgusted by the part of him that finds children attractive, he feels real despair and finds that part of him abhorrent. 'He does not want to be who he is. He did not wake up one day and decide to be this way. 'This is how he was born, this cannot be trained out of him, it's part of who he is and he does not want it to be who he is.' Judge Advocate Edward Legard, sentencing Pte Harries, said: 'You offered money for nudes and money for videos of her masturbating and offered her 300 for the first meet. 'Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime, far from it. They are often young vulnerable and are often recruited from impoverished backgrounds. 'They are exploited and abused by others purely to feed gratification of people like you. It is people like you who feed the market. 'Like many cases of this type, this is a very sad case because the impact of your offending will fall not only on you but your immediate family. 'But it will impact on your relationship with your daughter.' Pte Harries was jailed for 30 months but will serve half his term in custody with the remainder on licence. He was dismissed from the Army and placed under a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. He must notify police of his address and name indefinitely. The top aide to Donald Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows is testifying before the January 6 select committee Tuesday afternoon. Cassidy Hutchinson will headline the panel's surprise hearing, which was put on the books Monday after they unearthed new evidence and due to concerns for her safety. Hutchinson had constant access to Meadows, former President Donald Trump and others in the White House inner circle before, during and after the January 6 Capitol attack. She also served as a main point of contact for many members of Congress when they needed to reach the White House. The witness told the nine-member panel that Trump suggested to Meadows that he approved of his supporters chanting 'hang Mike Pence' as they stormed the Capitol, according to CNN. Her testimony also revealed to investigators that Trump complained that his vice president was taken to safety during the breach. Punchbowl News reported that Hutchinson's testimony is important for what the panel is planning to present in its July hearings. There is also 'sincere concern' regarding Hutchinson's personal safety and security due to what she has revealed to the committee, sources told the outlet. These factors have contributed to the panel feeling it was important to schedule an extra hearing on Tuesday rather than wait until the House returns from its recess next month. Chairman Bennie Thompson previously said the final hearing of the month would be on June 23, and that there would be no more hearings until July. Cassidy Hutchinson, the former top aide to Donald Trump's ex-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, will testify live before the January 6 select committee in a last-minute hearing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger suddenly dies just one day before surprise January 6 hearing The man in charge of protecting the Senate during the Capitol riot died Monday just a day before the Committee investigating the attack is set to reveal new evidence in a surprise session. Michael Stenger, 71, was the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate on the day of the deadly attack. He resigned amid criticism he had failed to react effectively to the building being overrun. His sudden death on Monday came the same day an unexpected additional hearing of the committee investigating the riot was announced. Michael Stenger, 71, who was Sergeant at Arms of the Senate during the Capitol riot, died on Monday Stenger previously served in the United States Marine Corps, and spent 35 years in the Secret Service. He was the chief law enforcement officer and head of protocol for the chamber since April 2018. In February 2021, Stenger told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the role of 'professional agitators' needed to be investigated. He said: 'There is an opportunity to learn lessons from the events of January 6. Investigations should be considered as to funding and travel of what appears to be professional agitators.' Stenger was born in New Jersey. At the time of his death, he lived in Falls Church, Virginia, with his wife Janet. The pair are believed to have two adult children. Stenger rose to be a captain in the Marines, before joining the Secret Service. He worked on protective details before taking leadership roles. In 2011, he first took a job at the Senate, serving as Assistant Sergeant at Arms for protective services and continuity. In 2014, when Drew Willison, a longtime aide to former Democratic leader Harry Reid, became Sergeant at Arms, he made Stenger his deputy. Stenger also served as deputy to Frank Larkin, who served as Sergeant at Arms from 2015-18. When Larkin stepped down, Mitch McConnell appointed Stenger to succeed him. Advertisement Some video clips of Hutchinson's deposition have already been played at the previous five public hearings, including a segment where she named some of the House Republican lawmakers who wanted pardons from Trump following the riot last year. She has testified before the panel four times already the latest being within the last 10 days. Despite Hutchinson's cooperation, her boss has refused to testify before the panel. While the House voted to recommend contempt charges against Meadows, the Justice Department did not pursue a criminal indictment against him. Meadows turned over thousands of text messages from lawmakers, White House staffers and other key players to the select committee last year before suddenly deciding he would no longer play ball with the panel. Multiple sources told Punchbowl News that the impromptu hearing featuring Hutchinson comes after she hired a new lawyer earlier this month and became more cooperative with the investigation. Stefan Passantino, Hutchinson's former attorney, was the ethics lawyer for Trump's White House, while her new lawyer, Jody Hunt, was chief of staff to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Hutchinson was in contact with Georgia officials about efforts to overturn the election in the Peach State. She also testified that she saw Meadows burning papers in his office after meeting with Pennsylvania GOP Representative Scott Petty before January 6, 2021. Perry was one of the lawmakers pushing to get Jeffrey Clark into the acting Attorney General spot to bolster Trump's election fraud claims. The January 6 committee announced Monday that it will hold a surprise hearing Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. to present 'recently obtained evidence,' despite the House being out of session until mid-July. The last-minute announcement came roughly 24 hours before the hearing is scheduled to commence. Unlike previous announcements, the panel did not identify who it would be hearing from but confirmed it would 'receive witness testimony.' In its last hearing on Thursday, the committee outlined how Donald Trump attempted to pressure the Justice Department to pursue his baseless election fraud theories. Former Trump DOJ officials testified about an explosive stand-off between the ex-president and 'hundreds' of administration officials who were ready to resign if 2020 election denier Jeffrey Clark was appointed Attorney General. Ex-White House aides also accused certain Republican lawmakers of seeking a pardon from the former president, which committee members have insisted is a sign of culpability in Trump's scheme. But Thompson told reporters the day before that the panel's remaining planned hearings would be put off until after the House of Representatives returns from recess, which would be the week of July 11. Those two were originally scheduled for this week. 'We've taken in some additional information that's going to require additional work,' the Mississippi Democrat said. 'So rather than present hearings that have not been the quality of the hearings in the past, we made a decision to just move into sometime in July.' Hutchinson already told the nine-member panel that Trump suggested to Meadows that he approved of his supporters chanting 'hang Mike Pence' as they stormed the Capitol Hutchinson has spoken to the panel four times already and her testimony has been played at their public and televised hearings. There is 'sincere concern' regarding Hutchinson's personal safety due to what she has revealed, which led the panel to schedule an extra hearing on Tuesday rather than wait until the House returns from its recess next month One of the things driving the delay was a trove of new footage from British documentary filmmaker Alex Holder, who began filming the Trump White House in September 2020 for a three-part series and has sit-down interviews with the former president himself as well as his family members and former Vice President Mike Pence. Holder testified behind closed doors on Thursday after the committee subpoenaed his material, which reportedly includes three interviews with Trump - two of them taking place after the January 6 attack. Throughout its hearings the committee has attempted to frame the riot as Trump and his allies' 'last stand' in a wider plot to steal the last presidential election. The former president, lawmakers say, pushed claims he knew were false and pressured other government officials to do so. It's presented through a mix of videotaped and in-person testimony, primarily from Republican officials and Trump aides, that the then-commander-in-chief was told time and again by members of his own orbit that there was no widespread fraud. The committee was originally scheduled to have two more hearings this week but they were delayed until July A new poll released on Sunday suggests the gravity of the committee's allegations are sinking in with the American public - even if they are not following the hearings as closely as lawmakers might like. After watching the hearings, 46 percent of American voters who responded to the CBS News survey believe the committee should refer Trump for criminal charges. Thirty-one percent believe the committee should advise against it and less than a quarter - 23 percent - said the panel should not make any recommendation at all. Fifty percent of respondents to the poll, taken between June 22 and 24, said he tried to 'stay in office through illegal means.' But when it comes to watching the proceedings, less than one-fifth of voters said they were paying significant attention. Just 18 percent of Americans said they were spending 'a lot' of time watching the hearings. A 30-percent plurality said they were paying 'some' attention to them, and 53 percent of respondents admitted to paying 'not much' attention or 'none at all.' This is the moment screaming protesters stormed into the offices of an energy company today, before they were tackled to the ground and thrown out of the room. Police were called to a building in Primrose Street, east London, this morning after around 20 activists, armed with placards, interrupted UK Oil & Gas' (UKOG) Annual General Meeting. They demanded an end to fossil fuels, telling bosses: 'You are part of the climate crisis, you are killing people and our planet. We are here to stop you.' UKOG is a small oil and gas corporation that has controversial plans to expand its drilling across the south of England. This month, the government granted the company a licence to drill for oil near the village of Dunsfold in Surrey - despite the protestations of the local council, which described it as 'the worst possible outcome', warning that the drilling could lead to 'irreversible harm' to the environment. Footage shows a man dragging a man out of the shareholder meeting and pushing a woman towards the exit, as onlookers suggested protesters were being 'assaulted'. HAPPENING NOW: Im at @UKOGlistedonAIM where activists have disrupted the fossil fuel companys annual shareholder meeting with singing, chanting and banners #DontDrillHorseHill @KwasiKwarteng youll love this x pic.twitter.com/4pEGnBxU17 Mia Watanabe | (@MiaHWatanabe) June 28, 2022 Police were called to a building in Primrose Street, east London, this morning after around 20 activists, armed with placards, interrupted UK Oil & Gas' (UKOG) Annual General Meeting Footage shows a man dragging a man out of the shareholder meeting and pushing a woman towards the exit, as onlookers suggested protesters were being 'assaulted' They demanded an end to fossil fuels, telling bosses: 'You are part of the climate crisis, you are killing people and our planet. We are here to stop you' Joanna Warrington, a spokeswoman for Fossil Free London, which organised today's protest, said: 'The science is very clear: we have to end coal, oil and gas to have a shot at a safe and liveable future But apparently this government and UKOG didn't get the memo. 'The UK government should be investing in clean, home-grown renewable energy, and home insulation for our draughty homes. This would tackle the climate crisis and reduce people's soaring energy bills. 'But instead, this government gives corporations like UKOG free rein to impose their devastating oil and gas drilling sites. 'These go against the wishes of local communities and disrupt the global life support systems we all depend on, recklessly endangering lives all over the world. 'It's time we held this company, and the whole destructive industry, to account. Their meetings and dirty business model of expansion at any human cost cannot carry on undisrupted.' Chief Inspector Mitch Carr, from the City of London Police, said: 'Officers attended protest activity this morning (Tuesday 28 June 2022) outside the Broadgate Tower, Primrose Street. 'Officers engaged with the group to minimise disruption. The protesters have now dispersed.' UKOG has been approached for comment. President Joe Biden and his allies are frustrated by a 'lack of respect' toward him from Democrats and the media, a New York Times report suggests President Joe Biden and his top aides are 'irritated' by the cold reception his expected 2024 re-election bid has received from fellow Democrats and the media, a new report suggests on Monday. Biden, who would be 81 years old when he ran for office a second time, has faced a mountain of discussions about potential primary challengers compared to other first-term president this early in office. Lawmakers within the president's own party have been hesitant to get behind him at this point. Earlier this month, firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez refused to say she would back a Biden 2024 campaign during an interview on CNN. 'Should he run again, I think that I - you know, I think it's - it's, we'll take a look at it,' the New York Democrat said. 'But, right now, we need to focus on winning a majority, instead of a presidential election.' West Virginia conservative Democratic Senator Joe Manchin also would not tell the New York Times whether he would support Biden, brushing off the question with, 'Were just trying to do our daily thing, brother.' 'Trying to do what we got to do thats good for the country,' said the senator, who reports suggest has fielded requests from wealthy donors to run as a third-party candidate in 2024. But Biden and his team see perceptions that he is a 'lame duck' less than halfway through his first term as a 'lack of respect,' the Times reports based off anonymous conversations with people who speak regularly with the commander-in-chief. The report suggests that Biden's allies believe his ability to beat Donald Trump in 2020 is reason enough to support his candidacy, which comes amid the ex-president's ever-increasing hints that he's looking to run for office a third time. It cites left-wing Democratic voters' frustration with party leaders for failing to mount an adequate response to the Supreme Court overturning federal abortion protections in Roe v. Wade. The president's supporters also appear to be wary of his low popularity, which is less than 40 percent as of Tuesday Many felt that Biden and Congressional Democrats fell short of expectations after having more than a month to prepare since the draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked in Politico early last month. Progressives like 'Squad' members Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar have publicly called out broad messages to 'go vote,' being pushed by the Biden administration, without presenting a more detailed plan on what Democrats can do with that support. Biden adviser Cedric Richmond told the Times that Democrats were also 'putting too much into these polling numbers' that reflect a favorability issue that's plagued the president since about halfway through his first year in office. As of Tuesday, Biden's average popularity rating across multiple polls is just 39.6 percent, according to survey aggregator FiveThirtyEight. His unpopularity sits at 55.6 percent, slightly lower than the all-time high of 56.1 percent Biden hit on June 26. But Richmond brushed off skepticism of his boss by chalking it up to other Democrats simply seeing an opportunity to get their candidate back in the running. He said it was 'a wing in our party who wanted a different candidate and Im sure theyd love to have their candidate back in the mix again.' While establishment leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer have assured they will support a Biden re-election bid, younger Democrat leaders like South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham have called on him to pass the torch 'to a new generation of leadership,' as the former representative said on CNN. Lawmakers across the left-wing spectrum from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Senator Joe Manchin have dodged questions on whether they'd support Biden in 2-24 However speculation around a Biden primary challenge has grown so rampant that even Vice President Kamala Harris was asked about it during a CNN Interview on Monday. 'Joe Biden is running for reelection and I will be his ticket mate,' Harris said. 'Full stop. That's it.' The Monday report suggests that the timing of Biden's formal re-election announcement would not come before the November midterm elections, a period Trump has teased for his potential bid. White House aides also cast doubt on challenges rumored to be brewing from current state leaders like Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and California Governor Gavin Newsom. They told the Times that Pritzker gave Biden advanced notice ahead of a recent speech in New Hampshire, a popular stomping ground for presidential hopefuls, and that the popular moderate is also courting party leaders to hold the 2024 nominating convention in Chicago. Newsom's hype was written off as 'a politician feeling his oats' after a decisive victory against opponents' recall effort. The Ukraine Shopping Mall Death Toll from Russia's missile attack has increased to 18 on Tuesday as hopes of locating survivors are running out. Approximately 1,000 people were inside the Astor shopping mall in Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, which is at least 100 miles from the nearest frontline, when it was struck on Monday afternoon by what Kyiv claims were two Russian AS-4 guided missiles. The Russian missile attack also resulted in 60 wounded individuals, including 25 hospitalized victims and an undetermined number who are currently missing, per Mail Online. Ukraine says there are no military targets located anywhere within the city of Kremenchuk. Firefighters battled the blaze all night to put it out after the hit destroyed the building and caused much of the roof to collapse. Desperate families whose loved ones were working at or visiting the mall as it was struck turned to social media to try and find them. Amid warnings, there is little hope that anyone trapped in the blaze could have survived. G7 Leaders Blast Russian Missile Attack on Civilians The G7 leaders swiftly condemned the Russian Missile strike during a meeting in Germany on Monday, calling it a "war crime." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Moscow's 'brazen terrorist attack,' while United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson remarked that the Russian Missile attack depicts 'the depths of cruelty and barbarism to which [Putin] will sink." Zelenskyy addressed the leaders of the G-7 nations, pressing them for more heavy weaponry and help to end the war before winter sets in. Earlier, Russia denied that it deliberately targeted a civilian structure. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Moscow's deputy ambassador to the UN, stated on Twitter that the attack was a "Ukrainian provocation" but provided no supporting evidence, according to The Guardian. "Exactly what Kyiv regime needs to keep the focus of attention on Ukraine before (the) NATO Summit," Polyanskiy said, referring to the alliance's Madrid summit set to start on Tuesday. Read Also: USA Secret Meeting With Israel, Arab Nations Revealed; Iran Threat Discussed However, the Russian defense ministry now asserts that bombers had fired missiles at a nearby military facility, which caused flames to grow to what it identified as "a non-functioning shopping center." The NATO summit is perceived as the most significant assembly of the organization in recent months. It will be attended by member nations and non-NATO allies, like Australia and South Korea, to address the conflict in Ukraine and how to deal with an increasingly aggressive Russia. On Telegram, President Zelensky stated that the Ukraine Shopping Mall Death Toll was hard to imagine. He posted: "The occupiers fired missiles at the shopping center, where there were more than a thousand civilians. The mall is on fire, rescuers are extinguishing the fire, and the number of victims is unimaginable. Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary citizens. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity from Russia." UK Intelligence: Russian Forces Are 'Hollowed Out' Meanwhile, as per CNBC update, the UK Defense Ministry reported that Russian troops in the Luhansk region are "hollowed out" in the intense ongoing battle in the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine. After pulling back from the nearby city of Severodonetsk, which Russian forces completely occupied at the weekend, Ukrainian forces continue to reinforce their positions on higher ground in the city of Lysychansk, according to the ministry's most recent intelligence update on Tuesday. Related Article: Ukraine War: Videos Show Scary Aftermath of Russia's Missile Attack at Shopping Mall With 1000+ People Inside @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The man who shot and wounded President Ronald Reagan in 1981 apologized for his actions and said that he doesn't remember the emotions he was feeling when he fired the shots because it was 'another lifetime ago.' John Hinckley Jr., 67, was freed from all court oversight earlier this month and has since said he feels repentant for his could-be deadly actions. 'I feel badly for all of them. I have true remorse for what I did,' Hinckley told CBS Mornings in his first televised interview since his release. 'I know that they probably can't forgive me now, but I just want them to know that I am sorry for what I did.' When asked about what feelings that led him to commit the act, Hinckley said he can't remember those emotions and doesn't want to. John Hinckley Jr., 67, apologized for trying to assassinate President Ronald Reagan and said that he doesn't remember the emotions he was feeling when he fired the shots because it was 'another lifetime ago' 'I have true remorse for what I did,' Hinckley said. 'I know that they probably can't forgive me now, but I just want them to know that I am sorry for what I did.' Hinckley (pictured earlier this month) said he was speaking out to clear up his image and 'soften' the public's view of him 'It's such another lifetime ago. I can't tell you now the emotion I had right as [Reagan] came walking out. I can't tell you that,' he said, later adding: 'It's something I don't want to remember.' Hinckley was 25 and suffering from acute psychosis when he fired a .22 long rifle bullet that ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the torso, puncturing a lung and causing serious internal bleeding outside a Washington hotel. The assassination attempt also paralyzed then-Press Secretary James Brady, who died in 2014, and wounded a police officer and a Secret Service agent. Hinckley was desperate to impress actress Jodie Foster after seeing her in the 1976 movie Taxi Driver. Reagan happily waved to Americans as he headed toward his car outside the Washington hotel in 1981 before the attack. A bullet struck the president and left him with severe internal bleeding Reagan leaving the hospital he recovered at after being shot The press secretary (pictured) being loaded up into the ambulance in 1981 Jurors found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity and he spent more than 30 years at a mental hospital in Washington. He told CBS Mornings he truly believes he had 'serious mental illness that prevented me from knowing right from wrong then.' 'I was not just a cold, calculating criminal in 1981,' he said on the show and wants the public's view of him to 'soften.' The would-be assassin said he has been the 'most scrutinized person in the entire mental health system for 41 years.' He began making visits to his parent's home in Williamsburg, Virginia, in the early 2000s. A 2016 court order granted him permission to live with his mother full time, albeit under various restrictions, after experts said his mental illness had been in remission for decades. Police officer Thomas Delahanty (foreground) and Press Secretary James Brady (behind). A Secret Service officer was also wounded in the 1981 attack Hinckley (pictured in August 1981) said he had 'serious mental illness that prevented me from knowing right from wrong then,' he said on Tuesday The assassination attempt was a bizarre attempt to impress actress Jodie Foster (pictured in 1981) He signed a lease on a one-bedroom apartment in the area last year and has been living alone there with his cat Theo, according to court documents. His mother died in July. Hinckley had previously been under restrictions that barred him from owning a gun, using drugs or alcohol or contacting members of the victims' families. But a federal judge in Washington said months ago that he would free Hinckley from those restrictions if he remained mentally stable. Those restrictions were lifted on June 15. He now says he is 'glad (he) did not succeed' in killing the then-President. He also said he was 'sorry' for traumatizing the entire nation as the news spread. 'I'm sure the whole country was traumatized, and I'm very sorry for that,' he told CBS Mornings' Major Garrett. 'I did not have a good heart. I was doing things a good person doesn't do. It's hard for me to relate at all to that person back then.' Hinckley - who plays guitar and sings is now hoping to move on to music in the next portion of his free life. He has been uploading his music to YouTube and has amassed about 27,000 subscribers. He had set up a Redemption Tour, but it was canceled due to safety concerns. Sold-out shows in Brooklyn, New York, on July 8 and another in Chicago on July 23, were set to feature 17 original songs sung by Hinckley. A 1995 civil settlement had banned Hinckley from financially benefiting from his name or story, but in October 2020 he won a ruling to publicly display his artwork and music under his own name after previously being forced to release it anonymously. Most of the music he has written are love songs. Hinckley is an aspiring artist, who plays guitar and sings. He has been uploading his music to YouTube and has amassed about 27,000 subscribers Hinckley's 'Redemption Tour' has since been canceled due to safety concerns Videos of Hinckley covering Elvis Presley's Can't Stop Falling In Love and Bob Dylan's Blowing in the Wind have racked up nearly 100,000 views. His self-penned ballads include Majesty of Love, with the lyrics, 'the world is in so much pain, we have much to gain', and Everything Is Gonna Be Alright, where he croons 'there ain't nothing wrong with the rain, it is good to wash away the pain.' Hinckley's obsession with women seemed to continue during his time in institutional psychiatric care. Hinckley had multiple loves while at St. Elizabeths, the mental hospital where he was sent, including a woman with severe schizophrenia and Leslie DeVeau, a DC woman who had murdered her own daughter. Hinckley said in 2020: 'I'm a musician. Nobody knows that. They just see me as the guy who tried to kill Reagan.' Former New York City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said the 'toxicity' of the relationship between ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio directly interfered with public health policy during the pandemic. 'It was a significant problem,' Chokshi said during a June 17 interview with the New York Health Foundation, a private non-profit. 'There were moments where my frustration at not being able to advance public health policy for New Yorkers could be directly tied to the toxicity of that relationship.' New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has called for a blue-ribbon commission to investigate state Gov. Andrew Cuomo over his alleged nursing home cover-up The soft-speaking Chokshi came into his role leading the city through the worst public health crisis in 100 years after his predecessor, Dr. Orixis Barbot, quit five months into the pandemic. Barbot bristled under de Blasio's leadership and the two squabbled over the mayor's decision to take contact-tracing responsibilities away from her department. Chokshi seemed more compliant and even spoke about the importance of 'humility' in working with politicians to make public-health choices, but even he had problems navigating the power struggle between Cuomo and de Blasio. Former New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi, pictured here, said that feuding between Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio was a 'significant problem' De Blasio said he wonders 'how many lives mightve been saved' had Cuomo handled nursing homes differently 'There was a moment you know again during our vaccination campaign when you know one of the ways in which the governor and the mayor didn't get along was around authority - who had the authority to do what,' the former health commissioner said. In December 2020, de Blasio and Chokshi held a press conference to announce the first vaccine shots would go to the city's frontline workers, like nurses and police officers. 'The governor at a press conference less than an hour later said that the mayor and I didn't have the authority to do that,' the doctor said. Chokshi said Cuomo's office called him afterward to threaten him. 'I got a very irate phone call, um, to let me know in no uncertain terms that I would be held responsible for breaking state law if we were gonna move forward to vaccinate first responders,' he recalled. 'It's ludicrous to think that that's what our public officials are spending time doing instead of sorting things out so that we can actually move forward with what our responsibility is during a pandemic.' Cuomo and de Blasio worked together in the Clinton administration, but became political rivals after being elected New Yorkers became familiar with the animosity between de Blasio and Cuomo early in the mayor's first term. Both men worked in the Clinton administration bureaucrats, but as politicians they both jockeyed for the spotlight. Cuomo usurped de Blasio's signature universal pre-K plan, taking credit for funding it soon after the mayor was elected in 2013. The two also bickered over blizzard responses and tax plans; Cuomo would often hold last-minute press conference at the same time as de Blasio and would present contradicting information. De Blasio slammed Cuomo for 'bullying' a state lawmaker who claimed the governor threatened to 'destroy' him unless he helped cover up the COVID-19 nursing home scandal De Blasio seemed to relish in Cuomo's downfall after a sexual harassment scandal forced the former governor to resign in August 2021. The ex-mayor said Cuomo should 'should do everyone a favor and get the hell out of the way.' De Blasio also called for a special government commission to investigate the Cuomo administration's nursing-home policies in response to the pandemic. The former governor was found to have under-counted nursing-home deaths after enforcing his decision requiring residents remain in nursing homes, even after they were found to have contracted Covid. Cuomo spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, said he didn't recall anyone reaching out to Chokshi regarding the vaccines. 'I'm not sure what he's talking about, but at the time we had extremely limited vaccine supply from the federal government and clear state guidelines that prioritized front line healthcare workers,' Azzopardi told the New York Post. 'City Hall kept failing to fulfill this basic responsibility and rather than focus on the task at hand they threw everything at the wall to change the subject and shift attention away from their ineptitude,' he said. During the height of the pandemic, city morgues and funeral homes became overwhelmed with dead bodies De Blasio, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's newly drawn 10th Congressional District, took the opportunity to have another dig at Cuomo. 'Dr. Dave Chokshi was a civic saint in every way possible and a critically important partner in helping to navigate our city through COVID. The threats he endured were outrageous,' his campaign told the Post. The ex-commissioner said there were times when he went behind the politicians backs and worked with his colleagues in the state to get things done. 'There were moments when I was reaching out to the health commissioner at the state level to both Dr. [Harold] Zucker and then Dr. [Mary] Bassett [former and current New York State Health Commissioners] to say look it's part of our responsibility to try to take whatever the relationship between our bosses may be and do what's right you know on behalf of New Yorkers,' he said. A Georgia boy died in a hot car at a Wendy's drive-thru after his grandmother had forgotten about him in the back seat. Kendrick Engram Jr, three, was discovered by his uncle at the fast-food restaurant on Wynnton Road Sunday in Columbus after he had been left inside of the car for about 2 hours and 45 minutes, according to the Muscogee County Coroner's Office. He died of asphyxiation after being left in the car in the scorching heat; the day's highest temperature was 96F, the lowest 90F, the National Weather Service reported in its three-day history forecast. Kendrick spent most of Sunday out with relatives, including his three sisters and his grandmother, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan told local news outlets. They returned home around 5:30 p.m. 'Everyone went in the house except the little boy,' Bryan said. 'The grandmother went into the bedroom, the other children went into the kitchen area to eat. Then the children were in and out, playing ... just like kids do.' Kendrick Engram Jr, three, was found asphyxiated in the third row of a Nissan SUV on Sunday at around 8:30 p.m Engram Jr's body was discovered when his uncle went to order food at a Wendy's restaurant in Columbus, Georgia. Pictured: the crime scene at the Wendy's drive-thru The boy's uncle had borrowed his mother's car to drive 15 minutes to get to the Wendy's on Wynnton Road It wasn't until roughly three hours later, at about 8:15 p.m., when the grandmother noticed Kendrick was missing, when she 'called out to the children and asked about a head count, and nobody knew where Kendrick was.' Kendrick was found around 8:30 p.m., after his uncle - who had the vehicle the boy had been riding in earlier Sunday - was called by his mother to see if the child was with him. When he was at Wendy's, the grandmother called him to see if Kendrick was with him, according to Bryan. The boy's uncle initially denied the child's presence, but soon found him in the third-row seat of a Nissan SUV. The toddler was pronounced dead around 9 p.m. that night. 'Just be aware. Just be aware. If you're an adult, be responsible,' Bryan said. 'The children are innocent. They can't help themselves and when you have a child that puts the responsibility on you.' As of Tuesday, it remains unclear if the family will face charges for the three-year-old's death. A Go Fund Me page in the boy's honor was created on Tuesday, with a goal of $10,000 to pay for his funeral expenses. So far, only $50 have been given in donation. Kendrick was described in the fundraiser as 'energetic, loving, and full of life!' He is survived by two parents, Yolanda Thomas, his mother, and Kendrick Engram, his father, along with six siblings. DailyMail.com has contacted the Columbus Police Department in Georgia for comment. Kendrick is the seventh child in the United States to have died after being left in a hot car this year, and the second in Georgia, according to Safe Kids, which added that more than 100 children have died from being unattended in a hot car over the past two years. Last week, Trace Means, five, perished in sweltering 100F heat in Houston, Texas, after his mother Amanda Means, 36, left him in the back of a Porsche SUV for two to three hours. DailyMail.com can reveal the five-year-old Texas boy who was left to die in his mom's sweltering hot car on Monday has been identified as Trace Means, pictured above with his parents Amanda and Steve, and his older sister, 8 Detectives think she simply forgot Trace was still buckled into his car seat as she headed inside their $1.4 million Houston home to throw a birthday party for his eight-year-old sister. By the time Amanda realized her mistake, the bubbly, blonde-haired youngster -pictured here for the first time in a series of heartbreaking family photos - had succumbed to suspected heat stroke. The shell-shocked mom has not been charged, although the Harris County Sheriff's Office is still investigating. DailyMail.com can reveal that Trace's parents are going through a divorce and he had spent Father's Day with his dad before being dropped home several hours before Monday's tragedy. The family of a Texas man said he was wrongfully identified as the owner of the truck used by human smugglers who left 50 migrants to die inside the vehicle in 103 degree weather along the U.S.-Mexico border. A San Antonio Fire Department official said they found 'stacks of bodies' and no signs of water in the truck, which was discovered on Monday next to railroad tracks in the city's southern outskirts, close to Interstate 35 which runs to the border. The truck's license plate and registration linked the vehicle to an Alamo man, but his son-in-law, Isaac Limon, said the information was stolen and that the real truck belonging to his family was out hauling grain in another part of Texas. 'It was a perfect setup,' Limon told the Washington Post. 'The truck is here. I'm looking at it right now. 'Sad to say, but he's a bit of a victim, too, because people believe it was him.' The truck police found containing 50 dead migrants abandoned on the San Antonio, Texas roadside stole its license plate and registration from a truck hauling grain in Alamo Isaac Limon, the son-in-law of the man whose information was stolen, said he wanted to clear his name after Telemundo identified his company as the owner of the truck in the tragedy Limon said his father-in-law was shaken up by the incident because people now falsely believe his vehicle was involved in the horrible tragedy that left 50 dead San Antonio Police chief McManus said he could not confirm whether all the victims had been found, and that canine units would be deployed in the morning to continue searching Christine and Michael Ybarra (above) embrace at the scene where people were found dead inside a trailer truck in San Antonio, Texas, on June 27, Limon told the Post that the plates and registration identified in the tragedy belong to his father-in-law's Volvo, and was outraged over Telemundo's reporting that suggested his truck was used in the crime. '[I] just want to help clear my Father-In-Laws name,' Limon wrote on Facebook after the news broke. 'He is not the owner of the truck in San Antonio that is involved in this tragic event. 'His DOT Number was illegally copied onto the truck... Telemundo did not verify the facts before airing the story.' In their coverage on Monday night, Telemundo had linked the truck to the father-in-law's Trucking & Harvesting company. Telemundo did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Limon said that his father-in-law has been left 'shaken' by the misreporting. The truck was found abandoned by auto salvage yards and railroad tracks around 6:00pm yesterday by an individual who worked nearby. Sixteen survivors, including four children, were rushed to nearby hospitals for heat stroke and exhaustion. They were found by a local worker, who investigated the scene after hearing a faint cry for help emanating from the truck. No children were among the dead, according to officials. Onlookers stand near the scene where the semitrailer was found on Monday in South Texas Law enforcement officers work at the scene where people were found dead inside a trailer truck, with only 16 survivors initially reported An ambulance leaves the scene where police said dozens of people were found dead in a semitrailer in a remote area in southwestern San Antonio Police block the scene. It may be the deadliest tragedy among thousands who have died attempting to cross the U.S. border from Mexico in recent decades Texas has been experiencing a near-record heat wave, while temperatures in San Antonio, which is about 160 miles from the Mexican border, swelled to a high of 103F on Monday with high humidity. 'The patients that we saw were hot to the touch. They were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion,' fire chief Charles Hood said in a press briefing. '[There were] no signs of water in the vehicle. It was a refrigerated trailer, but there was no visible working AC unit on that rig.' Police Chief William McManus said three individuals were taken into custody, but that it had not been established whether they were 'absolutely connected to this or not.' The nationalities of the victims have not yet been confirmed, but they are all believed to be immigrants attempting to cross illegally into the U.S. Texas Governor blames Biden's border measures for tragedy Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a fresh condemnation of President Biden's border measures - and blamed them for Monday's tragedy. He tweeted: 'At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.' Abbott has repeatedly crossed swords with Biden over immigration in recent months, as the number of illegal crossings over the southern border into states including his soared to record levels. In April, Abbott sought to embarrass Biden over the crisis by busing migrants to Washington DC and leaving them on the steps of the US Capitol. Abbott also announced a $500 million package of measures to try and slash immigration. That included deploying Texas National Guard members to try and stem the flow of migrants into the US. Advertisement Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard dispatched Consul General Ruben Minutti to the scene yesterday evening, while the Mexican consulate in San Antonio said it would provide 'all the support' to the families of Mexican citizens if they are among the dead. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that its Homeland Security Investigations division was investigating 'an alleged human smuggling event' in coordination with local police. Chief McManus said the individual 'heard a cry for help and came out to investigate', before finding the trailer's doors partially opened upon arrival and discovering dozens of bodies. McManus said he could not confirm whether all the victims had remained in the trailer and said searches to find any survivors that may have escaped were ongoing. 'We had our canines out there going through the woods and we may have to do that again tomorrow in the light of day,' he said. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the 46 who died had 'families who were likely trying to find a better life'. 'The plight of migrants seeking refuge is always a humanitarian crisis,' said Nirenberg. 'But tonight we are dealing with a horrific human tragedy.' Locals said that the location where the truck was found was a known drop-off point for migrants, according to The New York Times. 'You can tell they just got here. We see them with backpacks or asking for food or money,' Ruby Chavez, 53, told The New York Times. 'They know this area. They jump off the train and get picked up,' Chavez's husband said. The I-35 highway near where the truck was found runs through San Antonio from the Mexican border and is a popular smuggling corridor because of the large volume of truck traffic, according to Jack Staton, a former senior official with ICE's investigative unit who retired in December. Staton said migrants have regularly been intercepted in the area since the 2017 incident. 'It was only a matter of time before a tragedy like this was going to happen again,' he said. Yesterday's deaths highlight the challenge of controlling migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, which have reached record highs. The issue has proven difficult for U.S. President Joe Biden, who has pledged to reverse some of the hard-line immigration policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. Texas Governor Greg Abbott hit out at the President following the deaths, blaming the deadly incident on the Biden administration's lax approach to border control - a key issue for the upcoming November elections. The deaths 'are the result of his deadly open border policies,' Abbott wrote. 'They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.' Texas Gov. Greg Abbot blamed the deaths on the Biden Administration Body bags lie at the scene where a tractor trailer with multiple dead bodies were discovered The truck was found abandoned on Quintana Road, close to the I-35 which runs from San Antonio to the Mexican border Yesterday's tragic incident may be one of the deadliest when it comes to illegal smuggling of people across the southern US border. Ten migrants died in 2017 after being trapped inside a truck that was parked at a Walmart in San Antonio. In 2003, 19 migrants were found in a sweltering truck southeast of San Antonio. Big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement in San Diego and El Paso, Texas, which were then the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. Prior to that, people paid small fees to mom-and-pop operators to get them across a largely unguarded border. As crossings became exponentially more difficult after the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S., migrants were led through more dangerous terrain and paid thousands of dollars more to smugglers. Heat poses a serious danger, and temperatures can rise severely inside vehicles. This is the moment a cruise ship heading for an Alaskan glacier was forced to turn back after smashing into an iceberg amid heavy fog. Incredible footage shows the Norwegian Sun, a 2,000-passenger Norwegian Cruise Line ship, smack into the 'growler' near the Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay. Terrified passengers recorded the huge block of ice jolt the vessel while many slept before it disappeared under the bow on Saturday. The impact forced the boat to dock at Juneau where expert divers assessed the damage before recommending it return to Seattle for repairs. A timeline of Norwegian Sun's ill-fated journey, culminating in the iceberg crash and return to Seattle for repairs Norwegian Sun, the ship that made contact with the iceberg, is shown here in March in Jacksonville, Florida Jason Newman from Atlanta, Georgia, was on the ship when the crash occurred. He claimed the fog had cleared when they struck the iceberg. 'The ship had a severe judder,' Newman told KTOO. 'You could feel the strike. And then it listed minorly.' Newman said that after hitting the iceberg, the ship limped back to Juneau at a speed of 10 mph. Alicia Amador, another passenger on the ship, told the Juneau Empire that hitting the iceberg was a 'scary experience.' 'The whole boat came to a complete stop from the impact,' she said and described the iceberg as 'the size of a semi-truck.' Incredible footage shows the Norwegian Sun, a 2,000-passenger Norwegian Cruise Line ship, smack into the 'growler' near the Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay Terrified passengers recorded the huge block of ice jolt the vessel while many slept before it disappeared under the bow on Saturday A growler is categorized as an iceberg that is less than two meters across and has less than one meter showing above the water. The captain turned the ship towards Juneau where it docked and expert divers checked on the condition of the boat. They found it had sustained damage from the iceberg, and had to return to Seattle for the necessary repairs. 'On June 25, 2022 while transiting to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, Norwegian Sun was engulfed by dense fog, limiting visibility and resulting in the ship making contact with a growler,' a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line told Cruise Hive. Cruise ships are pictured docked across the Gastineau Channel near downtown Juneau in this file photo They added that the ship was still 'fully operational' and was headed back to Juneau, Alaska for 'assessment.' Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn, a Coast Guard public affairs specialist, said the ship must return to Seattle to undergo repairs, according to the Juneau Empire. Littlejohn said the ship reported the incident to the National Guard immediately after making contact with the iceberg. The ship did not report any injuries, did not require search and rescue assistance and said the crash caused no pollution. He added that there 'is confidence' the ship will be able to make it back to Seattle safely and without further incident. Passengers were told they would be reimbursed. A 'fantastic father' died from a rare form of cancer after his NHS pathologist did not seek a second opinion over fears her colleague was too 'overworked', an inquest has heard. Former Royal Navy serviceman David Anthony Hulme, 49, died at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, in March 2021 - just four weeks after receiving his diagnosis for lymphona. The potentially fatal cancer, which attacks the lymph system, had been caught too late after being misdiagnosed as sarcoidosis - a rare condition that causes small patches of red and swollen tissue to develop, and which Mr Hulme, a father of two boys, had been diagnosed with in 2014. A pathologist, who examines manifestations of disease at Derriford Hospital, gave evidence at the inquest this week after she failed to identify signs of cancer in Mr Hulme's tissue sample. She admitted that she did not seek a second opinion as the only colleague available to provide one had work 'up to the ceiling' and had recently moved to part time hours. Senior coroner Ian Arrow told the court that a review of staffing levels should be undertaken by the hospital's hierarchy. He vowed to write to the hospital's CEO to insist the staffing issue is addressed. Former Royal Navy serviceman David Anthony Hulme (pictured with his wife), 49, died at Derriford Hospital in March 2021 - just four weeks after receiving his diagnosis for lymphona. The pathologist noted that in the summer of 2020 that she had identified signs of 'granulomatous inflammation' in Mr Hulmes tissue. This was in keeping with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and can be a sign of cell injury caused by a variety of conditions including infection, autoimmune, toxic, allergic, drug, and neoplastic condition. She also noted that due to the high inflammation it was extremely hard to examine the samples and by using the clinical history of the patient she felt comfortable that she could rule out cancer. She said: 'I did not feel in my experience that this was a malignant condition. At the time I felt it was benign.' Mr Hulme's exact condition was known as 'high grade B cell lymphoma' and was located in his right lung after he had previously complained of breathing difficulties and an ongoing cough. The pathologist giving evidence stated that the placement and exact condition of Mr Hulme was extremely rare. 'The diagnosis is very, very, extremely difficult and unprecedented in my career. I have never come across it or even heard of it,' she said. She told the hearing that in her job she is 'reliant on clinical context' and due to the previous diagnosis of sarcoidosis she felt that was the most likely cause of Mr Hulme's condition. A reassessment and a second opinion of the tissue sample was only gained in early 2021 when the pathologist was informed of a 'change in clinical status' to Mr Hulme. The potentially fatal cancer, which attacks the lymph system, had been caught too late after being misdiagnosed as sarcoidosis - a rare condition that causes small patches of red and swollen tissue to develop, and which Mr Hulme, a father-of-two boys (family pictured together), had been diagnosed with in 2014 A consultant pathologist at Royal Brompton Hospital in London informed staff at Derriford Hospital that he was 'worried that it could be lymphoma'. Although Mr Hulme did receive treatment for lymphoma prior to his death it was unable to prolong his life longer than a month. Ms Carmell, a legal representative of the Hulme family, pressed the pathologist on why she had not sought a second opinion at the time of the first examination. She responded saying: 'I wish that I had sought a second opinion.. I apologise to the family for that.' The pathologist stated the only work colleague at Derriford Hospital who would have been able to look at the sample was 'overworked with work up to his ceiling' and had recently swapped to working part-time hours. The pathologist also acknowledged that in her occupation doctors are not 'always good at showing uncertainty' and instead are taught to 'come down on one side'. A senior colleague at Derriford Hospital explained the hospital had completed a 'root cause analysis' of the events which led to Mr Hulme's death. He stated that the combination of confirmation bias and the complex nature of the case led to individual error in diagnosing Mr Hulme. The analysis conducted also uncovered a series of problems, contributory factors and recommendations going forward to ensure a similar incident would not happen again. Included within the findings was evidence of increased staff workload, a lack of consultants and a lack of formal training. Going forward, the senior colleague stated that a new operating system had been developed which would help pathologists seek a second opinion. A new forum has also been set up which will see pathologists meet quarterly to discuss difficult cases, specifically the problems and lessons they had learnt from working with the patient. At the inquest this week, senior coroner Ian Arrow told the court that a review of staffing levels should be undertaken by the hospital's hierarchy. (Pictured: Derriford Hospital) The pathologist present at the inquest added that her fellow colleagues believed she 'acted with integrity at the time'. Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Arrow said Mr Hulme had died as a result of 'high grade B cell lymphoma', which was a 'naturally occurring condition'. He informed those giving evidence that he would be writing to the CEO of Derriford Hospital with the advice that staffing levels should be investigated. Before ending the inquest and addressing the Hulme family, Mr Arrow said: 'I would like the opportunity to pass on my condolences to the family. I am very sorry to have heard of your loss.' Mr Hulme was a father to Kieran and Joe, aged 21 and 15 respectively and had previously served in the Royal Navy. Mr Hulme's wife described her partner of 19 years, saying: 'He was such a fantastic husband and dad to our boys, and to this day I still feel myself going to speak to him and then realising he's not here anymore. We all miss him every single day. 'Since he died, I feel like time has stood still for me. He was my soulmate and I really can't imagine the rest of my life without him. 'I know nothing will ever bring him back, and I know reliving it all at the inquest will be tough but I hope that it will at least provide us with the answers we need.' Hillary Clinton said in a Tuesday morning interview that for as long as she has known Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, he has been filled with 'resentment' and 'anger' as she insisted the Roe v. Wade ruling will result in women dying. 'I went to law school with [Justice Thomas],' Clinton told CBS Mornings in a pre-recorded interview. 'He's been a person of grievance for as long as I've known him resentment, grievance, anger.' The failed 2016 Democratic presidential nominee said that Thomas has 'signaled' to lower courts and state legislatures that they need to 'find cases, pass laws, gets them up' to restrict abortion, contraception rights and same-sex marriage. Clinton said that people who are 'right wing' and 'very conservative' are paying attention to Justice Thomas when it comes to these issues and the potential risk of their overturn. Her response comes after the bombshell Friday Supreme Court ruling that ended 50-years of precedent set by the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade. 'The thing that is well there's so many things about it that are deeply distressing but women are going to die, Gayle,' Clinton said. She insisted: 'Women will die. Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been 'a person of grievance for as long as I've known him resentment, grievance, anger' Clinton went to law school with Thomas and said his and other conservative Justices' ruling overturning Roe v. Wade on Friday will lead to 'women dying' The case at hand in the Supreme Court was Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which sought to challenge a Mississippi law that banned abortion at 15 weeks. The law was upheld by the court in a conservative 6-3 majority opinion. Thomas, one of the most conservative members of the Supreme Court, said in interviews published in a new book that he wasn't sure why he was nominated for the Supreme Court - and 'celebrated not being nominated' when he thought President George H.W. Bush had passed him up. 'I have no idea why or how I got nominated,' Thomas said, according to the book Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, which came out earlier this month. Thomas said in interviews published in a new book that he wasn't sure why he was nominated for the Supreme Court and 'celebrated not being nominated' when he thought President George H.W. Bush passed him up. Created Equal was a companion project to a 2020 documentary with the same name Thomas admitted that he 'hadn't thought about' the abortion issue in the run-up to his 1991 confirmation hearings. Thomas went one step further from his conservative cohorts on Friday by filing a concurring opinion suggesting that cases legalizing contraception and same-sex marriage should get another look from the court as well. Created Equal was a companion project to a documentary on Thomas released in 2020 by filmmaker Michael Pack, who led the U.S. Agency for Global Media under former President Donald Trump, and Mark Paoletta, a lawyer who worked alongside Thomas during his confirmation. Pack interviewed Thomas for more than 30 hours between November 2017 and March 2018, which became the basis for the film and then the book. Thomas made clear to Pack that he wasn't enthusiastic about being nominated to the court and also hadn't thought much about the abortion issue going into his confirmation hearings. Since the ruling on Friday, pro- and anti-abortion demonstrators have been posted outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Thirteen states had so-called 'trigger laws' that immediately made abortion illegal with the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Depeche Mode's keyboardist Andy Fletcher died after suffering an 'aortic dissection' at the age of 60, the band announced. Fletcher, nicknamed 'Fletch', founded the group in Basildon in 1980 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two years ago. Following his death on May 26, the band said there had been an 'outpouring of love' and it has been 'incredible' to see how much he meant to everyone. In a statement posted on Instagram, Depeche Mode said: 'As you can imagine, it's been a strange, sad, disorienting few weeks for us here, to say the least. But we've seen and felt all of your love and support, and we know that Andy's family has too. 'A couple weeks ago we received the result from the medical examiners, which Andy's family asked us to share with you now. 'Andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on May 26. So, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering.' The band said they had held a celebration of his life in London last week, describing it as a 'beautiful ceremony and gathering with a few tears, but filled with the great memories of who Andy was, stories of all of our times together, and some good laughs'. An aortic dissection is a condition in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the aorta. Depeche Mode's keyboardist Andy Fletcher died after suffering an 'aortic dissection' at the age of 60, the band announced Fletcher, nicknamed 'Fletch', founded the group in Basildon in 1980 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two years ago. Above: Andy Fletcher during a recording of the 'Later with Jools Holland' TV programme in London on April 28, 2009 'Andy was celebrated in a room full of many of his friends and family, our immediate DM family, and so many people who have touched Andy's and our lives throughout the years,' they said. 'All being together was a very special way to remember Andy and see him off. 'So thank you for all of the love you've shown Andy and his family and friends over the last few weeks. It honestly means the world to all of us. Andy, you'll be missed, but certainly not forgotten.' The statement was signed off by bandmates Martin Gore and Dave Gahan. Pictured left to right: Fletcher, Dave Gahan, Alan Wilder and Martin Gore of Depeche Mode in 1987 during the height of their success In a statement posted on Instagram , Depeche Mode said: 'As you can imagine, it's been a strange, sad, disorienting few weeks for us here, to say the least. But we've seen and felt all of your love and support, and we know that Andy's family has too. 'A couple weeks ago we received the result from the medical examiners, which Andy's family asked us to share with you now. 'Andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on May 26. So, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering' Aortic dissection: A deadly tear of the heart's main artery Without urgent medical care, aortic dissection can kill. But survival rates are slim, even with rapid treatment. Forty of per cent of affected patients die almost instantly, figures suggest. The life-threatening condition, which kills up to 3,000 Britons and 13,000 Americans every year is caused by a tear in the weakened wall of the aorta, the main artery pumping blood from your heart. This causes blood to leak between the layers that makes up the wall. As well as leading to heart attacks and strokes, it can cut-off the blood supply to limbs which can also be fatal. It can happen suddenly or slowly over time, according the British Heart Foundation. High blood pressure is a major risk factor. Symptoms which can be mistaken for other conditions include severe chest pain, feeling cold and shortness of breath. Ex-Liverpool football manager Gerard Houllier was rushed to hospital for an emergency 11-hour surgery to fix his aortic dissection in 2001. Surgeons describe the procedure as 'one of the most difficult operations to perform' because it is so fiddly. Advertisement Fletcher was born in Nottingham and moved to Basildon as a young boy, where he formed the band that would become known as Depeche Mode with Gore and Vince Clarke. While Clarke left in the early 1980s, Fletcher stayed with the group throughout its four-decade history, from its debut album Speak and Spell to 2017's Spirit. During this period, two of its albums reached Number 1 in the charts: Songs Of Faith and Devotion, and Ultra. Despite their popularity, the band never had a No 1 single, though they reached No 4 across three separate decades with People Are People, Barrel Of A Gun and Precious. Fletcher leaft behind a wife, Grainne, to whom he was married for almost 30 years, and two children, Megan and Joe. Fletcher was often modest about his role in Depeche Mode compared to that of his fellow musicians, Gore, Alan Wilder and Dave Gahan. In an interview for the 1989 documentary 101, he described their roles as: 'Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the good musician, Dave's the vocalist, and I bum around.' Despite their popularity, the band never had a No.1 single, though they reached No.4 across three separate decades with People are People, Barrel of a Gun and Precious. The band chose their name from French fashion magazine Depeche Mode, with frontman Gahan explaining: 'It means hurried fashion or fashion dispatch. I like the sound of that.' Depeche Mode played their first gig at school in 1980 and went on to make demo tapes, personally delivering them to record companies. They eventually recorded their first single 'Dreaming of Me' in December 1980 for independent label Mute Records, whose founder Daniel Miller was interested in their unique electronic sound. It reached number 57 in the UK charts. Buoyed by their early success, the band recorded a follow-up single, 'New Life', which made it to number 11 in the charts and landed their first appearance on Top of the Pops. Memorably, the band travelled to the BBC studio in London by train, taking their synthesizers with them. The band's debut album 'Speak and Spell' opened with 'New Life' and closed with one of the band's enduring hits, 'Just Can't Get Enough.' (Left to right) Fletcher with Depeche Mode bandmates Dave Gahan and Martin Gore in Berlin on March 21, 2013 As one of the co-founders of Depeche Mode in 1980, Fletcher was behind a string of hits including 'Just Can't Get Enough' Fletcher performing with Depeche Mode at the London Astoria on July 23, 1981 Clockwise from top left: Dave Gahan, Alan Wilder, Andrew Fletcher and Martin Gore of Depeche Mode in Berlin in July 1984 dy Fletcher of Depeche Mode performs during the band's 'Global Spirit Tour' U.S. opening night at USANA Amphitheatre on August 23, 2017 It was this third single, 'Just Can't Get Enough', that propelled the group to stardom and scored their first top ten hit. Around this time, original synthesist Clarke left the band to form Yazoo with Alison Moyet, but Depeche Mode followed their 80s success with other hits, including 'Enjoy the Silence', 'Strangelove' and 'Personal Jesus'. The group would find international success with 1984's 'Some Great Reward' and the single 'People are People,' and their prominence would only grow throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Fletcher would lend his keyboards to classic albums including 'Music for the Masses,' 'Black Celebration' and 'Violator.' The first of these led to a world tour that brought a live album, a documentary, and a legendary concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, that represented the pinnacle of the band's prominence. Fletcher (pictured in 1984) helped define the synth-pop genre of music as keyboardist of Depeche Mode Musician Andrew Fletcher of Depeche Mode speaks onstage at the Convention Centre in Austin, Texas, in 2013 Andy Fletcher attends a private view of photographer Dave Benett's new exhibition 'Great Shot, Kid' in London on February 16 A fan of Chelsea FC with a penchant for chess, Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group. He did not sing or write songs, and his face never as familiar as those of his bandmates. Fletcher handled many of the band's business and media interests; and expanded his career in the 1990s by running a restaurant named Gascogne's in St John's Wood, North West London. He admitted to suffering depression and endured a breakdown in 1994 after a series of bad investments, but he recovered to continue performing throughout the subsequent decades. He started his own record label, Toast Hawaii, in 2002, releasing an album by the band CLIENT. Fletcher would perform DJ sets at the band's live shows, which he continued to do at festivals and clubs after he and CLIENT parted ways. The band's last studio album 'Spirit' came out in 2017. In an interview with AFP ahead of its release, its members said they were proud to have attracted listeners of other genres, including rock fans who would have rarely stepped into a dance club. 'One of our legacies is to make electronic music popular to the masses,' Fletcher said. A furious man has vowed to take action against Hyundai after his car burst into flames on a quiet country road. Sumit Chugh, from Victoria, revealed how his brother-in-law was driving his Hyundai Tucson Active X near Lakes Entrance in eastern Victoria in October last year when he noticed smoke coming from its engine. The brother-in-law and some friends quickly got out of the car - which burst into flames 'within seconds'. 'My brother-in-law was shivering on the phone he was panicking and I had to calm him down,' Mr Chugh told news.com.au. 'Luckily they managed to escape this but how many lives have (been) put in danger?' Mr Chugh said the car was 'totally destroyed' and added that he couldn't bear to think about what could have happened if his wife, who was heavily pregnant at the time of the incident, had been driving instead. Along with another Hyundai owner, he is now calling for people to come forward for a class action. Mr Chugh said the car was 'totally destroyed' and added that he couldn't bear to think about what could have happened if his wife, who was heavily pregnant at the time of the incident, had been driving instead Last year, law firm Bannister Law announced it would be looking into launching a potential claim against Hyundai after the safety recall of 93,000 of its popular Tucson models. The cars were sold in Australia between November 1, 2014 and November 30, 2020. However, they were recalled due to a risk of an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle was turned off. The risk came because a circuit in the anti-lock brake system control module is constantly powered. This, combined with the unit ageing, led to the possibility of moisture entering the module, creating a short-circuit and a risk of fire. The law firm is also investigating a potential claim against Kia Motors Australia over a safety recall involving the same fire risk. Mr Chugh bought his car in June 2017 with a five-year warranty. In April 2021, he took it in to get 'fixed' after hearing about the recall. Mr Chugh bought his Hyundai Tucson Active X (model pictured) in June 2017 with a five-year warranty However, six months later, the car burst into flames while his brother-in-law was driving. After the incident, he was told by Hyundai to go through his insurance company. It offered to cover the claim, but could not find a cause for the fire. Mr Chugh asked Hyundai to investigate, as he was still under warranty and believed it was a manufacturing fault. However, Hyundai said it couldn't find a fault and would not be replacing the car. Another driver, Yvonne Dyer, from Werribee in Victoria, said she noticed a 'funny smell' coming from her Hyundai and also received a safety recall. 'It's really not good enough having these safety recalls you can't be driving and feel 100 per cent safe,' she said. Mr Chugh's brother-in-law and some friends quickly got out of the car - which burst into flames 'within seconds' Mr Chugh asked Hyundai to investigate, as he was still under warranty and believed it was a manufacturing fault. However, Hyundai said it couldn't find a fault and would not be replacing the car She is joining Mr Chugh in calling on drivers to come forward for the class action. Bannister Law principal Charles Bannister said his firm would file proceedings in the coming weeks for people who were the subject of the recalls and who have suffered consequential losses. 'Bannister Law is now encouraging all affected owners to register on our website and provide any information as to the losses they are or have sustained by having to park the vehicle in open space,' he said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hyundai for comment. President Joe Biden landed in Madrid on Tuesday for a NATO summit where he will increase the number of destroyers based in Spain and meet with Turkey to push for Finland and Sweden's entry into the alliance. Biden was greeted by Spanish King Felipe VI upon arrival. He had been at a meeting of G7 leaders in Germany. The two men chatted for several minutes with Biden reaching out several times to pat the king on the shoulder. While at the NATO summit, Biden will announce he is ramping up the U.S. military presence on the eastern flank, a move he promised to make in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion on Ukraine. The U.S. will send two more destroyers to Rota, Spain, on the Spanish coast. 'We'll be making specific announcements tomorrow on land, sea and air of additional force posture commitments over the long term, beyond the the duration of this crisis, however long it goes on,' National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Air Force One on the flight to Madrid. 'One of those announcements which the president will lay out today when he meets with the Spanish President, will be an increase in the number of destroyers based in Rota, Spain, from four to six destroyers.' Biden also addressed the additional American support. 'We're going to work on an agreement to increase the number of US Naval destroyer stationed in Spain's Rota naval base, which will also enhance the bilateral defense relationship between Spain and the United States,' Biden said after a meeting with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. President Joe Biden landed in Madrid on Tuesday for a NATO summit President Joe Biden is welcomed by King Felipe VI of Spain as he arrives at NATO meeting President Biden embraces King Felipe VI Air Force One lands at the airbase of Torrejon de Ardoz in Madrid Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (right) and President Joe Biden (left) make a joint statement in Madrid after their meeting And Sullivan said there could be more to come. 'We think by the end of the summit, what you will see is a more robust, more effective, more combat credible, more capable, and more determined force posture to take account of a more acute and aggravated Russian threat, not just because of what they've done in Ukraine, but also because of the way in which they have changed their posture,' he said. Russia's invasion of the Ukraine will be a main topic of conversation at the three-day summit, which formally kicks off on Tuesday night with a black-tie dinner. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the NATO leaders virtually on Wednesday. He also addressed G7 leaders earlier this week where he asked for more defensive capabilities and said he wants to see the war finish by year's end. The invasion has changed NATO's approach to defense, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday, and a number of states in the alliance. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked a 'fundamental shift' in NATO's approach to defense, and member states will have to boost their military spending in an increasingly unstable world, the leader of the alliance said Tuesday. Stoltenberg said the meeeting would chart a blueprint for the alliance 'in a more dangerous and unpredictable world.' 'To be able to defend in a more dangerous world we have to invest more in our defense,' Stoltenberg said. Just nine of NATO's 30 members meet the organization's target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Russia's invasion of the Ukraine also prompted Sweden and Finland to apply to join. President Joe Biden met with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at La Moncloa Palace after his arrival in Spain Security stands guard as they wait for President Joe Biden to deplane from Air Force One at Madrid's Torrejon Airport President Joe Biden will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to push for Finland and Sweden's ability to join alliance The U.S. is increasing its number of destroyers in Rota, Spain, from four to six But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking their application to join because he wants them to change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Biden spoke with Erdogan on Tuesday morning and will sit down with him on Wednesday while they are both in Madrid. Sullivan said the U.S. believes Finland and Sweden have taken significant steps forward in terms of addressing Turkey's concerns. We also believe and are confident that ultimately they will become members of the alliance and that Turkey's concerns will be fully addressed in terms of a bilateral meeting.' Additionally, for the first time, the leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand are attending the NATO summit as guests. President Biden will host a trilateral meeting with the president of Korea and the Prime Minister of Japan to discuss threats from North Korea to the region on Wednesday. Russia placed sanctions on US First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley as part of a new package of restrictions the country imposed on 25 American personalities. According to the Russian foreign ministry, the names on the list, which include the wife and daughter of US President Joe Biden, are banned from entering Russian territory indefinitely. The ministry stated that the measure is "a response to the ever-expanding US sanctions against Russian political and public figures." Prominent US politicians are also included on the list, including senior Republican Mitch McConnell and fellow GOP member Benjamin Sass. Names of sociologists and historians behind "Russophobic" regulations were also listed, per Newsweek. The list includes the names of David Kramer, a former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor under the George W. Bush administration; Morgan Stanley's head of European economics, Jacob Nell, and Stanford professors Francis Fukuyama and Larry Diamond. The most recent announcement from Moscow follows similar travel restrictions imposed on some individuals, per The Independent. Sanctions Vs. Sanctions Moscow's penalties against the First Lady and the presidential daughter come as Pres. Biden is on his way to attend the NATO summit in Madrid, which would deal with the conflict in Ukraine. The United States on Monday imposed increased tariffs on Russian commodities, limitations on gold exports, and penalties against several individuals and organizations backing Russia's aggression on Ukraine. These add to the already extensive package of sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries against substantial components of the Russian economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, his family, close circle, and elites in Russia. The West has imposed extensive sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February, and these most recent sanctions from Moscow follow those measures. Read Also: Joe Biden Condemns Russia's "Cruel" Missile Attack at Ukraine Shopping Mall Some of the sanctions placed by the West have targeted senior Russian officials, including the family of President Vladimir Putin, his daughters, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his family. Moreover, according to Forbes, the G-7 leaders are attempting to negotiate a ceiling on the price of Russian oil, which would shut off one of Putin's main sources of income while addressing the skyrocketing energy costs brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Macron Says Russia Must Be Defeated Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned on Tuesday that Russia "cannot and should not win" its war against Ukraine. In a news conference at the G7 summit in Bavaria, Macron stated: "Our support for Ukraine and our sanctions against Russia will be maintained as long as needed and with the intensity needed in the upcoming weeks and months." When journalists asked the French leader about his reaction to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's call to finish the war before the year ends, Macron answered, "No one is considering an end of the war in the next weeks or months." The French president said he hopes the war will end this year but "only with the certainty that Russia cannot and should not win." Macron also condemned the recent Russian missile attack on a crowded shopping mall in central Ukraine, calling it a "war crime," but he refused to call Russia a "state sponsoring terrorism," a term used by President Zelensky following the horrific incident. Related Article: Zelensky: Russian Troops Fire Missiles At Shopping Mall in Ukraine With 1,000 People @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Fox News Political Analyst Gianno Caldwell broke down live on air as he opened up about his 18-year-old 'baby' brother being shot dead as he slammed the Windy City for being 'soft on crime.' Caldwell, 35, slammed Chicago's current crime environment on Fox and Friends on Tuesday after his brother Christian Beamon, 18, was shot dead and two others were injured in the city's Morgan Park neighborhood on Friday. 'He was literally just standing in front of the venue,' he told the New York Post. 'And theres three or four people out there who murdered him. We want them held to account.' Chicago police said 50 bullet casings were found at the scene and they are looking for multiple suspects who began firing out of a black sedan, according to the report. On Tuesday morning, Caldwell joined his colleagues on Fox and Friends, growing emotional and choking down tears as he discussed having to plan his brother's funeral. 'I'd rather not be here talking to you, Steve [Doocy]. Honestly, I would rather be with my family right now,' he told the host this morning on Fox and Friends. 'Yesterday for the first time in my life, I went to the funeral home to plan the burial for my baby brother,' he said as he choked down tears. 'I'm paying for a funeral, Steve, for my baby brother. My baby brother is supposed to be burying me, not the other way around. 'But this is where we are, right now, and I pray for justice for my baby brother, Christian.' The analyst said hearing the news of his brother's death was 'legitimately the worst day of my existence,' on Instagram over the weekend, alongside several photos of his family. 'After all the things my family has been through, [I] never imagined my baby brother's life would be stolen from him.' Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell, 35, broke down on air Tuesday after his younger brother was shot and killed in Chicago on Friday. The tragic news was shared by Caldwell on Twitter, along with a photo with his youngest sibling, 18-year-old Christian Caldwell (left) is the father-figure to his siblings. Christian's murderer is believed to have gotten into a black sedan and driven off following the shooting (pictured: Caldwell and Christian at an unknown time) The Chicago Police Department detailed on Friday how an 18-year-old male victim with a gunshot wound to the torso had died at the scene of the shooting He also said on Tuesday that he was 'proud' of his little sister, who 'spoke to the community' the other day to asked people to take her brother's death as a 'lesson for everyone.' 'My little brother was innocent, but for those who may not be doing the right things? It's time to get right with God,' she reportedly said, according to her brother. Christian was the youngest of nine siblings and was known to be the 'comedian, like me,' Caldwell said. 'If you had a down day, Chris was the one who would say something to make you laugh. He was the kid that always had a joke. He was the kid that was the light. He was the energy of the room.' Caldwell said the Chicago he grew up in is no longer recognizable as criminals now run the streets and are 'not afraid of the police' The political analyst also revealed his grandmother is refusing to attend Christian's funeral, because she wanted to 'remember him how he was.' The Fox employee said it is 'heartbreaking.' 'That's so powerful to hear something like that because I never would have anticipated to hear something like hearing my grandmother mention a funeral for my baby brother.' The family is now searching for Christian's killer and are calling on Chicago's administration to 'review these soft of crime policies.' 'Living in Chicago should not come with a death warrant,' he said on Fox and Friends on Tuesday. 'But for so many people there it does. And that's why it's so important for me to keep my brother's name alive in hopes that people will reach out to the police if they know anything, the Chicago police.' Caldwell, who is now based in Miami, told the New York Post that the Chicago is unrecognizable to the one he grew up in, as criminals are now running the streets and are no longer concentrated to the notorious South Side. 'We need to drive legislation to revise or reverse some of these policies that could have prevent my brother's death. Because criminals here - they don't capitulate to the law and they're not afraid of the police, they're not afraid of the prosecutors,' he said on Fox and Friends on Tuesday. 'I never, ever, ever thought that my baby brother, just turned 18, would ever be in this situation. We've never had anybody murdered in our family, and we've been through very, very tragic things. God has always shielded each and every one of us, so I can't understand how this happened. I'm trying to get the details to understand fully what's going on here,' he said (pictured: Christian) Days earlier, Caldwell shared a series of messages between another of his brothers on Father's Day. 'My little brother has never met his father and as devastating as this is, I am thankful to God for choosing me to be his big brother/father figure,' Caldwell wrote. 'I've always looked at you as the closest thing to a father figure. You've taught me so much and for that I'm forever grateful and proud of the things you have done,' his brother Matthew wrote to him in a touching message (pictured) Caldwell described his childhood in Chicago as 'really, really poor.' His mother was addicted to crack cocaine and had to go to rehab. It meant the siblings were all placed in the custody of his grandmother. 'I was like his dad because he never knew his father. So my three youngest little brothers, I considered they were my kids. Those are my sons, so I took care of them. I financially supported them and still do my family,' Caldwell told Fox earlier this week Three of Caldwell's siblings holding shoe boxes (pictured at an unknown time) 'The belief there, from what I was told from some of the young men even yesterday, is that if someone does something they are likely not going to get arrested or if they do, they may not get prosecuted,' Caldwell said of his home city. It's an in-and-out system that must change. We have got to get tough on crime in Chicago, because literally lives are on the line.' Crime in the Windy City is up 34 percent compared to the same time last year. However, murder and shooting incidents are both down 11 and 17 percent, respectively. Caldwell also said earlier this week that the Chicago police 'need to be unhandcuffed.' He recalled earlier this month a time when his brother - he did not specify which one - was inside a car that was shot at '25 times' over Memorial Day weekend 'several years ago.' Just days before the most recent shooting, Caldwell shared a series of messages between another of his brothers on Father's Day. 'I've always looked at you as the closest thing to a father figure. You've taught me so much and for that I'm forever grateful and proud of the things you have done,' his brother Matthew wrote to him in a touching message. 'My little brother has never met his father and as devastating as this is, I am thankful to God for choosing me to be his big brother/father figure,' Caldwell wrote. Overall crime has risen 34 percent in the Windy City, compared to the same time last year Caldwell described his childhood in Chicago as 'really, really poor.' His mother was addicted to crack cocaine and had to go to rehab. It meant the siblings were all placed in the custody of his grandmother. 'I was like his dad because he never knew his father. So my three youngest little brothers, I considered they were my kids. Those are my sons, so I took care of them. I financially supported them and still do my family,' Caldwell told Fox earlier this week. His brother's best friend reportedly died in his arms the night of the Memorial Day Weekend shooting, 'when two men walked up and shot that car 25 times,' he said on Fox's The Big Sunday Show on June 5. 'I'm absolutely disgusted by the violence that continues in my hometown,' he said during a panel discussion earlier this month. Caldwell had previously been critical of Chicago's leadership and the rising crime levels in the Windy City, noting how there were 76 police officers either shot or fired upon in 2021 with more than 800 homicides across the city overall. '[Chicago police] need to get tough and needs to get tough immediately, otherwise we're going to see more and more people dying in the streets daily.' Advertisement Ghislaine Maxwell, 60, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of sex trafficking in December Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after telling the court that meeting Jeffrey Epstein was the 'biggest regret of my life' and apologizing to her victims 'for the pain that you have experienced.' Judge Alison Nathan handed down the 240-month sentence followed by five years supervised release after calling Maxwell's crimes 'heinous and prefatory.' The judge also imposed a fine of $750,000, noting Maxwell had received a $10million bequest from Epstein after his death. 'Ms. Maxwell worked with Epstein to select young victims who were vulnerable and played a pivotal role in facilitating sexual abuse,' Judge Nathan said, making it clear the case called for a 'very significant sentence' that sent an 'unmistakable message' that such crimes would be punished. There is no parole for federal prison, so Maxwell is likely to serve the entire 20-year sentence, but could potentially be released a few years early for good behavior. Maxwell's attorneys argued against the hefty fine, claiming she 'has received nothing' from the bequest in Epstein's will, but the judge remained firm on the decision, adding that 'there are additional assets.' Lawyers also requested she serve her sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut. The low-security federal prison was the inspiration for the fictional prison in the Netflix show 'Orange Is The New Black.' After the sentencing, Maxwell's attorney Bobbi Sternheim said outside the courthouse: 'Our client Ghislaine Maxwell has been vilified, pilloried and left little room for her to be treated fairly. Because even before she stropped forward into this courthouse, she was being tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. 'Ghislaine will appeal this case and we're confident she will prevail on appeal.' Maxwell's brother, Kevin, briefly spoke following the sentencing and said they would be 'solidly' behind her during her appeal. GHISLAINE ADDRESSES THE COURT Before the sentencing Maxwell, 60, appearing in a blue prison uniform with shackles around her ankles, addressed the court and said she was 'fooled' by Epstein. 'I realize I have been convicted of assisting Jeffrey Epstein to commit these crimes,' she said. 'My association with Epstein will permanently stain me. It is the biggest regret of my life that I ever met him.' She added that Epstein 'fooled all of those in his orbit.' Prosecutors had asked Judge Nathan to impose a sentence of at least 30 years because of Maxwell's 'utter lack of remorse,' while Maxwell claimed she should serve just four years as she is not a danger to the public. The sentencing marks the end of a decades-long fight for justice by victims of Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Ghislaine Maxwell delivers her first public statement while addressing Judge Alison Nathan during her sentencing in a courtroom sketch The sentencing marks the end of a decades-long fight for justice by victims of Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. In court Tuesday Maxwell said that Epstein 'fooled all of those in his orbit' The judge imposed a fine of $750,000 and recommended she be sent to the Danbury, Connecticut, Federal Correctional Institution Ghislaine Maxwell defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim talks to the media outside the US District Court for the Southern District of New York after the sentencing GHISLAINE'S STATEMENT AT SENTENCING HEARING IN FULL Your honor, it is hard for me to address the court after listening to the pain and anguish expressed today. The terrible impact on the lives of so many women is difficult to hear and even more difficult to absorb, both in its scale and extent. I acknowledge their suffering and empathize deeply with all of the victims in this case. I also acknowledge with that I have been a victim of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes. I realize I have been convicted of assisting Jeffrey Epstein to commit these crimes. My association with Epstein will permanently stain me. It is the biggest regret of my life that I ever met him. I believe Jeffrey Epstein fooled all of those in his orbit. His victims considered him a mentor, friend, lover. It is absolutely unfathomable today to think that was how he was viewed contemporaneously. His impact on all those close to him has been devastating. And today, those who even knew him briefly or never met him but were associated with someone who did, have lost relationships, jobs, and had their lives derailed. Jeffrey Epstein should have stood before you. In 2005. In 2009. And again in 2019. All the many times he was accused, charged, prosecuted. He should have spared victims the years of chasing justice. But today is ultimately not about Epstein. It is for me to be sentenced and for the victims to address me alone in court. To you I say: I am sorry for the pain you experienced. I hope my conviction along with my harsh incarceration brings you closure. I hope this brings the women who have suffered some measure of peace and faintly to help you put those experiences of so many years ago in a place that allows you to look forward and not back. I also acknowledge the pain this case has wrought to those I love, the many I held and still hold close, the relationships I have lost and will never be able to regain. It is my sincerest wish to all those in this courtroom and all those outside this courtroom that today brings a terrible chapter to an end. And to those of you who spoke here today and those who did not, may this day help you travel through darkness into the light. Advertisement MAXWELL'S VICTIMS SPEAK OUT Before Maxwell spoke in court, she was forced to face her sex trafficking victims as they gave dramatic testimony. Annie Farmer, Sarah Ransome, Elizabeth Stein and one woman known only as Kate read their heartbreaking victim impact statements where they pleaded for the longest possible sentence and demanded Maxwell spend the rest of her life in prison. Prosecutors asked Judge Alison Nathan to impose a sentence of at least 30 years because of Maxwell's 'utter lack of remorse,' while Maxwell claimed she should serve just four years as she is not a danger to the public 'I was nothing more than a sex toy with a heartbeat and soul used to entertain Epstein, Maxwell and others,' Ransome said, sharing photos of herself in a hospital bed after she tried to kill herself when the trauma of the sexual abuse became unbearable. Ransome said in her victim statement, 'On one visit to the island, the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation ensued me to try to escape by jumping off a cliff into shark-infested waters. I was caught by Maxwell and company moments before jumping. At the time, that extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time,' she said. 'Maxwell is today the same woman I met almost 20 years ago - incapable of compassion or common human decency,' she added. 'Sentencing her to the rest of her life in prison will not change her, but it will give survivors a slight sense of justice.' During the testimony Maxwell remained stoic and avoided her victims' eyes. Farmer fought back tears as she asked the judge to take into account the 'ongoing suffering of the many women she abused and exploited. 'Judge Nathan, I hope when you consider the appropriate prison sentence for the role Maxwell played in this sex-trafficking operation, you take into account the ongoing suffering of the many women she abused and exploited as we will continue to live with the memories of the ways she harmed us,' Farmer said. 'I hope you weigh the systemic effects of the crimes she perpetrated -- the ways that our family members, romantic partners and friends have been hurt through our suffering. 'I ask you to bear in mind how Maxwell's unwillingness to acknowledge her crimes, her lack of remorse, and her repeated lies about her victims created the need for many of us to engage in a long fight for justice that has felt like a black hole sucking in our precious time, energy, and well-being for much too long now. Sarah Ransome and Elizabeth Stein held hands as they walked out of court Tuesday. Ransome claimed in her victim impact statement, 'I was nothing more than a sex toy with a heartbeat and soul used to entertain Epstein, Maxwell and others'. Elizabeth Stein revealed she had to have an abortion after getting raped 'countless times' A jubilant Annie Farmer smiles outside the Manhattan courthouse shortly after the sentence was handed down. Farmer fought back tears as she asked the judge to take into account the 'ongoing suffering of them many women she abused and exploited' Fellow victims listen tearfully as Sarah Ransome reads a victim impact statement ahead of Maxwell's sentencing 'These things cannot be replaced.' After the sentencing Annie Farmer slammed Maxwell's 'very hollow' apology. 'It felt very powerful to finally have a chance to speak and have my voice on the record and say how her crimes impacted people and myself,' Farmer said. 'Her statement felt like a very hollow apology to me. she did not take responsibility for her crimes that she committed, and it felt like once more than she was trying to do something that benefitted her and not at all about the harm that she caused.' Stein revealed she had to have an abortion after getting raped 'countless times,' and Kate said Maxwell's 'lack of remorse and her blatant refusal to take responsibility is her final insult. She is not sorry and she will do it again.' Kate said that women 'must take a stand of zero tolerance to those who use their power to groom and traffic the vulnerable.' 'Every single child must have their innocence defended,' Kate says. 'No person should be shielded from the consequences of their actions.' 'Maxwell's lack of remorse and her blatant refusal to take responsibility is her final insult. She is not sorry and she will do it again. 'Today is not a happy day. I take no pleasure in being part of a world where this is necessary. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave women and to do what is necessary to stop Ghislaine.' Virginia Roberts was not in court, but her lawyer Sigrid McCawley read her statement. Reading her statement to the court, victim Sarah Ransome said that locking up Maxwell for life would 'give survivors a slight sense of justice' Ransome shared photos of herself in a hospital bed after she tried to kill herself - one from 2008 and another in 2018 when Epstein was under investigation The woman known only as 'Kate' read her testimony in person and faced down Maxwell Four women gave evidence against Maxwell during her trial: a victim known as 'Jane' (left) , Annie Farmer, Kate and another woman called Carolyn (right) Jurors saw physical evidence like a folding massage table once used by Epstein and a 'black book' that listed contact information for some of the victims under the heading 'massages' 'Ghislaine, 22 years ago, in the summer of 2000, you spotted me at the Mar-a-Lago Hotel in Florida, and you made a choice,' McCawley reads from Giuffre's statement. 'You chose to follow me and procure me for Jeffrey Epstein. Just hours later, you and he abused me together for the first time. Together, you damaged me physically, mentally, sexually and emotionally. Together, you did unthinkable things that still have a corrosive impact on me to this day.' 'When you did that, Ghislaine, you changed the course of our lives forever,' she wrote. After Epstein hanged himself while awaiting trial in 2019, attention turned to Maxwell who was arrested a year later and found guilty in December following her sensational trial. She has said she will appeal her conviction and claims that she is being made a 'scapegoat' for Epstein. Four women gave evidence against Maxwell during her weeks-long trial: a victim known as 'Jane', Annie Farmer, Kate and another woman called Carolyn. Over three weeks, the jury heard how Maxwell 'served up' underage girls for Epstein and relished her role as the 'Lady of the House' at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Between 1994 and 2004 Maxwell was Epstein's 'right hand' and paid $200 for sexualized massages or even took part in the abuse. The victims, some as young as 14, were given a similar amount of money if they brought friends to Epstein, the jury was told. Ghislaine's siblings, Isabel and Kevin Maxwell, showed up to court to support their sister at her sentencing Tuesday 'Rogue' juror Scotty David is seen waiting on line to go into Manhattan Federal court for Maxwell's sentencing. David was a juror in her trial and lied about his history of sexual abuse In a big win for Maxwell's defense, Judge Alison Nathan ruled to use sentencing guidelines from 2003 - the year Maxwell's last offense took place. In 2004, sentencing guidelines were raised, which could have seen Maxwell facing a maximum of 55 years. But the judge ruled to now lower the maximum to 235 months - or 19.5 years During the trial, prosecutors called 24 witnesses to give jurors a picture of life inside Epstein's homes - a subject of public fascination and speculation ever since his 2006 arrest in Florida in a child sex case. A housekeeper testified he was expected to be 'blind, deaf and dumb' about the private lives of Epstein, a financier who cultivated friendships with influential politicians and business tycoons. Pilots took the witness stand and dropped the names of luminaries - Britain's Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump - who flew on Epstein's private jets. Jurors saw physical evidence like a folding massage table once used by Epstein and a 'black book' that listed contact information for some of the victims under the heading 'massages'. There were bank records showing he had transferred $30.7 million to Maxwell. Prosecutors produced a 58-page household manual covering every single aspect of running the house in Palm Beach that they indicated Maxwell had written. There were dozens of checklists for each area of the house, instructions on when to replace the toothpaste and what brands of creams to buy. One instruction to all household staff that was seized on by the prosecution read: 'You see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing'. But the core of the prosecution was the testimony of four women who said they were victimized by Maxwell and Epstein at tender ages. Three testified using first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, a former model from Great Britain; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Farmer, who chose to use her real name after being vocal about her allegations in recent years. The most gut wrenching was Carolyn who testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epstein's Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to give massages in exchange for $100 bills. Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. The sentencing marks the end of a decades-long fight for justice by victims of Maxwell and Epstein The couple appeared to vacation to a cold destination. Seen together with warm coats and large fur hats in an undated photo submitted into evidence during the trial The pair are seen sitting in the grass with a dog in this undated photo submitted into evidence by the government Jane said in 1994, when she was only 14, she was instructed to follow Epstein into a pool house at the Palm Beach estate, where he masturbated on her. Jane told the jury: 'I was frozen in fear', adding that the assault was the first time she had ever seen a penis. She also directly accused Maxwell of participating in her abuse. Maxwell's lawyer asked Jane why it had taken so long to come forward. She responded: 'I was scared. I was embarrassed, ashamed. I didn't want anybody to know any of this about me'. Kate said she was recruited by Maxwell in London in 1994 when she was 17 and described in vivid detail how she invited her round for tea and then asked her back to give Epstein a massage. In chilling testimony Kate described how Maxwell closed the door behind her as a naked Epstein lay on a massage table in front of her. After one such encounter Maxwell told her: 'Did you have fun? Was it good?' Farmer described how she was lured to Epstein's ranch in New Mexico at the age of 16 with the promise there would be dozens of other bright students that he wanted to help. Instead it was just her and Maxwell proceeded to massage her breasts before Epstein got into bed with her. Summing up her experience, Farmer said: 'I think this was all a pattern of them working on confusing my boundaries and malign me question myself about what was right and what was not right with the ultimate goal of sexually abusing me'. Jurors deliberated for five full days before finding Maxwell guilty of five of six counts. In court Maxwell often hugged her lawyers appeared in good health despite claims from her lawyers she had been losing weight and losing hair due to the grim conditions in prison pre-trial. She declined to testify, telling the court: 'You honor, the government has not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt so there is no reason to testify'. Maxwell's fall from grace is all the more astonishing given her background as a wealthy socialite and the daughter of Robert Maxwell, the late newspaper tycoon who fell off his yacht in the Canary Islands in 1991 in mysterious circumstances. Four of Maxwell's siblings - Kevin, Christine, Isabel and Ian and - are seen arriving to court to support their sister during her trial in December Ghislaine was Robert Maxwell's youngest child, born on Christmas Day 1961 She's pictured with her father in 1984 Her lawyers tried to argue that Robert Maxwell's abusive behavior around his children made Maxwell 'vulnerable' when she met Epstein around the time of her father's death. She appears to have replaced one controlling, manipulative father with a nearly identical man - Epstein - who she dated before becoming the boss of his sex trafficking organization. The true number of Epstein's victims may never be known but the fund set up to pay compensation to them paid out $121million to 150 women around the world. Most of the victim impact statements were released ahead of sentencing and they were blistering in their condemnation of Maxwell. They included Virginia Roberts, who earlier this year settled a lawsuit with Prince Andrew for a reported $12m over claims that she was forced to have sex with him three times when she was 17. According to Roberts, Maxwell recruited her when she was 16 at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. In her victim impact statement reads that Maxwell and Epstein did 'unthinkable things' to her. The statement says: 'Without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible pedophile. 'But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it. 'Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell. You deserve to be trapped in a cage forever, just like you trapped your victims.' An infamous photo of Virginia Roberts, Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, taken at Maxwell's home in London's Belgravia Maxwell, Naomi Campbell, Donald Trump and Melania Knauss in November 2002 at a Dolce and Gabbana show in New York In 2010 Maxwell attended the wedding of Clinton's daughter Chelsea in Rhinebeck, upstate New York And image shows Jeffrey Epstein and his 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell holding a private audience with John Paul II at the Vatican during his blessing almost 20 years ago Ghislaine studied history at the University of Oxford in the early 1980s where she began building connections of her own, including Prince Andrew, who would later invite her and Epstein to Windsor Castle and Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth's country estate Farmer's victim impact statement reads: 'I remember sitting at my desk in a Houston hospital physically shaking after seeing the photo of Maxwell with Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew because it became clear to me how their scheme had continued'. Sarah Ransome, a former model from South Africa who grew up in Scotland, said that Maxwell and Epstein turned her into 'nothing more than a sex toy with a heartbeat'. Maxwell's attorney said her client had been placed on suicide watch at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn While trying to escape from Epstein's private island in the Caribbean she tried to jump off a cliff but was found by Maxwell before she could. Ransome wrote: 'Maxwell was his right hand woman. She was the Five Star General of several recruiters and many others who provided the means and cover for Epstein's predation. 'Epstein and Maxwell were masters at finding young, vulnerable girls and young women to exploit. Like Hotel California, you could blindly check into the Epstein-Maxwell dungeon of sexual hell but you could never leave. Jeffrey and Ghislaine made sure of that'. The sentencing was delayed after Maxwell's lawyers raised questions over comments by one of her jurors, Scotty David. He said that he did not disclose his past history of sexual abuse when filing out his jury questionnaire. David was recalled to the court by judge Nathan for a hearing where she interrogated him and later ruled his nondisclosure had been an unintentional error. Maxwell's family have been unequivocal in their support of her and have refused to believe she is guilty. In a recent newspaper column her brother Ian said that Maxwell, who is a French citizen, should have fled to France when Epstein was arrested in 2019 rather than stay in the US. Maxwell only did so because she 'had a clear conscience' but her decision meant that she fell victim to a 'lynch mob.' Ian Maxwell wrote: 'I know that Ghislaine is innocent and that she would never have been found guilty in any civilized country.' Spanish police have arrested a British fugitive wanted over a fatal stabbing in the UK. The 22-year-old is facing extradition after being arrested in the town of Hinojos in the south-west Spanish province of Huelva where he had integrated himself into the local community and 'gone unnoticed', police said. The suspect, identified only by his initials OBP, allegedly fatally stabbed a man to death in the UK on August 21, 2021, before fleeing to Spain. Detectives in Spain said the detainee, who is said to have both Spanish and British nationality, was wanted on an International Arrest Warrant sent to more than 30 countries by Interpol NCB Manchester, which is part of the UK's National Crime Agency. The 22-year-old is facing extradition after being arrested in the town of Hinojos in the south-west Spanish province of Huelva where he had integrated himself into the local community and 'gone unnoticed', police said. Pictured: The Briton was arrested by police in Spain Spanish police released footage of the arrest today and confirmed: 'Spanish National Police have arrested a 22-year-old in Hinojos in Huelva who has both Spanish and British nationality on suspicion of a crime of homicide.' Saying the investigation to track him down had started at the beginning of last year, a spokesman added: 'The arrest warrant was issued in the name of OBP and said he had fled the UK in August last year after allegedly being involved in a homicide on the night of August 21 2021. 'In the company of three other people, he allegedly stabbed his victim in the chest and caused his death.' Spanish police released footage of the arrest of the British fugitive today The spokesman added: 'Work done by investigators managed to pinpoint him to Hinojos where he had taken refuge in a family home and had managed to integrate himself into the local community and go unnoticed. 'He was arrested when officers took advantage of the fact an annual festival was taking place.' The Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid will now determine whether to extradite him to the UK. It was not immediately clear today if he has already appeared before an extradition judge and whether he has consented to being flown to Britain or is opposing extradition. Charges against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, his health director and seven others in the Flint water scandal were dismissed after the state Supreme Court ruled that a judge had no power to issue indictments under a century-old, rarely used law. The state laws 'authorize a judge to investigate, subpoena witnesses, and issue arrest warrants' as a one-person grand jury, the Supreme Court said said on Tuesday. 'But they do not authorize the judge to issue indictments,' the court said in a 6-0 opinion. The challenge was filed by lawyers for former health director Nick Lyon, but the decision also applies to Snyder and others who were indicted by Genesee County Judge David Newblatt. Lyon and Michigan's former chief medical executive, Dr. Eden Wells, were charged with involuntary manslaughter for nine deaths related to Legionnaires' disease when Flint's water system might have lacked enough chlorine to combat bacteria in the river water. It's an astonishing defeat for Attorney General Dana Nessel, who took office in 2019 and got rid of a special prosecutor and put together a new team to investigate whether crimes were committed when lead contaminated Flint's water system in 2014 to 2015. The charges against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (left) over the Flint water crisis were cleared after the defense for former health director Nick Lyon (right) argued that that a judge could not indict them over how the case was handled Nine of Michigan and Flint's top officials who oversaw the disaster were cleared, including (Top row L-R): : Jarrod Agen, Gerald Ambrose, Richard Baird, Howard Croft, Darnell Earley (Bottom row L-R): Nicolas Lyon, Nancy Peeler, Rick Snyder and Eden Wells The state Supreme Court's order came after Attorney General Dana Nessel's (left) team prosecuting the case turned to a one-judge grand jury in Genesee County, an old and rare method. Judge David Newblatt (right) led the indictments through the process What are the health implications of lead poisoning? Lead poisoning occurs when the metal builds up in the body. Children younger than six years old are particularly vulnerable as such poisoning can damage their mental and physical development. In severe cases, lead poisoning can be fatal. Lead poisoning is often caused by exposure to contaminated paint and dust in water, air and soil. Symptoms include learning difficulties, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, constipation, seizures and hearing loss. Aside from removing the source of contamination, treatment includes medication that encourages lead removal via urine. Blood lead levels higher than five micrograms is considered abnormal in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of 2018, some 535,000 children in the US were thought to have at least levels this high, the CDC adds. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement Six others were also indicted on various charges: Snyder's longtime fixer, Rich Baird; former senior aide Jarrod Agen; former Flint managers Gerald Ambrose and Darnell Earley; former Flint public works chief Howard Croft; and Nancy Peeler, a state health department manager. There was no immediate comment from Snyder's legal team. The attorney general's office said it was reviewing the opinion. In a money-saving move, Flint managers appointed by Snyder switched the city's water source to the Flint River. State regulators said the river water didn't need to be treated to reduce its corrosive qualities. That was a ruinous decision: Lead from old pipes flowed through the system for 18 months in the majority-Black city. It is believed that anywhere between 6,000 and 12,000 children were exposed to drinking water with high levels of lead due to corrosion of the water distribution system's pipes, with some suggesting as many as 20,000 were exposed. In total, some 100,000 Flint water customers fell ill, and 12 died from Legionnaires' disease. prompting several lawsuits and neglect charges to be brought against Snyder. Snyder was charged with two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty. Nessel assigned Fadwa Hammoud to lead the criminal investigation, along with Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy, while the attorney general focused on settling lawsuits against the state. Hammoud and Worthy turned to a one-judge grand jury in Genesee County - a century-old, rarely used method - to hear evidence in secret and get indictments against Snyder and others. 'There are no velvet ropes in our criminal justice system,' Hammoud proudly declared in 2021 when charges were filed. 'Nobody - no matter how powerful or well-connected - is above accountability when they commit a crime.' But she and her team, acting on Worthy's recommendation, didn't follow a traditional process. Hammoud still hasn't publicly explained why. Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud (left) and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy (right) sough the unusual method to indict the state and city officials. The attorney general's office has yet to explain why this was done Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards shows the difference in water quality between Detroit and Flint after testing, giving evidence after more than 270 samples were sent in from Flint that show high levels of lead during a news conference on September 15, 2015 Prosecutors in Michigan typically file charges after a police investigation. A one-judge grand jury is extremely rare and is mostly used to protect witnesses, especially in violent crimes, who can testify in secret. 'It seems that the power of a judge conducting an inquiry to issue an indictment was simply an unchallenged assumption, until now,' the Supreme Court said Tuesday. Lyon's attorney Chip Chamberlain, said: 'This wasn't even a close case - it was six-zip. It was based on a plain reading of the statute. 'They couldn't do what they tried to do.' The Flint water switch and its consequences have been investigated for crimes since 2016 when then-Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Republican, appointed Todd Flood as special prosecutor. Schuette pledged to put people in prison, but the results were different: Seven people pleaded no contest to misdemeanors that were eventually scrubbed from their records. Flood insisted he was winning cooperation from key witnesses and moving higher toward bigger names. Nonetheless, Nessel, a Democrat, fired him and pledged to start over following her election as attorney general. Separately, the state has agreed to pay $600 million as part of a $626 million settlement with Flint residents and property owners who were harmed by lead-tainted water. Most of the money is going to children. Meanwhile, roughly 10,100 lead or steel water lines had been replaced at Flint homes by last December. An Illinois nurse resigned on Monday after posting a controversial tweet pledging to not prescribe Viagra to white conservative men. 'I prescribe meds.. I can also choose not to prescribe them,' the identified nurse, Shawna Harris, tweeted Friday evening. 'So... from now on.. if you are a white male who votes conservative, your penis needs to ask God for the power to rise. No more Viagra.' Harris, worked at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center for nearly nine years before the social media incident on Friday, according to her LinkedIn profile. Illinois nurse, Shawna Harris, resigned on Monday after posting a controversial tweet pledging to not prescribe Viagra to white conservative men The controversial tweet claiming 'no more Viagra' for conservative white men, gained traction and was deemed 'discriminatory' by Harris' place of employment The tweet went viral and eventually was deemed 'discriminatory' by Sarah Lincoln Bush Health Center. Harris apologized for her comment claiming she let her 'personal feelings spill out' and has allowed her actions to tarnish the hospital's reputation. 'Those hateful words are not aligned with how I have provided care to my patients,' Harris wrote in a statement released by the hospital. 'I have resigned and know my patients will be well cared for,' she added. Harris has since removed the tweet and deactivated her Twitter account. The former Illinois nurse was also removed from the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center website. Harris issued an apology on Monday claiming she allowed her 'personal feelings to spill out.' Harris was a nurse at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center for nearly nine years before announcing her resignation on Monday President of the hospital, Jerry Esker, echoed Harris' apology on behalf of the hospital while claiming 'discriminatory practices are not tolerated' SBL President and CEO Jerry Esker apologized for Harris' comment while promising that the hospital provides care 'to everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, income, national origin, cultural personal values, beliefs and preferences.' 'Discriminatory practices are not tolerated. We are sorry this issue caused such turmoil. We continue to stand behind our mission and provide care to all,' Esker added. The controversial tweet was sent hours after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade - the 1973 landmark case that granted women the right to receive an abortion. The right to an abortion will now be up to elected state representatives to decide. Abortion was automatically outlawed in 18 US states as soon as Roe v. Wade was overturned, thanks to specially-devised 'trigger laws' and historic bans that were automatically reenacted after Friday's ruling. Abortion bans in those states will now become law within 30 days unless they are blocked by state judges. A Louisiana judge on Monday temporarily blocked the state from banning abortions despite its trigger law, and a judge in Utah followed closely behind, blocking the state's ban for 14 days. US firms' spending on private jets for their top executives for personal use hit a 10-year high last year as pandemic restrictions were relaxed. Facebook parent company Meta and aerospace engineering firm Lockheed Martin topped the charts, spending a whopping $1.6million and $1.1million respectively on private air travel for their chief executives Mark Zuckerberg and James Taiclet. A total of $33.8million was spent on private flights in 2021 by S&P 500 companies - a 35 per cent rise vs. 2020 and the most since since 2012, according to data from ISS Corporate Solutions. Private jets produce a significantly higher amount of harmful emissions per passenger than commercial flights, leading environmentalists to criticize their continued use by wealthy businesspeople and executives. It comes as Zuckerberg's social media behemoth in 2020 announced it seeks to reach a net zero target for emissions created by the company's activities - including business trips - by 2030. Equity index compiler MSCI meanwhile declared today that the world's listed companies were on a course to cause global warming of 2.9 degrees Celsius, well above a target to limit the worst effects of climate change on the planet. US firms' spending on private jets for their top executives for personal use hit a 10-year high last year as pandemic restrictions were relaxed, according to data from ISS Corporate Solutions Climate scientists and activists argue the burden of decreasing emissions lies with the top executives of large companies, given that the world's wealthiest one per cent accounted for 15 per cent of global emissions in 2015 (Meta chief exec Mark Zuckerberg left, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin James Taiclet right) Many companies eased their restrictions on private air travel in 2020, arguing that there was an increased risk of catching Covid-19 on commercial flights, but have continued to fork out huge sums of money to allow their top executives and chairmen to fly private, even for personal travel as well as business trips. According to Lockheed Martin's latest regulatory filings, $353,303 was spent on President and CEO Taiclet's personal travel, commutes to his home out of state and even deadhead flights, when an aircraft performs a private charter to one destination and does not carry passengers back the other way. Climate scientists and activists argue the burden of decreasing emissions lies with the top executives of large companies, given that the world's wealthiest one per cent accounted for 15 per cent of global emissions in 2015, according to a Stockholm Environmental Institute report. By comparison, the report suggests the world's poorest 50 per cent were responsible for just 7 per cent of global emissions. But fewer than half of all global listed companies align with a 2 degree temperature increase, and only just over a tenth conform to the most ambitious 1.5 degree temperature rise scenario, MSCI said in its quarterly Net-Zero Tracker. MSCI's findings underscore how much the world's established companies must transform their business practices to make good on pledges governments have made to lower emissions. A global deal agreed in Paris in 2015 set the goal of preventing global warming above 1.5 degrees - the limit that scientists say could prevent irreversible climate change. MSCI said listed firms needed immediately to begin reining in their carbon intensity by 8-10 per cent annually until 2050 in order to limit temperature change to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial era. Meta chief exec Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) in the wake of the Paris climate agreement, pledging 99 per cent of their Facebook shares to charitable and advocacy purposes primarily focused on sustainability. But Zuckerberg has faced criticism for failing to lead by example when it comes to combatting climate change as he continues to use private jets for personal use. It comes just months after it was revealed that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi - who has been one of the US' biggest mouthpieces on climate change crisis - spent almost $500,000 on private jet travel between October 2020-December 2021. Campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission show Pelosi's campaign paid the Virginia-based Advanced Aviation Team $423,707 between October 2020 and December 2021. Her campaign paid another $65,457 to California-based private jet provider Clay Lacy Aviation in January 2021. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's campaign spent $489,164 on private jets from October 2020-December 2021 despite claiming climate change is an 'existential' threat and jet use being notoriously bad for the environment The Democratic National Committee has voiced commitment to addressing climate change while spending hundreds of thousands to Advanced Aviation Team in recent years (Pelosi pictured at COP26 in Glasgow last year) The House Speaker has described climate change as an 'existential' threat and has even suggested, to the criticism of others, that the issue is more important than China's human rights abuses. 'Climate is an overriding issue, and China is a leading emitter in the world,' Pelosi said in September. The Democratic National Committee has also voiced commitment to addressing climate change while spending hundreds of thousands to Advanced Aviation Team in recent years. Pelosi led a 21-member congressional delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland in November where she said her commitment to addressing climate change comes down to her beliefs as a devout Catholic. 'For me, it's a religious thing,' the California Democrat said just three months after spending $67,604.93 on private air travel. 'I believe this is God's creation, and we have a moral obligation to be good stewards,' she told the crowd at the conference. Aldi has revealed a wish list of new store locations across the UK and has offered a finder's fee for anyone who can help find suitable sites. The UK's fifth largest supermarket has been on a rapid expansion drive in recent years, helping it grow its market share to a record 9 per cent. The German-owned discount supermarket already has more than 960 stores across the UK and is looking for freehold town centre or edge-of-town sites of around 1.5 acres to build new stores. And they want to build new stores in 55 areas - including Brentwood, Liverpool, Sunderland, Wigan. It wants sites that are able to fit a 20,000 square foot store with around 100 parking spaces, ideally near a main road with good visibility and access. LOCATION, LOCATION: Will Aldi be opening a new store in your home town? The supermarket giant is expanding after it almost quadrupled its market share. Punters are being asked to help Aldi locate sites where they can open new locations The supermarket is offering a finder's fee for people who successfully recommend a site - including members of the public - of either 1.5% of the freehold price or 10% of the first year's rent for leasehold sites. Aldi UK national property director George Brown said: 'By opening more Aldi stores, we can provide affordable, high-quality food to even more people. 'But despite our growth in recent years, some people still don't have access to a local store, which is why it is our mission to continue on with our ambitious growth plans and change that. 'Our finder's fee is available to anyone who can find Aldi an appropriate property so we'd encourage people to share any suitable suggestions and get it touch.' In April, it was revealed that Aldi was challenging the dominance of Britains Big Four supermarkets after attracting an extra million customers in the past year. The budget chain looks set to overtake Morrisons as the fourth-biggest grocer as the cost-of-living crisis prompts shoppers to search for cheaper no-frills options. The boost means the German-owned budget supermarket has almost quadrupled its market share in the past decade to 8.8 per cent, as Morrisons has gradually slipped to 9.5 per cent. The sector is dominated by Tesco, with 27 per cent of sales, followed by Sainsburys (15 per cent) and Asda (14.1 per cent) all of which are down on a year ago. Low-cost Lidl was the only other supermarket chain to increase its share compared to 2021, and now claims a 6.6 per cent slice of the market. Aldi has revealed its wish list for where it wants to open 55 new stores across the UK - and have asked the public to help locate suitable sites for the supermarket to expand. Pictured, an Aldi store in Cheshire Between them, Aldi and Lidl now account for almost 1 in every 6 spent at checkouts. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Aldi is the first UK supermarket to debut ice-cream for dogs this summer. According to the budget retailer, the cool snack is now available in stores nationwide. Beechdean Doggy Ice Cream, which comes in packs of four (110ml per portion), costing 2.99, is 100 per cent plant-based. As well as being available in stores, local ice-cream vendors in Brighton, Essex and Scotland have partnered with Aldi, to ensure sweet-toothed mutts can get their paws on the treat. Anthony Albanese has vowed to stand up to Vladimir Putin's aggression and hold him accountable for war crimes as he joined the international condemnation of Russia's latest missile attack on Ukraine. The Australian Prime Minister is in Madrid, where he sat down with Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez ahead of the NATO leaders' summit which gets underway on Wednesday. The meeting will bring together 30 member states and 25 partner nations, including Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand from the Asian-Pacific region. Mr Albanese joined world leaders in condemning Russia's missile strike on a crowded Ukrainian shopping centre on Monday, killing at least 18 people. He said Russia's atrocities in Ukraine have united the democratic world against Putin's regime as NATO boosted its defence troops to more than 300,000. 'We have no alternative but to stand up against Vladimir Putin's aggression,' he declared on Tuesday.. Smoke rises from the ruins of the Amstor shopping mall in the city of Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, after it was struck by long-range guided missiles that Ukraine says were fired by Russian bombers 'If we don't do that, the consequences for the international rule of law and the relationship between nation states which are sovereign, particular in Europe are dire indeed and the consequences of that extend to our region as well. 'If Putin is allowed to proceed in a way in which nation states say 'this is too difficult' and not provide and not provide the support that has been provided to the people and democratically elected government of Ukraine, then it's not just a matter of the message that are sent, the economic consequence down the track are for nation states, no matter where they are in the globe.' He described the latest attack as 'a tragic consequence' of Putin's reckless acts of violence and terror. 'This is a civilian target,' he said. 'This reinforced the atrocities being committed in an illegal war of aggression by Russia and why it must be stopped. 'It's one of the reasons why I'm here at NATO, and (there) will be a focus on the democratic nations which make up NATO, and also the 'Asia-Pacific Four' who've been invited to this important forum.' The renewed attacks in Ukraine may jeopardies Mr Albanese's potential visit to its war-torn capital Kyiv later this week at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Albanese (pictured) joined world leaders in condemning Russia's missile strike on a crowded Ukrainian shopping centre on Monday, killing at least 18 people He described the latest attack (shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, pictured) as 'a tragic consequence' of Putin's reckless acts of violence and terror The Prime Minister also revealed Australia is one of several Western nations looking to reopen its embassy in Kyiv. The Australian embassy in the Ukrainian capital was shut down by the former Scott Morrison government shortly before Russia's invasion in February. 'We would like to have a presence on the ground there to assist and to be able to provide that on-ground presence, and I'll have more to say on that in coming days and weeks,' Mr Albanese said. 'We would like to have a presence on the ground there to assist and be able to provide that on-ground presence.' He added the democratic world's response to the Russian's invasion also sent a strong signal to China. 'It requires the world to move towards peace and security, but to do so in a way which says that we are prepared as democratic nations to ensure that when something happens like the invasion of Ukraine, the world is prepared to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and provide practical and real support,' Mr Albanese added. Anthony Albanese has vowed to stand up to Vladimir Putin's (pictured) aggression and hold him accountable for war crimes as he joined the international condemnation of Russia's latest missile attack on Ukraine. The Australian Prime Minister is in Madrid, where he sat down with Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez (pictured together) ahead of the NATO leaders' summit which gets underway on Wednesday It comes as NATO revealed its boost its defence forces and move to fortify borders against any Russian attack. 'We will transform the NATO response force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000,' NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. It comes as the head of Britain's armed forces declared the world was facing its '1937 moment' and must be ready to 'fight and win' to ward off Putin. Mr Albanese will also meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol while in Madrid. He's also hopeful free trade negotiations with the European Union may be revived in coming months following the former Morrison government's diplomatic fallout with France. Mystery is surrounding the death of an American jet ski world champion dubbed 'Eric the Eagle', who was found floating in the water near his undamaged Kawasaki after 'disappearing' during a race. Eric Francis, 36, from West Palm Beach, Florida, was found dead off the coast of Guadeloupe during a race in the Caribbean on Saturday, just weeks before the birth of his second daughter. The Floridian nicknamed 'Eric the Eagle' was married to British world champion jet skier Sophie Francis, 26. The couple have a two-year-old daughter and Sophie, from Wiltshire, UK, is due to give birth to their second daughter in the next few weeks. American jet ski world champion Eric 'the Eagle' Francis (left) was found dead near his undamaged Kawasaki after 'disappearing' during a race. He was married to British world champion jet skier Sophie Francis, 26 (right) The couple have a two-year-old daughter and Sophie, from Wiltshire, Britain, is due to give birth to their second daughter in the next few weeks Both she and their daughter were in Guadeloupe supporting Eric and are now being comforted by family and friends. Eric was racing in the Marie-Galante jet ski race near Saint-Louis, Guadeloupe, where conditions were 'moderate'. A search party was launched when he didn't show for the final stage of the race. A GoFundMe appeal for heavily pregnant Sophie has already raised more than $15,000. The multi-race winning world champion was found on Saturday afternoon near his high-powered Kawasaki Ultra 310X jet ski, which has a top speed of 67mph. His jet ski was found undamaged nearby and an investigation is taking place to establish the cause of death. Eric was racing in the Marie-Galante jet ski race near Saint-Louis, Guadeloupe, where conditions were 'moderate' The Floridian's death comes just weeks before the birth of his second daughter His body was found near his high-powered Kawasaki Ultra 310X jet ski off the coast of Guadeloupe (pictured) The Watercraft Journal said: 'All of us are heartsick to learn of the passing of world champion racer, Eric 'The Eagle' Francis while competing in Guadeloupe this weekend. 'Eric was one of the hardest-charging racers today, a loving husband to Sophie and a dedicated father, as well as a good friend to so, so many in our sport. Godspeed, Eric. The Journal added: 'We may have lost Eric, but The Eagle gained his wings.' P1 AquaX said they have launched a GoFundMe to 'help take care of mom and the babies while they deal with the tragedy and loss of Eric'. A GoFundMe appeal for heavily pregnant Sophie has already raised more than $15,000 A P1 AquaX spokesperson said: 'It is unfathomable to think that Eric will not be with us. Our love and thoughts go out to Sophie and her family. 'We want to help her as much as possible and show her we love her and she is not alone. There is a PWC family behind her. 'We have started a GoFundMe account for her. She will be the only person who will have access to any donations. Please do what you can. 'Eric, you are missed dearly.' Advertisement A Missouri farmer said the deadly Amtrak crash that killed three and injured 50 could have been prevented if they'd install signal lights at the crossing where the train hit a dump truck on Monday. Mike Spencer, 64, said he had long been advocating for safety upgraded at crossings in Mendon, Missouri, where the intersection at Porche Prairie Avenue had been slated for improvements for four months before the train's collision with the dump truck. 'They knew it was unsafe,' Spencer told the Kansas City Star. 'That was pretty much a no-brainer... I predicted this was going to happen. I was certain this was going to happen. It was just a matter of time.' 'They knew it was unsafe,' Spencer told the 'They knew it was unsafe,' Spencer told the Kansas City Star . 'That was pretty much a no-brainer... I predicted this was going to happen. I was certain this was going to happen. It was just a matter of time.' Three people were confirmed dead in the crash - two on the train and one in the dump truck - and 50 injured after the eight cars and its two locomotives derailed when they collided with the vehicle, which was blocking the public crossing. More than 50 people were injured, at least nine of whom were rushed to a University of Missouri Health Care hospital in Columbia with severe injuries, the Chariton County Ambulance Service said. Mike Spencer, 64, had long warned Amtrak and the Missouri Department of Transportation to make improvements to the crossings in Mendon before a passenger train struck a dump truck on Monday, killing three and injuring 50 Survivors of an Amtrak crash in Missouri shared a photo of themselves atop the overturned train According the MODOT's 2022 State Freight and Pail plan, released on February, the Porche Prairie Road intersection in Mendon was set to get installation lights and gates, as well as roadway improvements, but it had yet to be done Officials said eight cars were turned over following the deadly crash. Farmers in the area had said the crossing was 'dangerous' and had constantly called for changes to be made Spencer said he had been pushing Amtrak of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) to do something about that intersection for years as farmers cross it daily to get to their fields, urging them to build the road up, add signal lights, or event to clear out some of the brushes blocking the view. 'In November, nothing was done,' Spencer told the Star about his latest efforts to get improvements to the intersection. 'I contacted them, they said, 'Don't put any pressure on them. They're working on it.' 'They never even offered to cut brush back for us so we could at least see,' he added. 'I would have done something to fixed it myself if it could've been possible.' According the MODOT's 2022 State Freight and Pail plan, released on February, the Porche Prairie Road intersection in Mendon was set to get installation lights and gates, as well as roadway improvements. The work was set to cost $400,000. This is on the railroad's shoulders,' Spencer said. 'They've known this was a problem. It's like they were concerned, but not concerned enough to do anything.' Fellow farmer Daryl Jacobs echoed Spencer's complaints, saying that throughout his whole live in the area, that crossing was always 'very dangerous.' 'It needs arms on it or signals,' Jacobs, 62, told the Star. 'It's so dang steep. I heard that truck just stalled out today going up it. That's what I heard. 'And this dang brush along these railroad tracks all needs to be cleared back.' Survivors of a horror crash between an Amtrak passenger train and a dump truck in Missouri have told of the chaos that unfolded inside the carriages as the train left the tracks. Spencer, pictured with his wife, Sheryl, said he was always constantly hounding officials to do anything about the railroad crossing. He said he always knew an accident was going to happen, but never imagined it would be a passenger train Fellow farmer Daryl Jacobs (above) echoed Spencer's complaints, saying that throughout his whole live in the area, that crossing was always 'very dangerous' Missouri officials have declared a 'large fatality event' after an Amtrak train collided with a dump truck at a public railroad crossing and overturned A 15 year-old Boy Scout comforted a dying trucker in the wake of Monday's Amtrak derailment in Missouri that killed three and injured 50. Eli Skrypczak was traveling home to Wisconsin from a backpacking excursion to New Mexico when the train he was on struck the truck, with the youngster rushing to care for the mortally-wounded trucker during his final moments. Eli's father Dan Skrypczak, who is master of Appleton Troop 73, told the New York Post: 'He was pretty upset, he wishes he could have done more. 'Just trying to explain to him, you get hit by a high speed train, nobody could have done much for the truck driver. He did everything he could, he did the right thing. He provided comfort and aid.' None of the 16 Scouts or eight adults supervising them were injured on the smash. They were headed home to Appleton from the Philmont South Ranch when the Los Angeles to Chicago Southwest Chief train struck the truck at a public crossing, and came off the track. Survivors of a horror crash between an Amtrak passenger train and a dump truck in Missouri have told of the chaos that unfolded inside the carriages as the train left the tracks. Boy Scout Eli Skrypczak (pictured in red neckerchief both left and right) helped comfort a dying trucker in the wake of Monday's Amtrak derailment in Mendon, Missouri. He was traveling home to Wisconsin with his troop leader father Dan and other Scouts from a backpacking trip to New Mexico when tragedy struck Three people were confirmed dead in the crash - two on the train and one in the dump truck - after the eight cars and its two locomotives derailed when they collided with the vehicle, which was blocking a public crossing. More than 50 people were injured, at least nine of whom were rushed to a University of Missouri Health Care hospital in Columbia with severe injuries, the Chariton County Ambulance Service said. Rob Nightingale said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth. 'It was like slow motion. Then all of a sudden I felt it tip my way. I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust,' Nightingale said. 'Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didn't hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying.' Nightingale was unhurt in the crash, and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window. The collision completely destroyed the dump truck, he said. 'It was all over the tracks,' said Nightingale, an art gallery owner from Taos, New Mexico, who said he rides Amtrak regularly to Chicago. Passenger Dian Couture was in the dining car with her husband celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when she heard a loud noise and the train wobbled and then crashed on to its side. 'The people on our left-hand side flew across and hit us, and then we were standing on the windows on the right-hand side of the car,' Couture told WDAF-TV. 'Two gentlemen in the front came up, stacked a bunch of things and popped out the window and literally pulled us out by our hands.' Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, after a backcountry excursion at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Cheryl Benjamin, a passenger who was on her way home to East Lansing, Michigan when the accident occurred, confirmed the Boy Scouts on board helped her climb out of the train and onto the ground. She was spending Monday evening in a local high school gym, where community members had brought in food for the passengers as they waited for buses to take them to hotels. Shocking photos taken in the immediate aftermath of the train wreck show a female passenger being helped out of a window, while others were seen atop overturned cars. The Southwest Chief Train 4, which was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, collided with the truck that was obstructing the public crossing and came off the tracks at Mendon in Missouri around 12:42 p.m. CT Monday A worker looks over the decimated remnants of a dump truck that that was struck by an Amtrak train, causing it to derail The derailment is seen in an aerial image. The federal National Transportation Safety Board is deploying a 14-member 'go-team' to the site of the derailment to investigate The collision occurred at the uncontrolled Porch Prairie Avenue gravel road crossing, which has no electronic warning devices or gates, officials said Rob Nightingale, one of the train passengers, went live on Facebook, showing the aftermath of the accident as the passengers awkwardly prop themselves against the side of the toppled over train car, and avoid stepping on glass The wreck occurred at 12.42pm CT yesterday, when the Southwest Chief Train 4 collided with a truck that was obstructing a public crossing and came off the tracks near Mendon, Missouri, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, Amtrak confirmed to DailyMail.com. The collision occurred at the uncontrolled Porch Prairie Avenue gravel road crossing, which has no electronic warning devices or gates, officials said. Amtrak said in a statement there were 243 passengers and 12 crew members aboard at the time of the crash. State troopers said the total number of people on the train may have been lower, but estimated that it was at least 200. The federal National Transportation Safety Board deployed a 14-member 'go-team' to the site of the derailment to investigate, while State Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Brown said there was still an 'active and ongoing investigation at the scene' yesterday evening, confirming that all the injured had been transported to area hospitals. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement that he was 'saddened by the tragic loss of life and injuries in the Missouri train derailment today,' adding that Federal Railroad Administration staff would support the investigation. 'We ask Missourians to join us in praying for all those impacted,' Missouri Governor Mike Parson said on Twitter. Journalist Nylah Burton, who was on a separate Amtrak train set to depart Albuquerque, says she was informed of the possible deaths and injuries by a staff member who came into her car to announce a delay caused by the incident. She tweeted: 'An @Amtrak train just derailed in Kansas City (there are likely fatalities but they don't know all the details) so I'm stuck in Albuquerque tonight because the train can't go any further.' A Twitter user called Durand shared the shocking snaps, saying: 'Oh no.. #Amtrak derailment somewhere in #Missouri.' Amtrak confirmed to DailyMail.com that multiple injuries were reported, but no additional details were released. The Amtrak train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago when it collided with a dump truck at a public crossing in Mendon, Missouri and derailed from the tracks. Mendon is about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, Missouri A broken truck axle was photographed close to the track in the aftermath. It's still unclear why the truck was in the crossing One person in the dump truck, presumed to be the driver, was killed in the collision. The truck's chassis is seen above Amtrak said in a statement that there were 243 passengers and 12 crew members aboard at the time of the crash One passenger tweeted that the survivors (above) took refuge at a local high school in Mendon, Missouri, writing: 'So thankful for the people here, safely at the Northwestern high school near Mendon. This town pulled together to help everyone' Amtrak tweeted that the Southwest Chief Train 3, which was scheduled to depart Chicago, was canceled. Amtrak asks passengers whose travel plans are affected to contact 1-800-USA-RAIL for further assistance. Individuals with questions about their friends and family who were traveling aboard the derailed train should call 1-800-523-9101. The derailment came one day after another Amtrak train collided with a car at a crossing in Brentwood, California, on Sunday afternoon, killing three women, and injuring several others. Three women, all over the age of 50, were pronounced dead at the scene in Sunday's crash, according to The Mercury News. Authorities say the car pulled into a long rural dirt driveway near the intersection of Orwood Road and Bixler Road around 1pm when the Amtrak train rammed into it. The car then careened off the road and hit another vehicle. A child and two men were also hospitalized with serious injuries, and another person suffered from moderate injuries. In total, a spokeswoman for BNSF Railway told the New York Times there were 'approximately' five people injured, though the number remains in dispute. On Sunday (above), three women were killed and four others were injured in a separate crash when an Amtrak train slammed into a car at around 1pm in Brentwood, California. Authorities say the car careened off the road following the impact and hit another vehicle in Sunday's crash (above) Those who were seriously wounded were rushed to the John Muir Medical Center after the crash on Sunday afternoon, according to ABC News. One of the adults was airlifted and the child was transported by the ground, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The victims were all inside the four-door sedan when it was struck, officials say, and Battalion Chief Craig Auzenne, of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, told reporters at the scene that none of the 81 passenger or five crew members on board the train were injured. In fact, he said, the train came to a stop about a quarter-mile from where the sedan slammed into an SUV. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. But East Contra Costa Fire Department officials say they'd already been called out to that train crossing twice last year because it does not have a traffic guard. 'It's a bad crossing,' Steve Aubert, a fire marshal said, noting that trains travel at about 80mph on the tracks. 'It's just a recipe for disaster unfortunately.' An Amtrak passenger train also derailed in north central Montana in September. Three people were killed. Amid a global electrification push, LG Electronics is moving into electric vehicle (EV) charging business as it acquired a South Korean EV battery charger developer. This move is the company's step to advance into EV charging solution industry. LG Electronics has recently acquired 60% stake in AppleMango, as per The Star report. The acquisition was made jointly with GS Energy, an EV charging station operator, and GS Neotek, an IT provider, who took over 34% and 6% stakes, respectively. The amount of the acquisition is not disclosed. The company said that the acquisition of AppleMango will allow them to take advantage of future business opportunities. Future Plans of LG Electronics After the Acquisition According to LG Electronics, within this year, they plan to put up an EV charging production line at the LG Digital Park in Pyeongtaek, which is 60km south of Seoul. Furthermore, the company said that with the acquisition, LG aspires to strengthen its business portfolio along with the existing automotive electronics business "in the era of EVs." AppleMango was established in 2019. Since then, the company has advanced technologies in producing slow and fast chargers. These chargers are for both household and commercial use. "The EV charging market is expected to grow rapidly due to the surging demand for more eco-friendly vehicles." Paik Ki-mun, senior vice president of LG Electronics, said in a statement. As automakers rapidly adopt battery-powered vehicles in their lineups due to stricter emissions regulations, the world's EV charging solutions business is expected to grow to $316 billion by 2030. "Leveraging our know-how and experience in the B2B sector, we will offer customized, integrated vehicle charging solutions for diverse customers, enhancing the competitiveness of our existing and ensuring our readiness for future opportunities," Paik Ki-mun added, as cited by LG News. Read Also: LG Releases New Flagship 4K CineBeam Projector: Model HU915QE LG Electronics Focuses on its Growth Areas Such as EV LG Electronics' move to acquire an EV charging company comes nearly a year after it shut down its loss-making mobile business. Since the shutdown, the company had focused on its growth areas such as electric vehicles, the internet of things (IoT) and B2B solutions. With the acquisition, LG Electronics is set to use its expertise creating user-friendly interfaces. This action will make the EV charging experience in South Korea a pleasant and easy one for drivers. In addition, according to the company, by transcending to EV charging business, it will pave way for them to create more synergy between EV battery development, energy storage systems, energy management solutions and chargers, as per TechCrunch report. The EV charger production line that LG plans to establish at LG Digital Park in South Korea will provide customized EV charging solutions for private residences, shopping malls, hotels and public institutions. However, LG did not specify whether it will continue selling AppleMango's chargers. By setting up the LG Vehicle Component Solutions company in 2013, LG Electronics entered the EV industry. To expand its EV business, LG Electronics also acquired Austria-based automotive lighting company ZKW in 2018. Meanwhile, in December 2020, it formed a joint venture with Magna International to manufacture e-motors, inverters, and onboard charges. Related Article: LG Smartphones Set to Phase Out: What Will Happen to Your Phone After Mobile Business Shuts Down? MPs today slammed a 'disgraceful' plan to reopen a former immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire to provide extra capacity for Priti Patel's Rwanda programme. Campsfield House in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, closed in 2018 after years of issues including riots, escapes and claims of poor conditions. But today the Home Office announced it would be redeveloped as a 400-bed removal centre, as it appealed for contractors to bid for the work. The site will not open until late 2023 at the earliest, and will mainly house illegal migrants and criminals awaiting deportation. But local MP Layla Moran, a Lib Dem, has vowed to stop it as the Government said they hope it will be operational by the end of next year and will accommodate men only. Ms Moran said today: 'I've been informed that the Government plans to reopen Campsfield Detention Centre in Kidlington. This is a disgraceful decision by the Home Office and I will fight it every step of the way'. She added: 'We as a community campaigned for more than 20 years to get it closed. We will be doing everything we can to stop the reopening. I can't believe we're in this position again. I'm sure it's because they want to look tough on immigration when in fact it's an admission that they've failed completely'. Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre in Oxfordshire, which shut in 2018 amid claims of poor conditions, will reopen in 2023 under Home Office plans for a new 400-bed facility for men being deported from the UK A demonstrationon the roof in June 1997 at Campsfield House detention centre in Kidlington Members of Border Force escort 40 migrants back to Dover after they were picked up by the English Channel yesterday Channel migrant boat captains could face LIFE sentences under new government crackdown on people smugglers More people have risked choppy seas in the English Channel to reach the UK by small boats today despite new laws threating to jail migrant captains for life coming into force. One group of migrants on a black inflatable dingy was filmed this morning by a passenger on board a cross Channel ferry heading between Calais and Dover. The passenger saw the boat struggling across the Channel at approximately 7.30am. The witness said: 'It barely seemed to be moving against the speed we were going. Once you see it upfront with your own eyes it hits home just how treacherous it is.' Hours later, a Border Force vessel disembarked a group of approximately 50 migrants in Dover, including women and children. The Border Force vessel Defender brought the group ashore at the harbour at the Port of Dover to be processed by immigration officers. A small boy, apparently upset, was carried by his father as they got off the boat and walked up the gangway. The Nationality and Borders Act came into force today introducing the tougher sentencing for those who smuggle migrants into the UK - up from 14 years imprisonment. Advertisement Campsfield House was shut in 2018 after complaints about conditions there. Inmates were held behind high fences, more than 100 men went on hunger strike and there was even a major fire before it shut four years ago. Immigration minister Tom Pursglove said the reopening of the centre would 'support' the government's plan to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda. He said: 'Those who have abused the immigration system, including foreign national criminals who have devastated the lives of their victims, should be in no doubt of our determination to remove them. This is what the British public rightly expects. 'Opening a new immigration removal centre, as part of the New Plan for Immigration, will help ensure there is sufficient detention capacity to safely accommodate individuals ahead of removal.' Maria Brul, campaigns and advocacy coordinator at Detention Action, told The Independent: 'Over 20 years, Campsfield immigration detention centre was the site of a teenage suicide, hunger strikes and the unjust detention of thousands of people seeking asylum. 'It was closed by Mr Javid in an attempt to avoid the extreme harm that indefinite detention causes. Its reopening is a sign that Priti Patel is long out of ideas, and so is once again opting to inflict trauma and misery on more Black and Brown people.' The Home Secretary's plans in Oxfordshire came as she struggled to open a controversial immigration centre in Yorkshire. There was uproar among locals about a reception centre for 1,500 young single male asylum seekers on a former RAF base that was due to open in Linton-on-Ouse on May 31. But Emma Haddad, the Home Secretary's 135,000-a-year Director General for Asylum and Protection, told residents of Linton-on-Ouse in a letter leaked to MailOnline that 'no final decision has been made' - just hours before it was due to open. Locals have said they are 'terrified' by the plan that will 'destroy' the village where residents would be outnumbered by asylum seekers by two-to-one. Ms Haddad's letter to members of The Linton-on-Ouse Action Group, dated May 27, appears to undermine the Home Office's insistence that it would open by the end of May. The Home Secretary announced the proposals for the processing centre in Yorkshire earlier in May, which is set to house migrants arriving in the UK to end reliance on hotel accommodation, costing the taxpayer almost 5million a day. But Ms Haddad put the brakes on the government's asylum scheme and said 'analysis and consideration of whether or not to accommodate asylum seekers at RAF Linton is ongoing'. She added: 'I can confirm that where obligations relating to consultation with the Council, community and other stakeholders exist they will be fulfilled.' The Home Secretary announced the proposals for the processing centre in Yorkshire, which is set to house migrants arriving in the UK to end reliance on hotel accommodation, costing the taxpayer almost 5million a day Yorkshire locals had accused Ms Patel of 'dropping a bomb' on the village, which is a close-knit community of 700 residents Previously, locals had accused Ms Patel of 'dropping a bomb' on the village, which is a close-knit community of 700 residents. Home Office officials previously tried to allay residents' fears about the centre, which ministers have previously claimed would 'provide safe and self-sufficient accommodation', they were met with constant jeers and shouts of 'rubbish' from unimpressed locals. US State Department officials have finally made contacted with an Army vet captured by Russia while fighting alongside Ukraine - and say he is safe. Alexander Drueke's aunt Dianna Shaw confirmed the conversation with The Guardian Tuesday, saying: 'He is okay. Receiving food and water and has shelter and bedding.' Family members of Drueke, who comes from Alabama, have spent days trying desperately to find out of he is safe, after Russia shared a video of him post capture, and suggested he could face a firing squad. Shaw, whose 39 year-old nephew was captured fighting alongside Andy Huynh on June 11, added: 'We want to believe all these things, and its Russias responsibility to make sure its all true. 'Having Alex call and say these things tells me that Russia knows the world is watching how they treat (Drueke and Huynh)'. Drueke, a US Army veteran and Huynh, a 27 year-old former US Marine, were warned by the Kremlin they faced possible execution for being what Putin's government branded 'soldiers of fortune.' The Kremlin said the men were not eligible for the rights afforded to prisoners of war captured by rivals, because they hadn't enlisted for the foreign army they were fighting with. Drueke, 39, left, and Andy Huynh, 27, appeared terrified in footage released by Russian forces where they identified themselves and denounced war. They men went missing last week after their platoon in Ukraine was ambushed by Russian soldiers But Shaw and Drueke's mother Lois 'Bunny' Drueke say they hope global attention on the two prisoners - including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - will keep them safe. Bunny said: 'I want to thank President Zelenskiy for taking their situation seriously.' Last week, Russia's US Ambassador declared its embassy has received no communications from the White House regarding two Americans being held captive for fighting in Ukraine. Anatoly Antonov, the head of the diplomatic mission, made the assertion Tuesday while speaking to journalists from the state-owned Russian News Agency (TASS). The statement from the ambassador contradicted claims from the US State Department made earlier in the day, that officials had been in talks with the Kremlin about the imprisoned Americans. Meanwhile, Moscow has said it can not guarantee the lives of Alex Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, who were captured by state-backed forces during fighting in Kharkiv on June 11. The men - who are being treated as mercenaries by the state - are believed to still be alive, and recently appeared in videos released to the internet by state-owned media. The Pentagon, meanwhile, continues to insist that it is doing 'everything' possible to bring Drueke and Huynh home safely. Anatoly Antonov, the head of the diplomatic mission, made the assertion Tuesday while speaking to journalists from the state-owned Russian News Agency (TASS) Moscow has said it can not guarantee the lives of Alex Drueke (left) and Andy Huynh (right), who were captured by state-backed forces during fighting on June 11. This undated photo of the two was uploaded Thursday - a day before the state released a video of the pair Antonov, however, says otherwise - according to state media. 'There were no requests to the embassy. I do not confirm receiving a request of this kind from the US side,' the ambassador was quoted as saying by TASS. 'The embassy did not contact us.' Earlier in the day, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the White House had been 'in touch' with Moscow about the captives. 'We have been in touch with Russian authorities regarding U.S. citizens who may have been captured while fighting in Ukraine,' Price told reporters around 2:30 pm ET. He added that the agency had 'also been in touch with our Ukrainian partners, with the ICRC, with other countries, as well as with the families of Americans who have been reported missing in Ukraine. 'We have both publicly as well as privately called on the Russian Government and its proxies to live up to their international obligations in their treatment of all individuals, including those captured fighting in Ukraine,' Price, 39, said. 'We expect and in fact, international law and the law of war expects and requires that all those who have been captured on the battlefield be treated humanely and with respect and consistent with the laws of war.' Later on in the address, however, Price said that the department had 'not received any formal or official response' from the Kremlin regarding the captured pair - who took up arms and flew to Ukraine to join the fight earlier in the year after being outraged over the invasion. 'We have been in contact with Russian authorities regarding the reports of detained Americans,' Price said. 'We have not received any formal or official response. 'The only response weve seen has been the response that Russian officials have made in public interviews.' When contacted by DailyMail.com, a department spokesperson refused to further comment on the matter. 'We have nothing to add beyond Ned's remarks,' the rep said. Meanwhile, Russian officials have said that they can not guarantee the safe return of the men, who are both former members of the US Marines. In an interview with NBC News Monday , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the pair were not protected by the Geneva Convention - which outlaws taking prisoners of war - because they were not part of the official Ukrainian army. He pointed out that the actions of the Americans 'must be investigated and they must be brought to justice.' Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, told NBC News when asked if the two US citizens would be given the same death-by-firing-squad sentence that was handed down to British fighters Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28 Peskov did not rule out the possibility that US citizens could be sentenced to capital punishment in the Donetsk People's Republic. 'It depends on the investigation,' Peskov said, when asked if the two US citizens would be given a death sentence for allegedly fighting against Russian forces. The pair were captured on June 11 during a battle in Kharkiv. They were apprehended by Russian fighters after disabling a tank with grenades, Russian state media has said. 'They are soldiers of fortune. They were involved in illegal activities on the territory of Ukraine. They were involved in firing at and shelling of our military personnel. They were endangering their lives,' Peskov said. 'Those guys on the battlefield were firing at our military guys. They were endangering their lives. There will be a court, and there will be a court decision. 'They should be held responsible for those crimes they have committed. Those crimes have to be investigated...The only thing that is clear is that they have committed crimes. Huynh, a former Marine from Hartselle, Alabama, was captured in Kharkiv on June 11. Russian officials have said that they can not guarantee his safe return. He had never seen combat before traveling to Ukraine Unlike Huynh, Drueke, from Tuscaloosa, is an experienced military veteran He went on: 'They are not in the Ukrainian army. They are not subject to the Geneva convention.' 'They should be punished.' Peskov, who has been labeled one of the country's most prominent propagandists, would not reveal where the men were being held. Family members said last week the two Americans - who both hail from Alabama - went to Ukraine as volunteer fighters and had gone missing earlier this month. Drueke, of Hartselle, served in the US Army in Iraq - but Huynh, who traveled to the region to help after watching the war unfold from afar, had never been in active combat before. Later that week, Russian state media broadcast images and video of the pair appearing beaten and tired declaring their opposition to the war. 'My name is Alexander Drueke, I am against war,' Drueke said. He then reiterates in Russian, 'Ya protiv voyny,' meaning ,'I am against war.' 'Ya protiv voyny,' Huynh repeats after a quick cut. Another video shows Drueke addressing his mother, Bunny, as he promises her that he will be back home. 'Mom, I just wanted to let you know that I'm alive, and I hope to be back home as soon as I can,' Drueke said. 'Love you.' Firefighters work at the site of fire after Russian shelling in Mykolaiv in Ukraine this weekend after the latest bombardment On Monday, one of the men's comrades in Ukraine spoke out anonymously to CBS to say he felt guilty for bringing them to the war zone. 'They sort of followed me out here. 'We all agreed there was no leader in the group but I definitely feel a bit guilty, without a doubt. 'We should have taken a closer look at more humanitarian options or training options. 'If we did, then they wouldn't be in the situation they're in,' he said. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby last week said the US would do 'everything' to bring the pair home safely. He however reiterated that Ukraine was 'no place for Americans right now', and he urged anyone considering joining the fight not to go. The two men's families are begging the Biden administration to help them. Bunny Drueke, Alex's mother, said the latest photos and videos give her hope because her son is still alive. 'Unmistakably under duress, but thank God they're alive,' she said in a previous interview with CBS. Drueke, who will turn 40 this month, is a former U.S. Army staff sergeant who served two tours in Iraq and who volunteered with the Ukrainian Army. Huynh, a Marine for four years, had never been in active combat before flying to Ukraine in April to volunteer. Both of the U.S. fighters are from Alabama, but it remains unclear if they knew each other before they ventured to the war zone. The pair were part of a ten-man squad defending Kharkiv last week when they were ambushed by Russian soldiers, according to one of their comrades. Drueke and Huynh disabled a Russian tank with a grenade but were lost in the fog of return fire. By the time it cleared, they had vanished. '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 assaulting it. Both of the U.S. fighters are from Alabama and had disabled a Russian tank with a grenade but were lost in the fog of return fire 'They came down the road with two T72 tanks and multiple BMP3s (armored fighting vehicles) and about 100 infantry. The only thing that was there was our ten man squad,' one of their comrades told The Daily Telegraph in an interview on Tuesday. 'We suspect that they were knocked unconscious by either the anti-tank mine, or by the tank shooting at them, because later search missions found not sign of them, nothing. 'Afterwards we sent drones up and had a Ukrainian search team on the ground but we found nothing: if they had been hit by the tank shell there would have been remains of their bodies or equipment at the scene,' he said. The pair are among a recent flood of onlookers to travel to Ukraine to quell the Russian invasion - some of whom have vanished or been executed by Russian forces. Among the missing is U.S. Marine veteran Ret. Captain Grady Kurpasi, who left for Ukraine in March, according to CNN. Firefighters work at the site of fire after Russian shelling in Mykolaiv in Ukraine this weekend after the latest bombardment by Kremlin forces A couple walk past a building destroyed by attacks in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Monday amid fears of an escalation of the conflict He has not been heard from since April. No trace of him has been found, sparking fears he may have been killed. He had been living in Wilmington, North Carolina, before leaving for the eastern European country. It comes as Stephen Zabielski, 52, was killed in Ukraine in May. He was the second American to die in the conflict Last month, 52-year-old New Yorker Stephen Zabielski was killed in combat in the region. New York grandfather, was killed on May 15 while fighting in the village of Dorozhniank, Ukraine. A friend on Facebook said he had experience in the US Army which appealed to young Ukrainian fighters. 'He feared he wouldn't be accepted given our age - but his experience got him the exception. Despite our age, we both knew we had a duty given our beliefs. 'Steve remained in Ukraine and gave his life for Ukraine's freedom. He was killed by a landmine. He was the child of Polish-Americans so he knew and understood sacrifice.' His death comes after that of U.S. Marine Corps veteran Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, who was killed in April. The two are the only official American casualties in the ongoing conflict, which entered its 119 day Wednesday. Airbnb said on Tuesday it will its ban on parties in homes listed on the platform permanent after seeing a sharp drop in reports of unauthorized gatherings since the prohibition was put in place in August 2020. The company announced a 44 percent year-after-year drop in the rate of party reports since implementing the policy. This comes after the San Francisco-based company introduced and extended the party ban to halt the spread of COVID-19 infections. Now the company wants to make the ban permanent just as the summer travel season begins. 'This is an issue where I don't know if I'd say there's a finish line,' Ben Breit, a spokesperson for the company, said, adding that Airbnb will keep working to address the issue. The company said it will also remove its 16-person limit, allowing larger homes listed on the platform to be booked to full occupancy. PARTY'S OVER: Airbnb announced in a statement (pictured) on Tuesday its intentions into making permanent its ban on parties at homes listed on the site for short-term rentals The San Francisco-based vacation rental company believes the ban has worked since its implementation in 2019, saying Tuesday that reports of parties at listed properties have dropped 44 percent from a year ago The number of parties at Airbnb locations increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb said, as people craved social interaction due to the closings of bars and clubs leading to a temporary ban in 2020 Airbnb began imposing much stricter limits - starting with a global ban on so-called 'party houses' or listings that create persistent neighborhood nuisances - after a fatal shooting at a Halloween party in a California house that killed five people in October 2019. At that time, the company prohibited advertising parties at Airbnb locations on social media. It also created a direct line for neighbors to communicate any concerns, called the Neighborhood Support Line, in a bid to enforce the prohibition. Airbnb has also updated its policies considering the pandemic, removing both the 'event friendly' search filter and 'parties and events allowed' house rules. More than 6,600 guests and some hosts were suspended in 2021 for attempting to violate the party ban, the company said. In May 2022, the company reported revenue was up 70 percent from the previous year bringing in $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2022. The company also projected revenue to be above market estimates for the second quarter of the year, expecting to bring in between $2.03 billion and $2.13 billion. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky first suggested the company's plans to shut down house parties after a shooting at a Halloween party at an Airbnb rental in 2019 that killed five people Airbnb updated its policy and removed both the 'event friendly' search filter and 'parties and events allowed' on its website and app (pictured) The implemented party ban comes two months after a mass shooting took place at an unauthorized party at an Airbnb in Pittsburgh on Easter Sunday. Police say there were more than 200 people inside the Airbnb at the time, many of whom were underage, when multiple gunmen opened fire, killing two teenage boys and injuring nine others. As many as 50 shots were fired inside the apartment, authorities say, prompting some attendees to jump out the windows in horrifying footage of the shooting. At least two of those partygoers sustained broken bones and lacerations from the jump, according to WTAE. Officials later clarified that an estimated total of 90 shots were fired in what Police Chief Scott Schubert described as a 'very chaotic scene.' Shell casings from rifles and pistols were also found at the scene. It remains unclear who rented the Airbnb, but TribLive reports that Allegheny County real estate records listed the owner of the property as 900 North Group LLC. Video posted online showed underage partygoers in an argument before shots were fired at an Airbnb on Easter Sunday in Pittsburgh in April The hundreds of partygoers seemed to stumble over each other as they tried to flee the scene Authorities have identified the suspect, releasing his photo, but not his name. They are asking for the public's help for clues, and are asking anyone with information to call Major Crimes at (412) 323-7161. In another incident, from last June, a group of rowdy house partygoers trashed an Airbnb rental in North Dallas, smashing furniture and television sets during an all-out brawl that saw fistfights and chaos. Video circulating online showed about a dozen young people destroy a television set, furniture, accessories and a doorway. The footage also shows the partygoers fighting each other by throwing fists and wrestling on the floor. There were claims online at the the time that said the chaos ensued after a party ended early at a home that was rented out on the Airbnb app. The woman who organized the party later clarified on social media that uninvited partygoers had crashed her event after arriving in 12 different cars and refused to leave after being barred entry. The party was also advertised as 'Atlas House' online, according to neighbors, with its listing mentioning that there were multiple entrances for guests and 'plenty of parking.' The listing has been taken down since the incident, according to a North Texas Real Estate website called CandysDirt.com. . At least 49 inmates were killed and dozens more injured early Tuesday after a fire broke out during a prison riot in Colombia. The tragedy occurred when rioting inmates set a fire to try to prevent police entering their enclosure at the prison in the city of Tulua. Though authorities are investigating whether prisoners lit their mattresses as part of an 'escape attempt' or whether the riot was provoked 'to cover some other situation.' Tito Castellanos, director of the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC), said: 'Unfortunately there was a riot in the pavilion number eight of the Tulua prison, where there are 1,267 prisoners, with the unfortunate result that 49 people died.' He said another 30 people were 'injured and affected by the blaze and the smoke.' A prison fire has killed at least 49 inmates and injured dozens more in Colombia this morning (Pictured: relatives gather outside the jail) The fire broke out at a prison in Tulua, after mattresses were set ablaze try to prevent police entering Police are investigating why the mattresses were set on fire inside the prison There were 180 inmates in the prison section affected by fireCastellanos made no mention of whether any prisoners actually escaped. While a spokesperson for INPEC earlier told AFP that the death toll 'may change' and local radio station Caracol reported that more than 40 people had been injured. Castellanos praised the efforts of prison guards, some of whom were injured, to control the blaze and help prisoners to safety. He said that without their intervention 'the result would have been worse.' Without the efforts of the prison guards (pictured) the death toll could have been much higher Outgoing President Ivan Duque sent a tweet offering his solidarity with relatives of the victims. 'We regret the events that occurred in the prison in Tulua, Valle del Cauca,' Duque said. 'I have given instructions to clarify this terrible situation. My solidarity is with the families of the victims.' Fatal prison riots are not uncommon in Latin America. In Colombia's neighbor Ecuador, nearly 400 prisoners have been killed in six riots since early 2021. Colombia's prison system has a capacity for 97,000 inmates but is overpopulated by some 16,000, according to INPEC. Advertisement The Metropolitan Police was today dramatically placed in special measures for the first time ever due to concerns about 'serious or critical shortcomings' following a wave of scandals that blighted Cressida Dick's tenure. Acting commissioner Sir Stephen House will now be required to work with London Mayor Sadiq Khan to produce a remedial plan which the police inspectorate will assess. Top officers will then be required to meet regularly with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services to ensure the required improvements are being made. At a glance: The Met's string of calamities Operation Midland: The disastrous 2014 probe into fake VIP paedophilia claims was sanctioned by Dame Cressida Dick; Sarah Everard: In March last year, 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens; Murder victim photos: In December last year, two Scotland Yard officers who took photos of the bodies of murder victims Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry were jailed; Charing Cross: Earlier this year, details emerged of horrific messages exchanged by officers at Charing Cross police station, by an official watchdog report; XR protests: In 2019, the force was widely condemned for its 'light-touch' policing of Extinction Rebellion protests, which blocked several key areas of London; Daniel Morgan: The force was described as 'institutionally corrupt' following an inquiry into the botched investigation into the private investigator's murder; Stephen Port: An inquest jury ruled in December that failures by Met detectives contributed to the deaths of a serial killer's three final victims; Bianca Williams: In April it emerged that five Met officers are to face a gross misconduct hearing over their stop and search of the Team GB athlete; Strip searches: Last month the IOPC confirmed it was investigating a series of cases which involved teenage girls who were on their period being strip-searched by Met officers. Advertisement A letter from HMICFRS cited numerous fiascos at Britain's largest force, including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens, the 'racially profiled' stop and search of the Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams, and the strip-search of a 15-year-old black schoolgirl known as Child Q. It follows further scandals, including the failure to properly investigate serial killer Stephen Port and the revelation of racist WhatsApp messages exchanged by officers at Charing Cross Police Station. Other calamities included the jailing of two officers for taking photos of the corpses of murdered sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, and Operation Midland - the disastrous probe into fake claims of VIP paedophilia. The force was also heavily criticised for failing to stop Extinction Rebellion protests from shutting down London, with videos of officers dancing with protesters sparking claims the force was not taking the issue seriously. A spokeswoman for the HMICFRS said: 'We can confirm that we are now monitoring the Metropolitan Police Service through our Engage process, which provides additional scrutiny and support to help it make improvements.' According to the policing watchdog's website, a force enters the engage process if it is 'not responding to a cause of concern, or if it is not succeeding in managing, mitigating or eradicating the cause of concern'. It adds: 'In the Engage phase, forces will develop an improvement plan to address the specific cause(s) of concern that has caused them to be placed in the advanced phase of the monitoring process. The force may receive support from external organisations such as the College of Policing or the National Police Chiefs' Council, brokered by HMICFRS.' The move has come at a turbulent time for the force after former Met Police chief Dame Cressida Dick stepped down from her role as commissioner in April. Her replacement is expected to be unveiled in the summer, with Sir Stephen House currently running the force as acting commissioner. The two candidates left in the running to replace Dame Cressida are assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave and Sir Mark Rowley, the former head of counterterrorism. It is also the second force to be placed on special measures in recent years. The watchdog placed Greater Manchester Police on the 'engage' process in 2020 after it failed to report 80,000 crimes. Priti Patel welcomed today's move, and said she expected the new commissioner to 'demonstrate sustained improvements' in the force in order to regain public trust. f Sarah Everard who was murdered by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, in a crime which has appalled Britain. The Met's scandal ravaged former commissioner, Cressida Dick, who stepped down in February after Sadiq Khan said he no longer had confidence in her The Home Secretary said: 'I expect the police to get the basics right. It is clear the Metropolitan Police Service is falling short of these expectations which is why I support the action that HMICFRS has taken today to highlight their failings and I expect the Met and the London Mayor to take immediate action to begin addressing them. What does 'going into special measures' mean? The HMICFRS has two stages of its monitoring process for police forces - the 'scanning' phase and the 'engage' phase. The scanning phase 'uses data and information from a range of sources to highlight poor or deteriorating performance and identify potential areas of concern'. If the force is 'not responding to a cause of concern', or if it is 'not succeeding in managing, mitigating or eradicating the cause of concern', then it will be moved to the 'Engage' phase. At this point, forces develop an 'improvement plan' to address concerns and must meet with inspectors regularly to ensure improvements are being made. It may also be given specific targets. The Met has been escalated straight to 'engage', suggesting HMICFRS is particularly concerned about its performance. A spokeswoman for the HMICFRS said: 'We can confirm that we are now monitoring the Metropolitan Police Service through our Engage process, which provides additional scrutiny and support to help it make improvements.' Advertisement 'The process to recruit a new Commissioner is well underway and I have made clear that the successful candidate must demonstrate sustained improvements in the Metropolitan Police Service in order to regain public trust both in London and across the country. 'The new Commissioner will need to deliver on the public's priorities for the police making our streets safer, bearing down on crime and bringing more criminals to justice, while continuing to recruit thousands of new officers to protect local communities.' London mayor Sadiq Khan - who previously withdrew his support for Dame Cressida after urging for improvements to be made - also welcomed the decision. 'A series of appalling scandals have not only exposed deep cultural problems but have damaged the confidence of Londoners in the capital's police service,' he said in a statement. 'The decision by the HMIC to now move the Met into special measures has laid bare the substantial performance failings by the force. 'As I have been saying for some time, Londoners deserve better. That's why we now need to see nothing less than a new contract forged between the police and the public in London. 'This means root and branch reforms and systemic change to the Met's performance and culture.' The family of Child Q, who was strip-searched, said Scotland Yard has let the public down repeatedly. They said in a statement: 'We welcome the decision of HMICFRS to place the Metropolitan Police into special measures. 'The Metropolitan Police has shown time and again that it cannot do its job properly and its officers' actions have had life-changing, devastating consequences for innocent people across London, including Child Q. It is no wonder that there is little to no faith left in the Metropolitan Police. 'We hope the additional scrutiny of special measures will result in permanent change in the force's culture and practices.' Mina Smallman, the mother of murdered sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, said it was 'better late than never' for the Met to be entered in the process Mina Smallman, the mother of murdered sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, said it was 'better late than never' for the Met to be entered in the process. She has been critical of the force after two constables were jailed for sharing images of her daughter's bodies on WhatsApp. Ms Smallman added that she had previously called for the Met to be put on special measures. She told Channel 4 News: 'I do feel terribly sorry that some of the things that I highlighted, with the selfies of our daughters, if they had acted more swiftly, perhaps Couzens would have been stopped in his tracks and Sarah would still be with us.' She added that people have been challenging the Met on its practices since the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993. 'It's the kind of papering over the cracks, trying to look as though you're perfect,' she said. 'And the only people who get away with that are the people who are the perpetrators.' A spokesman for the Met said: 'We recognise the cumulative impact of events and problems that the Met is dealing with. 'We understand the impact this has had on communities and we share their disappointment. We are determined to be a police service Londoners can be proud of. We are talking to the Inspectorate about next steps.' A damning watchdog report cited numerous fiascos, including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office insists she was trying to ensure Rep. Mayra Flore's daughter was in the photograph after the new GOP congresswoman accused the California Democrat of shoving the young girl out of the way. Top Pelosi aide Drew Hammill denied Flores' allegation on Monday and said the speaker was actually trying to ensure the youngster remained in the frame. He also accused 'news outlets' of twisting the story, despite Flores herself making the claim on Twitter. He said: 'It's sad to see "news outlets" that know better misrepresent the Speaker's effort to ensure Rep. Flores' daughters wouldn't be hidden behind her in all of the photos of such an important moment for their family.' With the House on Fouth of July recess, Pelosi is traveling to Rome this week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's top aide Drew Hammill denied the California Democrat had been trying to shove the youngster out of the way House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella (right) in Rome on Tuesday. Pelosi traveled to Rome amid the controversy as the House in on a two-week Fourth of July recess Rep. Mayra Flores (third from right) accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of pushing her daughter aside for a photo-op Flores, 36, who is married to a Border Patrol agent and has four children made the accusation against Pelosi on Twitter. 'No child should be pushed to the side for a photo op. PERIOD!!' Flores said. 'I am so proud of my strong, beautiful daughter for not allowing this to faze her. 'She continued to smile and pose for the picture like a Queen,' the newly elected congresswoman added. Flores later admitted her daughter didn't notice anything was amiss at the time. 'She kept on smiling and didn't allow that to ruin such a special moment so I'm very proud of her, she is a queen,' she added in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday. Flores said that the alleged shove only came to her attention when she later watched video of the event, which she said showed Pelosi elbowing her daughter during her ceremonial swearing-in last week. Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas accused Nancy Pelosi of shoving her daughter during her swearing-in ceremony last week, but says the girl did not even notice at the time she said in an interview with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity on Monday The shoving controversy erupted as this official swearing-in picture was being taken 'I saw it afterwards and yes I was very disappointed and very disgusted by it. No child should be pushed aside for a photo,' the newly elected representative said. Flores made history to become the first Mexican-born congresswoman elected to the House, after flipping a longstanding Democratic seat in an open special election earlier this month. She is mom to four children, and hasn't released their names or ages - but the girl Pelosi is accused of pushing appears to be her second-youngest. In the video of the incident, Pelosi is seen extending her right elbow as the girl standing next to her tilts to the side as if being jabbed. Pelosi's defenders argue that the video does not show the San Francisco Democrat elbowing the girl, but rather moving her arm in front of her as the child sways on her feet. Video on social media shows Pelosi gesturing and beckoning over the family pastor. She then looks down at the young girl and appears to move her elbow towards her as the daughter moves away. Flores (pictured here with her children) became the first Mexican-born congress member after winning a special election. She has four children with her husband who is a Border Patrol agent Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas was getting sworn-in by the House Speaker last week when she posed for a photograph at the White House The congresswoman's two daughters were standing beside Pelosi who appeared to 'elbow' one of them during the ceremony Actor turned Republican commentator James Woods shared the clip and said: 'I love this princess stood her ground, while Nancy showed her true colors.' Flores won a special election this month to replace Texas Democrat, Rep. Filemon Vela, who retired before the end of his term to take a job at a lobbying and law firm. During the ceremony, Pelosi said: 'It's a great honor to welcome Congresswoman Flores to the Capitol and to the Congress of the United States with great congratulations. 'And again, grateful for her leadership and her beautiful family who is here today.' 'Thank you Congresswoman Flores for your courage to run for office and best wishes for your success. It's an honor to work with you.' Flores, a GOP organizer who is the daughter of migrant workers and a respiratory care practitioner, will hold the seat for several months Who is Mayra Flores, the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House Republican Mayra Flores made history this month by becoming the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House after beating a Democrat in a primary election in Texas. She is the first Republican Latina from the state of Texas to serve. Flores, who has echoed Trump's fraudulent election claims, immigrated to the United States when she was six-years-old from Burgos Tamaulipas in Mexico and her parents were farmworkers in Texas. During her childhood, Flores worked alongside her parents in the cotton fields in Memphis to earn extra money for school clothes and supplies. She graduated in 2014 as a Respiratory Care Practitioner and currently works caring for the elderly and disabled with chronic respiratory issues - and has helped those suffering Covid-19. Flores, who later graduated with a Bachelors in Organizational Leadership, now serves as the Hidalgo County GOP Hispanic Outreach Chair. She has four children with her Border Patrol agent husband and promotes strict immigration policies. Advertisement Flores, a GOP organizer who is the daughter of migrant workers and a respiratory care practitioner, will hold the seat for several months before the district is redrawn to be more favorable to Democrats. But her victory in the heavily Hispanic Rio Grand Valley is an ominous sign for Democrats - and demonstrates that Republicans are making inroads with Hispanic voters. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he had voted for Republican for the first time in order to vote for Flores. He tweeted: 'I voted for Mayra Flores first time I ever voted Republican. Massive red wave in 2022. Flores lauded former President Donald Trump in her victory speech. 'We have to state the facts: That under President Trump, we did not have this mess in this country,' she said. 'And I want to see the Hispanic community rise up. And I want equal representation on both parties - I am the first Mexican-American ever elected to Congress,' she said to cheers. Flores' win makes her the first Mexican-born American to serve in the US House, but also the first Republican Latina from the state of Texas to serve. Flores had 51 per cent of the vote compared to Sanchez's 43 per cent when the Democrat conceded the race in a district where 85 per cent of residents are Latino. Her victory also has implications for Democrats' ambitions in Congress, denying Pelosi an opportunity to add to her slim two-vote margin to pass legislation. Flores, who has echoed Trump's fraudulent election claims, immigrated to the United States when she was six-years-old from Burgos Tamaulipas in Mexico and her parents were farmworkers in Texas. During her childhood, Flores worked alongside her parents in the cotton fields in Memphis to earn extra money for school clothes and supplies. She graduated in 2014 as a Respiratory Care Practitioner and currently works caring for the elderly and disabled with chronic respiratory issues - and has helped those suffering COVID-19. Flores later graduated with a Bachelors in Organizational Leadership, and now serves as the Hidalgo County GOP Hispanic Outreach Chair. Flores, who is describes herself as 'Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, and Pro-Law Enforcement,' has four children with her Border Patrol agent husband, and promotes strict immigration policies. According to her website, Flores believes in fortifying the legal immigration system, securing the borders, lowering the costs of healthcare, lowering taxes, promoting small businesses, and less government. Flores faces another election in November against Democrat nominee Vicente Gonzalez. Alec Baldwin has been mocked over his Spanish after he roared at a staffer about barking dogs during a chaotic live chat with Woody Allen. The Hollywood actor, 64, got up of his couch to upbraid an unseen staffer called Leonetta during Tuesday's interview - which saw 86 year-old Allen admit he's considering retiring from movie-making. Around 15 minutes into the chat, 86 year-old Allen's connection froze. Moments later, Baldwin was up off the couch at his East Hampton home shouting: 'Leonetta! Leonetta! Basta! Las perritas! Basta! Las perritas, suficiente!' That translates as: 'Leonetta! Leonetta! Enough! The dogs! Enough. The dogs. That's enough!' The incident amused many internet users - including native Spanish speaking comedian Alexis Pereira, who claimed he couldn't understand what the actor was saying. 'Inexplicably interviewing Woody Allen on Instagram Live, watching as Woody loses Wi-Fi, and then getting up to yell something in Spanish that I a native Spanish speaker cant understand has surpassed Schweddy Balls as the new funniest thing Alec Baldwin has ever done. God tier,' he said. Journalist Matt Jacobs wrote: 'I was morbidly curious about this, so I put it on in time to see Alec Baldwin yelling at his housekeeper in Spanish to fix Woody Allen's wi-fi connection.' He and friend Kate Erbland then joked about the incident, tweeting 'LEONETTA!' at one another, before Erbland said: 'Prayers up for Leonetta!' Baldwin and Allen - both of whom have been plagued by multiple scandals - scheduled the chinwag to discuss Allen's new book of essays, titled Zero Gravity. But the Instagram event - for which Baldwin turned live comments off - quickly turned farcical due to multiple Wi-Fi disruptions at Allen's Upper East Side mansion. Alec Baldwin, left, began yelling at a staffer in Spanish about barking dogs Tuesday after a live chat with Woody Allen about the director's new book of essays crashed Journalist Emily Miller was among those who found the live chat strange, given the two men's troubled pasts Baldwin was spotted making a solo outing to a clam restaurant in the Hamptons after a busy morning talking to Woody Allen and shouting at a staffer The actor is currently expecting his seventh child with wife Hilaria, 38. He is also dad to Ireland Baldwin, 26, whose mom is Alec's first wife Kim Basinger During the second of three outages, the notoriously hot-tempered Baldwin FaceTimed a woman who was with Allen. 'Are they in the room where they have the best Wi-Fi?' He grilled. 'This is the second time they've shut down. 'They need to be in the room with the best Wi-Fi in the house. What have they got going on there?' Baldwin continued. And further unintentional comedy ensued seconds later when Allen appeared back on screen with a female helper who said: 'We just opened a door, it might make a difference.' Baldwin and Allen spent considerable time discussing their illustrious careers - with It's Complicated star Baldwin making his affection for Allen's work clear. He said watching an Allen film served as an 'escape' from the chaos of raising six young children with his second wife Hilaria, 38, who's currently pregnant with their seventh. Allen later returned to the chat - with Baldwin keeping live comments disabled throughout, likely mindful of the high-profile scandals both men have faced Baldwin bragged about working throughout the COVID pandemic - but made no mention of accidentally shooting Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (pictured center) in gray scarf, in October 2021 Meanwhile, Allen joked about how lucky his wife Soon-Yi Previn, 51, is. Allen began an affair with Previn in 1992, while dating Previn's adoptive mother Mia Farrow Allen also revealed he's considering retiring, saying of filmmaking: 'A lot of the thrill is gone. 'It's not as enjoyable as it was... Im going to make another one, and Ill see how it feels,' he said, after discussing plans for an upcoming Paris movie shoot. But it was what Baldwin didn't discuss that set tongues wagging online. Towards the end of the chat, Baldwin bragged that he'd never caught COVID despite working through the pandemic. He said: 'I heard they're going to do research now and do testing on people who didn't get COVID. 'I was out all the time because I had to work. I went and shot a TV series of Peacock, but what I realized was that every time I went into a room with people, I masked, and I believe that's why I didn't get COVID.' Baldwin appeared to be referring to his part in medical horror drama Dr Death. But he failed to mention the infamous October 2021 killing on the set of his doomed western movie Rust. Farrow, pictured with Allen in 1992, later accused Allen of sexually abusing her seven year-old daughter Dylan. He denied that claim and has never faced any criminal action That saw Baldwin accidentally shoot and kill cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, while handling a prop pistol he didn't realize had been loaded with live rounds. Baldwin says he was devastated by the death of Hutchins, a mom-of-two, but denies all allegations of wrongdoing. The star also served as a producer on Rust, whose senior crew are now facing criminal charges and civil lawsuits over what it is alleged were lax safety procedures on set. Meanwhile, Allen's own tangled past came to the fore when he agreed with Baldwin that his wife Soon-Yi Previn, 51, was 'lucky' because she gets to go to Paris with him this fall to watch him shoot a movie. 'My wife is lucky for many reasons, that's just one of them,' Allen concurred. But social media users were quick to note that Allen began an affair with Previn while dating Previn's adoptive mother, actress Mia Farrow. Allen was 56 when he began the relationship, to Previn's 21. Journalist Emily Miller joked: 'Alec Baldwin, who shot and killed his employee 8 month ago, is live on instagram now with Woody Allen who is married to his daughter.' Months after news of Allen's affair with Previn hit the headlines, he was accused of sexually abusing Farrow's daughter Dylan when she was seven. Allen has always denied the claim, and no criminal charges were ever brought against him. Hundreds of off-duty Delta Airlines pilots are planning to picket this week to demand an increase in pay and better schedules - as another 500 flights are axed today. The Air Line Pilots Association claimed last night its nearly 14,000 members are working longer hours even as airlines cancel thousands of trips. Delta Airlines pilots plan to start picketing on Thursday at several major airports including LAX, JFK and Atlanta, which are some of the most affected in terms of cancellations and delays. The announcement comes amidst a rise in flight cancellations and delays. On Tuesday morning, airlines had already cancelled over 500 flights and delayed another 1,200, according to FlightAware. The average Delta Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $157,912, which is 119 percent above the national average, according to Indeed. Passengers line up to check bags before their flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport today A man says goodbye and hugs his daughter before her flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta today Passengers line up to check in before their flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. June 28, 2022 as airports see an increase in cancellations and delays The announcement comes amidst a rise in flight cancellations and delays. On Tuesday morning, airlines had already cancelled over 500 flights and delayed another 1,200, according to FlightAware. Pictured: Atlanta today This graphic shows how many flights have been cancelled in recent days at US airports FlightAware's Misery Map shows cancellations and delays by airport on June 28, 2022 Pilots have complained that thinly staffed airlines are asking them to work too many flights, with more pilots reporting fatigue. The FAA has admitted it is understaffed, especially in an important air control center in Florida, which has meant a decrease in the quality of service and an increase in delays and cancellations. The pilots plan to picket, not strike, on the days they are not scheduled to work in order to bring attention to the issues. Federal law creates a long and difficult process before airline workers can legally go on strike. 'The Delta pilots last signed a new contract in 2016 and are currently flying under work rules and pay rates negotiated over six years ago,' said Jason Ambrosi, a Delta pilot and union official, in the statement. 'It's been two-and-a-half-years since our contract became amendable and three-and-a-half years since the Delta pilots last had a pay raise. Meanwhile, our quality of life has eroded due to management's unwillingness to schedule the airline properly,' he continued. 'In June, the union took an unprecedented step in passing a vote of 'no confidence' in the management teams of Flight Operations, Crew Resources, and Flight Training & Standards for the scheduling issues that continue to plague both customers and pilots.' 'As long-term stakeholders in our airline, seeing our operational reliability suffer is bad business and puts the Delta brand at risk,' Ambrosi said. An airport employee directs passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta today Pilots have complained that thinly staffed airlines are asking them to work too many flights, with more pilots reporting fatigue. Pictured: Atlanta today Passengers cross the street at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta today Passengers enter a security checkpoint before their flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport today Federal law creates a long and difficult process before airline workers can legally go on strike. Pictured: Passengers today The planned protest comes just before July 4 weekend, which is expected to see 3.5 million Americans fly according to AAA. Ambrosi says the union is 'concerned that our customers' plans will be disrupted once again.' 'The perfect storm is occurring. Demand is back and pilots are flying record amounts of overtime but are still seeing our customers being stranded and their holiday plans ruined,' Ambrosi said. 'When delays or cancellations happen, the pilots share in our passengers' frustration,' he continued. 'Our goal is to achieve an industry-leading contract. But if management doesn't get serious, we'll go the distance to get the contract we deserve,' he concluded. Delays and cancellations cost airlines a hefty sum, with delays costing airlines around $74 a minute, or $4,500 an hour. Defying tarmac delay rules means airlines are charged $27,500 per passenger, meaning one plane with 200 passengers could cost a $5.5million fine. For passengers, delays can cost about $47 of their time. In 2018, before the pandemic, delays and cancellations cost passengers almost $28 billion. Airlines are not required by law to compensate passengers for a cancellation or delay. Passengers have taken to social media to complain about how the delays and cancellations affected them, with many claiming they are 'nervous to fly.' After the coronavirus pandemic halted the airline industry, pilots played a major role in getting airlines back up and running, though their pay has not increased since negotiations in 2016. U.S. consumers lodged more than triple the number of complaints against U.S. airlines in April, compared with pre-pandemic levels, as on-time arrivals fell, according to a report by the Department of Transportation. Earlier this month, Secretary of Transport Pete Buttigieg called a virtual meeting with the chief executives of major U.S. airlines to discuss thousands of recent flight cancellations and delays over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. He urged airlines to ensure they can reliably operate planned summer schedules. Airlines for America, which represents the largest U.S. carriers, said Friday it wants to know FAA's staffing plans for the July Fourth holiday weekend, 'so we can plan accordingly.' The comments from the industry group could serve as a pre-emptive defense in case airlines again suffer thousands of canceled and delayed flights over the holiday weekend, when travel is expected to set new pandemic-era highs. 'The industry is actively and nimbly doing everything possible to create a positive customer experience since it is in an airline's inherent interest to keep customers happy, so they return for future business,' Nicholas Calio, president of the trade group, said in a letter to Buttigieg. A Tory MP today said today he doesn't agree women have 'an absolute right to bodily autonomy' in a debate over the American abortion ban. Danny Kruger added that British MPs should not 'lecture' the US over the democratic process, which has sparked mass protests across the nation. A number of politicians raised concerns over last week's verdict to end constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for nearly 50 years. The decision to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half of US states. Mr Kruger, who represents the constituency of Devizes in Wiltshire, told the Commons this afternoon he would 'probably disagree' with other MPs about the US Supreme Court decision. He said: 'They think that women have an absolute right to bodily autonomy in this matter, whereas I think in the case of abortion that right is qualified by the fact that another body is involved.' As MPs tried to speak over him, Mr Kruger added: 'I would offer to members who are trying to talk me down that this is a proper topic for political debate and my point to the frontbench is I don't understand why we are lecturing the United States on a judgment to return the power of decision over this political question to the states, to democratic decision-makers, rather than leaving it in the hands of the courts.' Tory MP Danny Kruger today said today he doesn't agree women have 'an absolute right to bodily autonomy' in a debate over the American abortion ban Abortion rights supporters march past City Hall in Los Angeles, while protesting against the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to end federal abortion rights protections GBBO Prue Leith's religious son Danny Kruger who was once Boris Johnson's political secretary and a speechwriter for David Cameron: Danny Kruger is the son of Prue and her late husband Rayne Kruger, who died in December 2002, aged 80. He is a former speechwriter to David Cameron - and dreamt up the famous 'hug a hoodie' line and a member of a free-market think-tank, the Legatum Institute. He has been described as 'a passionate Christian' who brought the Gospel to convicted criminals through the prisons charity Only Connect, which he founded, and is also a vocal supporter of legalisation of cannabis. Mr Kruger is an Old Etonian and his 'hug a hoodie' line came back to bite him in 2008 when he and a friend tried to tackle a moped thief and was attacked, 'with all the rage of Cain' by a 'rat faced boy'. Mr Kruger said he still stood by the idea that love 'is a crime fighting device'. The MP received an MBE in 2017 for his charitable work. He has been the Tory MP for Devizes in Wiltshire since 2019 and was a Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson - a key aide who acts as the PM's troubleshooter - the same year. Most recently, in August 2020 Kruger was photographed breaching the rules on the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport. He apologised and stated that he 'simply forgot' and later said he disliked 'absurd masks'. Then in June last year, Mr Kruger was fined after his Jack Russell puppy, Pebbles, caused a stampede when he chased a 200-strong herd of deer in London's Richmond Park. He was fined 120 and told him he must pay 575 costs and a 34 surcharge, totalling 719. Advertisement The House was also told that far-right American groups wanting to roll back UK abortion protections will be given 'renewed impetus' by the decision. Labour former minister Dame Diana Johnson asked Foreign Office minister Amanda Milling: 'Can the minister confirm that the Government will continue to support and fund reproductive healthcare programmes, including access to terminations around the world, in light of this decision? 'With far-right American groups already organising on rolling back the 1967 Abortion Act in this country, this decision will give them renewed impetus for their work. 'So will the Government look again at protecting women attending abortion clinics through the introduction of buffer zones, as proposed by (Rupa Huq, Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton)? 'And finally will the Government confirm its commitment on women's rights to access reproductive healthcare - including abortion - and if the Government plans to change human rights legislation in the UK, that it will completely safeguard the rights of women to bodily autonomy.' Ms Milling said in reply: 'As the Prime Minister said at the weekend, he felt - and I share the view - that this is a big step backwards. 'In relation to our position on sexual reproductive health and rights, including safe abortion, the UK is proud to defend and promote universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, which is a fundamental to unlock the potential agency and freedom of women and girls. 'We will continue to push for strong supportive language in the UN and other international fora.' The urgent question from Dame Diana had sought to press the Foreign Office to make representations to the US government about ensuring that women's rights to access reproductive healthcare are protected. Meanwhile, Conservative former minister Jackie Doyle-Price told the Commons: 'Can I just say to the minister that we are in no stronger position to lecture the United States about this because we have done much the same ourselves. 'Is it not time we led by example and reviewed our abortion laws which are now more than 50 years old and base them around a safe framework for terminating pregnancy in the interests of women, rather than be characterised by these absurd moral extremes?' Abortion-rights activists march toward the White House over the weekend in Washington, DC. Ms Milling replied that a vote on any future abortion law reform would be a 'matter of conscience', but added: 'Our policy is ensuring that women can access health services, (it) is safe and is a secure way and it remains a priority, that is a key priority and we will work closely with abortion providers and other stakeholders on the provision of these services.' Tory MP Lucy Allan Well for Telford also showed her opposition to Mr Kruger's views and tweeted this evening that he has no right to impose his views on others. She wrote: 'We are going to disagree on this - I accept Dannys right to disagree, but he no has no right to impose his views on others. 'Do men have a right to bodily autonomy? Is it just women who do not have that right?' Elsewhere, Dame Maria Miller called on the Government to 'hold the US government to account at the UN', and to confirm that the 'UK Government would view any such change as a breach of its inalienable international obligations'. For Labour, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: 'What is happening in America, and it is happening in our own country, is an organised hard-right and global political movement that is seeking to overturn the rights hard-won in the 20th century.' Two alleged drug traffickers arrested for possessing 150,000 illegal fentanyl pills during a California traffic stop were released from custody just one day later, officials said. Jose Zendejas, 25, and Benito Madrigal, 19, both from Washington, were booked at the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility after being busted with $750,000 worth of fentanyl pills. The Tulare County Sheriff's Office issued an update on Monday announcing the two had been released from custody a day after their arrest on Saturday - following a court order. Sheriff Mike Boudreaux 'strongly disagrees' with the order to release the two men, arguing it is a public safety issue. He had no say in the court order and was forced to comply. The two men were booked at the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility and released the next day after a court order was issued 'All inmates booked into Tulare County jails are sent through what is known as the Risk Assessment Process through the Tulare County Probation Department,' police said. That Risk Assessment is then sent to a judge with the court, who then determines whether or not the individual arrested is held on bail or if they are to be released. County commissioner Mikki Verissimo, who reports to the judge of the Tulare County Superior Court, conducted the risk assessment and deemed the two fit for release. Tulare's District Attorney Tim Ward hasn't commented on the release, but his office says they weren't a part of the decision process by the Tulare County Probation Department. The two men will return to court on July 21, where a judge will determine their charges, according to the DA's office. Jose Zendejas, 25, and Benito Madrigal, 19, were arrested in California for possession of $750,000 worth of fentanyl pills The potent drug that is stronger than heroin and morphine is a major contributor to fatal overdoses throughout the state, according to the California Department of Public Health. Fentanyl related deaths 'increased at an unpredictable pace in 2020' with 3,946 overdoses - according to the latest data from the CDPH. Fentanyl is currently classified as a Schedule II drug that has a 'high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence,' according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Currently in the state, the possession of fentanyl is a mere misdemeanor offense. Fentanyl deaths have increased substantially in 2020, the California Department of Public Health says What is fentanyl and why is it so dangerous? Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to aid cancer patients with their pain management. Given its extreme potency it has become popular amongst recreational drug users. Overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl jumped from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016 - surpassing common opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time. And drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 people in the US in 2017 a record driven by fentanyl. It is often added to heroin because it creates the same high as the drug, with the effects biologically identical. But it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin, according to officials in the US. In America, fentanyl is classified as a schedule II drug - indicating it has a strong potential to be abused and can create psychological and physical dependence. Advertisement California lawmakers have been warning against the deadly fentanyl crisis that has been poisoning young people throughout the state and calling for harsher penalties. Earlier this year in April, some state lawmakers attempted to pass legislation to establish possession of two or more grams of fentanyl to be a felony. In the same bill, lawmakers proposed reclassifying fentanyl as a Schedule I drug alongside meth and heroin - but failed. If passed, traffickers would have spent 20 years to life in prison for distributing fentanyl that results in death. Both Republicans and Democrats have attempted to combat the fentanyl crisis - but some of their peers argue that harsher penalties are not the solution. Several California District Attorneys have come under fire for their soft on crime policies. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, who pledged to find a different approach to incarceration when he was voted into office in 2020, is now facing his second recall. Gascon has issued various criminal justice reforms that have led to consequences for some crime victims. When Gascon took office in 2020, he changed prosecution rules, including getting rid of sentence enhancements for guns and gangs. The DA also barred prosecutors from charging juveniles as adults. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva - who has been an ongoing critic of Gascon - blames him for the uproar in violent crime. Villanueva claims his office has presented over 13,000 cases to the DAs office that were rejected because they don't fit Gascon's crime policies, Fox News reported. In Northern California, San Francisco's progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin was recalled in early June after crime spiked in the city. This year, statistics show that the crime wave has worsened from last year - one of the worst crime years in decades - with city's murder rate rising 11 percent, and rapes up by nearly 10 percent. The city has also suffered from an increase in homelessness and open-air drug use since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before Google announced the Pixel 6a during I/O 2022, a new review said the device's fingerprint scanner was faster than Google's Pixel 6 Pro. Google acknowledged the Pixel 6's fingerprint scanner employs complex security algorithms, which may create a delay or need a more direct touch. This was after several reviews said that the sensor appeared slow. Google Launched its Newest Pixel Gadget at the I/O 2022 Earlier this year, at the I/O 2022 keynote, Google unveiled its most recent Pixel gadget, the Pixel 6a. Even though the product hasn't yet hit the market, several leaks have occurred. In a hands-on video from a few weeks back, Malaysian YouTuber Fazli Halim offered us an in-depth look at the most recent cheap Pixel. The device's fingerprint reader is quicker than the one on Google's flagship Pixel 6 Pro, according to a thorough review just published. The Google Pixel 6a, which went on sale on July 28, has seen a significant upgrade from its predecessor. Due to substantial trade-offs on display and primary camera compared to Google's flagships, this new phone will be the less expensive alternative to the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro while still having some of the same capabilities. The Pixel 6a will cost $449, the same as the Pixel 5a before it, the firm said at Google I/O 2022. Given that it has similarities to the $599 Pixel 6 in terms of specifications and functionality, the Pixel 6a is probably a great deal at that price. However, Verizon consumers need to fork out $499 to get mmWave. It will replace the Snapdragon 765G and the very uninteresting design of the Pixel 5a by using the same Google Tensor technology and characteristic camera hump. The Pixel 6a will provide features and performance you seldom see on a mid-range handset, despite some significant downgrades compared to the Pixel 6. People shouldn't have that issue with the Pixel 6a's fingerprint sensor. In the video, the phone is displayed next to a Pixel 6 Pro, and the Pixel 6a can be unlocked more quickly and consistently, while the Pixel 6 Pro requires you to press your finger down for a little bit longer. Both smartphones use in-screen fingerprint sensors, so it's conceivable that Google discovered a firmware patch (which would enable a repair for the flagship versions), or, more likely, the company just learned its lesson and switched to a different, more dependable sensor. Read Also: Google Analytics Has Been Banned in Three European Countries - What's the Reason? Some Reviews: Pixel 6 Series In-Display Fingerprint Sensors are Slow For those unaware, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro's fingerprint scanner have been a topic of discussion since they were introduced to consumers last year. The in-display fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro reportedly seemed slow compared to other high-end flagships, according to multiple reviews after the smartphones went on sale. Google has acknowledged the issue and explained why the fingerprint scanners on some of its most recent flagships might sometimes look slow. Despite these claims, Google changed the software for the Pixel 6 series in November 2017 to improve the fingerprint scanner's performance. However, there was a slight improvement after the change. Google acknowledged that the Pixel 6's fingerprint scanner employs complex security algorithms, which can create a delay or need more direct touch with the sensor in response to a tweet from a user who was dissatisfied with how well it worked. When Google debuted the less costly Pixel 6a at I/O this year, many were curious whether it would include a better in-display fingerprint scanner. It does, in fact, YouTuber Fazli Halim compares the fingerprint scanners on the Pixel 6 Pro and the Pixel 6a side by side in his review of the Pixel 6a. Related Article: Google Pixel 6 Finger Print Sensor Not Working: 3 Steps to Troubleshoot Issue A group tracking antisemitism in Germany said it documented more than 2,700 incidents in the country last year, including 63 attacks and six cases of extreme violence. Throughout 2021 there were more than seven per day recorded, with Right-wing extremists being the most common group to commit the offences Anti-Jewish conspiracy narratives arising from the pandemic and the Middle East conflict with antisemitic criticism of Israel were the main drivers of the 2,738 incidents, according to the Department for Research and Information on Anti-Semitism (RIAS). The incidents include both criminal and non-criminal incidents, the group said. New data has shown there were over 2,700 antisemitic incidents recorded in Germany last year, averaging out at more than seven incidents per day (Pictured: A group of people attend a pro Israel demonstration in Germany this month) The German government's antisemitism representative, Felix Klein (pictured in 2018), said the data was frightening The German government's commissioner to combat antisemitism, Felix Klein, called the number of incidents 'frightening', but also said that 'at the same time, each of the reported incidents is also a step toward reducing the dark figures.' Right-wing extremists were responsible for 17 per cent of the incidents, but more than half of all the antisemitic incidents could not be assigned to a specific political view, the report said. Among cases of 'extreme violence,' RIAS included an attack on a Jewish participant in a vigil for Israel in Hamburg and a shooting at a Jewish community centre in Berlin. Altogether, 964 people - both Jews and non-Jews - were directly affected by antisemitic incidents, Benjamin Steinitz, the head of RIAS, told reporters in Berlin. Marina Chernivsky of the Ofek counseling center for victims of antisemitic violence and discrimination called the high number of cases a 'background noise' in the everyday lives of Jews in Germany. A 'depraved' senior Metropolitan Police detective who used hidden spy cameras in phone chargers to secretly film models naked as he pretended to be a glamour photographer has lost an appeal to have his three-year jail term cut. Detective Inspector Neil Corbel, 41, took covert videos of his victims in hotel rooms, flats and Airbnbs across the London, Manchester and Brighton areas between January 2017 and February 2020. He 'used his anti-terror skills' to secretly film the women with spy cameras hidden in tissue boxes, phone charges, glasses and keys after contacting them under the guise of being an airline pilot named Harrison. Police found a total of 51 recordings, of which only 14 were deemed consensual or recorded outside the jurisdiction, while a further six were never traced. Detectives identified 31 of the women and 19 agreed to make statements. Corbel, a married father-of-two who was part of the team involved with the London Bridge terror attack in June 2017, recorded the women using multiple devices on 21 occasions. Sixteen of his victims were models booked for bogus photoshoots, while three were sex workers. They consented to sexual activity, but not to being recorded. He was jailed for three years after admitting 19 counts of voyeurism at Isleworth Crown Court back in January. He challenged his sentence at the Court of Appeal in London at a hearing on Tuesday, with his lawyers arguing it was 'too long' in all the circumstances. Detective Inspector Neil Corbel, 41, (pictured) took covert videos of his victims in hotel rooms, flats and Airbnbs across the London , Manchester and Brighton areas between January 2017 and February 2020 His barrister, Edward Henry QC, argued the Crown Court judge did not take enough account of Corbel's sex addiction or of a medical report which gave details of it. He also argued the judge did not give enough weight to Corbel's lack of previous convictions, his previous good character, his 'extreme vulnerability' in prison as a police officer or the fact he had 'considerably aided' the investigation into his crimes. Mr Henry told the court: 'His remorse was genuine and profound and the mitigation... was very considerable.' But, dismissing his appeal, Mrs Justice Cutts said the judge had not made any error when setting the length of the sentence. Sitting with Lord Justice William Davis and Judge Deborah Taylor, she said: 'We have reflected on the submissions made but we are unable to accept them. Kirsty Lee, 29, from Brighton, posed for a luxury hotel photoshoot in April 2017 with a 'pilot' called 'Harrison' who claimed to have a side-job in photography. Three years later, she received a shock call from the Metropolitan Police, who told her they had found naked videos of her changing in the Westminster hotel bathroom taken that day 'This was a complex case... they were not compulsive acts, the appellant meticulously planned each offence.' She said his crimes caused his victims 'distress, anxiety and a reduction in confidence' and also said the discovery he was a police officer caused an 'additional sense of betrayal for the victims and was likely to have an impact on public confidence in policing'. The court heard the married father-of-two, a former counter-terrorism officer, was caught after a model, who had agreed to pose naked for a photo shoot, became suspicious of a digital clock. An internet search of the brand name revealed the device was a high-end spyware video-recording device which could be controlled from a smartphone. In April 2017, Kirsty (pictured) was invited to an amateur photoshoot in a five-star Westminster hotel by a man called 'Harrison' who had reached out to her private modelling page When he was arrested, Corbel told police he was addicted to pornography. Sentencing him, Judge Martin Edmunds QC said: 'You used a range of deceptions to induce women to take off their clothes in your presence so you could record videos for your sexual gratification. 'You did so using multiple strategically placed covert cameras, sometimes as many as nine.' The judge said the victims 'were entitled to have the personal autonomy' and each had set 'clear boundaries'. 'It is clear that you derived satisfaction from breaching those boundaries by committing these offences rather than seeking out persons who might have offered the opportunity to video them without deception,' he added. Corbel pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court in London back in November 2021 'You did not exploit your police role either to locate or intimidate your victims - rather it was something concealed from them. 'Further, the covert recording devices you used appear to have been readily available to purchase on the internet. 'There is no evidence you used police equipment or specialist police knowledge. 'However, it is clear that the revelation to your victims that you were a serving police officer has for many of them seriously undermined their trust in the police, something for those individuals, given their various lines of work, is a particularly serious matter, just as the revelation of your offending must impact on public trust.' Three of Corbel's victims watched on as he was jailed in January, having faced him in court to read their victim impact statements. One model, who agreed to pose for a 'fashion and artistic nude shoot', was visibly angry as she told Corbel his crimes had 'affected every aspect of my life'. 'I have pulled so much of my hair out with stress I have bald spots and have had to turn down work,' she said, showing her scalp to the court. A doctor who ran an unlicensed online clinic for transgender children 'failed' an 11-year-old patient transitioning from male to female by not fully explaining that drugs could cause fertility risks, a medical tribunal found today. Dr Helen Webberley, founder of GenderGP, was accused of failing to provide good clinical care in 2016 to three patients, aged 11, 12 and 17, who were transitioning from female to male. She failed 11-year-old Patient C by not discussing risks to fertility at a consultation before prescribing puberty blockers (GnHRa), a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel said today, June 28. Her husband Dr Michael Webberley , who spent 34 years working for the NHS, was struck off in May this year for wrongly prescribing sex-change treatments to seven transgender patients. His patients included one who was aged just nine and another a teenager who took their own life few months later. Dr Helen Webberley (pictured), founder of GenderGP, was accused of failing to provide good clinical care in 2016 to three patients, aged 11, 12 and 17, who were transitioning from female to male The tribunal said: 'The tribunal did not consider that Dr Webberley has developed sufficient understanding as to the significance of how she failed Patient C in regard to discussing fertility, and as to how she can be sure that this will not be repeated.' She put her patients at 'unwarranted risk of harm' by failing to provide follow-up care, the panel said. They found her fitness to practise was impaired by reason of her misconduct, which included failing to discuss risks to fertility with a patient, and on wider public interest grounds. The tribunal, chaired by Angus Macpherson, found Dr Webberley's actions amounted to serious misconduct in failing to provide adequate follow-up care to two patients, aged 12 and 17, who were prescribed testosterone. In its findings, the panel said it was satisfied Dr Webberley had since 'obtained insight' and would implement changes if she returned to practise. But it said: 'The tribunal has found that Dr Webberley's misconduct in this regard did put Patients A and B at unwarranted risk of harm. 'In the tribunal's view an informed member of the public would be surprised if a finding of impairment on public interest grounds were not made in those circumstances. 'It therefore finds that Dr Webberley's fitness to practise is impaired on wider public interest grounds.' Dr Webberley (left) put her patients at 'unwarranted risk of harm' by failing to provide follow-up care, the panel said Dr Michael Webberley, who spent 34 years working for the NHS, provided puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones via GenderGP, an online gender clinic which he ran with his GP wife Dr Helen Webberley (couple pictured together) Dr Webberley defended herself Twitter this afternoon, saying that she missed messages in August 2016 from Patient A's mother because 'they were going through to the wrong email address'. She said that she did was not able to provide comprehensive follow-up care or Patient B as she was stopped from working by the General Medical Council in May 2017. Regarding 11-year-old Patient C, she said: 'In February 2017 when reviewing the case I realised that although we had touched on the subject of fertility, we hadn't discussed it fully enough. 'Patient C's Mum and I then went onto have multiple questions and answers by email until she was happy that she had enough information on egg storage should it ever be needed in the future. Patient C then started on blockers in April 2017.' Dr Webberley defended herself Twitter this afternoon, saying that she missed messages in August 2016 from Patient A's mother because 'they were going through to the wrong email address' Dr Webberley, from Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, Wales, was convicted in 2018 of running an independent medical agency without being registered. She was later fined 12,000. The tribunal found her fitness to practise was also impaired by reason of her conviction. In evidence to the tribunal, Dr Webberley said: 'The impact of having the conviction on myself was huge, it affected many things in my life, from my mortgage to my car insurance. 'I also know that the public were concerned about it because it was heavily reported in the press, but I hope that I have been able to show that at all times I acted with the best interests of my patients at the forefront of my actions.' Earlier, this year, the panel found more than 30 allegations brought by the General Medical Council (GMC) against the doctor were proved. However, the panel said the doctor was competent to provide treatment to transgender people and found 83 allegations not proved. The tribunal is still to decide whether to impose a sanction on Dr Webberley. A 79-year-old pensioner has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murdering a prostitute, who was beaten and strangled to death nearly 50 years ago. The court was told that John Apelgren, 79, is a one in a billion DNA match to evidence found on the body of sex worker Eileen Cotter. The 22-year-old was discovered in front of a block of garages behind Hamilton Park, Highbury, north London, on June 1, 1974. Apelgren, 79, a dual UK and South African national, was arrested on 22 June on suspicion of murder. He is also charged with indecently assaulting an 18 year-old female guest at his wedding to ex-wife Ann Smythe in 1972 and has since re-married and has at least one son The court was told that John Apelgren, 79, is a one in a billion DNA match to evidence found on the body of sex worker Eileen Cotter (pictured) The dual UK and South African national appeared in court via videolink from HMP Thameside. Bespectacled Apelgren, of Bryden Close, Sydenham, southeast London, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. He was remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 12. He was allegedly matched to Eileen's DNA after submitting to a test on an unrelated matter in 2019. The 22-year-old was discovered in front of a block of garages behind Hamilton Park (pictured), Highbury, north London, on June 1, 1974 The sex worker was discovered face-down with her buttocks exposed in an area frequented by prostitutes and their clients, accessible via a single track. A post mortem confirmed the cause of death as manual strangulation, and there was evidence she received a black eye and bruising to her face and neck. A murder investigation was launched at the time, but nobody was ever charged. Apelgren is also accused of pressing his penis into the hand of the complainant on his wedding day when she left the ladies toilet. Advertisement Work has begun to remove a sunken 6million superyacht destroyed in a fire while moored at a harbour in the seaside town in Devon. The 85ft yacht Rendezvous was carrying 8000 litres of fuel when it caught fire and ended up submerged at the bottom of Torquay Harbour. The massive blaze broke out on 28 May with smoke seen billowing across the blue skies above the heads of bemused sunbathers. The 85ft superyacht, called the Rendezvous, set ablaze at 11.57am in the Devonshire marina was completely engulfed in flames within minutes and sunk three hours afterwards. The owner of the Rendezvous is understood to be a local businessman who is currently abroad on holiday. It is not known if he has since returned following the blaze. Since the incident, the Torbay Harbour Authority has been working with a specialist wreck removal company. Divers were in the water on Monday to make the final preparations for the salvage operation. The removal of the remaining fuel and the lifting of the vessel should be completed over the next two days, authorities said. Rendezvous, an 85ft superyacht worth 6million which was carrying 2,000 gallons of fuel has sunk after it went up in flames at Torquay harbourside in Devon A witness described hearing explosions from the boat shortly after it caught fire, adding that it had drifted from its mooring According to a spokesperson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, five fire engines are on the scene after the motorboat caught fire Firefighters desperately tried to extinguish the blaze as they watched the vessel slowly sink into the water The yacht owner's 'flashing back-lit electric nameplate' could have been the cause behind the huge inferno of a 6million luxurious vessel at Torquay Marina, sources said in May. The plumes of black smoke which could be seen across Devon caused the local council to evacuate nearby beaches as well as ask residents to stay home. The South West Environment Agency set its focus on a pollution response with fears of an oil slick after approximately nine tonnes of diesel poured into the Atlantic Ocean. The boat was a luxury ship that could house eight passengers and had an al-fresco dining room, bar, sunpad, and a 55-inch TV. The luxury superyacht is one of just 31 such models in the world and is in the top 10 per cent of fastest boats with a top speed of 33 knots. It has four guest bedrooms that can house eight passengers and two staff rooms with space for three crew members - though no one was on board at the time of the incident. The sleek ship has a fibreglass hull and was designed by Pininfarina, the same company that designed almost every Ferrari car for 66 years between 1951 and 2017. Crowds gather at Torquay Harbour to see fire crews trying to put out the raging inferno. Police have since closed the harbourfront and nearby beach One witness described the blaze 'like a fire ball'. Police say no one is thought to have been injured in the fire, but crews continue to battle the flames Smoke has been seen all across South Devon and as far as Newton Abbot and Shaldon. Residents are being warned to keep their windows and doors closed The boat was engulfed in flames and drifted off its mooring, with one witness saying they heard explosions The plume of smoke from the fire could be seen rising high into the air above the picturesque harbour in Torquay in Devon The superyacht was completely sunk by the inferno, leaving charred debris floating on the water of Devon harbour Firefighters could be seen using their water hoses to dowse the smoking carcass of the boat, while grey smoke rose to the sky Its twin fuel tanks made from NS8 marine grade alloy allowed the ship to carry 11,000 litres of fuel for the two MAN V12 engines. Overall the ship is 85ft 11, with a beam of 20ft 8 inches and a gross tonnage of 110 tons. It also had automatic and manual override fire extinguishers in the engine room as well as hand-operated fire extinguishers in every cabin, the galley, crew and lower helm. Marina staff told MailOnline they were in contact with the Rendezvous' owners and said they were likely going through a very distressing time. Their lavish 6million superyacht was on fire for around five hours before it sank. The flames and smoke left some people trapped at the far end of the pier, according to one witness, after the boat drifted from its mooring. Witnesses described seeing the flames burn through the rope mooring the boat, cutting it adrift so it floated along the marina before hitting a bridge, which acted as a barricade. The Rendezvous, pictured here at Torquay Harbour on April 12, is a luxury pleasure craft built by UK boat maker Princess Yachts in 2010 It has a bar and sunpad as well as ample space to lounge on the 6million superyacht. The Rendezvous was built in 2010 and is one of just 31 in the world The bathroom has wood panelling and white marbled granite, adding a touch of class to the superyacht Two single beds in the starboard guest cabin make the ship perfect for a family holiday with the kids Torquay Marina has space for almost 1,000 yachts and is one of the best-equipped harbours in the southwest of the UK (File image) Dramatic footage on social media showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing across the harbour and flames enveloping the boat. No injuries were reported but the harbour was temporarily brought to a standstill as authorities feared a large amount of diesel remained on the yacht. A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) spokesperson said the yacht contained 'approximately 8,000 litres of diesel fuel'. People living nearby were warned to keep their doors and windows closed to protect themselves from the hazardous fumes. It later sank and by 6pm firefighters were damping down the pier, DSFRS said. Environmental responders carry oil selective sorbents near the scene where a yacht caught fire in Torquay Marina in Torquay People contain an oil spillage at the scene where a yacht caught fire in Torquay Marina in Torquay, Britain, on May 29 The raging inferno left the harbour wall at Torquay Marina in a state of great damage as Environment Agency workers rushed to stop an oil spill Police closed a number of roads in the area while fire crews dealing with the raging inferno, including the promenade and waterfront areas. The yacht has been in the harbour for at least a month, with photos taken in April showing it dwarfing other boats in the marina. Torquay Marina said in a statement that the area had been saved from a 'major catastrophe' by authorities and emergency services at the scene. Princess Pier remains closed and only essential personnel will be granted access. Once the salvage operation has been safely completed, repairs to Princess Pier will begin and will reopen to the public once it is made safe. Advertisement Donald Trump tried to grab the steering wheel of his presidential vehicle on January 6 and lunged at a Secret Service agent when he was 'furious' they would not take him to the US Capitol, said Cassidy Hutchinson, the former assistant to Mark Meadows. The White House chief of staff's former top aide, just 25 years old, testified on Tuesday that Donald Trump's White House chief of staff told her that 'things could get real, real bad on January 6' just four days before the Capitol riot. She also claimed her former boss, along with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, sought pardons from the former president linked to their efforts on January 6. Among the more explosive points of the former staffer's testimony include Trump's alleged insistence on joining his supporters at the Capitol - who he was told in advance were armed. 'I'm the effing president, take me to the Capitol now,' she said he ordered. When Secret Service refused, Hutchinson said agents told her that he lunged at the steering wheel of his car - known as The Beast. 'Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel. We're going back to the West Wing, we're not going to the Capitol,' Hutchinson was told Secret Service agent Robert Engel said. 'Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engel,' Hutchinson recalled. Former Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato 'motioned toward his clavicle,' she added, as a sign the president went for his security detail's throat. Other evidence of Trump's explosive temper came when Hutchinson testified that the former president was so angry that his then-Attorney General Bill Barr told the Associated Press that there was no widespread election fraud that he threw food at the wall. Hutchinson said she 'first noticed there was ketchup dripping down the wall, and there was a shattered porcelain plate.' 'The valet had articulated that the president was extremely angry at the attorney generals AP interview and had thrown his lunch against the wall, which was causing them to have to clean up, so I grabbed a towel and started wiping the ketchup off the wall to help the valet out,' she said. Her testimony - and the hearing as a whole - also paints a picture of Trump having to be dissuaded from marching to the Capitol with his supporters that day - despite Meadows claiming in his book that the former president was not serious when he told his supporters he'd do so. Other damning allegations from Hutchinson during her appearance in front of the January 6 committee on Tuesday included: Hutchinson testified that former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told her 'things could get real, real bad on January 6' Four days before the Capitol riot, the ex-White House staffer said Rudy Giuliani told her January 6 would be a 'great day' Both Giuliani and Meadows sought pardons from Trump over January 6, Hutchinson told lawmakers Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney played a video of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn pleading the Fifth Amendment when asked if he supports the peaceful transfer of power Cheney also implied that the committee has evidence of Trump and his allies' witness tampering in the House's investigation Trump reportedly knew people with weapons tried to get into his Stop The Steal rally before the riot He was 'furious' that his armed supporters were being kept away because it made his crowd look smaller The former president lashed out against 'phony' Hutchinson on his Truth Social app during the hearing Former Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson was revealed to be the January 6 committee's surprise Tuesday witness The 25-year-old has firsthand information about the former president and his top aides' movements on the day of and leading up to the Capitol riot 'I was aware of a desire of the president to potentially march to the or accompany rally attendees to the Capitol, former Trump aide Nick Luna testified in a videotaped deposition shown on Tuesday. A National Security Council chat log shown by the committee suggests he was hell-bent on going with supporters and staffers were 'begging him to reconsider.' During her live testimony, Hutchinson recalled a conversation with House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy during which he allegedly begged her to dissuade Trump from going to the Capitol. She said McCarthy was 'frustrated and angry.' Hutchinson told him she was not aware of Trump's plan to go to the Capitol at the time. Who is Cassidy Hutchinson, the 25-year-old aide with the most damning allegations against Trump on January 6? At just 25 years old, Cassidy Hutchinson has a resume under her belt that even seasoned political operatives have taken decades to put together. Hutchinson was an executive assistant to Donald Trump's former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in the weeks leading up to and after the January 6 insurrection. Her live Tuesday testimony before the Capitol riot committee is the most damning yet in the fact that she was in the room for some of the most private -and intense - conversations had by the former president and his allies as they laid out a strategy to steal the 2020 election. As committee Chairman Bennie Thompson pointed out, Hutchinson's work in Washington began with internships in the office of House GOP Whip Steve Scalise and Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz. 'Then, in 2019, you moved to the White House and served there until the end of the Trump administration,' Thompson said during the hearing. She began with a role in the Office of Legislative Affairs in March 2019 - just before graduating - before being elevated to executive assistant for Meadows in March 2020, according to her LinkedIn profile. She also interned for Trump's White House as a student at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. There, Hutchinson majored in political science and American studies. She told her student newspaper during her senior year in 2018 that getting the coveted internship brought her to 'tears' and her goal was to 'pursue a path of civic significance.' 'As a first-generation college student, being selected to serve as an intern alongside some of the most intelligent and driven students from across the nation many of whom attend top universities was an honor and a tremendous growing experience,' Hutchinson said at the time. Advertisement 'He just said it on stage, Cassidy, figure it out, McCarthy apparently told her. Trump 'didn't care' the rioters were 'armed' and his White House counsel feared staff would be charged if supporters reached the Capitol Former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone told her 'were going to get charged with every crime imaginable' if Trump is allowed to march to the Capitol. Hutchinson also told the January 6 committee that Trump was 'furious' that some of his supporters, who were armed, could not get into the official grounds of his Stop the Steal rally near the White House that directly preceded the riot. He was apparently angry that the size of the crowd coming to hear him speak did not appear as big as he wanted it to - due to his armed supporters not getting past the security magnetometers. 'Take the effing mags away,' she said Trump ordered, referring to the metal detectors attendees had to go through. 'Who cares if they have weapons, theyre not here to hurt me.' The committee then played a clip of Trump's comments at the rally urging his supporters to march to the Capitol - words that appeared stark in the context of testimony claiming he knew they presented a security risk. Hutchinson admitted to being the White House staffer behind a note written on executive office stationary on January 6 that stated: 'Anyone who entered the Capitol illegally without proper authority should leave immediately.' 'Illegally' had been scribbled out.' The note, she said, was a draft statement dictated by Meadows and former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann. Hutchinson said the statement was never issued. Trump takes to Truth Social and claims he 'hardly knew' Cassidy Hutchinson and rejected her request to come to Mar-a-Lago after he left office Toward the end of the first half of the hearing, Trump took to his app Truth Social to say he 'hardly knows' Hutchinson. 'I hardly know who this person, Cassidy Hutchinson, is, other than I heard very negative things about her (a total phony and a "leaker"), and when she requested to go with certain others of the team to Florida after my having served a full term in office, I personally turned her request now,' he said. Hutchinson's exit before a 10-minute recess was met with applause by progressive Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, who attended the hearing as a viewer. The second half began with a short clip of the committee's interview with disgraced former general and Trump adviser Michael Flynn. Flynn pleaded the Fifth Amendment when Cheney asked him whether he believed in a peaceful transfer of power. Trump's Cabinet discussed invoking the 25th Amendment as the riot unfolded, Hutchinson tells committee Hutchinson also confirmed reports from the time of the riot that Trump's Cabinet was considering invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the then-president from office - and that it was former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who brought it to her boss's attention. 'Mr. Pompeo reached out to have the conversation with Mr. Meadows in case he hadn't heard the discussions amongst the Cabinet secretaries. And from what I understand, it was more of this is what I'm hearing, I want you to be aware of it,' she testified. Pompeo is widely seen as a potential contender for the White House himself in 2024. Hutchinson testified that Trump was so angry that his Secret Service agents refused to take him to the Capitol on January 6 that he lunged for one of their throats The president's vehicle is a heavily-armored car known as 'The Beast,' driven by Secret Service agents. This graphic shows another similar model of The Beast to the SUV version Trump was in on January 6 The former senior White House aide testified that Trump was aware that some of his supporters could not get into his Stop the Steal rally because they were armed - and that he was reportedly 'furious' about it. The ex-White House staffer was revealed to be the January 6 committee's surprise witness late on Monday night for the hastily-announced hearing. She told lawmakers in her first public testimony of the investigation that Trump's former lawyer Rudy Giuliani told her January 6 would be a 'great day' as she escorted him out of a White House meeting earlier that month. 'He looked at me and said something to the effect of, "Cass are you excited? The 6th is going to be a great day",' Hutchinson recalled. When she asked Giuliani what he meant, Hutchinson said he replied: 'Were going to the Capitol. Its going to be great. The presidents going to be there, hes going to look powerful.' Referring to her boss, he encouraged her to 'talk to the chief about it' because 'he knows about it.' Hutchinson testified that she went straight to Meadows and told him about her 'interesting' conversation with the disbarred attorney. 'Theres a lot going on, Cass. I don't know, things could get real, real bad on January 6th,' she recalled Meadows saying. She shared her own perspective, adding: 'That evening was the first moment I remembered feeling scared and wondering what could happen on January 6. The 25-year-old has firsthand knowledge of conversations between Trump and his allies in the lead-up to the 2020 election and after it. At the outset of the hearing, Vice Chair Liz Cheney said the panel would be 'departing' from its normal format to accommodate the 'important and cross-cutting topics in Hutchinson's wide-ranging testimony. Chairman Bennie Thompson opened the hearing showing how close Hutchinson's office was to Trump The panel also played clips from some of the 20 hours that Hutchinson spent testifying behind closed doors Photos like this one of Hutchinson with Trump's press secretary Kayleigh McEnany demonstrate how deeply the 25-year-old was embedded in Trump's orbit Thompson opened his line of questioning asking Hutchinson about her relatively short resume compared to other senior White House staffers, before displaying diagrams reflecting the physical proximity her office had to Trump in the Oval Office. Tuesdays hearing was revealed in an announcement roughly 24 hours before it was set to occur. The surprise event came after Thompson told reporters last week that his committees final two presentations would be delayed until July. In an unusual move, the panel gave no additional details in its announcement but said it would 'present recently obtained evidence and receive witness testimony.' Hutchinson has been deposed by the committee at least three times behind closed doors for a combined nearly 20 hours. She's previously told lawmakers that Trump showed support for rioters in the US Capitol who were chanting 'Hang Mike Pence' and that she saw the president's former chief of staff burn pages in his office after a meeting with GOP Rep. Scott Perry. Hutchinson told lawmakers on Tuesday that she was 'disgusted' by Trump tweeting that Pence 'lacked courage' after the former vice president rejected his boss's plot to overturn President Joe Biden's electoral victory. 'It was unpatriotic, un-American, and we were watching the Capitol being defaced because of a lie, Hutchinson testified. Her boss, however, suggested Trump said he 'deserves' it, according to the aide's testimony. Hutchinson recalled a conversation between Cipollone and Meadows that day as rioters chanted for Pence to be hanged. 'Mark we need to do something more. They're literally calling for the VP to be f***ing hung,' Cipollone said according to Hutchinson. 'Mark had responded something to the effect of, "You heard him, Pat, he thinks Mike deserves it. He doesn't think they're doing anything wrong".' The January 6 committee is also looking into phone calls reportedly made among Trumps adult children and his top aides discussing election strategy in September 2020, the Guardian reported on Tuesday. The calls were made at a private event and were captured on video by British documentary filmmaker Alex Holder. Holders first-hand footage and interviews of Trump, his family and Vice President Mike Pence in the weeks leading up to the November presidential race have become a focal point for the committee as it hones in on Trumps plan to undermine American democracy. Lawmakers are focused on whether the former president and his children were involved in a plot to send in fake electors to upend Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. The Justice Department has separately subpoenaed at least nine people linked to the scheme. President Joe Biden thanked Spanish King Felipe VI on Tuesday for taking in migrants from the U.S. southern border as he met with the royal before a lavish dinner to kick off this week's NATO summit. He and Biden met at the Royal Palace after the president arrived in the Madrid for the NATO summit. Biden noted many children in the United States these days are native Spanish speakers and that the future of America 'depends considerably' on the assimilation of that population. 'You know, I tell people that the idea we've always had great migration flows into the United States over the years - we're a nation of immigrants. But this is a statistic that - I think it's 24 out of every 100 students in grades one through 12 in America speaks Spanish, speak Spanish as an original language,' Biden said during a meeting with the king at the Royal Palace in Madrid. 'So the future of my country depends considerably, an assimilation of a population that has grown to have the same values that you possess,' he said. The Hispanic population in the United States is the largest growing population. It reached 62.1 million in 2020, an increase of 23% over the previous decade that outpaced the nations 7% overall population growth, Pew Research Center found. Biden also thanked the King for his help with migrants crossing the United States' southern border. 'Your help in Latin America is also extremely important,' he said. 'The help and support and the input has been extremely valuable,' he noted. Spain has committed to taking a significant number of Central American refugees coming illegally into the U.S. The largest group of migrants coming over the southern border are from centeral American countries, which are Spanish speaking. President Joe Biden thanked Spanish King Felipe VI for taking in migrants from the U.S. southern border President Biden and King Felipe VI met at the Palacio Real in Madrid after Biden arrived for the NATO summit President Biden and King Felipe praised the friendship between the U.S. and Spain Spain has agreed to take some migrants that have crossed U.S. border President Joe Biden walks with Spain's King Felipe VI as they meet at the Royal Palace ahead of the NATO summit in Madrid Felipe praised the friendship between the United States and Spain. 'We share common values and principles that are today the foundation of a rich relationship and a sincere friendship,' he said. Biden received a royal welcome at the palace. The king greeted him upon his arrival. A military band played and soldiers in blue and white uniforms saluted. The two men walked a long, winding marble staircase to an ornate granite room, where they formally met each other's delegations. Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be back at the palace later Tuesday night to attend a formal dinner King Felipe and Queen Letizia are hosting to kick off the NATO summit. Earlier in the day, King Felipe greeted Biden at the airport when he arrived in Madrid after attending the G7 in Germany. The two men chatted for several minutes with Biden reaching out several times to pat the king on the shoulder. Additionally, President Biden and the Spanish goverment announced a new deal on Tuesday that will see the United States increase the number of destroyers it has based in Spain. Biden announced he is ramping up the U.S. military presence on the eastern flank, a move he promised to make in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion on Ukraine. The U.S. will send two more destroyers to Rota, Spain, on the Spanish coast. 'We're going to work on an agreement to increase the number of US Naval destroyer stationed in Spain's Rota naval base, which will also enhance the bilateral defense relationship between Spain and the United States,' Biden said after a meeting with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. President Joe Biden landed in Madrid on Tuesday for a NATO summit President Joe Biden is welcomed by King Felipe VI of Spain as he arrives at NATO meeting President Biden embraces King Felipe VI Air Force One lands at the airbase of Torrejon de Ardoz in Madrid Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (right) and President Joe Biden (left) make a joint statement in Madrid after their meeting And National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said there could be more to come. 'We think by the end of the summit, what you will see is a more robust, more effective, more combat credible, more capable, and more determined force posture to take account of a more acute and aggravated Russian threat, not just because of what they've done in Ukraine, but also because of the way in which they have changed their posture,' he told reporters on Air Force One in route to Spain. Russia's invasion of the Ukraine will be a main topic of conversation at the three-day summit, which formally kicks off on Tuesday night with a black-tie dinner. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the NATO leaders virtually on Wednesday. He also addressed G7 leaders earlier this week where he asked for more defensive capabilities and said he wants to see the war finish by year's end. The invasion has changed NATO's approach to defense, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday, and a number of states in the alliance. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked a 'fundamental shift' in NATO's approach to defense, and member states will have to boost their military spending in an increasingly unstable world, the leader of the alliance said Tuesday. Stoltenberg said the meeeting would chart a blueprint for the alliance 'in a more dangerous and unpredictable world.' 'To be able to defend in a more dangerous world we have to invest more in our defense,' Stoltenberg said. Just nine of NATO's 30 members meet the organization's target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Russia's invasion of the Ukraine also prompted Sweden and Finland to apply to join. President Joe Biden met with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at La Moncloa Palace after his arrival in Spain Security stands guard as they wait for President Joe Biden to deplane from Air Force One at Madrid's Torrejon Airport President Joe Biden will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to push for Finland and Sweden's ability to join alliance The U.S. is increasing its number of destroyers in Rota, Spain, from four to six But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking their application to join because he wants them to change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Biden spoke with Erdogan on Tuesday morning and will sit down with him on Wednesday while they are both in Madrid. Sullivan said the U.S. believes Finland and Sweden have taken significant steps forward in terms of addressing Turkey's concerns. We also believe and are confident that ultimately they will become members of the alliance and that Turkey's concerns will be fully addressed in terms of a bilateral meeting.' Additionally, for the first time, the leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand are attending the NATO summit as guests. President Biden will host a trilateral meeting with the president of Korea and the Prime Minister of Japan to discuss threats from North Korea to the region on Wednesday. A 32-year-old non-profit founder was found fatally shot in his Fairfax, Virginia home that he shared with his wife and two young children on Friday. His wife has claimed an intruder shot him. Gret Glyer, founder of fundraising non-profit DonorSee, was found dead inside his Bolton Village Court home around 3am on Friday with mysterious gunshot wounds. Police were not able to confirm where he was shot, but told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that a Saturday autopsy ruled his death a homicide. It is the first homicide in Fairfax in 14 years, police said. The couple had moved to the neighborhood in the last six months. DonorSee founder Gret Glyer, 32, of Fairfax, Virginia, was found dead inside his Bolton Village Court home around 3am on Friday with mysterious gunshot wounds His wife Heather and their two small children Gryphon and Gailiee, 6 and 22 months, were at home at the time of the shooting, but were unharmed. Heather reportedly called 911, and, according to police and radio dispatch recordings, told officers that she heard a loud noise and believed an intruder had fatally injured her husband. 'She heard a loud noise and believes her husband has been shot. She believes someone came into the house,' a dispatcher said, according to Fox 5 DC. Fairfax Police could not confirm to DailyMail.com whether or not Heather is a suspect in the case at this time, as the investigation is 'very active.' Heather could not be reached for comment. His wife Heather reportedly called 911 and told dispatchers she thought there was an intruder in their home who had shot her husband. The couple's two children Gryphon and Gailiee, 6 and 22 months, were also home at the time, but were unharmed The family's next-door neighbor heard three gunshots, according to Fox News. Gerald Searles, 54, who lives next door, said he and others are on edge after the shooting, despite Fairfax police saying there is no further 'threat to the community.' 'We definitely are just being a little bit more vigilant about just keeping our eyes and ears open,' he told Fox 5 DC. 'I dont think many people saw or heard anything at that time in the morning, but we definitely are just taking precautions and doing whats necessary to feel more comfortable.' Fairfax police also told Fox 5 DC that the home's backdoor was open, but did not disclose if the department saw any signs of forced entry. The DonorSee founder established the company in 2016 after 'moving to Malawi in 2013 and living with the world's poorest,' according to the non-profit's website Police were unable to confirm to DailyMail.com if Heather is currently a suspect in the case The couple's neighbor reported hearing three gunshots and the police said the backdoor was open. However, police did not say whether it looked like there was forced entry It is unclear if any weapons were recovered from the scene and police have not announced any suspects. A GoFundMe has been set up for funeral expenses, as well as to help 'provide for his wife and children.' The page quickly surpassed it's original $50,000 goal and is well on it's way to meeting it's new $150,000 goal. As for Tuesday afternoon, it has raised $115,000. A fundraiser was also set up on Glyer's own website DonorSee for $75,000, and has reached $48,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. 'Everyone at DonorSee has heavy hearts today and we grieve the loss of our inspirational Founder Gret,' the website read. 'As many of you will know, Gret lived his life in the pursuit of helping others. He has left a legacy that will live on through DonorSee of changing the world for the better and helping those who need it most. He is a shining light that inspired those he met, and many more he did not meet.' A GoFundMe and DonorSee fundraiser has been set up in Glyer's honor, raising a combined total of more than $163,000 for his widow and two children Glyer set up DonorSee in 2016 - three years after he had moved to Malawi, Africa, and his life was 'transformed,' according the company's website. 'After filming a number of small projects and asking for fundraising support online, Gret saw the power in facilitating that connection and people's desire to help,' it read. The company reached $1million in donations in 2019 and launched globally in 2020. DonorSee is now partnered with more than 100 nonprofits in 38 countries and has surpassed $3million in donations. The family's dog then comes to the window and seizes the chipmunk with its mouth The chipmunk crawls down the window and into the home, causing Caron to panic 'Please don't bite me, don't do anything crazy, don't give me any diseases or my family,' Caron says before slightly opening the upper window At the start, she tells her kids to leave the room so she can handle the chipmunk on her own Ashley Caron posted the video of her attempt on TikTok, where she goes under the handle @getburly A terrified woman in Massachusetts hilariously attempted to remove a chipmunk stuck in the window of her home. Ashley Caron, whose Tiktok is @getburly, posted the footage of her attempt on the video-based social media platform along with the sarcastic caption: 'This went well #traumatized.' At the start of the video, Caron tells her kids to get out of the room with the chipmunk on the window, expresses how scared she is and pleads to the chipmunk: 'Listen lets make a deal, baby. I'm going to safely get you out.' She then blabbers for a bit, before adding: 'I just need to get with it. I'm going to open this and you just skirt out there and back to your happy, whimsical life.' 'Please don't bite me, don't do anything crazy, don't give me any diseases or my family,' Caron says before slightly opening the window, prompting the chipmunk to move and her to panic. Ashley Caron, whose Tiktok is @getburly, shared a video on TikTok of her being terrified at the attempt of removing a chipmunk from her home She then calls for her children and tells them that if they hear her scream then 'everything is fine.' Her kids react by erupting in laughter. The mother, whose Instagram profile mentions that she has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), slides the upper window further down and observes the chipmunk crawling down, too. She freaks out and backs away from the window after realizing the chipmunk crawled inside the window and into the home instead of the other way. 'Nope, you were right the first time,' Caron says while pointing upward. 'That way! Nope, no!!!' WRONG WAY: The chipmunk made its way down the window and into the home after Caron tried to guide it through the upper window The family's dog, which seems to be a Shiba Inu, snatches the chipmunk as soon as it tries to enter the home Ashley Caron (pictured) is the mother featured in the video, which received more than 2.5 million likes The family's dog then comes to the window and snatches the chipmunk with its mouth right as it jumps into the home from the window. Caron, however, can still be heard yelling 'no!' in the background. The video, which was shared on TikTok about a week ago, has more than 2.5 million likes and 26,000 comments. '[I don't know] what I was expecting but it was NOT the dog,' the most liked comment under Caron's video reads. 'That dog said you taking too damn long!!,' a TikTok user shared. ' "If I scream everything is fine" everything proceeds to not be fine,' another TikTok user posted. ' Tributes have poured in for Dame Deborah James after her family confirmed she has died aged 40 following a long battle with bowel cancer. Messages commended the mother-of-two for her inspiring fundraising, her 'tireless' campaigning and her incredible legacy. The podcaster and campaigner revealed in early May that she had stopped active treatment and was receiving end-of-life care at her parents' home in Woking, with her husband Sebastien and their two children on hand. In her final weeks, the presenter of the BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C raised millions of pounds for research and was made a dame for her 'tireless' work improving awareness of the disease. Prime Minister Boris Johnson led the thousands of tributes paid to the dedicated campaigner, hailing her as an 'inspiration' and said that because of her campaigning work 'many, many lives will be saved'. He wrote on Twitter: 'I'm terribly saddened to hear that Dame Deborah James has died. What an inspiration she was to so many. BBC podcast host Deborah James has passed away following her five-year battle with bowel cancer, her family has announced in an Instagram post, which included this above photo The death of podcast host Dame Deborah James at the age of 40 was announced by her family 'The awareness she brought to bowel cancer and the research her campaigning has funded will be her enduring legacy. 'Because of her, many many lives will be saved.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said news of her death was 'deeply sad'. He added: 'Dame Deborah James' charity work was truly inspirational - even in the most challenging moments, she continued to raise awareness about bowel cancer and impacted so many people's lives. 'Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.' Her mother Heather said her heart is 'broken' following the death of her daughter aged 40 from bowel cancer. Heather James, whose handle on the social media site is Bowelgran, shared a series of photos of Dame Deborah and wrote: 'My heart is broken. Love you forever.' In her final weeks, Dame Deborah raised more than 6.7 million for research through her BowelBabe fund and was made a dame for her 'tireless' work improving awareness Dame Deborah shared this image after an operation when she revealed cancer had returned Fans, politicians and celebrities also rushed to pay their respects to the inspirational campaigner. Minister of State Michelle Donelan tweeted: 'RIP Deborah James - a selfless inspiration. Thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.' First Dates personality Fred Sirieix tweeted: 'Deborah James passed away. Poor thing. RIP' Meanwhile, Piers Morgan tweeted: 'RIP Dame Deborah James, aka Bowel Babe. A truly remarkable and inspiring woman. Such sad news.' Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins described Dame Deborah James as an 'inspiration.' She tweeted: 'Oh no...heartbreaking news that @bowelbabe has left us. What an inspiration, a truly special person who saved lives & did so much to help others. BBC podcast host Deborah James has passed away following her five-year battle with cancer In recent weeks, she was made a dame by the Duke of Cambridge at her family home, with William praising her for 'going above and beyond to make a very special memory' 'Who showed that even a terminal diagnosis wasn't going to stop her living life to the full. So much love to her family & friends.' Carol Vorderman also paid tribute to Dame Deborah James, tweeting: 'Rest in peace @Bowelbabe. Your incredible spirit will live on.' BBC radio presenter Chris Stark tweeted that Dame Deborah had been an inspiration for many. 'Dame Deborah James,' he tweeted. 'You inspired so many and did everything to the fullest. No one can do more than that. I hope we can have a gin wherever this all leads. 'Thinking of your family and friends and everyone that is going through similar. Rest in Peace Debs x' Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner described Dame Deborah as an 'extraordinary campaigner'. She tweeted: 'Rest in peace Deborah James. What an incredible, fierce, bright and brilliant woman. 'An absolutely extraordinary campaigner. Thank you for your rebellious hope and the millions you have inspired @bowelbabe. 'Thinking of your many loved ones'. TV presenter Julia Bradbury said Dame Deborah was 'the most incredible ambassador of life'. She tweeted: 'Heartbroken that Dame Deborah James has died. 'She has been the most incredible ambassador of life & cancer campaigner. 'My thoughts are with her family & children. Such a huge loss. Your bright light will shine on Deborah.' TV presenter Gaby Roslin tweeted: 'Bye bye my beautiful friend Deborah. 'You will forever shine so brightly. Thank you for all you did. For the laughter, the dancing and most importantly for all you did in your short lifetime for others. 'My love to all of the family. Just so heartbreaking'. Tributes also came from the bowel cancer charities that benefited from her work. A tweet from Macmillan Cancer Support said: 'We are so sad to hear that Deborah James has died, and our thoughts are with her family and many friends. 'Deb has been an inspiration to us all. We're so grateful for all of her generous support over the years, and her dedication to stand together with people with cancer.' Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, where Dame Deborah was a patron, said: 'We're deeply saddened that our patron Dame Deborah James has died, and our hearts go out to her family and everyone who knew and loved her. Deborah's star shone bright; she was a true inspiration. 'She turned her bowel cancer diagnosis into an incredible force for good and through her tireless campaigning to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms, will have saved countless lives. 'Deborah brought warmth, energy, and honesty to everything she did. Even during her most difficult times living with bowel cancer, she never stopped helping others. Deborah (pictured with her children), parent to Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12, with her husband Sebastien, was constantly labelled 'inspirational' by fans after candidly sharing her struggles 'We are truly grateful to have known Deborah and to call her our friend. She was a powerful patron for Bowel Cancer UK, and leaves a stunning legacy through her BowelBabe Fund, a testament to the love and admiration so many had for her.' NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said in a statement: 'On behalf of the whole NHS I would like to offer my condolences to the family and many friends of Deborah James. 'Deborah's amazing attitude was humbling and a lesson to us all. 'Not only will her fundraising have helped countless other cancer patients but her determination to raise awareness will undoubtedly have saved many lives.' Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner tweeted: 'Rest in peace Deborah James. What an incredible, fierce, bright and brilliant woman. 'An absolutely extraordinary campaigner. Thank you for your rebellious hope and the millions you have inspired @bowelbabe. Thinking of your many loved ones.' Comedian Mark Watson said Dame Deborah was 'a person of unbelievable tenacity who turned the worst possible situation into an opportunity to inspire and educate'. In her final weeks, Dame Deborah raised more than 6.7 million for research through her BowelBabe fund and was made a dame for her 'tireless' work improving awareness of the disease. For her efforts, she was made a dame, and later said she felt 'honoured and shocked' to even be considered for the honour. In another surprise, her damehood was conferred by the the Duke of Cambridge, who joined her family for afternoon tea and champagne at home. Damehoods are usually handed out by members of the royal family, including William, at investiture ceremonies which take place at royal palaces including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. She also revealed that she had completed her second book, titled How To Live When You Could Be Dead, due to be published on August 18. Her first book, F*** You Cancer: How To Face The Big C, Live Your Life And Still Be Yourself, was published in 2018. Tesla Megapacks are on the way to Hawaii to replace the last coal-fired power plant and finish KES by September. KES collects solar energy during the day and discharges it at night to maintain grid frequency, and Tesla's batteries can achieve this. Hawaii Aims To Go Full Green Energy by 2045 Hawaii has the most installed solar capacity per inhabitant and plans to use only green energy by 2045. But since the sun doesn't always shine, the state must balance renewable energy with energy storage capability. Hawaiian Electric reports a 40% increase in solar applications in Hawaii in 2020. This helps since Hawaii was already scheduled to meet the 2020 year-end target of 30% renewable energy. It has the most expensive electricity in the US in 2019, costing roughly $0.29 per kilowatt-hour. In the said state, solar households get a 35 percent state tax credit for up to $5,000 and a 26 percent federal tax credit that will decrease to 22 percent the following year. The last coal-fired power plant in the state has to be replaced, and Tesla Megapacks are headed to Hawaii to construct a massive brand-new energy storage system. To assist in achieving that aim, Tesla has been installing batteries in Hawaii for years. The business collaborates with Hawaiian Electric on massive new battery systems and a Powerwall-based virtual power plant. Read Also: Google's Pixel 6a Reportedly Faster, More Reliable With Fingerprint Scanner Tesla's Megapack Can Store up to 3MWh, Contains 1.5MW Inverter The company's energy storage product, the Megapack, was introduced in 2020, after the Powerpack and the Powerwall, and it is intended as an even larger alternative aimed at electric utility projects. A single Megapack, according to Tesla, can store up to 3MWh and contains a 1.5MW inverter. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, urged utilities to replace polluting and ineffective peaker plants with the new Megapack. Since we began learning about several additional Megapack installations over the past few months, some energy providers have started using Musk's offer. Long-time Tesla Powerwall installation partner Swell Energy has been working on multiple virtual power plant (VPP) projects using Tesla Powerwalls. The corporation said in 2021 that it had signed an agreement with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for a brand-new, enormous VPP project. The project complements Swell's other virtual power plants (VPPs), including those in Orange County, Santa Barbara, and Redwood Coast, and all employ Tesla Powerwalls. However, it has been anticipated to grow to be Swell's largest VPP. KES' Completion and Operation Eyed in September Now that the Tesla Megapacks are arriving in Hawaii, the last coal power plant in the territory will be shut down. With a capacity of 185 megawatts/565 megawatt-hours when it is finished, the Kapolei Energy Storage facility (KES) will rank among the most extensive battery systems in the world. It is a joint venture between Plus Power and Hawaiian Electric; the former chose to power the system using Tesla Megapacks. Tesla's biggest energy storage device, the Megapack, is a 3 MWh, container-sized battery system. 158 Megapacks are en route to Oahu, Hawaii, to begin construction on the project. By September 2022, when Hawaii's last coal plant, close to KES, is anticipated to be shut down, the project must be completed and functioning. KES aims to preserve grid frequency while collecting extra solar energy during the day and discharging it during the evening. Tesla's energy storage devices have shown their ability to do this. Related Article: Tesla Debuts Virtual Power Plant That Pays Powerwall Users in California - Here's How it Works Holidaymakers faced chaos at Norwich airport after families were forced to 'sleep in their cars' following a 43-hour flight delay to Majorca. ** Are you being caught up in airport chaos in Britain or elsewhere? Please email: tips@dailymail.com ** Advertisement Passengers were scheduled to fly with TUI at 7:20pm on Friday to Palma, but a 'technical fault with the aircraft' left them waiting in limbo for updates from the travel agency. Following two days and nights in the airport, the jet eventually took off at 1:55pm on Sunday afternoon. Spanish airline Albastar were operating the TUI flight that was delayed. Pensioner, Terry Mack, 75, said the service was 'appalling' after many elderly passengers were forced to sleep in their cars and across the seats of the small airport. He told ITV News: 'I am 75 years of age, I have travelled all over the world since the age of 16. Never in 59 years have I ever known people to be treated so appallingly.' Passengers also claimed they were 'not offered accommodation' as they waited for updates over a '43-hour period'. One furious traveller, Luce, took to Twitter and blasted TUI's 'disgusting customer service' and not being able to 'purchase food or drink' for her children due to the 'pubs being shut' after the company announced the flight was delayed. She wrote: 'Arrived at Norwich Airport at 4.30 for 7.30 flight. No food being served so no dinner for kids. We go to board at 7pm [but there's a] technical fault with the plane. Still waiting. Go to buy the kids a drink, pub closed. Hoping TUI can help us out. 'I've called them twice. Once at 4.30am. No call back. Again at 7am. She said they were waiting for parts for the plane and would call me back within the hour. One hour and 40 mins later still no call. Absolutely disgusting customer service from TUI. 'Not one update since the flight was cancelled at 7pm last night. Been on hold for so long and keep being passed from person to person! We knew there was a fault at 7pm last night. Just spoke to Norwich airport who said they are still waiting on information from TUI.' Pensioner, Terry Mack, 75, (pictured) said the service was 'appalling' after many elderly passengers were forced to sleep in their cars and across the seats of the small airport One furious traveller, Luce, took to Twitter and blasted TUI's 'disgusting customer service' and not being able to 'purchase food or drink' for her children due to 'pubs being shut' after TUI announced the flight was delayed Spanish airline Albastar were operating the TUI flight (pictured) As the hours went by, holidaymakers were 'left in limbo waiting for updates' from the travel agent - Luce claimed delays were experienced up 'to the very second'. Luce added: 'Everyone is angry due to the lack of updates. It's not fair. Now at the airport. Due to leave in 40 mins. Announcement saying more delays. More technical issues. No TUI reps on site. Next information at 1pm!!' While many businesses in the aviation sector are struggling to rehire staff after many were let go during the pandemic due to a collapse in demand thanks to successive lockdowns, high levels of staff sickness for those who are still employed is also having an impact. TUI has also come under fire for reportedly diverting a flight from Larnaca in Cyprus, which was due to land at Bristol, to Gatwick, before telling passengers to 'find their own way home.' One affected customer fumed: 'You left diverted passengers at Gatwick with no bus to take them back to Bristol airport and your staff crying because of the situation - 24 hour delayed from Larnaca and then this. Passengers told to find their own way home.' A TUI spokesperson told MailOnline: Wed like to apologise to customers travelling on LAV5480 from Norwich Airport to Palma on 26 June, which was delayed due to a technical issue. 'We kept customers updated throughout and refunded impacted customers for two nights of their holiday. We also provided overnight accommodation, meals and refreshments as needed. Customers will be entitled to EU 261 compensation and details of how to claim have been provided. 'We understand that last minute delays are incredibly disappointing and would like to reassure customers that we do everything we can to get them away on their holidays as planned. 'Wed like to apologise again for the inconvenience passengers experienced and we thank them for their understanding.' It comes after miserable holidaymakers at Bristol Airport were yesterday forced to sleep on the floor to avoid the queues while those at Heathrow Airport were being made to go on a wild goose chase to find their own luggage. Hundreds of suitcases are seen abandoned at the baggage reclaim area of Terminal 2 in Heathrow Airport, west London Passengers were forced to sleep on the floor as they waited to see if they would be able to travel at Bristol Airport on Monday morning. They queued from 4.30am. Other customers were forced to bed down anywhere they could while waiting for more information on their flights in Bristol on Monday morning. One even thought ahead to pack an air bed so they would be more comfortable One traveller brought an air bed with them to Bristol as they battled to check-in, as queues grew from as early as 4.30am. Customers had shown up hours earlier than their flights in an attempt to battle the already long queues amid more travel bedlam. Heathrow was first plunged into chaos in March as bosses struggled to hire enough staff amid widespread labour shortages in the UK in the wake of the pandemic. British Airway staff are also threatening to strike, after unions rejected a 10 per cent pay offer in favour of walkouts as early as next month, potentially during the school holidays Union barons claim the airline's offer was a one-time 'bonus' and its members want a full-time raise. The earliest date the strikes could happen is early July, but the unions have not announced a timescale, possibly in the hopes of pressuring BA bosses to cave in. Pictures form inside Heathrow appeared to show dozens of pieces of 'unclaimed' luggage just dumped around the carousels, while other desperate travellers have been sent on a wild goose chase to track down their bags which was meant to land with them days ago. Hundreds of passengers packed into Heathrow's Terminal 2, pictured, Monday as they attempted to check in for their flights. Less flights have been cancelled so far at the UK's biggest airport, but travellers still arrived early for flights A business expert says that temporary staff working at Heathrow, pictured today, are warning their own family members not to travel until November at the earliest. British Airway staff are also threatening to strike, after unions rejected a 10 per cent pay offer in favour of walkouts as early as next month, potentially during the school holidays HEATHROW AIRPORT: Arrivals at Terminal 2 and 3 saw a sea of luggage spilling out across the airport as they landed while staff reportedly told anxious customers 'sorry, the whole industry in a mess' Kate Hardcastle MBE was left without her luggage after boarding a flight from Cannes to Heathrow last week, and has been unable to find out where her belongings are for six days. She was told by a British Airways member of staff that her bag had been put on a plane to Dublin, and arrived back in Terminal 2 which has been worst affected by the luggage disruption. The business expert said she had been told by staff on the ground at Heathrow they were advising their own families not to travel until November at the earliest. Speaking to MailOnline Kate said: 'I am genuinely worried for people who don't travel as often as I do, I have been travelling for 20 years and you think nothing is going to phase you. 'But this is chaotic. People coming for holidays that they have worked for for years have no idea what is in store for them. 'I was in Terminal 5 for two hours in the end when I landed last week from Cannes trying to get my bag. Passengers at Bristol, pictured Monday, have been left waiting to see if they will be able to catch their flights. Those at Heathrow have been battling to get back their bags after luggage chaos this weekend Arrivals at Terminal 2 and 3 at Heathrow, pictured Monday, saw a sea of luggage spilling out across the airport as they landed from Amsterdam, Canada and India over the weekend while staff reportedly told anxious customers 'sorry, the whole industry in a mess' 'It was chaos, they were pushing forms at people, really complex forms. BA haven't been answering the phones for months as far as I understand it. 'I had to pack a bag for four weeks as I will be travelling away for work for that period, and I have high value and sentimental items in there which have just gone. 'Normally I would advise everyone to pack light and would do that myself, but I just couldn't in my current situation. It is a complete goose chase, BA have said that they don't know where in the world my bag is. 'Today I arrived at Terminal 2 hoping to get it back, there were 13 people there before me who said that they had been there for hours and no one was answering from any airline. 'I managed to track someone down from operations and we helped to get the people who had flown today's bags back. 'Staff members on the ground have said they are advising their own friends and family not to travel until November because of the chaos. I'm just stunned by the silence of the CEO's who have not said anything at all. 'The fact of the matter is that people in the UK have waited like Rapunzel in a tower for two years and they don't deserve to be delayed or without their baggage. 'Why no one at the top of the companies is not stepping up I don't know. 'I am not one to criticise unduly, but if you aren't even prepared to be on the front line and tough it out it's not good enough. 'People are quite rightly close to tears, I'm close to tears. I have no hope that I'll get it back. 'People who live further away and have lost their baggage can't even get back easily. I'm having to carry my stuff on in carrier bags.' A British Airways spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'We're doing everything we can to reunite our customer with their bag. 'We apologise for the delay and inconvenience caused.' Heathrow are advising any passengers having issues with their baggage to contact the individual airlines. TUI have been contacted for comment by MailOnline. ** Are you being caught up in airport chaos in Britain or elsewhere? Please email: tips@dailymail.com ** Two British men sentenced to death after fighting for Ukraine against Russia must be released and returned the home 'without delay', a UK foreign minister has demanded. The pair's 'so-called trial' had 'no legitimacy', junior foreign minister Lord Ahmad of told the House of Lords, where he was pressed over the plight of the two men. Aiden Aslin, 28, originally from Newark, Nottinghamshire, and Shaun Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire, have been treated as foreign 'mercenaries' by pro-Russian authorities in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) - one of two breakaway Russian puppet states in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. They handed down the death sentences to the two Britons and one Moroccan man for fighting for Ukraine. Mr Aslin and Mr Pinner were both living in Ukraine before the invasion and the UK Government has insisted that, as legitimate members of the Ukrainian armed forces, they should be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention. Brits Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, have been treated as foreign 'mercenaries' by pro-Russian authorities in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), who sentenced the en to death. Pictured: British citizens Aiden Aslin, left, and Shaun Pinner, right, and Moroccan Saaudun Brahim, center, sit behind bars in a courtroom in Donetsk, in territory under the Government of the Donetsk People's Republic control, eastern Ukraine Mr Aslin (left) and Mr Pinner (right) were both living in Ukraine before the invasion and the UK Government has insisted that, as legitimate members of the Ukrainian armed forces, they should be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention Saaudun Brahim (left), 21, originally from Casablanca, Morocco, has been sentenced to death alongside the two Britons. Pictured: Mr Brahim with his friend Dmytro Khrabstov (right) Responding to a question at Westminster, Lord Ahmad said: 'The Government condemns the sentencing of two British nationals, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, held by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine. 'Both are soldiers in the Ukrainian armed forces and therefore prisoners of war, entitled to protection under international humanitarian law (IHL). 'The so-called trial in the non-government controlled area of Ukraine has no legitimacy and the United Kingdom is fully supportive of the government of Ukraine in its effort to get them released.' The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Alan Smith, who raised the issue in the Lords, said: 'What discussions are taking place with our European and American partners to say to Russia that if these executions go ahead there will be serious repercussions? 'Also what guidance is being given to the estimated 3,000 UK nationals who are now fighting, many of whom haven't joined the official army and therefore don't come under the Geneva Convention, who are putting themselves at huge risk should they be caught?' Lord Ahmad said: 'The advice of the British Government has been very, very clear: 'Do not travel to Ukraine'. He added: 'In terms of our work with other allies and partners, first and foremost we are working very constructively with Ukraine. 'The detainees are very much part and parcel of the engagement Ukrainians are having with the Russians directly. We are very supportive of those efforts.' 'The so-called trial in the non-government controlled area of Ukraine has no legitimacy and the United Kingdom is fully supportive of the government of Ukraine in its effort to get them released,' said Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations He added: 'We have been making representations, including directly with the Russian authorities. 'We do not recognise the de facto authorities in occupied parts of Ukraine and I think that is the right approach.' Labour former defence secretary Lord Browne of Ladyton pressed the Government over whether an investigation had been launched into British former civil servant and 'pro-Russian propagandist' Graham Phillips, who interrogated Mr Aslin while he was handcuffed and injured. Footage of Mr Aslin's questioning posted online was subsequently taken down by Facebook and YouTube. Lord Browne said: 'In respect of Aiden Aslin, on April 18 Graham Phillips a British former civil servant and pro-Russian propagandist published a video interview with him, when he was then a prisoner of war, in handcuffs, physically injured and manifestly under duress, and extracted from him an admission in those conditions that he was not a Ukrainian soldier, but had a different relationship with the war. 'Prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for taking part in direct hostilities. The whole process is about their early release and they must be released and repatriated without delay at the end of hostilities if not before,' Lord Ahmad said in the House of Lords 'Experts who have studied this video and the circumstances say there's sufficient evidence there to support the view that this was a breach of the Geneva Convention and its treatment of prisoners of war and that Phillips, a British citizen, is at risk of prosecution for war crimes. 'As he is a British citizen, ought not we to be further investigating this to see if he has violated international law and issue a warrant for his arrest.' Referring to the captured Britons, Lord Ahmad said: 'Prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for taking part in direct hostilities. The whole process is about their early release and they must be released and repatriated without delay at the end of hostilities if not before. 'Certainly that's been the case we have been making very specifically. 'These situations are extremely sensitive but we need to remind Russia the obligations are on Russia to ensure they uphold the principles of IHL.' Pressed on whether there would be an inquiry into Mr Phillips, Lord Ahmad said: 'I am not going to comment on the specifics, particularly under the sensitive situation which is currently applying to the detainees.' The widow of slain police officer Andrew Harper said she believes he is 'smiling down at me with pride and love' after her campaign for tougher sentences for attacks on emergency service workers became law. Lissie Harper, 31, was compelled to lobby the Government after being 'outraged' by the prison sentences handed to the three teenagers responsible for killing her husband while he responded to a burglary, hours after he was due to clock off and begin his honeymoon. Speaking on Tuesday, as Harper's Law came into effect, Mrs Harper said: 'I will never be rid of the hollowness that the burden of grief inflicts, but I know without hesitation that my husband Andrew would be immensely proud of this achievement in his name. 'Andrew believed in fairness and peace - he had the strongest moral compass of anyone I ever met and that is why I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is smiling down at me with pride and love as Harper's Law, his legacy, is now achieved.' Lissie Harper, 30, was left outraged after the trio who caused her husband's death escaped with sentences as low as 13 years Mrs Harper speaking to the media on College Green in Westminster, London Pc Harper, 28, died from his injuries when he was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a winding country road as the trio fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, on the night of August 15 2019. Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody over the manslaughter of the Thames Valley Police traffic officer. Long, the leader of the group, admitted manslaughter, while passengers Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey. All three were cleared of murder by the jury. Mrs Harper's quest to change the law came 'in the midst of grief and incomprehensible loss', and was backed by the likes of Home Secretary Priti Patel and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab. Lissie said she believes her husband PC Andrew Harper is 'smiling down at me with pride and love' after her campaign for tougher sentences for attacks on emergency service workers The law will not be retrospective, meaning Pc Harper's killers cannot have their sentences extended. The move extends mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty, including police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics. Judges determine the minimum term someone handed a life sentence serves before they are deemed eligible for release. However, there is scope for judges to deviate from this if they feel there are 'truly exceptional circumstances'. Mrs Harper said: 'No longer will a family have to endure the pain of injustice in court as I did those many months ago - and that is a significantly powerful outcome' Mrs Harper said: 'Almost three years ago my husband was robbed of his life and we were both robbed of our future together. 'Nothing will ever change that. This law will not change the outcome for his killers. 'But no longer will a family have to endure the pain of injustice in court as I did those many months ago - and that is a significantly powerful outcome.' She added: 'I know that many, many people will feel vindication at actually being able to believe in some legislation written in our history books. 'Throughout this journey I have met so many incredible people, fellow widows and widowers who know this unique pain I feel, as well as too many others who have lost loved ones in unspeakable ways and still have not seen any justice. 'I hope that this will help not only me but all of those who have experienced these cruel atrocities, we may never move on but we can try to move forward.' Mrs Harper told the PA news agency this year that she is ready to 'find happiness again' and will effectively retire from public life once the law change comes into effect. Harper's Law is among the new measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which also includes making rare whole-life orders the starting point for premeditated child murder. Former President Donald Trump tried to distance himself from former aide Cassidy Hutchinson who was the House January 6 select committee's special guest during Tuesday's surprise hearing. 'I hardly know who this person, Cassidy Hutchinson, is, other than I heard very negative things about her (a total phony and "leaker"), and when she requested to go with certain others of the team to Florida after my having served a full term in office, I personally turned her request down,' Trump posted to his social media site Truth Social as 25-year-old Hutchinson's testimony was ongoing. Hutchinson worked in Trump's White House on the legislative affairs team and under Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. She provided embarrassing anecdotes about Trump's behavior during her Tuesday testimony - including that he tried to grab the wheel of the presidential limo, the 'Beast,' after he was told he couldn't go to the Capitol Building on January 6 and threw food at the wall after Attorney General Bill Barr said there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Using Truth Social, former President Donald Trump (left) tried to distance himself from ex-aide Cassidy Hutchinson (right) as she testified Tuesday in front of the January 6 House select committee The former president pushed that Cassidy Hutchinson was only playing ball with the Democrat-led committee because he didn't keep her on his payroll after he left office in January 2021 and relocated to Mar-a-Lago He also said her anecdote about him trying to grab the Beast's steering wheel after he was told he couldn't go to the Capitol on January 6 'Fake' and 'fraudulent' and denied testimony about how he would throw food and dishes when angry 'Why did she want to go with us if she felt we were so terrible?' Trump said Tuesday. He suggested that Hutchinson only played ball with the Democrat-led committee because he didn't give her a job at Mar-a-Lago after he departed the White House in January 2021. 'I understand that she was very upset and angry that I didn't want her to go, or be a member of the team,' Trump said. 'She is bad news!' In another post on Truth social, Trump also accused Hutchinson of changing her story. 'She changed lawyers a couple of days ago, and with it, her story totally changed! SHOCKER???' the ex-president alleged. The former president fumed over the testimony Hutchinson delivered about him throwing temper tantrums. 'I NEVER SAID, "MIKE PENCE DESERVES IT (to be hung). Another made up statement by a third rate social climber!' he posted. Trump had made a similar remark about Pence to ABC News' Jonathan Karl that corroborated Hutchinson's testimony Cassidy Hutchinson, who was an aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the administration of former President Donald Trump, returns after a short recess during Tuesday's surprise January 6 hearing HAPPIER TIMES: January 6 witness Cassidy Hutchinson (right) dances to YMCA alongside White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnanry (left) during a campaign stop in Ohio in September 2020 'Her Fake story that I tried to grab the steering wheel of the White House Limousine in order to steer it to the Capitol Building is "sick" and fraudulent, very much like the Unselect Committee itself - Wouldnt even have been possible to do such a ridiculous thing,' Trump wrote. Later Tuesday, the January 6 committee tweeted out footage of Trump departing the Ellipse rally in a black SUV that purportedly shows his hands moving toward the driver. 'Her story of me throwing food is also falseand why would SHE have to clean it up, I hardly knew who she was?' the former president added. After Hutchinson's testimony concluded, Trump continued to go after her on Truth social. 'Her body language is that of a total bull. artist. Fantasy Land!' he wrote. After Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony concluded, former President Donald Trump continued to go after her on Truth Social The 25-year-old has firsthand information about the former president and his top aides' movements on the day of and leading up to the Capitol riot 'I NEVER SAID, "MIKE PENCE DESERVES IT (to be hung). Another made up statement by a third rate social climber!' he posted. Trump had made a similar remark about Pence to ABC News' Jonathan Karl that corroborated Hutchinson's testimony. 'A Total Phony!!!' the former president added. 'There is no cross examination of this so-called witness. This is a Kangaroo Court!!' Trump fumed. Trump has a history of turning on former aides and ex-political allies, a roster that now includes former Vice President Mike Pence and current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. During the hearing, Hutchinson recalled an impromptu meeting on January 6 after Trump returned to the White House after speaking at the Ellipse she had with former Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato and Bobby Engel, the head of Trump's security detail. 'Did you hear what effing happened in the Beast?' she said Engel asked her. She replied that she hadn't heard. 'Tony proceeded to tell me that when the president got in the Beast he was under the impression from Mr. Meadows that the off-the-record movement to the Capitol was still possible and likely to happen, but that Bobby had more information,' Hutchinson said. Trump, Hutchinson said, thought they were going up to the Capitol - like he had told his crowd of supporters he would do. This was in the hours before the attack. 'When Bobby had relayed to him we're not, we don't have the assets to do it, it's not secure, we're going back to the West Wing, the president had a very strong, very angry response,' Hutchinson continued. She was told that Trump said something like: 'I'm the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now!' Engel, she said, reiterated that they were headed back to the White House. 'The president reached up toward the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel, Mr. Engel grabbed his arm and said, "Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel, we're going back to the West Wing, we're not going to the Capitol,"' she said. 'Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge toward Bobby Engel and when Mr. Ornato had recounted this story to me he motioned toward his clavicles,' Hutchinson said, as a sign the president went for Engel's throat. GOP Rep. Liz Cheney then asked Hutchinson if Engel or Ornato ever changed their stories. 'Neither Mr. Ornato or Mr. Engel told me ever that it was untrue,' Hutchinson testified. From there, Hutchinson talked about Trump throwing dishes when being served with bad news. She said she remembered 'hearing noise' on the heels of the Associated Press article being released in which Barr confirmed that Trump's widespread election fraud claims weren't real. Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was summoned to Trump's office. When Meadows returned Hutchinson said she walked down toward the White House dining room. 'And I noticed that the door was propped open and the valet was inside the dining room changing the tablecloth off of the dining room table,' she said. 'He motioned for me to come in and then pointed toward the front of the room near the fireplace mantel and the TV.' 'Where I first noticed there was ketchup dripping down the wall,' she continued. 'And there's a shattered porcelain plate on the floor.' 'The valet had articulated that the president was extremely angry at the attorney general's AP interview and had thrown his lunch against the wall,' she said, explaining that she then helped with the clean-up. Cheney then asked Hutchinson if this was typical Trump behavior. 'There were several times throughout my tenure with the chief of staff that I was aware of him either throwing dishes or flicking the table cloth to let all of the contents of the table go onto the floor and likely break or go everywhere,' Hutchinson volunteered. Ghislaine Maxwell has broken her silence at her sentencing for sex trafficking where she said she was a 'victim of helping Jeffrey Epstein' and said the pedophile 'fooled all of those in his orbit' before being sentenced to 20 years in prison. Addressing the court for the first time ahead of the judge handing down the sentence, Maxwell told the judge: 'Your honor, it is hard for me to address the court after listening to the pain and anguish expressed today. 'The terrible impact on the lives of so many women is difficult to hear and even more difficult to absorb in its scale and extent. I want to acknowledge their suffering. I empathize deeply with all of the victims in this case. The judge who will hand down Ghislaine Maxwell's sentence has determined the guidelines dictate she serve just 15.6 years to 19.5 years - not the expected 55-year maximum In a big win for Maxwell's defense, Judge Alison Nathan ruled to use sentencing guidelines from 2003 - the year Maxwell's last offense took place. In 2004, sentencing guidelines were raised, which could have seen Maxwell facing a maximum of 55 years. But the judge ruled to now lower the maximum to 235 months - or 19.5 years Ghislaine Maxwell will be sentenced today after being convicted of sex trafficking in December. The sentencing will mark the end of a decades-long fight for justice by victims of Maxwell and Epstein 'I acknowledge with that I have been a victim of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes.' 'I realize I have been convicted of assisting Jeffrey Epstein to commit these crimes. My associate with Epstein will permanently stain me. It is the biggest regret of my life that I ever met him.' She added that Epstein 'fooled all of those in his orbit.' 'His victims considered him a mentor, friend, lover. Jeffrey Epstein should have stood before you. In 2005. In 2009. And again in 2019. But today it is for me to be sentenced. 'His impact upon all those who were close to him has been devastating.' 'Victims considered him as a godfather, a mentor, a benefactor, a friend, a lover. It is absolutely unfathomable today to think that was how he was viewed contemporaneously. His impact on all those close to him has been devastating. Sarah Ransome, 38, (right) is pictured with fellow Jeffery Epstein victim Elizabeth Stein (left). Ransome recounted the horrors she experienced at the hands of Epstein that led her to trying to kill herself twice, in 2008 and 2018 'I'm sorry for the pain that you have experienced. 'I hope this brings the women who have suffered some measure of peace and faintly to help you put those experiences of so many years ago in a place that allows you to look forward and not back. 'It is my sincerest wish to all those in this courtroom and all those outside this courtroom that today brings a terrible chapter to an end. 'May this day help you travel through darkness into the light.' Maxwell spoke after the judge who will hand down her sentence determined the guidelines dictate she serve just 15.6 years to 19.5 years - not the expected 55-year maximum. Prosecutors had asked Judge Nathan to impose a sentence of at least 30 years because of Maxwell's 'utter lack of remorse.' Maxwell claims she should serve just four years as she is not a danger to the public. Assistant US attorney Alison More told the judge, 'The 2003 guidelines were inadequate. Consider the sophistication of her predatory conduct. We ask the court to send a message no one is above the law.' 'This is one of the rare cases for an above Guidelines sentence.' Ransome shared photos of her in a hospital bed after her first attempt to kill herself in 2008 Ransome is pictured with casts in both legs following her second suicide attempt in 2018 Earlier, victim Sarah Ransome, 37, revealed in her victim impact statement released on Tuesday that she tried to kill herself twice after being locked up in Maxwell and Epstein's dungeon of hell. She once tried jumping off a cliff while at Epstein's St. Little James private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. '[I was] nothing more than a sex toy with a heartbeat and soul used to entertain Epstein, Maxwell and others,' she wrote. 'On one visit to the island, the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation ensued me to try to escape by jumping off a cliff into shark-infested waters. 'I was caught by Maxwell and company moments before jumping. At the time, that extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time'. Ransome said she was only 22 years old when she arrived in New York with hopes of attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. Ransome was only 22 when she was taken into Epstein's sex trafficking sing GHISLAINE'S STATEMENT AT SENTENCING HEARING IN FULL Your honor, it is hard for me to address the court after listening to the pain and anguish expressed today. The terrible impact on the lives of so many women is difficult to hear and even more difficult to absorb, both in its scale and extent. I acknowledge their suffering and empathize deeply with all of the victims in this case. I also acknowledge with that I have been a victim of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes. I realize I have been convicted of assisting Jeffrey Epstein to commit these crimes. My association with Epstein will permanently stain me. It is the biggest regret of my life that I ever met him. I believe Jeffrey Epstein fooled all of those in his orbit. His victims considered him a mentor, friend, lover. It is absolutely unfathomable today to think that was how he was viewed contemporaneously. His impact on all those close to him has been devastating. And today, those who even knew him briefly or never met him but were associated with someone who did, have lost relationships, jobs, and had their lives derailed. Jeffrey Epstein should have stood before you. In 2005. In 2009. And again in 2019. All the many times he was accused, charged, prosecuted. He should have spared victims the years of chasing justice. But today is ultimately not about Epstein. It is for me to be sentenced and for the victims to address me alone in court. To you I say: I am sorry for the pain you experienced. I hope my conviction along with my harsh incarceration brings you closure. I hope this brings the women who have suffered some measure of peace and faintly to help you put those experiences of so many years ago in a place that allows you to look forward and not back. I also acknowledge the pain this case has wrought to those I love, the many I held and still hold close, the relationships I have lost and will never be able to regain. It is my sincerest wish to all those in this courtroom and all those outside this courtroom that today brings a terrible chapter to an end. And to those of you who spoke here today and those who did not, may this day help you travel through darkness into the light. Advertisement She said she was targeted by an Epstein-Maxwell recruiter named Natalya Malyshev in a club, who arranged for her to meet the billionaire who allegedly promised to help provide financial support for her to attend her dream school. 'Epstein and Maxwell were masters at finding young, vulnerable girls and young women to exploit' Ransome said. 'However, soon after lulling me and others into a false sense of comfort and security, they pounced, ensnaring us in their upside-down, twisted world of rape, rape and more rape. 'Like Hotel California, you could check into the Epstein-Maxwell dungeon of sexual hell, but you could never leave. Ghislaine by her own hand, forced me into Epstein's room to be raped.' Although Ransome was able to escape for the UK in 2007, she said she began drinking heavily as she was constantly haunted by what happened to her, fearing that 'someday Epstein and Maxwell would harm me, my loved ones and my family, as Epstein repeatedly told me would happen, if I ever dared to leave.' The trauma suffocated Ransome to the point where she attempted to kill herself a year later as Epstein was facing trial, and then making another attempt at her own life in 2018, during her case against Maxwell and other Epstein associates. 'Despite my earnest effort, I have not realized my God-given potential professionally or entered healthy personal relationships,' Ransome said. 'I have never married and do not have children, something I always wished for, even as a little girl. 'I shy away from strangers and have difficulty making new friends because I fear they could be associated with Epstein, Maxwell and the enablers. 'To this day, I attend AA meetings, but I have had numerous relapses and know that only by the grace of God do I continue to live,' she added. 'Maxwell is today the same woman I met almost 20 years ago - incapable of compassion or common human decency.' The leaders of Turkey, Sweden and Finland have signed a trilateral agreement that will clear the way for the two Nordic states to join NATO and clears objections from Istanbul over the application. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the deal on Tuesday evening ahead of President Joe Biden's scheduled meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday. 'I am pleased to announce we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO,' Stoltenberg said. 'Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns, including around arms exports and the fight against terrorism,' he added. Details will be worked out over then next could of days but the deal comes as Europe faces its worst security crisis in decades in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Turkey, meanwhile, said it had 'got what it wanted' including 'full cooperation in the fight against' the rebel groups. 'Our joint memorandum underscores the commitment of Finland, Sweden and Turkiye to extend their full support against threats to each other's security,' Finish President Sauli Niinisto said in a statement. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, third left, shakes hands with Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, right, next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto, second right, after signing a memorandum in which Turkey agrees to Finland and Sweden's membership in NATO; NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (left) looks on President Biden spoke with Erdogan on Tuesday morning. A senior administration official said that call was for the 'president to be able to talk directly with President Erdogan about the membership application to Finland and Sweden and to encourage him to seize this moment and get this done.' The official said Biden made the call at the request of Sweden and Finland. The official spoke to reporters on Tuesday night to describe President Biden's role in the process and asked for anonymity to speak frankly. The official said President Biden didn't want to get in the 'middle' of talks but wanted to put the weight on the scale at the end to get it done. 'We have been very studious, and rejecting the idea that the United States was wanting to play broker. We did not think that would be productive,' the official said. The Biden administration sees the deal as a win. 'This obviously, is just a powerful shot in the arm from the point of view of allied unity and also, you know, a historic moment for the Alliance to traditionally neutral countries, choosing to sign up to NATO and being welcomed by NATO,' the senior administration official said. President Joe Biden will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday Finland and Sweden will bring with them almost 1million troops, including reserves, along with a huge amount of artillery, jets and submarines Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted Finland and Sweden to launch NATO applications Erdogan objected to Finland and Sweden's application to join because he wants them to change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Biden and Erdogan will have a formal sitdown on the sidelines of NATO on Wednesday. The two will now 'talk about the broader set of issues and U.S.-Turkey relationship,' the senior administration official said. Russia's invasion of the Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO. It's the biggest expansion of the alliance since former Soviet bloc countries joined the group in 1999. New York City Mayor Eric Adams slammed former mayor Rudy Giuliani for 'using police to carry out [his] agenda' after he had a Staten Island supermarket worker arrested for assault, citing video that he says seems to undermine the former city leader's account of the incident. 'I looked at the video,' Adams said Tuesday. 'I would like to remind former mayor Giuliani that falsely reporting a crime is a crime.' Adams said not only should Giuliani be investigated for filing a false police report over the alleged assault, but that he's also asked Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell to look into the arrest of ShopRite worker Daniel Gill, 39. Gill can a be seen on security video patting Giuliani on the back during a campaign stop for Andrew Giuliani, who is running for New York State governor. He then reportedly says to the former mayor: 'What's up, scumbag?' New York Mayor Eric Adams called Rudy Giuliani 'irresponsible' for having a supermarket worker arrested for tapping him on the back Adams called his predecessor 'irresponsible' for 'sensationalizing' the interaction and warned Giuliani that he could be the one investigated next. In recounting the crime on a Facebook Live feed, Giuliani, who also worked on the 2020 Trump re-election campaign, said Gill's touch 'felt like a boulder.' 'His intent was to cause serious harm,' Giuliani said in a Facebook video. 'I could have fallen and cracked my skull and died.' ShopRite worker Daniel Gill, 39, seen here touching Giuliani's back during a campaign stop for his son, Andrew The grainy black and white store security video shows the ex-mayor from behind, a group of people around him. Gill comes in from the bottom of the frame and pats Giuliani on the back. The former mayor turns as Gill continues to address him as he walks passed and then quickly off screen. Giuliani said Gill was berating him about 'killing ladies,' a reference to the ex-mayor's pro-life stance. The ex-city leader said that the blow to the back pitched him forward and nearly knocked him down. Rudy Giuliani, 78, discusses his encounter with a supermarket worker during a campaign stop for his son, Andrew, who is running for governor Giuliani was in Staten Island campaigning for his son, Andrew, when he was struck by a disgruntled supermarket worker, upset over the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade Giuliani said he turned to a retired detective in the group and said, 'Let's get him arrested. Let's make an example out of him.' Adams wasn't having it. He said that when he saw the video he did not see an assault. 'From what he stated about being punched in the head, felt like a bullet, from what he stated there was a lot of creativity,' Adams said. 'I think the district attorney - he's got the wrong person who he is investigating,' he said and repeated: 'To falsely report a crime is a crime.' Adams made no mistake that he felt that Giuliani had crossed a line during a time when many question the fairness of the criminal justice system. 'If this video hadn't been there, this person would have been charged with punching the former mayor, he would have been charged with all these offenses that did not materialize. I saw that video.' Daniel Gill, 39, outside his Staten Island home after his arraignment on misdemeanor charges that he assaulted former Mayor Rudy Giuliani Gill, pictured here with his lawyer Susan Platis, appears in court during his arraignment for third-degree assault on Giuliani Gill, of Staten Island, was released without bail after being arrested Gill was originally charged with second-degree assault, a felony, but the Staten Island prosecutor later downgraded the charges to third-degree misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor menacing. He was released without bail and declined to comment on the charges, but his lawyer's version hews closely with what Adams saw. 'Given Mr. Giuliani's obsession with seeing his name in the press and his demonstrated propensity to distort the truth, we are happy to correct the record on exactly what occurred over the weekend on Staten Island,' Legal Aid spokesman Redmond Haskins said. Gill is suspended from his supermarket job, pending termination, according to ShopRite. One eye-witness, Rita Rogova, said she thought it was a hard slap. 'He's a senior citizen,' she said. 'No matter what your political views are, no one should be hit.' Adams said from the video, it could have been a friendly gesture, not an assault. 'The guy walked by and basically patted him on the back. I don't know if he said 'congratulations.' I don't know what he said to him, but it was clear that he was not punched in the head.' The current mayor said he's taken steps to see that the arrest is reviewed by the NYPD. 'I'm having a conversation with the police commissioner about if that was a falsely reported crime,' he said. Giuliani was blunt about what he thought of Adams' opinion: 'Tell Adams to go f**k himself,' he told the New York Post. 'What a f**king scumbag.' 'Eric Adams doesn't know what he's f**king talking about,' he said. 'He doesn't know what he's talking about. I didn't file the complaint. His police department filed the report. The police department did an investigation. The police interviewed witnesses.' Then the former mayor slighted Adams reputation when he was a captain on the NYPD. 'Let him talk to his police department,' Giuliani told the Post. 'He probably can't do that. The cops probably won't talk to him. They don't trust him. He must've been a bad cop.' The Staten Island District Attorney declined to comment to The New York Times on the charges, saying it was an ongoing case and pending investigation. 'Here's my fear,' Adams said about the interaction. 'If you don't have a video and someone of prominence makes an allegation against you you should not have to wait for a video to determine that you did nothing wrong.' 'He's a former mayor and I think it's irresponsible for a former mayor,' he added. 'You can't use sensationalism to carry out your own agenda and you can't use police to carry out your own agenda.' Former President Trump was furious that a number of his supporters could not get through security at the 'Save America' rally because they were armed with prohibited weapons and demanded metal detectors be removed from the event, according to a former White House staffer. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former assistant to Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, told the Jan. 6 committee in a hearing Tuesday that Trump was 'furious' that his supporters had been stopped from entering the official grounds of his Stop the Steal rally near the White House that preceded the riot. He was apparently angry that the size of the crowd coming to hear him speak did not appear as big as he wanted it to - due to his armed supporters not getting past the security magnetometers. 'Take the effing mags away,' she said Trump ordered, referring to the metal detectors attendees had to go through. 'Who cares if they have weapons, they're not here to hurt me,' the former president allegedly said. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former assistant to Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, told the Jan. 6 committee in a hearing Tuesday that Trump was 'furious' that his supporters had been stopped from entering the official grounds of his Stop the Steal rally Trump was apparently angry that the size of the crowd coming to hear him speak did not appear as big as he wanted it to - due to his armed supporters not getting past the security magnetometers The committee then played a clip of Trump's comments at the rally urging his supporters to march to the Capitol - words that appeared stark in the context of testimony claiming he knew they presented a security risk. Trump aggressively denied the claims on his social media platform Truth Social. 'Never complained about the crowd, it was massive,' he said. 'I didn't want or request that we make room for people with guns to watch my speech. Who would want that?Not me! Besides, there were no guns found or brought into the Capitol Building. So where were all these guns? But sadly, a gun was used to kill Ashli Babbitt, with no price to pay for the person who used it!' Babbitt was fatally shot by police during the Capitol riot as she tried to climb through a broken window into the Speaker's Lobby outside the House chamber. The White House chief of staff's former top aide, just 25 years old, testified on Tuesday that Donald Trump's White House chief of staff told her that 'things could get real, real bad on January 6' just four days before the Capitol riot. Among the more explosive points of the former staffer's testimony include Trump's alleged insistence on joining his supporters at the Capitol - who he was told in advance were armed. 'I'm the effing president, take me to the Capitol now,' she said he ordered. When Secret Service refused, Hutchinson said agents told her that he lunged at the steering wheel of his car - known as The Beast. 'Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel. We're going back to the West Wing, we're not going to the Capitol,' Hutchinson was told Secret Service agent Richard Engel said. 'Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engel,' Hutchinson recalled. Former Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato 'motioned toward his clavicle,' she added, as a sign the president went for his security detail's throat. Toward the end of the first half of the hearing, Trump took to his app Truth Social to say he 'hardly knows' Hutchinson. 'I hardly know who this person, Cassidy Hutchinson, is, other than I heard very negative things about her (a total phony and a 'leaker'), and when she requested to go with certain others of the team to Florida after my having served a full term in office, I personally turned her request now,' he said. Hutchinson described Trump as a person prone to fiery anger, claiming that he once threw his lunch against a wall, shattering a plate, and flipped tablecloths 'to let all the contents at the table go on the floor' multiple times. Surveillance footage captures the moment a handcuffed suspect was paralyzed after being slammed against the van of a police van before being dragged out of the back by cops in Connecticut last week. Richard Cox, 36, who was arrested on June 19, for possession of an illegal firearm, was being transported in a van without seatbelts to the New Haven Police Department when the vehicle came to a sudden stop - tossing Cox head first into the wall. Cox is now fighting for his life at a local hospital where he is paralyzed from the neck down and has to use a breathing tube. Footage shows Cox laying on the floor and weakly shouting 'help' until the officers pulled over to scope the incident. Cox was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm by New Haven police Richard Cox, 36, hit the wall of the van headfirst before collapsing to the floor He was handcuffed in the back of a van without seatbelts when the vehicle came to a sudden stop Officer Oscar Diaz went to go check on Cox before calling an ambulance and proceeding to the New Haven Police Department Officer Oscar Diaz then pulled the van over to check on Cox. 'What happened,' Diaz asked as Cox attempted to tell him various times that he was unable to move his body. Diaz called an ambulance and proceeded to drive to the police headquarters. Multiple officers responded to the van and insisted Cox get up to leave the van, despite Cox insisting he couldn't move. 'If you got to drag me, do what you got to do,' Cox told the officers as they proceeded to pull him out by the leg. 'Sit up,' an officer told Cox various times as he was placed and slumped over in a wheelchair with his head handing to the far side of his shoulder. Upon arrival, officers pulled Cox out of the van after he proceeded to insist he couldn't move Officers refused to believe that anything was wrong with Cox aside from the fact that they believed he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol 'Sit up,' an officer told Cox multiple times Officers brought Diaz into the station for processing before lifting him out of the wheelchair and dragging him into a cell Cox was dragged into his cell by two police while others observed claiming he was 'perfectly fine' Cox was placed on the floor of the cell while officers hand cuffed him by his feet The officers proceeded to take Cox inside the station for processing without medical attention. Before dragging Cox on the floor of a cell and handcuffing his feet together, officers accused him of consuming drugs and alcohol - claiming that was his issue. 'He's perfectly fine,' an officer said. Cox is currently fighting for his life at a New Haven hospital, his attorney Ben Crump said. 'He's paralyzed from the chest down and has to use a breathing tube - his quality of life is forever diminished,' Crump said. Crump - who has famously represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Trayvon Martin - is calling for justice after Cox was 'brutalized' without a reason. 'They dismissed his pleas as lies, instead of offering immediate medical aid, officers dragged him off the van & threw him into a wheelchair that may have exacerbated his life threatening injuries,' Crump said. Ben Crump, who represented the families of Breanna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tayvon Martin, is apart of Cox's legal team Cox is fighting for his life and is on a breathing tub, Crump said Crump is calling for accountability after officers neglected Cox and dismissed his pleas for help The case is under investigation and the officers on-duty have been placed on administrative leave. The officers include Ronald Pressley, Jocelyn Lavandier, Betsy Segui, Luis Rivera, and Diaz, according to the New Haven Independent. According to a local attorney representing Cox, Jack O'Donnell, a lawsuit is in the works. Cox's family and legal team are scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the New Haven Superior Court. Advertisement President Joe Biden joked with Spanish King Felipe VI at a lavish dinner at the royal palace in Madrid on Tuesday night as Jill Biden admitted she was worried she and Queen Letizia would clash in their outfits. Biden pulled out one of his favorite jokes as the royals welcomed them to the largest royal palace in use in Europe. The ornate granite building has 135,000 meters of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. 'We both married way above our stations,' Biden joked to the King and Queen after he and Jill greeted the royal couple, who stood waiting in the throne room. It is one of the president's favorite jokes and he uses it regularly. Jill Biden, wearing a white pants suit, admitted she had other worries - namely that her outfit would clash with the stylish Spanish royal. 'You changed,' Queen Letizia, in a black cocktail dress, told the first lady. Jill shook hands with her warmly and laughed. She told the president: 'She had on a white suit today. I said "Oh no, are you wearing that tonight?"' The two women spent the earlier part of Tuesday visiting with Ukrainian refugees relocated to Spain. Letizia wore a white pants suit during that visit. Spanish Queen Letizia, President Joe Biden, Spanish King Felipe VI, and first lady Jill Biden pose for a formal photo ahead of dinner at the royal palace to kick off the NATO summit Queen Letizia told President Joe Biden how she had met two of his granddaughters earlier that day President Biden jokes with the King of Spain ahead of the official family photo King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia pose with President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders ahead of a formal dinner at the royal palace Jill Biden had worried her outfit would clash with Queen Letizia's, who wore a white pants suit at an event the two women attended earlier Tuesday Biden leans in to speak to Queen Letizia of Spain before the royal gala in Madrid hosted by King Felipe The Spanish royals hosted NATO leaders at their home for a formal dinner to kick off the NATO alliance. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were among the guests. Biden looks on during the team photo at Madrid's royal palace The leaders had to climb a long granite staircase to reach the reception. The Bidens held hands as they walked up the stairs. The dinner took place at one long table in the ornate dining room, which has massive chandeliers hanging from the painted ceiling. Tapestries hang on the walls. Biden sat next to King Felipe. Jill Biden sat next to French President Macron. Biden was jovial during the event, joking with the king and repeatedly patting his arm. The leaders also posed for a large family photo with the king and queen in a grandball room where Biden talked with Queen Letizia afterward. To start the evening, King Felipe and Queen Letizia welcomed each of the leaders to the palace and posed for a photo with them. After they posed with the Bidens, President Biden joked to Letizia: 'You only have to stand for two more hours. God love ya.' She laughed and told him how she had met his granddaughters Maisy and Finnegan earlier that day. Jill Biden had introduced the girls to Letizia during their visit to a Ukrainian refugee center. The Queen gave warms hugs to Maisy and Finnegan Biden and chatted with them ahead of the event. Jill Biden, 71, and Queen Letizia, 49, visited several Ukrainian refugee families on Tuesday afternoon who were taken in by Spain. The two women sat down with the families to hear their stories and hugged many of the children. They posed for a selfie with a little boy. Maisy and Finnegan - who are the daughters of Hunter Biden and his first wife Kathleen - joined them for the day. The first lady and the Queen also met with Chef Jose Andres and volunteers at his World Center Kitchen. Andres team has worked in the Ukraine to help humanitarian efforts and are aiding in feeding refugees around Europe. Andres took a selfie with Jill, Letizia and some of his volunteers. He then showed the two women around his operation. French President Emmanuel Macron kisses the hand of Spain's Queen Letizia while his wife Brigitte Macron speaks with Spain's King Felipe Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia during a reception at the Royal Palace Queen Letizia and King Felipe pose with the Bidens in the throne room at the palace President Biden with a member of the Spanish Royal Guard at the reception President Biden, meanwhile, had a bilateral meeting at the palace with King Felipe, who ascended to the throne in June 2014 after the abdication of his father. Biden, who arrived in Madrid Tuesday afternoon, thanked the king for taking in migrants from the U.S. southern border. The president noted many children in the United States these days are native Spanish speakers and that the future of America 'depends considerably' on the assimilation of that population. 'You know, I tell people that the idea we've always had great migration flows into the United States over the years - we're a nation of immigrants. But this is a statistic that - I think it's 24 out of every 100 students in grades one through 12 in America speaks Spanish, speak Spanish as an original language,' Biden said during a meeting with the king at the Royal Palace in Madrid. 'So the future of my country depends considerably, an assimilation of a population that has grown to have the same values that you possess,' he said. The Hispanic population in the United States is the largest growing population. It reached 62.1 million in 2020, an increase of 23% over the previous decade that outpaced the nations 7% overall population growth, Pew Research Center found. Biden also thanked the King for his help with migrants crossing the United States' southern border. 'Your help in Latin America is also extremely important,' he said. 'The help and support and the input has been extremely valuable,' he noted. Spain has committed to taking a significant number of Central American refugees coming illegally into the U.S. The largest group of migrants coming over the southern border are from centeral American countries, which are Spanish speaking. Jill Biden leaves Spain on Wednesday and President Biden leaves on Thursday after the NATO summit concludes. A flash drive containing thousands of Japanese residents' sensitive data goes missing while a worker apparently got drunk and fell asleep in the streets of Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture. As per a news story by NHK, the USB flash stick houses the personal data of over 460,000 residents in western Japan. But the worker must have had a wild night out and lost thousands of sensitive information during that drinking session. Flash Drive With Japan Residents' Sensitive Data Goes Missing The contractor worker informed the authorities that he misplaced the USB driver, which contained sensitive information about residents. He admits that he lost the bag that contained the flash drive while he was getting drunk. The worker shared with the authorities that it contains personal information of residents like their exact addresses, full names, and birth dates. Not to mention that the drive also includes how much local taxes the residents have paid, their bank account numbers, and the value of their welfare benefits. On top of that, the flash drive reportedly includes information from all of the residents in the city of Amagasaki, which has a population of roughly over 460,000. Worker Goes Drinking with USB Drive Containing Sensitive Data The worker was supposed to pay the subsidies of the Japanese households gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. So, he needs all of this information to do so. But he went out drinking without deleting the files on the flash drive, making it a memorable night for him. According to a recent report by Business Insider, the worker fell asleep in the street after drinking alcohol. And when he woke up, he was surprised to learn that he no longer had the flash drive and the bag with him. But thankfully, the officials of Amagasaki say that the sensitive data found in the flash drive is inaccessible for folks who have no idea about its password. The municipal officials further took responsibility and assured residents that they will increase the security to prevent such incidents from happening again. In addition, the authorities assured its residents that there was no reported leak of data. Read Also: An iPhone Lost in a River for 10 Months Surprisingly Turns on After Owner Gets it Back Missing USB Drive Has Been Found? Business Insider reports that the man has already been reunited with that bag that contains the flash drive. The worker returned to the location where he misplaced the bag together with the police, and got lucky to find it. He still stumbled upon the flash drive in the area where he thought he might have left it. Related Article: Japan Tests Deep Ocean Current Turbine That Can Generate Electricity - Did It Work? A judge in Harris County, Texas temporarily blocked the state's pre-Roe abortion ban from taking effect on Tuesday. The judge's order was in response to a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) arguing that a ban on abortions written before 1973 was 'repealed and unenforceable.' Under the temporary restraining order, abortions in the Lone Star State can be performed up to six weeks in pregnancy, at least for now - the order lasts until a hearing on July 12, at which point the judge will decide whether to end it. The ruling on the 1925 pre-Roe ban does not affect the state's 'trigger law,' a law the legislature passed stating that abortion would be made illegal upon the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The trigger law, passed in 2021 in anticipating of the high court's decision, will take effect in about two months. The pre-Roe ban states that those who perform abortion procedures can be punished with two to five years in prison. The law had never been taken off the books but Texas ceased enforcement after Roe v. Wade legalized abortions up to about 20 weeks. Attorney General Ken Paxton explained last week that the law stipulated that abortions would be banned 30 days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. And while the court issued its opinion on Friday, its official judgment is not expected for about 25 more days. Attorney General Ken Paxton explained last week that the law stipulated that abortions would be banned 30 days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. And while the court issued its opinion on Friday, its official judgment is not expected for about 25 more days Abortion rights demonstrators gather at a Rally for Reproductive Freedom at Pan American Neighborhood Park on June 26, 2022 in Austin, Texas Law enforcement keep protesters separated at a Rally for Reproductive Freedom at Pan American Neighborhood Park on June 26, 2022 in Austin, Texas Paxton at the time said that providers could still face criminal charges because the state would start enforcing the almost century-old pre-Roe ban blocking virtually all abortions, which the ACLU and two abortion clinics sued to overturn. In 2021 Texas passed a law banning abortions after 6 weeks, attempting to skirt legal challenges by putting the onus on private citizens to sue those who aid and abet women in getting an abortion. The so-called trigger ban on abortions at any stage of pregnancy makes exceptions only to save the life of the mother or prevent 'substantial impairment of major bodily function.' When the trigger ban takes effect, women who get abortions will not be prosecuted but anyone who helps a woman obtain the procedure could, and doctors performing abortions could face up to $100,000 fines or life in prison. Last Friday the court ruled 6-3 to allow a Mississippi ban on abortions at 15 weeks take effect and 5-4 to overturn the landmark case legalizing abortion, Roe. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, a ban on abortions at about six weeks took effect after the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay on it in light of the Supreme Court decision. On Friday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced he will seek to pass a ban on abortions at 15 weeks. With the landmark case overturned, 13 states with trigger bans will prohibit abortion within 30 days. Other states have legislation that has been blocked or struck down, but without Roe, those laws will probably take effect. Oscar-winning film director Paul Haggis has been given a trial date for his rape lawsuit in New York City after being accused of attacking a publicist. Haggis is set to stand trial from October 11 before Judge Sabrina Kraus, Variety reports. He was accused of rape by Haleigh Breest, a film publicist, in 2017. She alleges she was raped by Haggis at his apartment in 2013 following a film premiere. But Haggis claims the encounter was consensual and has called the allegations an attempt at extortion. Following Breest's lawsuit in 2017, three more women accused Haggis of sexual misconduct in January 2018, including one who alleges she was raped by him. Haggis attempted to expedite the trial, citing mounting legal bills and an inability to work until his name is cleared, but his request was denied. The director, whose co-wrote the 2006 Oscar-winning film 'Crash', is currently under under detention after being arrested in southern Italy. A British woman has claimed that he raped her in a two-day ordeal earlier this month. Haggis has denied wrongdoing, and an Italian judge has ordered him to remain at the hotel while police investigate the claims. Paul Haggis (left) is set to stand trial from October 11 before Judge Sabrina Kraus, Variety reports. He was accused of rape by Haleigh Breest, a film publicist, in 2017 Breest alleges she was raped by Haggis at his apartment in 2013 following a film premiere. But Haggis claims the encounter was consensual and has called the allegations an attempt at extortion Haggis, who co-wrote, directed and produced Crash, which won the 2006 Academy Awards for best picture and best screenplay, is pictured with his lawyers outside the court in Italy Prosecutors have said he is under investigation for alleged aggravated sexual violence and aggravated personal injuries. After conducting a hearing that lasted several hours in the Brindisi courthouse, Judge Vilma Gilli issued the ruling that extends his detention at the farmhouse residence in the countryside of Ostuni, a tourist town where he was supposed to participate in an arts festival this week, Corriere della Sera daily reported. Haggis' lawyer, Michele Laforgia, said after the hearing that his client, before the judge, had reiterated his total innocence and is in 'hopeful expectation' that he will be ultimately vindicated. Prosecutors have described the woman as young and foreign. State TV and other Italian media said she is a 30-year-old Englishwoman who had known Haggis before he came to Ostuni. Asked by a reporter what kind of relationship Haggis and the woman had, Laforgia replied that it had been a 'relationship of acquaintance.' The lawyer said the defense disputes a hospital report indicating that the woman had suffered physical injuries. 'Paul Haggis answered all questions and explained what happened,' Laforgia told reporters outside the courthouse. 'He declared himself, as he had already done right after the detention, completely innocent, in the sense that the relations he had with this woman were totally consensual.' A request for release from house arrest was later turned down by an Italian judge and he will have to remain in Italy while the investigation continues. Ahead of his hearing local media carried details of a seven page memo he is said to have drawn up for his lawyer in which he reportedly claimed that he had met the woman at Monte Carlo in April at a film festival and the two had remained in touch via WhatsApp. Haggis claimed the pair had spoken briefly in Monte Carlo and she had expressed a desire to be in the next James Bond film and later posted a picture with him saying it was 'an honour to meet' him. Haggis, who co-wrote, directed and produced Crash, which won the 2006 Academy Awards for best picture and best screenplay, is pictured with his lawyers outside the court in Italy Haggis is pictured scanning through metal detectors at the Brindisi law court in southern Italy He then described how the two had then met at Ostuni near Brindisi in June and they had driven to his hotel where she then 'kissed' him passionately. Haggis in the memo goes on to claim the two then had sex after she had taken a shower, underlining it had been consensual and the following day they had gone out together ahead of the Allora Film Festival in Ostuni which he was attending as a guest with his daughter. He told his lawyer that the woman had 'insisted' on holding his hand which he said he was not comfortable with and she had been left upset by his reaction. Once back at their room he claimed the pair then had consensual sex again, the following day Haggis said he left her as he had a business appointment and she met with friends before that evening they met again, according to his leaked statement, where they once again had consensual sex. In mid-June he claimed the woman had gone out again with friends but returned drunk and tried to have sex with him but he had refused and had then began describing how she was the next Bond girl. The statement then goes on to allege that the following day early in the morning Haggis took the woman to Brindisi airport for her flight back to Stansted where she asked him for money but he refused and drove away. Staff later found her in a distressed state and police were called and she told them that she had been locked up for the last three days and forced to have sex with Haggis. Haggis co-wrote, directed and produced Crash, which won the 2006 Academy Awards for best picture and best screenplay. He also wrote the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby, another Oscar winner. NSW commuters are set for further delays from industrial action by rail workers as negotiations continue over pay, conditions and safety. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is set to meet with the NSW government on Wednesday for talks on a new Korean-built intercity train fleet. The strained negotiations come as the NSW government also confronts a strike by teachers on Thursday, and with public sector nurses and midwives voting to pressure it further on pay and staffing ratios. Blockade Australia climate activists who've spent the past two days protesting in Sydney's CBD, resulting in multiple arrests, are taking a break for at least 24 hours. NSW commuters are set for further delays from industrial action by rail workers as negotiations continue over pay, conditions and safety (pictured, Sydney commuters) Radical climate change activists from Blockade Australia descended on the city on Monday, bringing rush-hour traffic to a grinding halt (pictured, protesters in the CBD on Tuesday) Rail workers on Tuesday began four days of industrial action including limiting train speeds to 60km/h, restricting worker movement and banning the use of foreign-made trains. Transport for NSW has warned services could be reduced by 70 per cent during peak periods on Thursday and commuters should expect delays, altered stopping patterns and cancelled services. A union ban on foreign-owned trains on Friday will stop the use of the Waratah, Millennium and OSCAR trains which comprise about 70 per cent of the fleet. Travellers should also expect significant disruptions to Sydney and NSW train routes including a reduction in services to the Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and South Coast on Thursday and Friday. The union is expected to take industrial action on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week with train services to be reduced with limited replacement buses. The ongoing feud between Transport NSW and the union came to a head in February with a snap 24-hour shutdown of the network (pictured, transport workers on a Sydney platform) Travellers have been advised to organise other modes of transport if travelling into the city for work, expect delays, and avoid unnecessary travel. The ongoing feud between Transport NSW and the union came to a head in February with a snap 24-hour shutdown of the train network. The union has claimed in a meeting with the government on Friday, officials tried to 'bribe' them into operating the $2.88b New Intercity Fleet. Drivers have refused over safety concerns despite the South Korean-built fleet being approved by the Office of the National Safety Regulator. To add to peak hour pain, radical climate change activists from Blockade Australia descended on the city on Monday and Tuesday, bringing rush-hour traffic to a grinding halt. The group will take a 24 hour break from disruptions on Wednesday to allow protesters to 'rest and regroup' after 21 people were arrested earlier this week. Sally-Anne Brown, a spokeswoman for the extremist group, said at a press conference on Monday afternoon they will not stop protesting until 'profiteering of the systems that are damaging our environment' are completely disrupted. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is set to meet with the NSW government on Wednesday for talks on a new Korean-built intercity train fleet (pictured, officers on a Sydney train in 2021) When asked what she has has planned for the rest of the week, Ms Brown said: 'The network has advertised a week of protests, but that's all I know.' Blockade Australia organisers posted a message on Tuesday saying there would be no protests on Wednesday. 'We have made the call for tomorrow to be a day off,' they said on the Telegram messaging platform via the Blockade Australia: Resist Climate Inaction channel. 'We want people to have a chance to rest, regroup and support one another as well as connect with those who share our common purpose of resisting climate destruction.' NSW Police have arrested 21 people in the past two days and warned on Tuesday they are prepared to act against protesters who 'think the law does not apply to them'. Eleven people were arrested on Tuesday during a second day of unauthorised demonstrations when about 40 people marched from Sydney's Hyde Park up William Street towards the inner east. On Monday, police arrested 10 people after about 50 took part in a Blockade Australia march through the CBD. They included Mali Poppy Cooper, 22, who locked herself to the steering wheel of a car blocking driver access to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. She allegedly live-streamed the protest from inside a white rental hatchback when an enraged commuter began to verbally abuse her with a string of swear words before storming off. 'You're f***ing everyone's day up,' he yells. 'Get the f*** out of the way!' Eleven people were arrested on Tuesday during a second day of unauthorised demonstrations when about 40 people marched in Sydney's CBD (pictured, a man with police on Tuesday) Train drivers will begin four days of action on Tuesday over safety concerns, and will refuse to drive more than 60km/h (pictured, commuters at Central Station in Sydney) Premier Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday described the industrial action as disappointing, saying the national rail safety regulator advised the NSW government that the new intercity trains were safe. The most recent dispute was sparked by a government offer to pay workers up to $18,000 to operate the fleet before safety modifications are made. The rail union's NSW secretary Alex Claassens has accused the government of playing political games and calling that offer a bribe. A separate negotiation meeting is also scheduled between the rail union and NSW transport department officials on Thursday. Meanwhile, hundreds of nurses voted on Tuesday to continue with industrial action, rejecting the government's offer of a three per cent pay rise. NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association general secretary Brett Holmes said members will now pursue a pay rise of seven per cent. The premier said he stood by the public sector wage offer to health staff of three per cent and a $3000 bonus, calling continued industrial action politically motivated. The union is expected to take industrial action on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week with train services to be reduced by up to 75 per cent (pictured, cleaners at a Sydney train) Transport NSW has put a dramatically reduced train timetable in place following scheduled industrial action by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (pictured, commuters in Sydney in 2021) Two unions representing public and Catholic school teachers are also set to address the media on Wednesday, ahead of a historic joint 24-hour strike on Thursday. The NSW Teachers Federation and Independent Education Union NSW/ACT called the strike after Tuesday's budget papers revealed no offer above 3.5 per cent was on the table. Unions are expected to ask for better pay rates and working conditions with the protests scheduled to take place in 14 towns across the state and in the CBD. Mr Perrottet has said unions organising illegal strikes should cop steep penalties. The government wants to impose maximum fines of up to $55,000 for the first day of illegal industrial action and $27,500 for each subsequent day. Dame Deborah James has urged her fans to 'find a life worth enjoying, take risks, have no regrets and always check your poo' in a final message to her army of supporters. The podcaster tragically passed away following her five-year battle with bowel cancer, her family announced this evening. Sharing the news to Instagram, her loved ones wrote: 'We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Dame Deborah James; the most amazing wife, daughter, sister, mummy. Deborah passed away peacefully today, surrounded by her family.' The presenter, 40, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in December 2016 and received palliative care at her parents' home in Woking, Surrey after being told she may not live beyond five years - a milestone that passed in the autumn of 2021. She spent her time raising awareness about the disease leaving 'no stone unturned' during her search for 'magic medicine miracle' and even designed an InTheStyle clothing collection emblazoned with the words 'rebellious hope' after revealing the slogan 'got her through the last five years'. In an emotional statement announcing the news of her death, her family shared the final words penned by the inspirational podcaster. She told fans: 'Find a life worth enjoying, take risks, love deeply, have no regrets, and always, always have rebellious hope. 'And finally, check your poo it could just save your life.' Dame Deborah James has urged her fans to 'find a life worth enjoying, take risks, have no regrets and always check your poo' in a final message to her army of supporters The podcaster tragically passed away following her five-year battle with bowel cancer, her family announced this evening The presenter, 40, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in December 2016 and received palliative care at her parents' home in Woking, Surrey after being told she may not live beyond five years - a milestone that passed in the autumn of 2021 Deborah - who has two children Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12, with her husband Sebastien - was constantly labelled 'inspirational' by fans after candidly sharing her struggles on social media, as well as on Radio 5 Live's You, Me and the Big C, of which she was one of three presenters. On May 9, the mother-of-two shared a heartbreaking 'goodbye' message to her 470,000 Instagram followers, revealing she was being moved into hospice-at-home care, while 'surrounded by family', because 'my body simply isn't playing ball.' While she said at the time that no one knew how long she may live, she recently revealed she was given just days when she was released from hospital last month. Deborah also launched her Bowelbabe Fund for cancer research, which has received more than 6.5 million in donations. She was made a dame by the Duke of Cambridge at her family home, with William praising her for 'going above and beyond to make a very special memory'. He later called her 'incredible' telling staff at the Royal Marsden who had treated her: 'She is a brave and inspirational woman.' Deborah - who has two children Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12, with her husband Sebastien - was constantly labelled 'inspirational' by fans after candidly sharing her struggles on social media On May 9, the mother-of-two shared a heartbreaking 'goodbye' message to her 470,000 Instagram followers, revealing she was being moved into hospice-at-home care, while 'surrounded by family' BOWEL CANCER: THE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. Symptoms include: Bleeding from the bottom Blood in stools A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks Unexplained weight loss Extreme, unexplained tiredness Abdominal pain Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: Are over 50 Have a family history of the condition Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease Lead an unhealthy lifestyle Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy. More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis. This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages. According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Advertisement The star broke her social media silence last week to reveal that toilet paper brand Andrex will start listing bowel cancer symptoms on its packaging. Deborah campaigned for supermarkets to put symptoms of bowel cancer on their toilet rolls so that people were more aware of the signs to watch out for in a bid to catch it early. Andrex announced the news earlier today on social media, writing: 'Thank you for the brilliant work you are doing to raise awareness of bowel cancer.' Dame Deborah shared the post, adding a caption saying: '28 million packs! Coming soon! @andrexuk. Puppy we are embracing the poo.' The company, which has donated 65,000 to the charity, teamed up with Bowel Cancer UK to put the information on packaging and is aiming to have the symptoms on all of their packaging within the next year. Additionally, there will be a QR code on the packs which redirects people to Bowel Cancer UK's website where they can find more information. Deborah also appeared in an episode of Embarrassing Bodies - filmed earlier this year - and revealed she had a 'gut instinct that something wasn't right' before receiving her bowel cancer diagnosis. During her final TV appearance on E4's Embarrassing Bodies on June 16, Deborah explained: 'I started going to the poo - we need to say that - eight times a day. And I used to be a once-a-day kind of girl. 'Then I started getting really tired and I remember drinking loads of cups of coffee just to try and keep myself awake. Then I started losing loads of weight and I started having blood in my poo.' It was the combination of these changes, Deborah said, that led her to having a 'gut instinct that something wasn't right. Deborah was diagnosed 'late' with incurable bowel cancer in 2016. She had frequently said that as a vegetarian runner, she was the last person doctors expected to get the disease. After sharing her experiences on living with the illness on social media, Deborah became known as the 'Bowel Babe' and in 2018, she joined Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland to present the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live. Bland tragically died of breast cancer on September 5 that year; her husband Steve Bland now co-presents the show. It had been a difficult year for Deborah, who in previous years had defied the odds by running 5K races and taking part in triathlons. Speaking about her cancer battle, Deborah said she had been 'consumed by anger' Family: Dame Deborah (centre, with husband Sebastien Bowen, left, and children Eloise, 12 and Hugo, 14) was awarded a damehood by Prince William last month The campaigner previously revealed she had started her 'to-do death list' to support son Hugo, 14, and daughter, Eloise, 12. Pictured: Deborah with her husband Sebastien Bowen in 2019 BBC podcast host Deborah James revealed in April after she was discharged after more than a month in hospital. Pictured, leaving the Royal Marsden Hospital Deborah was diagnosed 'late' with incurable bowel cancer in 2016. She had frequently said that as a vegetarian runner, she was the last person doctors expected to get the disease However, she told Lorraine Kelly earlier this year that she spent '80 per cent' of it in hospital receiving treatment after suffering sepsis and a traumatic varicose vein bleed. In January, she said the 'trauma' of nearly dying from the bleed was still 'very raw and real' as she returned home after three weeks in hospital. Speaking on her You, Me and the Big C podcast with co-host Steve Bland, Deborah said: 'I was in a state, an absolute state. I was flummoxed. I can't describe it. I just survived something I never thought I thought that was it. I thought I was a goner. 'How do you process that I said my goodbyes, I thought that was it, I thought that was the end of my life, how do you stop reliving that trauma? I did not know what to do with myself. 'And it's amazing how you suddenly go back to the things you realise you can do, which is to chat into a microphone or write whatever your normal coping mechanism are even in a crisis. 'I'm always somebody that has to have a bit of a purpose so I was like: 'If I'm going through this I need each and every day to find a purpose'. Obviously the purpose is to live but it also gave me a structure during the day. It gave me something to do (in hospital). 'I thought I feel so awful, not just physically, but mentally. I thought I knew what rock bottom was. I thought I knew what tough was and I didn't. I cracked there's no embarrassment in saying that. I hit a new low that I never knew existed.' A law graduate killed by a stranger as she walked home had reassured her best friend 'that won't happen to us' after Sarah Everard's murder. Zara Aleena, 35, died from severe head injuries after she was attacked on her way back from a night out in the early hours of Sunday. CCTV captured the 5ft 1in University of Westminster graduate walking past a shop to her mother's house in Ilford, north-east London, moments before she was attacked from behind, dragged into a driveway and beaten to death. Last night detectives continued to question a 29-year-old man arrested on Monday. Miss Aleena's devastated best friend drew chilling parallels with the murder of Miss Everard, 33, and Sabina Nessa, 28. Kind and loving: Law graduate Zara Aleena, pictured left, was killed by a stranger as she walked home and had told her best friend Lisa Hodgson, right, 'that won't happen to us' after Sarah Everard's murder Zara Aleena, 35, died from severe head injuries after she was attacked on her way back from a night out in the early hours of Sunday morning Lisa Hodgson, who studied at Westminster Kingsway College with Miss Aleena, said: 'We spoke a lot about Sarah Everard together, and Sabina Nessa too. Of course we didn't know those girls but we were both really affected by it Zara was quite shaken. 'I even said to Zara, 'Can you imagine something like that happening to us?' And she said, 'It's awful, I know. But don't worry, it won't happen to us'. Everyone believes that won't happen to them until it does.' Marketing manager Miss Everard was kidnapped, raped and murdered in March last year by Scotland Yard firearms officer Wayne Couzens. Miss Hodgson said: 'After what happened to Sarah you would expect to see big changes to prevent it happening again. 'But what has been done? It has happened again, to my best friend. 'These predators out there don't seem to care they're not scared. We should be able to walk home alone at night without being terrified, looking over our shoulders fearful that something like this will happen. Why shouldn't we feel safe?' Jebina Nessa, whose sister Sabina was murdered in Kidbrooke, south-east London last September, joined calls for more to be done to end male violence against women. This is the last exchange Zara's closest friend had with her on Friday. On Sunday morning she was murdered The crime scene in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, is shown where Aleena was attacked on Sunday The attack was reminiscent of Sarah Everard, killed by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens as she walked home in south London on March 3 last year She said: 'Words cannot describe how I felt reading yet another murder, similar to what happened to my beautiful sister. My heart goes out to her family.' It was typical for Miss Aleena, who worked at the Royal Courts of Justice while seeking a trainee solicitor role, to walk rather than take a taxi. Miss Hodgson said. 'She was fearless. I spoke to her friend about what happened they said they got in a cab and Zara wanted to walk. That's Zara, 100 per cent.' CCTV given to police but not made public shows her attacker approach from behind, put his hand over her mouth and punch her to the ground, according to neighbours who had seen it. 'How cowardly, to attack a lone woman from behind. Zara was small but she was tough and brave, she would have fought to the last,' Miss Hodgson said. As the attacker fled, neighbours rushed out to find Miss Aleena bleeding. Paramedics performed CPR for two hours and took her to hospital at about 4.30am but she was declared dead shortly afterwards. Scotland Yard was placed under special measures yesterday after a devastating inspection revealed a catalogue of new failures. Officers with Britain's biggest police force failed to record tens of thousands of crimes, ignored almost all victims of anti-social behaviour, let down vulnerable victims and neglected a huge backlog of online child abuse referrals. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) announced that 'systemic concerns' about the force's performance raised by a new inspection had been so grave that the force needed to be put under special measures. The unprecedented step means the Metropolitan Police will face external monitoring and must come up with an improvement plan. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) announced that 'systemic concerns' about the force's performance raised by a new inspection had been so grave that the force needed to be put under special measure. Pictured: Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick The damning indictment comes after Commissioner Cressida Dick was forced to quit in February following a torrid year of scandals which saw the murder of Sarah Everard by one of her officers, the force being branded 'institutionally corrupt' by an independent inquiry and two officers jailed for photographing bodies of murder victims. Yesterday a leaked letter from the police inspectorate revealed the force is failing victims across the board. The new annual inspection found: Around 69,000 crimes are going unrecorded each year and almost no crimes are recorded of anti-social behaviour. Handling of 999 calls is below national standards. There is insufficient supervision and oversight of some investigations. Officers fail to record the reason for a stop and search properly in a quarter of cases. The force has insufficient capacity to meet demand in public protection. There is a 'persistently large backlog' of online child abuse referrals. Last night a war of words broke out as Home Secretary Priti Patel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan clashed over who was responsible for the fiasco. In a leaked letter to Acting Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Stephen House, Her Majesty's Inspector Matt Parr warned the succession of scandals and 'systemic concerns' about the force's performance is 'likely to have a chilling effect on public trust and confidence in the Met'. Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens In June 2020 sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were stabbed to death and officers Deniz Jaffer, 47, and Jamie Lewis, 33, took photos at the scene in Wembley In the new inspection, which has yet to be made public in full, Mr Parr condemned the force's performance in handling 999 and non-emergency calls, saying it is 'falling far short of national standards', with staff failing to assess vulnerability, identify repeat victims and not offering advice about preserving evidence to catch offenders. He blasted the force for ignoring crimes, saying it had 'a barely adequate standard of crime recording accuracy, with an estimated 69,000 crimes going unrecorded each year, less than half of crime recorded within 24 hours, and almost no crimes recorded when victims report antisocial behaviour against them'. Mr Parr said victims were not told when officers were dropping their case, they were not given appropriate support, and officers were not seeking their views before finalising crime reports. He went on to criticise 'the lack of a detailed understanding of capacity and capability across all aspects of policing', saying the Metropolitan Police had 'an insufficiently comprehensive understanding of demand'. The scandals that have rocked the capital's force OPERATION MIDLAND In 2014 the notorious investigation was sanctioned by Dame Cressida Dick, then a high-ranking officer at Scotland Yard. The disastrous inquiry into spurious VIP child sex abuse allegations saw innocent men, including the late Lord Brittan and former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, pursued by the force. Several men died, with reputations tarnished, before the allegations were disproved. NICOLE SMALLMAN AND BIBAA HENRY MURDERS In June 2020 two officers were tasked with guarding a crime scene where sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, had been stabbed to death. Officers Deniz Jaffer, 47, and Jamie Lewis, 33, took photos at the scene in Wembley, then shared them in two WhatsApp groups. They were each jailed for two years and nine months last December. SARAH EVERARD MURDER In March last year, 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by serving officer Wayne Couzens. The force's officers were accused of 'manhandling' women at a Clapham Common vigil staged ten days after her disappearance. DANIEL MORGAN INQUIRY In June last year a report into the unsolved 1987 murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan accused the Metropolitan Police of 'institutional corruption'. STEPHEN PORT INVESTIGATION An inquest jury ruled in December that failures by Yard detectives contributed to the deaths of a serial killer's three final victims. Stephen Port killed four men in their 20s by giving them overdoses of the date rape drug GHB at his east London home in 2014 and 2015. The inquest found police failed to carry out basic checks. A solicitor for the families said the Met's actions were driven in part by homophobia. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is to re-investigate the force's handling of the case. CHARING CROSS SCANDAL In February the IOPC exposed conduct by officers based at Charing Cross police station who were found to have joked about rape, killing black children and beating their wives. BIANCA WILLIAMS Five officers are to face a gross misconduct hearing over their stop and search of Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams in 2020. She and her partner were stopped in west London. Nothing illegal was found and the couple, who are black, claim they were racially profiled. Advertisement Last week Scotland Yard revealed eight referrals about strip searches of children have been made to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) after two teenage girls were strip-searched by officers while they were menstruating. Mr Parr also highlighted the investigation into four murders by serial killer Stephen Port, which he said was marred by 'seemingly incomprehensible failures'. Mr Parr said Scotland Yard 'hasn't always shown a great willingness' to learn from mistakes, echoing a report in March when he warned the 'arrogant, secretive and lethargic' force was failing to tackle corruption. The Metropolitan Police is now only one of a handful of forces ever to be placed under special measures, which the inspectorate refer to as an 'engage phase'. The move triggered a row between Miss Patel and Mr Khan. In a statement the Home Secretary said: 'I support the action that HMICFRS has taken today to highlight their failings and I expect the Met and the London Mayor to take immediate action to begin addressing them.' The damning indictment comes after Commissioner Cressida Dick was forced to quit in February following a torrid year of scandals which saw the murder of Sarah Everard by one of her officers, the force being branded 'institutionally corrupt' by an independent inquiry and two officers jailed for photographing bodies of murder victims. Pictured left to right: Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Nick Bramall, Alastair Morgan, Harvey Proctor, Michael Mcmanus, Paul Gambaccini, and Lady Diana Brittan But Mr Khan hit back, pointing out that he had been the one to force out Dame Cressida. A source close to the mayor said: 'He will take no lessons in policing from the Home Secretary, who clearly was happy with the status quo and didn't want any action taken.' Sir Stephen has been summoned to a meeting next month to discuss a plan of action before a new commissioner is appointed. A Met spokesman said: 'We are determined to be a police service Londoners can be proud of. We are talking to the Inspectorate about next steps.' A 15-year-old from West Yorkshire was charged on Tuesday for several acts of terrorism. Counter Terrorism Policing North East said the teenager from Hayworth was charged for a total of six offences. He committed four offences of dissemination of terrorist publications. He was also charged with engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism and another offence under the Protection from Harassment Act. He arrested on June 21 as part of an intelligence led operation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East The force said they ran a pre-planned raid into suspected extreme right wing terrorism in the area. A seven-day warrant of further detention granted by the courts on June 22 allowed the force to also search a home in the area. Counter Terrorism Policing North East deploy specialist support to police throughout the country, and in particular, forces in the North East region The boy is currently being held in prison but will appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, July 15. The North East Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) was set up in April 2007 and is part of the network of Counter Terrorism Units all set up to strengthen the UKs response to the threat from terrorism. They get extensive terrorism inquiries that have the potential to tie up a lot of police officers for a long time. The 15-year-old was charged for a total of six terrorism offences The North East region terrorism Unit uses specialists from skilled detectives, financial investigators, community contact teams, intelligence analysts, forensic specialists and high-tech investigators to catch terrorists. The Counter Terrorism Units are aware of the long term impact of terrorism investigations on local forces that use a huge amount of staff to respond to. An executed bikie had a nasty clash with the mother of a Comanchero's boss weeks before he was gunned down in a hail of bullets in front of his wife. Yusuf Nazlioglu was rushed to Sydney's Westmead Hospital at about 6.30 pm on Monday with about ten bullet wounds after the unidentified killer opened fire in the parking complex under his apartment in Rhodes, in the city's west. Police later confirmed the 40-year-old died in hospital about 7.15am on Tuesday. Now, underworld sources have revealed Nazlioglu had a run-in with the mother of Mick Hawi, who was shot dead outside Fitness First Gym at Rockdale in February 2018, at a cemetery. Nazlioglu had once been accused of murdering Hawi, the former president of the Comancheros bikie gang, but was acquitted by an NSW Supreme Court jury two years ago. Yusuf Nazlioglu, 40, was gunned down in his Rhodes apartment complex on Monday in front of his wife of four months, Jade (pictured together) Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that any of Hawi's relatives were involved in Nazlioglu's death. 'Juries get it wrong, he pulled the trigger (to kill Hawi), we all know that,' one underworld source told The Daily Telegraph. 'Hawi was a very popular figure in the Comos (Comanchero OMCG), especially after the way he gave himself up for the airport brawl. 'Theres a lot of guys out there that would still be loyal to him.' Other sources claimed Nazlioglu had also recently stirred trouble with a member of a well-known Sydney crime family after stealing his Bentley. They said vehicle was one of several luxury cars, including a Bentley, the former Lone Wolf bikie had allegedly stolen and then used for extortion. One source said Sydney was a dangerous place at the moment and was 'only a matter of time' before Nazlioglu was killed. Daily Mail Australia understands the gunman was waiting in a silver hatchback for Nazlioglu to get out of the car before he unleashed on the underworld figure. Nazlioglu was once accused of killing former Comanchero bikie boss Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi (pictured), who was shot in front of a gym in 2018 Emergency services cart Nazlioglu out of the Rhodes building on Monday after he was shot up to ten times in the head and chest Police towed a black Mercedes from the carpark on Tuesday morning. The car had a large bullet hole Pictured: The basement carpark where Nazlioglu was gunned down on Monday His wife Jade, to whom he had only been married four months, frantically rang the police. The shooter fled the scene, and the hatchback was later found burnt out in nearby Leeds St. Detective Superintendent Martin Hayston said detectives believe the attack was 'targeted'. 'The person who approached the 40-year-old male and shot him clearly was there to do that, there is various lines of inquiry underway in relation to motive,' he said. Nazlioglu's death marked the end of a six-week run without a fatal shooting in Sydney as the city grapples with a bloody underworld war, with at least 14 men gunned down over the past two years. Detectives say at this stage in the investigation the assassination does not appear to be linked to the feud between the Alameddine of Hamzy networks. Plain-clothed detectives arrived at the scene throughout Tuesday morning, as the investigation into the senseless killing continues. Residents said Mrs Nazlioglu was seen wailing in the foyer and saying 'why did they have to kill him' as emergency service tried to save her husband. Yusuf Nazlioglu is pictured with his wife in April. The couple got married in January Bodies have been piling up in the Harbour City in the past 18 months with at least a dozen contract killings linked to the bitter feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime clans Desperate relatives of missing victims of the Ukrainian shopping mall attack appealed for help in finding their loved ones yesterday. Among those at the scene asking passers-by for information was Ihor Ivakhenko whose girlfriend Tatyana Brigadirenko was working at the Amstor mall when it was hit in a Russian missile strike. At least 18 people are feared to have died, including 11 who were discovered in a toy shop. But more than 40 remained unaccounted for last night. Lists of the missing have been pinned up at a police station and relatives have left messages at the site of the attack in the central city of Kremenchuk. Several workers at Comfy, a household appliances store, were still missing last night, including Elena Poliakova. Meeting: Alyona Velichko (Left) and At work: Elena Poliakova (Right) Still missing: Sofia Vinnik (Left) and Shopper: Anna Vovnenko (Right) Another Amstor employee, Sofia Vinnik, 21, was known to have been at work. Other appeals were made on social media, including for Anna Vovnenko, who was with her mother when the missiles hit. Her mother is now in hospital among about 50 people injured. Another appeal, for Alyona Velichko, 44, said she was going to meet a friend near the mall. Devastation: The mall in flames As many as 1,000 people were feared to have been inside when it was hit. Yesterday Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky denounced Russias actions as one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history. Russia has accused Ukraine of staging the attack. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a bid by Apple to relaunch hearings with the intention to cancel two Qualcomm patents despite a settlement on the issue between the two tech giants. The High Court rejected Apple's appeal of a lower court decision that the Cupertino, California-based company lacked standing to revive the matter due to the settlement. Apple pushed that it should be allowed to resurrect its legal action because Qualcomm could also haul them back to court again once the settlement ends. Qualcomm sued Apple in 2017 in San Diego federal court, claiming that Apple's iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches infringed two Qualcomm mobile-technology patents (US Patent No. 7,844,037 and US Patent No. 8,683,362). That case was one element of a broader court dispute between the companies, The Verge reported. Apple questioned the validity of the two patents at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Basis of Supreme Court Decision: 2019 Apple-Qualcomm Settlement The parties reached a settlement in 2019, signing an agreement worth billions of dollars that allowed Apple to still use Qualcomm chips in iPhones. The settlement also provided Apple a six-year license to tens of thousands of Qualcomm patents, including the two being dispute, as the patent board case remained. Read Also: Apple buries iPhone, iPod warranty lawsuit with $53 million The U.S. patent board favored Qualcomm in its ruling. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which specializes in patent law, threw out Apple's appeal in 2021 citing the 2019 settlement. The Federal Circuit rejected Apple's assertion that its royalty payments and risk of being sued again justified hearing the case based on merits. Apple Sought Appeal Over Fears of Future Qualcomm Patent Litigation When Settlement Ends Before the Supreme Court, Apple said that the company continued to face the risk of litigation after the agreement ends in 2025, or in 2027 if the settlement term is extended. For its part, Qualcomm told the Supreme Court to reject the appeal, arguing Apple had not shown any evidence to support its claims. The chipmaker found an ally in President Joe Biden's administration, which also urged the High Court to reject Apple's appeal. Apple had since discontinued using Qualcomm chipsets and had since moved on, utilizing its own M series of chipsets, which has now ruled the market for powerful chipsets. The original M1 was a powerhouse of a chip when Apple introduced in MacBooks and iPads and the latest M2 is also as superb. Because of this, Apple is considered the market leader in mobile chips. In response, Qualcomm is also developing next-generation chip powerhouse for laptops. Qualcomm is best known for making chips for high-end as well as affordable smartphones. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is one of the best chips that you can find and is powering most of the flagship smartphones. As part of its acquisition of powerful chipset maker Nuvia, Qualcomm will soon release chipsets to take on Apple's M series, seeking to reclaim the mobile chipset leadership. Related Article: Qualcomm Supply Shortage Puts Samsung, HMD Global in Trouble: Why is the Chip Supply so Critical? Police have arrested a man after a severed human head was left outside the front of a court house in the German city of Bonn. The 38-year-old suspect, who is from the area, was detained 'without resistance' following the horrific discovery on Tuesday. A body was found a short while later lying on the banks of the Rhine River near Alter Zoll. Police said they believe the body belongs to the severed head. It is thought the suspect walked one kilometre to the courthouse carrying the severed head, reports Bild. A witness told the newspaper: 'The man then just sat there a few meters from his head. He allowed himself to be arrested without resistance.' The scene outside the courthouse in Bonn, where a human head was found earlier tonight Detectives are urgently appealing for witnesses to come forward after the severed head was found in front of the Bonn district court. Police spokesman Robert Scholten is quoted as saying at the scene: 'We are at work here with the homicide squad. We will inspect both sites and question the provisionally arrested person.' The victim is believed to be a 44-year-old man. The victim and the suspect are believed to have been homeless - but it remains unclear whether the pair knew each other. Police vans blocked the road as a small tent was erected to conceal the human head left outside the court in broad daylight. Police said no suspicious activity was reported in the area and they are seeking witnesses to come forward for information. A man has been charged over his alleged role in the deadly shooting of underworld crime boss Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad. Detectives from the NSW Homicide Squad arrested the 49-year-old man during a police operation in Campsie, southwest Sydney, on May 2. He has been charged with one count of accessory before the fact to murder, and accessory after the fact to murder, among other offences. Following the arrest, officers conducted a search warrant at a home in Wetherill Park, where they seized 25kg of ice worth an estimated $22million. A man has been charged over his alleged role in the deadly shooting of underworld crime boss Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad, 39, (pictured) A harrowing picture shows Ahmad, also known as Sydney's 'Mr Big' fighting for life after he was brazenly executed on a suburban street in Greenacre on April 27 Officers also seized $200,000 in cash and cloned number plates. Police will allege in court he was involved in the planning of Brownie's death with the man to due to appear in Fairfield Local court on July 6. The 49-year-old was also charged with several drug and criminal group offences. Ahmad, also known as Sydney's 'Mr Big', was shot dead on a suburban street in Greenacre, in the city's southwest, on April 27. Raptor Squad police patrolling nearby performed CPR with vision of the harrowing scene showing 'Mr Big' fighting for his life, but they were unable to revive him. Friends of the slain underworld boss - who had a $1 million bounty on his head - and detectives said they weren't shocked by his gruesome death. He had repeatedly been warned he was a marked man when he walked free from jail after six months for a five-year sentence for killing a gangland rival. Ahmad had extorted fellow underworld figures both in prison and outside, demanding at least one inmate pay $250,000 to ensure his safety. Friends of the slain underworld boss (pictured) - who had a $1 million bounty on his head - and detectives said they weren't shocked by his gruesome death Friends of the slain underworld boss - who had a $1million bounty on his head - and detectives said they weren't shocked by his gruesome death (pictured, the scene of the April shooting) 'He's been warned in the past he was a marked man and as a result he didn't heed those words... he was going about his normal business without a care in the world,' detective superintendent Danny Doherty said. Last October, Ahmad dodged another attempt when he was tipped off by police about a planned hit on him in broad daylight at a park at Rushcutters Bay. The conflict between warring Sydney gangs has claimed 14 lives in two years, and the state opposition claims there have been at least 35 major violent incidents involving gangs in NSW since June 2020. The executions come as police are granted new powers to detain convicted drug dealers anytime anywhere, no warrant required. The unprecedented NSW laws also allow police to search them in the street, knock down their doors, as well as search their homes, businesses and vehicles. The new legislation two years in the making will be piloted in four areas across NSW, including Bankstown in Sydney's south-west as the city's gangland war escalates. Trophy hunters are slaughtering an animal every three minutes with UK marksmen among the worlds most prolific killers, the Daily Mail can reveal. British hunters have won prizes for shooting more than a hundred different species, including endangered ones such as lions and polar bears, says a report by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on banning trophy hunting. The exhaustive six-month inquiry the findings of which will be published today has found that firms founded in the UK are selling trophy-hunting holidays for tens of thousands of pounds. Among them are canned lion hunts, where the animals are bred in captivity and shot in enclosures. Pro-hunting activists claim the activity helps conservation in Africa, but British hunters have boasted of shooting monkeys and cats in trees for fun and the majority of animals die slow, painful deaths, the report says. Posing with his kill: Kenny MacLeod Snr, who runs a construction firm, next to a slain kudu antelope Tory MP Sir Roger Gale, the APPGs chairman, said the findings kick the bottom out of hunters claims that they are conserving wildlife and shows that their motivation is self-gratification of the most revolting kind. The industry is entrenching apartheid-era inequalities as some hunting company owners make millions of pounds a year but locals hired as cooks, cleaners or skinners earn just a few hundred, the APPG also says. It comes after a private members bill that aims to ban the import of hunting trophies into Britain was finally presented to Parliament earlier this month. If it becomes law, the bill tabled by Tory MP Henry Smith would stop hunters bringing animal skins, severed heads and carcasses back to the UK after shoots abroad. The Government has spent years promising a ban, but failed to offer a timetable. But British trophy hunters have defended their involvement, saying it pours money back into the economy of the countries where they hunt. For the Scottish MacLeod clan, it is a family affair, with father Kenny Snr and his three sons having shot at least 22 different species between them. Graeme and Greig Blundell, a father and son from Kinross, Scotland, are pictured with a zebra Kenny Snr, who runs housing firm MacLeod Construction, is the most prolific of the group, with 18 confirmed kills, including warthog and wildebeest. His son Greig, who has posed next to his kill of a zebra, worked for the company for 14 years before leaving to set up his own in 2020. Kenny Jr told the Mail that hunting was a way of life in Africa and compared it to deer hunting in the UK. He added: The companies employed a ton of local people, workers and all the meat of the animals was getting eaten and shared at night. It isnt a cheap thing to do either, so all that money is going to go back into their economy. Animal rights campaigners have condemned the practice, describing one hunter Ryan Seaman or Bullseye as he refers to himself as the sickest man in Britain. Mr Seaman openly boasts of his kills and shares gruesome pictures of their carcasses on Facebook. In one picture, he smiles next to a bloodied baboon while clasping the scruff of its head to hold it upright, making it appear chillingly human. Other animals he has killed include a kudu antelope, a warthog and blue wildebeest. In one post, Mr Seaman, from Bristol, kneels next to 57 dead foxes and rabbits, which he claims to have shot in one night and brags that it will provide loads of moleskin shirts. Among those urging MPs to support the bill and ban trophy hunters imports are explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who called on them to help put an end to this sick bloodsport. First Lady Melania Trump's former Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham had her own receipts to show off Tuesday after Cassidy Hutchinson testified about resistance from the president and his advisers to call off the January 6 Capitol attack. Grisham, who also served as White House press secretary, shared what appeared to be a text exchange between she and a 'MT' - Melania Trump - in which she asks: 'Do you want to tweet that peaceful protests are the right of every American, but there is no place for lawlessness & violence.' 'No,' Grisham's texts show the first lady responded. First Lady Melania Trump's former Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham had her own receipts to show off Tuesday after Cassidy Hutchinson testified about the resistance from the president and his advisers to call off the January 6 Capitol attack Stephanie Grisham (left) had previously detailed how that exchange with now former First Lady Melania Trump (right) compelled her to quit her job on January 6. Grisham said she finally saw the first lady as the 'doomed French queen. Dismissive. Defeated. Detached' Grisham had detailed this interaction with the then first lady in her book, I'll Take Your Questions Now: What I Saw at the Trump White House, explaining how it compelled her to leave. She wrote that she 'finally saw the doomed French queen. Dismissive. Defeated. Detached.' Melania Trump was in the middle of a photoshoot, capturing some of the White House's rugs when the Capitol was being assaulted by the pro-Trump crowd. 'It broke me,' Grisham wrote. 'I took a breath and waited another minute. You learned to do that in the Trump White House: make sure you are grounded and not acting out of the moment. Then I resigned.' 'I sent her an email and cc-ed her senior adviser so I couldn't take it back or be talked out of it. I was done,' Grisham said. In January 2022, Grisham appeared in-person to speak with members of the House select committee on January 6. Melania Trump 's ex-Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham met behind closed doors in January 2022 with the House select committee on January 6. She is seen arriving at the meeting held at the O'Neill House Office Building in Washington Stephanie Grisham tweeted out her exchange with Melania Trump after former Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson spoke of her own 'frustration' in getting Meadows to care about the angry pro-Trump crowd approaching the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6 Hutchinson, a 25-year-old former White House aide who was working under Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the attack, detailed some of President Donald Trump and Meadows' behavior during the MAGA riot to the House January 6 committee. She said she was 'frustrated' by her own boss' ambivalence - even pointing out to Meadows that one of his close friends, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, was likely still in the Capitol Building as the angry crowd neared. 'I remember thinking in that moment, Mark needs to snap out of this and I don't know how to snap him out of this. He needs to care,' she told the House committee. 'And I just sort of blurted out, "Do you know where Jim's at right now?"' she said. 'And he looked up at me at that point. "Jim?" I said Mark, he was on the floor a little while ago giving a floor speech, did you listen? ... Do you know where he's at right now?' Hutchinson said she encouraged Meadows to check in on Jordan. 'And I remember pointing at the TV and I said, "The rioters are getting close. They might get in,"' she said. 'He looked at me and said something to the effect of, "Alright I'll give him a call."' She told lawmakers it was like watching 'a bad car accident about to happen, where you can't stop it, but you want to be able to do something.' Hutchinson also said in her taped deposition that Ivanka Trump, among other White House officials, had tried to get the president to call off the assault hours before he released a video statement. During the hearing, Hutchinson also recalled an impromptu meeting on January 6 after Trump returned to the White House after speaking at the Ellipse she had with former Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato and Bobby Engel, the head of Trump's security detail. 'Did you hear what effing happened in the Beast?' she said Engel asked her. She replied that she hadn't heard. 'Tony proceeded to tell me that when the president got in the Beast he was under the impression from Mr. Meadows that the off-the-record movement to the Capitol was still possible and likely to happen, but that Bobby had more information,' Hutchinson said. Trump, Hutchinson said, thought they were going up to the Capitol - like he had told his crowd of supporters he would do. This was in the hours before the attack. 'When Bobby had relayed to him we're not, we don't have the assets to do it, it's not secure, we're going back to the West Wing, the president had a very strong, very angry response,' Hutchinson continued. She was told that Trump said something like: 'I'm the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now!' Engel, she said, reiterated that they were headed back to the White House. 'The president reached up toward the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel, Mr. Engel grabbed his arm and said, "Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel, we're going back to the West Wing, we're not going to the Capitol,"' she said. 'Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge toward Bobby Engel and when Mr. Ornato had recounted this story to me he motioned toward his clavicles,' Hutchinson said, as a sign the president went for Engel's throat. GOP Rep. Liz Cheney then asked Hutchinson if Engel or Ornato ever changed their stories. 'Neither Mr. Ornato or Mr. Engel told me ever that it was untrue,' Hutchinson testified. From there, Hutchinson talked about Trump throwing dishes when being served with bad news. She said she remembered 'hearing noise' on the heels of the Associated Press article being released in which Barr confirmed that Trump's widespread election fraud claims weren't real. Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was summoned to Trump's office. When Meadows returned Hutchinson said she walked down toward the White House dining room. 'And I noticed that the door was propped open and the valet was inside the dining room changing the tablecloth off of the dining room table,' she said. 'He motioned for me to come in and then pointed toward the front of the room near the fireplace mantel and the TV.' 'Where I first noticed there was ketchup dripping down the wall,' she continued. 'And there's a shattered porcelain plate on the floor.' 'The valet had articulated that the president was extremely angry at the attorney general's AP interview and had thrown his lunch against the wall,' she said, explaining that she then helped with the clean-up. Cheney then asked Hutchinson if this was typical Trump behavior. 'There were several times throughout my tenure with the chief of staff that I was aware of him either throwing dishes or flicking the table cloth to let all of the contents of the table go onto the floor and likely break or go everywhere,' Hutchinson volunteered. The NHS will ask patients to turn their bedrooms into hospital wards in an effort to free up hospital beds and tackle waiting lists. They will be given mobile phones and wearable devices that allow doctors to monitor their vital signs remotely on virtual wards. Up to 25,000 people at a time could be treated under the hospital at home scheme by March 2024 in a big boost to capacity. And it could allow patients to be discharged from hospital sooner or avoid the need to be admitted in the first place. The initiative forms part of the Governments Plan for Digital Health and Social Care, published today. The NHS will ask patients to turn their bedrooms into hospital wards in an effort to free up hospital beds and tackle waiting lists (stock image of ward) It outlines ministers ambitions to expand the use of technology within the NHS rapidly in an attempt to save billions of pounds over the next decade. Proposals include expanding the use of remote monitoring, improving the NHS App and rolling out digital health and social care records in hospitals and care homes. The Government will create an extra 10,500 data and technology roles as well as increase training in these areas for new and existing staff. The expanded use of virtual wards comes after NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard admitted that too many beds had been cut. Some 25,000 staffed beds have been lost since 2010/11, with fewer beds per head of population than comparable countries. Mrs Pritchard told the NHS ConfedExpo conference this month: We have passed the point at which that efficiency actually becomes inefficient. A shortage of beds, along with delays in discharging medically fit patients into social care, have contributed to longer waits for routine operations and in A&E. There are a record 6.5 million people on NHS waiting lists, with numbers soaring in recent months due to disruption caused by the pandemic. More than 280,000 people have had their conditions, such as asthma, remotely monitored at home and in care homes over the past year, freeing up hospital beds and clinicians time. This has resulted in improvements in patient outcomes, with problems spotted earlier, shorter stays in hospital and fewer admissions, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. A further 500,000 people could be supported in this way by March next year, the plan adds. Patients will also be able to complete their hospital pre-assessment checks from home by September 2024. Up to 25,000 people at a time could be treated under the hospital at home scheme by March 2024 in a big boost to capacity (stock of ambulance) Upcoming versions of the NHS App will let patients book and rearrange hospital appointments and communicate with their GP surgeries. It will also give greater access to medical records and be used for remote consultations. More than 28 million people have already downloaded it. Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: We are embarking on a radical programme of modernisation that will make sure the NHS is set up to meet the challenges of 2048 not 1948, when it was first established. This plan builds on our data strategy to revolutionise digital health and care, which will enable patients to manage hospital appointments from the NHS App and take more control of their own care at home, picking up problems sooner and seeking help earlier. Ensuring more personalisation and better joining up of the system will benefit patients, free up clinician time, and help us to bust the Covid backlogs. Dr Timothy Ferris, director of transformation at NHS England, said: By harnessing the power of digital and data we can improve both how people access services and the way we provide care. Todays plan for digital health and care sets out an ambitious vision for a future where the NHS puts more power and information at patients fingertips, and staff have the tools they need to deliver better and more joined-up services. Climate change is 'unequivocally' linked to some extreme weather events such as heatwaves, but its effect on others, such as severe droughts may be overestimated, a new study suggests. In the last three months, monsoon rains unleashed disastrous flooding in Bangladesh, and brutal heatwaves seared parts of South Asia and Europe. Meanwhile, prolonged drought has left millions on the brink of famine in East Africa. A review of extreme weather hazards shows that climate change is making heatwaves more intense and more likely, and the impact in terms of lives lost and financial costs is being underestimated. For others, including tropical cyclones, there are variations between regions and the role that climate change plays in each event. But severe droughts in many parts of the world are not due to climate change, according to the review by scientists from University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Study co-author Friederike Otto, of Imperial College London, said the impact of global warming on extreme weather events was often 'overestimated'. Climate change has made heatwaves more intense and more likely, scientists have warned, with extreme weather causing a huge number of deaths and billions of pounds in damage HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE? Large numbers of people are being displaced by worsening weather extremes. And the world's poor are being hit by far the hardest, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report stated earlier this year. More people are going to die each year from heat waves, diseases, extreme weather, air pollution and starvation because of global warming, the report said. Just how many people die depends on how much heat-trapping gas from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas gets spewed into the air and how the world adapts to an ever-hotter world, scientists say. 'Climate change is killing people,' said co-author Helen Adams of King's College London. 'Yes, things are bad, but actually the future depends on us, not the climate.' With every tenth of a degree of warming, many more people die from heat stress, heart and lung problems from heat and air pollution, infectious diseases, illnesses from mosquitoes and starvation, the authors said. Advertisement 'I think on the one hand we overestimate climate change because it's now quite common that every time an extreme event happens, there is a big assumption that climate change is playing a big role, which is not always the case,' she told the Guardian. 'But on the other hand, we really underestimate those events where climate change does play a role in what the costs are, especially the non-economic costs of extreme weather events to our societies.' The researchers looked at information from the latest reports from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and results from the growing body of attribution studies, which use weather observations and climate models to identify the role of global warming in specific events. Dr Otto said it was 'absolutely' the case that climate change was already making heatwaves more likely and intense. 'We can very confidently say that every heatwave that is occurring today is made more intense and more likely because of climate change. 'There are local factors like land use changes that might change how much more likely, but there's no doubt climate change is really an absolute gamechanger when it comes to heatwaves around the world,' she added. However, in other extremes, such as drought, the role of climate change is less clear. Dr Otto pointed to East Africa, which has a naturally highly variable climate that contributes to drought, and warned that disaster there was linked to poverty and lack of health care systems and infrastructure. The study authors say there is a need to record the impact of extreme weather far more systematically around the world, as a lack of data on previous events makes it harder to cope with future extremes. Lead author Ben Clarke, of the University of Oxford, said: 'The rise of more extreme and intense weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall have dramatically increased in recent years, affecting people all over the globe. 'Understanding the role that climate change plays in these events can help us better prepare for them. It also allows us to determine the real cost that carbon emissions have in our lives.' In general, a heatwave that previously had a 1 in 10 chance of occurring is now nearly three times as likely and peaking at temperatures around 1 degree Celsius higher than it would have been without climate change. An April heatwave that saw the mercury climb above 122F (50C) in India and Pakistan, for example, was made 30 times more likely by climate change, according to the climatologists leading the international research collaboration World Weather Attribution. Heatwaves across the Northern Hemisphere in June from Europe to the US show that 'the frequency of heatwaves has gone up so much,' Dr Otto said. For heatwaves and extreme rainfall, 'we find we have a much better understanding of how the intensity of these events is changing due to climate change,' said study co-author Luke Harrington, a climate scientist at Victoria University of Wellington. Pictured, homes flooded in Jean Lafitte, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida Overall, episodes of heavy rainfall are also becoming more common and more intense because warmer air holds more moisture, so storm clouds are 'heavier' before they eventually break. However, the impact varies by region, with some areas not receiving enough rain, the study suggests. Last week, China saw extensive flooding, following heavy rains, while Bangladesh was hit with a flood-triggering deluge. Scientists have a harder time figuring out how climate change affects drought. Some regions have suffered ongoing dryness, with warmer temperatures to the west of the US melting the snowpack faster and driving evaporation. And while East African droughts have yet to be linked directly to climate change, scientists say the decline in the spring rainy season is tied to warmer waters in the Indian Ocean. This causes rains to fall rapidly over the ocean before reaching the Horn. Heatwaves and drought conditions are also worsening wildfires, particularly megafires which are those that burn more than 100,000 acres. Fire raged across the US state of New Mexico in April, after a controlled burn set under 'much drier conditions than recognized' got out of control, according to the US Forest Service. The fires burned 341,000 acres. On a global scale, the frequency of storms hasn't increased, the researchers said, but cyclones are now more common in the central Pacific and North Atlantic. They are less common in the Bay of Bengal, western North Pacific and southern Indian Ocean, the study added. There is also evidence that tropical storms are becoming more intense and even stalling overland, where they can deliver more rain on a single area. So while climate change might not have made Cyclone Batsirai any more likely to have formed in February, it probably made it more intense, capable of destroying more than 120,000 homes when it hit Madagascar. The new research has been published in the journal Environmental Research: Climate. NASA finally launched its 'CAPSTONE' spacecraft on Tuesday morning, marking an important early stage in its Artemis space programme. The craft, which is about the size of a microwave oven and weighs just 55 pounds, blasted off from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand at 10:55 BST (21:55 local time). Over six months, it will test the stability of a halo-shaped orbit around the moon before this orbit is used by Lunar Gateway, NASA's planned lunar outpost. Lunar Gateway, which is due to launch in 2024, will serve as a 'staging area' for landing humans on the moon for the first time in 50 years, and potentially as a jumping-off point for missions to Mars. The craft, which is about the size of a microwave oven and weighs just 55 pounds, blasted off from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand at 10:55 BST (21:55 local time) Over six months, CAPSTONE will test the stability of a halo-shaped orbit around the moon before this orbit is used by Lunar Gateway, NASA's planned lunar outpost. CAPSTONE: Key stats Type: CubeSat Size: 13 x 13 x 25 inches Weight: 55 pounds Orbit: Near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) Launch site: Mahia, New Zealand Launch date: June 28, 2022 Advertisement The CAPSTONE spacecraft, which was originally scheduled to launch in October 2021, was sent into space on an 'Electron' booster rocket built by US firm Rocket Lab. 'We have lift-off from Launch Complex 1!' Rocket Lab tweeted moments after the launch. 'CAPSTONEs journey to the Moon is underway.' Rocket Lab also confirmed that the rocket had reached Max Q the point when an its atmospheric flight reaches maximum dynamic pressure. Bradley Smith, director of launch services at NASA, described the launch as 'fabulous'. 'This has been, for me, eight years in the making. Here we are, not even a decade later and this incredible team has sent CAPSTONE on a ballistic trajectory to lunar orbit.' CAPSTONE is an abbreviation for 'Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment'. It is unique in that it will travel on an elongated halo-shaped orbit, which will bring it as close as 1,000 miles and as far as 43,500 miles from the lunar surface. It will use its propulsion system to travel for approximately three to four months before entering into orbit around the moon. One orbit will occur every seven days. CAPSTONE is unique in that it will travel on an elongated halo-shaped orbit, which will bring it as close as 1,000 miles and as far as 43,500 miles from the lunar surface US company Rocket Lab has sent the CAPSTONE satellite into space on its Electron rocket (pictured in May) CAPSTONE blasted off on Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand The spacecraft is about the size of a microwave oven and weighs just 55 pounds. It's depicted here in an artist's impression in its orbit around the moon CAPSTONE over the lunar North Pole: After arriving at the moon in around four months, the craft will begin a six-month-long mission to validate a special type of orbit While it usually takes a few days for a spacecraft to reach the moon, CAPSTONE will take much longer as it's travelling at a slower speed and has to take a longer route to gear itself for an unusual oval shape. The strange-shaped orbit, officially called a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO), has never before been tried in space. WHAT IS THE ARTEMIS PROGRAMME? Artemis is an ongoing space mission run by NASA with the goal of landing the first female astronaut and first astronaut of colour on the Moon's South Pole. It is the US space agency's first crewed Moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. Artemis I, launching in August 2022, will pave the way for crewed flights by sending manikins to space. Artemis II will launch in May 2024 and fly by the moon without landing on it. Artemis III, which will launch 'no earlier than 2025', will be the first to land humans on the moon in more than 50 years. Source: RMG Advertisement The orbit's route is located at a precise balance point in the gravities of the Earth and moon, meaning less energy is expended. 'The stability of this orbit will allow CAPSTONE to behave almost like it's held in place by the gravity of Earth and the moon,' Elwood Agasid at NASA's Ames Research Center told The Next Web. 'It requires little energy for station-keeping or to manoeuvre into other cislunar orbits [those between the earth and the moon].' CAPSTONE will orbit this area around the moon for at least six months to understand 'the characteristics of the orbit', according to NASA, before the space agency deliberately crashes it on the lunar surface. The space agency said: 'It will validate the power and propulsion requirements for maintaining its orbit as predicted by NASA's models, reducing logistical uncertainties. 'It will also demonstrate the reliability of innovative spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation solutions as well as communication capabilities with Earth.' The first parts for the Lunar Gateway are not set to launch until November 2024 at the very earliest, giving NASA plenty of time to assess the results from CAPSTONE. Described as a 'vital component' of NASA's Artemis programme, the Lunar Gateway will be a small space station orbiting the moon, acting as a 'multi-purpose outpost'. The official word is that NASA's Artemis programme will land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2025, although this could be pushed back again, NASA Investigator General Paul Martin recently suggested. Pictured is an artist's impression of CAPSTONE in orbit around the moon with the Earth in the background Lunar Gateway, pictured here above the moon in an artist's impression, is described as a 'vital component' of NASA's Artemis programme NASA's original date for landing humans on the moon again was 2024, but last year it delayed the date, largely blamed on litigation from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' firm Blue Origin. Also this year, NASA will be sending manikins to space as part of the Artemis I mission in August 2022. Artemis I will pave the way for crewed flights Artemis II, which will launch in May 2024 and fly by the moon without landing on it, and Artemis III, which will actually touch down on the lunar surface. Artemis III, which will launch 'no earlier than 2025', will be the first to land humans on the moon in more than 50 years, since Apollo 17 in December 1972. Advertisement A gorgeous and detailed Roman mosaic has come back home to Israel after more than ten years touring major museums worldwide. The 1,700-year-old mosaic was initially discovered by accident in 1996 by Miriam Avisar from the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) during a dig that was trying to save archaeological finds in a squite on HeKhalutz St. in Lod. It took another 13 years for it to be fully unearthed by researchers. 'It was the biggest and most impressive and unique mosaic discovered in Israel,' Mark Avrahami, head of the IAA Art Conservation Unit, said Monday at the dedication ceremony of the Shelby White and Leon Levy Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center, according to the Jerusalem Post. Scroll down for video 'It was the biggest and most impressive and unique mosaic discovered in Israel,' Mark Avrahami, head of the IAA Art Conservation Unit, said Monday. Above: A detailed look at one portion of the mosaics, featuring several types of fish Although the beautiful mosaic was first found in 1996, it took another 13 years for archaeologists to fully unearth it. A worker is seen cleaning a portion of the mosaics The mosaic's new home is at the Shelbhy White and Leon Levy Mosaic Lod Archaeological Center. A worker is seen above cleaning a Roman-era mosaic featuring elephants, fish and other beasts The mosaic measures 56 feet by 30 feet - quite massive. It features a collection of animals, including an African elephant, rhinoceros and giraffe. 'It is very impressive in its artistic style, and its state of preservation was perfect,' Avrahami said, adding that the mosaic details includes shadows of the animal images as well as blood dripping from a bull in one panel depicting a hunting or fighting scene with a lion. The artwork's new home is at the Shelby White and Leon Levy Mosaic Lod Archaeological Center. The mosaic adorned the villa of a member of the wealthy elite. That villa was eventually destroyed in an earthquake. A close up is seen showing a wide range of animals in the mosaic That space offers guided tours and interactive exhibits in Arabic, English and Hebrew. The upper-class villa that the mosaics adorned in the third or fourth centuries underwent renovations and additions over the years as different empires took over the region. An earthquake in the year 749 CE took down the entire villa. Now that the mosaic has a permanent home, scientists hope it can become a major tourist attraction in the Middle East. A worker cleans a portion of the mosaic featuring fish When the mosaic was first uncovered, the authorities opened it to the public during a single weekend over the course of which 30,000 people traveled to Lod to see it. The mosaics were displayed over the years at many institutions, including New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology, the Louvre Museum in Paris, Chicago's Field Museum, and the the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Researchers are hopeful that it can become a major tourist attraction in a part of the world often riven with conflict. A close look at the craftsmanship involved in the Roman-era mosaic that's now back in Israel after being showcased at museums around the world. This scene depicts a deer and a lion 'Community tourism in an area of conflict is both an extraordinary experience for the tourist, and an opportunity for the local people to tell their story to the world,' Yossi Graiver, head of the JLM TIM tourism group, which runs the mosaic museum, told the Post. 'It's also an opportunity to develop tourism based on circular economics: people will set up tourism-based businesses telling their stories to the world.' 'That mosaic isn't Jewish, Christian or Islamic. Everybody can love it.' Although the names of the artisans who created the mosaic are unknown, IAA senior research archaeologist Hagit Torge said it would've been made by a famous groups of artists who were prevalent in that region and made similar works in other cities. 'This is the Rolls Royce,' she said. 'This is the most visually impressive mosaic we have found. This is the whole point of archaeology not just the structures, but trying to understand the people who built them and lived in them, their social structure and environmental relations.' Shelby White, who helped to make the museum happen - along with the Leon Levy Foundation, the IAA and the municipality of Lod - called the new space a 'dream come true.' Gooey 'rock snot' that suffocates organisms living on the bottom of rivers and streams is invading Michigan waterways. Formally known as didymo, this algae creates a mat that can grow over six inches thick and some have been observed to be two-feet-long. While non-toxic, rock snot reduces habitat for macroinvertebrates that are an important food for the underwater ecosystem. The algae can also survive for 40 days in cool, dark, damp conditions such as on angling equipment, neoprene and felt-soled waders and boots anglers are encouraged to clean gear in Michigan after every use. Gooey 'rock snot' that suffocates organisms living on the bottom of rivers and streams is invading Michigan waterways Didymo flourishes in cold water and sprout stalks 'under really low-nutrient conditions,' Ashley Moerke, Lake Superior State University (LSSU) professor and director of the new Center for Freshwater Research and Education (CFRE), told MLive. Despite its nickname, didymo does not feel slimy, but has a wet wool-like texture. But it appears like goop as it clings to rocks and underwater plants. Another issue of this invader is its ability to choke organisms that are food for other fish specifically trout that are already threatened in Michigan. The algae can also survive for 40 days in cool, dark, damp conditions such as on angling equipment, neoprene and felt-soled waders and boots anglers are encouraged to clean gear in Michigan after every use And although didymo was first spotted in 2015, scientists are still working to figure out what triggers its blooms. According to Michigan State ANR, researchers are still working to figure out what triggers didymo's nuisance blooms. They speculate that it is a result of changing environmental conditions, or it could be didymo spreading to new waterways on fishing gear, which is the common way nuisance species spread. Researchers in Canada are connecting the large blooms to climate change; ice melting off the rivers earlier in the year and sooner springtime vegetation growth means fewer nutrients are naturally draining off into waterways. 'That's suggesting that if the land is holding the nutrients, there might actually be a decline in nutrients that's causing these blooms. There's some potential evidence for this in in the St. Marys River,' Moerke said. LSSU officials are also researching how the algae blooms impact macroinvertebrates and fish populations as an organism that is 'reengineering the habitat.' Despite its nickname, didymo does not feel slimy, but has a wet wool-like texture 'There's been a strong demonstration that macroinvertebrate communities have changed. What we haven't been able to really determine well is the impacts on fish. There haven't been nearly as many studies because it's much more difficult. Fish are very mobile. They can move out of a habitat,' Moerke said. The Manistee River, located in the lower peninsula of Michigan, is currently infested with the gooey algae. Ann Miller, an aquatic biologist and avid Manistee River fly fisher, told 9and10news: 'Right now, didymo is a big puzzle with a lot of people working to address it. We need to find out why it's showing up where it is and more importantly, how best to decontaminate gear to prevent it from spreading. 'Right now, many local fishing guides are doing their best to avoid the stretch of the Manistee where didymo is blooming but fishing is their livelihood. Facebook and Instagram are being criticized by users for its censoring of posts saying 'abortion pills can be mailed' - and parent company Meta is blaming it on 'incorrect enforcement.' People are flooding the internet with their distaste after learning status updates and Stories with the statement are being flagged and deleted. Many note that both platforms allow the sale of guns, painkillers and marijuana, but not 'pills that save women's lives.' DailyMail.com spoke with Andy Stone, Meta's communication director, via email about why the content was removed, but was only given a link to a tweet he published yesterday as a response. The tweet states that Meta 'discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement and are correcting them.' Stone's tweet also notes: 'Content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, gift, request or donate pharmaceuticals is not allowed. Content that discusses the affordability and accessibility of prescription medication is allowed. 'We've discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement and are correcting these.' DailyMail.com asked Stone which one 'abortion pills can be mailed' falls under - is the statement allowed or not allowed - and has yet to receive a response. Scroll down for video DailyMail.com conducted its own investigation into Facebook and posted 'abortion pills can be mailed' as a status Users flocked to Twitter to share their frustrations regarding Meta's censorship. One user, who goes by the name 'Fed Up Republican, posted: Post on Facebook abut selling guns? Sure. Post about selling Marijuana? No problem. Post about helping women obtain legal abortion pills? Nope.' While another user also slammed Facebook for allowing the sale of weed and guns. 'facebook and instagram delete posts about selling and delivering abortion pills but leave up posts with the same exact wording except they are for weed ad guns. mark zuckerberg gladly f**ks ovr women once more,' they tweeted. DailyMail.com spoke with Andy Stone, Meta's communication director, via email about status updates and Stories that contain the statement and were removed, but was only given a link to a tweet he published yesterday (pictured) as a response People are flooding the internet with their distaste after learning status updates and Stories with the the statement are being flagged and deleted Only 'abortion pills can be mailed' triggers consequences on the social media platforms. Posting 'abortion pills' and 'mifepristone' are not flagged as breaking Meta's Community Guidelines And others are testing it out for themselves. A user named 'Phil' shared a screen shot of his banned post that reads: 'Abortion pills can be mailed. I will mail to them anyone who needs them.' 'Seems Facebook is banning anyone who wants to help a woman make her own choices. I replaced abortion pills with painkiller pills and no removal,' he shared in the accompanied tweet. DailyMail.com conducted its own investigation on Monday and posted 'abortion pills can be mailed' as a status and Story. In less than one minute, a notification appeared saying the posts go against the platform's Community Standards on drugs. The restrictions come just days after the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case, which now means states have the power to ban abortions A user named 'Phil' shared a screen shot of his banned post that reads: 'Abortion pills can be mailed. I will mail to them anyone who needs them' Only 'abortion pills can be mailed' triggers consequences as well. Posting 'abortion pills' and 'mifepristone' are not flagged as breaking Meta's Community Guidelines Stone has yet to comment on the discrepancies. The removal and limitation of posts regarding abortion pills was uncovered by NBC and Motherboard on Monday. The restrictions come just days after the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case, which means states have the power to ban abortions. As first reported on by NBC, Instagram has deleted and limited at least two hashtags: 'abortion pills' and 'mifepristone.' Facebook is removing posts and even temporarily blocking users from their accounts for saying abortion pills can be mailed, according to Motherboard. However, only 'abortion pills can be mailed' triggers consequences on the social media platforms. Posting 'abortion pills' and 'mifepristone' are not flagged as breaking Meta's Community Guidelines Stone has yet to comment on the discrepancies DailyMail.com conducted its own investigation into Facebook and posted 'abortion pills can be mailed' as a status. In less than one minute, a notification appeared saying the post goes against the platform's Community Standards on drugs. And the same restriction occurred when the statement was posted as a Story in Instagram. The Instagram hashtags include a warning at the top that notes the tags 'are hidden because some posts may not follow Instagram's Community Guidelines. NBC notes that it is not clear exactly when Instagram began limiting the two hashtags and nor is it clear what guidelines have been violated. You can see some of the images that may have been deleted while scrolling through the two hashtags. For instance, one of the first images is timestamped for June 7, 2022 and just three posts after shows an image that was shared on September 15, 2020. The huge time gap makes it obvious that posts have been deleted from the hashtag. Facebook notes its standards on drugs prohibits the buying and selling of medical and non-medical drugs, which it claims is why it quickly removed the post 'abortion pills can be mailed.' However, putting 'painkillers can be mailed' did not trigger a warning and was allowed to stay on the platform. On Friday, the US Supreme Court held in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that the Constitution does not confer a right to an abortion. Instagram has deleted and limited at least two hashtags: 'abortion pills' and 'mifepristone' The 6-3 ruling authored by Justice Samuel Alito upended nearly 50 years of precedent and sparked massive protests nationwide. In the post-Roe world, eighteen states already banned abortion and more may follow suit. The Instagram hashtags include a warning at the top that notes the tags 'are hidden because some posts may not follow Instagram's Community Guidelines. NBC notes that it is not clear exactly when Instagram began limiting the two hashtags and nor is it clear what guidelines have been violated. You can see some of the images that may have been deleted while scrolling through the two hashtags. For instance, one of the first images is timestamped for June 7, 2022 and just three posts after shows an image that was shared on September 15, 2020. The huge time gap makes it obvious that posts have been deleted from the hashtag. Facebook notes its standards on drugs prohibits the buying and selling of medical and non-medical drugs, which it claims is why it quickly removed the post 'abortion pills can be mailed.' However, putting 'painkillers can be mailed' did not trigger a warning and was allowed to stay on the platform. On Friday, the US Supreme Court held in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that the Constitution does not confer a right to an abortion. The 6-3 ruling authored by Justice Samuel Alito upended nearly 50 years of precedent and sparked massive protests nationwide. In the post-Roe world, eighteen states already banned abortion and more may follow suit. Pakistan congratulates China on successful hosting of BRICS meetings Xinhua) 09:31, June 28, 2022 ISLAMABAD, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Monday congratulated China on its successful hosting of the BRICS meetings, appreciating China's role in promoting the interests of the developing countries including Pakistan. "Together with China, Pakistan has been a strong voice for global peace, shared prosperity and inclusive development," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Being the host country, China engaged with Pakistan prior to the BRICS meetings, where decisions are taken after consultations with all BRICS members, the foreign ministry statement said. "We do hope that future engagement of the organization would be based on the principles of inclusivity keeping in view the overall interests of the developing world and in a manner that is devoid of narrow geopolitical considerations," said the statement. Pakistan stands ready to work with all developing countries, including the BRICS members for addressing the challenges faced by the global community, the statement said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The entire series garnered a record-breaking viewership on Disney+. Nevertheless, despite its popularity, some Star Wars fans have claimed that the series would have made a better plot as a stand-alone movie. And initially, according to The Direct, that was exactly the intention of Lucasfilm. Interview With 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Writer In an exclusive interview with The Direct, "Obi-Wan Kenobi" writer Stuart Beattie discussed his involvement in the Ewan McGregor-starring film and how it was originally envisioned as "a full trilogy," with the first season of the series representing as simply part one of the story. The series' first, second, third, and season finale all bore Beattie's writing credit. "There's actually three stories here. Because there's three different evolutions that the character has to make in order to go from 'Obi-Wan' to Ben,'" Beattie said. When asked if he had been able to submit a treatment for the second or third movie to Lucasfilm, Beattie responded that he had not because of how busy he had been working on the first one. "No, just the first. Because they hadn't hired me to do the others yet, 'cause I was busy working on the first one." Read More: Foreign Workers Will Be Able To Reside and Work in Bali for Five Years Tax-Free With a 'Digital Nomad Visa' 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Recently Broke a Disney+ Viewership Record In a separate report by The Direct, it was said that "Obi-Wan Kenobi" was surely going to rank among the most popular Disney+ shows to date. But up until this point, no one really realized how huge it would be. "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is now the most watched Disney+ series globally, according to the number of hours streamed during the series' debut last month. Following the launch, the number of hours watched in Star Wars films over the first weekend tripled. Ewan McGregor's return as "Obi-Wan Kenobi" has been anticipated by Star Wars fans for more than ten years, so the Disney+ record is a no-brainer. Uncertainty exists regarding this statistic, specifically whether Disney counts both of the two premiere episodes in the overall amount of hours streamed over the first weekend. Even more intriguing is how "Obi-Wan Kenobi" affected the popularity of the remaining Star Wars films. Undoubtedly, viewers rekindled the passion for Star Wars among many fans, inspiring them to see the movies again or, possibly, to watch animated programs like "Rebels" and "The Clone Wars" to understand more about these characters. Meanwhile, Deadline said that a five-day audience of 1.8 million U.S. households watched the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" season one finale on Disney+, which is 20% more than the viewership for the similar period for "The Book of Boba Fett," which garnered 1.5 million U.S. households. The publication said that the information comes from Samba TV, which tracks the number of people who have seen a show for at least five minutes in 3 million U.S. terrestrial TV households. Seattle outperformed the top 25 largest markets in terms of Obi-Wan Kenobi over-indexing (+46%), followed by Denver (+41%) and Sacramento (+22%) for L+4D. Related Article: 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Trailer Teases Appearances by Iconic 'Star Wars' Characters Chelsea have reportedly held talks with Manchester City over the prospect of signing Nathan Ake as well as Raheem Sterling. Sportsmail reported on Monday that Todd Boehly had made contact with the Premier League champions with a view to wrapping up a deal Sterling over the coming week. The Englishman has already held positive discussions with Blues boss Thomas Tuchel over how he would be utilised at Stamford Bridge, with that conversation solidifying the 27-year-olds desire to leave the Etihad Stadium. Chelsea are reportedly interested in Nathan Ake (right) as well as Raheem Sterling (left) And The Telegraph claim Boehly also requested a valuation for Ake, who has moved towards the top of their list of potential defensive signings. Tuchel was interested in signing Ake while he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund and the fact the 27-year-old can slot in to the left side of a back three to replace Antonio Rudiger, as well as fill in at left-back and in midfield, is particularly attractive. Ake spent seven years with Blues, joining them at the age of 15. It is believed that he would be open to a return, having failed to nail down a regular starting position at the Etihad. Ake is said to be open to a return to Chelsea, where he spent seven years from the age of 15 City are allowing Gabriel Jesus to make the move to Arsenal for an initial 45million and Sterlings valuation is believed to be north of that figure and could be around 55m. A formal bid is expected in the coming days as Citys squad reshuffle continues after a fourth title in five years. Chelsea still need to thrash out personal terms with the England international, who is in the final 12 months of his 300,000-a-week contract. It is believed that Sterlings wish to end a stellar seven-year stay at City was discussed with club executives at the beginning of the month. City have afforded the forward time to assess his options, with a likely exit handled amicably. Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign Erik ten Hag's No 1 transfer target Frenkie de Jong. Sportsmail sources have indicated an agreement between United and Barcelona is for the Holland star is '90 per cent' complete with just the finer details of the deal left to finalise. It is understood United will pay around an initial 55million to the Spanish club for De Jong. That fee could rise close to 70m. Manchester United's deal to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is 90 per cent complete New United boss Erik ten Hag is edging closer to landing his No 1 transfer target De Jong - who worked with him at Ajax A complete agreement is still to be found but there is a growing sense that a deal can be struck this week. De Jong is open to signing for United and agreeing personal terms with the Dutchman is unlikely to be a problem. The Holland international has emerged as United's No 1 summer transfer target as Ten Haag looks to rebuild a team that struggled last season De Jong and Ten Hag are understood to have a close relationship from their time working together at the Amsterdam Arena. Indeed, the lure of a reunion with Ten Hag is described as a major factor in De Jong's willingness to become a United player this summer. De Jong was initially sceptical about leaving Barcelona but was persuaded by Xavi Ten Hag took his first pre-season training session this week and is shaping up his squad He was initially reluctant to leave Barcelona, but has been persuaded by managers at both ends of the deal that joining United would be a good move. Ten Hag worked with the Dutch midfielder at Ajax from 2017-19, where the pair won the domestic double and reached a Champions League semi final in 2019. United initially bid 60m for De Jong, but that offer was turned down as Barca did not want to make a loss on a player they had signed for 65m from Ajax in 2019. They later returned with a bid of 68m, with Barcelona keen to at least break even. Now the deal may reach as high as 70m as part of a new structuring of the transfer, and could be joined by a host of other Ajax stars - including Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico, who are all being targeted by United. De Jong has played 140 times for Barcelona since joining from Ajax, scoring 13 times in his three seasons. His only trophy at the Nou Camp was the Copa del Rey in 2021. Erik ten Hag was filmed taking charge of first Manchester United training session Erik Ten Hag began a new era for Manchester United on Tuesday morning by taking charge of his first training session as manager. Having ordered the players to arrive bright an early at Carrington for 9am, the Dutchman orchestrated proceedings on a sunny day at the training complex. Marcus Rashford was seen deep in conversation with assistant Steve McClaren and a number of key players such as Jadon Sancho were seen being put through their paces. Erik Ten Hag took charge of his first Manchester United training session on Tuesday Aaron Wan-Bissaka (left), Jadon Sancho (centre) and Victor Lindelof (right) pushed themselves Steve McClaren (left) was seen deep in conversation with Marcus Rashford during session Having brought in the former Ajax boss to reverse fortunes at Old Trafford, fans will keenly be observing the 52-year-old's manner with his inherited squad. He appeared to be comfortable in his surroundings, seen striding out to the training pitches in the short video posted by the club on social media. The players were also seen running in a line as the hard graft of pre-season began in earnest. No doubt Ten Hag has a plan in place to bring the best out of the individuals at his disposal. Rashford in particular endured an underwhelming campaign last term and supporters know the forward can deliver far more for his boyhood club. Ten Hag will be looking to start off on the front foot and establish his command of the group Rashford (left) and Lindelof (right) will be battling hard to make a strong impression Sir Alex Ferguson was known for his early training sessions and that was mirrored by Ten Hag on Tuesday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer allowed the players to begin at 10am but the Dutchman wants an earlier wake-up call for his group. On Tuesday, assistant manager McLaren, who also worked with Ferguson at Old Trafford, was one of the first to show up by arriving at 7.45am. Ten Hag was driven into Carrington just after 8am, while it's said that all players who have returned for pre-season were at the training complex before 9am. Tom Heaton (left) and Zidane Iqbal of Manchester United compete for the ball in training Ten Hag will be formulating opinions on which players he can rely on next season Ten Hag is also keen to foster a positive team spirit in the Red Devils dressing room and as a result has insisted that the squad must eat together and socialise after training. Ferguson made similar demands during his 26-year tenure at the club, but this culture has since evaporated within the camp. In an effort to prioritise on-ball drills during the opening sessions, Ten Hag has also reportedly told his staff to trim the grass to exactly 15mm, so that the players can quickly get up to speed with his passing demands. United are still yet to make a major move in the transfer market but a deal for Barcelona and Holland midfielder Frenkie de Jong is nearing completion. Ten Hag left Ajax with a glowing reputation having overachieved with the club in Europe Sportsmail sources have indicated an agreement between United and Barcelona for the Holland star is '90 per cent' complete with just the finer details of the deal left to finalise. It is understood United will pay around an initial 55million to the Spanish club for De Jong. That fee could rise close to 70m. De Jong's addition would provide a welcome boost to the squad and perhaps trigger further moves in the market with Ajax forward Anthony another target. A smart remark and a cackle. That was Nelson Piquet's way from the start. The cleverest man in the room and the most cutting and pleased to be so. On Tuesday that characteristic caught up with Brazil's triple world champion after an interview discussing Lewis Hamilton's crash at Silverstone last year with Max Verstappen, recorded in November in Portuguese, got a wider audience. In it, he referred to the Briton as a 'Neguinho', which translates as 'little n*****'. The Formula One community was appalled. And if there is any consolation for Hamilton as he feels gratuitously abused, it is that there was not a word of support for Piquet from the motor racing world, just condemnation. Nor was there surprise at this representative of a Piquet trait, his naughty boy 'quips' having long descended into something far more unpleasant. John Watson, who briefly drove alongside the 69-year-old son of a Rio doctor and politician at the Brabham team in the early 1980s, told Sportsmail: 'Why would I be surprised by what that a***hole says?' Nelson Piquet has been blasted by Formula One bosses after his comments on a Brazilian podcast (pictured) Piquet (right) used a racist slur to describe Hamilton (left) in an interview, sparking outrage Piquet's form on the personal insult is well-developed. He sneered at Ayrton Senna, calling him 'the Sao Paulo taxi driver'. If it had stopped there, we might conceivably have forced a guilty laugh, but even then only just. He went further, of course, making widely contradicted insinuations about Senna's sexuality, saying his (Piquet's) then girlfriend, one of his many, would vouch for his verdict that Senna was not into women. Piquet did not stop there. In an interview with the Brazilian edition of Playboy, he dismissed Nigel Mansell as 'an uneducated fool with a stupid and ugly wife'. The seven-time world champion has hit back at Piquet's racist comments, calling for 'action' against the 'archaic mindsets' 'Why Nigel didn't punch his lights out when he said what he did about Roseanne I don't know,' said Watson. The Mansells have been happily married for 47 years. 'It was typical Piquet,' Watson continued. 'Some people around him thought he was very funny. Niki Lauda was one of his great pals but I never understood what Niki saw in him other than Nelson was a serial s***** and Niki wasn't far behind in that respect. 'I remember some years ago I got on an aeroplane and Nelson saw me and said, 'I didn't know you were still alive'. He and Flavio Briatore laughed at that. It's what you expect from him. He is clever but arrogant. He once had a row with Alan Jones (Williams's 1980 world champion from Australia) and Alan said to him, 'If you start, I'll knock you into the next world' and he would have done. 'Yet Nelson had this swagger. Many of the people who worked with him liked him. 'But any apology from Nelson over these latest comments is a laugh. He never apologised for anything in his life. F1 bosses said that Piquet's vile language has 'no place in society', calling Lewis an 'incredible ambassador' 'He will have thought his remarks, describing Lewis in this derogatory way, amusing. That's how he is. I would rescind his Grand Prix pass for life, or five years, or whatever it takes.' There were other scraps and scrapes, including a fight with Chilean Eliseo Salazar in Germany in 1982. A stellar career that saw him drive at Brabham, Williams, Lotus and Benetton was pushed towards its close at the 1992 Indianapolis 500, where, after disparaging comments about the circuit, he crashed and badly damaged his ankle and leg, causing him to sit out the race. The FIA strongly condemns any racist or discriminatory language and behaviour, which have no place in sport or wider society. We express our solidarity with @LewisHamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport. FIA (@fia) June 28, 2022 An aged playboy, Piquet, who made an additional fortune in pioneering GPS technology in South America, is rarely seen at Formula One these days. He has suffered ill-health that required heart surgery in New York. His daughter Kelly dates Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen. Piquet was around a bit more when his son, Nelson Jnr, was writing his own chapter of infamy. Now 36 and racing stock cars in Brazil, he was driving for Briatore's Renault when he deliberately crashed at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to bring out a safety car that gave team-mate Fernando Alonso victory. Piquet had been discussing an incident between Red Bull's Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, pictured, at the British Grand Prix last year Piquet Jnr, fearing for his future at the team a year later, spilled the beans. The accomplice had turned grass. So is F1 racist or is Piquet an outlier? Two things. Firstly the sport is predominantly white and male. That is not, I believe, because of any bias, but a result of the demographic that floods the engineering degree courses of Britain and, to an extent, Italy. Secondly, I have not heard any language used or views expressed that would chime with the Piquet view in the last 10 years. That said, Red Bull terminated the contract of Juri Vips, their 21-year-old Estonian reserve driver, who uttered the n-word while streaming a video game. As Hamilton says, there is still work to be done. Advertisement Shorts? This is Texas, partner! The ranch-hand eyed me suspiciously, impervious to the 40C heat in his double denim. If I were anywhere else in the Lone Star state Id worry I was about to be challenged to a showdown at High Noon. But this is Austin, home to Virgin Atlantics newest US route, and a city that challenges any misconceptions of Americas second-largest state you may have been given by JR Ewing or John Wayne. Cormac Connelly-Smith explored Austin (above), Texas, a city that 'beats with a quirky, individual spirit' Austin is home to Virgin Atlantics newest US route, operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (left). Pictured on the right is the Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner upper-class cabin At times it doesnt feel like Texas at all, from the green banks of the River Colorado that runs through town, to the fantastic eye-popping street art decorating the boujee vintage shops of South Congress Avenue. Coding, not cattle, is big business here. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have both set up gleaming new headquarters and the city is filled with smartphone-slinging tech pioneers. The business traffic has led to a boom in high-class, all-glass hotels Downtown. We stayed at the Fairmont, a short distance from the bustling nightlife of Rainey Street, with a wonderful rooftop pool. It would be unfair to label Austin as some kind of soulless Silicon Valley in a Stetson, however. It beats with a quirky, individual spirit epitomised in the unofficial motto of Keep Austin weird and aided by its proudly liberal politics - youll find no Trump stickers here. 'At times [Austin] doesnt feel like Texas at all, from the green banks of the River Colorado (above, passing under the Pennybacker Bridge) that runs through town, to the fantastic eye-popping street art decorating the boujee vintage shops of South Congress Avenue,' writes Cormac Cormac stayed at the Fairmont (pictured), which lies a short distance from the bustling nightlife of Rainey Street One of the guest suites at the Fairmont Austin, which features a 'wonderful rooftop pool', Cormac notes Avoid the rowdy walk-in bars on Dirty 6th Street and instead swing your hips at The Continental Club (left) on South Congress Avenue and the iconic blues joint Antones (right) on East 5th Live music is a way of life and the city truly comes alive when the sun sets and the hot Texan night is awash with the sound of country, blues and rock. Avoid the rowdy walk-in bars on Dirty 6th Street and instead swing your hips at the more established music venues like The Continental Club on South Congress Avenue, or iconic blues joint Antones on East 5th. After a night of dancing, a breakfast burrito, a combination of cheese, potatoes and egg in a tortilla wrap is a must-have, preferably topped with a fiery salsa that will wake you up better than any coffee. Allens Boots is an emporium for everything you could need to live out your Wild West fantasy, from Stetsons to cowboy boots. Picture courtesy of Creative Commons Head to Franklin, the citys most renowned smoke shack, for beef brisket - it's 'pure melt-in-the-mouth joy', according to Cormac. Pictured right is a plate of Franklin grub. Devotees queue for hours to get served Then theres the beef brisket, slowly barbecued for up to 15 hours over a low heat, a charred mess of pure melt-in-the-mouth joy. Devotees queue for hours at Franklin (franklinbbq.com), the citys most renowned smoke shack. Of course, it would be a shame to visit Texas without at least a bit of rootin-tootin cowboy fun. The wonderful Allens Boots (allensboots.com) is an emporium for everything you could need to live out your Wild West fantasy, from authentic Stetsons to rows of gleaming cowboy boots. And, once youve got the outfit, head to the Lone Star Ranch (lonestarranchtexas.com) on the outskirts of Austin, where the team of friendly cowpokes will teach you all the lasso-throwing and horse-whispering skills you need to make it on the open range. Even if you do arrive wearing shorts. A visitor to London has unveiled a picture that underscores how promotional images of hotel rooms can differ quite noticeably from reality. Tourist Jerone Tan checked into the five-star-rated Tower Suites hotel in London, located mere yards from the Tower of London, expecting a 'floor-to-ceiling outlook' in his room, as depicted in one of the photographs displayed when he booked it. The promo photograph showed the Tower of London beyond the windows, fresh flowers on the coffee table and desk, and patterned cushions. Mr Tan posted a photograph of the actual room to Twitter alongside a promo image, with his reality-check picture showing how an outside wall extends halfway up the windows and a total lack of Tower of London. The flowers, meanwhile, are conspicuous by their absence. This promotional picture is used by Tower Suites hotel in London to advertise its Signature Suite and One-Bedroom Apartment and was the picture tourist Jerone Tan saw when he booked the latter Mr Tan posted this picture of his One-Bedroom Apartment on Twitter to highlight the differences from the promotional picture Mr Tan, 46, who lives in Singapore, told MailOnline Travel: 'I wasn't expecting a super view. What I expected was an outlook floor-to-ceiling windows. 'What we got was a wall covering most of the outlook. It felt really claustrophobic.' The company that runs Tower Suites, Blue Orchid Hotels, tweeted to Mr Tan that 'pictures on our website are for reference purpose only and rooms are not all identical, including the view'. But Mr Tan argued: 'At the end of the day, anyone will agree it is not even close to any of the pictures on the website.' Mr Tan paid 1,138 for a three-night stay at Tower Suites in a 'One-Bedroom Apartment', but was upgraded one rung to a top 'Signature Suite' after checking in. He made the booking on booking.com, which displays a living room picture for the One-Bed Apartment and Signature Suite that's identical, with Blue Orchid Hotels explaining that this is because some One-Bed Apartments at Tower Suites offer the same Tower of London view as the Signature Suite. The booking.com page for a Tower Suites One-Bedroom Apartment that Mr Tan viewed The Signature Suite is billed as having 'magnificent views over the Tower of London'. But Mr Tan stressed that his had a wall partially blocking the view. He explained that he was moved to different rooms twice over after he checked in on Wednesday, June 22, after making complaints. His second room - a One-Bedroom Apartment - had a 'full view of train lines', but was spoiled by an 'electric buzzing noise', which he said made sleep difficult. Mr Tan, who works in banking, saw a return of the outside wall covering the windows in his third room - another One-Bedroom Apartment - which is the room he photographed and posted to Twitter. Mr Tan decided to check out and stay somewhere else after just one night and was given a full refund for the two unused nights but only, he says, 'after a whole series of complaints through social media and numerous exchanges with "Guest Relations"'. Mr Tan added: 'They never apologised or admitted there was an issue.' Tower Suites told MailOnline in a statement: 'We regret that Mr Tan remained dissatisfied by the staff's genuine endeavours to understand and resolve his concerns and elected to depart earlier than his scheduled date. The comfort of our guests continues to be our highest priority and we hope that Mr Tan will reengage with us to resolve his isolated concern.' The hotel has hundreds of very positive reviews on Tripadvisor. But Mr Tan's experience was not totally in isolation. Tripadvisor reviewer 'ti_boo34' wrote on June 9 after a stay at Tower Suites: 'We booked over the phone directly with the hotel asking to have a room with a nice view. [But] our room (724) was overlooking a very ugly building/wall. There was also a loud electric buzzing noise which was constant and very annoying at night.' When asked if the experience had put him off visiting London in the future, Mr Tan replied: 'London is one of my favourite cities in the world. So much energy, good and diverse food - yes, I totally believe that - and things to do. Unparalleled. 'I would still visit London but will be very careful in choosing hotels, especially with the crazy prices at the moment. I would be careful with the local brands/chains. 'I will likely stay in hotels that I have had a good experience in or stick with the international chains in future.' Fiona Bruce has admitted she was embarrassed into exercising by her GP who left her feeling 'mortified' at her lack of movement. The newsreader, 58, made the confession in line with her gorgeous cover shoot for woman&home, which sees her look graceful in a series of colourful outfits. She explained how the doctor was 'so appalled' that she did 'literally no' physical activity, before making the overhaul with the birth of her first son Sam, 21. Confession: Fiona Bruce has admitted she was embarrassed into exercising by her GP who left her feeling 'mortified' at her lack of movement The broadcast journalist said: 'I never did any exercise until I went to see a GP before or just after I had Sam. 'When asked if I did any exercise, I said, "None," and the doctor replied, "Literally none?" I said, "No." 'I was mortified because she was so appalled, so I decided to do something. 'To me, exercise isnt about living longer but it gives me energy and I dont know what Id be like without it. She explained how the doctor was 'so appalled' that she did 'literally no' physical activity, before making the overhaul with the birth of her first son Sam, 21 (pictured in 2011) 'I definitely get mental benefits. If Im feeling stressed at work or stressing that Ive got a lot on, I find it really helpful.' Fiona shares Sam, as as well as daughter Mia, 20, with her media mogul husband Nigel Sharrocks, 65, whom she has been married to since 1994. Fiona previously admitted she probably did not spend enough time with her two children when they were growing up because of her high profile TV career - and said she's grateful that they had the same nanny for 20 years. Looking good: The newsreader, 58, made the confession in line with her gorgeous cover shoot for woman&home, which sees her look graceful in a series of colourful outfits Candid: The broadcast journalist said: 'I never did any exercise until I went to see a GP before or just after I had Sam' Good read: The August issue of woman&home is on sale Thursday 30 July The TV personality said having the same live-in nanny for two decades helped her balance her professional and domestic lives. Appearing on the cover of October's edition of Good Housekeeping, she was asked how she balances work and motherhood, admitting: 'It was definitely helped by having the same nanny living with us for 20 years. 'She left when Mia finished her GCSEs, but she's a firm family friend.' She added: 'Did I spend enough time with my children? 'I think scratch the surface of any working woman and she will always think, "Probably not." I don't think there's such a thing as quality time with your children. I think it's quantity. 'But there's never been any question that they take precedence over everything in my life, and always have done.' The August issue of woman&home is on sale Thursday 30 July. Kesha looked stunning in an all-white outfit outside the NBC studios in New York Monday. The 35-year-old took a fierce stance in a white mini-skit and fitted tank top, with a matching white overcoat. The TikTok artist styled her dark locks in long, loose curls and completed the ensemble with some white open-toed mules. Stunning: Kesha looked stunning in an all-white outfit outside the NBC studios in New York Monday a mini-skit and fitted tank top, with a matching white overcoat The Billboard Women In Music award winner kept up the all white theme when she switched to a strappy white midi-dress with the same coat and shoes for a visit to Sirius XM. The Praying artist made the media rounds in the Big Apple. Earlier in the day, she appeared on the Today show for an interview with Jenna Bush Hager, 40, and Justin Sylvester, 35, who is filling in for Hoda Kotb, to talk about her new show Conjuring Kesha. New show: The Tik Tok artists has been promoting her new reality show, Conjuring Kesha, which debuts on Discovery+ July 8 The program in which she and her celebrity guests explore the supernatural is set to debut on July 8 on Discovery+. 'It's always something I've been attracted to, is trying to find something else out there. What is there other than us?' She continued, 'I like feeling a connection to something bigger than me. Some people like to call it God, some people call it the universe, whatever it is, I like having that connection.' Supernatural: The Billboard Women In Music Award winner revealed she likes 'feeling a connection to something bigger than me' The diva said she then did a deep dive and 'started looking into interdimensional beings and aliens, and ghosts and Bigfoot on my show. ' The This is Me artist said working on the reality show has 'changed my entire life,' and it's affected the music she's working on. The Rainbow star didn't say when she'd be releasing new songs, and claimed they're 'really special.' Former Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer plans to sue media outlets for defamation over their coverage of the show's 'nude photo scandal'. Frazer, 27, caused controversy when she allegedly 'outed' rival bride Domenica Calarco as an OnlyFans creator on the latest season. However, she denies 'leaking' any intimate images of Calarco - who has profited from the scandal by launching a post-show media career - and insists she has been falsely accused by publications of sharing so-called 'revenge porn'. Former Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer (pictured) plans to sue media outlets for defamation over their coverage of the show's 'nude photo scandal' Frazer stated her intention to pursue legal action during an Instagram Q&A on Monday after being asked by a fan if she would ever 'sue MAFS'. She responded: 'Um, probably not because of contracts and stuff, but I do want to sue every publication for defamation that's ever printed or said that I leaked OnlyFans content from Dom. 'Because even Dom has said that's not true.' Frazer, 27, caused controversy when she allegedly 'outed' rival bride Domenica Calarco (pictured) as an OnlyFans creator on the latest season of the Channel Nine show Frazer maintains the intimate photos of Calarco she discovered during filming last year were publicly available on Twitter and Reddit - and had in fact been posted by Calarco herself in order to promote her OnlyFans. Therefore, she argues, it is inaccurate to say she 'leaked' anything. Calarco does not deny posting the images on her social media, but has still made a complaint to police because of the 'pain and hurt' she suffered. The matter is currently being investigated by NSW Police. When the nude photo scandal aired on TV, many Australian news outlets rushed to describe Frazer's actions as 'revenge porn', or image-based abuse. However, as pointed out by Daily Mail Australia at the time, her actions do not appear to meet this legal definition because the photos of Calarco were sourced from her public social media accounts, not from behind an OnlyFans paywall. Frazer maintains the intimate photos of Calarco were publicly available on Twitter and Reddit - and had in fact been posted by Calarco herself in order to promote her OnlyFans. (Pictured: a screenshot of Calarco's old public Twitter account she used to advertise her OnlyFans profile) Calarco also promoted her OnlyFans account on her public YouTube channel, as seen here At the time Married At First Sight was being filmed last year, Calarco was using a Twitter profile to promote her OnlyFans. This Twitter account, launched in November 2020 with the handle @Sunday09692571, featured non-explicit 'teasers' of her paywalled content - including the nude photo that was discussed on MAFS. The leaked image in question showed her lying down on a bed with her bare bottom on display. Calarco would later recreate the photo for a News.com.au article promoting the relaunch of her OnlyFans. The pair's feud exploded on MAFS when Calarco, a former makeup artist, screamed at Frazer at the couples' retreat before smashing a wine glass in her direction Frazer and Calarco were fierce rivals on the latest season of Married At First Sight. Their feud exploded when Calarco, a former makeup artist, screamed at Frazer at the couples' retreat before smashing a wine glass in her direction. Frazer retaliated by telling her co-stars Calarco had a secret OnlyFans account. In the aftermath of the scandal, Frazer quit her job as a teaching assistant and, in an ironic twist, is now making a living on OnlyFans herself. Danny Bonaduce is on the mend after being affected by a mystery illness that affected his ability to speak and walk. The 62-year-old radio DJ, best known for his role as Danny Partridge on the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family, returned to work Monday at KZOK in Seattle, where he co-hosts The Danny Bonaduce & Sarah Morning Show. 'Great news. I'll be back live on the radio this Monday. Can't wait. My brain is still a little fuzzy but that's never stopped me or the people who hire me,' the actor announced of return to the studio via Instagram Instagram. Back at work: Danny Bonaduce, 63, returned to work Monday after taking a two month leave of absence due to a mystery illness that affected his ability to speak and walk The son of veteran TV writer and producer Joseph Bonaduce shared information about his battle with the still undiagnosed condition on Good Morning America. He began treatment in April when his wife, Amy, first noticed his speech was off and called for help immediately. 'I couldn't walk at at all. I couldn't balance. I couldn't do anything like that. She looked really nervous. And she said, 'You're not saying words, you're not speaking English,' which of course is preposterous to me.' Medical leave: The radio host announced in he would be taking a leave of absence to deal with his health. Doctors ruled out a stroke, but have not been able to diagnose the cause of his illness Doctors ruled out a stroke, but still don't know why he suffered the health problems. While speaking of his condition, he noted that he 'couldn't walk,' keep his balance, was slurring 'really badly' and had trouble remembering 'anything.' In April, the usually boisterous personality announced to his fans that he would be stepping back to take care of his health, posting a picture using a cane. Child actor: Danny began his career as a child actor, rising to fame in The Partridge Family, seen here circa 1971 with co-stars Suzanne Crough, Jeremy Gelbwaks, Susan Dey, David Cassidy and Shirley Jones 'A bit of news to share I'm taking a temporary medical leave from my radio show. I'll share more when I know more, as I'm still working towards receiving a diagnosis,' he tweeted, at the time. He continued: 'What I do know is I need some time to focus on my health right now. I love my job and talking to you guys and I'll be back on the air very soon.' Bonaduce then added a self-deprecating joke about his walking stick as he quipped: 'Charlie Chaplin, Willy Wonka, Danny Bonaduce. I've joined the club of cool guys with canes.' The beloved radio personality received an outpouring of support from fans including Johnathon Schaech and Selma Blair. He's encouraging his others to take care of their own health. Bank of the West found their customers were breached by ATM skimmers. The bank alerted its customers regarding the danger that their banking details are in due to skimmers installed in several ATM machines of the bank. The bank started to notice suspicious unauthorized withdrawals on November 10, 2021, in multiple branches in the United States. The bank immediately worked with the law enforcement agency and reviewed their ATM network. Following an investigation, we discovered that several of their ATMs had been compromised by the installation of a device known as an "ATM skimming device." The time period encompassing this investigation and discovery took place between November 10, 2021 and April 18, 2022. Bank of the West ATM Skimmers According to BleepingComputer, the Bank of the West informed their customers with a letter just this month. The institution stated they regret informing their customers of this unfortunate event. Some banking details have been compromised as a result of fraudulent activities. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that the information may have been used to create counterfeit debit cards and make attempts to withdraw cash from the accounts. They reassured their customers that the bank moved swiftly to resolve to protect their information by monitoring, working with law enforcement, tracking suspicious activities, and investigating the ATM machines for evidence. The Bank of the West also informed their customers that when they detected suspicious activities in their account, they immediately blocked the transaction. The bank then mailed their customers a new debit card and instructions for a new PIN. However, the bank also encouraged customers to report to them any unauthorized suspected transactions in their account. When customers use their debit cards, they will not be responsible for any unauthorized withdrawals, transfers, or purchases that are made with them. Last but not least, as an additional measure of safety, the Bank of the West stated that they will provide customers with one year's worth of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. Read Also: Conti Ransomware Has Shut Down Sites Used for Data Leaks, Negotiations with Victims What Are ATM Skimmers? According to Navy Federal, even though the vast majority of ATM transactions are carried out in a risk-free and secure manner, fraud involving ATMs is still possible and does occur. Skimming is a common method that thieves use to obtain the information associated with your debit card and PIN when they are at an ATM. Skimming an ATM occurs when criminals steal card information by using concealed electronics or technology installed on ATM machines. Scammers are able to empty the checking or savings accounts of a user once they have access to that user's card information. There are different ways skimming is conducted to bait the victims. There is this very common tactic called the skimming overlay devices. The overlay skimming devices are placed atop the card slots in order to steal information. The information from a card's magnetic strip is captured by the device whenever a card is inserted into the slot of an automated teller machine. Techniques known as "keypad overlay" are also used by criminals. When placed over the keypad of an ATM, these keypad overlay devices have the ability to record PINs as they are being entered. These two are just the most common techniques that criminals use to steal someone's credit or debit card information and use it to perform financial attacks. Related Article: Flagstar Bank Reveals 1.5 Million Customers Have Been Affected by Data Breach 5SOS was forced to cut short a concert in Houston, Texas, on Sunday after the band's drummer, Ashton Irwin, suffered from an 'extreme' case of heat exhaustion. The Australian pop group told fans on Instagram the next day: 'As you may have heard, last night's show ended early due to a medical incident during the show. 'Upon experiencing physical symptoms, Ashton was taken to a local hospital for tests and a medical review. As a result, it was advised Ashton had experienced extreme heat exhaustion.' 5SOS was forced to cut short a concert in Houston, Texas, on Sunday after the band's drummer, Ashton Irwin (pictured), suffered from an 'extreme' case of heat exhaustion 'Thankfully and most importantly, he is feeling okay and recovering well. We apologise to all the fans in attendance for the show being cut short,' the band continued. 'Ticketholders please check your emails, you will be updated as soon as we have more information. Thank you, 5SOS.' 5SOS, comprising Ashton and bandmates Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood and Michael Clifford, were halfway through their set when the group rushed off stage. A crew member returned moments later to tell the crowd the concert had been called off. The Australian pop group told fans on Instagram the next day: 'As you may have heard, last night's show ended early due to a medical incident during the show. Upon experiencing physical symptoms, Ashton was taken to a local hospital for tests and a medical review. As a result, it was advised Ashton had experienced extreme heat exhaustion' 5SOS have since announced they will be postponing their Arkansas show that was scheduled to take place on Tuesday night. The Youngblood hitmakers are in the middle of their North American tour, and are booked to perform at several venues Down Under in November. They recently announced their fifth studio album, titled 5SOS5, will be released on September 23. 5SOS, comprising Ashton (right) and bandmates Luke Hemmings (centre), Calum Hood and Michael Clifford, were halfway through their set when the group rushed off stage. A crew member returned moments later to tell the crowd the concert had been called off The group will perform in Perth on November 30, Brisbane on December 2 and Melbourne on December 4. Then they are off to the Gold Coast on December 6, and Newcastle on December 7, before ending in Sydney on December 9 and 10. The band formed as high-school students in western Sydney in 2011, and have sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. The Hemsworths are known to be a tight-knit family. And Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky shared a fun and tender moment with her brother-in-law Luke at the Sydney premiere of her husband's new film Thor: Love and Thunder on Monday night. While Elsa, 45, is known to be good friends with Luke's wife Samantha, who was also at the screening, it was clear from the pair's behaviour on the red carpet that she also shares a close bond with the 41-year-old Westworld star. Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky shared a fun and tender moment with her brother-in-law Luke at the Sydney premiere of her husband's new film Thor: Love and Thunder on Monday The duo shared a laugh and at one stage Elsa nestled into Luke's shoulder as they took a break from posing for photos in front of the media wall. Elsa looked incredible at the premiere in a plunging black sequined dress with a backless design, thigh split and cut-out over the waist. Luke, meanwhile, opted for a more casual look in a colourful jacket and jeans. Elsa looked incredible at the premiere in a plunging black sequined dress with a backless design, thigh split and cut-out over the waist Elsa and Chris, 38, were joined by their twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight. Luke also stepped out with his wife Samantha and their daughters. The Hemsworth brothers had attended the LA premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder last week, alongside their parents Leonie and Craig. One notable absence was the youngest Hemsworth brother, Liam, who couldn't make it because of filming commitments in Morocco. The duo shared a laugh and at one stage Elsa nestled into Luke's shoulder as they took a break from posing for photos in front of the media wall Chris and Elsa were also joined by their twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight (all pictured) The famous brothers own more than 100 hectares of land in the Byron Bay region with a value of $100million. After buying his Byron Bay family home for $7million in 2014, Chris transformed the sprawling property into a compound with an estimated value of between $30million and $60million. In what has been dubbed 'The Hemsworth Effect', the famous family has been pegged as one of the main reasons for Byron Bay becoming Australia's most expensive housing market in 2021. Lisa Hochstein has accused her estranged husband Lenny of volatile behavior, alleging he 'berated and threatened' her in front of the couple's two children. The Real Housewives of Miami star, 39, claims she and the kids had to leave the family's $52million Miami mansion due to 55-year-old Lenny's conduct, in divorce documents obtained by The Sun. The newly single beauty additionally asked the court to forbid Lenny's alleged girlfriend - presumed to be 26-year-old Austrian model Katharina Mazepa - from having contact with the kids after acting in a manner 'that would be seen as injurious to the minor children.' Ugly divorce: Lisa Hochstein has accused her estranged husband Lenny of volatile behavior, saying he 'berated and threatened' her in front of the couple's two children; Pictured 2019 The reality star wants to be granted exclusive possession of the mansion, after Lenny previously asked the court to kick her out as he claimed that in their prenuptial agreement, Lisa had agreed to leave the home if they were to get a divorce. She is also asking that his 'alleged unannounced visits' to the home to stop right away. As for Lenny's girlfriend, Lisa is asking that the woman have no contact with their daughter Elle, two, and son Logan, six, as it is 'detrimental' to them. Had to flee: The star, 39, claims she and the kids had to leave the family's $52million Miami mansion due to 55-year-old Lenny's conduct; The former couple pictured with daughter Elle, two, and son Logan, six 'The husband has exposed the minor children to his presumed girlfriend which is detrimental to the best interests of minor children.' 'The husband's presumed girlfriend, upon information and belief, has acted and continues to act in a manner that would be seen as injurious to the minor children, should she have any contact of access to the minor children at this time,' the filing stated. Lenny has recently announced his new romance with Mazepa, though Lisa did not name a particular woman in her filing. The star is also asking for the court to put in place a temporary parenting plan that includes 'safeguards and parameters' and for Lenny to pay her attorney's fees. Protective: Lisa also asked the court to forbid Lenny's alleged girlfriend from having contact with the kids after acting in a manner 'that would be seen as injurious to the minor children' In the documents, the mother-of-two revealed that she is currently not dating anyone else and is 'loyal' to her husband, 'even though the husband filed this divorce unannounced and without the wife's knowledge.' Earlier in June, Lenny claimed that their prenup agreement stated Lisa will 'vacate the Marital Home then occupied by the parties within thirty (30) days of such filing.' He then asked the court to 'enter an Order that establishes a date certain the Wife will vacate the residence' after alleging that Lisa refused to vacate the mansion. Last month, it was claimed that Lisa was 'blindsided' by Lenny's divorce announcement, after 12 years of marriage. No contact: Lenny has recently announced his new romance with 26-year-old Austrian model Katharina Mazepa, though Lisa did not name a particular woman in her filing The plastic surgeon, known as the 'Boob God' of Miami, said that 'irreconcilable differences have arisen between the parties to the extent that their marriage is irretrievably broken and there is no present hope for a meaningful reconciliation' in divorce documents obtained by The Sun. Lenny is asking the court that both he and Lisa 'enjoy substantial time-sharing' with their kids, and at the time of filing he claimed that both he and his ex 'agreed to dissolve their marriage at least a month ago,' and that he offered to pay for her legal fees. The proud father plans on paying for all of their children's health insurance, private school education, and 'enrichment in school activities', as well as spousal support to Lisa as outlined in their prenuptial agreement. In addition, he has also asked that the court equitably distribute all non-marital assets. Natalie Roser is usually seen bouncing around in a string bikini. And the model and influencer, 32, flashed plenty of flesh when she dolled up for the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder on Monday night. Despite the chilly temperature, Natalie opted for a skimpy crop top and matching black skirt that highlighted her flat stomach. Model and influencer Natalie Roser flashed plenty of flesh when she dolled up for the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder on Monday night Natalie looked as glamorous as ever as she posed on the red carpet in her slinky ensemble, drawing attention to her flawless figure. The Guess model finished her look with strappy black sandals and a chic handbag. She showcased her natural beauty by opting for minimal makeup, and swept her trademark blonde hair over one shoulder. Despite the chilly temperature, Natalie opted for a skimpy crop top and matching black skirt that highlighted her flat stomach The Thor premiere saw actor Chris Hemsworth and director Taika Waititi lead the red-carpet arrivals, followed by a host of local celebs. Natalie only recently returned to Australia after a work trip to Palm Springs in California, with her friend Laura Dundovic. The two women shared a series of bikini-clad photos of themselves soaking up the sun in the luxurious surrounds. She showcased her natural beauty by opting for minimal makeup, and swept her trademark blonde hair over one shoulder It comes after Natalie's husband, Aussie actor Harley Bonner, paid tribute to wife on her 32nd birthday in May. 'Happy birthday to my darling wife,' wrote the former Home and Away star. 'This beautiful womans patience, love and support knows no bounds!! I am eternally grateful. Youve made this life a blessed one'. Natalie only recently returned to Australia after a work trip to Palm Springs in California, with her friend Laura Dundovic Influencer Mia Plecic has sparked outrage by comparing Australia's vaccine mandates to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The court's ruling ends the constitutional right to abortion across America, meaning individual states can now decide whether abortion should be legal. Reacting to the landmark decision on Saturday, Ms Plecic, 30, wrote on Instagram: 'Why is it okay to be pro-choice about one human right but not the other?' Many people who oppose Covid vaccine mandates call themselves 'pro-choice', borrowing the popular slogan used for decades by advocates for legal abortion. However, the use of the term in the context of vaccines is highly controversial, with women's rights activists saying the two issues cannot be compared. Australian influencer Mia Plecic, 30, (pictured) has sparked outrage by comparing Australia's vaccine mandates to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade 'The same people who are against freedom of choice with mandates are the same people who are screaming freedom of choice about abortions,' added Ms Plecic in her post. The businesswoman, who made headlines last year for sharing anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine views on social media, continued: 'It doesn't work like that. Freedom of choice regardless of your narrative.' Her 'pro-choice' post was soon picked up by Instagram watchdog account Aussie Influencer Opinions, which warned customers of Ms Plecic's haircare company Slick Hair Co. they were supporting these views by buying her products. Ms Plecic has since received a wave of backlash online, with major online retailer Showpo reportedly vowing to remove Slick Hair Co. products from its store. Reacting to the landmark decision on Saturday, Ms Plecic, 30, wrote on Instagram: 'Why is it okay to be pro-choice about one human right but not the other?' Many people who oppose Covid vaccine mandates call themselves 'pro-choice', borrowing the popular slogan used for decades by advocates for legal abortion. (Ms Plecic is pictured here) Aussie Influencer Opinions posted a screenshot purportedly showing an anonymous user messaging Showpo's official Instagram account asking why the company stocked a product 'with such a problematic company owner such as Mia Plecic'. A Showpo customer service representative replied: 'As a brand we will not be renewing our partnership with Slick Hair Company to stock their products on our website and we're effectively exiting out of this brand.' Reacting to Ms Plecic's Instagram post, one fan exposed the logical fallacy at the heart of her argument with: 'Covid is contagious and pregnancy is not. Simple really.' Another agreed: 'Wow... to compare those VERY DIFFERENT things is just next level. How embarrassing.' Ms Plecic has since received a wave of backlash online, with major online retailer Showpo reportedly vowing to remove Slick Hair Co. products from its store, according to this alleged Instagram exchange between a customer and a Showpo representative A third Instagram user wrote: 'Ah yes, because following public health advice to protect the community is the same as forcing women to give birth. Stop supporting these muppets.' Ms Plecic has since doubled down on her controversial stance, uploading another post on Sunday to thank the '500 people' who had reached out to her to express their agreement. She also used this post to clarify she is pro-choice when it comes to abortion. Loyal followers have also left supportive comments on the entrepreneur's page, with one writing: 'Good on you for stating your opinion regardless of your views.' Another added: 'Youre a legend! People coming to your page to hate are so brainwashed.' Reacting to Ms Plecic's Instagram post, one fan exposed the logical fallacy at the heart of her argument with: 'Covid is contagious and pregnancy is not. Simple really' Ms Plecic has since doubled down on her controversial stance, uploading another post on Sunday to thank the '500 people' who had reached out to her to express their agreement The Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for nearly 50 years by overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Power has now been handed back to individual states to decide whether or not to permit the procedure. Women with unwanted pregnancies in America will now face the choice of traveling to another state where the procedure remains legal and available, buying abortion pills online or having a potentially dangerous illegal abortion. The Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for nearly 50 years by overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. In an address at the White House, President Joe Biden said it was 'a sad day for the court and the country' In an address at the White House, President Joe Biden said it was 'a sad day for the court and the country'. He called the Supreme Court's decision as 'wrong, extreme and out of touch'. Accusing the court of 'expressly taking away a constitution right that is so fundamental to so many Americans', Biden vowed the fight over abortion rights 'is not over'. He said his administration will do everything in its power to combat efforts to restrict women from traveling to other states to obtain abortions. Married At First Sight star Tamara Djordjevic has revealed she suffers from ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 30-year-old reality star said she was diagnosed with the disorder in her early teens. Tamara was 'given prescription medication' to manage her symptoms, but chose not to take them. Married At First Sight star Tamara Djordjevic (pictured) is the latest celebrity to go public about being diagnosed with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) 'I got diagnosed when I was like 10, being a female is very different to being a male when you have ADHD,' she explained. The reality star decided not to take the medication because of the change in her personality. 'Unless it affected my day-to-day life hugely, which it doesn't, having ADHD does make me a little bit crazy. I've learned to embrace it, I like it,' she said. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 30-year-old revealed she was diagnosed with the disorder in her early teens Tamara explained that she has become accustomed to having an up-day and a down-day. 'When I am really heightened by my ADHD I know what to do about it. I feel like if you're medicated for it. Like my brother is, you're so mellow... I miss you being so out there.' Elsewhere, the blonde bombshell admitted she was 'confused' by her husband Brent Vitiello's decision to stay on in the experiment, even though their relationship had fizzled. 'I got diagnosed when I was like 10, being a female is very different to being a male when you have ADHD,' she explained. Pictured on the Gold Coast earlier this month 'When I wrote leave was when I couldn't try anymore. [I was] confused with why Brent wanted to stay when we were not getting along, and the spark was not there,' she explained. 'I became spiteful and my defence mechanisms kicked in. Despite what happened, I did try to get to know Brent and I did try to understand him, or else why would this person want to stay with me?' She added: 'There was a lot to our story and always two sides to it.' The reality star explained she decided not to take the medication because of the change in her personality. 'Unless it affected my day-to-day life hugely, which it doesn't, having ADHD does make me a little bit crazy. I've learned to embrace it, I like it' It comes as Tamara flaunted her incredible physique as she was spotted taking her pet dog Zeus for a walk on the Gold Coast. The operations manger was seen wearing pink STAX bike shorts and a matching crop top. She showed off her natural beauty, appearing to wear little makeup during the sighting. Tamara appeared in good spirits and at one point was seen chatting on the phone while joined by her best friend Kristy Ralph. She has been in Manchester for the past few weeks, shooting for a new ITV drama. And Helena Bonham Carter donned a ginger wig as she transformed into Crossroads icon Noele Gordon to continue filming Nolly in the northern city on Friday. The actress, 56, donned a cream midi dress featuring puff sleeves, which she teamed up with a matching silk scarf, while shooting at the Martins Bank building which doubles as London's ATV Studios. Emerging: Helena Bonham Carter donned a ginger wig as she transformed into Crossroads icon Noele Gordon to continue filming Nolly in Manchester on Friday She kept things casual with a pair of brown trainers while clutching her mobile phone and glasses. Three part drama Nolly, penned by Russell T Davies, will explore the all-powerful reign and fall from grace of the inimitable Noele Gordon, who died in 1985. Noele was declared the 'Queen of the Midlands' thanks to iconic role as Meg Mortimer in Crossroads and was the darling of the establishment until it turned on her. As flame-haired widow Meg in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, Noele became one of the most famous people in Britain. Looking good: The actress, 56, donned a cream midi dress featuring puff sleeves, which she teamed up with a matching silk scarf In action: She shot at the Martins Bank building which doubles as London's ATV Studios Then in 1981, at the height of the show's success and the peak of her fame, she was axed without ceremony, without warning and with no explanation, with the soap eventually ending two years later. With the boss's words 'all good things must come to an end' ringing in her ears, Noele found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years. A love letter to a legend of television, and to the madcap soap she starred in, Nolly will be an entertaining ride through Noele's most tumultuous years, and a sharp, affectionate and heart-breaking portrait of a forgotten icon. Of the role, Helena said: 'Noele Gordon was a fascinating, complex, brilliant and gutsy woman none of which I knew before I read Russell T Davies' script. Serious: The Charlie And The Chocolate Factory star shot a stern expression as she walked through the set Stylish: She kept things casual with a pair of brown trainers while clutching her mobile phone and glasses Busy bees: Antonia Bernath, playing Jane Rossington, who starred in Crossroads as Jill Richardson, wrapped up in a fluffy coral dressing gown while an elderly man cut a stone suit 'I'm so thrilled to help tell Nolly's long overdue and largely forgotten story. 'Russell's screenplay is a work of brilliance and I hope I'll do him and Nolly justice. I can't wait to start.' Nolly has been commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill, who commented: 'Russell's scripts are magnificent and a great tribute to Noele Gordon, but also to our national love of soaps and a celebration of the incredible women they create. 'Helena Bonham Carter is going to be amazing as Nolly and we can't wait for her to step into those shoes.' Wow! A vintage green car sat above a towing lorry before its use on set Russell said: 'One of my very first jobs in TV was a trial script for Crossroads, and I've wanted to write the story of behind the scenes on that show for 40 years. At last, the truth can be told!' Noele, who had previously had multiple roles in the theatre before landing her part in Crossroads, played Meg from 1964 to 1981, and later returned for a two-episode stint in 1983. After she was dropped from the show, Noele's ill health prevented her from accepting many more roles, and she died in 1985 at the age of 66. Throwback: Noele was declared the 'Queen of the Midlands' thanks to iconic role as Meg Mortimer in Crossroads and was the darling of the establishment until it turned on her (pictured in 1981) However the casting of Helena in the titular role hasn't gone down well with everyone. Angela Webb, 64, who played Iris Scott in the drama from 1980 to 1985, told The Mirror: 'This is really bizarre. Someone writing a biopic of her who didn't know or experience her I do worry.' 'She wouldn't be my first choice. Nolly was statuesque and strong, Celticlike, with piercing blue eyes. Helena is tiny, dark-haired, dark-eyed. I hope she's met people who knew Noele and gets advice about the presence that she had. I'd be hugely up for that.' Jennifer Lopez enjoyed some quality time with her child Emme on the set of her fiance Ben Affleck's untitled Nike movie. The actress, 52, held hands with Emme, 14, as they checked out all the movie making magic from behind-the-scenes in Los Angeles on Monday. Jennifer looked stylish as ever in a white pussybow blouse, high waist slacks, and her hair slicked back into a half up, half down style. Mom and me! Jennifer Lopez enjoyed some quality time with her child Emme on the set of her fiance Ben Affleck's upcoming Nike movie on Monday She shielded her eyes behind a pair stylish sunnies while dangling earrings further jazzed up the look. Emme wore a tie-dye top, baggy jeans, and a pair of earbuds. The duo shared a sweet moment as JLo held Emme close to her side, pressing her lips atop their curly hair. Earlier this month JLo and Emme performed a duet together at the Blue Diamond Gala at Dodgers Stadium, where the songstress introduced her singing partner using they/them pronouns. Aww! JLo held her child close as she pressed her lips to their curly hair 'The last time we performed together was in a big stadium like this and I ask them to sing with me all the time, and they won't. So this is a very special occasion. They are very, very busy. Booked. And pricey,' she joked. 'They cost me when they come out. But they're worth every single penny because they're my favorite duet partner of all time. So if you will indulge me,' the Marry Me actress said while calling her partner to the stage. The I'm Real artist shares Emme and their twin, Max, with ex-husband Marc Anthony, 53. Special duet: Earlier this month JLo and Emme performed a duet together at the Blue Diamond Gala at Dodgers Stadium, where the songstress introduced her singing partner using they/them pronouns When Jennifer isn't performing for fans, she has also been busy this past month supporting Ben on the set of his new film. Ben and Matt Damon are starring, writing, and producing a new untitled movie about how Nike managed to secure a partnership with Michael Jordan in the Eighties. Damon, who first met Affleck when they were just kids growing up in Massachusetts, will be playing Sonny Vaccaro, the real-life man who, despite all the naysayers, brokered the deal with Jordan, even though more established shoe companies Converse and Adidas were in the mix. His best friend, who is also directing the project, will portray billionaire businessman, Phil Knight, the co-founder of shoe giant Nike. Like they did for their Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting, the two old friends teamed up to write the screenplay for the biographical drama film from an early script written by Alex Covenry. Rebel Wilson and girlfriend Ramona Agruma have been enjoying a romantic trip around Europe after going public with their relationship. And now the pair are enjoying a stay in a luxury cave hotel in Turkey, where a suite can cost around $3,561 per night. Their room at the Museum Hotel in Cappadocia also has its very own own indoor pool and jacuzzi. Rebel Wilson and girlfriend Ramona Agruma have been enjoying a romantic trip around Europe after going public with their relationship, and now the pair are enjoying a stay in a luxury cave hotel in Turkey, where a suite can cost around $3,561 per night Fashion designer Ramona shared a video of their accommodation to Instagram on Monday. She also posted a picture of herself and Rebel cuddling up for a selfie as they made their way to dinner. Rebel looked stunning for her dinner date in a black lace dress as she tucked into some delish food. Their room at the Museum Hotel in Cappadocia also has its very own own indoor pool and jacuzzi Before heading to Turkey, Rebel and Ramona enjoyed a stay on the French Island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. The comedic actress, who publicly announced her relationship with Ramona in an Instagram post on June 10, looked absolutely radiant as she posed in a retro-style bikini while taking in the stunning sights on a yacht. They have also travelled to Iceland and Italy during their European vacation. Ramona also posted pictures of the pair enjoying a dinner date 'Good morning Cappadocia,' Ramona captioned one picture of herself Before heading to Turkey, Rebel and Ramona enjoyed a stay on the French Island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea Rebel publicly announced her romance with Ramona in an Instagram post on June 10, sharing a photo of the pair cosying up to one another. 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince... but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,' she wrote. The pair have been seen together since early this year, and they even walked the red carpet together at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in March. Rebel still hasn't shared many details about her new love, who is an LA-based fashion designer and the owner of the sustainable fashion brand Lemon Ve Limon. Shortly after her Instagram post, it was revealed that Rebel went public about her relationship and her sexuality in order to get ahead of a story from the Sydney Morning Herald after the Australian paper threatened to 'out' her. Shortly after she posted her photo, the paper's gossip columnist Andrew Hornery accused the actress of 'gazumping' his scoop by speaking out on her own terms. Rebel publicly announced her romance with Ramona in an Instagram post on June 10, sharing a photo of the pair cosying up to one another. Pictured in Iceland 'Thanks for your comments, it was a very hard situation but trying to handle it with grace,' she later wrote in a reply to a Twitter post by Channel 10's Kate Doak. In his original piece, Hornery wrote that he gave the Bridesmaids star two days to respond to questioning, effectively forcing the actress' hand, yet became angry when the star chose to take control of the narrative herself. 'It was with an abundance of caution and respect that this media outlet emailed Rebel Wilson's representatives on Thursday morning, giving her two days to comment on her new relationship with LA leisure wear designer Ramona Agruma, before publishing a single word,' he wrote. 'Big mistake. Wilson opted to gazump the story, posting 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. 'Considering how bitterly Wilson had complained about poor journalism standards... her choice ignore our discreet genuine and honest queries was underwhelming.' The article prompted a major backlash on social media with users bowled over by the newspaper's insensitivity, prompting editor Bevan Shields to pen a lengthy statement denying any wrongdoing and wishing the couple well. Hornery subsequently apologised for his 'tone' in the article, and he claimed he never meant to 'inflict pain' when he approached the star about her relationship. 'I genuinely regret that Rebel has found this hard,' Hornery said in a column that replaced Sunday's article. 'That was never my intention. But I see she has handled it all with extraordinary grace.' He added that, 'As a gay man I'm well aware of how deeply discrimination hurts. The last thing I would ever want to do is inflict that pain on someone else.' An Australian man claims he almost died after getting lost trying to meet Chris Hemsworth on the set of the new Mad Max movie. Aspiring YouTube star Andy Mai told news.com.au he drove a rented Mercedes from Sydney to the small village of Silverton, north-west of Broken Hill, after hearing the original Mad Max had been filmed there. However, he soon discovered there was nothing more than 'just dirt' around the tiny town, so decided to head back to Sydney the next day. Australian YouTuber Andy Mai (pictured) claims he almost died after getting lost trying to meet Chris Hemsworth on the set of the new Mad Max movie It was during Andy's drive home that he found himself in trouble on the dirt roads and long stretches of desert. 'This car was not built for the desert. Fifty per cent of the trip was just dirt road. There were so many potholes,' he said. 'I got bogged down three times, and on the third time, I got stuck,' he added. Andy eventually found himself trapped on an isolated dirt road with nobody around, hours away from civilisation. He desperately attempted to get the vehicle unstuck, but 'nothing was working'. Hemsworth (pictured) stars as the male lead in the upcoming Mad Max film, titled Furiosa Just as he was beginning to lose hope, Andy lucked out when he came across a young farm boy riding a dirt bike nearby. He flagged him down, and the boy and his mum helped free him from the potholes. Despite his narrow escape, Andy's troubles didn't end there. He later ended up in Broken Hill, but was unable to book accommodation anywhere because the Mad Max film crew had already booked it all out. Andy drove a rented Mercedes from Sydney to the small village of Silverton (pictured), north-west of Broken Hill, after hearing the original Mad Max had been filmed there The 23-year-old had no choice but to sleep on the floor in the office of an old racetrack, which he said was 'freezing'. The next day, Andy drove the 13 hours back to Sydney, and the trip almost 'killed him'. Andy is a budding YouTuber, boasting 27,000 subscribers on his channel, where he reviews books and shares health and wellness tips. A former sand mine in Sydney recently became another filming location for the fifth Mad Max movie, titled Furiosa. The remote site in Kurnell, 33km south of Sydney's CBD, has been turned into a giant movie set for the post-apocalyptic epic, which is a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road. After almost getting lost in the desert, Andy ended up spending a 'freezing' night sleeping on the floor of an old office in Broken Hill A large marquee and other buildings have been set up on the rugged location which has been cut-off to the public and is being guarded around the clock, The Leader reported earlier this month. Meanwhile, a development application (DA) to the Sutherland Shire Council indicates that filming in Kurnell is expected to last until October. According to The Leader, story details related to the location are being kept secret. All third-party service providers have been obliged to sign confidentiality agreements with the production. Earlier this month, Hemsworth confirmed that Furiosa had started filming More than 300 vehicles and a cast and crew of over 350 people will be using the set during filming. This isn't the first time a Mad Max crew has filmed in and around the area. The famous sand hills of Kurnell featured in the third Mad Max film, Beyond Thunderdome, in 1985 as the location for a crashed 747. Mad Max Furiosa began production in Broken Hill in April. It tells the origin story of a young Imperator Furiosa, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who rose to fame in Netflix hit The Queen's Gambit. Furiosa was originally portrayed by Charlize Theron in 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. A Steam Deck designer does not want people from doing anything to their Steam Deck handhelds on their own. Lawrence Yang, a designer who worked on the Steam Deck, is advising people on his Twitter account not to modify or repair their Steam Decks on their own, per Rock Paper Shotgun. Yang's advice follows a PC Gamer article mentioning that Steam Deck users can install a larger NVMe SSD through a mod. Steam Deck Mod And DIY Repair Warning Details Hi, please dont do this. The charger IC gets very hot and nearby thermal pads should not be moved. In addition, most 2242 m.2 drives draw more power and get hotter than what Deck is designed for. This mod may appear to work but will significantly shorten the life of your Deck. https://t.co/Kmup7Zov13 Lawrence Yang (@lawrenceyang) June 25, 2022 Yang mentioned in his official Twitter account that using a popular mod for the Steam Deck will compromise the device's ability to dissipate heat, which will significantly shorten a Steam Deck's lifespan. The mod in question was created by Canadian modder Belly Jelly, which upgraded their Steam Deck's SSD to use a 2242 M.2 NVMe SSD rather than the 2230 form factor SSD the handheld was equipped with. Belly Jelly mentioned in his Twitter account that the Steam Deck's printed circuit board appears to work "fairly well" for adapting a 2242 M.2 NVMe SSD and that it doesn't collide with anything on the motherboard or put any extra strain on any cables. Testers discovered that following this modification does give larger storage, per a separate PC Gamer article. Although doing so doesn't have a significant change in response time - a micro SD load was only two seconds behind an NVMe SSD. The pcb appears to work fairly well for adapting a 2242 m2 to the steam deck, it doesn't collide with anything on the motherboard or put any extra strain on any cables. However, it does make the heat spreader bow a tiny bit. The back plate reassembled without issue. pic.twitter.com/4j4LVbS0NG Belly Jelly (@TheSmcelrea) June 21, 2022 Belly Jelly does have reason to recommend the mod, though. a Reddit user by the name of u/midnight_watch mentioned that they emailed Valve CEO Gabe Newell, asking if the Steam Deck's SSD is replaceable - a question that Newell answered in the affirmative. Read More: Bank of the West Warns Customers After Skimmers That Steal Debit Card Info were Found in ATMs However, the Canadian modder does admit that the mod slightly makes the handheld's heat spreader, a device that moves heat from an area of a device that creates heat to a heat exchanger with a larger cross-sectional area, surface area, and volume, to bow. Yang mentioned that most 2242 M.2 SSD drives require more power and heat than what the Steam Deck is designed for, which would eventually lead to overheating. He also added that the thermal pads within the device should not be moved and that while the mod may appear to work, it will significantly shorten the life of a Steam Deck. Interestingly, Valve warned users of modifying their Steam Decks on its website, stating that "all models use socketed 2230 M.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)." The warning also covers DIY repairs that could mess up the handheld's internal circuitry and design. Users should keep in mind that Yang's comment on the mod in question does not necessarily reflect Valve's view on the matter. More Steam Decks On The Way Although the Steam Deck is sort of hard to get, Valve mentioned earlier that it has increased the production of Steam Deck handhelds and will be shipping "more than double the number of Steam Decks every week." "Production has picked up, and after today we'll be shipping more than double the number of Steam Decks every week!" Valve said in its official Twitter account. As such, if you're looking for a Steam Deck to buy or to replace the one you just modded due to it voiding the warranty, you'll be getting a good chance to get one soon. Related Article: Valve Increases Production, Boosts Shipment of Steam Deck Just weeks after finishing his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry met up with some old friends in Las Vegas. The 52-year-old actor shared a snap from a Vegas hotel suite with his Mr. Sunshine co-star David Pressman, celebrity photographer Randall Slavin and Roger Castillo. The friends were all smiles in the snap, though they didn't quite have the best luck with gambling in Sin City. Old friends: Just weeks after finishing his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry met up with some old friends in Las Vegas Snap: The 52-year-old actor shared a snap from a Vegas hotel suite with his Mr. Sunshine co-star David Pressman, celebrity photographer Randall Slavin and Roger Castillo 'Vegas with old friends this weekend. This photo was take minutes before we went downstairs and lost every dime any of us have ever earned,' Perry said in the photo's caption. Slavin responded to the post, adding, 'Lady Luck was not on our side....' mirroring Perry's comment insinuating the friends lost a lot of money. The outing comes just under two weeks after revealing he has finished writing his memoir. Vegas weekend: 'Vegas with old friends this weekend. This photo was take minutes before we went downstairs and lost every dime any of us have ever earned,' Perry said in the photo's caption 'My ego doesn't like that I have to stop writing about myself. But the book is now done. So that's that,' Perry said in the caption of his post. He revealed the book's cover in February, also revealing that the memoir will be published on November 1. 'So much has been written about me in the past. I thought it was time people heard from me,' Perry said in his tweet on February 10. Book: 'My ego doesn't like that I have to stop writing about myself. But the book is now done. So that's that,' Perry said in the caption of his post 'The highs were high, the lows were low. But I have lived to tell the tale, even though at times it looked like I wouldnt,' he added. 'And its all in here. I apologize its not a pop up book,' Perry concluded. Flatiron Books will be publishing the non-fiction book, offering a tease of the book in a press release from October. Lived: 'The highs were high, the lows were low. But I have lived to tell the tale, even though at times it looked like I wouldnt,' he added 'In the book, Perry takes readers behind the scenes and onto the soundstage of the most successful sitcom of all time while opening up about his private struggles with addiction,' the publisher said. The actor will be, 'vividly detailing his lifelong battle with the disease and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all,' the publisher said. Flatiron Books' Megan Lynch said in a statement, 'We need humor, we need catharsis, and we need to agree on something - and Matthews extraordinary story, told in his inimitable voice, is that thing.' 'Matthews book has unrivaled potential to bring people together, which feels especially galvanizing right now, a time of isolation and division,' she added. Vivid: The actor will be, 'vividly detailing his lifelong battle with the disease and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all,' the publisher said Married At First Sight star Liam Cooper is the latest celebrity to 'seriously consider' launching an account on adult subscription service OnlyFans. The 30-year-old groom told Daily Mail Australia he was ready to start shooting content, but his boyfriend Samuel Levi convinced him to change his mind. While Liam hasn't ruled out joining the site, he's waiting to see if people are interested in seeing that sort of content from him. Married At First Sight star Liam Cooper, 30, has revealed he is 'seriously considering' launching an account on adult subscription service OnlyFans 'Oh no, it aint ruled out,' he laughed. 'I just dont think anyone would wanna see it but maybe there is a market there or maybe I can just sell my feet.' It comes after Liam shared a video of himself singing and dancing to High School Musical track Stick to the Status Quo, while shaking his hand toward the camera. 'When the thought of joining OF keeps crossing your mind daily,' he captioned the video before writing, 'it was coming but @_samuellevi said no'. The 30-year-old groom told Daily Mail Australia that he was ready to start shooting content but his boyfriend Samuel Levi convinced him to change his mind Samuel was quick to comment underneath the video, writing: 'If you can make us $10,000 in one hour. Go right ahead,' to which Liam cheekily replied: 'You know I can haha.' Meanwhile, fellow MAFS stars Beth Moore and Rebecca Zemek encouraged him to 'just do it'. 'Go make that money honey,' wrote Carly Bowyer. Samuel was quick to comment underneath the video, writing: 'If you can make us $10,000 in one hour. Go right ahead,' to which Liam cheekily replied: 'You know I can haha' Liam and Samuel are set to celebrate their one year anniversary together on Monday. The couple confirmed their relationship in July last year following months of speculation. Liam, who was 'married' to bride Georgia Fairweather on the last season of MAFS Australia, had been fuelling romance rumours with Kiwi influencer Samuel, 29, for some time. Liam, who was 'married' to bride Georgia Fairweather on the last season of MAFS Australia, will celebrate his one year anniversary together with boyfriend Samuel Levi on Monday The prison case worker let the cat out of the bag by posting a photo of the pair cuddled up for a selfie, alongside a gushing caption about their Hallmark-esque love story. 'When a country boy finds a city boy,' the bisexual reality star began. 'Life works in mysterious ways and this guy came into my life when I least expected it. I know I don't have to explain my life or what I do but I am very open and honest and wanted to let you all know,' he said of socialite Samuel. 'I met this guy early this year after the experiment. We hit it off and we remained friends until recently,' Liam explained, adding: 'Samuel has shown me what support looks like, what trust looks like and much more.' Ending his essay with a raw admission, Liam concluded: 'I am scared, I am nervous but most of all I am happy.' Heidi Klum and husband Tom Kaulitz looked in love as ever as they walked through a rainy New York City with arms wrapped. The blonde bombshell, 49, smiled as she strolled with her fingers interwoven with the 32-year-old guitarist's. They matched each other in black outfits, looking carefree as droplets of rain fell on them. Loved-up: Heidi Klum and husband Tom Kaulitz looked in love as ever as they walked through a rainy New York City with arms wrapped The longtime supermodel put on a fashionable display in a short-sleeved, wide-leg jumper. It featured gold hardware and highlighted her trim waistline with a matching belt that she secured for a snug fit. The mother-of-four looked happier than ever as she donned a pair of lightly-tinted, brown aviator-style glasses. She carried a large woven black tote with brown straps over her shoulder and walked in a pair of black Birkenstock slides. PDA: The blonde bombshell, 49, smiled as she strolled with her fingers interwoven with the 32-year-old guitarist's The America's Got Talent judge's waist-length hair was damp as it flowed over one of her shoulders. She wore it in an undefined part as it blew in the breeze, giving her a windswept effect. Klum rocked a pair of statement-making pendant earrings with a turquoise stone center. Sweet: They matched each other in black outfits, looking carefree as droplets of rain fell on them She showed off a long, sleek, oval-shaped nude manicure, which matched her impeccable pedicure. Complementing his wife, Kaulitz stepped out in a simple, black, short-sleeved t-shirt and dark pants. He wore his long, curly brunette hair free and also wore lightly-tinted, round, black-rimmed shades. Finishing out the look was a pair of white Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers. Showstopper: Heidi's been enjoying her time in the Big Apple and she recently made a trip to Times Square Heidi's been enjoying her time in the Big Apple and she recently made a trip to Times Square. The runway veteran donned a strapless, body-hugging black dress for the occasion as she went to check out her NFT display at the tourist hot spot. Afterward she took to Instagram and said: 'While it is always exciting for me to see my face on a billboard, its even more exciting for me to see my painting up there !!' TikTok sensation Hasbulla Magomedov is coming to Australia in August for his first-ever speaking tour. But female fans hoping to get a photo with the Dagestan-born viral sensation will unfortunately be left disappointed. Hasbulla, 19, who has dwarfism and is known for his child-like appearance, confirmed via his touring company on Tuesday he 'cannot pose with female guests' due to his 'personal and cultural beliefs'. TikTok sensation Hasbulla Magomedov, 19, (pictured) has announced he won't pose for photos with female fans during his upcoming speaking tour in Australia 'To our female guests, if you would like to attend [the tour's official] meet and greet with Hasbulla, you are welcome to do so, but please acknowledge the limitations of photography,' the statement from The Hour Group reads. 'We understand the disappointment this creates. However, we respectfully acknowledge the cultural and personal beliefs of Hasbulla and have to accommodate his requests accordingly.' The exact nature of Hasbulla's religious views has not been disclosed, but some followers of Islam believe that men and women who are not married should not pose together in photos in certain circumstances. Hasbulla, 19, who has dwarfism and is known for his child-like appearance, confirmed via his touring company he 'cannot pose with female guests' due to his 'personal and cultural beliefs' The exact nature of Hasbulla's religious views has not been disclosed, but some followers of Islam believe that men and women who are not married should not pose together in photos Hasbulla is scheduled to speak in Sydney on August 29 and 30, and Melbourne on August 31 and September 1 Hasbulla is scheduled to speak in Sydney on August 29 and 30, and Melbourne on August 31 and September 1. The tour will also include an exclusive meet and greet with the social media star, with tickets for this event going on sale at 9am on June 30. 'I am very excited to be heading to Australia, I can't wait to see all my Aussie fans and visit these amazing cities. I've heard so many great things about Australia. I'm looking forward to all the great experiences your country has to offer,' Hasbulla said. The tour will also include an exclusive meet and greet with the social media star, with tickets for this event going on sale at 9am on June 30 The aspiring MMA star shot to fame in late 2020 when he began posting videos on Instagram and TikTok of himself performing daring stunts and pranks Chris Tamblin, the co-founder of The Hour Group, said: 'Traditionally, Hasbulla has not conducted many public appearances. We, The Hour Group, are honoured to be bringing him down to Australia for what will be a fun and eventful tour.' Hasbulla shot to fame in late 2020 when he began posting videos on Instagram and TikTok of himself performing daring stunts and pranks. With his unique appearance and confident attitude, Hasbulla soon amassed a huge online following. With his unique appearance and confident attitude, Hasbulla soon amassed a huge following He now boasts 4.6 billion views on TikTok, and 2.6 million followers on Instagram. Hasbulla has also attracted attention by challenging prominent UFC stars to fights, including MMA champion Conor McGregor. 'I want to punish this one [McGregor]. He talks too much,' he said in a recent viral clip. He now boasts 4.6 billion views on TikTok, and 2.6 million followers on Instagram Hasbulla's newfound fame helped him befriend Russian MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov (right), which led to fans nicknaming him 'Mini Khabib' In December 2021, Hasbulla dipped his toe into the fledgling NFT market by launching a cartoon that resembled himself Hasbulla's newfound fame helped him befriend Russian MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, which led to fans nicknaming him 'Mini Khabib'. And In December 2021, he dipped his toe into the fledgling NFT market by launching a cartoon that resembled himself. Hasbulla was born with Growth Hormone Deficiency, a condition known as dwarfism, causing him to have an abnormally short stature with normal body proportions. Advertisement Newlyweds Ron Perlman and Allison Dunbar made their official public debut as man and wife while attending The Pet Gala at Yamashiro in Hollywood on Monday. At 72, the two-time Emmy nominee is 23 years older than the For All Mankind actress, and they just returned from a whirlwind romantic European honeymoon. Ron flashed his new wedding band while Allison unveiled her large diamond sparkler at Wagmor Pets' inaugural benefit. Newlyweds! Ron Perlman and Allison Dunbar made their official public debut as man and wife while attending The Pet Gala at Yamashiro in Hollywood on Monday Perlman and Dunbar made sure to pose with two of the four available puppies on display for guests during the 'orange carPET' ceremony. The native New Yorker kept his shades on and wore a grey-patterned button-up beneath a black suit while the Delaware-born blonde wore a blue reptilian-print long-sleeved mini-dress with glossy nude pumps. Ron and Allison - who reportedly obtained their marriage license from a California courthouse - tied the knot at the Palazzo Margherita in Basilicata, Italy earlier this month. Perlman and Dunbar performed their first dance to Frank Sinatra's 1946 song You Make Me Feel So Young inside Francis Ford Coppola's 19th century palazzo turned nine-room boutique hotel. May-December duo: At 72, the two-time Emmy nominee is 23 years older than the For All Mankind actress, and they just returned from a whirlwind romantic European honeymoon Wedding bling! Ron flashed his new wedding band while Allison unveiled her large diamond sparkler at Wagmor Pets' inaugural benefit Future fur children? Perlman and Dunbar made sure to pose with two of the four available puppies on display for guests during the 'orange carPET' ceremony Puppy love: The native New Yorker kept his shades on and wore a grey-patterned button-up beneath a black suit while the Delaware-born blonde wore a blue reptilian-print long-sleeved mini-dress with glossy nude pumps The Groundlings company member joked they were 'pulling a Kravis before it was a thing,' which was a reference to Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's third wedding at 13th century castle Castello Brown in Portofino on May 22. The There Are No Saints actor met 'the scintillating' Allison in March 2018 on the set of their Crackle series StartUp and, by May 2019, he legally separated from his wife of 38 years, Opal Stone, and the divorce was finalized in October. The ex-couple are parents of 38-year-old daughter Blake Amanda and 32-year-old son Brandon Avery, who goes by 'Delroy Edwards.' Ron is now the proud grandfather of Delroy's four-month-old son Benicio. They do! Ron and Allison - who reportedly obtained their marriage license from a California courthouse - tied the knot at the Palazzo Margherita in Basilicata, Italy earlier this month The look of love! Perlman and Dunbar performed their first dance to Frank Sinatra's 1946 song You Make Me Feel So Young inside Francis Ford Coppola's 19th century palazzo turned nine-room boutique hotel Wisecrack: The Groundlings company member joked they were 'pulling a Kravis before it was a thing,' which was a reference to Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's third wedding at 13th century castle Castello Brown in Portofino on May 22 Perlman - who boasts 4.7M social media followers - revealed on Monday that he and Harvey Keitel recently wrapped Steven Brand's noir film Joe Baby in Mississippi. The action thriller - based on Drew Fine's 2002 novel - also stars Dichen Lachman, Willa Fitzgerald, Kelly Hu, Kenneth Choi, Corin Nemec, David Lipper, Dan Bakkedahl, and Jason London. But first, audiences can catch the SAG Award nominee voicing the Podesta in Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson's 1930s Italian-set, stop-motion animated movie Pinocchio, which premieres in December on Netflix. 'This character is the podesta, or officer in the town, who basically controlled the town politically and socially at this time,' 57-year-old del Toro told Vanity Fair. 'Magnificent addition!' The There Are No Saints actor met 'the scintillating' Allison in March 2018 (pictured) on the set of their Crackle series StartUp and, by May 2019, he legally separated from his wife of 38 years, Opal Stone, and the divorce was finalized in October Two grown kids: The ex-couple are parents of 38-year-old daughter Blake Amanda and 32-year-old son Brandon Avery, who goes by 'Delroy Edwards' 'Lil Benny!' Ron is now the proud grandfather of Delroy's four-month-old son Benicio (pictured June 5) 'He also has a story with his own son, Candlewick (Finn Wolfhard), who is traditionally the sort of bully that troubles Pinocchio.' The darker, twisted remake - based on Carlo Collodi's 1883 fairy tale - also stars Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Tim Blake Nelson, David Bradley, and Gregory Mann. Meanwhile, Dunbar - the self-described 'protector of dogs' - will next portray Kitty Rash in Aemilia Scott's spy movie Classified, which hits US theaters in September. 'Joe Baby, baby!' Perlman - who boasts 4.7M social media followers - revealed on Monday that he and Harvey Keitel recently wrapped Steven Brand's noir film Joe Baby in Mississippi Premieres in December on Netflix! But first, audiences can catch the SAG Award nominee voicing the Podesta in Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson's 1930s Italian-set, stop-motion animated movie Pinocchio Wagmor Pets' guest of honor - Jenna Dewan - wore a black slinky halter top tucked into a matching pencil skirt and gold strappy stilettos. The 41-year-old Superman & Lois star was honored with an award from Melissa Bacelar, who owns the non-profit dog organization. Also enjoying the puppy love was Emmy-winning host Tom Bergeron, who adorably cradled one cute canine. Woman of the hour! Wagmor Pets' guest of honor - Jenna Dewan - wore a black slinky halter top tucked into a matching pencil skirt and gold strappy stilettos 'I am so grateful, thank you!' The 41-year-old Superman & Lois star was honored with an award from Melissa Bacelar, who owns the non-profit dog organization Silver fox: Also enjoying the puppy love was Emmy-winning host Tom Bergeron, who adorably cradled one cute canine Slower pace: The 67-year-old presenter was famously replaced by Tyra Banks on ABC's Dancing with the Stars in 2019 after 14 years The whole gang! There Are No Saints star Neal McDonough and his producer wife of 18 years - Ruve - brought their son Morgan, 16; daughter Catherine, 15; daughter London, 12; daughter Clover, 10; and son James, 8; to the event Lovely ladies: Other animal-loving attendees included Hawaii Five-O alum Teilor Grubbs (L) in a yellow floral frock and Shallow star Hairong Tian (R) in a sparkly blouse and black tap shorts The 67-year-old presenter was famously replaced by Tyra Banks on ABC's Dancing with the Stars in 2019 after 14 years. There Are No Saints star Neal McDonough and his producer wife of 18 years - Ruve - brought their son Morgan, 16; daughter Catherine, 15; daughter London, 12; daughter Clover, 10; and son James, 8; to the event. Other animal-loving attendees included Hawaii Five-O alum Teilor Grubbs in a yellow floral frock and Shallow star Hairong Tian in a sparkly blouse and black tap shorts. Gogglebox Australia fan favourites Sarah Marie and Matty Fahd have taken their son Malik, two, for his first haircut. Malik's makeover on Saturday raised more than $12,000 for the Children's Tumour Foundation of Australia. Sarah told Daily Mail Australia: 'When it came to cutting Malik's hair, we just didn't want that to go to waste.' Gogglebox Australia fan favourites Sarah Marie and Matty Fahd have taken their son Malik, two, for his first haircut. (Pictured before Malik's haircut on Saturday) The Fahds initially hoped to raise $5,000 but have made $12,680 as of Tuesday. Malik had his long hair trimmed at Handmade Salon in Canterbury, south-western Sydney, on Saturday. Photos show the toddler wearing a blue superhero cape and sporting stylish shorter locks after his haircut. Malik's makeover on Saturday raised more than $12,000 for the Children's Tumour Foundation of Australia. (Pictured before and after his haircut) Sarah Marie and Matty recently celebrated their four-year anniversary. Sharing a short video montage to his Instagram, Matty wrote: 'Four years married, eight years together and infinite memories with you @sarahmariefahd. 'You have been the creator, the selfless mother, my travel companion, my wife, my friend and the light of my life. 'I will cherish you always. I will always love you. Happy anniversary.' Sarah told Daily Mail Australia: 'When it came to cutting Malik's hair, we just didn't want that to go to waste' The couple's best friend Jad Nehmetallah commented: 'What about our anniversary?' 'On that day we wear black,' Matty responded. Sarah also shared a tribute post to her account, writing: 'To my always and forever. Happy anniversary. You are my soulmate, an amazing father to our son Malik, have a heart of gold and always do the best you can for our family.' The Whiteley Corporation will be doubling donations until June 29 up to $25,000. Fans can donate here What is Neurofibromatosis (NF)? NF is a genetic condition that causes tumours to form on nerves in the body, including the brain and spine. These tumours can lead to physical differences, blindness, deafness, learning difficulties, chronic pain and in 10 percent of cases, these tumours can become cancerous. Advertisement Chrissie Swan has lost an estimated 90kg over the last two years. And the TV and radio presenter confidently showed off her body transformation on Monday as she poured her slimmed-down figure into a stylish dress. Chrissie, 48, snapped a photo of herself in a Leona Edmiston frock worth $450 as she prepared to host Channel 10's The Project. Chrissie Swan (left in 2014) confidently showed off her body transformation on Monday (right) as she poured her slimmed-down figure into a Leona Edmiston dress worth $450. The TV and radio presenter has lost an estimated 90kg over the last two years 'Lots of questions about the dress I wore last night on The Project,' Chrissie wrote in the caption. 'It's Leona Edmiston and I think on sale too.' It comes after Chrissie addressed rumours surrounding her 90kg weight loss. 'Lots of questions about the dress I wore last night on The Project,' Chrissie wrote in the caption. 'It's Leona Edmiston and I think on sale too' Speaking to The Weekend Briefing podcast in April, she clarified that articles saying she'd attributed her slimdown to quitting alcohol were inaccurate. The Nova host had previously spoken of giving up alcohol and going on daily 10km walks, which she said improved her physical and mental health during lockdown. 'You say one thing and then all of a sudden you're the poster girl for that thing,' she told the podcast. It comes after Chrissie addressed rumours surrounding her 90kg weight loss. Speaking to The Weekend Briefing podcast in April, she clarified that articles saying she'd attributed her slimdown to quitting alcohol were inaccurate 'I very carefully said, 'I drank too much in lockdown and it wasn't very good for my mental health, my anxiety was through the roof, so I gave it up and it's been a great decision for me.'' Chrissie went on to say her comments were 'misconstrued' as her saying she'd lost weight by cutting out booze. She continued: 'I never said that. I never ever talked about my body. I won't be talking about my body. My body is utterly irrelevant.' Chrissie had previously spoken of giving up alcohol and going on daily 10km walks, which she said improved her physical and mental health during lockdown. 'You say one thing and then all of a sudden you're the poster girl for that thing,' she said In February, Chrissie told The Australian Women's Weekly she'd ditched alcohol and started walking every day when the Covid lockdowns started. 'We couldn't go out to dinner, we couldn't go to a friend's house, they couldn't come to us, we couldn't go outside five kilometres. All we could do was walk, and so that's what I did,' she explained. Chrissie began walking only short distances, but steadily increased her fitness and now walks for two hours per day. Chris Pratt has been promoting his new series The Terminal List, which debuts on Amazon Prime Video July 1, though it will be quite some time before his daughters see it. The 43-year-old actor shares one-year-old Lyla and newborn Eloise with wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, along with nine-year-old son Jack, who he shares with ex-wife Anna Faris. The actor was promoting Terminal List on Sirius XM, where he joked that he had no plans of showing his daughters the action-packed show, while dropping a spoiler. Some time: Chris Pratt has been promoting his new series The Terminal List, which debuts on Amazon Prime Video July 1, though it will be quite some time before his daughters see it Spoiler: The actor was promoting Terminal List on Sirius XM , where he joked that he had no plans of showing his daughters the action-packed show Pratt was asked if there were any of his movies that he was looking forward to sharing with his daughters, even though they might be too young now. 'The first thing... maybe Lego Movie would be the first thing I show them. It was the first thing I let my son see,' Pratt admitted. 'Ill just kind of like base it on age appropriateness. I'll tell you, it'll be a long time before they see The Terminal List,' Pratt said with a laugh. Sharing: Pratt was asked if there were any of his movies that he was looking forward to sharing with his daughters, even though they might be too young now Long time: 'Ill just kind of like base it on age appropriateness. I'll tell you, it'll be a long time before they see The Terminal List,' Pratt said with a laugh He joked, 'I'll certainly wait until Lyla is at least 24 months old' before seeing The Terminal List, before dropping a bit of a spoiler about his brother-in-law, Patrick Schwarzenegger. 'It's gonna be a long time before she sees old Uncle Patch get his head blown off,' he added with a laugh. Pratt stars as James Reece, a former Navy SEAL who investigates his platoon being ambushed, which leads him down a deadly path. Spoiler: He joked, 'I'll certainly wait until Lyla is at least 24 months old' before seeing The Terminal List, before dropping a bit of a spoiler about his brother-in-law, Patrick Schwarzenegger Head: 'It's gonna be a long time before she sees old Uncle Patch get his head blown off,' he added with a laugh Patrick Schwarzenegger plays Donny Mitchell in the series, and he's credited as appearing in three of the eight episodes. One of his upcoming movies may be more friendly for his young children, voicing Mario in the new Super Mario Brothers movie. Since both the Mario and Luigi characters are Italian, the white actor - who was born in Minnesota and raised in Seattle - raised eyebrows with his casting. Family friendly: One of his upcoming movies may be more friendly for his young children, voicing Mario in the new Super Mario Brothers movie Casting: Since both the Mario and Luigi characters are Italian, the white actor - who was born in Minnesota and raised in Seattle - raised eyebrows with his casting After facing a lot of online criticism, Pratt spoke to Variety to address the controversy. 'I worked really closely with the directors and trying out a few things and landed on something that Im really proud of, and cant wait for people to see and hear,' he said. The Guardians Of The Galaxy leading man clarified that the film is 'not a live-action movie' but 'an animated voiceover narrative,' adding, 'Im not gonna be wearing a plumber suit running all over.' Can't wait: 'I worked really closely with the directors and trying out a few things and landed on something that Im really proud of, and cant wait for people to see and hear,' he said Channel Nine has denied claims that Married At First Sight producers have been approaching 'widows' for the new season. A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: 'The casting of the next season of MAFS is not targeting those who have recently lost their partner.' It comes after the show sparked controversy for false reports that producers were attempting to cast a widowed woman for its upcoming tenth season. Channel Nine has denied claims that Married At First Sight producers have been approaching 'widows' for the new season. Pictured: MAFS' Daniel Holmes and Carolina Santos According to a report from Yahoo! Lifestyle, producers have been hunting on Instagram to cast for the specific role, even reaching out to several women whose partners only recently died. Speaking to the publication on Tuesday, a friend of a widow who was approached for the show blasted producers for their eyebrow-raising casting tactics. 'They are looking for a widow and literally messaging all the ladies that she knows that have and are going through this trauma and some are very recent,' the woman said. A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: 'The casting of the next season of MAFS is not targeting those who have recently lost their partner.' Pictured: MAFS' Selin Mengu and Anthony Cincotta Nine announced its first casting call for the upcoming tenth season back in February. It read: 'Are you looking for love? If you're searching for The One and are ready to settle down, Australia's biggest social experiment could find your soulmate.' 'Married At First Sight is searching for men and women of all ages and backgrounds who are genuinely committed to finding love,' the notice continues. 'This groundbreaking social experiment uses science and psychology to help Australian singles meet their perfect partner. It comes after the show sparked controversy for false reports that producers were attempting to cast a widowed woman for its upcoming tenth season. Pictured: MAFS' Olivia Frazer and Jackson Lonie 'But there's a catch you won't get to meet your future husband or wife until your wedding day!' It goes on to warn that the show is 'not a competition and there is no cash prize up for grabs'. 'Instead, you could walk away with the most valuable prize of all true love,' the Nine post teases. Additionally, potential stars are warned they will have to give up four months of their lives for the show. It also insists that the future couples must be, 'genuine about finding love'. According to the casting call, the show will be filming between early July and November 2022. Interested parties are directed to apply at the show's casting website, marriedatfirstsightcasting.com.au. Cruz Beckham appeared to mock Jaden Smith in a new Instagram post after sitting next to him at Paris Fashion Week on Sunday afternoon. The son of David and Victoria, 17, was positioned next to Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's son Jaden, 23, during the the Kenzo Menswear S/S 2023 show. However the following day, Cruz appeared to take aim at something Jaden had previously said about 'not connecting with people his own age'. Awks! Cruz Beckham appeared to mock Jaden Smith in a new Instagram post after sitting next to him at Paris Fashion Week on Sunday afternoon Underneath a picture of his brother Romeo, 19, which was captioned 'What was I saying', Cruz wrote: 'You were chatting bout the political and economic state of the world.' Cruz's comment references a viral statement Jaden made earlier this year about how he was 'happy he spent more time with adults than kids as a child'. Speaking on BigBoyTV, he said: 'I was picking up more things from adults than I were [sic] from kids my own age,' the 23-year-old explained on BigBoyTV earlier this month. Underneath a picture of his brother Romeo, 19, which was captioned 'What was I saying', Cruz wrote: 'You were chatting bout the political and economic state of the world' He then went on to imitate the voice of a young person, claiming they like to say things like, 'Look at my phone! Selfie.' 'I'm just, like, 'Dude, like, oh my God. Can we talk about the political and economic state of the world, right now?'' 'Can we talk about what's going on in the environment? Can we talk about other things?' Viral: Cruz's comment references a viral statement Jaden made earlier this year about how he was 'happy he spent more time with adults than kids as a child' Romeo was clearly amused by his brother's quip and commented underneath with a laughing face emoji. Jaden's interview spurred on a series of mocking posts on Twitter, as trolls made fun of his desire for more high-minded conversation. One user posted photos of Travis Scott rubbing his forehead anxiously, writing, 'Jaden Smith when he sees kids going to birthday parties instead of discussing politics and the economic state of the world.' Going after him: Twitter users mocked his admission that he preferred to chat about the 'political and economic state' of the world Having a laugh: One user shared a still of SpongeBob SquarePants looking sad. '8 year old Jaden smith when jada gave him a spider man themed birthday party instead of a book study on the war of mesopotamia,' they joked Not all business: Jaden admitted he still liked to have fun sometimes. 'I like to turn up. I like to flex. I like to play songs loud and jump in the crowd in Atlanta,' he clarified Another user shared a humorous still of SpongeBob SquarePants looking sad and deflated. '8 year old Jaden smith when jada gave him a spider man themed birthday party instead of a book study on the war of mesopotamia,' they jokingly captioned it. One tweet included a video of Cristiano Ronaldo excitedly rising to his feet to accept an award. 'Jaden Smith after telling every kid in recess that they only have 20 years to live because of global warming,' the author wrote. Close to home: One Twitter user poked fun at him with a still from The Pursuit Of Happyness, which he starred in with his father Will Smith Mocking: Another person posted a humorous drawing of a man with a brain that had grown big enough that he could sit on it. How Jaden Smith felt like when he said "bro can we talk about the political and economic state of the world right now" to a bunch of middle schoolers' No comment: Jaden steered clear of any discussion of the moment when his father slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards ceremony; seen March 27 Others included photos of Jaden, including one person who shared a set photo from his film The Pursuit Of Happiness, which costarred his father Will Smith. 'My favourite part of The Pursuit of Happiness was when young Jaden Smith said to Will, "Father the socioeconomic state of New York City will not permit you to maintain a baseline lifestyle as a door to door salesman, you should attempt to join an investment firm instead,"' the user wrote. Another person posted a humorous drawing of a man with a brain that had grown so large that he was able to sit on it like a chair, which they captioned: 'How Jaden Smith felt like when he said "bro can we talk about the political and economic state of the world right now" to a bunch of middle schoolers.' Free to choose his path: Jaden also opened up in the interview about his famous parents and how they never tried to steer him toward a career in show business Jaden also opened up in the interview about his famous parents and how they never tried to steer him toward a career in show business. 'There was never that expectation,' he said of following in Will and Jada's footsteps. 'And definitely not going into hip hop.' The musician shared that he and his sister Willow would film parodies of their mother's series The Matrix when they were younger. 'I thought everybodys parents made movies and I thought that everyone made movies with their kids, too,' he admitted. He may have developed his preference for serious chats with older individuals after getting a front-row seat to his parents' business meetings about their upcoming projects. 'They would be having a meeting about their next film or something and they would put me at the head of the table and just make me sit there while theyre talking, debating with all of these people, talk numbers, talk all of this crazy stuff,' Jaden said. Word of warning: Still, his parents alerted him that other people might expect that he would accomplish as much as they had throughout their careers; seen with Jada on March 27 Although Will and Jada weren't placing their own expectations on Jaden, they made sure he understood that other people might expect him to achieve as much as they had. 'They made us aware of it before we even found out from other people that there was this expectation on us. They said, "Hey people out there in the outside world, theyre gonna say this and theyre gonna say you have to live up to our expectations of what weve done and what weve accomplished in our lives and you have to live with that,"' he recalled. 'So we kind of knew that when we were young.' That dose of realism, which was mixed with encouragement from his parents, helped instil confidence in Jaden. 'My parents always told me that I could fly. My parents told me that I could dig a hole to the next side of the earth,' he said. 'I would always ask them if I could do things, they would always say yes. 'They wouldnt necessarily be like, "Here it is!"' he clarified. 'When its time to go get the shovel it was like, you get the damn shovel. But they would always let me know that you could do that.' By Yoon Ja-young NongHyup Bank opened doors wider for its metaverse platform, "Dokdo-Verse," turning it into an open beta service. "Dokdo-Verse" is a virtual space themed on the group of Korea's easternmost islets, Dokdo, where users can create their avatars and complete various missions, such as picking up litter or visiting a trekking trail. The bank jointly launched the test service with fintech company Finger on March 2, open only to subscribers. Some 36,500 people applied to join the metaverse platform last November, followed by 30,000 applications in January of this year. The users also received a "Dokdo-Verse" resident card in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT) early this month. The bank's Dokdo branch in the virtual space also got some upgrading following the transition to open beta service. It also strengthened games within the metaverse, such as lucky draws. The bank plans to launch "Dokdo-Verse" officially on Aug. 15, Liberation Day, after continuing to upgrade the service to be more fun and convenient, reflecting the demand of the users. It expects the virtual space to serve as its channel to communicate with the young generation, presenting its financial products and services. "We launched 'Dokdo-Verse' to emphasize the special meaning of Dokdo for Koreans as well as to provide a different customer experience," NongHyup Bank CEO Kwon Jun-hak said. "We will provide customers with new experiences by launching a range of services," he added. Sylvester Stallone took to Instagram on Monday afternoon to wish his daughter Sistine Stallone a happy 24th birthday. The 75-year-old actor shared a number of throwback snaps of him and his daughter while wishing her a very happy birthday. Sistine is the middle daughter of the three girls Stallone shares with Jennifer Flavin, along with 25-year-old Sophia and 20-year-old Sophia. Birthday: Sylvester Stallone took to Instagram on Monday afternoon to wish his daughter Sistine Stallone a happy 24th birthday 'A very very happy birthday to our amazing SISTINE! Every day with you has been like Christmas. The greatest gift!' Sly said, while tagging @sistinestallone. Sistine herself responded, 'I love you dad!!!!' while her sister Scarlett said, 'Bawling' and another comment where she sent two red heart emojis. The first photo he shared was from some sort of tropical locale, with Stallone puffing on a cigar and Sistine holding a small dog. Birthday girl: 'A very very happy birthday to our amazing SISTINE! Every day with you has been like Christmas. The greatest gift!' Sly said, while tagging @sistinestallone He also shared a throwback snap of Sistine as a young girl and another with two of the daughters flanking their dad. The final snap showed both Sly and Sistine, both clad in all black, walking down a hallway. The birthday love comes just after Stallone discussed the unusual way he landed his role in the new series Tulsa King. Young: He also shared a throwback snap of Sistine as a young girl and another with two of the daughters flanking their dad The new series follows New York mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Stallone), who is released from prison after 25 years. Much to his surprise, he is unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as he realizes the mob may not be looking out for him the way he had hoped. Manfredi starts assembling a crew to create his own criminal empire in the most unlikely of places. Final snap: The final snap showed both Sly and Sistine, both clad in all black, walking down a hallway Series creator Taylor Sheridan has become a hot commodity at Paramount Plus, but years before his big break as a writer with 2015's Sicario, he was a working actor, who met Stallone at a horse ranch. 'My daughters and I were practicing -- I play polo a lot; a long time ago people would say, how can you afford it? I played with the worst horse on the planet, but I learned and eventually after I made money, I started to go into... barrel racing,' Stallone began. 'It's very, very delicate and I brought my daughters into it and Taylor Sheridan was at the same barn and he hadnt made it yet' Stallone said. Stallone also revealed, 'Ive always wanted to play a gangster since... I basically started off my career mugging everyone... but it never happened. I have my thoughts on why but better late than never.' 'Taylor Sheridan wrote an idea, a screenplay that was really good and Terence Winter, who wrote Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, they put it all together and what you have is East meets West,' he added at the Londoner Hotel for Paramount+'s U.K. launch event. They've been sharing photos of an endless summer break in Italy. But Michael Brunelli and Martha Kalifatidis have revealed their idyllic break isn't as perfect as it seems, with the pair admitting they came to blows over a sandwich while in Florence. The couple, who are preparing to tie the knot, said that they had a misunderstanding when Martha went to the bathroom and then tried to cut in line at the sandwich shop, with Michael proceeding to just order a sandwich for himself. Michael Brunelli and Martha Kalifatidis have revealed their idyllic break isn't as perfect as it seems, with the pair admitting they came to blows over a sandwich while in Florence. Speaking on The Handbags podcast on Wednesday, Michael told his co-host Josh Moss: 'There's this sandwich shop in Florence that Martha loves, it's her favourite place. She's been wanting to take me there for a while now. 'We finally got there, and she needs to go to the bathroom so she said, "Go in, I need to find the toilet," and walked away. 'While I was in there I was like, "I might as well order my food", so I ordered a couple of sandwiches. If she wants one, she can have one, if she doesn't I'll have two sandwiches.' Earlier this month Martha stripped down to a bikini for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea He went on to explain that the cafe only has 'one guy behind the counter' and said there was a process that saw customers order, before the worker made half the sandwich, then take payment. 'In that time, another couple walked in and they were waiting for him to be ready to order. As I'm going to pay, Martha walked in at that moment...' Before he could continue any more of the story, Martha cut across to tell her side. The 34-year-old, who is on holiday in Europe with her fiance Michael Brunelli (left), later changed into a floral bikini after hitting the hotel gym 'No, no, no!' she said. 'I'm going to tell this story give me the headphones. I just want to come on here as I'm lying here listening to Michael tell these stories, and he keeps leaving out the most important part. 'Michael couldn't wait for me to return to the bathroom, as he needed to eat immediately because if he's not constantly eating at all times, he can't survive. 'Anyway, I thought, "There's no way he's going to order without me. He's going to wait." Martha celebrated her 34th birthday in Italy with Michael just a few days ago 'No! Michael ordered without me, and when I walked into the sandwich shop he was sitting in front of the counter and had two bottles of water on the bench.' She then explained that the shop worker was 'busy making orders' and that she asked her fiance to wait so she could order hers with him. 'Michael is like, "Nah nah nah. Don't want to push into these people behind you." I'm like, "'Sorry, what people? The people behind you, dude I'm in the line with you?" Martha added. Earlier in the day Martha showed off her sleek white ensemble as she posed on a staircase in Bodrum, Turkey 'He didn't put my sandwich order through, dude. He just got his own, paid and ate the two sandwiches in entirety didn't give me a bite. I had to eat steamed greens from the supermarket.' Michael then bit back trying to share his side. 'No, no, no, no, no! Josh. No. I was trying to be polite, as there were people who walked in after me. The process was, you order, he makes half, you pay,' Michael tried to reason. 'What process is that?! No one believes that's a process!' Martha added. Josh added: 'I didn't want to jump the two people. I didn't want to throw the whole process off. She could have just ordered after and I would have waited for her, but this is the reaction I got, Josh...' 'She walked out of the sandwich shop, said, 'Go f--- yourself' and she walked down the street,' he said. 'Give some context, we had been up since 5am and hadn't eaten a thing...' Martha went on. 'Doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is the policy of the store, which you broke,' Michael added, before claiming he gave her the last bite of his sandwich. The couple appear to be enjoying an endless summer vacation, jetting away to Europe to avoid the Aussie winter. After spending some time in Italy , the Married At First Sight stars headed to Turkey with a load of luggage in tow this week (pictured) After spending some time in Italy , the Married At First Sight stars headed to Turkey with a load of luggage in tow this week. Martha shared an image to Instagram Stories on Friday, in which her massive pile of suitcases stood outside her villa. Among the bags was a high end designer Louis Vuitton carry-on as well as a number of black suitcases. Martha has been flooding her social media accounts with holiday spam in recent weeks, and recently admitted she'd 'packed 20 bikinis' for her Euro trip but ended up 'swimming in her underwear' most of the time. She later changed into a floral bikini after hitting the hotel gym, and captioned the sizzling snap: 'My toxic trait is posting a bikini pic after a workout.' Martha has been flooding her social media accounts with holiday spam in recent weeks, and recently admitted she'd 'packed 20 bikinis' for her Euro trip but ended up 'swimming in her underwear' most of the time. The brunette stripped down to her undies earlier this week, telling fans she 'had no choice' because of the 40C heat. She's always been known for her love of fitness. And on Monday, Love Island's Gabby Allen, 30, proudly showed off her ripped physique after undergoing a year-long body transformation. The Scouse reality star took to Instagram where she uploaded a' before' and 'after' snap, which clearly illustrated how her abs went from impressively toned to perfectly chiseled. Ripped!!! On Monday, Love Island's Gabby Allen, 30,took to Instagram where she proudly showed off her ripped physique after undergoing a year-long body transformation In the first photo, taken last year, Gabby looked sensational as she posed in a bright orange bikini, while in the second, taken recently, the Love Islander lifted up her tank top to reveal rippling abs. Fitness instructor Gabby wrote alongside in a lengthy post: 'ONE YEAR APART,' before praising her 'shape up' groups for being transformative and going on to explain how running the groups has helped to change herself. She insisted: 'We have had some amazing transformations, created sustainable heathy routines, built confidence, educated, introduced new friendships that are now bffe! 'I have improved so much as a trainer. I have educated myself on SO much due to working with incredible people. I have changed my OWN physique, Im stronger, healthier, happier. I am more confident & I love more than nothing else, helping others feel the same too.' Working those angles: And on Monday night, Gabby once again returned to Instagram where she shared two shots of herself in black hot pants and a matching crop top. Real talk: The Love Islander explained that the snap was taken following her most recent work out - almost a week ago - and insisted everyone deserves a rest from exercise And on Monday night, Gabby once again returned to Instagram where she shared two shots of herself in black hot pants and a matching crop top. The Love Islander explained that the snap was taken following her most recent work out - almost a week ago - and insisted everyone deserves a rest from exercise. Posing to show off all her angles in the skin tight workout wear, Gabby displayed her impressively fit physique, while admitting she indulged during her recent Toronto getaway. She wrote alongside: Im working for that 360 POV. Well, I was until I spent the whole of last week with a dirty martini in one hand and poutine in the other 'This was taken on the last session I did, Wednesday last week, with a lovely booty pump. That has deflated now for sure. Suppose it could be worse!! We all deserve a rest. 'As soon as this jet lag is done, Im a jump back on the horse!' Gabby is back home after enjoying a lavish getaway to Toronto with her Ex On The Beach star boyfriend Brandon Myers, 35. Gabby and Brandon have been dating since June 2020 and went public with their romance two months later The television personality initially denied speculation they were in a relationship, stating at the time they were 'just friends'. Gabby previously dated Rak-Su star Myles Stephenson until August 2019, when she accused him of cheating on her. The reality star is thought to be worth an estimated 1.3million since finding fame on the 2017 series of Love Island. Luciana Gimenez has revealed she chased after two teenage thugs who robbed her during her recent trip to London. The former model, 52, took to Instagram on Saturday to share details of the scary incident with her 3.3 million followers. The ex of Mick Jagger and mother of his seventh child said: 'I left Brazil to be robbed in London. I just got robbed. I had some money. Lucas he's saying it was a theft, they just took the money out of my purse. Scary: Luciana Gimenez has revealed she chased after two teenage thugs who robbed her during her recent trip to London She continued: 'I was with him to change, I ran after him and managed to get a girl. He was teasing, he looked at me and said 'nothing will happen because I'm 14' ', began the presenter. 'Poor cops for dealing with this kind of people. I went out screaming in the middle of the street. I caught one, the other managed to escape. He had my money and a boy's cell phone,' continued Luciana . After the presenter had calmed down, she explained: 'I was paying for something with my cell phone, so I didn't pay attention. []. 'Just because the girl is fifteen, does she have more important rights than we do? You stole my money and a gentleman's cell phone. We talk about Brazil, but everywhere she is the same.' Angry: The former model, 52, took to Instagram on Saturday to share details of the scary incident with her 3.3 million followers It comes after Luciana took her son Lucas, 23, to watch The Rolling Stones perform at the American Express presents BST Hyde Park festival on Saturday. She appeared in good spirits as she shared a heartwarming snap of herself and Lucas as they enjoyed the concert. Alongside the post, she wrote a message in Portuguese that read: 'Happy Father's Day post (in England), a few days late.! So proud of you to be Lucas' father!!! The show was the best! We love'. Family: Mick Jagger's ex Luciana Gimenez looked radiant as she took the former couple's son Lucas to watch The Rolling Stones perform in Hyde Park on Saturday Luciana used to perform as 'queen of drums' for The Rolling Stones more than a decade ago. She famously had an affair with Mick behind his then partner Jerry Hall's back - resulting in the birth of their son Lucas in 1999. Luciana discovered that she was pregnant with Mick's child in 1998 after an eight-month affair, which resulted in Jerry and Mick's 22-year relationship breakdown. In 1999 Luciana was described as 'the straw that broke the camel's back' by Jerry during her split from Mick. Proud: Luciana shared a snap of Lucas wearing a Rolling Stones hoodie as he filmed the crowd Luciana previously said of model Jerry: 'I don't know how she feels about me, but I understand that I probably hurt her.' Despite the fact that Mick insisted upon a paternity test when Lucas was born, she has always remained on good terms with the man she calls 'an excellent father' to their child. Mick paid all of Lucas's school fees and seems to have been generous and kind with his time, too regularly spending holidays with him. For her part, Luciana is even friends with Jagger's current love, Melanie Hamrick, the 33-year-old American ballerina whom he started dating in 2014. Love child: Luciana famously had an affair with Mick Jagger behind his then partner Jerry Hall's back - resulting in the birth of their son Lucas in 1999 She once wrote a letter to Jerry asking for forgiveness, but did not receive a reply. She told MailOnline: 'She didn't write back. I didn't really expect her to, but I wanted her to know that I was sorry. 'People forget that you can fall in love with someone, whether they are rich and famous or not,' she muses. 'Rich people love. Famous people love. It is all the same. It doesn't matter. We are all going to die in exactly the same way, anyway.' Abbie Chatfield has lashed out at Mia Plecic, after the influencer compared vaccine mandates to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 'First of all babes, now I've said this a million times so I'm not going to go into anti-vaxxing again because it's a rabbit hole, but let's remember no one forced you to get vaccinated,' Abbie said on her podcast, It's A Lot. 'I'm sure you're still not vaccinated, so you actually aren't forced, whereas people who get pregnant in the U.S. are now forced to carry to term'. Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has lashed out at Mia Plecic, after the influencer compared vaccine mandates to the U.S. Supreme Court 's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Abbie continued: 'Also, abortions aren't contagious, Covid is and also, you are wilfully misunderstanding the 'my body, my choice' slogan'. 'Stop using our slogan. Stop f***ing using it. I'm sick of your s**t. 'Babe, the mandates were there for a reason. I don't know if there's something wrong [with her] or she's willfully ignorant or just a bit silly.' Australian influencer Mia Plecic, 30, (pictured) sparked outrage by comparing Australia's vaccine mandates to the abortion ban Mia Plecic has sparked outrage by comparing Australia's vaccine mandates to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The court's ruling ends the constitutional right to abortion across America, meaning individual states can now decide whether abortion should be legal. Reacting to the landmark decision on Saturday, Ms Plecic, 30, wrote on Instagram: 'Why is it okay to be pro-choice about one human right but not the other?' Many people who oppose Covid vaccine mandates call themselves 'pro-choice', borrowing the popular slogan used for decades by advocates for legal abortion. Reacting to the landmark decision on Saturday, Ms Plecic, 30, wrote on Instagram: 'Why is it okay to be pro-choice about one human right but not the other?' However, the use of the term in the context of vaccines is highly controversial, with women's rights activists saying the two issues cannot be compared. 'The same people who are against freedom of choice with mandates are the same people who are screaming freedom of choice about abortions,' added Ms Plecic in her post. The businesswoman, who made headlines last year for sharing anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine views on social media, continued: 'It doesn't work like that. Freedom of choice regardless of your narrative.' Many people who oppose Covid vaccine mandates call themselves 'pro-choice', borrowing the popular slogan used for decades by advocates for legal abortion Her 'pro-choice' post was soon picked up by Instagram watchdog account Aussie Influencer Opinions, which warned customers of Ms Plecic's haircare company Slick Hair Co. they were supporting these views by buying her products. Ms Plecic has since received a wave of backlash online, with major online retailer Showpo reportedly vowing to remove Slick Hair Co. products from its store. Aussie Influencer Opinions posted a screenshot purportedly showing an anonymous user messaging Showpo's official Instagram account asking why the company stocked a product 'with such a problematic company owner such as Mia Plecic'. Ms Plecic has since received a wave of backlash online, with major online retailer Showpo reportedly vowing to remove Slick Hair Co. products from its store, according to this alleged Instagram exchange between a customer and a Showpo representative A Showpo customer service representative replied: 'As a brand we will not be renewing our partnership with Slick Hair Company to stock their products on our website and we're effectively exiting out of this brand.' Reacting to Ms Plecic's Instagram post, one fan exposed the logical fallacy at the heart of her argument with: 'Covid is contagious and pregnancy is not. Simple really.' Another agreed: 'Wow... to compare those VERY DIFFERENT things is just next level. How embarrassing.' Reacting to Ms Plecic's Instagram post, one fan exposed the logical fallacy at the heart of her argument with: 'Covid is contagious and pregnancy is not. Simple really' A third Instagram user wrote: 'Ah yes, because following public health advice to protect the community is the same as forcing women to give birth. Stop supporting these muppets.' Ms Plecic has since doubled down on her controversial stance, uploading another post on Sunday to thank the '500 people' who had reached out to her to express their agreement. She also used this post to clarify she is pro-choice when it comes to abortion. Natalie Portman has revealed Chris Hemsworth had to hide behind a tree while picking his children up from school in Sydney. The actress, 41, said that she sent her kids to the same school as the Hemsworth kids while filming Thor: Love & Thunder and that while she managed to go incognito, Chris' 1.9m frame meant he caught the attention of the other school run mums. Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, the Marvel star, who plays Thor's love interest Jane in the upcoming film, said: 'One day, we ended up at school pick up at the same time and I just felt so bad for him. Natalie Portman has revealed Chris Hemsworth had to hide behind a tree while picking his children up from school in Sydney 'Because I'm small and can kind of camouflage with the mums. And then he comes in, he's like a Greek god walking through. 'He's really famous everywhere but especially in Australia, he's so, so well-known. 'So to see him kind of by the tree, hiding.... Chris and his Spanish model wife Elsa Pataky share three children, daughter India Rose, 10, and twin boys Tristan and Sasha, eight The genetically blessed family stepped out to promote Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney on Monday 'It felt like some weird sitcom of the superheroes at school pick-up.' Chris and his Spanish model wife Elsa Pataky share three children, daughter India Rose, 10, and twin boys Tristan and Sasha, eight The family are based in Byron Bay, but Natalie's comments suggest the children attended school in Sydney during filming on the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actress, 41, said that she sent her kids to the same school as the Hemsworth kids while filming Thor: Love & Thunder and that while she managed to go incognito, Chris' 1.9m frame meant he caught the attention of the other school run mums. Meanwhile Natalie, who was based in Sydney throughout late 2020 and early 2021 to film the Taika Waititi-directed blockbuster, shares two children - Aleph, 11, and Amalia, five - with husband Benjamin Millepied, During her time Down Under, the actress was spotted enjoying Sydney's famous sights, including the Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach and she was even seen in the pub. The actress didn't attend the Sydney premiere of Love & Thunder this week though. Chris, his brother Luke and their wives and children represented the Aussie talent on the red carpet with an array of Sydney-based reality stars. Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky made a rare red carpet appearance with their children at the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder. Natalie didn't attend the Sydney premiere of Love & Thunder this week though. Chris, his brother Luke and their wives and children represented the Aussie talent on the red carpet The fourth Thor film sees the hammer-wielding superhero go up against the villainous Gorr the God Butcher, played by Christian Bale. The film is set in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has given up his superhero ways. He enlists the help of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and other friends to help fight Gorr. Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi, hits Australian and UK cinemas on July 7, and on July 8 in the United States. Stormzy left fans in hysterics at the weekend as he took a tumble while in the crowd at Glastonbury. The rapper, 28, who headlined the festival back in 2019, tried to keep a low profile as he made an unexpected appearance at the event at Worthy Farm. But all eyes ended up on him when he fell flat on his face an had to be helped up by friends and a worker. Funny: Stormzy left fans in hysterics at the weekend as he took a tumble while in the crowd at Glastonbury Stormzy was quick to laugh the tumble off in a hilarious video of the fall which was shared by an anonymous TikTok account that dubbed themselves a 'Glasto Insider'. The caption read: 'Stormzy on a mad one at Glasto last night.' The Vossi Bop hitmaker tried to go unnoticed with sunglasses and a Prada bucket hat on despite it being night time. But eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot Stormzy's 6ft 4ins frame as he enjoyed the music festival while surrounded by fans. Low-key: The rapper, 28, who headlined the festival back in 2019, tried to keep a low profile as he made an unexpected appearance at the event at Worthy Farm Ouch! All eyes ended up on him when he fell flat on his face an had to be helped up by friends and a worker Amused fans flocked to the comments to joke about someone of his height taking such a gracious fall. One said: 'He's so tall he fell in slow motion.' Another quipped: 'It took him three business days to get his head to the floor.' Danielle added: 'Nah, it's just the altitude sickness. He's about 15 ft tall.' Others praised Stormzy for laughing the incident off, impressed that he was able to get up smiling despite hitting the ground. A fan of the rapper wrote: 'He went down but got up smiling.' Another penned: 'Nothing to see - happens to the best. Cool: Eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot Stormzy's 6ft 4ins frame as he enjoyed the music festival while surrounded by fans Casual: The Vossi Bop hitmaker tried to go unnoticed with sunglasses and a Prada bucket hat Stormzy was awarded an honorary university degree on Tuesday, and thanked his mother in a moving acceptance speech. The star - whose real name Michael Owuo Jr - also praised the 'guts, grit and dedication' of students as he was awarded the honour at Exeter University. The achievement was dedicated to the musician for his work to promote education and fighting racial inequality. As well as being an acclaimed performer, Stormzy has been an inspiring spokesman for Black empowerment and social activism. In his speech to graduates Stormzy said he felt 'extremely blessed and grateful' to receive his honorary degree. Achievement: British rapper Stormzy has been given an honorary university degree on Tuesday, and thanked his mother in a moving acceptance speech He also joked about how pleased he was to be known as a philanthropist - and thanked his mother who was watching on. Stormzy said: 'The journey I took to get to this moment has been considerably different to yours. 'You guys have the guts and the grit and the dedication that it takes to study for years and to finish your degree whereas I got my AS results in my first year of college and said yeah, see you later. I didn't have the same minerals that you guys have. Inspiration: The achievement was dedicated to the musician for his work to promote education and fighting racial inequality (pictured in March) He continued: 'A year later I took another swing at my A levels at a different college until I sat down for my English exam in January and walked out after 10 minutes. 'It took a hell of a lot for you to get here today. Your journeys to get to this moment were hard fought. 'The road you took was not easy. And this is coming from someone who tried to walk that exact same road and failed. 'So from the bottom of my heart I say congratulations, well done and you should all be so proud of yourselves, what you have achieved is incredible. 'Don't let anybody downplay it and don't let anybody undermine it. If you are sat in this room today you are worthy and you are brilliant.' During his speech Stormzy also thanked his mother 'who is sitting there beaming with pride and joy right now because her biggest dream for me was for me to go to university and graduate and then become somebody so this moment is real full circle'. He added: 'And I always say that God has a funny way of bringing you exactly where you were meant to end up'. Advertisement She is set to star as a young nurse names Kate in the six-part period drama. And, Michelle Keegan wore a vintage midi dress as she transformed into a 1950s nurse to film scenes on the set of new BBC drama Ten Pound Poms in Australia, on Monday. The former Coronation Street actress, 35, ditched her typically glamorous attire for the dowdy purple frock and a messy bun, roughly pinned together at the nape of her neck. FIRST LOOK: Michelle Keegan, 35, wore a vintage midi dress as she transformed into a 1950s nurse to film scenes on the set of new BBC drama Ten Pound Poms in Australia, on Monday Michelle got into character in her button-through number, which boasted a white collar, nipped in waist and A-line skirt. The TV star was seen strolling about on set in a retro pair of black heeled brogues teamed with opaque tights. Keeping warm between takes during Australia's winter, Michelle wrapped up with a padded black coat worn over a taupe layer. While off-duty and arriving on set in Australia, the British babe slipped into a white T-shirt and black bomber jacket. Transformed: The former Coronation Street actress ditched her typical glamour for minimal make-up and a messy bun, roughly pinned together at the nape of her neck Retro: Michelle got into character as a young nurse named Kate in the dowdy purple frock Checking it out: While holding a bottle of beer, Michelle watched back her scenes on a monitor Ready for action: Michelle got into character in her button-through number, which boasted a white collar Keeping cosy: Keeping warm between takes during Australia's winter, Michelle wrapped up with a padded black coat worn over a taupe layer She wore a pair of black skinny jeans and colourful trainers with her raven tresses styled sleek and straight as she grabbed a green juice. Six-part series Ten Pound Poms follows a group of Brits as they leave dreary post-war Britain in 1956 to embark on a life-altering adventure on the other side of the world. For only a tenner, they have been promised a better house, better job prospects and a better quality of life by the sea in sun-soaked Australia. But life down under isnt exactly the idyllic dream the new arrivals have been promised. Struggling with their new identity as immigrants, we follow their triumphs and pitfalls as they adapt to a new life in a new country, far from Britain and familiarity. Vintage fashion: The TV star was seen strolling about on set in a retro pair of black heeled brogues teamed with opaque tights Guided: Michelle was guided through her scenes by crew members Leading man: Actor Warren Brown, who plays leading role Terry Roberts was spotted walking around without his shirt on All dress up: Actress Faye Marsay commanded attention in an orange midi dress and rust coloured cardigan, with an extra jacket between scenes Fun times: Michelle smiled as she chatted to other members of the production At the heart of the drama are Annie (Faye Marsay) and Terry Roberts (Warren Brown). They try to make the best of the situation for their family, but the poor living conditions at the migrant hostel and local attitudes towards immigrants test them in ways they couldnt have imagined. They arent the only people at the hostel avoiding the truth. Kate (Michelle Keegan) is a young nurse who arrives without her fiance and will do whatever it takes to try and rewrite her devastating past. Bill (Leon Ford) has lost his family business back home and is so desperate to prove hes living the Australian dream that hell stop at nothing in order to get a lifestyle he cant sustain. Teenager Stevie (Declan Coyle) comes from a troubled background and hopes to use this new adventure to escape his oppressive father. Meanwhile, Ron (Rob Collins), an Indigenous Australian war veteran, struggles with feeling like an outsider in his own country. Catch ups: Michelle chatted to another crew member, while between scenes Making it perfect: Michelle look concentrated as she practised her part Off-duty style: While arriving on set in Australia, the British babe slipped into a white T-shirt and black bomber jacket Vintage vehicles: Actress Faye Marsay was filmed getting out of a retro car The first look at Ten Pound Poms comes after it was reported Michelle is to take in 2.5m from her TV work, as she and husband Mark Wright are thought to be TV's richest young couple. With an estimated combined net worth of around 12m, it's no wonder the pair are splashing the cash into their luxe new 'dream home'. Michelle uses her own company, Rosia Promotions Limited, for her various TV work - with the actress filing accounts for the business on Friday. Chatting: Michelle chatted to one of the crew members between takes In costume: Actor Warren was spotted in a grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up Edgy: Michelle wore a pair of black skinny jeans and colourful trainers with her raven tresses styled sleek and straight as she grabbed a green juice Vintage set up: The 1950s was perfectly recreated for the six-part series And detailing her earnings up to the end of September last year, the document showed that the actress had taken in an impressive 2,530,922 in assets after earning 1,192,802 from acting. It's onwards and upwards for the star, who's profit is up 450,912 from the previous filing- cashing in 2,313,678 after costs and deductions. It's no surprise, as Michelle has become a household name after her long-standing stint in Coronation Street, followed by roles in Our Girl and Tina and Bobby. Low-key: Elsewhere, Michelle was spotted in grey tracksuit bottoms and fully blue slippers Health focused: Michelle was sure to pack in the goodness as she sipped on green juice Wow! Thousands of 50s style vintage garments could be seen ready hanging up for the cast And it's only a portion of her joint fortune with husband Mark - as they are thought to have a joint net worth of 12m. Splashing the cash, the pair have bought their 'dream home' - a 1.3million Essex mansion. Mark and Michelle have been completely renovating the property since purchasing it in October 2019, and even have an Instagram account dedicated to the home. Construction experts have estimated the demolition and rebuild of the home will cost around 3.5million. Nicole Kidman has revealed how her early days in Hollywood were possible thanks to some of her Australian friends. The actress, 55, told the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in a recorded interview that she was supported by her good pals, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, even sleeping on their couch while auditioning for roles in Los Angeles. '[Deborra-Lee] was one of my best friends,' the Dead Calm star said, adding that the fellow actress always gave her a place to stay when she flew in from Australia. Nicole Kidman has revealed how her early days in Hollywood were possible thanks to her Australian friends Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness. Nicole and Deborra-Lee are pictured in 2013 '[I slept on the couch] in the house that Deborra-Lee was renting, and she gave the chance to stay there and we could go and audition,' Nicole said. 'It was expensive, we couldn't afford hotels, so the idea of being in hub out of a house together, was really, I mean, my god.' She added: 'You'd go and come back and you'd go over for a few weeks and do some auditions and hope to crack it.' The actress, 55, told the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in a recorded interview that she was supported by her good pals, Hugh and Deborra-Lee, even sleeping on their couch while auditioning for roles in Los Angeles '[Deborra-Lee] was one of my best friends,' the Dead Calm star said. '[I slept on the couch] in the house that Deborra-Lee was renting, and she gave the chance to stay there and we could go and audition,' Nicole said. Pictured together Nicole has previously revealed how Deborra-Lee, 66, and Hugh, 53, helped her after her divorce from Tom Cruise in 2001. 'When I got divorced, Hugh and Deb were so much a part of my healing,' she said in a candid interview with Australian Women's Weekly. 'They were some of my best friends through that period,' she added. Like Nicole, Hugh and Deborra-lee were among a small group of budding Australian actors living in Hollywood in the 1980s. Nicole has previously revealed how Deborra-Lee, 66, and Hugh, 53, helped her after her divorce from Tom Cruise in 2001. 'When I got divorced, Hugh and Deb were so much a part of my healing,' she said. Pictured together in 2008 Deborra-lee was the first to meet Nicole when she was 'couch surfing' in Los Angeles as a teenager before being cast in Days of Thunder, where she met Tom. 'I do remember Tom Cruise ringing the house when she landed the role [in Days of Thunder]. Nic was always very cool and took it all in her stride,' Deborra-lee said. After splitting with Tom, 59, Nicole went on to meet her second husband, Keith Urban, 54. Advertisement Great British Bake Off star Manon Lagreve has married her partner Luke Bennett in a picturesque ceremony at a French chateau in her hometown, Louvigne-du-Desert. The French baker, 30, who rose to prominence on the Channel 4 show in 2018, tied the knot with her British fiance on Saturday, with the couple's beautiful baby daughter Fleur, 12 months, serving as a flower girl. Manon took to Instagram on Monday to offer an intimate glimpse at her nuptials and shared an array of stunning snaps documenting their fairytale wedding and her breath-taking bridal gown. Just married! Great British Bake Off star Manon Lagreve has married her partner Luke Bennett in a picturesque ceremony at a French chateau in her hometown, Louvigne-du-Desert Sweet: The French baker, 30, who rose to prominence on the Channel 4 show in 2018, tied the knot with her British fiance on Saturday, with the couple's beautiful baby daughter Fleur, 12 months, serving as a flower girl The couple's daughter Fleur served as a flower girl on their special day, wearing a dress with 'I love you Mom and Dad' sweetly embroidered on the back in French. Manon was every inch the beautiful bride as she stepped out in a gorgeous off-the-shoulder white gown with bardot sleeves with a cut-out and white heeled sandals. The satin dress featured a dramatic train billowing out behind her while she clutched a vibrant bouquet of pink and orange flowers in her hands as she celebrated her special day. She styled her brunette tresses in a sophisticated up-do and fixed a white veil in her locks with an extravagant tiara by Hermione Harbutt, which featured natural pearls, crystals and gold detailing. Congratulations! Manon took to Instagram on Monday to offer an intimate glimpse at her nuptials and shared an array of stunning snaps documenting their fairytale wedding and her breath-taking bridal gown Newlyweds: Luke carried Manon out of the chateau while their friends and family showered them in confetti Manon let her bridal attire do all the talking as she kept her accessories simple, wearing a pair of droplet pearl earrings, while she accentuated her natural good looks with a glamorous Lancome make-up palette. After taking off her veil, she let her chocolate tresses fall loosely across her shoulders in a half-up half-down style as she flashed a huge grin and posed for wedding photographs with her new husband. Her partner Luke cut a suave figure in a navy suit, which he paired with a crisp white shirt and brown shoes, while he fixed a peach flower in his lapel. The newlyweds appeared to be in jovial spirits as photographs taken during the church ceremony showed Manon beaming as they exchanged their vows in front of their loved ones. Romantic: The newlyweds appeared to be in jovial spirits as photographs taken during the church ceremony showed Manon beaming as they exchanged their vows in front of their loved ones Gorgeous: Manon was every inch the bride as she stepped out in a gorgeous off-the-shoulder white gown with bardot sleeves with a cut-out and white heeled sandals Beautiful: The satin dress featured a dramatic train billowing out behind her while she clutched a vibrant bouquet of pink and orange flowers in her hands as she celebrated her special day Other pictures saw Luke carrying Manon out of the chateau while their friends and family showered them in confetti, while they then posed for more professional wedding photos outside. The couple and their guests then celebrated their union in a fun-filled wedding reception in a marquee, where they danced the night away with their loved ones. On Saturday, Manon - who made it to week eight of Bake Off back in 2018 - shared an array of their wedding photographs to her Instagram page and captioned the post: 'Officially got married today in my home town.' On Monday, she also took to her Instagram Stories to look back at the fairytale weekend as she gave her 158,000 followers an intimate insight into the festivities. Stunning: Manon let her bridal attire do all the talking as she kept her accessories simple, wearing a pair of droplet pearl earrings as she walked hand-in-hand with her new husband after they exchanged vows Princess: She styled her brunette tresses in a sophisticated up-do and fixed a white veil in her locks with an extravagant tiara by Hermione Harbutt, which featured natural pearls, crystals and gold detailing Gorgeous: The satin dress featured a dramatic train billowing out behind her while she clutched a vibrant bouquet of pink and orange flowers in her hands as she celebrated her special day She wrote: 'We welcomed the wedding party the night before. Luke had a little BBQ with his family and friends and I had a French buffet with my bridesmaids and their hubbies in the chateau.' In a follow-up post, she revealed that she hadn't slept the night before and neither had her infant daughter Fleur, saying that 'strong coffee' kept her awake throughout the jam-packed day. She continued: 'I didn't sleep at all the night before the wedding (didn't help that Fleur neither!) and was feeling very tired!! But @jennifermoyesphoto and her strong coffee helped me and it was very fun to get ready with @antoniabasile and my hairdresser from since I am a little girl Severine!' (sic) Manon arrived at her lavish wedding ceremony in a blue Porsche and Manon revealed that her father had driven her to the ceremony in the vehicle. Groom: Her partner Luke cut a suave figure in a navy suit, which he paired with a crisp white shirt and brown shoes, while he fixed a peach flower in his lapel Elegant: Manon accentuated her natural good looks with a glamorous Lancome make-up palette as she looked every inch the bride Bridal party: Photographs taken ahead of the ceremony showed Manon sitting with her bridesmaids as they got ready for the special day Partying: Black-and-white photographs showed guests sheltering under black umbrellas as they arrived for the lavish nuptials She said: 'My parents got their little Porsche to be decorated in flowers and it was so cute and perfect! Dad drove me to the church and it was so special to be just with him then. We arrived super early, so we just waited at the entrance of the town till everyone was inside the church!' Speaking about her bridal tiara, she added: 'I can't tell you how much I loved wearing my @hermioneharbutt tiara! It was simply incredible, made with natural pearls, crystals and gold plated elements, just amazing!' Manon also shared snaps of herself with her daughter Fleur and revealed that she handcrafted her daughter a pearl headband to wear to match her tiara. 'I embroidered "Je vous aime Maman et Papa" at the back of her dress, so people could see when she walked down the aisle,' she explained. All smiles: The newlyweds appeared to be in jovial spirits as photographs taken during the reception showed Manon beaming after they exchanged their vows in front of their loved ones Celebrating: Wedding guests were seen waving white napkins in the air during the reception, which saw their friends and families seated at round white tables decorated with floral arrangements Adorable: Luke and Manon's daughter Fleur wore a dress with 'I love you Mom and Dad' sweetly embroidered on a bow on the back in French 'She looked so cute and matching me with her little pearl headband (I also handcrafted it myself as I wanted something very simple and comfortable for her).' Manon also took to Instagram to share photographs from the night before their nuptials, where they welcomed the wedding party and spent time with their families. Manon looked incredible in a floor-length white satin gown with billowing sleeves, while her husband-to-be looked dapper in a blue suit and tie. Manon and Luke's wedding comes after they welcomed their first child last June. The Bake Off star took to Instagram at the time to announce that she welcomed a 'happy and healthy' baby girl named Fleur Camille, on June 20. Laughing: Manon and Luke held hands as they walked through the grounds of the wedding venue together in an intimate moment Bride: Manon looked gorgeous in her wedding dress, while she added a touch of colour with her vibrant bouquet of flowers Look of love: She gazed adoringly at her new husband as they took stunning photographs outside the French chateau Adoration: The couple appeared to be as loved-up as ever as they gazed at one another while holding sparklers during the fun-filled reception The French baker also shared the first photos of the tiny newborn, and included the first moment she gave her daughter skin-to-skin. Manon wrote alongside the trio of photographs: 'Fleur Camille Bennett. 'Born on Father's Day 20th June 2021, all happy and healthy. A little lady who took us by surprise when she decided to come! We love her very much already.' Back in April 2021, the baker had celebrated seven months of pregnancy, and joked about having 'baby brain'. Manon penned: '7 months pregnant, can't believe in 2 months we'll be parents, and we'll have our own baby!!! Excitement: A photographer documented the sweet moment that Manon's bridesmaids saw her in her wedding dress as they got ready ahead of the ceremony Fairytale: Manon and Luke's fairytale wedding weekend saw them take photographs in a forest (left) after the wedding, while they also hosted their family and friends the night before (right) Extravagant: The couple and their guests then celebrated their union in a fun-filled wedding reception in a marquee, where they danced the night away with their loved ones Sparkling: The reception saw sparkler decorations placed around the marquee with tasty treats including macaroons for guests to enjoy 'I kept telling friends that I have tended to so many babies, that it is going to be so interesting to see how I react to ours. 'Also baby brain is going strong, and I feel like I forget 10 times a day what I am meant to do.' Manon announced she was expecting her first child with fiance Luke Bennett in March during a sweet interview with Hello! magazine. The French baker told the publication: 'I grew up knowing I wanted to be a mum so I'm very happy and relaxed with being pregnant.' Amusing: One photograph showed the guests leaping into the air in a bid to catch the bouquet in a much-loved wedding tradition Couple: Manon also took to Instagram to share photographs from the night before their nuptials, where they welcomed the wedding party and spent time with their families And Manon revealed that she was keen to have a baby baker in the house to help her create culinary showstoppers. 'The baby will be with me in the kitchen from the day it's born. We are so happy to be having a summer baby and the due date is on Luke's birthday - it feels like it's meant to be.' The former Great British Bake Off contestant has also previously explained how much she wants to raise her child to be bilingual. Manon added: 'That is one of the best gifts we can give them, so we're going to work hard at it. I'd like the baby to be French speaking at home and then use English outside the home.' Mother and daughter: The night before the wedding, Manon posed with her one-year-old daughter Fleur as they welcomed their families and friends Happy times: Manon looked incredible in a floor-length white satin gown with billowing sleeves, while her husband-to-be looked dapper in a blue suit and tie Family: Adorable: Manon and Luke's wedding comes after they welcomed their first child last June Luke popped the question in November 2020 while the couple were on a romantic trip to Barbados. The French baker confirmed at the time that her boyfriend had 'dropped to one knee' with a stunning sapphire ring shortly after they arrived at their boutique hotel during the Caribbean holiday. Manon admitted it had not been a surprise, saying: 'We'd been talking about getting married for a while. It was love at first sight... 'We were boyfriend and girlfriend after two weeks and I moved in with him within four months. When you find the one, you just know.' Employees of Bank KB Bukopin work at one of the bank's branches in Indonesia. Courtesy of KB Kookmin Bank By Anna J. Park KB Kookmin Bank might need to inject additional capital into its Indonesian subsidiary, Bank KB Bukopin, as the Southeast Asian country's financial authority urged Seoul's Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) to cooperate on reducing the Indonesia-based bank's debts. According to the financial industry, Tuesday, the Indonesian financial authority has stressed the need to get rid of the subsidiary bank's bad loans, calling on the Korean financial supervisory agency to discuss the matter. An FSS official explained that the Indonesian financial authority has asked for a capital increase on the part of KB Kookmin Bank to normalize Bank KB Bukopin's management. Regarding such calls, KB Kookmin Bank said that the bank is currently looking closely into its Indonesian subsidiary's financial statements and situation to see whether it needs a further capital increase. "As of now, nothing has been specifically determined as to the capital increase plan," an official from KB Kookmin Bank told The Korea Times, Tuesday. "Currently, the bank is closely examining the situation." Recently, KB Financial Group's key management officials, including Co-Vice Chairman Lee Dong-cheol and financial group CFO Seo Young-ho, made a business trip to Indonesia to carry out a due diligence audit on the subsidiary bank. Key officials are also planning to make another visit to the country next month. After KB Kookmin Bank acquired a 22 percent stake in Bank KB Bukopin for 116.4 billion won ($90 million) in 2018, the Korean bank became the major shareholder of the Southeast Asian bank by increasing its stake to 67 percent by 2020. So far, KB Kookmin has injected more than 813 billion won into the subsidiary. If it decides on the further capital increase this time, more than 1 trillion won ($770 million) will have been poured into the bank. Despite the seemingly endless money injections into the subsidiary, KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyu expressed his full support, saying that the group purchased the Indonesian bank knowing that it's a bad bank and its management environment has worsened more than expected amid the pandemic. Ewan McGregor has revealed his changing perspective on parenting, after welcoming a baby with his new wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The Star Wars actor, 51, was married to his first wife Eve Mavrakis, 56, for 22 years, and the couple share four daughters together. But in 2017 he was pictured kissing his Fargo co-star Mary Elizabeth, 37, leading to his 2020 divorce and his second marriage in April this year. Ewan and Mary share a son Laurie, who turned one this week, and the actor reflected on twenty years of parenting in a candid interview with British GQ, including his 'difficult' period of estrangement from eldest daughter Clara. Dad: Ewan McGregor has revealed his changing perspective on parenting, including his estrangement from his daughter Clara, who he is now working with on a new film (pictured in 2018) The Scottish star explained how lockdown changed his perspective on his career/ family balance as he realised it had been decades since he's stayed put in one place for longer than a few months. 'I just want to be present. I don't want to be away for four months in Romania,' he told GQ. 'If it has to happen, maybe it has to happen, but I'm trying really hard not to do that'. Referring to his years parenting his four daughters, Clara, 26, Jamyan, 20, Esther, 19, and 10-year-old Anouk, which coincided with his heady post-Trainspotting career high, Ewan mused: 'Before, I just felt like a gypsy. I was always a dad first, but I was away a lot.' Ewan and Mary first met on the set of their TV series Fargo in 2016, before the actress split from her husband of seven years Riley Stearns in May 2017. Ewan then separated from Eve in January 2017 and filed for divorce. Son: Ewan and his second wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead share a son Laurie, who turned one this week, and the actor has vowed to be more present for his fifth child Happy couple: Ewan and Mary first met on the set of their TV series Fargo in 2016, before marrying in April this year (pictured together in March) Ewan and his eldest daughter Clara, 26, have had a rocky relationship, since she famously branded her dad's second wife a 'piece of trash' and her dad an 'a***hole' when the pictures of them kissing first emerged. The father and daughter have repaired their relationship over the past five years and recently completed work on their first joint project. You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder, is a film she conceived by Clara, with Ewan explaining of his daughter's pitch to him: 'She tells me that she'd come up with an idea about writing about us. At first I was a bit nervous. I didn't know what that meant.' The film focuses on a father daughter road trip, with Ewan's character driving his daughter, played by Clara, to rehab. While the drive is fictional, the premise of a dad trying to help his daughter is based on Clara's own experience. 'I sat down to read it and I was blown away. It was a beautiful story about us. There's things that aren't accurate, or are bent, but they still reflect our estrangement for a while,' explained the actor. Ex: The Star Wars actor, 51, was married to his first wife Eve Mavrakis, 56, for 22 years, and the couple share four daughters together. But in 2017 he was pictured kissing Mary Elizabeth and they split, with the divorce finalised in 2020 'The drive is fictional. But for a couple of years, we sort of lost her. So the storyline is about her realising that she needs the help her father's trying to give. Along the way, their relationship is healed somewhat.' 'I was so impressed by the story, by the humour. There's a sort of recognition in it that made me very proud and at the same time very close to her. I felt like she understood more than I'd thought.' When asked by GQ what he felt his daughter had understood, Ewan elaborated: 'My position, but also stuff about parenting somebody who's in trouble. It's a f**king horribly difficult situation to be in. You're so scared of what can happen. You will do anything in the world to stop losing them.' He later mused in a rare comment about his messy split from Clara's mother: 'A divorce in a family is a bomb going off in everyone's life my children's lives. The sort of healing of that is ongoing.' Kate Garraway has opened up on finding a new way to be in love with her husband Derek Draper after his Covid-19 battle. The Good Morning Britain host, 54, said that her children Darcy 17, and William, 12, also have had to 'relearn' how to be around their dad amid his continued health struggles. Derek, 54, was the UK's longest-suffering patient of Covid after being admitted to hospital with the virus in March 2020. Candid: Kate Garraway has opened up on finding a new way to be in love with her husband Derek Draper after his Covid-19 battle Derek returned home from hospital in April 2021 after a year-long battle and still requires round-the-clock care in the midst of his lengthy recovery. Speaking to Good Housekeeping, Kate said: 'When you nearly lose someone, it certainly brings everything into sharp focus. 'In many ways, we're still learning how we are as man and wife, as so much has changed. Challenges: Derek, 54, was the UK's longest-suffering patient of Covid after being admitted to hospital with the virus in March 2020 'It's the same for the children they're having to relearn the experience of being with their dad. And, of course, the biggest learning is for poor Derek.' Kate previously admitted that if left unaided for over three days, Derek could die. He is bed-stricken, with Kate doing much of the caring herself as she insists she won't 'ever give up on him'. Ongoing process: The Good Morning Britain host, 54, said that her children Darcy 17, and William, 12, also have had to 'relearn' how to be around their dad amid his continued health struggles Elsewhere in the chat, the presenter also spoke about trying to find the joy in the little moments in life after everything that's happened. She explained: 'I try to live in the moment more than ever before. I'll send an email and think, 'Okay, I've sent the email. I can't do anything more about that now, so I'm just going to look out the window and notice how pretty the sky is.' 'I really try to seize those moments because when you do, you realise that life is just a collection of moments and finding more good ones than bad ones is probably the secret to it all.' The presenter was awarded an MBE in this year's New Year's Honours for her services to broadcasting after documenting Derek's health difficulties. Glowing: Kate appeared on the cover of Good Housekeeping, looking radiant in yellow dress Speaking on being given the honour, she said: 'It was amazing! But I haven't received it yet, so I don't want to tempt fate in case they retract the offer! 'I do feel there's room for celebration, though, and my hope is that if we do eventually have a ceremony, Derek will be further along in his recovery and we can go together. That would be wonderful.' Kate also spoke about her new show Garraway's Great Stuff on ITV, saying: 'It's been wonderful to do [the show]. 'There isn't anybody who hasn't been affected by the pandemic on some way, so I wanted to be part of a show that would make people feel good, where they could find ways to save money or take control of their health. 'We have brilliant guests every week who share what brings joy into their life what's not to love about that!' The May issue of Good Housekeeping is on sale from 29 June Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson looked very cosy as they stepped out on a date night at Langan's Brasserie on Monday in London. The actress, 32, and the Coldplay frontman, 45, stayed close while making their way to the iconic Mayfair restaurant, and they made a point of holding hands during their outing. Chris cut a handsome figure in a black jumper layered over a white T-shirt and dark grey trousers, while sporting a white beanie and pink laced trainers. Loved-up: Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson looked very cosy as they stepped out on a date night at Langan's Brasserie on Monday in London Dakota looked typically stylish in a white button-up shirt and dark trousers and added white trainers for a casual touch. She kept the cold at bay by wrapping up in a black coat, and toted her essentials in a brown leather Gucci handbag. Her brunette tresses were swept up in an elegant ponytail with her fringe framing her face. Sweet: The 32-year-old actress and the Coldplay frontman, 45, stayed close while making their way to famous restaurant, and they made a point of holding hands during their outing Casual: Chris cut a handsome figure in a black jumper layered over a white T-shirt and dark grey trousers, while sporting a white beanie and pink laced trainers She opted to wear simple silver dangly earrings and minimal makeup to let her natural beauty shine through. Dakota and her now-boyfriend were initially introduced by mutual friends in 2017. The actress was previously linked to figures such as Jordan Masterson and Matthew Hitt. Sophisticated: Dakota looked typically stylish in a white button-up shirt and dark trousers and added white trainers for a casual touch Fashion forward: She kept the cold at bay by wrapping up in a black coat, and toted her essentials in a brown leather Gucci handbag Stunning: Her brunette tresses were swept up in an elegant ponytail with her fringe framing her face Chris was formerly married to Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he tied the knot in 2003. The pair welcomed a daughter and son named Apple and Moses, aged 18 and 16, before separating and divorcing in 2016. Dakota and her now-boyfriend began seeing each other the following year, when Us Weekly confirmed that they were dating. Flawless: She opted to wear simple silver dangly earrings and minimal makeup to let her natural beauty shine through According to the media outlet, the couple also took a trip to Israel and shared a night out with Nick Cave not long after the start of their relationship. A source who spoke to the media outlet noted that the pair's outing 'was a surprise.' The two later began being seen together in public much more frequently after the trip, although they attempted to remain private about their romance during the time period. First meetings: Dakota and her now-boyfriend were initially introduced by mutual friends in 2017 The happy couple took the step of moving in with each other in Malibu last February. Dakota spoke about her relationship with Chris during an interview with Elle, where she noted that she and her boyfriend loved spending time with each other at their shared residence. 'Weve been together for quite a while, and we go out sometimes, but we both work so much that its nice to be at home and be cosy and private,' she said. Exes: Chris was formerly married to Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he tied the knot in 2003. The pair welcomed a daughter and son named Apple and Moses, aged 18 and 16, before separating and divorcing in 2016 Confirmation: Dakota and her now-boyfriend began seeing each other the following year, when Us Weekly confirmed that they were dating He got the seal of approval from both of her parents, actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, the following year. Gwyneth also gave her thumbs up to her ex's new lady in 2020, saying: 'I love her'. 'I can see how it would seem weird because its sort of unconventional. But I think, in this case, just having passed through it iteratively, I just adore her.' Night out: According to the media outlet, the couple also took a trip to Israel and shared a night out with Nick Cave not long after the start of their relationship Surprise: A source who spoke to the media outlet noted that the pair's outing 'was a surprise' The famous 1980s celebrity haunt Langan's Brasserie was opened in 1976 under then-co-owners Michael Caine and restaurateur Peter Langan. By the mid-1980s it was a famous haunt for many big name stars. These include Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Nicholson and David Hockney - the latter of which helped design the menus turning them into collectors pieces. Home sweet home: The happy couple took the step of moving in with each other in Malibu last February Adorable: Dakota spoke about her relationship with Chris during an interview with Elle, where she noted that she and her boyfriend loved spending time with each other at their shared residence Other artists to feature including Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Gerald Moira. The London restaurant relaunched last year after closing in March 2020 due to the pandemic, and was then saved from administration The Mayfair eatery is a favourite with boxer Muhammad Ali and The Rolling Stones lead man Mick Jagger. Alesha Dixon beloved rescue dog Daisy has died. The Britain's Got Talent judge, who has had her pet canine for the last 13 years, took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to share the the heart-breaking news. Posting a snap of herself next to pointer Daisy, Alesha, 43, wrote: 'I will love you forever Daisy,' while sharing throwback photos of the pooch as a pup to her Instagram Story. Devastating: Alesha Dixon, 43, took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to share the the heart-breaking news that her beloved rescue dog Daisy has died Next to one shot of her dog in it's first year of life, she wrote: '13 years of loving you. My beautiful Daisy.' The mother-of-two who shares daughters Azura, eight, and Anaya, two, with husband Azuka Onoye, 41 previously spoke fondly of her pooches. Alesha - who also has two cocker spaniels, Rosie and Prince - told The Guardian how she enjoyed family walks in the woods with her three rescue dogs during the coronavirus lockdown periods. She said: 'When the weather's nice, we like to go to the woods with our three rescue dogs. Obviously the dogs still need walking when it's rainy, but we're not as quick to get out of the house then. Daisy: The Britain's Got Talent judge also included a snap of pointer Daisy as a pup, holding a daisy in her mouth 'If I could snap my fingers and go anywhere, it would be Cornwall to watch the dogs running in and out of the sea on a beautiful beach. I love the ocean.' In 2013, Alesha admitted she had always had a penchant for pooches, when speaking about visiting a zoo to help free three young European brown bears, who had been living in poor conditions. She told Daily Record: 'I have always been a huge dog lover and that's always been my main focus. Heartbroken: Next to one shot of her dog in it's first year of life, she wrote: '13 years of loving you. My beautiful Daisy' 'That made me open up to other animals and what they are experiencing and it just breaks your heart because once you start looking into it, it's never ending. You never feel you can do enough. 'Romania was really shocking. I was expecting it to be bad but it was far worse when I got there. 'These bears had basically been living there for their whole lives, some of them 20 years, in cages you could barely swing a cat in with nothing so much as a tyre to chew or any fresh water.' First Dates barman Merlin Griffiths is undergoing treatment in hospital for bowel cancer complications. The star of the Channel 4 dating show, 47, shared a selfie from his hospital bed on Monday, with the hashtag 'complications'. In April Merlin underwent robotic surgery to remove a tumour, after medical tests last year unearthed the stage three tumour that measured 4.5cm in length. Update: First Dates barman Merlin Griffiths is undergoing treatment in hospital for bowel cancer complications, sharing a selfie from his bed on Monday An exhausted-looking Merlin was wearing a colourful unicorn print face mask and had a cannula bandage on his hand as he lay in his hospital bed for the new photo. He didn't go into details as to why he was back in hospital, writing in the caption: 'Oh... Squibwibble. #complications. # nhs. #BowelCancerAwareness.' Two weeks ago the star was back at work, six weeks after his surgery to remove the tumour. The First Dates barman launched Royal Ascot's first ever reduced and alcohol-free bar on June 14 as part of Harrogate Spring Water's Mindful Drinking Mission. Treatment: The star of the Channel 4 dating show, 47, shared a selfie from his hospital bed on Monday, with the hashtag 'complications He looked dapper in a navy suit and pink shirt while putting his drink mixing skills to good use, before being joined by Love Island's Dr. Alex George, 31. Appearing to be in high spirits, Merlin beamed from ear-to-ear while clinking his glass with Alex's, as they posed for photographers. Merlin was discharged from hospital six days after undergoing surgery back in April. At the time, the TV personality shared a cheering update to Instagram, posting a selfie with blue skies behind him, writing: 'And breathe. 6 days, start to finish.' He added praise for the pioneering surgery, explaining: 'Now for real #cancer recovery. I've had open laparotomies before and the recovery was 6 weeks in hospital before robotic surgery!! Amazing.' Road to recovery: Two weeks ago the star was back at work ,launching Royal Ascot's first ever reduced and alcohol-free bar six weeks after his surgery to remove the tumour Looking good: The TV personality (right) was soon joined by Love Island's Dr. Alex George, 31 Merlin added the hashtags to mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, writing: #nhs #davincisurgicalsystem #bowelcancerawarenessmonth #stoma. He thanked the NHS for 'literally saving his life' after undergoing the 'robotic' surgery. He wrote: 'Thank you #NHS for literally saving my life. #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth.' He also shared a photo of the four-armed 'robot' holding the surgical instruments and a camera, to give his followers an insight into the procedure. Merlin announced in March that he was due to have the operation, joking that he had three weeks to 'get my s**t together'. On the mend: Merlin was discharged from hospital six days after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour, back in April Last year, Merlin was told he has a 75 per cent chance of living for more than five years after medical tests unearthed a stage three tumour that measured 4.5cm in length. And updating his followers on his progress, he tweeted: 'Operation scheduled. Three weeks to get my s**t together. Robotic surgery, welcome to the future!' He later thanked his fans for their well wishes, adding: 'Thank you to everyone wishing me well. X May your lives be prosperous and filled with empathy and happiness.' Robotic surgery sees surgeons view the operation through a magnified screen while a robotic machine with four arms holds the surgical instruments and a camera. The surgeon controls the arms of the machine and removes the cancer through keyhole surgery. Fascinating: At the time of his surgery he shared a photo of the four-armed 'robot' holding the surgical instruments and a camera, to give his followers an insight into the procedure Candid: Plugging April's Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, he concluded: Ready as I'll ever be. Tumour removal time. [champagne emoji] #bowelcancerawarenessmonth' Merlin received his bleak diagnosis from doctors at Northampton General Hospital, saying at the time that he was trying to keep a 'positive outlook'. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror last year, Merlin said: 'I'm keeping that positive outlook, but I've a morbid sense of humour. I tell people, 'I have colorectal cancer it's a real pain in the ar*e!' Merlin has a seven-year-old daughter called Alix with his partner Lucille, 40, who he has been with for more than a decade and will be by his side as he faces a year of life-saving treatment. When the barman told his young daughter of the troubling diagnosis he reassured her of the powers of modern medicine and gushed about the public healthcare system. Unwell: Merlin announced in March that he was due to have the operation, joking that he had three weeks to 'get my s**t together' At the time, he said: 'I have so much faith in medicine and the NHS in this country, which is just so incredible.' Keeping his emotions behind closed doors, Merlin admitted: 'I've shed a tear in private. But you can choose 'to do' or 'not to do'. I chose to lead my life as normal, to stick to the facts about it, and to keep putting one step in front of the other.' The TV personality, who became a household name alongside Fred Sirieix in the First Dates restaurant, started to feel pain in June but thought it was caused by an old stomach injury from a car accident in his 20s. Merlin was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and said his tumour looked like an alien and felt like a walnut stuck inside of him. Close: He told his co-workers in the First Dates restaurant about his diagnosis just a week after he told his family (pictured: Fiona Beck, Grant Urquhart, Daniella Kalita, Fred Sirieix, David, Cici Coleman and Merlin on the show) Doctors discovered the tumour when they gave the barman an emergency sigmoidoscopy to probe his lower intestine after the star spent three months telling people he felt something wrong in his body. Merlin admitted he was terrified by the ordeal but immediately focused on his chances of survival following his diagnosis. The star revealed that his tumour wanted to move into the tissue surrounding it but wasn't 'lymph' - meaning the cancer thankfully hadn't spread. Merlin told his co-workers in the First Dates restaurant, including maitre d'hotel Fred Sirieix, and waiters Grant Urquhart and CiCi Coleman, about his diagnosis just a week after he told his family. The barman admitted his peers were shocked and couldn't help but question why bad things happen to good people. Denise Welch left the Loose Women panel stunned on Tuesday as she joked kissing her former co-star Michael Le Vell was 'a bit like kissing a cat's bum'. The 64-year-old Waterloo Road star and her ITV colleagues were discussing kissing techniques and their worst kisses when Denise revealed her worst kiss was with veteran Coronation Street star Michael. Joking with Charlene White, Janet Street-Porter and Brenda Edwards during the programme, Denise said she only had one bad kissing experience which was a fictitious kiss. Honest: Denise Welch left the Loose Women panel stunned on Tuesday as she joked kissing her former co-star Michael Le Vell was 'a bit like kissing a cats bum' Denise played barmaid Natalie Barnes on the cobbles from 1997-2000. Her character famously embarked on a steamy affair from Kevin Webster (played by Michael) who was married to Sally at the time. She explained: 'I was in Corrie and Natalie had to steal Kevin Webster, the most happily married man away. Old flames: Denise's character Natalie famously embarked on a steamy affair from Kevin Webster (played by Michael) who was married to Sally at the time. 'I had to say to Michael 'we can't do anything really sexy because it's pre watershed, so you have to kiss me, like you really, really want to kiss me, so the audience believe this is the most passionate affair that makes you leave Sally'. 'But he was quite shy so I used to say you have to put your hand behind my head. It was like (purses lips together). It was really difficult. She continued: 'It was a bit like a cat's bum sort of shape. Sorry Michael because I love you, but it was a bit like kissing a cat's bum. Sorry you have got to say.' Denise's appearance come after she looked sensational in a sizzling Instagram snap in May while promoting body positivity. The former soap star showed off her curvaceous figure in a plunging black and white F&F swimsuit as she posed on holiday in Greece. She sported a pair of chic white sandals while flashing her fresh red pedicure and manicure which matched her bold lipstick. Looking good: Denise looked sensation in a plunging black and white F&F swimsuit as she posed for a sizzling Instagram snap in May while promoting body positivity Alongside the snap, Denise wrote: 'Good morning!! Celebrating 9 yrs this week as ambassador for @lighterlife. I learnt the mental tools to address my emotional eating which was in danger of replacing my alcohol addiction. 'I use the flexifasting plan and eat normally the rest of the time. I enjoy all my favourite foods but I no longer let food and crooked thinking control me. I'm a healthy size 12/14 and that's fine by me. 'I celebrate my curves, my lumps, bumps, saggy boobs and cellulite because my 64 yr old body has served me well despite the reverse not always being true.' Former Neighbours star Adelaide Kane has showed off her sensational body in a series of snaps for a lingerie brand. The Aussie actress, 31, stripped down to a lace bra in a series of shots for lingerie brand Bluebella. In a series of snaps, Adelaide shows off her enviably toned abs and ample assets in a neon green lace bra. Former Neighbours star Adelaide Kane has showed off her sensational body in a series of snaps for a lingerie brand The Aussie actress, 31, stripped down to a lace bra in a series of shots for lingerie brand Bluebella She paired the bra with jeans, with she cheekily left unzipped to matching underwear underneath. In other pictures from the campaign, Adelaide opted for a bright purple bra and lace underwear - showing off her sensational figure in the process. In pictures posted to Instagram, the Teen Wolf Alum said that 10 per cent of the profits from the collection will go to OutRight Action International - a human rights charity protecting LGBTQ people across the world. In other pictures from the campaign, Adelaide opted for a bright purple bra and lace underwear - showing off her sensational figure in the process In a series of snaps, Adelaide shows off her enviably toned abs and ample assets in a neon green lace bra The low key photos appear to have been taken inside a home- with a book shelf on display in the background. Adelaide, who is bisexual, opted for a natural beauty look in the snaps, showing her effortless radiance. The Perth-born beauty kept her raven tresses down and loose in light waves and paired pink eye shadow with a light layer of foundation. She paired the bra with jeans, with she cheekily left unzipped to matching underwear underneath The low key photos appear to have been taken inside a home- with a book shelf on display in the background In May, Adelaide packed on the PDA with her Dutch girlfriend Marthe Woertman while the pair swam in a hotel pool. In late April, Adelaide confirmed her relationship with model Marthe. Posting to TikTok at the time, she shared a video of the pair kissing. Marthe, 21, also shared the footage on her own account. The Perth-born beauty kept her raven tresses down and loose in light waves and paired pink eye shadow with a light layer of foundation Kane recently came out as bisexual in a TikTok video, and also told her Instagram followers: 'Spoiler alert, I'm not straight.' In the past, she dated actor Jacques Colimon and fashion exec Joey Pauline. Adelaide shot to fame in 2006 when she was cast as Lolly Allen in Australian soap Neighbours, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood. She's best known for playing Mary, Queen of Scots, in the Stan drama Reign. Turning up the heat! Aussie actress Adelaide Kane, 30, and Dutch girlfriend Marthe Woertman passionately kissed in a hotel pool in a racy throwback she shared on Thursday Johnny Depp fans were ecstatic when they found out the actor was reportedly set 'to return' to Pirates of the Caribbean after being dropped from the franchise in 2018. However, it's unlikely the star, 59, will be returning to his iconic role as Jack Sparrow as his official representative has spoken out on the report. They have denied the claims that Depp has been in talks with Disney about a '$300 million deal' and told NBC News: 'This is made up'. Update: Johnny Depp fans were ecstatic when they found out the actor was reportedly set 'to return' to Pirates of the Caribbean after being dropped from the franchise in 2018 Depp was the major lead in five Pirates movies over the past 15 years and made what was thought to be his final voyage on the Black Pearl in Dead Men Tell No Tales which was released in 2017. But a source told Poptopic that the actor has been in talks with Disney about a '$300 million deal' after winning his defamation trial again Amber Heard. The insider revealed that Disney are interested in patching the relationship up with Depp and have recently reached out to him. They said: 'They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another pirate film or two. Disappointed: However, it's unlikely the star, 59, will be returning to his iconic role as Jack Sparrow as his official representative has spoken out on the report The source added that another project is in the works for Disney Plus. They said: 'The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and a spin-off Disney Plus series about the early life of the Captain of The Black Pearl.' They continued: 'What I can tell you is that the studio has already penned up a draft for a film about Jack Sparrow so they are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character.' The source said that the media house is working on a '$301 million deal' to coax Depp back soon and are also reportedly adding a 'sizeable donation' to a charity of Depp's choice as a gesture of goodwill. They have denied the claims that Depp has been in talks with Disney about a '$300 million deal' and told NBC News: 'This is made up' The Edward Scissorhands star previously told the jury he would not work with Disney again after he was scrubbed from the sixth Pirates movie. Depp was asked: 'If Disney came to you with $300m dollars and a million alpacas, nothing on this earth would get you to go back and work with Disney on a Pirates of the Caribbean film?' He responded: 'That is true' His legal team claims Depp lost out on a $22 million payday after Heard published her Washington Post op-ed in 2018 that didn't identify Depp, but clearly branded him as a domestic abuser. Depp said he felt as if he was 'guilty until proven innocent' with Disney executives. Return: A source told Poptopic that the actor has been in talks with Disney about a '$300 million deal' after winning his defamation trial again Amber Heard Original Pirates script writer Stuart Beattie was the first to publicly confirm that Disney Studios were ditching the star in 2018 as they rework the entire franchise. Speaking exclusively to DailyMailTV at a red carpet event in Hollywood, Beattie confirmed on camera the reboot means Depp is out as Sparrow. Nodding when it was suggested Depp was out, he said: 'I think he's had a great run. Obviously, he's made that character his own and it's become the character he's most famous for now. 'And kids all over the world love him as that character so I think it's been great for him, it's been great for us, so I'm just very, very happy about it.' Depp sued Heard over the op-ed she wrote, describing herself as 'a public figure representing domestic abuse.' The jury found in Depp's favor on all three of his claims relating to specific statements in the 2018 piece. The jury found Depp should receive $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, but the judge reduced the punitive damages award to $350,000 under a state cap. Heard has said she plans to appeal the verdict as she teeters on the brink of bankruptcy. A source close to the Aquaman star claimed the 36-year-old actress was 'broke' that she 'considers her career in Hollywood over' and 'has nothing to lose' following a disastrous few months. Heard admitted through her lawyer that she cannot afford the $8.3 million in damages awarded to Depp. Ex: Heard has publicly admitted she cannot pay Depp (right) after the jury awarded him $10 million and her only $2 million in their highly publicized court battle Lawyers for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have now failed to reach a last-minute agreement which might have seen the damages the actress owed to her former husband be reduced, following their six week defamation trial which ended earlier this month. Instead, the judge in the trial made the jury's award official on Friday with a written order for Heard to pay Depp $10.35 million for damaging his reputation by describing herself as a domestic abuse victim in an op-ed piece she wrote. Judge Penney Azcarate finalized the verdict as she entered a judgment order into the court record after a brief hearing in Fairfax County Circuit Court. Neither Depp nor Heard were present. She also ordered Depp to pay Heard $2 million, the jury's award on her counterclaim that Heard was defamed by one of Depp's lawyers. The order was a formality after the jury announced its verdict on June 1, largely siding with Depp after a sensational trial in which the couple revealed lurid details of their short marriage during a televised trial that was closely followed on social media. Attorneys for both Depp and Heard were unable to reach a last-minute settlement which now means there may be a costly and lengthy appeals process. In three weeks, the case will move to the Court of Appeals of Virginia during which time both parties will have 30 days to file a notice of appeal. She has been in a very low-key relationship with Coldplay's Chris Martin for almost five years. And Dakota Johnson revealed that maintaining privacy was by design. The 32-year-old actress is featured on the cover of the July/August issue of Vanity Fair as she touched on several subjects including her relationship with the world famous 45-year-old musician, the 'psychotic' process of working on the Fifty Shades Of Grey franchise, and her supposed feud with co-star Jamie Dornan. Opening up: Dakota Johnson talked about why she keeps her near five year relationship with Coldplay's Chris Martin so private, as the two are seen in November 2018 Dakota and Chris are rarely seen on public outings together and have never even walked a red carpet together in the over four years they have been together. She explained that the focus on privacy comes from many factors including them having a blended family and her upbringing as a child of two celebrities as she said: 'Maybe I think about relationships like that differently because I grew up in my family.' Chris famously has two teenage children - 18-year-old daughter Apple and 16-year-old son Moses - with ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow. They were married from 2003 to 2016. Lots to say: The 32-year-old actress is featured on the cover of the July/August issue of Vanity Fair as she touched on several subjects including her relationship with the world famous 45-year-old musician, the 'psychotic' process of working on the Fifty Shades Of Grey franchise, and her supposed feud with co-star Jamie Dornan Loved up: Dakota and Chris (pictured out on Monday) are rarely seen on public outings together and have never even walked a red carpet together in the over four years they have been together Dakota is the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson and is one of seven half siblings. Of her relationship with her siblings she said: 'We were all cool. Obviously, there were times where it was not cool, but I experienced that, so I dont want that in my life. 'I dont want any kids to experience anything like that. Its better to be kind, and its also really nice that everybody actually really loves each other and has each others backs.' Bond: Chris famously has two teenage children - 18-year-old daughter Apple (pictured) and 16-year-old son Moses - with ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow Blended family: Chris is seen flanked between his son Moses and Gwyneth's new husband Brad Falchuk Former flames: The former power couple (seen in January 2014) were married from 2003 to 2016 Dakota became a household name when she starred in Fifty Shades Of Grey in 2015 with sequels Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed following in 2017 and 2018, respectively. She was asked if she regrets making the films to which she replied: 'No. I dont think its a matter of regret. If I had known... 'If I had known at the time thats what it was going to be like, I dont think anyone wouldve done it. It wouldve been like, "Oh, this is psychotic." But no, I dont regret it.' There were also rumors of an on-set feud between she and co-star Jamie Dornan and she addressed those supposed issues. In the limelight: Dakota is the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, as the family are seen together in February 2016 Blended: Dakota one of seven half siblings, as she is seen with half-sibling Stella del Carmen and mom Melanie in Spain back in 2013 Dakota explained that the focus on privacy comes from many factors including them having a blended family and her upbringing as a child of two celebrities as she said: 'Maybe I think about relationships like that differently because I grew up in my family' Dakota explained: 'There was never a time when we didnt get along. 'I know its weird, but hes like a brother to me. I love him so, so, so much. And we were really there for each other. We had to really trust each other and protect each other.' Though she doesn't regret working on the racy franchise of films, the actress said that the original film she signed on to wasn't exactly the one they ended up doing. She said: 'Im a sexual person, and when Im interested in something, I want to know so much about it. Paving the way: Dakota became a household name when she starred in Fifty Shades Of Grey in 2015 (pictured) with sequels Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed following in 2017 and 2018, respectively 'Thats why I did those big naked movies. I signed up to do a very different version of the film we ended up making.' Dakota explained that the studio, directors, and book's author E.L. James, who goes by Erika, contributed to issues for the film. She said: 'She [James] had a lot of creative control, all day, every day, and she just demanded that certain things happen.' 'There were parts of the books that just wouldn't work in a movie, like the inner monologue, which was at times incredibly cheesy. It wouldnt work to say out loud. It was always a battle. Always. When I auditioned for that movie, I read a monologue from Persona [the 1966 Ingmar Bergman classic] and I was like, "Oh, this is going to be really special."' 'There was never a time when we didnt get along': There were also rumors of an on-set feud between she and co-star Jamie Dornan and she addressed those supposed issues (pictured in 2018's Fifty Shades Freed) The star also said that James became enraged when Charlie Hunnam, who was originally casted as Christian Grey, dropped out of the film that she scrapped the script. Dakota said of her three film contract: 'I was young. I was 23. So it was scary. It just became something crazy. 'There were a lot of different disagreements. I havent been able to talk about this truthfully ever, because you want to promote a movie the right way, and Im proud of what we made ultimately and everything turns out the way its supposed to, but it was tricky.' Meanwhile, Dakota has been casted in the titular role of Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web which is set for release sometime in 2023. David Tennant's son Wilfred made his television acting debut in BBC soap Casualty as he burst onto the screen asking for a doctor during Saturday night's episode. The budding star, nine, followed in the footsteps of his mum Georgia, who starred on the show in 2007 and his older brother Ty, 19, who appeared on the drama in 2020. Wilfred took on the role of Joey Parker, a little boy who wanders into the Holby City Hospital looking for some help for his pet gerbil, Rory. Talented family: David Tennant's son Wilfred, nine, made his acting debut in Casualty as he burst onto the screen asking for a doctor on Saturday night's episode Taking to Twitter, Georgia, 37, re-shared a Tweet from his acting agent Sarah Camlett, who wrote: 'So proud of this glorious young person's TV debut. The Future Is Bright. #WilfredTennant,' alongside a photo of the credits. During the episode Wilfred could be seen as he arrived at the hospital and announced: 'I need a doctor, he's not moving!' whilst gesturing to his gerbil inside a shoe box. Aside from having his mother's blonde locks, the youngster was the spitting image of his famous Doctor Who star father, 51. Oh no! Wilfred took on the role of Joey Parker, a little boy who wanders into the Holby City Hospital looking for some help for his pet 'He's not moving!' The doctors band together as they discuss how they will break the news to Joey that his pet is dead whilst trying to track down his parents The staff in the show band together as they discuss how they will break the news to Joey that his pet is dead whilst trying to track down his parents. Later in the show it was revealed that they purchased a replacement gerbil, so not to upset Joey with the bad news, as his dad thanked the doctors. David shares five children with his wife Georgia, he adopted her son, Ty, from a previous relationship, and they went onto have three daughters, Olive, 10, Doris, six, and Birdie, two, and a son, Wilfred. Ty made his first television appearance in the same show as Aaron who was rushed to hospital after having a seizure on his birthday. Throwback: The budding star followed in the footsteps of his mum Georgia (centre right), who starred on the show in 2007, 2009 and 2014 in short stints Keeping it in the family: His brother Ty, 19, made his first television appearance in the same show as Aaron who was rushed to hospital after having a seizure on his birthday Georgia first made a guest appearance on the show in 2007 before she took on the role of Heather Whitefield in 2009. But the doctor had a nasty end when she was crushed to death in a lift shaft in stomach-churning scenes in September of that same year. Georgia had only appeared in two episodes as Heather when her character was killed off; she later returned to Holby City again in 2014 as a guest character. Exciting: Taking to Twitter, Georgia re-shared a Tweet from his acting agent Sarah Camlett, who penned: 'So proud of this glorious young person's TV debut. The Future Is Bright' It comes as Russell T Davies has teased that David will face 'familiar but new' monsters as he returns to Doctor Who for the much-anticipated 60th anniversary special. The returning showrunner, 59, made a cryptic comment about the villains that the tenth doctor could face as he returns to the sci-fi franchise. He revealed the cast and crew are busy doing night shoots in Cardiff that could see some 'familiar but new' monsters appear, leaving fans guessing about which notorious species could return. Russell told the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine: 'At the time of writing, we're six days away from a night shoot in Cardiff in which some monsters might be glimpsed. He's back: It comes as Russell T Davies has teased that David will face 'familiar but new' monsters as he returns to Doctor Who for the much-anticipated 60th anniversary special 'Monsters which might well be familiar to readers of DWM, well, familiar, but new.' It remains unclear whether Russell could have been referring to notorious monsters such as the Daleks or the Cybermen, or lesser known villains such as Beep the Meep, who appeared in a Doctor Who comic strip. The screenwriter went on to tease the reason behind the return of David as the Doctor and his popular companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate. He put forward a number of exciting theories, including that the Doctor and Donna are from a universe 'colliding' with our own or that they are from a 'multiverse'. He suggested: 'A mysteriously forgotten excursion for the TARDIS in between Planet of the Ood and Sontaran Stratagem?' Toss Bank CEO Hong Min- taek speaks during a press conference held in central Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Toss Bank Internet bank announces nine-month achievement since launching By Anna J. Park Since Toss Bank was launched last October as the country's third internet-only bank, it has succeeded in attracting 3.6 million customers in just nine months. More than 2.5 million customers have been added this year alone, and the number of customers has tripled during the past six months. The bank announced its upcoming plans to launch differentiated products to help customers make wiser investment decisions and receive more benefits. "On average, it means that 13,600 people are joining Toss Bank per day," the bank's CEO Hong Min-taek said during a press conference held in central Seoul, Tuesday. "And 83.2 percent of those customers actually turned out to have put money into their accounts. Customers' high reliance on Toss Bank's innovative operation shows that digital banking is meeting the needs of financial customers." The CEO of the mobile-based bank specified its customers are distributed evenly in terms of age groups, with those aged in their 20s accounting for 25.1 percent and 30s for 25.4 percent, while those in their 40s take up 23.8 percent and in their 50s and older accounting for 19.2 percent. The CEO explained that the even distribution among age groups shows that digital banking is utilized by people of various ages with ease. The internet-only bank has also logged an impressive performance in providing loans, with accumulated loans surpassing 4 trillion won ($3.1 billion), as of June. 36 percent of the loans were lent to those with middle or low credit scores, with which the bank achieved its original pledge that at least 34.9 percent of its loans would be lent to those in the lower credit bracket groups. "Toss Bank has developed its own credit-rating model called TSS (Toss Scoring System) to provide further loans to customers of medium or lower credit scores, who could not enjoy full entitlements so far. Under the new credit rating system's credit-building effects, one out of four customers has had their middle and lower credit scores reevaluated as high credit scores," Toss Bank CEO Hong stressed. The CEO attributed the bank's innovative services, focusing on the needs of customers, as the source of the bank's exponential growth. The bank's innovative services include the free deposit and withdrawal account that gives out 2 percent interest a year, as well as its deposit products where customers can withdraw interest-accumulated money whenever they want. The CEO also highlighted that the bank's online-exclusive and unsecured debt products, which are the first of their kind in the local internet banking industry, have already lent more than 530 billion won to customers, in just four months after launching. Elizabeth Olsen was pictured as she made her way towards the Good Morning America studios in New York City on Monday. The 33-year-old performer appeared to be enjoying her solo stroll as she flashed a wide smile as she walked towards the production area of the long-running talk show. The WandaVision actress and her husband, Robbie Arnett, utilized their time on the program to discuss various aspects of their new children's book, Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective. Showing up: Elizabeth Olsen was pictured as she made her way towards the Good Morning America studios in New York City on Monday Olsen wore a stylish patterned green dress that showed off her chiseled legs as she strolled into the studio. The Primetime Emmy-nominated performer also rocked a set of black heeled shoes that contrasted perfectly with the color of her outfit. The actress accessorized with a round-framed pair of sunglasses and kept a small purse slung over her left shoulder. Her beautiful blonde hair fell towards her shoulder and paired well with the tones of her clothing. Dressed to impress: Olsen wore a stylish patterned green dress that showed off her chiseled legs as she strolled into the studio Stepping in style: The Primetime Emmy-nominated performer also rocked a set of black heeled shoes that contrasted perfectly with the color of her outfit Olsen and Arnett discussed various aspects of their publication during their interview with Good Morning America's hosts, and she noted that working on a children's book was a passion project for both of them. The actress noted that 'we've been wanting to write a children's book for about...four years.' The performer went on to speak about the process of coming up with the publication. She expressed that her husband 'writes and I'll edit, or I'll have notes,' to which Arnett added that their working relationship was 'a perfect harmony.' New book: Olsen and Arnett discussed various aspects of their publication during their interview with Good Morning America's hosts, and she noted that working on a children's book was a passion project for both of them Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective is centered on the character of the same name as she helps her friends navigate their first day of school. Olsen then remarked that she hoped that 'helping kids understand the complicated feelings that they're having' regarding their early experiences with education. She also pointed out that Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective was the first installment in what she described as a 'series' of children's books. Intention: Olsen then remarked that she hoped that 'helping kids understand the complicated feelings that they're having' regarding their early experiences with education The performer hoped that the book's readers would be able to utilize its lessons to help other students with their first days of school. 'If children are at least able to identify...what they're feeling, how they're feeling, then maybe they can identify it in someone else,' she stated. Olsen remarked that she also wanted Hattie Harmony: Worry detective's readers to 'have a little more compassion, or empathy, or curiosity' for other students. Advertisement Kim Kardashian spared no expense for her daughter North's ninth birthday party this month, that saw the young one and her pals whisked off by her mother's private jet to Wyoming for a glamping soiree. On Tuesday, the 41-year-old Kardashians star shared pictures from the grand event that had fans in awe over the extravagance on display, with one writing: 'Perks of being a billionaire's daughter. I wish this on everyone.' 'These kids are livin' the life,' one person added, while another noted the personalized private jet writing: 'Kim air is the biggest flex I literally can't.' 'GLAMPING at its finest,' another pointed out in the comments section, with another joking: 'If my kids can't flex like this I ain't having none.' 'Perks of being a billionaire's daughter': Kim Kardashian reveals North and her pals including Jessica Simpson's daughter took PRIVATE JET to Wyoming for 'glamping' 9th birthday party Among North's party crew was Jessica Simpson's daughter Maxwell, 10, as well as Kim's niece Penelope Disick, daughter of Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick. Tracy Romulus - Kim's chief marketing officer at KKW Brand - also had her 10-year-old daughter Ryan along for the ride at the bash. Also in the gang was Selena Gomez's nine-year-old half sister Gracie Elliot Teefey. Kanye West, who shares North with Kim, was not pictured in the birthday post, though he is known to have a ranch in Wyoming, where at one point they were rumored to be moving as a family before the couple divorced. Kim first showed off her new 'Air Kim' private plane earlier this year, and it is rumored to have cost upwards of $150million. Fun for the kids: Once inside the vessel, the luxurious interior had been decorated with spooky Halloween-style cobwebs with fake pieces of wood on every seat to fit with the camping theme Killer kampers! The indoor tents also had blood-splattered teepees with black inflatable air mattresses, and stuffed toy deer heads hanging at the top Group fun: North's birthday gang included Penelope Disick, Jessica Simpson's daughter Maxwell, Selena Gomez's nine-year-old half sister Gracie Elliot Teefey, and Tracy Romulus' daughter Ryan Tiring them out: The fun-packed birthday party also including outdoor activities such as zip-lining and water tubing Epic: North and her pals also enjoyed a tubing ride along the water in Wyoming From the first picture taken inside an aircraft hangar, fans could see the amount of work that had gone into the preparations, as Kim's private jet - with its own branded 'Kim Air' doormat - was decorated with silver helium balloons spelling out 'Camp North.' Once inside the vessel, the luxurious interior had been decorated with spooky Halloween-style cobwebs with fake pieces of wood on every seat to fit with a horror-tinged camping theme. The indoor tents also had blood-splattered teepees with black inflatable air mattresses, giving off glamping vibes. Idyllic: Kim also shared more snaps to her Instagram Stories that showed teepees outside as well as incredible views Nature walks: Kim posted another snap of a nature trail while enjoying her daughter's birthday Birthday girl: North showed off her wake-surfing skills accompanied by an adult Each tent had a blood-stained toy-stuffed deer head hanging at the top, which some fans found distressing, with one writing in the comments: 'Are those blood stained tents?' while another joked: 'did they really have to do the stuffed deer like that???' The fun-packed birthday party also included outdoor activities such as zip-lining and water tubing. As well as the kids, Kim impressed her friends back home with the expedition, as her PR pal Simon Huck wrote, 'Sign me up,' while Rob Kardashian's ex Adrienne Bailon wrote 'SO DOPE' three times. Kim officially became a billionaire in April last year when Forbes estimated her mega-wealth by assessing her cosmetics company, KKW Beauty, and her shapewear brand, Skims, which have both proven to be extremely lucrative. She's expecting her first child, a baby girl, with boyfriend Jake Ankers later this year. And Charlotte Crosby showcased her growing baby bump as she posed for a snap alongside some of her Geordie Shore co-stars on Tuesday. The reality star, 32, took to Instagram and posted a mirror selfie alongside Chloe Ferry, Sophie Kasaei and Nathan Henry as they filmed the reunion special in London. Charlotte Crosby showcased her growing baby bump as she posed for a snap alongside her Geordie Shore pals Chloe Ferry, Sophie Kasaei and Nathan Henry on Tuesday Charlotte looked radiant in the shot as she donned a grey crop top along with a pair of matching leggings. The star's brunette locks were styled into loose waves as she struck a playful pose alongside her famous pals. Chloe, Sophie and Nathan all put their hands on Chloe's growing bump, with the star captioning the snap: 'Mi familia '. The gang were also joined by fellow Geordie Shore star Kyle Christie who looked dapper in a plaid suit. Co-star: The gang were also joined by fellow Geordie Shore star Kyle Christie who looked dapper in a plaid suit It was previously announced that MTV are producing a Geordie Shore reunion series with several of the show's original castmembers. OG stars including Charlotte, Sophie and Holly Hagan will be returning to screens together, 11 years after the reality show first aired in 2011. The upcoming reunion series will include a group holiday, a long-awaited wedding and a party in the Geordie Shore house. Charlotte, who was part of the show from series one, originally left in 2016 after announcing her departure on Twitter. Throwback: Original Geordie Shore follows a group of young adults from Newcastle as they move into a house together (Pictured in 2011: front row L-R Charlotte, Vicky Pattison, Holly and Sophie; back row L-R Jay Gardner, Gaz Beadle and James Tindle) Charlotte gave her Instagram followers a good look at her blossoming baby bump as she posed completely naked for a saucy snap on Sunday. The mother-to-be posed for a mirror selfie, turned to the side so as best to show off her growing bump on her Stories. Captioning the cheeky photo she wrote: 'The calm before the storm of tonight's big launch. Stripped off! Charlotte gave her Instagram followers a good look at her baby bump as she posed completely naked for a saucy snap on Sunday 'So here's some naked bumpness before I'm off dropping parcels around the northeast'. The sexy shot comes just days after Charlotte soaked up the sun on a romantic staycation with boyfriend Jake, 31. The mother-to-be looked radiant in a abstract printed bikini as she flaunted her blossoming bump for the camera. Naughty: Captioning the cheeky photo she wrote: 'The calm before the storm of tonight's big launch. So here's some naked bumpness before I'm off dropping parcels around the northeast' She posed up a storm in the skimpy two piece as she topped up her tan in the sunny British weather. Charlotte captioned the stunning snaps: 'We have snuck away to the most heavenly idyllic spot for some quality time together and a little R+R'. She continued: 'Ive never stayed anywhere quite like this in England! the weathers been 24 degrees and weve been in the sea, sunbathing and lighting up the barbie! Any guesses as to where we are?! Gunna [sic] show you guys some more of this place tomorrow honestly its an absolute hidden treasure'. 'We've snuck away': The outing comes just days after Charlotte soaked up the sun on a romantic staycation with boyfriend Jake Ankers, 31 Gorgeous: The mother-to-be looked radiant in a abstract printed bikini as she flaunted her blossoming bump for the camera Later, she took to her Instagram Stories as she dined alfresco while she and Jake continued to enjoy the weather. The trip comes after Charlotte revealed her baby's gender by enlisting the help of a skywriter to draw a heart in the sky. It later flew back round to draw the letter 'G' in water vapour in the clear blue sky. As the letter became clear, pink confetti was launched from a cannon above Charlotte, Jake and their friends at the lavish party. Boom! The trip comes after Charlotte revealed her baby's gender by enlisting the help of a skywriter to draw a heart in the sky Charlotte also invited many of her former Geordie Shore co-stars along to the bash, including newly married Holly Hagan and Sophie. Newlywed Holly stepped out with husband Jacob Blythe for the first time since they tied the knot in Ibiza last week. Jay Gardner, James Tindale and Ricci Guarnaccio were all also there to celebrate Charlotte's baby news. The party was captured for Charlotte's upcoming BBC Three and iPlayer series, Charlotte in Sunderland. Party: The party was captured for Charlotte's upcoming BBC Three and iPlayer series, Charlotte in Sunderland Advertisement Scott Reid has been pictured as the murderer Ian Huntley on the set of the Channel 5 show, Maxine, on-location at a school in Ireland, with approximately 40 extras, many of them police and media. Filming has begun on the chilling Channel 5 three-part miniseries, Maxine, documenting the Soham murders investigation through the eyes of killer Ian Huntley's fiancee Maxine Carr. Photos from Thursday show an intimidating Scott dressed in a navy polo shirt and trousers, as he spoke to the headteacher while restraining a German Shepherd, which belonged to his partner. Actor: Scott Reid (left) has been pictured as the murderer Ian Huntley on the set of the Channel 5 show, Maxine, on-location at a school in Ireland, with approximately 40 extras, many of them police and media (Real-life Ian is pictured in 2002, right) Actress Jemma Carlton looked eerily similar to former teaching assistant Carr as she filmed scenes in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland on Tuesday - 20 years after the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both aged 10. The disappearance of the schoolgirls after a family barbecue in August 2002 sparked Britain's biggest-ever missing persons' enquiry - but came to a tragic end when their bodies were found dumped in a remote ditch. School caretaker Huntley - then 28 - had lured the girls to his house and murdered them before dumping their bodies and burning their clothes. Eek! Photos from Thursday show an intimidating Scott dressed in a navy polo shirt and trousers Uh-oh: He spoke to the headteacher while restraining a German Shepherd, which belonged to his partner Oh dear: The grey suit-clad principal walked towards the caretaker and appeared to be in deep conversation Dog-lovers: Two female police officers broke character as they flashed beaming smiles towards the pooch His then-fiancee Carr who provided him with a false alibi - but was in Grimsby visiting her mother at the time of the murders - was jailed for perverting the course of justice but released in 2004 with a new identity. She was dubbed 'The Most Hated Woman In Britain' following the trial , which saw Huntley admit to killing the children, but claiming their deaths were accidental. Scenes for the new drama showed Carr meeting with a journalist who has tracked her down. Scary! School caretaker Huntley - then 28 - had lured the girls to his house and murdered them before dumping their bodies and burning their clothes Troubling: His then-fiancee Carr who provided him with a false alibi - but was in Grimsby visiting her mother at the time of the murders - was jailed for perverting the course of justice but released in 2004 with a new identity Centre of attention: The actors put their skills to use as they got into character on-set Actress Jemma was seen with her bobbed hair in a scruffy updo and wearing a green jacket and jeans as she scowled at a male actor on the seafront. Channel 5 said in a statement about the drama: 'Maxine will examine the investigation of school assistant Maxine Carr and her caretaker fiance Ian Huntley, who was later imprisoned for the double murder of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the tragic case that shocked the nation. 'The three-part drama will explore their tumultuous relationship through Maxine's perspective; why she lied for him and how she became public enemy No.1, as well as reflect the scale of the police investigation and subsequent media frenzy around the biggest manhunt ever seen in British history.' Walking: Scott walked past police officers, as Ian, with the dog - as the headteacher walked away Solo: He was without the pooch as he strolled away while wearing a pair of brown trainers Ensemble: A large group of police officers gathered together for another scene Busy bees: Members of the press ensured to be on-site, with actors posing alongside a 'News Express' van What's going on? A satellite dish was seen above a press van, while a police car was parked in front Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer UK, at Paramount, said: 'The series marks a new venture into the true crime genre for Channel 5 drama and will give viewers an in depth examination of Maxine Carr and her role in one of the most notorious crimes in recent British history.' Mike Benson, Managing Director at Clapperboard added: 'Few crimes have embedded themselves in the national psyche more than the tragic events of Soham in 2002. It was a case which was unique in recent history in terms of the sheer scale of the media coverage and how this affected and nearly derailed the investigation and subsequent trial. We will explore this within the drama alongside the role played by Maxine Carr dubbed 'The Most Hated Woman in Britain.' Maxine will be produced by Clapperboard, Chalkboards scripted sister company and is set to air in 2022. The series was ordered by Cardwell and Paul Testar, Commissioning Executive, Drama. Gang: 10 actors playing police officers were joined by a man in a plaid navy shirt Prop: A sign reading 'Soham Village College Lodeside' had been planted in the ground outside the school Set: A row grey terraced houses also appeared to be in use for the Channel 5 programme Mike Benson and Julie Ryan are executive producers on the series. Laura Way (The Holiday, Blood) joins the team as director, whilst Simon Tyrrell (The Spanish Princess) serves as the writer. Abacus Media Rights are on board as international distributor for the series. Huntley was found guilty of killing both girls at his 2004 trial and later sentenced to two life terms, with a minimum 40-year tariff at the maximum security Frankland prison in Durham. He was a caretaker at the local Soham Village College and was arrested after the girls' bodies were discovered 13 days after their disappearance. During a two-week appeal to find the girls, Huntley gave TV interviews and joined in searches while his then-girlfriend Carr gave him a false alibi. Notorious: Actress Jemma Carlton looked eerily similar to former teaching assistant Carr (pictured R in 2002) as she filmed scenes in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland on Tuesday Final photo: Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were murdered by Ian Huntley on August 4 2002 (pictured two hours before their disappearance) He was jailed for life in 2005. During his trial, he said that he had 'killed the girls accidentally' but later admitted the killing in leaked tapes from prison. In a 2018 tape he said: I know the people of Soham took me into their community, they trusted me, gave me a job and a home, and I betrayed them in the worst possible way. And I am sorry for what I have done, sorry for the pain I have caused to the families and friends of Holly and Jessica, for the pain I have caused my family and friends, and for the pain I have caused the community of Soham. I am genuinely, genuinely sorry and it breaks my heart when it is reported I have no remorse, that I relish something. I do not. He added: I cant change anything. I cannot remove that day from history, what I have done. I know those girls would be 26 this year with families of their own, jobs and lives. I thought about them when they were turning 21 and when they were turning 18. I know no matter what I say that people are not going to think any better of me but I would much rather people have the truth about how I feel. I have nothing to gain by saying these things. I know I am never getting out. I have accepted that from day one. Huntley said he does not want to be freed from prison and insisted he will not apply for parole out of consideration for his victims families. A recent Channel 5 documentary - Soham: The Murder of Holly & Jessica - saw Sharon Gilbert, a former Special Constable with Cambridgeshire Police, reveal how Ian approached her and asked 'how long does DNA evidence last?' before joking about killing her just days before he was arrested for the murders. Sharon said: 'The atmosphere in Soham was very solemn, there wasn't very many people walking around, there were lots of police vehicles all over the place, lots of press parked at the end of the street 'Every window in town had a picture of the girls in the Manchester United tops - with the press rewards. 'On Wednesday afternoon we were tasked to go to Soham college, and Ian Huntley approached the vehicle and lounged over the hinge section of the door 'He was very relaxed in his talking, he wasn't nervous in any way shape or form 'Normally when you're sat in a police vehicle and someone comes up to talk to you they ask you about the equipment, the lights, anything else that's visible. He didn't want to know any of that 'Quite early in the conversation he said to me "how long said does DNA evidence last?" 'I said "indefinitely, they've used it on the Russian tsar family and woolly mammoths I believe" 'Everything about him made me feel uneasy, he had very strange eyes, like he's looking at your but through you, like your not there 'At one point he said the school was locked up, he'd locked it, but he wasn't sure if it would stay locked because the previous caretaker had left in dubious circumstances and had a second set of keys and it was a possibility he'd been in and out. 'But before he said that he told everyone "if I told you that I'd have to kill you" 'I spoke to the sergeant and he said straight away it was a missing person's enquiry and should I feel strongly about it to phone the inquiry line with my concerns. 'As soon as I got home I phoned the enquiry line, I wanted them to know that he was a person that they needed to have interest in, and it was serious. 'He'd done something that he was covering up with the way he was talking, and they needed to be interested in him.' A few days later, Sharon woke up to the news Huntley and Carr had been arrested. Tragedy: Police found the girls' burned Manchester United shirts in a bin at Soham College where Huntley worked 'I ran downstairs and phoned the enquiry line again. I said you need to listen to the phone call I made on Wednesday. 'I'm a member of Hampshire constabulary and I came to Soham and spoke to Ian Huntley and the conversation I had with him would be of interest to you. 'When they came and took my statement, one of the officers was sat at my table and every now and again I would say something and he'd go into the hall. 'I think they were using what was going in my statement to question him'. The documentary also spoke to reporters who were on the story at the time - including Brian Farmer, a reporter at the Press Association who found Huntley suspicious. 'The police issued a timeline of sightings, and they said Ian Huntley had seen the girls - although they didn't say he was the last person to see the girls,' he explained. 'I went to the house and I explained I just wanted to chat and get a few details, and they were quite reluctant. 'I remember asking Maxine whether at school they'd done stranger danger and if they'd be told to not get into car and she said they had 'I asked her from your knowledge of Holly and Jessica how would they react if someone said "get in the car" 'Before she had the chance to answer, Ian answered and said "Holly would probably get in and be quiet but Jessica would fight and be mad" 'That's when I thought something wasn't right, so I started to ask him more about the girls. He said he and Maxine had been out for a walk with their dog and he had got wet - he had got a hose out with soap and that's when the girls came along. 'They asked how Miss Carr [a teaching assistant at their school] was - I asked four or five times what they said 'And what baffled me was "why didn't they mention the dog" any child would be taken by the dog. 'He was describing a conversation an adult would have - not two 10 year old girls, I was wondering, why wasn't he telling the truth?'. Huntley had been given an alibi by his girlfriend Maxine Carr - but it was later revealed she was in Grimsby visiting her mother. Sky News presenter Jeremy Thompson also spoke to the programme, revealing how he interviewed Carr and was struck by how she was talking about Holly and Jessica in past tense. TikTok star Charli D'Amelio and Travis Barker's son Landon appeared to confirm they are dating while holding hands following a romantic dinner date in New York City. The lovebirds, both 18, first sparked romance rumors after leaving her sister Dixie's debut album launch party together, and again, when eagle-eyed fans noticed they were recently inked by the same tattoo artist. And on Monday night, they continued to fuel romantic speculation as they walked with their hands intertwined down the street together through a large crowd. Blossoming romance: TikTok star Charli D'Amelio and Travis Barker's son Landon appear to confirm they are dating while holding hands following a romantic dinner date in New York City As Landon guided his influencer girlfriend to their next destination, she could be seen rocking a figure-hugging grey dress with a slit a few inches above her knees. For their fun night out, D'Amelio wore her glossy brown hair in glamorous curls, pink lipstick and a black handbag on her shoulder. Meanwhile, Landon cut a cool figure in a semi-sheer black shirt, a gold necklace, one cross earring and shiny pants. Fueling speculation: The lovebirds, both 18, first sparked romance rumors after leaving her sister Dixie's debut album launch party together, and again, when eagle-eyed fans noticed they were recently inked by the same tattoo artist Looking good! As Landon guided his influencer girlfriend to their next destination, she could be seen rocking a figure-hugging grey dress with a slit a few inches above her knees Earlier this week, a source told People of the new relationship: 'They're seeing each other, and it's early stages.' Eyebrows were also raised when the duo showed off the tattoos they both had done earlier this week by Arbel, a tattoo artist in Los Angeles. 'People peeped #charlidamelio and #landonbarker getting tatted at the same time,' the Instagram account, TikTokRoomTM, posted. Son of a rockstar: Meanwhile, Landon cut a cool figure in a semi-sheer black shirt, a gold necklace, one cross earring and shiny pants Supportive: They also both follow each other on Instagram They also both follow each other on Instagram. Charli was previously in a relationship with Chase Hudson, a TikToker and musician who also goes by Lil Huddy. She announced their split in April 2020 after less than a year of dating. The pair's romance began back in December of 2019, but they did not confirm their boyfriend-girlfriend status to fans until late January. Tatt's interesting! Eyebrows were also raised when the duo showed off the tattoos they both had done earlier this week by Arbel, a tattoo artist in Los Angeles Young love: Earlier this week, a source told People of the new relationship: 'They're seeing each other, and it's early stages' Meanwhile, Barker is rumored to have been in a romance with Devenity Perkins in 2016, according to People. He hasn't been romantically linked to anyone else these last few years. Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Charli was raised by former model Heidi D'Amelio, and a businessman who once ran for the Connecticut Senate, Marc D'Amelio. After joining the platform in 2019, Charli had become the most followed account with her viral dance routines and by 2020 she had over 100 million fans. At the time she took to the platform to say that the achievement was 'like a dream'. TikTok sensation: After joining the platform in 2019, Charli had become the most followed account with her viral dance routines and by 2020 she had over 100 million fans In a video she added: 'I can't believe there's 100 million supporters following me right now. That is insane, oh my goodness. 'Y'all can't grasp that this is real, I still feel like it's a dream, kind of waiting to wake up. Very insane. Oh my goodness, thank you!' In the caption she wrote: ''A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED ME REACH 100 MILLION SUPPORTERS!!! AND ANOTHER HUGE THANK YOU TO @tiktok I LOVE EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!' The social media platform congratulated her on the news and said it was 'so proud' of her achievements. In a statement TikTok said: 'In less than 18 months, Charli has grown into one of the most recognized and beloved TikTok creators in the world. 'While we're extremely proud of Charli and all that she has accomplished since she shared her first TikTok video in May 2019.' TikTok also announced it would be donating $100,000 in Charli's name to American Dance Movement, an organization aimed at increasing access to dance education in the US. Kali Reis has joined the cast of the upcoming fourth season of the crime drama series True Detective. The news about the 35-year-old actress and professional boxer was initially reported by Deadline, who noted that she would co-star with Jodie Foster. The media outlet also noted that the program's fourth run of episodes, entitled True Detective: Night Country, was officially greenlit on Tuesday. Starring role: Kali Reis has joined the cast of the upcoming fourth season of the crime drama series True Detective; she is seen in March The new season of the show will be centered on Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro, and it is set to take place in Ennis, Alaska. When an extended period of winter night falls on the town, the six operators of the Tsalal Arctic Research Station suddenly disappear. The detectives are then forced to look into their own dark pasts in order to solve the seemingly impossible task. The new season of the program is set to be written and directed by Issa Lopez, who also serves as its showrunner and as one of its producers. Main characters: The new season of the show will be centered on Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro, and it is set to take place in Ennis, Alaska; costar Jodie Foster is pictured earlier this month Other executive producers include Barry Jenkins, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The performers previously costarred in the first season of the program, which aired in 2014. HBO Programming's Executive Vice President, Francesca Orci, gave a statement to the media outlet to express her excitement for the new run of episodes. Sticking with it: Other executive producers include Barry Jenkins, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson; the actors are seen in the show's first season 'We are tremendously excited to return to the True Detective franchise and to be working with the multi-talented Issa Lopez,' she said. She also remarked that the director's 'singular vision for her Night Country installment will be beautifully realized with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis in the starring roles.' Development on the project was initially revealed this past March, when it was announced that Lopez and Jenkins had been attached as producers. Working hard: Development on the project was initially revealed this past March, when it was announced that Lopez and Jenkins had been attached as producers; Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff are seen in the show's third season The former of the pair was only expected to produce and direct the pilot at the time. The new season of the show is currently scheduled to begin filming in Iceland at a date that has not been revealed to the public. True Detective: Night Country's release date has not been announced as of yet. Victoria Beckham seemed in high spirits on Tuesday as she took to her Instagram account to promote her new makeup product. The designer, 48, looked sensational as she posed up a storm for a gallery of snaps and clips showcasing her new beauty cheek product to her 30.1million followers. The former Spice Girl showcased her beauty sporting a pair of white and green silk pyjama trousers and matching shirt as she posed in the bathroom. Glam: Victoria Beckham seemed in high spirits on Tuesday as she took to her Instagram account to promote her new makeup product She swept her brunette tresses up in a chic neat up-do leaving her fringe framing her face. Victoria looked radiant while opting for a glam palette of makeup as she gave fans a tutorial on how to use her 'CheekyPosh' blush. In one snap she can be seen writing 'Cheeky' on the mirror with the product while revealing an arm full of all the colour swatches. Stunning: The designer, 48, looked sensational as she posed up a storm for a gallery of snaps and clips showcasing her new beauty cheek product to her 30.1million followers Chic: The former Spice Girl showcased her beauty sporting a pair of white and green silk pajama trousers and matching shirt as she posed in the bathroom She revealed she was feeling nostalgic in the clip as she announced that her two new blushes are named after Fame and Saturday Night Fever. She penned: 'Something Cheeky.... launching today. 'Two new shades of Cheeky Posh have arrived!! Meet Fame and Fever (can you guess the inspiration?!) Stylish: She swept her brunette tresses up in a chic neat up-do leaving her fringe framing her face 'Fame is a beautiful rosy mauve and Fever is a vibrant poppy that achieves that perfect sunkissed glow. My new summer staples! x VB.' It comes after Victoria took to her Instagram Stories earlier this month to offer her followers some less than glamorous advice. She may be an ex Spice Girl and award winning fashion designer but she still has to pick up after her dog like everyone else. The product: Victoria looked radiant while opting for a glam palette of makeup as she gave fans a tutorial on how to use her 'CheekyPosh' blush In the clip the fashion mogul was walking cocker spaniel Fig, joined on the journey by her ten-year-old daughter Harper when husband David, 47, seemingly came to the rescue. Guided by the pooch Victoria said: 'So we are on the school walk this morning, getting our steps in. 'And someone - David - has tied the poop bag around the lead' she continued as she showed off the green plastic sack - as well as her perfectly manicured nails. Incredible: She revealed she was feeling nostalgic in the clip as she announced that her two new blushes are named after Fame and Saturday Night Fever Before adding: 'What a good idea, so you never forget them!'. The Wannabe hitmaker, who is also mother to Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 19, Cruz, 17, then gushed over the black pup. She cried: ' Fig, Fiiigie, good morning!'. 'David's got my back!': It comes after Victoria offered fans poop bag advice as her famous husband comes to the rescue as she walks cocker spaniel Fig Captioning the images: 'Top tip! @DavidBeckham ties ties the poop bags around the dog lead so you never forget them'. It comes after the family welcomed a brand new addition to the family earlier this month in the form of an adorable pup named Simba. And the arrival seems to be settling into family life, as Victoria shared a slew of sweet snaps to her Instagram dubbing him 'A real posh puppy'. Love: Guided by the pooch Victoria said: 'So we are on the school walk this morning, getting our steps in' (pictured together earlier this year) Handy David: 'And someone - David - has tied the poop bag around the lead' she continued as she showed off the green plastic sack - as well as her perfectly manicured nails Family: The family also own cocker spaniels Olive and Sage before welcoming puppy Simba to the clan earlier this month Showing that Simba is being showered with attention, the snaps included her husband David lying down for a cuddle. Flashing a smile to the camera, David locked Simba between his arms as they enjoyed the sweet embrace. While another showed Harper, the youngest of the Beckham clan (prior to Simba!), planting a kiss on his head. While Romeo, who was the first to announce the arrival of Simba, dubbing him 'my new baby', held the tiny pup by just one hand as he nestled into him. Jesting that he had 'great taste' in the caption, Victoria also shared a shot of Simba with a 'Chewy Vuiton' dog toy, which featured a play on the iconic Louis Vuitton design. Cute! Showing that Simba is being showered with attention, the snaps included David lying down for a cuddle Kisses: While another showed Harper (left) and Romeo (right) embracing the cute pup Advertisement Filming of the Gabby Petito Story, which follows the real life tragedy that played out last year, began in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday. The actress portraying the 22-year-old aspiring social media star - named Skyler Samuels, 28 - was seen with the famous 'let it be' tattoo inked on her right forearm for the Lifetime film. She was joined by actor Evan Hall, 31 - who is playing Petito's boyfriend Brian Laundrie, who admitted to murdering her. Actress Skyler Samuels, who plays Gabby Petito in the upcoming Lifetime movie The Gabby Petito Story, was spotted on set in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday. She was joined by actor Evan Hall who plays Brian Laundrie Recreation: The actress was seen seen with Petito's famous 'let it be' tattoo inked on her right forearm for the Lifetime film. Petito, who was an aspiring social media star, is pictured right Petito was strangled on a road trip with Laundrie in Wyoming last summer while her boyfriend was later found dead at a swamp near his parents' home in Florida from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. The FBI later revealed that Laundrie had taken responsibility for the murder in a notebook that was found near his remains more than a month after he went missing. Petito and Laundrie had been embarking on a cross country road trip which she had been documenting on social media. Tragedy: She was not alone on set as she was joined by the actor - named Evan Hall, 31 - who is playing Petito's boyfriend Brian Laundrie , who admitted to murdering her Tragedy: Petito was strangled on a road trip with Laundrie in Wyoming last summer while her boyfriend was later found dead at a swamp near his parents' home in Florida from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head Tribute: The film tattoo is seen on the left, while Petito's actual tattoo is seen in an Instagram post on the right, it is a reference to the classic song by The Beatles Busy day: Skyler was seen thinking about her next scene Changing it up: Evan was seen in a different outfit The FBI later revealed that Laundrie had taken responsibility for the murder in a notebook that was found near his remains more than a month after he went missing Actress Thora Birch - who is best known for her work in 2001's Ghost World and 1993's Hocus Pocus - is making her full-length feature film debut as director in addition to also acting in the made-for-television movie. Director Birch will also be playing Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt who has been at the forefront of the media coverage as she seeks justice for her murdered daughter. The movie is part of Lifetime's Stop Violence Against Women public affairs initiative. Petito and Laundrie had been embarking on a cross country road trip which she had been documenting on social media According to Deadline it will 'explore Gabby and her fiance Brian Laundries complicated relationship and what may have gone wrong during their cross-country trip that resulted in Gabbys tragic murder' Relaxed: Skyler donned a pink top with sweatpants and Birkenstock sandals According to Deadline it will 'explore Gabby and her fiance Brian Laundries complicated relationship and what may have gone wrong during their cross-country trip that resulted in Gabbys tragic murder.' The Gabby Petito Story will continue to film in Utah through the summer and the movie is set to premiere on Lifetime later this year. Back in November 2021, the FBI said it was closing its investigation into Petito's death after concluding that Laundrie did admit to it by taking responsibility in the notebook that was found by his remains in the Cartlon Reserve swamp near his parents home in North Port, Florida on October 20. The Gabby Petito Story will continue to film in Utah through the summer and the movie is set to premiere on Lifetime later this year Lots to do: It certainly seemed like a busy day on set The bureau did not say what specifically he wrote in the notebook claiming responsibility for Petito's murder. The FBI opened its investigation into Petito's disappearance after she was reported missing by her parents on September 12. At the time, she and Laundrie has been on a cross-country road trip in her white van. A massive manhunt ensued, and Petito's remains were found on September 19 at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming near where she and Laundrie had last been seen together - and three weeks after she had last spoken to her parents. Director Birch (seen in February 2019) will also be playing Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt (seen in September 2021) who has been at the forefront of the media coverage as she seeks justice for her murdered daughter She died of blunt-force injuries to the head and neck and manual strangulation, according to the Teton County Coroner. She had been dead for three or four weeks before her body was discovered. The search for Laundrie took more than a month, with a large group of police officials scouring the Carlton Reserve. His remains were found on October 20 after water had receded from the search area and the park was reopened. On that day, his parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, then informed law enforcement that they intended to return to the park to search for him. Images from Fox News show the Laundrie's at the reserve ahead of the search as well as the notebook found by law enforcement. Back in November 2021, the FBI said it was closing its investigation into Petito's death after concluding that Laundrie did admit to it by taking responsibility in the notebook that was found by his remains in the Cartlon Reserve swamp near his parents home in North Port, Florida on October 20 In a statement on Friday, the FBI said: 'Law enforcement officers were present when Mr. Laundrie's parents located an item in the park later determined to belong to Mr. Laundrie. 'Upon further search of the area, investigators found human remains later confirmed to be Mr. Laundrie, along with a backpack, notebook, and a revolver. 'A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms. Petito's death.' The FBI opened its investigation into Petito's disappearance after she was reported missing by her parents on September 12. At the time, she and Laundrie has been on a cross-country road trip in her white van The search for Petito began after Laundrie had returned to his parent's Florida home from their trip without her on September 1. On September 11, Gabby's family reported her missing and two days later, her boyfriend Brian Laundrie vanished from his parents' home. The young couple had been on a cross-country van trip but it turned sour and in August, just a few weeks before she died. A massive manhunt ensued, and Petito's remains were found on September 19 at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming near where she and Laundrie had last been seen together - and three weeks after she had last spoken to her parents Chris and Roberta Laundrie, Brian's parents, have been widely condemned for not talking with Petito's family or turning their son in to police when he returned home from his trip, especially after she was reported missing. He left their home on September 13, two days after her family on Long Island, New York, reported her disappearance. Petito's family criticized the Laundries for not helping them and have since filed a lawsuit against them. Before Petito's disappearance, she and Laundrie were pulled over by Utah police officer in Moab on August 12, 2021 after they responded to a call from a witness who saw the couple involved in a domestic fight. His remains were found on October 20 after water had receded from the search area and the park was reopened. On that day, his parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, then informed law enforcement that they intended to return to the park to search for him. Images from Fox News show the Laundrie's at the reserve ahead of the search as well as the notebook found by law enforcement Officers Eric Pratt and Daniel Robbins had pulled the couple over after they responded to a call from a witness who saw the couple involved in a domestic fight. Bodycam footage showed a visibly shaken Petito admitting to being the aggressor in the public argument. During the conversation, Pratt had noted that Petito should have been arrested for her actions as stated in the Utah state law. The couple, however, managed to dispute the allegations and the officers let them go following a 75-minute conversation on the promise that they spend the night away from one another. Petito's family criticized the Laundries for not helping them and have since filed a lawsuit against them, Gabby Petito's parents Joseph Petito (pictured left) and Nichole Schmidt (center) are seen earlier this week After the bodycam footage emerged, the Price City Police Department launched its own independent investigation and said Wednesday that the officers should have pressed charges in the incident. 'I believe the officers responded to a domestic violence call and had probable cause an act of domestic violence had been committed,' Price Police Capt. Brandon Ratcliffe. 'This should have meant an arrest was made, either by citation or custody.' Despite evidence pointing towards Petito as the aggressor, Ratcliffe noted that she had probably been the victim of violence in the relationship. As a result of the investigation, Ratcliffe recommended that Pratt and Robbins be put on probation for how they handled the incident. He also concluded that he couldn't be certain that the officers could have changed the outcome of Petito's fate if they acted accordingly. Officers Eric Pratt and Daniel Robbins had pulled the couple over after they responded to a call from a witness who saw the couple involved in a domestic fight Bodycam footage showed a visibly shaken Petito admitting to being the aggressor in the public argument. During the conversation, Pratt had noted that Petito should have been arrested for her actions as stated in the Utah state law 'Would Gabby be alive today if this case was handled differently?,' the report said, according to CNN. That is an impossible question to answer despite it being the answer many people want to know. 'Nobody knows and nobody will ever know the answer to that question.' The city of Moab has not revealed any form of future disciplinary action for the officers but they intend to implement new measures such as legal and domestic violence training. They noted, however, that the officers should have cited Petito made 'several unintentional mistakes' during the incident. 'Based on the report's findings, the City of Moab believes our officers showed kindness, respect and empathy in their handling of this incident,' a statement from the city read. 'The City of Moab sends our sincere condolences to the Petito family. Our hearts go out to them as they continue to deal with the tragic loss of their daughter.' Pregnant Jill Duggar celebrated the forthcoming arrival of her third shower at an intimate baby shower hosted by her nearest and dearest - but neglected to invite her mother or any of her siblings amid ongoing tensions between the relatives. The sweet celebration was hosted at the home of the 19 Kids And Counting stars cousin, Amy Duggar King, however, it appears her parents Jim Bob and Michelle weren't at the event - and neither were some of the 31-year-olds sisters including Jana, Jessa, Joy-Anna, and Jinger. The mother-of-two gave Counting On fans a glimpse into the special day on Facebook as she shared a selection of images which showcased the decorations and gifts she received. Celebration time: Jill Duggar shares images from her baby shower with fans on Monday Family favor: The event was held at the home of Jill's outspoken cousin Amy Duggar King Jill opted for a floral print top and a white tiered skirt for the event, which saw Amys house decorated in a white, green and gold color scheme. An arch of white, green and pale pink balloons was placed in the living room while gold balloons spelling out OH BABY were seen in the kitchen. Jill - who shares sons Israel David, six, and Samuel Scott, four, with her husband Derick Dillard shared a message of thanks as she wrote: I feel so loved and more prepared now for baby boy with all the gifts, prayers & blessings by friends and family (+ several who couldnt attend the party in person) who showered us this weekend in anticipation of our little mans arrival next month! Though she didnt elaborate further on which loved ones couldnt attend, Jill took the time to thank Amy for organizing the celebration as she continued: Special thanks to the hosts: my MIL Cathy Dillard Byrum my SIL Deena Dillard my cousin Amy Rachelle King & my Aunt Deanna Duggar! The noted absences come weeks after Jill herself had been missing from a sibling reunion which took place in Santa Monica earlier this month. Sisters Jinger, Jessa, Jana and Jennifer had publicly ventured out together for first time since their disgraced older brother Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison on child pornography charges. Jill and Derick, 33, spoke out after Josh was sentenced in May with a statement which read: The Bible clearly states that God effects justice and vengeance through the governing authorities. So many gifts: Jill and her unborn child were showered with gifts at the intimate celebration Feeling blessed: Jill wrote, I feel so loved and more prepared now for baby boy with all the gifts, prayers & blessings by friends and family' 'Though some believe Josh should have received a greater sentence and still fewer believe he should have received a lighter sentence, God has carried out his vengeance today for his unspeakable criminal activity.' The pair claimed that 'until now, [Josh] has yet to be held accountable to the extent necessary to cause change in his dangerous pattern of behavior,' and that 'it seems that it may take spending over a decade in federal prison, and still more on probation, for Josh to have any potential for rehabilitation to the point he can safely live in society again.' The statement continued: 'Hopefully, Josh can actually begin to get treatment and begin to work toward a lifestyle where he is less likely to reoffend. If for nothing else, the notoriety of this case has hopefully contributed to the deterrence of potential offenders and will help protect children by decreasing the demand for' child pornography. 'We are neither rejoicing nor disappointed by the sentence, but we are thankful its finally over. The couple ended their statement in saying that they 'continue to love Josh and his family and will be there for them however we can.' Jill's fraught relationship with her family was also brought to light last month when court documents from a 2017 lawsuit filed by the mom-of-two and three of her sisters against those people responsible for releasing a police report detailing how her brother Josh abused them were released to the public. In the documents, Jill spoke out about her 'toxic' relationship with her father Jim Bob, 56, whom she branded 'verbally abusive' and 'controlling'. Expanding their family: Jill already shares sons Israel David, six, and Samuel Scott, four, with her husband Derick Dillard Couldn't make it: It appears some of Jill's sisters were not in attendance Family reunion: Jill had notably been missing from a sibling reunion which took place in Santa Monica earlier this month Jill, the fourth-oldest of 19 siblings, made the negative assessment in court documents including a deposition that were obtained by The Sun. The soon-to-be mom-of-three also revealed that 'issues' with her family sent her to counseling, and she has had limited contact with Jim Bob for years. 'I saw a whole new side to my dad once my husband and I started making decisions that were best for our family, but not in his best interest,' she said during a Preliminary Psychological Opinion by Robert Wynne. 'Sadly, I realized he had become pretty controlling, fearful, and reactionary. He was verbally abusive. Our relationship is not good. It got pretty toxic.' Meanwhile, convicted pedophile Joshs outspoken cousin Amy has also spoken out against her family on a number of occasions - most recently when she issued a statement about her pedophile cousin in which she implied she hoped that prisoners would beat up Josh in jail. In a video on her Instagram page, the 35-year-old said: He cannot have his computer, he cannot hurt, exploit any more children and when he sees his kids, he has to be supervised. And honestly, where he's going, I feel like the prisoners are just gonna take care of him.' Criminal: Josh Duggar was found guilty in the Western District of Arkansas Federal Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas in connection with possessing and receiving child pornography last December King continued on saying that she feels as though the issues involving Duggar are not over. She said that her cousin's 'sickness stems from somewhere, and eventually we will hear about the trauma... Eventually I think more will come out. 'But hopefully tonight, I can sleep for the first time ever and rest assure that another monster will be put behind bars makes my heart feel a little lighter.' King, who occasionally appeared on 19 Kids and Counting, including a story arc where she tried to make it in the music industry in Nashville, is the owner of the clothing brand 3130 Clothing. When Josh married his wife, Anna, in 2008, King served as a flower girl. King has been married to husband Dillon King since 2015. The couple has one son, Daxton. Shocking: The disgraced reality TV star was found guilty on two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography after investigators traced a trove of the disturbing material on his work computer in an evidence photo Keeping watch: Jurors during the trial heard testimony that Josh and Anna, pictured with six of their seven young children, subscribed to a service in 2013 called Covenant Eyes that monitors adult internet use and would report 'objectionable material' to Anna Duggar has been in custody since December when a federal jury found the 19 Kids and Counting alum guilty of possession and receipt of child pornography. 'The images were some of the worst that this court has ever encountered,' Judge Brooks told Duggar, as his wife Anna, 33, sat a few yards behind him in the public gallery during May's hearing. Prior to the sentencing, Michelle wrote a letter of support for her son that asked for leniency in consideration of his 'tender heart,' with Michelle adding that Josh 'is compassionate toward others.' She also requested that Josh be 'reunited with his wife and family in a timely manner.' Famous family: The Duggar family's life was documented on TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting from 2008 to 2015 Elsewhere, Josh's wife Anna called her husband a 'loving, supportive and caring father' in her own letter to Judge Brooks. The court heard in December how the dad-of-seven used the desktop computer at his car dealership to trawl the dark web for hundreds of warped films and photos. Duggar's trove of child porn was described as 'the sickest of the sickest.' He told Duggar that his crimes were exacerbated by the 'sadistic' nature of the abuse, the ages of the kids involved and his refusal to accept his guilt. The upcoming season of The Block: Tree Change is being filmed in the Macedon Ranges in rural Victoria. But there are now calls for next year's season to return to Sydney so the teams can renovate host Scott Cam's childhood home in Vaucluse. The former dwelling was knocked down so the new owners could build a new, architecturally designed home, but construction was 'abandoned' before it could be finished, reports The Daily Telegraph. There are growing calls for Scott Cam's 'abandoned' childhood home in Vaucluse (pictured) to be transformed on next year's season of The Block The property last sold in 2017 for $3.025millon. The local council stopped the rebuild more than a year ago because the builders allegedly went beyond the development approval. They apparently built on council land and also erected unapproved rooftop access on the site. Scott Cam (pictured) is the longtime host of Channel Nine renovation show The Block The former dwelling was knocked down so the new owners could build a new, architecturally designed home, but construction was 'abandoned' before it could be finished (pictured) 'Absolutely The Block should return to Sydney. There's no real estate market in Australia as competitive, intense and enticing as Sydney's eastern suburbs,' said Gavin Rubinstein of Luxe Listings Sydney. The new season of The Block is being filmed in Gisborne in country Victoria, a 40-minute drive from Melbourne, and is said to be one of the biggest builds yet. After years of city renovations, the producers have opted for a 'tree change' by having the teams transform homes in rural Victoria. The property last sold in 2017 for $3.025millon. (Pictured before being knocked down) The local council stopped the rebuild more than a year ago because the builders allegedly went beyond the development approval Now the teams will each be building a home on 10 acres of land. Fashion influencer Ferguson and her footy star fiance Joel Patfull quit The Block in April, supposedly due to a family emergency. While he normally oversees the projects, Scott will also renovate one of the properties for himself on the new season. Korea's overseas financial assets hit a new high in 2021 thanks largely to a jump in investment in U.S. stocks, central bank data showed Tuesday. The nation's external financial assets came to $1.715 trillion at the end of December last year, up $177.8 billion from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The BOK attributed the year-on-year surge mainly to increased investment in the United States and European Union countries amid stock rallies. Financial assets in the U.S. jumped $141.8 billion to $675 billion, touching a new high and accounting for 39.4 percent of the total. Korean entities' financial assets in the EU climbed $11.5 billion to $236 billion, and their financial assets in China rose $8.9 billion to $164.6 billion. In line with an international norm, the tally excluded Korea's foreign reserves, which stood at $463.1 billion as of the end of December, the BOK said. Foreign reserves consist of securities and deposits denominated in overseas currencies, International Monetary Fund reserve positions, special drawing rights and gold bullion. The data also showed the nation's external financial liabilities increasing $25.5 billion to $1.519 trillion as of the end of last year. External liabilities owed to the U.S. were the largest at $386.2 billion, or 25.4 percent of the total, followed by Southeast Asian nations with $323.9 billion and the EU with $251.5 billion. (Yonhap) She is celebrating her 43rd birthday. And Busy Philipps is aging naturally. The actress talked never getting any work done to her face during an appearance on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. 'People have actually accused me of work': Busy Philipps revealed she has never had any work done to her face during an appearance on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast 'No Botox, no fillers,' she said, adding she has 'no judgement' towards those who have had changes done. Busy said she has been accused of getting work done but cited a myriad of other factors which contributed to her changing face. She also admitted to being 'disappointed' seeing women get work done at a young age. 'I get disappointed when very young women start to f*** with their faces,' Busy admitted. 'People have actually accused me of work, [but] I've been on camera since I was 19 years old. Throwback: Philipps pictured on a 2001 episode of Dawson's Creek 'My face as a teenager and my face today is totally different because of having children, the hormones, losing and gaining weight, working out, structurally, I can't even explain to you how different I look now. 'My only point is that... 23-year-olds, calm down Your face is going to change you lose the baby fat. 'And post-children, post-baby there's like a hormonal shift.' Yet she isn't opposed to having work done later in life: 'My rules in life are just, there are no rules.' 'I can't even explain to you how different I look now': Busy said she has been accused of getting work done but cited a myriad of other factors which contributed to her changing face; pictured 2020 Busy's interview was published after she spoke up about Roe v. Wade being overturned. The 43-year-old actress shared a video of herself working out with an emotional caption to her Instagram Stories on Saturday. 'I couldn't do it yesterday but it's my birthday so even though I woke up crying, I'm making myself move,' she wrote. 'Because I won't stop. We can't stop.' Still moving: Philipps took to her Instagram story Saturday to encourage fans to keep fighting for abortion rights after Roe v. Wade was overturned the day before (pictured May 2022) Busy's Instagram post is one of many she fired off in the past 24 hours about her opposition to the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision. She shared a post that gave people information on a protest in Washington Square Park in New York City on Friday. I have no words,' she wrote in the caption. 'This is total devastation. See you tonight New York and I hope you show the fuck up wherever you live. #abortionisahumanright #abortion #f*ckthesupremecourt.' Emotional: The 43-year-old actress shared an emotional video of herself working out while reflecting on Roe v. Wade getting overturned 'I couldn't do it yesterday but it's my birthday so even though I woke up crying, I'm making myself move,' she wrote. 'Because I won't stop. We can't stop' Protest: She shared a post that gave people information on a protest in Washington Square Park in New York City on Friday Philipps has publicly supported a woman's right to choose for years. Back in 2019, she even revealed she had an abortion. 'I have a thing that I would like to say,' she said on her talk show Busy Tonight. 'I hope that whatever it is that you believe personally that maybe you'll be open to hearing what I'm saying.' She continued, 'I know that people feel very strongly about abortion, but let me just say this. Women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them. Nobody else. Nobody. 'Here is the reality. No bill that criminalizes abortion will stop anyone from making this incredibly personal choice, but these laws will put more women at risk. Every woman deserves compassion and care, not judgment and interference when it comes to their own bodies.' Personal story: Philipps has publicly supported a woman's right to choose for years. Back in 2019, she even revealed she had an abortion End of an era: The Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for nearly 50 years by deciding to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade She then talked more about her personal experience, saying she had an abortion when she was 15 years old. 'I'm telling you this because I'm genuinely really scared for women and girls all over the country,' she said. 'Is that a hard left turn? Yeah, it is. Is it kind of jarring? Yes, it is also kind of jarring. But, guess what? That's what being a fing woman is. Having a regular Tuesday and then suddenly being reminded that people are trying to police your body. And then you just have to go back to work.' At the time, Busy's segment was in response to Georgia's Governor Brian Kemp created a law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for nearly 50 years by deciding to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling and hand back power to individual states to decide whether or not to permit the procedure. Protestors: Protestors took to the streets over the weekend to show their displeasure with the Court's decision Less options: The decision means that women with unwanted pregnancies in large swathes of America will now face the choice of traveling to another state where the procedure remains legal and available, buying abortion pills online or having a potentially dangerous illegal abortion The justices held that the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that allowed abortions performed before a fetus would be viable outside the womb - between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy - was wrongly decided because the U.S. Constitution makes no specific mention of abortion rights. The ruling means that individual states now have the power to decide on whether to ban abortion. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research group, has said that 26 states are 'certain or likely' to ban abortion now. The decision means that women with unwanted pregnancies in large swathes of America will now face the choice of traveling to another state where the procedure remains legal and available, buying abortion pills online or having a potentially dangerous illegal abortion. In an address at the White House, President Joe Biden said it was 'a sad day for the court and the country' and called the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade - and making terminations illegal for millions of American women - 'wrong, extreme and out of touch'. Accusing the court of 'expressly taking away a constitution right that is so fundamental to so many Americans', Biden vowed the fight over abortion rights 'is not over' and said his administration will do everything in its power to combat efforts to restrict women from traveling to other states to obtain abortions. Dolph Lundgren is opening up about his experiences filming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom with his embattled co-star Amber Heard. Filming started exactly one year ago today in London, with production also taking place in Hawaii and Los Angeles before wrapping in January 2022. Heard, 36, made headlines earlier this month when she lost her defamation lawsuit against ex-husband Johnny Depp, though Lundgren, 64, told ET that she was great to work with. Opening up: Dolph Lundgren is opening up about his experiences filming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom with his embattled co-star Amber Heard Filming: Filming started exactly one year ago today in London, with production also taking place in Hawaii and Los Angeles before wrapping in January 2022 Great: Heard, 36, made headlines earlier this month when she lost her defamation lawsuit against ex-husband Johnny Depp, though Lundgren, 64, told ET that she was great to work with Lundgren returns as King Nereus in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, with Heard reprising her role as Mera from the 2018 movie Aquaman. Lundgren was actually pulling double-duty, filming both the Aquaman sequel and The Expendables 4 in Europe last summer. When asked about Heard on Saturday, he admitted, 'I havent spoken to Amber,' since production wrapped. King: Lundgren returns as King Nereus in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, with Heard reprising her role as Mera from the 2018 movie Aquaman Haven't spoken: When asked about Heard on Saturday, he admitted, 'I havent spoken to Amber,' since production wrapped 'I mean she was great during the shooting,' Lundgren said, adding the sequel is, 'looking great from what I hear.' Lundgren also said he was unaware of her 'status' on the film, after rumors spread that she was being cut from the film following her defamation lawsuit loss. A spokesperson for Heard shot down the rumors in a statement to Variety, insisting she is still in the film. Great: 'I mean she was great during the shooting,' Lundgren said, adding the sequel is, 'looking great from what I hear' Status: Lundgren also said he was unaware of her 'status' on the film, after rumors spread that she was being cut from the film following her defamation lawsuit loss 'The rumor mill continues as it has from day one inaccurate, insensitive and slightly insane,' the statement from Heard's rep read. Heard's ex-husband Johnny Depp sued her for defamation over a 2018 Washington Post column she wrote, where she claimed he was physically abusive to her. The jury ordered Heard pay Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, though the punitive damages were later lowered to $350,000. Rumor mill: 'The rumor mill continues as it has from day one inaccurate, insensitive and slightly insane,' the statement from Heard's rep read Damages: The jury ordered Heard pay Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, though the punitive damages were later lowered to $350,000 Heard will next be seen in the thriller In the Fire alongside Eduardo Noriega, which is in post-production and doesn't have a release date slated. Depp has started production on his new film Jeanne du Barry, where he plays King Louis XV. There had been reports that he will return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with a whopping $300 million deal, though the actor's rep denied those claims. Jacqueline Laurita's daughter Ashlee Holmes made the brave decision to share her Bipolar II diagnosis to the world by sharing a vulnerable Instagram post on Monday. Upon sharing the news with her more than 269,000 followers, the makeup artist, 31, best known for her cameos on her mom's series Real Housewives of New Jersey, was candid about her mental health struggles and seeking professional health. 'You may not think that I have had many difficulties in my life but I have. These last two years have been especially difficult for me,' she captioned a car selfie. 'About almost a month ago, I had a psychotic break.' Speaking up: Jacqueline Laurita's daughter Ashlee Holmes made the brave decision to share her Bipolar II diagnosis to the world by sharing a vulnerable Instagram post on Monday She continued: 'I found myself in a position where I was afraid of myself and my own thoughts. And I chose to finally seek proper help. I took a short break from social media as well.' 'During this process of seeking help, I was diagnosed with bipolar II,' she noted. 'I made the personal choice to begin medication right away, as I truly feel that I had tried everything else up to that point. I think I have been in denial for a very long time about this diagnosis.' The Your Mom Friends podcast host explained that she was 'never properly educated about all of the other aspects of having bipolar.' Upon sharing the news with her more than 269,000 followers, the makeup artist, 31, best known for her cameos on her mom's series Real Housewives of New Jersey, was candid about her mental health struggles and seeking professional health; seen (L) with her mom in 2010 'You may not think that I have had many difficulties in my life but I have. These last two years have been especially difficult for me,' she captioned a car selfie. 'About almost a month ago, I had a psychotic break' After a lifetime of only hearing 'negative' adjectives describing someone with the mental health condition that involves periods of depression and periods of elevated mood, called hypomania, she was surprised to find out it is 'is SO much more' than just mood swings. 'It was actually a relief to finally have an explanation for certain things. It has been empowering for me to learn more about it, and take back control. I am not ashamed of my diagnosis. And I will not allow anyone to try to make me feel ashamed of it,' Holmes added. She also made it clear she will 'not allow anyone to use' her 'diagnosis as a scapegoat to treat' her 'poorly.' Looking on the bright side: The mother-of-one described 'bipolar disorder as the gift of extraordinary emotions' that gave her 'a level of resiliency that' she 'very much needed growing up' The mother-of-one described 'bipolar disorder as the gift of extraordinary emotions' that gave her 'a level of resiliency that' she 'very much needed growing up.' 'It has given me a level of resiliency that I very much needed growing up. It has made me capable of withstanding whatever obstacles the Universe throws at me,' she continued. Holmes also called herself 'strong, imaginative, empathetic, adaptive' and mused that her bipolar disorder also contributed to her 'great sense of humor.' The way they were: In 2020, she and her ex-husband Pete Malleo announced their separation, just two years after welcoming their son Cameron in August 2016 'This is just yet another chapter of my life. Im curious and hopeful to see where Ill be a year from now. Life is a journey full of ebbs and flows. Keep going. Be proud of yourself,' she urged of others. The beauty concluded her statement by saying she believes it is important for people to speak about their 'individual experiences living with bipolar (and other mental illnesses)' to break negative stigmas surrounding mental health conditions. In 2020, she and her ex-husband Pete Malleo announced their separation, just two years after welcoming their son Cameron in August 2016. Struggling: In May, she reflected about her first Mother's Day as a single mom after her divorce was finalized earlier this year In May, she reflected about her first Mother's Day as a single mom after her divorce was finalized earlier this year. At the time, she wrote on Instagram that she 'wholeheartedly tried everything' to make her marriage work. 'I dont necessarily believe that everything happens for a reason, but I believe that everything that happens to us gives us the chance to become a stronger [and] better version of ourselves if we let life guide us that way,' she stated. If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) meeting to discuss issues related to the reorganization and restructuring of its departments, state media said Tuesday. Kim presided over a meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the WPK the previous day in Pyongyang to discuss issues related to "improving and readjusting the work system of Party guiding organs at all levels and strengthening their political activities" and reorganizing the structure of some departments of the Central Committee, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. He also discussed issues of strengthening "policy-oriented guidance regarding the work of state and public security, judiciary and prosecution fields" and organizing the necessary work within this year, it added. (Yonhap) The South Korean government publicly asked North Korea, Tuesday, to give notification before releasing water from dams near their border during the current rainy season, as their daily hotline communication was disrupted presumably due to technical reasons. The Ministry of Unification made the request in a statement, describing it as a "basic measure" to protect the lives and property of the South Korean residents just south of the border. "We attempted to reach North Korea several times through our regular call via the inter-Korean liaison office at 9 a.m. this morning, but we failed to make a connection, as the North remained unresponsive," a unification ministry official told reporters. The official cited the possibility of technical glitches in Pyongyang's communication lines caused by heavy rainfall that hit some parts of the North recently, pointing out that such instability in the bilateral hotline is not unprecedented during the rainy season. The ministry plans to deliver a formal request to the North as soon as regular communication resumes through the joint liaison office lines. In August 2020, the North partially opened the floodgates of the Hwanggang Dam on the western inter-Korean border without prior notice and dumped water into the Imjin River, putting South Korean residents living near border areas on high alert. Under an agreement signed between the two countries in October 2009, the North agreed to notify the South in advance of any plans to release water from the dam, following a deadly accident that killed six South Koreans after the North discharged water from the Hwanggang Dam without notice. (Yonhap) In the 2021-22 academic year, out of a total of 44.47 lakh mothers, nearly 51,000 were unable to avail the Amma Vodi financial aid of Rs 15,000 per head. That means 98.86 per cent of mothers got the aid and the rest did not due to low attendance. DC file image Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday that the number of students in government schools increased by over 7 lakh in the last three years due to education reforms and the Nadu-Nedu scheme. Addressing a programme on Amma Vodi in Srikakulam, the chief minister said 37.21 lakh students were studying in government schools from Class 1 to 10 in 2018-19. The number rose to 44.30 lakh in 202122. This was an increase of 7.1 lakh students, he said. In the 2021-22 academic year, out of a total of 44.47 lakh mothers, nearly 51,000 were unable to avail the Amma Vodi financial aid of Rs 15,000 per head. That means 98.86 per cent of mothers got the aid and the rest did not due to low attendance. A minimum of 75 per cent attendance is mandatory to get Amma Vodi aid. The government made this mandatory to ensure quality education, he added. A 75 per cent attendance is mandatory to provide quality education to children and to check absenteeism among students. Otherwise, students who do not attend school are also likely to benefit. Then the real objectives of the scheme for better and quality education will not be met, Jagan said. Jagan said his election manifesto was considered as the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible and the Quran. Nearly 95 per cent of the promises in the manifesto has already been initiated and implemented. There are a few students who can afford to pay donations in degree colleges/universities and have already taken admission, but those who cannot are waiting for the results so that they do not miss a seat and get admissions in their choice of stream. Representational image/DC Hyderabad: Thousands of students and their parents are eagerly waiting for the Intermediate examination results which will be out at 11 am on Tuesday. More than their results, the students are said to be worried about how their parents are going to react if they fail or score less marks. Some parents are aggressive who scream and scare their children. A parent recently called me and said he was waiting for the results so that he could take care of his child. He sounded like he was just waiting to beat up his child once the results are out. He is sure that his child did not perform well in the exams, said T. Rajini, a psychologist. She added that there were two sets of students who called her. One who genuinely cared about their results, knew what subjects they could pick in the future and how the delay in results was adding up to their stress. There are a few students who can afford to pay donations in degree colleges/universities and have already taken admission, but those who cannot are waiting for the results so that they do not miss a seat and get admissions in their choice of stream. Students are also experiencing stress and anxiety. Most of them asked several questions about what kind of colleges they could apply to if they scored less marks in a subject. Some students are extremely stressed about their performance, said another psychologist Anjali Sharma. She advised the parents to be mentally prepared and accept their child as they had a tough time focusing on academics because of Covid. The students have already written their exams. The reaction of their parents, family members and society will create a huge impact on the child. The reactions matter so much to a few students who are even bound to get suicidal tendencies if not treated well or scolded way too much by their families. We need to avoid students suicide because of family and academic pressure, added Anjali. Several parents said they expected better results this year as the syllabus was cut short to 70 per cent with a lot of choices and the students had ample time to prepare as well. Rao, director of the Sai Defence Academy, was booked under Section 150 of the Railways Act, 1989, and under 307 of IPC. Facebook Vijayawada: The accused in the Agnipath scheme-related arson incident at Secunderabad railway station, Avula Subba Rao, moved a bail petition in the criminal court in Nampally on Monday. Rao, director of the Sai Defence Academy, was booked under Section 150 of the Railways Act, 1989, and under 307 of IPC. He was listed as accused-64 along with accused-1 Madhusudhan and accused-2 Prudviraj. His lawyer Alexander Sudhakar moved the bail petition on behalf of his client. He argued that Rao deserved bail. He said that in a preliminary inquiry conducted by the government railway police and other agencies, no incriminating evidence was found in Raos mobile phone vis-a-vis the allegations that he had instigated job- aspirants in defence forces to resort to violence against the Agnipath scheme. Though eight WhatsApp groups were found to have shared information before the arson at the Secunderabad railway station, Rao was not an administrator to any of these groups, the lawyer said. His lawyer admitted that his client extended support to the job aspirants to stage protests by holding placards in a non-violent manner and submit a representation to the army recruitment officer in Secunderabad to express their opposition to the Agnipath scheme, as they did in Guntur railway station on June 14. However, the protest in Secunderabad turned violent with some anti-social elements going on a rampage and burning railway property, he said. He alleged that the government railway police was working at the behest of the ruling TRS government to implicate his client in the arson, in order to safeguard the real culprits. Lawyer Sudhakar said, We are confident that Avula Subba Rao will emerge innocent in the case as no incriminating evidence was found against him either related to the arson or in provoking anyone to do so. Vijayawada: Mines minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy has called upon leaseholders to extend their support to reforms in the mining sector that the state government is introducing in a series for the benefit of all the stakeholders. The minister made the plea at a meeting he held with the leaseholders here on Monday. He said that only 2,826 leases out of the 4,988 issued for mining of minerals in AP were operational while 2,162 remained as non-working leases. The state government is planning to introduce transparency in the mining sector and also avoid delay in the sanction of leases to encourage more entrepreneurs to actively take part in mining and help the state earn a good revenue, he said. The minister said that a committee would be set up with leaseholders and officials from the mining department to hold a series of meetings with the stakeholders in a month or two. It would come up with suggestions to make the mining sector more transparent and efficient. Referring to the earlier system of first-come-first-serve basis for allotment of mines, the minister said this caused a lot of delay in the leasing out of mines. Several applications were pending without grant of permission for various reasons. This resulted in the state government losing huge revenue. He said some leaseholders were not taking up mining and even creating legal hurdles for newcomers in the field. Based on Supreme Court directions, states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc introduced e-auction. AP also under the present government introduced a series of reforms in the mining sector with special focus on transparency, he claimed. The minister said that the state government had issued a GO for issue of leases to those who pay an annual dead rent 10 times more than the normal, and provided an opportunity to those who applied on a first-come-first-serve basis also to avail such a facility. Though the aim was to earn a revenue of Rs 500 crore, these fetched only Rs 142 crore, he said. The minister said e-auction would help the sanction of leases in a transparent manner and this would also help prospective miners get NOC from the revenue department. This would hopefully also help more entrepreneurs and youths to enter the mining sector, he added. The entire menu, for the special lunch on July 3, the second day of the national executive meet, will be totally shakahari (vegetarian) (Representational image/By arrangement) HYDERABAD: A Telangana gourmet festival awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the phalanx of Bharatiya Janata Partys top leadership from across the country, who will be in the city for a two-day national executive meeting of the party on July 2 and 3. The lunch on July 3 at the national executive will be special, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar told Deccan Chronicle on Monday. Overseeing the special Telangana menu will be Yadamma, a well-renowned cook from Karimnagar. The food is going to be delicious, Sanjay said. The entire menu, for the special lunch on July 3, the second day of the national executive meet, will be totally shakahari (vegetarian), he said. Sanjay said that other than rotis, all curries, dals and chutneys will be made using authentic Telangana recipes. The party leaders will get a chance to sample dishes like Puntikura Pappu, Gangavailakura-Mamidikaya Pappu, Pachi Pulusu, along with Jonna Rottelu and Pedda Boondi Laddu, among other delicacies. In the evening, Sakinalu, Garelu, and Saravapindi will be served as snacks. Chada Suresh Reddy, a former MP from Hanamkonda, who heads the food committee for the BJP national executive meeting, said, We have invited Yadamma to join the chefs at Novotel on June 29 for a test run. He said, Our party president Bandi Sanjay was firm that we deliver the best food Telangana has to offer to the delegates, and that is what we will do. HYDERABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to have decided to drill into its ground-level leadership, and cadres, that the current Telangana government, led by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is corrupt, and inept. Also, to be added to this campaign plan is a dose of how Telanganas governance has become a family affair. This plan will be set into motion on June 30, when the BJP leaders, including Union ministers, former Chief Ministers, and other senior party leaders will fan out across Telangana to meet party workers over two days. These leaders will return to the city on July 1 to be in time for the partys national executive meet. Sources in the party said the meetings would be divided into different sessions for mandal and district-level leaders, leaders of various BJP wings such as the BJP Kisan Morcha, Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha and OBC Morcha, from that particular constituency. Also separate sessions are being planned for SC, ST members of the party. In short, every section of the society and our local level leadership will be interacting with the senior party leaders, a BJP leader said. The final session on day two of these meetings will be with mandal, district, and the partys prabharis, leaders from the state deputed to each constituency, and discussions will focus on the current political situation in the state, in the Legislature, and making plans to bring the BJP to power in the state in the 2023 Assembly elections, and to ensure the partys victory in the Lok Sabha elections a year later. During the two-day constituency level meetings, the discussions will also centre around the challenges faced by the party in the state in terms of local leadership, strengthening it in the run up to the Assembly elections, taking to the people the failures of the TRS government, and the successful 8-year governance of the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The final session will also look at mobilising party workers from the booth level upwards for the July 3 public meeting at Parade Grounds to be addressed by the Prime Minister. Hyderabad: Demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give directions to withdraw cases against Telangana youth in connection with the recent arson at the Secunderabad Railway station, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president A. Revanth Reddy on Monday assured that the Congress would assist the injured and jailed youth in engaging advocates to get bail for the arrested army aspirants. Addressing a gathering at Satyagraha Deeksha organised to protest against the Agnipath scheme at Malkajgiri on Monday, Revanth Reddy demanded the Prime Minister step into the state during his two-day visit to the city only after withdrawing cases against the Telangana youth in connection with the Agnipath protests. He said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao must bring pressure on the BJP government at the Centre to withdraw cases against the Telangana youth and the state government should extend their support to the family members of the arrested youth. "TRS leaders, Ministers and MLAs have participated in the final rites procession of Rakesh who died in firing in Secunderabad Railway station. Later, the TRS party forgot the arrested youth issues in the state. A number of students from poor and middle-class families were arrested in the incident and jailed by registering criminal cases," Revanth Reddy said. Blaming Modi for introducing the Agnipath scheme, the TPCC chief alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is trying to privatise the Indian Army by neglecting the country's security and integration. As per the Agnipath scheme, youth between 17 years to 21 years would be eligible to get Army jobs and would get retirement within four years. "Based on the Agnipath scheme, the Army employees will lose benefits such as pensions, health facilities and education facilities to their children. After working four years in the Army, the candidates will lose their jobs and will be ineligible for other jobs. The BJP government deliberately is trying to introduce the scheme without any discussion in Parliament," the TPCC chief alleged. Stating that lakh of candidates would lose an opportunity if the BJP government introduced the Agnipath scheme to recruit candidates into the Indian Army, Revanth Reddy said the Congress would take to the streets till the BJP withdrew the Agnipath scheme. Revanth Reddy demanded the state and Central governments to provide employment to 50 lakh unemployed youth in Telangana. Charity Works by Binod Chaudhary of Nepal are Larger than the Imagination of Many Sale of pani puri has been banned in Kathmandu Valley's Lalitpur Metropolitan City as cholera cases have spiked in the Valley with 12 people testing positive The Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) on Saturday decided to stop the sale and distribution of pani puri in the metropolis, claiming that cholera bacteria were found in the water used in pani puri. The metropolis has made internal preparations to stop the sale of pani puri in the crowded areas and in the corridor area, stating that there is an increased risk of spreading cholera in the Valley, according to Municipal Police Chief Sitaram Hachethu. With seven more people tested positive for Cholera in the Kathmandu Valley, the total number of cholera patients has reached 12 in the Valley, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. According to Chumanlal Dash, director at Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Health Ministry, five cases of Cholera have been identified in Kathmandu Metropolis, and one each in Chandragiri Municipality and Budhanilkantha Municipality. The infected are currently undergoing treatment at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital at Teku. Earlier, five cases of Cholera were found in different parts of the capital city. The two of the infected people have already been treated and discharged. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged the people to visit their nearest health facility immediately if they experience any symptoms of cholera. The ministry has requested everyone to be alert and vigilant as diarrhea, cholera and other water-borne diseases are spreading especially during summer and rainy season. Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, moves to the U.N. Human Rights Office in Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis By Jung Min-ho A United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday called for the release of more information about the incident in which a government official was killed in North Korean waters. He was quoted by the victim's brother as saying that his family has "the right to know." At a meeting in Seoul with Lee Rae-jin, the elder brother of the fisheries official shot dead by the North two years ago, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, also said that Pyongyang should help the family uncover the whole truth, discipline those who were responsible and compensate the family for the loss. "He expressed support for our fact-finding efforts, including the attempt to get access to the information kept in the presidential archives," Lee told The Korea Times. His support comes at a time when the family members are demanding that the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a majority at the National Assembly, agree to grant them access to classified documents sealed by the Presidential Archive. They are hoping that the documents will help them resolve questions about the tragedy, including whether the previous Moon Jae-in administration did what was necessary to save their family member. Quintana is expected to share some of the family's concerns with high-ranking government officials, including Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, when he meets them on Wednesday. Kim Ki-yoon, Lee's lawyer who also attended the meeting, said it is important that Quintana specifically said the North should compensate the family over his death and prosecute those directly involved in it. Lee Rae-jin, the brother of a South Korean official who was killed by the North Korean military two years ago, speaks to reporters before a meeting with Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, at the U.N. Human Rights Office in Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis Two Indian women have been arrested at a Thai airport attempting to smuggle more than 100 live animals including armadillos, porcupines and snakes, wildlife protection officers said Tuesday. Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, with the animals often bound for Vietnam or China where they are used in traditional medicines. The creatures were discovered when Nithya Raja, 38, and Zakia Sulthana, 24, passed through X-ray machines at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Sunday night en route to Chennai in India, officials said. "This kind of case has happened many times because the animals have expensive price tags in India," Sathon Konggoen, chief of the airport's wildlife inspection office, told AFP. He estimated that the animals, believed to have been bred in Thailand, would be worth around 200,000 baht ($5,600). "Animal trafficking is usually detected at the Thai-Myanmar borders and domestic airports to a certain extent," he added. Officers discovered two armadillos, two porcupines, 20 snakes, 35 turtles and 50 chameleons stuffed into a pair of bags belonging to the women. Two dead iguanas were also found, while all of the reptiles were suffering from dehydration, according to a Facebook post from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The creatures are being treated and will be moved to an animal centre or breeding facility, the department said. The two women have been charged with violations of the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, the Animal Epidemics Act and the Customs Act. They are being detained at a police station at the airport. An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced to death 10 Islamist militants found guilty of terror-related charges, a judicial source said. The men, charged with "leading a group known as the Helwan Brigades", were found guilty of having committed acts of terror, including opening fire at a police vehicle, the judicial source told AFP. Subject to appeal, the verdicts drew condemnation from Amnesty International, which described them as an "insult to justice" resulting from "grossly unfair proceedings." The men were convicted in relation to events that took place between August 2013 and February 2015 -- a period that saw a spike in attacks, particularly targeting security forces, following the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. The court also handed down jail sentences to 205 others in the same case, ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Since taking office in 2014 -- a year after leading Morsi's ouster -- President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has presided over a mass crackdown on Islamists and dissidents, jailing thousands. Egyptian courts have routinely handed down death sentences or long jail terms after mass trials that have drawn condemnation from the United Nations and rights organisations. "This was a mass trial of more than 200 people," Amnesty International's Amna Guellali said in a statement Tuesday, alleging that the case was "marred by enforced disappearances and torture", prisoners being kept in "cruel and inhuman conditions" and "flagrant trial breaches". "Authorities must quash the verdict and order the release of detainees, most of whom had been held for over two years in pretrial detention in contravention of Egyptian law," Guellali added. Egypt carried out the third highest number of known executions in the world last year, after China and Iran, according to Amnesty. An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced a man to death for the murder of a student after she rejected his advances, a judicial source said, in a case that sparked widespread outrage. The court found the defendant Mohamed Adel guilty of the "premeditated murder" of university student Nayera Ashraf after he confessed to the crime in court, according to the source. The verdict, handed down in Mansoura north of Cairo two days after the trial opened on Sunday, will now be referred to the grand mufti, Egypt's top theological authority -- a formality in death penalty cases. A video that went viral appeared to show Ashraf being stabbed outside her university earlier this month. Adel had "stabbed her several times" according to the prosecution, which found "messages threatening to cut her throat" on the victim's phone. Ashraf had previously reported her fears of attack to the authorities, according to her father and witnesses. The verdict was met with celebrations in front of the courthouse in Mansoura, videos published by local media showed. The crime has triggered widespread anger in Egypt and beyond, and was followed by a similar campus shooting in Jordan a few days later. Jordanian police said Monday that the man suspected of the murder of student Iman Irshaid had "shot himself" after refusing to turn himself in. Social media users have drawn comparisons between the two cases, decrying incidents of femicide in the Arab world. Some called for the perpetrators to be sentenced to death, while others said men must "learn to take no for an answer". Egypt carried out the third-highest number of executions in the world in 2021, according to Amnesty International. Nearly eight million Egyptian women were victims of violence committed by their partners or relatives, or by strangers in public spaces, according to a United Nations survey conducted in 2015. The Group of Seven developed economies on Tuesday wraps up a summit intended to send a strong signal of long-term commitment to Ukraine's future, ensuring that Russia pays a higher price for its invasion while also attempting to alleviate a global hunger crisis and show unity against climate change. The leaders of the US, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Canada and Japan on Monday pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes after conferring by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The summit host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said he once again very emphatically set out the situation as Ukraine currently sees it. Zelenskyy's address, amid a grinding Russian advance in Ukraine's east, came hours before Ukrainian officials reported a deadly Russian missile strike on a crowded shopping mall in the central city of Kremenchuk. Officials have said during the summit that leaders of the major economies are preparing to unveil plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. Read | Will continue to do what is best in interest of own energy security: India From the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps, the G-7 leaders will continue straight to Madrid for a summit of NATO leaders where fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine will again dominate the agenda. All G-7 members other than Japan are NATO members, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to Madrid. Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The G-7 has sought to assuage those concerns. While the group's annual gathering has been dominated by Ukraine and by the war's knock-on effects, such as the challenge to food supplies in parts of the world caused by the interruption of Ukrainian grain exports, Scholz has been keen to show that the G-7 also can move ahead on pre-war priorities. The summit host has been keen to secure agreement on the creation of a climate club for countries that want to speed ahead when it comes to tackling global warming. After a meeting Monday with leaders of five developing nations, a joint statement issued by Germany emphasized the need to accelerate a clean and just energy transition that would see an end to the burning of fossil fuels without causing a sharp rise in unemployment. In the cautiously phrased statement, the leaders tentatively endorsed the global climate club idea. Pakistan has launched a diplomatic campaign denouncing Indias plan to hold some of the events related to the 2023 G20 summit in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). With Prime Minister Narendra Modis government planning to hold some events related to the G20 summit in J&K, Islamabad has already reached out to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistans iron brother China, conveying its objection to New Delhis plan to take the foreign leaders to the newest Union Territory of India. Islamabad already asked Beijing, Ankara and Riyadh to convey to New Delhi that they might consider boycotting the G23 summit next year if the Modi Government did not drop its plan to hold some of the events related to the conclave in J&K, a source told DH. The countries Pakistan reached out to with the request to dissuade India from going ahead with its plan, however, remained non-committal so far, added the source. Modi will host the leaders of the other G20 nations for the summit, which will be held in October or November next year. The G20 summit this year will be hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali. The main events of the 2023 G20 summit are proposed to be held in Delhi and construction works are now going on to give Pragati Maidan in the national capital a facelift and to turn it into the venue for the conclave. New Delhi, however, also has plans to hold some of the events in J&K so that the foreign leaders, who would come for the summit, could also visit the Union Territory. The plan is being seen by Islamabad as a move by India to assert its claim on J&K as an integral part of its territory and reject Pakistans claim on it before the international community. The Modi Government had in August 2019 stripped the erstwhile state of J&K of its special status and reorganised it into two Union Territories. Pakistan, supported by China and Turkey, had then launched a campaign, making a renewed attempt to internationalize its dispute with India over J&K. India had blocked all attempts by Pakistan and China to bring the issue of J&K back on the formal agenda of the United Nations Security Council. India has been maintaining that the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan and the 1999 Lahore Declaration had left no scope for the UN or any other third party to play any role in resolving the outstanding issues between the two South Asian neighbours. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and shall continue to be an integral part of India. (The) issues related to J&K are internal matters to India, a senior official in New Delhi said, adding that India will foil the latest attempt by Pakistan to raise the issue in any international forum. Pakistan must vacate the territory of India it illegally occupied in J&K Islamabad has lodged a protest with Twitter alleging that New Delhi blocked access to the accounts of Pakistans diplomatic missions to the United Nations, Iran, Turkey and Egypt in India. Citing New Delhis move to block access to accounts affiliated to the Government of Pakistan on Twitter, Islamabad expressed concern over New Delhis alleged attempts to limit access to information in India. Diminishing space for plurality of voices & (and) access to info in #India is extremely alarming, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Pakistan posted on Twitter. SM (social media) platforms must abide by applicable intl (international) norms, he added, urging Twitter to immediately restore access to the accounts of the Government of Pakistan in India and ensure adherence to democratic freedoms of speech and expression. The spokesperson earlier alleged that New Delhi had blocked flow of information by withholding access to the four accounts of the Government of Pakistan on Twitter @PakinIran, @PakinTurkey, @PakinEgypt and @PakistanUN_NY in India. These are in addition to many others for which access has been blocked, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left for the UAE after attending a productive G7 Summit in Germany and interacting with several world leaders during which they discussed many issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity. "PM @narendramodi concludes his visit to Germany for the G7 Summit, wrapping up two days of productive discussions on sustainable solutions to global challenges, PM Modi now emplanes for Abu Dhabi for a brief stopover before reaching New Delhi," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted. Leaving Germany after a productive visit in which I attended the @G7 Summit, interacted with several world leaders and participated in a memorable community programme in Munich. We were able to discuss many issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity. pic.twitter.com/jZAMOj4SOo Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 28, 2022 In the UAE, he will convey his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former UAE President and Abu Dhabi ruler. Also Read G7 leaders wrap up summit meant to bolster Ukraine support Zayed Al Nahyan, who had been in office since 2004, died at the age of 73 after a long illness on May 13. Modi had expressed grief over his death, calling him a great statesman and visionary leader under whom India-UAE relations prospered. "Leaving Germany after a productive visit in which I attended the @G7 Summit, interacted with several world leaders and participated in a memorable community programme in Munich. We were able to discuss many issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity," Modi tweeted. "I thank the people of Germany, @Bundeskanzler Scholz and the German Government for their hospitality during the entire visit. I am confident India-Germany friendship will scale newer heights in the times to come," the prime minister wrote. On Monday, Modi highlighted India's efforts for green growth, clean energy, sustainable lifestyles and global wellbeing, at a G7 summit session. During his two-day visit to Germany, Modi met his counterparts from the UK, Japan and Italy and exchanged views on a range of issues with them. Modi also met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and held productive discussions as the two leaders reviewed the India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, technology and climate action. He also met Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Germany. During his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two leaders agreed to take forward the momentum in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership besides further diversifying the bilateral cooperation on climate-related issues for the benefit of their people and the entire planet. Modi also met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties and reaffirmed the need for further deepening cooperation in areas like trade and investment, food security, defence, pharmaceuticals and digital financial inclusion. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed a range of bilateral and global issues over a cup of tea. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the summit venue. On Sunday, Modi addressed the Indian diaspora during a massive community event at the Audi Dome indoor arena in Munich. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Tuesday, slammed the Congress for their baseless allegations against his daughter. He tore into the party in opposition during his reply to the notice of adjournment motion in the state assembly. Attacking the chief minister, Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan alleged that a highly placed official at a consultancy, involved in several state government projects, was also the mentor in a firm run by Vijayan's daughter. The Congress MLA also said that UAE consulate smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh was appointed to a government agency through the same consultancy. Taking exception to the comment, Pinarayi asked if Congress has developed the culture of insulting family members of political opponents. The allegations against his daughter were baseless, he asserted. In his reply, Pinarayi also termed as foolishness the allegations that he had bribed the Sharjah ruler. The Opposition of Congress-led United Democratic Front demanded a CBI probe into the allegations against the Chief Minister. The house, on Tuesday as well, witnessed heated arguments between the MLAs of UDF and the ruling Left Democratic Front for nearly four hours. According to the Chief Minister, the allegations against him, such as that of currency smuggling, were not new, and had already been established as baseless. He also said that the Congress was unleashing agitations against him as part of Sangh Parivar agenda. Opposition leader V D Satheesan, however, said the Chief Minister could not give a convincing reply to the allegations against him and demanded a CBI probe into the allegations. Congress MLA Shafi Parambil, who gave the notice for the adjournment motion, asked why the Chief Minister hadnt yet initiated legal action if the allegations were baseless. In strategic affairs, every crisis presents an opportunity. It depends on the willingness of a nation's foreign and security policy establishment to leverage the possibilities in a situation. In the past, India has used natural and human disasters to demonstrate its willingness to act as a responsible and significant international player. The Tsunami-relief effort of 2004 was an example of such an approach. The disaster relief efforts launched in concert with the US, Australia and Japan helped India deepen strategic relationships with these countries and led to the emergence of the Quad grouping. India's recent steps to help the earthquake-battered Afghanistan and the crisis-hit Sri Lanka are examples of availing these crises to further national security and foreign policy interests. Afghanistan When the Taliban took over power in Afghanistan last August, India had closed its embassy. It was deemed too risky to operate the embassy after the fall of Kabul. The Taliban's close relationship with Pakistan and the experience with the Taliban regime in Kabul were key driving factors in India's decision. However, geostrategic realities have not allowed India or the Taliban to stay away from each other. Since last August, both have attempted to engage with each other. India even dispatched large-scale wheat assistance via Pakistan to help the Afghan people. Also read: India sends consignment of 3,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan The visit of the Indian delegation early this month indicated that India was rethinking its policy. During this visit, the delegation conducted n assessment of the security situation. The recent, devastating earthquake has opened another opportunity to re-establish the Indian presence on the ground. According to an MEA press release, India has deployed a "technical team" to Kabul "to closely monitor and coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance". The team has been "deployed in our Embassy" there, it said. The disaster has presented India with the prospect of reopening the embassy without actually recognising the Taliban regime. It serves the dual purpose of having a diplomatic presence on the ground to protect Indian interests and minimise the influence of anti-India elements. The Taliban, too, is a divided house with various factions jostling consistently for influence. The Indian presence on the ground will be leveraged to engage with different factions. For the Taliban, reopening the Indian embassy to host a "technical team" helps diversify their external partners, reduces dependence on Pakistan and signals their growing acceptability. The regional context The possibility of working with Iran, Russia and Central Asian states in Afghanistan remains real for India. The visit of Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian this month to India has been crucial. He met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Delhi and called on the prime minister. India's reopening of its embassy in Kabul and the overall situation in Afghanistan is likely to have been discussed during the visit. The official MEA press release on the visit mentioned the discussions on the status of the Chabahar port developed by India. The port had become an important connectivity initiative to access Afghanistan via Iran during the last years of the America-backed Ghani regime. The discussions on Chabahar signal India's willingness to re-engage with Afghanistan. The port is strategically significant for India as it establishes its presence in the northern Arabian sea, near Pakistan's China-developed port of Gwadar, and provides land access to southern Afghanistan. The recent shipment of India-bound goods from Russia via the Caspian Sea-Iran route has underscored the importance of connectivity in Eurasia. The change of government in Pakistan and the consequent arrest of the ever-sliding trajectory of the America-Pakistan relationship are changing the regional security dynamics. India has to adjust its policy in response to these changes. Also read: India says will support crisis-hit Sri Lanka's economic recovery Sri Lanka In the case of Sri Lanka, India has emerged as the largest supplier of food, fuel and medical assistance. India has extended currency swap arrangements and lines of credit to Sri Lanka to help it overcome the difficult fiscal situation. Overall, the Indian assistance is pegged at approximately US $3 billion, and such help will likely flow in the coming months. China looms large over Sri Lanka's economy. It has also gained considerable strategic leverage in Sri Lanka. The Chinese financing of infrastructure projects has led to the debt trap for Sri Lanka. However, China did not help Sri Lanka when it needed it the most. On the contrary, the timely and much-needed assistance has helped India regain influence in the island nation. It is consistent with India's self-projection as the "first responder" and "preferred security partner" in the Indian Ocean region. Overall, the examples of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka demonstrate how India is turning the crisis into an opportunity to recover the lost ground. The momentum needs to be sustained. (Sankalp Gurjar is a strategic analyst based in Delhi) According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), during 2017-21, India was in the 23rd place out of 25 largest exporters, near the bottom when exporting global arms. India has a 0.2% share, far behind the top five exporters the US, Russia, France, China and Germany who together account for 77% of all arms exports. However, when importing defence equipment, India has the dubious distinction of being the largest, with both India and Saudi Arabia accounting for 11% of the global market. As regards defence spending, India is the third largest in the world behind the US and China. With so much familiarity with defence-related equipment and systems, why does India struggle to tap into foreign markets? A major fillip recently to Indias export of defence platforms was the Rs 2,800-crore agreement with the Philippines to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, further stirring interest among other Asean countries including Indonesia and Vietnam. Designed, developed and manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of Indias DRDO and Russias Mashinostroyenia, the BrahMos missile is considered to be a game changer in defence capability. A combination of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft and the BrahMos missile, for example, enables a user to hit very far and very hard. Apart from the BrahMos missile, Indias Akash air defence platform is proving popular, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates evincing keen interest in this weapon system. A coffee table book published by the Department of Defence Production mentions 84 different countries that welcome Indian weaponry such as Advanced Light Helicopters, Offshore Patrol Vessels, Coastal Surveillance Systems, Launchers and Electronic Systems. But will this interest turn into exports and will Indias exports be sustainable? Several areas of concern remain. Defence equipment manufacture revolves around 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), while Indias private sector moved into defence manufacturing only recently. DPSUs are better positioned to leverage defence exports by taking advantage of the Defence and other Lines of Credit extended by the EXIM Bank. Its easier for DPSUs to avail of Preferential Trade Agreements. DPSUs can take advantage of the services of defence attaches at Indian Embassies overseas who invariably play a very active role in promoting Indias exports, being knowledgeable, helpful, ideally placed and available on the spot to promote exports to the host nations defence requirements. Despite all these benefits, exports by the DPSUs are meagre. In FY 2020-21, while some of the shipyards did not export at all, the value of exports for other DPSUs, including the big-ticket Navratna and Miniratna companies, was a scanty Rs 1,300 crore, about 10% of Indias Rs 12,000 odd crores value of defence exports as spelt out in a Lok Sabha reply, leaving it to the private sector to corner a lions share. DPSUs must get their act together because despite dogged follow-up, the last-mile requirements to clinch orders get caught up in laborious permission-seeking and other bureaucratic compulsions from both the governments of India and the purchaser. A way forward to together meet higher export targets and also cut imports is to earnestly pursue the defence ministrys indigenisation lists mandating the manufacture of some 300 odd equipment and weapon systems such as lightweight tanks and mounted artillery gun systems that will be banned from future import in phases. These systems have been chosen after due consideration of the manufacturing capabilities of Indias private and public sector. Trial and testing infrastructure in the country requires augmentation. All defence equipment manufactured in India must be subjected to trials and testing specially when metallurgy and indigenous chip production are major issues in defence production. Access is required to expensive infrastructure mostly available with DPSUs. BEML, for example, has a world-class test track at its KGF complex with fluid power, power line and structural engineering laboratories for fatigue testing and material chemistry which other manufacturers must use without hindrance. On the strategic front, the ease of evacuation of defence equipment for export can be expedited through roads and railways to Vietnam through Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Efforts should be made for India to use Chittagong and Khulna ports for export to other Asean countries. Easy access to Indian defence products will only facilitate greater purchase. Riding piggyback on the Brahmos, using Free and Preferential Trade Agreements to the fullest and capitalising on Defence Lines of Credit can only mean a paradigm shift in Indias defence exports is taking place. It is only a matter of time before Indias defence exports will become as acceptable to the world as Indian IT services and pharmaceutical merchandise is accepted today. (The writer is former Executive Director and Member, Board of Directors, BEML) New media helps promote rural revitalization projects in Guizhou Xinhua) 09:38, June 28, 2022 Trainees practice livestreaming promotion skills during an e-commerce training class in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 24, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Photo by Wang Bingzhen/Xinhua) A live streamer of a media company promotes products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Zhang Zhenfei displays the making process of handicraft products made of ferns in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wang Hongdan (R) and a local embroiderer greet the audience in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wang Hongdan promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A live streamer promotes products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A live streamer of a media company promotes products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wu Jiamei promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wang Hongdan (1st L) and local embroiderers greet the audience in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Trainees practice livestreaming promotion skills during an e-commerce training class in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 24, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Photo by Wang Bingzhen/Xinhua) A live streamer displays the embroidery skill of local embroiderers in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wu Jiamei promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Zhang Zhenfei displays the making process of handicraft products made of ferns in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wu Jiamei promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee disembark from the presidential jet as they arrive at Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, Monday. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo MADRID _ President Yoon Suk-yeol showed confidence in his debut on the multicultural diplomacy stage, arriving in Madrid, Spain, Monday (local time) to attend the 2022 NATO Summit on his first overseas trip as president. During the 14-hour flight, he made himself available briefly to the presidential office correspondents accompanying him on the presidential jet. He shook hands with each and every reporter and answered their questions. Yoon said he will engage in a flurry of bilateral and multilateral meetings during his trip "as usual." When asked how he felt about his first overseas trip, he said, "Nothing special," adding that he was "not nervous at all." "While time is limited, there are many meetings. So I won't be able to spend much time on each meeting," Yoon said. "Maybe I will be able to check pending issues with bilateral meeting counterparts and meet them some other time again. We'll see what will happen." President Yoon Suk-yeol gestures while answering reporters' questions on the presidential jet en route to Madrid, Spain, Monday. First lady Kim Keon-hee stands next to him. Yonhap Relatives of children killed during the Troubles will tell their stories to MPs ahead of a vote on controversial legislation granting amnesty for crimes committed during the Northern Ireland conflict. Martin McGavigan and Mary Feeney-Morrison, both now in their 60s, are among a group of six families taking part in a special event in Parliament on Tuesday evening that aims to bring the reality of their experiences to Westminster. Mr McGavigans sister Annette was shot dead by British soldiers during a riot in the Bogside area of Derry in 1971. She was just 14 years old and still wearing her school uniform. He told PA he remembered his mother talking to Annettes clothes that she was murdered in, the blood-stained slippers, the school uniform and that as an adult his daughter, Maria, would find him reading Annettes papers and crying. Ms Feeney-Morrisons sister, Kathleen Feeney, was also 14 when she was killed by an IRA sniper in Derry in 1973. In 2005, the IRA made an official apology to her family, but so far nobody has been convicted for the murder. She said: When my sister was shot dead, when we buried her nobody came to us and said are you okay. Thats widespread around the north of Ireland there was no assistance, there was no help for anybody. They couldnt cope, you just had to get on with it. You just blended it into your daily life while you were fighting mentally. Although both are still affected by the loss of their siblings, they said they had been helped by a production staged by the Derry Playhouse in which their children helped tell their stories. Mary Feeney-Morrison (left) and her daughter Sarah Feeney-Morrison. Marys sister Kathleen Feeney was shot and killed at the age of 14 by an IRA sniper in Derry in 1973 (Ashlee Ruggels/PA) Ms Feeney-Morrison said seeing her daughter, Sarah, perform her story had helped her heal, while Mr McGavigan said seeing Maria on stage had made him both proud and able to talk more openly about his experiences. It is a stripped-down version of that production that has been brought to Westminster at the invitation of SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, who hopes the families testimonies will persuade MPs to oppose the Governments controversial Troubles Legacy Bill. The Bill is due for its next debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday, and has been criticised by Amnesty International for giving murderers and those responsible for torture a free pass. Mr Eastwood told the PA news agency: Particularly on the Tory benches there has been a fairly cavalier attitude to the impact that this Bill will have on ordinary peoples lives. Ive not met a victim yet who supports it. Its important they have the opportunity to see for themselves the impact that the past has had on people. Mr McGavigan, who was 11 when his sister was killed, added: Hopefully this doesnt go through because we need answers, we need truth, we need justice for our loved ones. You just dont brush it under the carpet and say move on. So far, only one Conservative Northern Ireland Affairs Committee chair Simon Hoare has agreed to see the production on Tuesday evening, which Mr Eastwood described as a test. Martin McGavigan and his daughter Maria. Mr McGavigan's sister Annette was shot dead by British soldiers during a riot in the Bogside area of Derry in 1971. (Ashlee Ruggels/PA) He said: The test is a fairly simple one. Are all of those MPs who are prepared to pontificate about Northern Ireland and the past prepared to walk up two flights of stairs and listen to them? We have tried to make it as easy as possible for them and it will say an awful lot about them if they dont turn up. Among the stories also being shared on Tuesday evening are those of Damien Harkin (8), killed by a British Army lorry in Derrys Bogside in July 1971; Julie Livingstone (14), who died in May 1981 from injuries sustained after she was hit by a plastic bullet fired by the British Army; Kathryn Eakin (8), who died in the Claudy bombings, carried out by the IRA, in July 1972; Henry Cunningham (16), from Carndonagh, who was a passenger in a van fired on by UVF gunmen in August 1973. Sinn Fein councillor, Brian McGuigan, has told the County Derry Post that his Community Wealth Building motion recently adopted by Mid-Ulster Council creates a potent sense of optimism, excitement, possibility and hope, while illuminating how new democratic approaches to our economy can work in practice and generate solutions to longstanding economic challenges faced by local communities. Cllr McGuigan proposing his motion last week said that it commits Council to developing a fully funded community wealth building framework with the purpose of democratising our districts economy by empowering community organisations, non-profits, social enterprise and co-operatives to be established or expanded with the ambition to create employment and grow local economies He further stated that it was presented at a time of great economic disruption caused to communities across Mid-Ulster by Covid-19 public health emergency, periods of economic recession and Tory austerity, while taking fully into consideration the current cost of living crisis, as well as long-standing economic problems across our district for many of our workers, families and communities, including inequality, low paid employment, poor rates of socially ineffective investment, deprivation and unsustainable levels of carbon emissions and ecological damage. The elected representative for Carntogher DEA also commended his party colleague, Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargeys efforts to establish a departmental advisory group to embed and deliver Community Wealth Building which centres on a more just and fair labour market. It also focuses on an inclusive economy and ensuring land and property generate wealth for people who live there. Councillor McGuigan continued: Community Wealth Building is a powerful alternative model for economic development. It seeks to leverage existing local and regional resources to provide workers, families and communities with greater control over their own economic development. The model of Community Wealth Building has proven to be very successful in large cities, towns and rural areas in Preston in England, North Ayrshire in Scotland and in Cleveland in the United States. Dozens of towns and cities across the US and Britain have formally adopted Community Wealth Building strategies with tremendous results for their local economy and communities. Here in the North of Ireland specifically, Tory Austerity and a denial of basic economic competencies have stifled economic development. "Therefore, we need to be bold in setting out a new approach for our local economy where we ensure we retain our local resources and initiative to keep good employment, the wealth of our communities, and socially beneficial investment in our communities. In short, Community Wealth Building has the potential to deliver lasting and progressive change to our local economy to make fairer, more sustainable, and vibrant communities. The five key pillars to any Community Wealth Building proposal are: Make financial power work for people, local towns and communities by retaining as much of that wealth as we can through local supply chains and targeted procurement contracts. Work with key institutions (commercial, public and semi-state) to create local employment and set a standard for high quality, sustainable jobs. Utilise all land and assets in our communities to generate wealth and resources for the people who live there. Develop an inclusive economy with social forms of ownership like co-operatives. Reduce our carbon footprint by establishing shorter supply chains and greater local employment. By adopting this motion, Mid-Ulster Council will now seek to advance these economic principles through Council, in co-operation with our communities, through coherent and ambitious economic strategy. "Community Wealth Building is about working in partnership with communities and businesses to build a more resilient economy that works for local people, which supports fair work and uses land in the region for the benefit of people that live there. Economic strategies obsessed with growth alone have shown themselves to have limited benefits and can be environmentally unsustainable. We will be planning to develop our economies in such a way that wealth is added to our communities and not extracted. Concluding his comments, Councillor McGuigan reiterated his firmly held belief that Community Wealth Building has the potential to maximise the unleashed potential of every village, town and community across Mid-Ulster and indeed throughout Ireland. Boris Johnsons bid to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared its first Commons hurdle, amid Tory warnings the plans are illegal. MPs voted 295 to 221, majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks. The Prime Minister claimed the proposed legislation, which gives ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, could be carried out fairly rapidly, with the proposals in law by the end of the year. But his predecessor in No 10, Theresa May, led the criticism from the Tory benches as she delivered a withering assessment of the legality and impact of the Bill. Mrs May made clear she would not support the legislation and warned it will diminish the UKs global standing. Other Tory MPs joined Mrs May in expressing concern, although they opted against seeking to block the Bill at second reading and instead appear likely to seek amendments. The House of Lords is also expected to contest parts of the Bill, setting up a lengthy showdown between the two Houses. Mr Johnsons Government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really arent working in a way that they like or understand, youve got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, Mr Johnson said: Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing. He said it would be even better if we could get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice-president. The Prime Minister added: We remain optimistic. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss attempted to downplay concerns of MPs by saying the Bill has a strong legal justification and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution. But Mrs May told the Commons: The UKs standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions. As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith also said: I fear that this Bill is a kind of displacement activity from the core task of doing whatever we can to negotiate a better protocol deal for Northern Ireland. I also fear that it risks creating an impression to unionism that a black-and-white solution is available, when the reality is once this Bill has been dragged through the Lords, and courts, and EU responses and reprisals, compromise will ultimately be needed. But Conservative former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said there is necessity for the Government to act because there is a growing and real threat. Unionist opposition to the imposition of checks has seen the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refuse to return to the powersharing Executive at Stormont, leaving the region without a functioning government. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson acknowledged the Bill is not perfect but said: It empowers ministers to make change where change is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the UK internal market. Sir Jeffrey, ahead of the debate, also warned the Lords that blocking the legislation would be akin to wrecking the Good Friday Agreement. Alliance MP Stephen Farry (North Down) said: This is an extremely bad Bill, its unwanted, unnecessary and, indeed, its dangerous. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane called the Governments plans shameful and said they will mean more instability for the region. He told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme: Its very interesting that we are watching a sovereign Parliament debating whether to continue a breach of international law or not. A Number 10 spokesman said on Monday that the Government had never put a hard target date on when it would hope to see the Bill enacted. Relatives of children killed during the Troubles will tell their stories to MPs ahead of a vote on controversial legislation granting amnesty for crimes committed during the Northern Ireland conflict. Martin McGavigan and Mary Feeney-Morrison, both now in their 60s, are among a group of six families taking part in a special event in Parliament on Tuesday evening that aims to bring the reality of their experiences to Westminster. Mr McGavigans sister Annette was shot dead by British soldiers during a riot in the Bogside area of Derry in 1971. She was just 14 years old and still wearing her school uniform. He told PA he remembered his mother talking to Annettes clothes that she was murdered in, the blood-stained slippers, the school uniform and that as an adult his daughter, Maria, would find him reading Annettes papers and crying. Ms Feeney-Morrisons sister, Kathleen Feeney, was also 14 when she was killed by an IRA sniper in Derry in 1973. In 2005, the IRA made an official apology to her family, but so far nobody has been convicted for the murder. She said: When my sister was shot dead, when we buried her nobody came to us and said are you okay. Thats widespread around the north of Ireland there was no assistance, there was no help for anybody. They couldnt cope, you just had to get on with it. You just blended it into your daily life while you were fighting mentally. Although both are still affected by the loss of their siblings, they said they had been helped by a production staged by the Derry Playhouse in which their children helped tell their stories. Ms Feeney-Morrison said seeing her daughter, Sarah, perform her story had helped her heal, while Mr McGavigan said seeing Maria on stage had made him both proud and able to talk more openly about his experiences. It is a stripped-down version of that production that has been brought to Westminster at the invitation of SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, who hopes the families testimonies will persuade MPs to oppose the Governments controversial Troubles Legacy Bill. The Bill is due for its next debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday, and has been criticised by Amnesty International for giving murderers and those responsible for torture a free pass. Mr Eastwood told the PA news agency: Particularly on the Tory benches there has been a fairly cavalier attitude to the impact that this Bill will have on ordinary peoples lives. Ive not met a victim yet who supports it. Its important they have the opportunity to see for themselves the impact that the past has had on people. Mr McGavigan, who was 11 when his sister was killed, added: Hopefully this doesnt go through because we need answers, we need truth, we need justice for our loved ones. You just dont brush it under the carpet and say move on. So far, only one Conservative Northern Ireland Affairs Committee chair Simon Hoare has agreed to see the production on Tuesday evening, which Mr Eastwood described as a test. He said: The test is a fairly simple one. Are all of those MPs who are prepared to pontificate about Northern Ireland and the past prepared to walk up two flights of stairs and listen to them? We have tried to make it as easy as possible for them and it will say an awful lot about them if they dont turn up. A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said: The Government has spoken to a wide range of victims and survivors, many of whom have made clear that access to information and accountability through effective investigations is vital, and while the prospects of successful criminal justice outcomes are very low, the possibility should not be removed entirely. This legislation seeks to strike the right balance between a clear focus on information recovery, while ensuring that those who committed crimes during the Troubles are not able to obtain something for nothing. Those who do not co-operate with the independent body will not be granted immunity and will remain liable to prosecution should sufficient evidence exist or come to light. This legislation will provide answers and accountability for many families, deliver on our commitments to those who served in Northern Ireland, many of whom are also victims, and help society in Northern Ireland to look forward. Simple interventions rather than superheroes are needed to tackle violence against women, a conference has heard. Not laughing at a sexist or otherwise offensive joke or telling a friend to cop on are among the actions people can take in what is known as the Bystander Approach, an audience at Stormont was told. Professor Louise Crowley said it does not have to be about donning a cape and physically intervening, as she addressed a gathering of approximately 300 people both virtually and in person at the Long Gallery in Stormont on Tuesday. The law professor, whose successful Bystander Approach was first implemented at University College Cork and is now being rolled out across other higher education institutions and piloted in schools across Ireland, said there are various steps people can take. She told those gathered: I know from hearing from our students and our staff who say bystander intervention, gosh, I thought when I started I was basically learning how to fistfight. I was worried I had to put on a cape and dive in and sort out situations. In fact, thats very rarely the situation and what we want to do is understand the range of ways in which an intervention can be made interruption, removal, distraction, dont laugh at a joke, tell your friend to cop on. Her sentiment was echoed by Dr Jackson Katz, the keynote speaker at the event the largest ever Bystander Approach conference in Northern Ireland organised by the Executive Office. He said: This is not a superhero model, the bystander approach. He said his main message is that men especially those in positions of societal and cultural influence, have a much more important role to play in preventing mens violence against women than we have shown to date. He said that while womens leadership in Northern Ireland and across the world, has been incredible and transformative, there needs to be more action from men. Addressing the not all men school of thought voiced by some, Prof Crowley said men need to realise that although they are not all the problem they can all help to address the issue. She said: Its about awakening, and it is about awakening peoples recognition that although you may not be the source of the problem, you are part of the source of the solution. Not all men are perpetrators of violence or sexual harassment, but all men can do something about it, and there is nothing more powerful than a man speaking to somebody in his peer group and calling out behaviour. Dr Katz, co-founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), also raised the issue of pornography, which he said is normalising sexual violence. He said it is an unbelievably influential part of the culture and its really, really abusive and misogynist. He added: Anybody who thinks this is about sexual freedom hasnt been paying attention. This is not about sexual expression. Its not about sexual freedom. Its about normalising misogyny and violent abuse. He also said the normalisation of men strangling women in porn, which might be passed off as rough sex is so pathetic and should spark outrage. He said: The normalisation of men strangling women in pornography is why its happening more and more in quote unquote real life. We need to do better. While the Stormont Assembly remains unable to function due to a political disagreement over the Northern Ireland Protocol, work is ongoing to inform a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. It is aimed to have a draft framework for an Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy by the end of 2022. Addressing the audience virtually, Health Minister Robin Swann said he is committed, along with ministerial colleagues, to challenge and address the societal attitudes and behaviours that contribute towards violence and abuse in our society, adding that is is essential that we tackle the root causes. Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, who was at the event, said: the strategy will work alongside and be complementary to the Gender Equality Strategy, which my department is developing on behalf of the Executive. The two strategies together will aim to provide a robust basis for addressing misogyny and tackling structural violence against women and girls. I still remember my jaw hitting the floor seeing the first phone with a camera which was a Nokia Supernova. It was a time when phone makers were being siloed into the Android and iOS camp. Today, cameras have become a part and parcel of the smartphone world and are right in the centre of digital convergence, especially in India, the worlds second-largest smartphone market. If you look back, it took just about 12 years for cameras to become a highlight of the conventional smartphone, eventually putting you, the user, in the spotlight front and centre. However, the roots of the camera phone concept date back to almost 23 years and even earlier, as part of prototypes and unreleased products in clandestine research divisions of some of the worlds leading tech companies back then. Apples prototype of a videophone in 1995 Coming of age for camera phones The first picture ever taken from a camera phone is credited to Philippe Kahn, who combined the power of a Casio QV-10 camera with a Motorola StarTAC flip phone (two other iconic products of the 90s) to document the birth of his daughter and instantly sharing it to friends and family. Picture by Philippe Kahn In the years leading up to 2010, more smartphone brands became comfortable with the idea of the camera being a major focus area but it wasnt until 2010 that the camera inside a smartphone was advanced and matured enough for it to be even considered an alternative to compact point and shoot cameras. This led to a downfall in the digital compact camera sales because phones were becoming way smarter and more efficient at taking high-quality pictures. Between 2010 and 2018, the sale of point-and-shoot and compact digital cameras plummeted by over 84%, giving rise to mobile phone photography. It also helped that you could use the same device for making calls, sending texts, listening to music and doing so much more. All these years later, capturing a picture or a video from a smartphone has almost become second nature for most of Indias 750 million smartphone users and it gets instantly shared across their social media channels, too. Of course, this has empowered a lot of phone users to bolster their confidence in front of cameras and get a taste of virality, with so many videos and content being produced and shared on social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, among others. But a majority of that has been made possible by the evolution of technology that has given everyone a digital camera in the palm of their hand and has given birth to camera phone photography or smartphone photography as a separate genre within mainstream photography. Breakthroughs in modern smartphone photography Not too long ago, 2010 was the year when we saw a lot of camera innovations but one phone stood out in particular, the Nokia N8! This was one phone ahead of its time as it had a 12-megapixel camera, a large 1/1.83-inch sensor, HD video recording and was developed in partnership with Carl Zeiss optics. These features alone rival the best point-and-shoot camera available at the time but it came in after a long wait and at a tremulous point for Nokia. Nonetheless, it set a benchmark for the largest sensor size in a phone that was only broken 11 years later by Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra with its 1/1.12-inch sensor. While sensor sizes alone dont determine the quality of a camera phone, it remains a critical part of the experience. A larger sensor will be able to capture more light and pick up details that otherwise would be lost due to a smaller sensor. However, this has been a conundrum for most smartphone makers as large sensors often result in thicker phones and thats something neither the brands want nor the users. In 2012, Nokia released the Nokia PureView 808 with a 41-megapixel camera that used an even larger 1/1.2-inch sensor with PureView Pro technology which was our first look at pixel oversampling or what is commonly known today as Pixel Binning. The large image sensor combines information from multiple pixels into one single image pixel which is sent to the onboard image processor that produces high-quality pictures, reduces noise and also improves the low-light performance of the camera. However, one of the major downsides of pixel binning is that the final processed image that we get is 1/4th the resolution of the sensor and so the image sensor had to be large enough for the camera to be able to produce a detailed picture with good exposure levels. At the time, the smartphone industry was also going through a shift and established brands like Nokia were struggling to catch up to the Android and iOS smartphones bandwagon. But this also gave rise to smartphone photography as more and more brands put their effort into camera development and found computational photography to be the next big area of focus. For the next few years, smartphones continued to reign when it came to image quality but the overall progress in camera phone development slowed down, even though smartphones were getting more powerful every year. This is when computational photography went mainstream as smartphones took multiple captures of a frame and an algorithm stitched it into a final image that had less noise and this technique greatly improved the image quality. With the advent of BSI (Back-Side Illuminated) sensors, it became possible for smartphones to use larger sensors without increasing the thickness. This was a major breakthrough in smartphone photography in comparison to FSI (Front-Side Illuminated) sensors where the sensor received limited light as it had to pass through filters and other layers, thereby losing signal information. On the other hand, BSI sensors allowed flexibility of industrial design, as they made room for lenses to be placed closer to the sensors, all without making the phone any thicker. At the same time, we started seeing more than one camera in smartphones but for use cases that are way different from how we use multiple cameras today. Primarily, the first phones with dual cameras were made to capture 3D content because 3D was being perpetuated as the next big thing by consumer electronics brands. However, it failed to take off into something considerable and functional but since 2014, brands like HTC played with the idea of having a second camera as a depth sensor to capture depth information in a frame thereby allowing pictures to have a shallow depth of field effect thats now known as the Portrait mode in smartphone photography. Subscriber content preview CORVALLIS Oregon State University has been awarded $1.9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund research on hybrid hydro-power storage units. The research project aims to demonstrate and quantify the value of a hybrid hydroelectric-storage generation unit, which combines a hydro-power unit that does not have storage capability with supercapacitor energy storage units. The project will involve the construction of a 200 kW lab-based hybrid hydroelectric-storage generation unit that will serve as a testbed for performance analysis and model validation. The project team will then develop a high-resolution, real-time, wide-area grid model to investigate the benefits and challenges arising from large-scale integration of hybrid hydro-power and energy storage units. OSU's project is one of three to be funded as part of Department of Energy efforts to update and improve the operation of the nation's hydroelectric generation systems, many of which are roughly a century old, and to invest in technologies that increase hydro-power flexibility. $8 million has been awarded across the three projects. The other two awards are for projects led by power companies, General Electric and Littoral Power Systems. . . . Subscriber content preview By JULHAS ALAM Associated Press DHAKA, Bangladesh Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday celebrated the opening of the country's longest bridge, which took eight years to build amid setbacks involving political conflict and corruption allegations. The 4.04-mile bridge spanning the Padma River cost an estimated $3.6 billion and was paid for with domestic funds after the World Bank and other global lending agencies declined to finance the project following a graft scandal involving a Canadian construction company. . . . Top military officers of South Korea and the United States held video talks on Tuesday and agreed that the allies are "fully ready" to deal with any North Korean provocations, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The talks between outgoing JCS Chairman Gen. Won In-choul and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John C. Aquilino came as Seoul and Washington are stepping up security cooperation amid concerns about the possibility of Pyongyang carrying out a nuclear test. Won and Aquilino shared the assessment that the allies' combined defense posture against the North's possible provocations, like a long-range missile or nuclear test, remains "more solid than any other time," according to the JCS. "(They also agreed) the alliance is fully ready to respond to any North Korean provocations," the JCS said in a press release. In addition, the two officers concurred that the North's continued missile launches and preparations for a nuclear test are "threats that undermine peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the Indo-Pacific region." Aquilino expressed his gratitude to Won for his contributions to the regional peace and security, as well as the development of the alliance. (Yonhap) Subscriber content preview The U.N. estimates that about 65% of the roughly 450-mile structure has been completed. By ODED BALILTY Associated Press JERUSALEM Twenty years after Israel decided to build its controversial separation barrier, the network of walls, fences and closed military roads remains in place, even as any partition of the land appears more remote than ever. Israel is actively encouraging its Jewish citizens to settle on both sides of the barrier as it builds and expands settlements deep inside the occupied West Bank, more than a decade after the collapse of any serious peace talks. . . . President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during their summit at a hotel in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo MADRID President Yoon Suk-yeol and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed on Tuesday to strengthen communication in setting up their respective Indo-Pacific strategies and their relations with China. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2022 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Madrid, Spain, which will officially begin on Wednesday. Both South Korea and Australia will attend the event as partner countries of NATO. Yoon and Albanese explored ways to upgrade the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership during their first summit. Both Yoon and Albanese took office in May. "Both South Korea and Australia are currently working on their respective Indo-Pacific policies," a senior official at South Korea's presidential office said. "As they closely communicate in this process, the leaders explored how South Korea and Australia will set their relations with China, while removing any room for hostile relations with Beijing. Also, the leaders agreed to seek ways to form future-oriented partnerships with Beijing and other major countries in the region." After Yoon took office on May 10, Seoul has been departing from its so-called "strategic ambiguity" in the U.S.-China rivalry, and moved closer to Washington. Albanese, who took office on May 23, also heralded a hardline stance, saying Australia's relations with China will remain "a difficult one" during his inauguration press conference. Against this backdrop, their close communication in formulating their Indo-Pacific policies and China relations may trigger vitriolic responses from Beijing, which has been critical of Yoon's participation in the NATO Summit and said it will make South Korea's relations with China "more complicated." Citing experts, China's Global Times reported Tuesday that the "U.S. aim to further promote NATO's Asia-Pacific expansion" will create tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and "Seoul's relations with Beijing will be more complicated if the Yoon administration gradually loses its diplomatic independence by relying on the U.S." Regarding the NATO summit, the official at the presidential office said, "There will be no direct questions asking how South Korea will react to China's emergence at the NATO Summit, even though the organization will mention China in its strategic concept during the meeting." "There will be no measure putting direct pressure on China during the NATO Summit. Due to the war (in Ukraine) and those who support the war, the global economy, including that of South Korea, is suffering difficulties. There will be greater criticism and doubts raised on South Korea if it decides not to attend this summit," the official said. Yoon also said during a meeting with aides Tuesday that "Madrid is where [South] Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy and global peace initiative meet with NATO's 2022 strategic concept." President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a meeting with his aides at a hotel in Madrid, Spain, Thursday. Yonhap BAE Systems wins $12 billion US contract related to ICBMs The US Department of Defence on Friday awarded BAE Systems (BAES), a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company, a potential $12 billion contract to support intercontinental ballistic missile systems. A BAE Systems division won a potential $12 billion contract to integrate and engineer intercontinental ballistic missiles for the US Air Force. The companys technology solutions and services unit will continue to serve as the lead systems integrator and provide professional services for the ICBM programme at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the Defence Department said on Friday. BAE is currently helping the military branch sustain the weapon as part of an eight-year, $534 million contract awarded in July 2013. According to solicitation documents, the Integration Support Contract 2.0 covers support for Minuteman III and the next-generation ground-based strategic deterrent missile or any future ICBM weapon system developed throughout the duration of the contract. The Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center received five proposals for the cost-plus-award-fee contract through a competitive acquisition process. Work related to the contract is expected to be completed by the end of 2040, the defence department said, and will mostly take place at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. BAE was one of five firms competing for the contract. The US Defence Department had earlier awarded BAE Systems a contract for advanced radiofrequency (RF) sensors or guidance systems that will allow LRASM to strike high-value, specific maritime threats. The RF sensors are capable of penetrating enemy air defences from a long range in electromagnetic warfare environments. The anti-ship missile provides a capable precision strike weapon to the warfighters. The air-launched LRASM is intended for surface vessels, using Mark 41 Vertical Launching System and for various aircraft. It includes F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, B-1B Lancer bombers, F-35 Lightning II aircraft and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The missiles are already in use with the US Navys F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and USAFs B-1B aircraft. London-based BAE Systems plc is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. L&T wins two major offshore contracts overseas The Hydrocarbon division of engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro, L&T Energy, has secured three offshore contracts from an overseas client, reportedly Saudi Aramco. L&T said the scope of work comprises engineering, procurement, construction, and installation for various new offshore jacket structures. L&T Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH) has executed orders for this client in the past and repeat business is a testimony to L&Ts Execution Par Excellence philosophy, it added. LTEH said it is executing several domestic and international offshore projects and is building its regional presence in geographies that it operates by growing local skills and talent, improving procurement from local vendors, engaging commercially with local contractors on the foundation of a sustainable workload. Organised under Offshore, Onshore, Construction Services, Modular Fabrication and Advanced Value Engineering & Technology (AdVENT) verticals, LTEH offers integrated design-to-build solutions across the hydrocarbon sector to domestic and international customers. With over three decades of rich experience, the company has been setting global benchmarks in all aspects of project management, corporate governance, quality, HSE and operational excellence. Aramco has dished out multiple EPCI awards worth more than a combined $1.6 billion, to three international contractors or consortia, as a part of an LTA arrangement. The winners included a grouping of L&T with Subsea 7, UAEs National Petroleum Construction Company and Italys Saipem. The L&T-Subsea 7 consortium is believed to have won deals for contract release purchase orders (CRPOs) 88, 89 and 90, reports citing sources said. CRPO 88 involves up to 10 jackets for the Safaniyah field, while CRPO 89 comprises the EPCI of up to nine jackets for the Safaniyah and Ribyan fields. CRPO 90 includes up to 11 offshore jackets for the Safaniyan and Zuluf fields. Safaniyah lies about 200 kilometres north of Dhahran and, with 37 billion barrels of heavy crude in place, is viewed as the worlds largest offshore oilfield. Aramco has been carrying out further development of the field through multiple LTA projects, as it aims to maintain the production profile and arrest decline at the field. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) have announced that the Institutes Certificate in Health and Safety (Manufacturing Industry) has been accredited by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). IOSH is the Chartered body and largest membership organisation for health and safety professionals. The Certificate in Health and Safety (Manufacturing Industry) is a level 6, 30 Credit course delivered part-time in the evenings, predominately online, over one year. It is designed to allow those working full time to gain a qualification in health and safety. The programme is suitable for anyone who has an interest in health and safety and graduates from the programme will have the professional skills and knowledge that will allow them to manage health and safety risks in their workplaces. The accreditation from IOSH demonstrates that the course meets the IOSH quality and standards including course content which contains relevant health and safety information. This accreditation also guarantees the course is pitched at the appropriate level, that the course meets the highest standards for trainer competence and includes opportunities for growth and development. The Certificate in Health and Safety (Manufacturing Industry) has also been awarded Springboard funding for its three intakes including September 2022, this means that fees are free to eligible students via the Springboard scheme. Applications are now being accepted for the September 2022 intake of this course and you can apply online at: HEA - Springboard+ (springboardcourses.ie) Consultant shortages and lack of extra facilities are resulting in unacceptable delays in providing healthcare in county Louth and across the North East region according to The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA). Research undertaken by the group showed that Orthopaedics, Dermatology, Gynaecology, and Rheumatology outpatient waiting lists in North-East hospitals have increased by 41%, or almost 4,500 additional people, in the past seven years leaving 15,365 people awaiting assessment. Meanwhile, one in four approved permanent hospital Consultant posts in the North-East are not filled as needed with North-East hospitals spending 9.6 million on medical agency doctors last year more than 10% of the national total. The organisation has today warned that the ongoing shortage of Consultants across many specialties in the North-East together with public hospital capacity deficits is restricting patients from accessing timely, high-quality medical and surgical care and is contributing massively to growing waiting lists and poorer health outcomes. New analysis from the IHCA shows that between the period May 2015 to May 2022, an additional 7,966 (+31%) people have been added to outpatient waiting lists across the North-East, with 33,468 now waiting for assessment. A further 2,742 patients are on inpatient/day case waiting lists and another 2,144 are waiting for GI endoscopies. This means there are 38,354 people across Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath waiting for public hospital inpatient/day case treatment, GI endoscopies or an outpatient appointment with a Consultant. The busiest hospital in the region, Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, has seen its Outpatient waiting list increase by almost 3,500 (+30%) in the past seven years to almost 15,000. Drogheda consistently has one of the largest number of patients in any hospital who are medically fit for discharge but whose discharge is delayed. Patients presenting to its Emergency Department also faced a 9-hour average waiting time for admission in May. Our Ladys Hospital Navan has experienced the largest growth, with the main waiting lists there having almost doubled since 2015 to 8,700. The number of long waiters at Navan have increased significantly, with 91 patients now waiting longer than a year for inpatient or day case treatment compared with zero patients seven years ago. Almost 4,500 additional people in the region waiting for an outpatient appointment with a hospital Consultant in four specialties, an increase of 41% since 2015, the analysis has revealed. The four specialties of Orthopaedics, Dermatology, Gynaecology and Rheumatology have some of the largest waiting lists and combined they account for close to half (46%) of all those waiting to be assessed by a hospital Consultant in the region. The association says that these patients run the risk of either a delayed diagnosis of skin and other cancers or may be living with increased pain while awaiting hip or knee surgery or treatment for arthritis. These lists have also seen some of the largest increases since 2015 - an average increase of 41%: Orthopaedics alone accounts for 15% (5,064) of the entire Outpatient waiting lists at the four North-East hospitals. Louth County Hospital in Dundalk has seen a 127% increase in its Orthopaedic Outpatient waiting list, with an additional 833 people added since 2015, while Our Lady's Hospital, Navan and Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda have both seen a 28% increase over the same period. Many of these people will later go on separate inpatient waiting lists if they require hip or knee replacements. There are 4,133 people waiting to see a Consultant Dermatologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital - an increase of 1,438 (+53%) since 2015. This is the fourth largest Dermatology outpatient waiting list in the entire country, behind only Childrens Health Ireland, University Hospital Waterford and University Hospital Limerick. There are just 2.33 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) Consultant Dermatologists in Drogheda and Louth County Hospitals serving a population in the North-East of around 330,000. That is a ratio of 1 WTE Dermatologist per 140,000 population less than half the internationally recommended level. At the same time, more than one in four (26%) approved hospital Consultant posts in the North-East were either vacant or filled on a temporary or agency basis thats 59 out of a total of 228 posts (as at May 2021). Nearly half of these posts (27, or 46%) were at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. The medical specialist workforce deficits, which predate the pandemic, have now reached record levels with 22% of all approved Consultant posts nationally either vacant or filled on a temporary or agency 838 posts. The proportion of posts not filled as needed increases to one in four (59 posts or 26%) in the North-East, which is resulting in the employment of agency staff at often twice the cost of retaining such specialists on permanent contracts. The failure to recruit medical specialists at the four hospitals in the North-East is creating a false economy with the hospitals spending a combined 9.6 million on medical agency doctors last year more than 10% of the total spend nationally. Commenting on the waiting lists, IHCA President Professor Alan Irvine, said: The severe shortage of Consultants across the North-East is the main contributor to the unacceptable delays in providing care to patients. Growing waiting lists demonstrate the impact of years of Consultant shortages and underinvestment in capacity across these public hospitals. We have a chronic recruitment and retention crisis with 22% of all approved Consultant posts nationally either vacant or filled on a temporary or agency 838 posts in total. This increases to 26% in the North-East. The unprecedented level of Emergency Department presentations in recent months and the continued impact of the number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 has meant further cancellations of surgical activity and outpatient appointments in the North-East and nationwide, which in turn will only increase the waiting lists further and lead to poorer clinical outcomes for patients. There were 281cancelled appointments in April alone at the four North East hospitals.8 In addition, just 68 (8%) of the 829 additional acute beds that were provided nationally over the past two-and-a-quarter years were in the four hospitals in the North-East.9 Health service management needs to progress practical plans to significantly expand hospital capacity in the North-East, and throughout the country, at a much faster pace and without further delay. The Government must make good on its promise to provide the extra beds, extra Consultants and extra facilities which are badly needed to meet the healthcare needs of the 38,000 people currently on waiting lists at hospitals in the North-East. To achieve that end, the Consultant contract talks which resumed last week must honour the unambiguous commitment made by the Minister for Health to end the pay discrimination imposed on Consultants contracted since 2012. "This and more competitive terms and conditions are crucially important to recruit and retain the increased number of hospital Consultants required to provide timely care to the 902,000 people waiting for hospital care across the country. Louth Craftmark is back again with their highly anticipated outdoor Summer Fair which will once again return to the St Nicholas Quarter, Church Street, Dundalk. The Summer Fair will take place on Saturday 9th July, from 10am to 5pm. Featuring a host of professional designers and makers, the fair will have an eclectic array of tempting art, gifts, and high-quality crafts. The Summer Fair is part of the Fringe Programme of the SEEK Contemporary Urban Arts Festival and is sure to be a buzzing vibrant addition to the town centre in July. Founded in 2006, Louth Craftmark Designers Network is a collective of talented Northeast based artists, craftspeople, and designers, who have come together to promote and support each other. The Summer Fair will comprise of 12 artists showcasing their beautiful work, representing various creative disciplines including ceramics, handmade scented candles, Irish designed textiles, glass giftware, artisan soaps, handmade skincare, jewellery, painting, and prints. There will be something for everyones taste at the Summer Fair; where visitors can treat themselves to something special or buy a gift for a loved one. Louth Craftmark is well known for their very successful annual Winter Fair, and the artists are delighted to have the opportunity to return to the St Nicholas Quarter, for a second time. The spacious layout will give visitors ample opportunities to browse and peruse the stalls and see the wonderful art and crafts on offer. Louth Craftmark is delighted to welcome new artists and designers to participate in the Summer Fair this year, including vibrant new Irish textile brand Jennie Ritchie. Jennies brand is inspired by nature and the outdoors, mixing laid back luxe, bohemian, and colourful designs. LORE Natural Skincare is also a new addition this year, handmade in the Cooley Peninsula using only natural, ethically sourced, and sustainable ingredients. Well known wellness and home-fragrance brand Emma's So Naturals, with their collection of clean burning candles, wax melts, palm-free soaps, and new aroma diffusers will also be joining the Summer Fair for the first time. Purchasing handmade products from Louth Craftmark is a great way to support local and buy Irish. By buying from independent businesses, we are contributing to the local economy and encouraging our community to thrive. Ceramicist Sarah McKenna from Louth Craftmark said: We are delighted to be bringing the Louth Craftmark Summer Fair back to Dundalk this July, after a very successful event last year. Our network has grown to 68 members, and we cant wait to showcase the work of our talented local artists and craftspeople in the heart of Dundalk. President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee arrive in Madrid, Spain, Monday (local time). Yonhap Industry expects president's arms marketing to help exports By Kang Seung-woo President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to engage in marketing efforts in his first overseas trip since his inauguration toward exporting domestically developed weapons that are currently capturing attention from countries amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yoon is now attending the NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, where he will discuss security and economic ties with world leaders. Although Korea does not belong to the 30-member alliance, it was invited along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand as the organization's Asia-Pacific partners. The expectations come as a number of countries have shown interest in Korean-made military hardware as part of efforts to boost military capabilities in light of the war in Ukraine. The local defense industry is particularly focusing on Yoon's summit with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, scheduled for Wednesday (local time), as the two leaders may close an arms deal during the bilateral talks. The HSE has begun recruitment for over 100 interRAI home care needs facilitators across Ireland. Recruitment began yesterday (Monday June 27), with the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People calling it "a significant step" in delivering safer and higher quality care. It's hoped the rollout of interRAI - a collective network to improve services for vulnerable people including the elderly, disabled people and those with mental illnesses - will result in a standardised assessment for nursing, health and social care professionals. Minister Mary Butler said, "The government is committed to the introduction of a statutory home support scheme. I am pleased to announce the recruitment of the 128 interRAI care needs facilitators. This is a significant step towards delivering safer, more equitable and higher quality home support services. The interRAI Care Needs Facilitator will fulfil the important role of champion and centre point for interRAI within Community Health Networks (CHNs) and Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) and facilitate the integration of interRAI for all team members. Posts are expected to be in place by the end of the third quarter of 2022. A home support pilot using interRAI assessments is currently underway in pilot areas across Ireland including East Westmeath, Tuam, Athenry, Loughrea, Bandon, Kinsale, Carrigaline, Ballyfermot and Palmerstown. An independent counsel investigation team raided the Air Force's headquarters and combat units Tuesday as part of its investigation into the suicide of a servicewoman following alleged sexual abuse by a colleague. Investigators from the special probe team searched the Air Force headquarters in the central city of Gyeryong, as well as the 20th Fighter Wing and the 15th Special Missions Wing for materials related to the investigation, officials said. The independent counsel team went into operation early this month to look into the case. Lee Ye-ram, the then 23-year-old female master sergeant affiliated with the 20th Fighter Wing, killed herself in late May 2021 after claiming she was sexually abused by a male colleague of the same rank Lee's family claimed she was also coerced and pressured by other male colleagues not to report the case to authorities. The family also accused the military police chief of her unit and other investigators for a shoddy investigation after the case was reported. As the case drew intense public fury, the National Assembly in April unanimously passed a bill mandating an independent special counsel probe into the case, including whether any defense ministry and Air Force officials attempted to cover it up. On June 14, a military appellate court commuted a lower court's nine-year prison sentence to seven years for the master sergeant, surnamed Jang, charged with sexually assaulting Lee. The court said Jang cannot be solely responsible for Lee's death, stressing the victim had not been given adequate protection from within the military. (Yonhap) The prosecution suspended the imprisonment of former President Lee Myung-bak for three months due to health reasons Tuesday, more than a year and a half after the Supreme Court finalized a 17-year sentence for him for corruption. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office made the decision to release Lee from the Anyang Correctional Institution, after the 81-year-old former president filed for suspension of his imprisonment earlier this month, citing deteriorating health. Lee, president from 2008 to 2013, has been serving the sentence since the Supreme Court finalized the 17-year prison term in October 2020 on charges of embezzlement and bribery. Lee has been in and out of the hospital during his imprisonment for chronic diseases, including diabetes. He was admitted to Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul last week for medical examinations and treatment. Lee was first imprisoned in March 2018 during the prosecution investigation, before being released on bail in March 2019. Lee then was reincarcerated in February 2020 following a higher court's ruling but was released again six days later after he successfully challenged the cancellation of the bail. Following the top court's finalization of the 17-year term, Lee was imprisoned again in November 2020. Lee was excluded from the presidential pardons by former President Moon Jae-in last year, under which imprisoned ex-President Park Geun-hye was set free. (Yonhap) Fostering private sector competitiveness and improving connectivity Supporting Kazakhstans pathway to carbon neutrality Promoting economic inclusion, youth and gender equality The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a new strategy for Kazakhstan, setting out the Banks priorities in the country for the next five years. The strategic approach to operations in Kazakhstan will be based on the following three pillars. Fostering private sector competitiveness, connectivity and strengthening economic governance: the EBRD will promote digitalisation of private companies, support state digitalisation strategies and facilitate investments in smart technologies across the municipal, transport and energy sectors. It will be financing key infrastructure, including roads and railways, and help develop alternative transport routes under the EU Global Gateway initiative. The Bank will also work with the authorities to strengthen the regulatory framework for public-private partnerships (PPPs). In the financial sector the EBRD will concentrate on providing finance and capacity building for local banks, enhancing the use of the tenge overnight index average (TONIA) to promote local currency lending and scaling up its Trade Facilitation Programme. Supporting Kazakhstans green pathway to carbon neutrality and climate resilience: the EBRD will continue to finance renewable energy projects and help integrate renewables into the national power network. The Bank will support the development of a decarbonised and climate-resilient energy system. Special attention will be paid to the development of carbon markets, cleaner energy generation and the reduction of air pollution. It will continue supporting the authorities drive to develop Paris Agreement aligned strategies. The EBRD will finance and advise companies, including small businesses, on decarbonisation and will support green municipal and transport infrastructure projects. Promoting economic inclusion and gender equality through private sector engagement: the EBRD will promote an inclusive and diverse workforce, and support joint public and private sector reviews of skills, including digital and green skills, to better reflect labour market needs. It will work with Kazakhstans financial regulator to promote inclusive lending practices by financial institutions, help build their capacity aimed at inclusion and support women-led businesses. The Bank will be providing financing for businesses in the regions of Kazakhstan, improving intra-regional connectivity and supporting digital solutions. The EBRD will also be working with various stakeholders to promote corporate social responsibility activities in the regions to improve the local business environment. In 2022 the EBRD marks 30 years since Kazakhstan joined the Bank. With more than US$ 10.3 billion invested in the country to date, this is the largest and longest-running uninterrupted banking operation of the EBRD in Central Asia. At a meeting on the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028, held this evening, councillors voted to overturn a decision made at the meeting in March to rezone lands in Kilcully from open space to residential use. The lands are located between Rosemount cul-de-sac and the River Bride Valley. Our recommendation is not to adopt this and revert to the [draft] plan which does allow for some housing development at the site, city councils director of strategic and economic development, Fearghal Reidy stated at the meeting. This failed the strategic environmental assessment based on the moderate likelihood of a landslide and also the OPR (Office of the Planning Regulator) and the Southern Regional Assembly recommended that you would not accept the amendment, he continued. Independent councillor Ger Keohane had previously stated that he had seen independent reports contradicting that there is a risk of landslide. He had said a man who grew up in the area is looking to develop several houses at the site and that outline planning permission had been granted by Cork County Council some years ago. Solidarity councillor Fiona Ryan was one of the councillors to voice her support of the Executives recommendation. The fact remains that part of the site where there is less of a danger is still allowable in terms of a few houses, which is the main argument that Cllr Keohane is making, she said. I think it would be reckless for the amendment to go ahead given the advice weve been given. It was agreed unanimously by the councillors to accept the recommendation not to change the zoning of the lands from public open space to sustainable residential neighbourhood. City councillors held their final meeting on the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 this evening the first of three development plans to provide a framework to achieve ambitious targets for Cork city, the newly elected Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde said. Following the initial public consultation, Cork City Council prepared the draft plan which was published in July 2021 which then went for a further round of public consultation. The councils Chief Executive, Ann Doherty then compiled a two-volume report of over 800 pages summarising and outlining the key issues arising from those submissions and setting out her response and recommendation to the issues raised. A full council meeting took place in March this year, where councillors voted on 522 proposed amendments before a further round of public consultation took place. Final votes on the plan took place this evening. Other decisions Among the decisions made at tonights meeting, councillors also decided tonight to change the zoning of lands at Hyde Park House in Montenotte from landscape perseveration zone to sustainable residential neighbourhood. Fine Gael councillor Joe Kavanagh proposed the amendment as he stated there is a need for housing in the area. This is a site that would be serviced. Its perfectly walled in. In terms of landscape preservation, you cant see the site from the other side of the river. That has been proven in a study that was done, he also stated. Green Party councillor Colette Finn was among the councillors to voice opposition to the proposed amendment. We dont need more zoned land. We need to live in a compact city. We have record levels of dereliction and vacancy. We dont actually need to build on greenfield sites. We need to do the opposite, she said. When asked for clarification, Mr Reidy informed councillors that a landscape preservation zone doesnt preclude an area from development for housing, it just means that the development would be sensitive to the environment. The deciding vote to pass the amendment was cast by the Lord Mayor after 15 councillors voted for the amendment and 15 voted against it. Meanwhile, councillors voted against a proposed amendment to change the zoning of adjacent lands at Clifton Convalescent Home in Montenotte from landscape preservation zone to sustainable residential neighbourhoods. Independent councillor Ken OFlynn voiced his support for the amendment stating that there is a need for housing in the area. Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said he would be voting against the amendment, in agreement with the Executive. All that removing the landscape preservation does is lift the lid to allow for development which is not in keeping with the historic building, he said. Ten councillors voted for the amendment and 21 voted against it. See echolive.ie tomorrow for more on the final draft plan. By Ben Hatton, PA Political Staff A senior Conservative MP warned the UK Foreign Secretary against impugning the patriotism of those who criticise Government plans to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Conservative chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Simon Hoare was speaking during a debate where both those for and against the Governments plans to give ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland claimed patriotism underpinned their position. Mr Hoare said he had grave concerns about the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which he described as a failure of statecraft. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, when asked in the Commons why she is not using the dispute mechanisms included in the agreed treaties with the EU, said part of the reason she was putting forward the Bill was because Im a patriot. Mr Hoare intervened to say: Is she seriously impugning the patriotism of colleagues across this House who have concerns about her Bill? I find that a false conflation. Elsewhere in the debate, Conservative former prime minister Theresa May outlined her opposition to the Governments plans, saying the Bill would break international law, and adding: As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. Labour former minister Tony Lloyd made a similar point, saying being able to ask others to adhere to international law and standards because the UK does so is true patriotism, which he said does not simply come from jingoist flag waving. Ms Truss remark about patriotism came in response to Labours Hilary Benn (Leeds Central), who said: I suspect that when she was campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU, she never in a million years thought shed be standing here proposing a Bill of this sort. He asked: Why is the UK Government not proposing to use the legal method to raise these questions with the EU through the treaty that it signed rather than one claiming necessity, when the Foreign Secretary is yet to give me a single example when the British Government has claimed necessity for abrogating a treaty that is negotiated and signed? Ms Truss replied: The reason I am putting this Bill forward is because Im a patriot and Im a democrat, and our number one priority is protecting peace and political stability in Northern Ireland and protecting the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, and nothing (he) has suggested will achieve that end. Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss (House of Commons/PA) Following the exchange, Mr Hoare said: The Foreign Secretary knows that I have grave concerns about her Bill. But could I ask her just to coolly reflect upon praying-in-aid patriotism as a defence of it. Is she seriously impugning the patriotism of colleagues across this House who have concerns about her Bill? I find that a false conflation. The Foreign Secretary replied: I was directly responding to the point of the honourable gentleman asking me why I had campaigned one way in the referendum and now am working to make sure that the Brexit negotiation that we achieve works for the people of Northern Ireland. Speaking later in the debate, Mr Hoare said: I think this Bill is a failure of statecraft and it puts at risk the reputation of the United Kingdom. The arguments supporting it are flimsy at best, and irrational at worst. It is a Bill that risks economically harmful retaliation, a Bill that runs the risk of shredding our reputation as a guardian of international law and the rules-based system. How in the name of heaven can we expect to speak to others with authority, when we ourselves shun at a moments notice our legal obligations? Cities around the country are considering following the lead of Berkeley, California, which became the first city to ban the installation of natural gas lines in new homes this summer. That means that stoves, heating systems and clothes dryers need another source of energy, which will ideally come from renewable sources as the technology and efficiency continues to improve. Now San Francisco is following suit along with 12 other California cities and Marin County in California, including San Jose, Santa Monica, San Luis Obispo, Palo Alto, and Mountainview, according to Sierra Club. The idea is not to create new hookups that will be grandfathered into an older infrastructure as the country moves toward carbon-neutral energy sources, according to USA Today. We need to tackle climate change every way that we can and by doing this, were not asking people to change that much, said Berkeley City Council member Kate Harrison who led the initiative, according to KQED. Its going to give us a better life, added Harrison. Were going to have a cleaner environment. Were going to have less health problems. Were going to have less danger in our homes. Major American cities, including Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Albuquerque are considering similar ordinances to discourage the use of natural gas. Cities in Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington are also considering an all-electric requirement, according to Sierra Club, as The Weather Channel reported. Natural gas contributes greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere and it accounts for one-third of the nations CO2 emissions from electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as USA Today reported. Theres no pathway to stabilizing the climate without phasing gas out of our homes and buildings. This is a must-do for the climate and a livable planet, said Rachel Golden of the Sierra Clubs building electrification campaign, as USA Today reported. A new study from the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that the natural gas piped into homes for cooking and heating actually contains toxic volatile organic compounds, including chemicals linked to cancer. Research from the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard (C-CHANGE) in collaboration with PSE Healthy Energy, Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER), Gas Safety Inc., Boston University and Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), collected more than 200 unburned natural gas samples from 69 different kitchen stoves and building pipelines around Greater Boston from December 2019 to May 2021. In the samples, the team found 296 chemical compounds, and 21 of these compounds are federally considered to be hazardous air pollutants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and hexane. While the concentration of chemicals varied by location and time of year, the study generally found the highest concentrations of pollutants in the winter. It is well-established that natural gas is a major source of methane thats driving climate change, Drew Michanowicz, visiting scientist at Harvard Chan C-CHANGE and senior scientist at PSE Healthy Energy, said in a statement. But most people havent really considered that our homes are where the pipeline ends and that when natural gas leaks it can contain health-damaging air pollutants in addition to climate pollutants. The study, recently published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, also measured odorants in consumer-grade natural gas. These odorants give gas its well-known smell that alerts people to a leak. But the researchers found that with gas leaks 10 times higher than naturally occurring levels, there may not be enough odorant for people to detect the leak. These leaks can make both indoor and outdoor air contaminated with hazardous chemicals. This study shows that gas appliances like stoves and ovens can be a source of hazardous chemicals in our homes even when were not using them. These same chemicals are also likely to be present in leaking gas distribution systems in cities and up the supply chain, said Jonathan Buonocore, co-author and research scientist at Harvard Chan C-CHANGE. Policymakers and utilities can better educate consumers about how natural gas is distributed to homes and the potential health risks of leaking gas appliances and leaking gas pipes under streets, and make alternatives more accessible. More and more cities are already banning natural gas hookups in homes, and the researchers shared some actions for individuals and lawmakers to take to further reduce exposure to harmful pollutants coming from natural gas pipelines. Among the policy recommendations, the team noted that both gas pipeline companies and utility companies need to measure, report and monitor natural gas composition, including odorant content. According to the scientists, there should also be more stringent performance standards for gas stoves and range hoods. As for individual actions, the team recommends hiring a specialist to perform an in-home leak inspection and improving ventilation when cooking. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) submitted a request Tuesday calling for an extraordinary session of the National Assembly amid an impasse in negotiations with the ruling People Power Party over how to share committee memberships. The request was seen as a move to press the ruling party to make concessions in stalled negotiations to form Assembly committees, with the threat to use its majority power to open the extra session, and select the speaker and vice speakers of the Assembly on its own. The DPK currently holds 170 out of 299 assembly seats. By law, an extraordinary session can be convened three days after a request is submitted, which means a new session could begin Friday. The impasse in committee formation negotiations has left the Assembly idle for almost a month after the first half of the 21st National Assembly ended last month. In an effort to break the deadlock, the DPK offered last week to hand over the chairmanship of the judiciary committee, a key Assembly panel that has the power to approve bills before they are put to a plenary vote, to the PPP in exchange for the PPP's cooperation for the launch of a special committee on judiciary reform. But the PPP rejected the proposal because the special committee is aimed at completing the process of reducing and ultimately abolishing the prosecution's investigative powers in accordance with recently enacted prosecution reform laws, which the ruling bloc opposed. (Yonhap) Heat waves are an extremely deadly type of extreme weather event in the U.S. they kill more people in an average year than other weather hazards but, despite this, they are not given the names and categories of hurricanes and other storms. Now, one city in Spain is looking to change that. On the first day of summer 2022, Seville became the first city in the world to introduce a naming and ranking system for periods of high heat. We are the first city in the world to take a step that will help us plan and take measures when this type of meteorological event happens particularly because heat waves always hit the most vulnerable, Seville Mayor Antonio Munoz said in a press release. The city government ratifies its commitment in the fight against climate change through the reduction of emissions and decarbonization, and second, through adaptation to make Seville a resilient city with a model that truly tackles the big challenge of rising heat. Today, Seville became the FIRST city in the world to pilot categorizing & naming #HeatWaves. The launch of @PrometeoSevilla is a critical step to providing residents with the resources needed to protect themselves from extreme heat. Discover more https://t.co/BDjW5dw5Ok https://t.co/jE309OVGzD pic.twitter.com/iU6rBDwzzq Arsht-Rockefeller Resilience Center (@ArshtRock) June 21, 2022 Seville is located in Andalusia, which is already one of the hottest regions in Spain. However, the climate crisis is making heat waves around the globe more frequent and severe. In Spain, they have become twice as common this decade when compared to the past, according to The Guardian. The announcement also comes as Spain has experienced an unusually warm spring. May was the warmest in 58 years, and June brought one of its earliest heat waves on record. In fact, the first two weeks of June were the hottest the country has ever seen, as E&E News reported. However, the plan to develop a system to name and categorize heat waves was actually announced in October of 2021. It was born of a partnership between Seville and the Arsht-Rocks Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance. The goal was to reduce the toll that heat waves take on human health. Heat waves, have been dubbed the silent killer for a reason: They wreak unseen havoc on our economies, prey on the most vulnerable members of society, and kill more people than any other climate-driven hazard, yet the dangers they pose are grossly underestimated and gravely misunderstood, Kathy Baughman McLeod, who directs the Arsht-Rocks Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance, said when the plan was first announced. The pilot program, officially called proMETEO Seville, will launch this summer and run for one year, according to the announcement. Heat waves will be assigned a severity category from one to three with three being the most severe based on a combination of temperature, humidity and conditions in the 30 days before the heat wave. Different categories will trigger different actions like the opening of public pools or the deployment of heat workers to monitor the most vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. Category 3 heat waves will also receive names, beginning with the end of the Spanish alphabet. The first five names will be Zoe, Yago, Xenia, Wenceslao and Vega. This new method, backed by 18 months of our science teams analysis and research and built with many global and local experts is intended to build awareness of this deadly impact of climate change and ultimately save lives, Baughman McLeod said in the most recent announcement. Other cities may soon follow in Sevilles footsteps. Athens, Greece; Melbourne, Australia; Los Angeles; and Miami are all among the cities that are developing similar programs. In farming, high crop yields are often associated with the use of human-made fertilizers. But what if these abundant results could instead be achieved by using farming practices that were more environmentally friendly? An extensive new study of 30 farms in Africa and Europe has shown that the combination of small amounts of fertilizer with natural farming methods like mixing compost or manure with the soil, cultivating a wider variety of crops and cultivating plants like clover or beans that amplify soils fertility can result in high crop yields while maintaining the harmony of agricultural ecosystems, a press release from Rothamsted Research said. The study found that a significant amount of chemical fertilizers could be replaced by adopting these more natural techniques, which would have multiple benefits. Reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers would help to buffer farmers and consumers against economic shocks, such as the current spike in fertiliser costs and consequent increase in food prices, said plant ecologist at Rothamsted Research in the UK Dr. Chloe MacLaren, who was the lead author of the paper, as The Guardian reported. The study, Long-term evidence for ecological intensification as a pathway to sustainable agriculture, was published in the journal Nature Sustainability. The farm experiments the researchers examined for the study had been going for more than nine years and 25,000 harvests and included 30 individual experiments on crops of oats, wheat, barley, maize, potatoes and sugar beet, the press release said. The research team analyzed how the variety of natural methods used interacted with various levels of plowing and nitrogen-rich fertilizers. Each analysis considered at least one of the trio of natural farming practices. It was the first time a major study had explored the interaction of a variety of natural farm methods with fertilizer and land cultivation practices. The study also found that, in general, the use of more natural farming methods in combination with large amounts of chemical fertilizer didnt further increase crop yields. In fact, the most abundant yields in the experiment were achieved when some nitrogen was added to the ecological intensification practices. Ecological intensification is when farmers actively support the environmentally friendly practices that benefit agriculture. Ecological intensification could help return agriculture into a safe operating space for humanity, MacLaren said in the press release. Our results demonstrate that it could play an important role in the development of future sustainable farming systems. MacLaren went on to say that the worldwide playing field of nitrogen fertilizer distribution could also be leveled with the increased use of these natural practices. Widespread uptake of these practices could also contribute to a more equitable global distribution of fertiliser. Currently, average nitrogen fertiliser rates in Africa are a small fraction of those in Europe, with smallholders in particular using much less than their fair share. If fertiliser use is reduced where it is currently high, then fertiliser use could be increased where it is currently low addressing food security issues without exceeding planetary boundaries, said MacLaren in the press release from Rothamsted Research. In the last 60 years, the excessive use of human-produced fertilizer has contributed to increased carbon emissions, water pollution and biodiversity loss. MacLaren said that a combination of many factors should be looked at when evaluating the fostering of these environmentally friendly practices in the future. Future assessments of ecological intensification should include a wider analysis of all social, economic and environmental factors, such as nutritional value or farm profitability. There are undoubtedly benefits beyond just yield, such as reducing costs, reducing pollution, or providing other valuable farm products, MacLaren said, according to the press release. Conversely, socioeconomic factors can also limit the adoption of such practices by farmers. These factors can include a lack of markets for these diverse products and limited access to necessary resources including land, seed, and manure. Upscaling these practices will require policymakers and society to create a more conducive socioeconomic context. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks on the first day of the UN Ocean Conference, June 27, 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. Pedro Fiuza / NurPhoto via Getty Images From sea level rise to ocean acidification to plastic pollution, our planet faces an ocean emergency, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on the first day of the UN Ocean Conference. The conference, which is taking place in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 27 to July 1, is an international gathering co-hosted by the governments of Kenya and Portugal with a goal of developing ways to use science and innovation to protect the worlds oceans. And Guterres was clear that it comes at an urgent moment. Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted and today we face what I would call an ocean emergency, he said, as The Guardian reported. We must turn the tide. Guterres cited many of the challenges human activity has imposed on the ocean, including overfishing, increased flooding of low-lying islands and coastal cities, dead zones caused by nutrient pollution and the proliferation of ocean plastic. Without drastic action, the plastic could outweigh all the fish in the ocean by 2050, he said. He also criticized world leaders for failing to act to protect the ocean. Currently, there is no single set of laws governing the high seas, AP News pointed out. World leaders have been working on an agreement concerning Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, or a Treaty of the High Seas, for a decade now, but talks four months ago failed to reach consensus. The worlds largest ecosystem is still unprotected and is dying as we watch, activist group Ocean Rebellion said, as AP News reported. A total of 64 percent of the high-seas is not governed by any country, and only 1.2 percent of that is protected, according to The Guardian. When asked by reporters why he thought an agreement had not yet been reached on an ocean treaty, Guterres blamed egoism, as Reuters reported. Some people still think they are powerful enough to think international waters should be theirs, he said. However, UN Special Envoy of the Ocean Peter Thomson told Reuters he thought a treaty would emerge this year. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for August in New York, according to AP News. However, the conference also presents an opportunity to make progress informally. It will conclude with a non-binding declaration on Friday. Officially, the purpose of the conference is to promote action in order to fulfill UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, according to the conference website. The goal focuses on the sustainable use and management of the oceans and their resources. To mobilize action, the Conference will seek to propel much needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action, the website reads. In his remarks, Guterres said that sustainable management of the oceans could produce six times more food and four times more renewable energy than the current state of affairs, according to The Guardian. He also endorsed a goal of mapping 80 percent of the seabed by 2030. The conference will involve around 7,000 people, according to Reuters. Among them are leaders and scientists from more than 120 countries, according to AP News. Some activists expressed skepticism about the usefulness of the conference. Leaders in Lisbon will congratulate each other for how well theyre doing on marine protection, while the ocean crisis deepens, Greenpeaces Laura Meller told Reuters. We dont need another talking shop, with vague statements and voluntary commitments. However, Guterres also said that ordinary people not at the conference had a role to play in making sure an ocean treaty is finally passed. We need to make people put pressure on those who decide, Guterres said, as AP News reported. China looks elsewhere for corn as war hampers Ukraine's exports China appears to be looking for other suppliers in the world market as Ukraine's corn exports are currently restricted due to the war in the country, Pig333 reported. In that regard, Brazil could be a good candidate to be an alternative supplier for the remainder of the 2021/22 marketing year, as well as in the new 2022/23 crop as production has recovered from the previous cycle and exportable supply is expected to be sufficient until the end of the calendar year. Moreover, production and exports for the new season are forecast at a new record level. On May 23, China and Brazil announced that they had signed a protocol on phytosanitary requirements, which would allow the export of Brazilian corn to China. However, in the event that large volumes are negotiated, a reconfiguration of global trade flows of the grain could be expected. Meanwhile, both soybean oil and crude oil have exhibited dramatic price increases throughout 2022. At the beginning of June, soybean oil prices have risen by more than a third in the United States and by 20% in South America. This is occurring in parallel with the increase in oil prices, which rose by 45% in the same period. In the first decade of the 2000s, rising energy prices were the main driver of vegetable oil prices. However, the current situation is different, as the increase in oil values reflects the shortage of world supply, which is a consequence of droughts that affected production in Canada and South America; compounded with events occurring in Ukraine and trade restriction policies in some countries, stocks available for export have been reduced. Although neither market is directly affecting the prices of the other, higher energy values could eventually push soybean prices even higher, as their consumption for energy use would be promoted. - Pig33 / Economic Analysis Department of 333 Latin America Malaysian technical committee to propose new ceiling price for chicken Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, Malaysia's Agriculture and Food Industries Minister, said a technical committee has met to discuss and propose a new ceiling price for chicken in the country, as well as set a new subsidy rate for poultry farmers, Bernama reported. The proposal will be presented to the Malaysian Cabinet before it is announced to the public. He said the new price takes into consideration the interest of retailers, wholesalers, and poultry breeders so it is reasonable for all parties involved in the industry. He also said the new proposed price takes into account the cash assistance under the Keluarga Malaysia' (Malaysian Family) aid that was announced by the Prime Minister. Minister for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali were also present at the meeting. According to Ronald, the meeting also discussed the country's current food security situation, the cost of a few select items, and the implementation of interventions to improve it. In the fourth week of June, he said, the supply of chicken was expected to remain steady and adequate, and the supply of other goods was also thought to be sufficient to meet the current demand. Ronald said that the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs had informed about the most recent prices of a number of products as well as the enforcement actions taken against establishments that were discovered to be in violation of the maximum price set for poultry and eggs. For the welfare of Malaysian families, he said, the government is committed to continuing efforts to ensure the continuity and accessibility of food supply in the market at affordable prices. - Bernama With the whole nation in the middle of the annual monsoon season, heavy downpours reaching up to 300 millimeters are forecast to pound the central region, including the Seoul metropolitan area, between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, according to the state weather agency. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said 100 mm to 200 mm of monsoon rains are expected to soak the capital area and almost all parts of the central region, including the Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces, until early Thursday. The precipitation may reach up to 300 mm in some mountainous districts in the central region, the KMA said. Elsewhere, 50 mm to 100 mm are forecast for southern South Chungcheong Province, North Jeolla Province, northern North Gyeongsang Province and Yellow Sea islands near the North Korean border, though the precipitation may exceed 150 mm in some areas of North Jeolla and North Gyeongsang provinces, the KMA said. The amount of rainfall forecast in the southern regions and on Jeju Island until Thursday ranges from 5 mm to 80 mm. The KMA said heavy downpours are expected to hit the Seoul metropolitan area, western parts of Gangwon Province and northern parts of Chungcheong provinces between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, while the monsoon rain belt is expected to move south toward Wednesday night. Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the central region will again be hit by torrential downpours, which will be far heavier than the previous night's rainfall, the agency said. The KMA said the atmospheric conditions on the Korean Peninsula will remain highly volatile for the time being, as tropical disturbances are developing in the South China and Philippine seas. (Yonhap) Flags at Government buildings and energy bills on HOK agenda Flags at Government buildings, energy bills and the number of foster carers on the Island will be among the questions raised in the House of Keys this morning. Garff MHK Daphne Caine will ask the Minister for Cabinet Office how many offers were made to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. Onchan MHK Rob Callister will ask the Treasury Minister what consideration has been given to the introduction of an interest free loan scheme to help with the cost of living. The sitting gets underway at 10am in Douglas. Airbnb is permanently banning all parties and events at host properties around the world, it announced. That follows a temporary 2020 ban it had instituted on house parties to comply with COVID-related social distancing restrictions. "Over time, the party ban became much more than a public health measure," Airbnb said in a blog post. "It developed into a bedrock community policy to support our Hosts and their neighbors." Airbnb had already banned "chronic party houses" in 2019 following a California Halloween shooting that resulted in five deaths. It later barred all "open-invite" house parties, but still allowed invitation-only parties in single family dwellings. However, those too are now prohibited, under penalty of account suspension or full removal from the platform. On a more positive note, Airbnb lifted a 16-person occupancy cap also instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic. That's because certain properties "from castles in Europe to vineyards in the US to large beachfront villas in the Caribbean" can easily accommodate more than 16 people, it said, adding that "properties like these thrive on hosting multi-generational family trips and larger groups." The company runs a tip line that allows neighbors or others to report parties. Airbnb noted that it saw a 44 percent drop in the rate of party reports after the ban was implemented in 2020 and it suspended the accounts of around 6,600 guests for breaking the policy last year. If you post about being able to mail abortion pills to those who need it on Facebook or Instagram, don't be surprised if you get a warning or even get your account restricted. A tipster told Motherboard that they were notified a minute after posting "I will mail abortion pills to any one of you" that their status update had been removed. When they tried to post about it again later, they were banned for it. Motherboard was able to replicate the scenario, and Engadget has also confirmed it. We tried posting "abortion pills can be mailed" on Facebook and were quickly notified that we violated the website's Community Standards. In the next slide explaining our infraction, Facebook said doesn't allow users to buy, sell or exchange things such as tobacco, marijuana, recreational drugs and non-medical drugs. To test it out, we posted "I'm selling cigarettes," "cigarettes can be mailed," "anti-depressants can be mailed" and "painkiller pills can be mailed." None of them got flagged. General posts such as "abortion is healthcare" didn't get flagged either. As for our post that did get flagged, we were asked if we would like to accept Facebook's enforcement action or not. After choosing to accept it, our post got removed but we didn't get banned. According to Motherboard, their account got restricted for 24 hours after making several posts that got flagged. Facebook The Associate Press is reporting that Instagram is also removing posts about the mailing of abortion pills, though Engadget not been able to independently confirm this yet. A post made to a private Instagram account offering to buy and ship abortion pills to those in need remained up at the time of this writing. It's unclear when the company started removing posts about mailing out abortion pills and whether it only began after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court's decision made all types of abortion illegal in several states with trigger laws, but people in those states can still get abortion pills shipped to them from international groups like Aid Access. Facebook could be preventing that information from getting to some people who need it, though, especially since it flags posts with "mail" and "abortion pills" even for international users. We posted from outside the US and still got a warning. "Some items aren't regulated everywhere," the slide explaining our violation reads, "but because Facebook is borderless we have global standards that apply to everyone." The New York Times also recently reported that Facebook's parent company, Meta, told employees not to discuss the Supreme Court ruling within the workplace. Moderators would reportedly swoop in and quickly remove posts about abortion in the company's internal Workplace platform. Meta did, however, tell employees that it would reimburse them for travel expenses if they need to access out-of-state healthcare and reproductive services "to the extent permitted by law." In a letter posted on her official website, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has revealed that House Democrats have been working on legislation to protect personal data collected by reproductive health trackers. It's one of the three avenues the lawmakers are exploring following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. "Many fear that this information could be used against women by a sinister prosecutor in a state that criminalizes abortion," she explained, though she didn't expound on how the lawmakers plan to protect people's personal data. Users have been swapping their period trackers for others they believe can offer them more privacy ever since the Supreme Court decision dropped. It's not unusual for companies to sell user information or to cooperate with law enforcement, and people are concerned about the possibility of investigators using that data to identify them if they ever seek an abortion. As TechCrunch reported, a number of reproductive health apps enjoyed a surge of new signups over the weekend. One of those apps is Flo, which announced that it plans to launch an anonymous mode shortly after the Supreme Court decision came out. The mode is supposed to remove one's personal information from their account so that they can't be identified, but Flo has yet to reveal when it will become available. It's worth noting that Flo's average daily installs has been on the decline, based on Apptopia numbers cited by TechCrunch, likely because it has a history of sharing private data with third parties. Back in 2019, The Wall Street Journal listed Flo as one of the apps that had been giving Facebook access to people's sensitive data. Two years later, Flo settled with the FTC over allegations that it was sharing information with the social network, Google and other third-party companies. As part of that settlement, Flo now has to explicitly ask for user consent before it can give external services access to their personal health information. Despite the House Speaker's announcement that House Democrats are working "to protect the health and freedom of American women," there's no guarantee that the legislation they're cooking up would be signed into law. It's always smart to take a closer look at how apps are protecting user data by reading their "nutritional label" on iOS or their "safety section" in the Play Store on Android. But for those who want to be truly safe, perhaps the best solution is to not use a period tracking app at all. Rocket Lab has successfully launched NASA's 55-pound CAPSTONE cubesat that will eventually orbit the Moon if all goes to plan. It's a small but important step in NASA's Artemis mission that aims to send humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972. The launch proceeded nominally according to NASA's broadcast, reaching low-Earth orbit at about 'T' plus 10 minutes. An Electron launch is much like any other, except that it's the first rocket to be electrically powered by batteries rather than a gas turbine. As such, there's a phase called "battery ejection" which happens near the end of the launch cycle. Rocket Lab used an Electron rocket with a special addition called the Lunar Photon upper stage with enough power to send it into deep space. It's one of the smallest rockets to attempt to launch a payload to lunar orbit, the company said. It launched from Rocket Lab's site on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula, and is "the highest mass and the highest performance Electron has ever had to fly by quite some margin," the company told TechCrunch earlier. CAPSTONE will orbit Earth for nine days to build up enough speed for a trans lunar injection (TLI) that will allow it to eventually orbit the Moon. The primary objective is to verify a type of highly elliptical lunar orbit called "near rectilinear halo" that's planned for the Gateway space station. Gateway will eventually be delivered to lunar orbit by SpaceX with a science lab and living quarters for astronauts, along with ports for future spacecraft. Rocket Lab was supposed to launch CAPSTONE yesterday but delayed it until today "to perform final system checks," NASA tweeted. Regardless of the launch date, it's scheduled to arrive at the moon on November 13th. To see a replay of the livecast, check here. By Joschka Fischer BERLIN Russia's war in Ukraine will bifurcate Europe once again. East will be divided from West, and the frontier between them will likely be a dangerous, militarily secured zone for the foreseeable future. Of course, we don't know how or when the war will end. But, following recent developments, it now seems safe to assume that both Ukraine and Moldova will become candidates for European Union membership, and then full members within a few years. The leaders of the EU's three largest member states (France, Germany, and Italy) and of Romania made that clear when they recently visited Kyiv. They offered full-throated support for Ukraine and Moldova's membership bids, as did the European Commission immediately thereafter. This enlargement process will fundamentally change the EU, transforming it decidedly into a geopolitical player and, indeed, into Russia's main adversary on the continent. With his war of aggression in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it absolutely clear that he aspires to restore the Russian Empire. As such, he is operating on principles that are wholly incompatible with those of the EU, which is based on equal sovereignty, territorial integrity, the inviolability of borders, and rule of law. The EU has decided to embrace Ukraine not because it wanted to, or because it has imperial ambitions of its own, but because Putin forced its hand. Putin started the fight and thus confronted Europe with a choice between two clear alternatives. Europe could either submit to the Kremlin's claims to power, or it could defend its own identity and interests, based on respect for human rights and democratic principles. The EU has now made its choice, favoring defense of its principles and of freedom. Some critics of its decision will say that it should have tried to negotiate with Russia. But such arguments lack credibility. Even if the EU was willing to broker a dubious compromise with the Kremlin, it wouldn't have worked, because the EU occupies a position that is now mutually exclusive from that of Putin, with his revisionist dream of empire. Since neither side can give in, we should anticipate a prolonged conflict. And since military strength and deterrence capabilities inevitably will play a decisive role, the war will definitively change the EU's character. No longer will the project of economic integration take pride of place. From now on, security and geopolitical interests will have to come first. The declaration of support for Ukraine and Moldova's candidacies marks the beginning of the second phase of the EU's eastward enlargement. Even though neither country's accession will happen soon, the process itself will have an irreversible effect. The Europe of the future will no longer be realizable without the states of Eastern Europe, provided that they remain willing and able to join. The reason is simple. When an idea's time has come, it is unstoppable. By contrast, an idea whose time has passed can linger on only if it is propped up by military power and even that will not save it in the end. The new conflict between Europe and Russia is about ideas. It is an ideational clash between imperialism and democracy. Given the historic import of this development, Western Europeans must not succumb to any comfortable delusions about the risks they face. The current European order of states was originally constructed around the goal of integrating Russia and Europe. But Putin has irreversibly derailed that project. It is a thing of the past. With the war in Ukraine, Europe is facing a test of maturity; it has come of age in a world defined by great-power and nuclear rivalries. Like it or not, these are the geopolitical realities of the early 2020s. In the absence of a continued alliance with the United States, Europe, in its current fragile state, would be too weak to survive in this arena. Interests and values alone will not cut it. The alternative is for Europe to accept its current weakness and cling to fanciful illusions. Down that road lies submission and dependency. It cannot hope to find mutual consideration in a world defined by great-power rivalry. Europe's only real choice, then, is to pursue prudent alliances, develop its own power, and build up its own deterrence capabilities. A coherent strategy to survive the new ideational conflict must replace lingering illusions. Europe must accept that it is living in a dangerous neighborhood. Joschka Fischer, Germany's foreign minister and vice chancellor from 1998 to 2005, was a leader of the German Green Party for almost 20 years. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Tesla has reportedly laid off approximately 200 workers from its Autopilot team and closed an office in California. According to Bloomberg , the company notified staff of the move on Tuesday. Many of the affected employees were annotation specialists whose jobs involved evaluating and labeling Autopilot data obtained from customers. Along with the layoffs, Tesla closed its San Mateo location; Bloomberg reports what remained of the 350-person team was transferred to another nearby office. Tesla did not immediately respond to Engadgets request for comment. The automaker has not operated a public relations department since 2020 . In his upcoming and much-anticipated biography, Prince Harry promises to discuss some of the treatment he experienced as a member of the British royal family. This is something that has a lot of people quite excited. However, in spite of the impending revelation, it is being said that he and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, do not have any ill will against him. In point of fact, the Duke of Sussex maintains his strong relationship with the Queen despite the divisions he has caused within the royal family, most notably between his brother Prince William and their father, Prince Charles. One instance of Prince Harry's closeness with his grandmother was brought to light by a friend who described how he convinced the Queen of England to appear in a royal spoof video with him to promote the organization he established in 2016, the Invictus Games. This is just one example of how close Prince Harry is with his grandmother. If the father of two were to approach the queen with his proposal, the monarch, according to a source who spoke with People magazine (via Express), would most likely grant his request since "she adores him." Another insider within the royal family has stated that the monarch has to strike a balance between her roles as a grandmother and as the head of state. They gave the following explanation: "One thing about the Queen is that she needs to manage to be a grandmother while also how it impacts the greater institution." READ ALSO: Prince Harry vs. Prince Andrew: Who's The Royal Causing More Trouble in the Family? When it comes to Meghan Markle, on the other hand, the same cannot be said, as a royal expert predicted that there would be a bloodbath on both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's side as well as the side of the royal family. According to royal correspondent Jack Royston, the outcome of a probe into the alleged bullying of the former "Suits" star would reflect negatively on both parties. In a podcast titled "The Royal Report," he stated that if the report were made public, nobody would come out looking like they did a good job. "I believe that if every truth and accusation were to come out, that there would be a full mud war, and there would be mud all over everybody," said the speaker. After the disclosure of an email conversation that took place between the former press secretary Jason Knauf and Prince William's private secretary, many Kensington Palace staff members are said to have leveled claims of bullying against Meghan Markle, according to multiple publications. The group representing the Duchess of Sussex responded to the allegations by calling them an instant "smear campaign." An investigation into the allegations of bullying was carried out. It was believed, however, that Queen Elizabeth II did not want the specifics of the assessment to be made public. This was referred to as a "blow" for the Hollywood actress by a number of royal experts. READ MORE: Prince Harry vs. Prince Andrew: Who's The Royal Causing More Trouble in the Family? Dakota Johnson has finally opened up about the process filming Fifty Shades of Grey. Dakota Johnson is an actress who seems to be appearing in every project under the sun. She stars in the recently released film Cha Cha Real Smooth and in the soon to be released Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel Persuasion. She is an actress that can really do anything. It is easy to forget that the star got her start leading the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise. In an interview published today, Johnson spoke to Vanity Fair about a lot of the chaos that was happening behind the scenes of the film - chaos she did not feel at liberty to discuss until now. The actress recounted to the outlet: "I signed up to do a very different version of the film we ended up making...She [the author of the books] had a lot of creative control, all day, every day, and she just demanded that certain things happen. There were parts of the books that just wouldn't work in a movie, like the inner monologue, which was at times incredibly cheesy. It wouldn't work to say out loud. "It was always a battle. Always. When I auditioned for that movie, I read a monologue from Persona" -the Ingmar Bergman classic from 1966- "and I was like, 'Oh, this is going to be really special.'...I was young. I was 23. So it was scary...It just became something crazy...There were a lot of different disagreements. "I haven't been able to talk about this truthfully ever, because you want to promote a movie the right way, and I'm proud of what we made, ultimately and everything turns out the way it's supposed to - but it was tricky." Even with all of the chaos, however, Johnson assured VF that she does not regret being part of the films. She expressed: The U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted "a kinetic strike" in Syria's Idlib province, targeting Abu Hamzah al Yemeni, a senior leader of Horas al-Din group. BYJUS has announced that Krishna Vedati has been named President of Global Growth and Strategic Initiatives. Vedati, Co-Founder and CEO of Tynker, a BYJUS company, will report to the company's Co-Founder and CEO Byju Raveendran and will join the companys executive committee. Srinivas Mandyam, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Tynker, will replace Vedati as Tynkers CEO, and Kelvin Chong, Tynker Co-Founder and Chief Architect, now takes on the expanded role of Chief Technology Officer. BYJUS acquired the leading K-12 creative coding platform Tynker in September as part of its U.S. expansion. With more than 150 million users on our personalized learning platform, it is important for us to put in place the leadership necessary to continue scaling our businesses globally, said Byju Raveendran, Co-Founder, and CEO of BYJUS. With exceptional experience in business and consumer user growth, and strategic brand partnerships, Krishna is ideally suited for this new role. In the newly-created role of President of Global Growth and Strategic Initiatives for BYJUS, Vedati will serve as a senior executive for the Americas helping drive topline revenue and user growth, partnerships with major brands, and identifying strategic acquisitions. Vedati will also expand the companys international offering by overseeing new integrated products and services from the BYJUS learning portfolio to students and teachers in Canada, the U.S., and Latin America. Srinivas Mandyam takes on the mantle of CEO at Tynker where he has served as the companys Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer since the companys inception. Mandyam has more than 20 years of technical leadership experience building products and consumer web services. Previously, he led the engineering team for AT&T Interactive's Consumer Division. Mandyam was a Co-Founder and CTO of Plusmo, a venture-backed startup acquired by AT&T in 2009. Kelvin Chong moves into the CTO role at Tynker where he previously served as Co-Founder and Chief Architect. Chong brings over a decade of experience building scalable web systems and software for consumer sites and for a wide range of smart consumer devices including mobile phones, multi-function printers, camcorders, and even the Sony Aibo. I am proud of the deep bench we have in our leadership ranks, enabling a seamless transition at our newest portfolio company Tynker as Srinivas and Kelvin move into their new roles, added Raveendran. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) By Lee Jong-eun This month marks the Korean War's 72nd anniversary, a key defining event in the Cold War. Years ago, when I first read, "The Origins of the Korean War" written by U.S. historian Bruce Cumings, I was intrigued by his comparisons of U.S. Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. "Roosevelt's post-WWII foreign policy vision was like that of a corporate shareholder content to maintain a 51-percent majority share. So long as the U.S. remained the biggest shareholder, Roosevelt was willing to create a world order that guaranteed a significant share for the Soviet Union. In contrast, Truman's foreign policy was like that of a corporate owner determined to retain over 80 percent of his company's share. Even if it meant dividing the world into two ideological blocs, Truman was committed to ensuring at least that the 'free' bloc remained solidly under U.S. dominance." Cumings' point was that while Roosevelt was willing to share the Korean Peninsula with the USSR under joint trusteeship, Truman prioritized ensuring that South Korea remained firmly under U.S. geopolitical hegemony. Ultimately, Truman's strategy prevailed, and an iron curtain was drawn over the Korean Peninsula, consolidating through the experiences of the Korean War. Whether or not Cumings' historical descriptions are accurate, his comparison raises relevant questions even today, as many experts warn that the world faces risks of a new cold war. Could competing ideological powers share the world order? Or would dividing the world into clear geopolitical blocs contribute to a more stable coexistence? One argument is that global stability requires an integrated world order where both liberal and non-liberal states share influences and privileges. A solution to the conflict between the "liberal order" and the non-liberal powers is to accommodate ideological diversity and balance within the world order. At the same time, liberal democracies would assert a greater share of influence over the international order to deter non-liberal member states from seriously distorting the order's core liberal features. In the past century, Roosevelt invited the USSR to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, and Bill Clinton endorsed China becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), elevating these non-liberal states in earlier eras to be global stakeholders. Even recently, similar proposals have suggested offering potential revisionist powers opportunities for co-governance within the existing liberal world order. One proposal has suggested inviting Russia to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while another proposal has suggested that China's membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could allay China's suspicion toward the latter as an economic restraint against China's rise. However, skepticism toward the strategy of integrating non-liberal states has also increased in recent years. Critics have warned that a heterogeneous international order is vulnerable to internal schisms. With Russia and China exercising veto powers in the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. has faced increasing criticism for being unable to take decisive actions on security crises in Northeast Asia, Syria and Ukraine. Skeptics have also questioned the effectiveness of an international order mitigating the non-liberal behaviors of its member states. Rather, the non-liberal states could attempt to subvert the international institutions to "de-liberalize" the international order and eventually surpass the influences of liberal democracies. Subsequently, mutual distrust and incompatible aspirations among member states could unravel internal balance and restraints within a uniform global order. An alternative argument advocates that "decoupling" the world into distinct ideological, geopolitical blocs would contribute more to international stability. By constructing cohesive partnerships based on "common values," participating states could reinforce mutual reassurances in collective deterrence against ideologically adversarial actors. Strategic clarity among adversarial geopolitical blocs could reduce ambiguities and uncertainties in international disputes. For example, suppose an "alliance of democracies" establishes more explicit differentiation between democracies vs. non-democracies? Suppose defense of the "free and open Indo-Pacific" is enforced by countries that are, in fact, "free and open?" While such measures risk pressuring countries to take a side, advocates defend them as promoting greater predictability in the behaviors of individual states and multilateral institutions. Such cohesive geopolitical blocs could also improve the signaling of "red lines" of mutual restraint among adversarial powers. A proposal for greater security cooperation between NATO, Japan and South Korea, for example, could enhance critical deterrence against revisionist geopolitical expansions in Europe and Asia. In turn, the Russia-China alignment could signal counter-deterrence against the West's overreach. An important implication of a divided world, however, is that it would be a world "half-lost" for the liberal world order. Advocacies for strategic clarity and deterrence among contemporary liberal democracies reflect growing pessimism toward post-cold war efforts to integrate non-liberal regimes. Subsequent proposals for restraining, even isolating the latter's global influence would likely provoke similar strategic entrenchment among non-liberal regimes, shrinking the boundary of the liberal world order. After three decades of post-cold war attempts at global integration, a decoupling would be a costly, cumbersome process, as evidenced by the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. Should the West continue to engage with non-liberal regimes to prevent the emergence of a new iron curtain? Or should the West focus on restructuring a smaller, more cohesive liberal semi-world order? One legacy of the Korean War was that it might have irreversibly set the course of global geopolitics toward an "external balancing" between adversarial blocs rather than an "internal balancing" within a unified order. Perhaps the window of decision-making is still open for today's liberal democracies. If so, the liberal democracies must confront the same old dilemma: risk a more integrated world vulnerable to fluctuations of different shades of color or risk a more divided world composed of clearer "red and blue" blocs. ), Ph.D. candidate, is an adjunct faculty member at the American University School of International Service. Prior to this, he has served as a South Korean Air Force intelligence officer. His research specialty includes U.S. foreign policy, South Korean politics and foreign policy, alliance management and East Asian regional security. Lee Jong-eun ( jl4375a@student.american.edu Too few New York seniors are doing a good job of comparing their Medicare insurance options suggests the director of the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI). "Medicare is an incredible program benefiting seniors but many people are paying too much or not in plans that would maximize their benefits," states Jesse Slome, director of the Association. "Picking the wrong Medicare plan can be a potentially costly mistake." Nearly one in six New Yorkers is age 65 or above reports AAMSI, a larger share of the state's population than ever before. "There are now more New Yorkers aged 65 and older (3.2 million) than the entire population of 21 states," Slome notes. "There is an incredible need for education regarding the pros and cons of the various Medicare plan options available." Medicare is a national program but plan options are very local in nature Slome stresses. "The television ads featuring celebrity spokespeople make give the impression that with one call you can get the best plan and that's just not always true," Slome explains. "Your Medicare options are going to be based on where you live, and they will vary depending on where in New York You live." As an example, the Association regularly looks at local plan options. "Our latest analysis of Medigap Plan G protection revealed that someone turning 65 could easily pay $2,300 a year more than necessary," Slome notes. Medigap Plan G is the option selected by the majority of Medigap buyers first entering the Medicare program. A female turning 65 residing in New York City (Zip Code 10013) could find Medigap Plan G coverage for $278 per month according to Slome. The highest available premium for Plan G insurance was $476. "Medicare Supplement policy benefits for Plan G are virtually identical. But, each insurance company sets their own pricing." To learn more about New York Medicare insurance plan prices visit the Association's website. The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI) advocates for the importance of educated planning. The organization maintains the leading national online directory where consumers can find local Medicare insurance agents. For more information, visit the organization's website at www.medicaresupp.org. Cerveceria Chapultepec, the Mexico-based chain of one-price restaurants that opened two San Antonio locations in 2020, has closed both of those locations. The announcement came abruptly on Chapultepecs San Antonio Facebook page Monday. An employee reached at the location on Texas 151 just outside Loop 410 confirmed that the location on East Elmira Street near the Pearl closed Sunday, while the Texas 151 location closed last week. He offered no further details. Corpus Christi Fire Department A Game of Thrones-themed neighborhood near Corpus Christi could have used a little less fire and a little more ice after a blaze broke out at a home on Lannister Street. The fire occurred Monday morning in a new subdivision in the London area of the costal city at a home that was under construction, according to KIII-TV. Officials have not said what caused the fire. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The deaths of 50 migrants found in a semi-trailer truck in San Antonio on Monday night is believed to be the deadliest human smuggling incident on U.S. soil. Law enforcement officials often encounter smuggling deaths, but not at this proportion. Victoria, 2003 On May 13, 2003, 19 migrants died after riding in the rear compartment of an 18-wheeler in South Texas. In the incident, truck driver Tyrone Williams who agreed to smuggle the migrants across a border checkpoint for $7,500 failed to turn on the trucks cooling system causing temperatures inside to reach 173 degrees. When Williams opened the trailer in Victoria, the migrants were found dead of dehydration, overheating and suffocation. He was eventually sentenced to 34 years in prison. San Antonio, 2017 In another incident, 10 migrants died eight on scene and two at the hospital after being smuggled in a tractor-trailer to a Walmart parking lot in San Antonio on July 23, 2017. The driver, James Matthews Bradley Jr., pleaded guilty to charges in their deaths and was given a life sentence. Officials believed 39 migrants were found at the scene but as many as 200 may have been on the trip. Pedro Silva Segura, his co-defendant, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and five years of supervised release, according to court records. Elsewhere in the world This manner of migrant death is not unique to the U.S. as similar truck incidents have been reported in England, Austria, Thailand, Libya and Pakistan, according to the Missing Migrants Project. Internationally, Monday's incident mirrors one of Britains biggest ever homicide investigations. In 2019, officials discovered the bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals inside a refrigerated truck container in Essex, England. Four men were charged in connection to the deaths last year. Joel.Umanzor@chron.com In a Facebook post on Saturday, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said he won't "persecute" women seeking an abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade the day before. Salazar, who has two daughters, said in the post that he would defend his daughters' ability to do what they feel is right with their own bodies and that their choice was "none of my business." On ExpressNews.com: The reason why gas prices are so high was decades in the making. Here's what Biden is trying to fix. "My job is chasing predators, rapists and human traffickers, not someone exercising their right," Salazar wrote. "... If its truly about protecting children, how about starting with the ones in our schools?" The sheriff also chastised the Supreme Court and the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., and Austin in his social media post for "attempting to impose their own supposed morals on others." Other than his view on abortion rights, below are five things to know about Salazar: Decades of policing: The 54-year-old has been in law enforcement for more than three decades, starting as an officer with the San Antonio Police Department when he was 22. Prior to being elected as the sheriff in 2016, Salazar held multiple positions with SAPD, including patrolman, bike patrol, director of communications and others. A local boy: Salazar was born in San Antonio and grew up in the area while his father was stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Air Force Base. He lived in Universal City during his teen years and graduated from Samuel Clemens High School on the Northeast Side before earning his associate's degree from San Antonio College. Law enforcement wasn't his first career choice: At first, he wanted to go into broadcasting like his disc jockey dad and went to college to pursue a media major. After some soul searching, he decided to go into law enforcement instead and changed his major to criminal justice, according to the sheriff's SAC alum biography. Twice-elected sheriff: In 2017, he was sworn into office as the 34th Sheriff of Bexar County. During his first campaign, Salazar defeated former Sheriff Susan Pamerleau. He won his reelection in 2020, winning 61 percent of the vote over his opponent Gerard Rickhoff. Salazar vs. commissioners: Salazar has been at odds with the Bexar County Commissioners Court in the past. Late last year, the sheriff asked the Commissioners Court to fund new body-worn cameras and Taser gear. But the court refused to take action until Salazar changed the sheriff's office's body-cam policy. In February, the commissioners agreed to purchase new Tasers and body camera technology with assurances from Salazar that law enforcement videos would be released quickly. Last summer, former commissioner Trish DeBerry, who is now running for county judge, questioned whether a donation should be used for a rescue boat. In response, veteran-owned Black Rifle Coffee attempted to donate $32,000 for the boat. In the process, the coffee chain criticized DeBerry, which led to profanity-laced comments directed at DeBerry. County Judge Nelson Wolff then sent a stern letter to Salazar, saying he would not accept the Black Rifle donation. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net Associated Press file photo A McDonald's Big Mac cost a Texas man more than eight years of freedom after the burger tipped off Border Patrol agents to the methamphetamine stash that he was smuggling. Yen-Tsun Huang, of Austin, was sentenced to 90 months in prison on Thursday for attempting to smuggle meth into the country, the Department of Justice said. After his release, he will be on probation for three years and, as a Taiwan citizen, will likely be deported. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two people were killed in separate shootings early Tuesday. In the first incident, a woman was shot and killed while walking in the 200 block of Woley Drive near St. Mary's University just after midnight, San Antonio police said. According to officials, a person who was walking with the woman told police that the driver of a white Chrysler pulled up to them and started talking to the woman. The woman turned to the witness and said, "he has a gun" before the suspect shot at the woman, police said the witness told them. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio gang member, convicted killer added to Texas' Most Wanted list The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the witness was unharmed. In the second incident, police said someone died in a shootout at around 4:15 a.m. at an East Side Circle K convenience store near the area of WW White Road and Houston Street. Police said the driver of a blue sedan pulled into the parking lot of the convenience store. When the driver went inside the store, someone from a vehicle that pulled up to the sedan fired shots into the vehicle, according to police. The driver came out of the store and started shooting back before they fled in the sedan to a nearby apartment complex in the 4100 block of Lord Street, police said. The driver then fled on foot, leaving behind a passenger who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Police said they have not found the driver or the person or persons involved in the shooting. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net The San Antonio Water System is enforcing water conservation during an ongoing infrastructure-testing drought with patrols and water waste report forms asking San Antonians to monitor their communitys consumption. Since San Antonio entered Stage 2 Drought Restrictions on April 13, SAWS has been busy keeping up with record temperatures and water demand, deciding to outsource some of its enforcement duties to the general public. The SAWS website provides a reporting form to tell the organization whether a homeowner or business is violating the restrictions, as well as the city of San Antonios Conservation Ordinance. The form asks for any reports to be as specific as possible: Time, date, address, a detailed description of the observed water problem, and images of the water waste can be submitted. SAWS notes all information provided may be subject to public disclosure as required by law. SAWS defines water waste on their website as: Landscape watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler outside designated watering hours Allowing water from any source to run off into a gutter, ditch or storm drain Failure to repair a controllable leak Runoff or overspray from a sprinkler or irrigation system regardless of the time of day Landscape watering during or shortly after a rain (Note: All automatic irrigation systems in San Antonio both residential and commercial are required to have working rain sensors to prevent this problem.) Charity car washes held at any location other than a permanent car wash facility Additional requirements of any drought restriction stage currently in effect SAWS also encourages individual reports of repeated water waste at the same location, so as to place chronic water wasters on a monitoring list. After the report, SAWS will contact the responsible party and issue a warning a friendly reminder about the rules, the SAWS website states, adding, most people cheerfully correct the issue reported and the process ends there. Citations ensue should they be needed. Those cited by SAWS will receive a summons from the City of San Antonio Municipal Court to appear in environmental court and appear before a judge. If you miss the court date, a judge will issue a warrant in your name. Enforcement SAWS officers, as well as part-time San Antonio police officers working with SAWS, engage in proactive patrols to see whether high-usage locations with multiple citizen complaints are committing violations. SAWS Director of Water Conservation Karen Guz said when residents fill out the anonymous water waste report form on the organizations website, it greatly assists the proactive patrolling process. A lot of properties will fix it after one notification, and that's the end of it, Guz said. But if we keep getting complaints, now they've ended up on our targeted list. So, if you're seeing the same property and you've reported it already, go ahead and report it again. That's helpful. Guz said she has not received many complaints from the public, believing San Antonians to be generally very water-aware and more than willing to report water waste when they see it. Some residents even email SAWS to apologize for complaints leveled against them, she said. SAWS guidelines under the currently active Stage 2 water restrictions allow watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler once a week from 7 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m., but the organization encourages reporting water waste regardless of water conditions. The organization adds those observed watering on the wrong day by an enforcement officer may be issued a citation without prior warning. Despite the Stage 2 water restrictions and the potential stress on the water system, San Antonios diverse sources of water allow SAWS to keep restrictions from tightening further than in other nearby areas. Unlike some areas already under Stage 3 restrictions, SAWS can boast varied sources of water for the city, keeping them in Stage 2 despite the Edwards Aquifer Authority putting the area in Stage 3. Were San Antonio entirely reliant on the Edwards Aquifer, SAWS customers could only water their lawns every other week. But the percentage of water the city receives from the aquifer dropped from 100 percent in 1995 to 51 percent today, allowing San Antonio to think it can manage with Stage 2 for the time being, Guz said. As the drought continues, awareness and mindful conservation will likely rise. Guz said the general public may not realize the watering days provide needed relief to the various sources of water from which SAWS draws. After several days when temperatures simmered above 100 degrees and consumer demand rose with them, Guz said the organization reached over 300 million gallons produced a day. It's early in the year for us to be having to produce that much water, Guz said. It's hard on the water system. We have other extra water supplies now from a variety of sources and that helps us manage through the summers, Guz said. But I think what people don't maybe understand is that if you're watering just once a week on your day, and it's spread out, our system handles that really well. But if we have irrigation systems going off every day, it's very hard on the water system, and we have more main breaks. Excessive watering is but one piece of the problem, as drought conditions exacerbate the strain on infrastructure dry soil means even more stress on pipes that push hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day. All for grass that, according to Guz, does not need to be watered more than once a week to survive. The grass that's a little off-color now and kind of brownish will green up just as well as somebody who's out there hand watering every minute and spending a lot of money trying to keep it green despite this heat, Guz said. We think some of what's happening is people are watering too much because they're afraid that their grass is dying. Guz said SAWS customers do not need to fear the aquifers drying up or water scarcity but did ask for an appropriate level of concern from San Antonio residents enough to follow the rules and fix their irrigation controller settings. The way I try to explain it to people is that I want people to have a sense of urgency about following the rules, Guz said. I don't want them to be afraid. If you're in the SAWS service area, we are confident we can supply you with water. We are not worried about not being able to supply water. That is not true for some of the smaller communities in Texas and places like California. They're very worried. Ricardo.Delgado@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fifty-three migrants have died after authorities discovered an abandoned tractor-trailer in southwest San Antonio on Monday night, in what is believed to be the deadliest human smuggling incident on U.S. soil. Initially, 46 migrants were pronounced dead with 16 others including four children taken to a local hospital due to heat exhaustion and dehydration, San Antonio officials said at a news conference. The death toll rose to 51 by Tuesday afternoon. Four people were pronounced dead at local hospitals on Tuesday morning. Another hospitalized person died on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Associated Press. Two more deaths were reported on Wednesday. Here is what we know so far: Truck "cloned" In an apparent move to evade authorities, the truck that contained the migrants was cloned." Felipe Betancourt Sr. and his son, Felipe Jr., who own a South Texas trucking company, told the San Antonio Express-News that someone labeled the truck containing the migrants with the same color and identifying numbers from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Texas DOT as a truck that their company owns. The truck had had driven up Interstate 35 and gone through a federal immigration highway checkpoint northeast of Laredo, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told the Associated Press on Wednesday. Cuellar said the truck was packed with people and managed to avoid detection, according to the AP. It's unknown if people inside the truck when it passed through the checkpoint. DEVELOPING: Truck with dead immigrants inside was cloned, Texas trucking company says How many people were in the trailer? Nearly 100 people were packed inside the trailer of the 18-wheeler, which was found after a worker at a nearby building in southwest San Antonio heard people inside and opened the rear doors. Sixteen people 12 adults and four children were rushed to area hospitals, officials said. In all, there were close to 100 people in the trailer, according to reports. Some of the hospitalized people were still in critical condition on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Associated Press. A law enforcement official told the Texas Tribune Tuesday morning that it appeared people were attempting to jump out of the trailer because some of the dead were discovered along several blocks. The tractor-trailer had a refrigeration system that did not appear to be working, the official added, saying many of the people inside the trailer had been sprinkled with steak seasoning in what might have been an attempt to cover up the smell of the migrants as they were being smuggled. Where was the tractor-trailer found? The discovery was made at the intersection of Cassin Drive and Quintana Road, south of Lackland Air Force Base. It is currently unclear where along the border the tractor-trailer crossed when it entered Texas. Has anyone been arrested? As of Wednesday, four people had been arrested and charged in connected to the deaths. Homero Zamorano, 45, was arrested after officials say he abandoned the tractor-trailer in a desolate area near Lackland Air Force Base and fled the scene. Zamorano is originally from Brownsville and currently lives in Pasadena, officials said. Zamorano on Wednesday was charged with one count of alien smuggling resulting in death, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas. If convicted he could be sentenced to life in prison or receive the death penalty, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Zamorano on Wednesday was identified as the driver of the truck. U.S. and Mexican authorities said Zamorano tried to pass himself off as a victim of the tragedy before he was arrested, according to Reuters. Surveillance video captured Zamorano driving the truck through a security checkpoint in Laredo at 2:50 p.m. on Monday. Chritian Martinez, 28, was arrested Tuesday in Palestine and charged with one of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said Martinez and Zamorano used cell phones to communicate with each other about their attempt at human smuggling. Two other men, Juan Francisco- D'Luna-Bilbao and Juan Claudio D'Luna-Mendez, were arrested after authorities traced the semi-truck to a home in the 100 block of Arnold Drive in South Bexar County. Both have been charged with being in possession of a weapon by an alien illegally in the United States. The two men were arrested Monday in San Antonio. The men were seen leaving a home that was the listed address of the registration for the tractor-trailer, prosecutors said. Police found a gun in a truck driven by D'Luna-Bilbao and more guns inside the home after searching it, according to prosecutors. Who is in charge of the investigation? The investigation into the deaths is being led by Homeland Security Investigations and also involves federal prosecutors. The people in the tractor-trailer were apparent victims of human smugglers, said Ashley C. Hoff, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas in a statement on Tuesday evening. Hoff called the discovery "tragic and disturbing." "We will continue to work with the Homeland Security Investigations and the local responders to identify and bring those who were responsible for this tragedy to justice," she said. Guatemalans, Hondurans among the dead Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed the death toll rising to 50 Tuesday morning. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said that number had increased to 51 Tuesday afternoon, according to the Associated Press. Twenty-two of the migrants were Mexican nationals, he said, while seven were from Guatemala and two from Honduras. The remaining nationalities of the 19 others has yet to be confirmed. Marcelo Ebrard, foreign minister of Mexico, had initially confirmed late Monday in a tweet that two Guatemalans were among the dead. Alex Selgado of Fuerza Catracha, a Honduran immigrants organization in the U.S., told the San Antonio Express-News at the scene that officials did inform us that some of the deceased may be Honduran because they had emblems or insignia of our country on their clothing. Ruben Minutti Zanatta, consul general of Mexico in San Antonio, said Tuesday that his office would be going to the various hospitals to assist families in trying to identify injured victims and the dead. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the incident was a "horrific human tragedy" and called for prayers for those affected by it. Abbott blames Biden Gov. Greg Abbott placed the blame of the incident on President Joe Biden and his border policies in a tweet sent out Monday night. Deadliest migrant smuggling incident on U.S. soil Until now, the deadliest human smuggling event on U.S. soil came on May 13, 2003, when 19 migrants died after riding in the rear compartment of an 18-wheeler in South Texas. Joel.Umanzor@chron.com John.Ferguson@chron.com Federal agency confirms more than 40 fatalities from "alleged human smuggling event" in Texas Xinhua) 14:38, June 28, 2022 WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal agency confirmed on Monday night more than 40 fatalities from "an alleged human smuggling event" in San Antonio, Texas. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tweeted that they responded to a call from the San Antonio Police Department earlier in the day regarding the incident "involving a tractor trailer on Quintana Road near Cassin Road." "Upon arrival, we confirmed more than 40 deceased individuals," the HSI wrote. The agency said its San Antonio office has initiated an investigation with the support of local police. "Details will be released as they are available," it added. "The criminal investigation remains ongoing." The HSI, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Fuel prices are displayed at a gas station in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk SK Innovation, S-Oil, GS Caltex and Hyundai Oilbank appear to be more obedient to government policies amid growing calls from politicians to impose a tax on the windfall profits of the nation's four oil refiners, according to industry officials, Tuesday. A "windfall tax" refers to a higher tax rate on profits generated from a sudden windfall gain to a particular company or industry. After the global shortage of energy allowed oil refiners to enjoy handsome profits, the U.K. decided last month to impose a 25-percent windfall tax on oil and gas producers' profits, while the U.S. Democrats proposed a 21-percent surtax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Biden even accused oil companies of exploiting high gasoline prices, saying, "Exxon made more money than God." Korea's four oil refiners also posted record profits during the first quarter of this year, thanks to the surging global oil prices and higher refining margins. Their combined quarterly operating profit reached 4.7 trillion won ($3.6 billion), up 2.5 trillion won from the previous year. They are expected to continue making handsome profits during the second quarter. Such a trend has prompted Korean lawmakers to propose a windfall tax, regardless of their political orientation. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the ruling conservative People Power Party, even said last Thursday that "domestic oil refiners should not enjoy the higher oil prices alone," urging them to share the burden. The government has also zeroed in on the country's oil refiners. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy organized an inspection team with the Fair Trade Commission recently to find out whether or not the oil refiners fixed their fuel prices in collusion, given that their prices have remained high, despite an additional reduction in the fuel tax. In an apparent attempt to appease the public, the oil refiners issued a statement, Monday, promising that they will make efforts for consumers to realize the effect of the sharpest fuel tax cut as soon as possible. "The fuel tax reduction will be reflected in our prices, once it is implemented on July 1," said the Korea Petroleum Association, which consists of the four domestic oil refiners. The Korea Oil Association and the Korea Oil Station Association also said that they agree with the government's decision to lower fuel tax additionally. An oil refining industry official, however, pointed out that their efforts to support the government policies will have a limited impact. "Domestic oil prices fundamentally depend on global prices," the official said on condition of anonymity. "Even if a windfall tax is introduced, the government will not compensate for any losses of oil refiners when the global oil prices go down." Securities analysts were also skeptical about a windfall tax on the profits of the oil refiners. "The massive profits of the oil refiners this year can be used for their investments in new businesses, such as recycled plastic, hydrogen and batteries, so it seems to be better to enact a law enabling the Korean energy industry to make a leap forward, rather than imposing a windfall tax," Hana Securities analyst Yoon Jae-sung said. Forty-six immigrants were found dead Monday night in a tractor trailer on a stretch of scrubland on the Southwest Side. Four more people who were discovered still alive in the rig have since died, bringing the death toll to 50, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday morning. The dead include 22 immigrants from Mexico, seven from Guatemala and two from Honduras, Ebard said in a Tweet. The rest are still being identified. The new deaths come after law enforcement officials found nearly 100 people inside a tractor trailer on Quintana Road near Lackland Air Force Base a desolate area marred by illegally dumped trash and wrecked furniture, with at least one salvage yard close by. Forty-six were pronounced dead at the scene. Human smugglers favor largely unpopulated areas like that section of Quintana Road to drop off immigrants. San Antonio, with Interstate 10 running east to west and Interstate 35 south to north, is a major crossroads for human smuggling. Emergency personnel transported 16 people to area hospitals for treatment 12 adults and four pediatric patients, who were likely teenagers. Hood said the patients they treated at the scene men and women were hot to the touch. At least five of the patients remained in critical condition on Tuesday, local hospital officials said. Many of the survivors were suffering from heat stroke and heat exhaustion, San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said. There were no signs of water in the truck. Temperatures in San Antonio hovered close to 100 degrees Monday. Hood said the back of the rig was refrigerated, but no air-conditioning unit was visible when emergency personnel entered. Many of the people found inside the truck were covered in steak seasoning, one law enforcement official said Tuesday, likely in an effort to disguise their scent as the smugglers were transporting them. Timothy Tubbs, who retired as the deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Laredo, said smugglers commonly use seasonings and other substances to aid their smuggling operations. Dogs are trained for several things. Some are trained to smell money. Some are trained to smell narcotics, weapons, and some dogs are trained to smell human beings, Tubbs said. They will put seasoning on them to cover their scent so they can get through the Border Patrol checkpoint. Police Chief William McManus said three people were in custody, but he declined to elaborate. Homeland Security Investigations agents are now spearheading the investigation. HSI San Antonio has initiated an investigation with support from SAPD, the federal agency said in a written statement. The criminal investigation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Police Department, in coordination with HSI, redeployed K-9 dogs Tuesday morning near Quintana Road in an effort to find any potential victims that may have fled the tractor-trailer before first responders arrived. Law enforcement officials feared some migrants could have fled the scene and died in the surrounding areas. Alex Selgado of Fuerza Catracha, a Honduran immigrants organization in the U.S., said at the scene that officials did inform us that some of the deceased may be Honduran because they had emblems or insignia of our country on their clothing. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexicos foreign minister, said on Twitter late Monday that two of the 16 survivors transported to San Antonio hospitals were Guatemalans. The news of the deaths drew an outcry from immigration advocates. We are devastated by the news, said Cesar Espinosa, an immigrant advocate with FIEL Houston, an immigrant rights organization. Unfortunately this is not the first time and unfortunately it wont be the last time that it happens as long as we dont have a pathway for people to migrate safely into the U.S. Border officials have reported a record number of migrant arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022, as Central Americans and people from around the world arrive there, often fleeing violence and poverty, in part due to worsening conditions after the COVID-19 pandemic. McManus said police were first called to the scene around 5:50 p.m. after nearby workers heard cries for help and walked over to the tractor trailer to investigate. One person was outside the trailer laying on the ground, Hood said. The workers opened the doors and discovered the dozens of dead, McManus said. Hood said they were too weak to get out and help themselves, adding that it wasnt clear how long they had been inside the tractor trailer. Were not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there, Hood said. None of us come to work imagining that. Hood said paramedics used a 12-lead ECG, a standard tool EMTS use to screen patients for cardiac activity, but that no such activity was found among the 46 dead. Hood said all the patients that they transported were conscious and alert. Patti Tanner, director of public relations at Baptist Health System, said that the Baptist Medical Center downtown received five patients. As of Tuesday morning, two had died; three remained in critical condition. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer Elizabeth Allen, a spokeswoman for University Hospital, said the hospital had received two patients from the scene. Early Tuesday, a 23-year-old woman remained in serious condition, and an adolescent male was in critical condition. Cheri Love-Moceri, a spokesperson for Methodist Healthcare System, said that Methodist Hospital Metropolitan had received three adult patients, all in stable condition. Two patients a 26-year-old woman and 32-year-old man were transported to Texas Vista, formerly known as Southwest General Hospital, a spokeswoman said. Both were in critical but stable condition early Tuesday morning. Mayor Ron Nirenberg described the event as tragic. There are, that we know of, 46 individuals who are no longer with us, who had families, who were likely trying to find a better life, Nirenberg said. And we have 16 folks who are fighting for their lives in the hospital. Our focus right now is to try to bring aid to them as best we can. This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy. McManus said it was the largest number of dead from a human smuggling incident in San Antonio that he knew of. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller lamented the news in a Tweet Monday evening. Our prayers raised up to you, O Lord, for their souls, Garcia Siller wrote. Lord have mercy on them. They hoped for a better life. Lord after Uvalde and now this, help us! We need you! So many people suffering. Not S.A.s 1st human-smuggling tragedy Human smuggling has had tragic consequences before in San Antonio. In July 2017, authorities found 39 undocumented immigrants in a sweltering tractor trailer in the parking lot of a Walmart on the South Side. Eight were already dead, and two more died later at area hospitals. A Kentucky trucker who transported the immigrants from Laredo to San Antonio later was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences without parole. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants for profit, resulting in death. At the truckers trial, witnesses testified that immigrants were told that, as soon as the tractor-trailer left Laredo, the cooling system would turn on. But it never did. As temperatures rose in the trailer, the desperate migrants tried to cut holes in the side with keys, a knife and their bare hands. Someone tried to claw their way through. There was blood everywhere, a federal agent testified. You could tell they just shredded their hands. In June 2018, more than 50 immigrants were discovered in an air-conditioned tractor trailer parked in an alley in the sedate Leland Terrace subdivision on the North Side. The migrants ran from the truck in an attempt to elude police officers, jumping over fences and climbing on the roofs of houses. More than 50 were apprehended. The political finger-pointing begins As the scope of San Antonios latest human-struggling tragedy became clearer Monday night, politicians on both sides of the countrys partisan divide were quick to cite it in support of their favored policies on immigration. Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted: These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. Gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke, Abbotts Democratic opponent in Novembers general election, said the incident illustrates the need for immigration reform. We need urgent action dismantle human smuggling rings and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration that reflect our values and meet our countrys needs, he said in a Tweet. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) said on Twitter that the calamity showed we must end Title 42, which has put desperate, oppressed people in grave danger of death. He was referring to a provision of U.S. public health law that first the Trump administration and now the Biden administration has used to turn away asylum seekers at the border, ostensibly to halt the spread of COVID-19. Biden wants to end the policy, but courts have prevented it. Like Abbott, Matt Mackowiak, a Republican political consultant in Austin, traced the disaster to supposedly weak border enforcement by Biden. Open borders lead to immeasurable human suffering and death, he tweeted. Staff Writers Eli Trovall and Madalyn Mendoza contributed to this story. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday laid the blame on human smugglers, poverty and a lack of control at the U.S.-Mexico border for the deaths of 50 immigrants in a tractor-trailer abandoned on the Southwest Side. Lopez Obrador called the discovery of the northbound trailer parked near Lackland Air Force Base on Monday evening a tremendous tragedy. In case you missed it: Truck with 46 dead immigrants inside was cloned, trucking company says Monday's grim discovery and other migrant deaths were due to the poverty and desperation of our Central American brothers and of Mexicans, Lopez Obrador said during a Tuesday morning briefing. It happens because there is trafficking of people and a lack of control, in this case at the Mexican-U.S. border, but also in the U.S. interior, he said. Eric Gay, STF / Associated Press Forty-six immigrants were found dead Monday night, and at least 16 others were taken to local hospitals alive but suffering from heat exhaustion and apparent dehydration. Four more people who were discovered still alive in the tractor-trailer have since died, bringing the death toll to 50, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in a tweet Tuesday morning. The dead included 22 immigrants from Mexico, seven from Guatemala and two from Honduras, Ebard said in the Tweet. The rest are still being identified. Lopez Obrador said the Mexican government would be providing assistance to the family members of the deceased. Related: As death count rises to 50 migrants found in Texas tractor-trailer, here's what we know Three people are in custody and the Department of Homeland Security is now spearheading the investigation, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said on Monday. Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said he was heartbroken by the deaths in San Antonio. Far too many lives have been lost as individuals including families, women, and children take this dangerous journey, he tweeted Monday night. News of the death toll in San Antonio, considered to be one of the worst episodes of migrant deaths in the United States in recent years, quickly spread world-wide. Many political and religious leaders reacted on social media. Among them was Pope Francis, who called the incident in San Antonio a tragedy. I sorrowfully heard the news of the tragedy of the #migrants in Texas and #Melilla, the pope said in a tweet. Let us #PrayTogether for these brothers and sisters who died following their hope of a better life; and for ourselves, may the Lord might open our hearts so these misfortunes never happen again. timothy.fanning@express-news.net Although most abortions are now banned in Texas, they can be medically necessary in some cases and legal if a womans life is at risk. Since last Friday, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, women in Texas generally cannot receive an abortion after conception. However, in a small minority of cases, abortion is permitted if in a doctors good faith clinical judgment, a medical condition requires the immediate abortion of a womans pregancy to avert her death or to avoid a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function, according to the Texas Health Safety Code. An exception depends on a licensed physician determining that a woman has a life-threatening physical condition that could be adversely affected by a pregnancy, that puts the pregnant individual at risk of death unless the abortion is performed, said Dr. Randal Robinson, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at UT Health San Antonio. That person can receive a legal abortion. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar DA vows to protect women, LGBTQ community in wake of SCOTUS abortion ruling Medically necessary cases come in many forms, such as a person with a severe underlying medical condition like kidney disease, cardiac disease or diabetes that a pregnancy can exacerbate. In such cases, a womans kidneys could shut down or the stress of having a child could induce a heart attack, losing both the baby and the mother. Preeclampsia, a complication in pregnancy, is another potential justification for a medically necessary abortion. The condition can lead to eclampsia, which causes seizures, coma and brain damage in a pregnant woman and can be fatal to the woman and the baby. Other reasons for a medically necessary abortion include a placental abruption when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before birth and maternal sepsis, which is the bodys extreme response to an infection. Sepsis can be fatal for a pregnant woman and the baby. This all depends on the medical judgment of the physician and the severity of the medical condition, Robinson said. If its life-threatening or could impair major bodily function, that could be a reason. Also, a severe fetal abnormality that would prevent a fetus from surviving outside the womb could be a reason to perform an abortion, according to the Texas Health Safety Code. But if a fetus has a survivable developmental or physical issue, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease, Texas law requires the mother to continue her pregnancy. On ExpressNews.com: Supreme Courts abortion decision condemned, celebrated in San Antonio In all cases, it is up to a physician to determine whether medical necessity exists to perform an abortion, rather than the pregnant woman. In practice, few abortions are deemed medically necessary. Physicians who perform non-medically necessary abortions can be fined $100,000 or more for each offense or face life in prison for a first-degree felony. Robinson said the reduced availability of abortions could put more women at risk of severe medical issues as a result of continuing their pregnancies longer rather than ending them sooner. As of now, the Texas Legislature has made no move to remove the provisions for medically necessary abortions from the Texas Health Safety Code. Elena Bruess writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. elena.bruess@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez warned attendees of a forum addressing crime on the North Side that some people would get angry. He had cause for anger himself. Pelaez said his own home was targeted recently in a string of break-ins, and appliances were stolen. The same thing happened to 11 other houses. Such a crime was unheard of 20 years ago here, Pelaez said. For the most part, the session was tame as police Chief William McManus and District Attorney Joe Gonzales led the session with Pelaez and District 9 Councilman John Courage. More than 100 people gathered in Congregation Agudas Achim for the discussion, which featured a program called Mentimeter that allowed people to use their digital devices to chime in on questions submitted by Pelaez. The first was a question of what words attendees associate with crime. Their answers included scary, escalating, and the biggest one, fear. Carlos Javier Sanchez, Contributor Crimes of concern among attendees last week seemed to be break-ins, or burglaries. The session was an impromptu lesson in how the criminal justice system works in San Antonio, as McManus walked people through the primary goals of police: to arrest people who commit crimes and to deter crime by speaking to area residents and at schools. McManus said the types of crimes police see are split into two categories: violent crime and quality-of-life crimes. Most people are not affected by violent crime, he said. If someone is killed or theres a shooting, you dont really worry. Youre worried about the order- and maintenance-type crimes. Maintenance crimes include panhandling at intersections and auto break-ins. The chief said that people who commit petty crimes like class C misdemeanors are often back on the street no matter how many times they are cited. A similar situation occurs with violent crimes as well. McManus said two suspects whom police identified in a recent drive-by shooting at a barbecue that killed two happened to be arrested on unrelated charges, but they had bonded out. Thats the kind of stuff that frustrates the police department, McManus said. We arrest guys two or three days after the offense, and theyre back out on the street. Carlos Javier Sanchez, Contributor Some attendees shook their heads at Thursday evenings forum when McManus mentioned that leading a high-risk lifestyle, including drug use or prostitution, puts people at risk of violent crimes. McManus said an outside agency is reviewing staffing at SAPD to help reduce response times. The chief said he hopes to improve their non-emergency response time, which varies wildly from 17 minutes to two hours. Gonzales gave people a walk-through of how his office operates. He said his office relies on area law enforcement to file cases with his office so he can prosecute them. He touched on some of the problems facing the office, such as an exodus of talented prosecutors and a backlog of cases that was exacerbated by the inability to form grand juries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each year, his office reviews 60,000 cases. He said his office is focusing on violent crimes, many of which now have heavier case files with more information for prosecutors to review, such as security camera footage, witness statements and other evidence. Crime scenes can be a lot more brutal today than when I was a prosecutor, Gonzales said. Carlos Javier Sanchez, Contributor Courage encouraged people to join a Citizen on Patrol group to help be the eyes and ears of police. Criminals see that, Courage said, noting that criminals often dont care unless they see the group is active. While all four officials said there are limits to what they can do in certain cases regarding quality-of-life crimes, they urged constituents to reach out to their respective council members offices for help. Pelaez ended the meeting with a call to action for people to discourage panhandling by not rolling down their windows, and instead to donate to local nonprofits and organizations that are working to aid the homeless, such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill or the Battered Women and Childrens Shelter. Remember that feeling of your heart breaking a little bit, take that home, and do something, Pelaez said. But please, for Gods sake, do not roll your window down. Be compassionate in a more mindful way. jbeltran@express-news.net Who do we blame for the nightmare that revealed itself on a desolate stretch of San Antonios Southwest Side on Monday night? For the unfathomable horror of migrants many of them coated in steak seasoning to disguise their scent slowly baking in a hot, cramped tractor-trailer and gasping in desperation for their final breath. Do we blame the migrants most of whom apparently came from either Mexico, Guatemala or Honduras for seeking refuge from soul-crushing poverty? Do we blame the smugglers, who saw a way to make money off the anguish of others and exploited the situation with cold, mercenary detachment? Do we blame employers in the United States who hire undocumented immigrants as a way to undercut U.S. workers and get cheap labor? On ExpressNews.com: Mexican president slams border security and human trafficking for San Antonio migrant deaths Do we blame a system that serves as a catalyst for this barbarous game? As of Tuesday afternoon, the death count from this tragedy had reached 51, with many more fighting for their lives in local hospitals. Details of the story were just beginning to emerge on Monday night when Republican Gov. Greg Abbott the same Greg Abbott who denounced his general-election challenger, Beto ORourke, last month for politicizing the May 24 Uvalde school shooting decided to score some immigration-policy points against Democratic President Joe Biden. These deaths are on Biden, Abbott tweeted. They are a result of his open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law. GOP Congressman Chip Roy, whose district includes part of San Antonio, tweeted, This should not happen. Open borders are good only for cartels not Americans or migrants. Abbott and Roy called for the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of Homeland Security. Matt Mackowiak, an Austin-based political consultant and chairman of the Travis County Republican Party, tweeted, Open borders leads to immeasurable human suffering and death. That may be true, but it bears little relation to the facts of this story. Logic and history tell us that people dont put themselves through extreme physical danger to make it into the United States if the border is wide open. After all, if someone from Mexico or Central America believes they can cross this countrys southern border anytime they want, without facing any risk of being caught, why would they choose to hide in a packed trailer tricked up to fool customs agents into thinking it belongs to a South Texas trucking company? This is the fourth, and the worst, massive immigrant-smuggling tragedy that Texas has faced in the past 35 years. The previous three tragedies all happened under Republican presidents (and Republican governors, for that matter). The locations and death tolls differ, but the rest of the details are remarkably similar. In July 2017, six months into the administration of border-hawk President Donald Trump, 10 undocumented migrants were found dead in a sweltering tractor-trailer outside a South San Antonio Walmart. The victims spent their final moments banging against the wall of the trailer. On ExpressNews.com: Truck with dozens of dead migrants inside was cloned, trucking company says A contemporaneous Associated Press story pointed out that big rigs emerged as a popular smuggling method in the early 1990s amid a surge in U.S. border enforcement. Prior to that, the story noted, People paid small fees to mom-and-pop operators to get them across a largely unguarded border. Did you catch that point? Smuggling by tractor-trailer is an outgrowth of enhanced border enforcement, not reduced border enforcement. In May 2003, 19 migrants hoping to make it to Florida to work at a tomato packing plant, were found dead at a Victoria truck stop in a trailer with no water, food, light or air. The driver, a 32-year-old man from Schenectady, New York, named Tyrone Williams, had received $5,000 to transport 85 migrants from the South Texas border to Houston. He abandoned the trailer in Victoria when he saw the dead bodies. In July 1987, 18 men who paid $400 apiece to be smuggled into the United States, were found dead near Sierra Blanca in an airtight boxcar normally used for transporting beer. Four horrible incidents in four different decades with four different presidents in office. None of those presidents were advocates of open borders. For 15 months, Biden voluntarily preserved Trumps use of Title 42, a public-health directive, to turn away migrants at the border before they could apply for asylum. In April, he announced his intention to rescind it, but has been blocked by court order. No single element can be blamed for a system that feeds on desperation. But Title 42 has intensified that sense of desperation. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 The Butt family and H-E-B are donating $10 million to help build a new elementary campus in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were killed last month by a gunman at Robb Elementary School. The contribution is to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Moving Forward Foundation, a nonprofit created to raise money for the new school districts other financial needs. You might also like: One month after Uvalde school shooting: A graduation ceremony steeped in loss, resiliency Our first store in Uvalde opened in 1959, and Uvalde people are our people, H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt said in a statement. As we continue to mourn tremendous loss, I join with my family and H-E-B in working to ensure the Uvalde community can move forward from this tragic event. He added: Our children are this countrys future, and our schools should be a safe place where children can thrive and envision new possibilities." Its not the San Antonio-based grocers first donation since the school massacre. In May, H-E-B launched a donation campaign and pledged to give $500,000 to support the victims and families affected by the massacre. The H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust also committed $500,000 to nonprofits assisting in Uvalde Robb Elementary School is set to be demolished, and more than 500 students who were to return to the campus in the fall will be relocated to two other Uvalde elementary schools. The two schools are Dalton and Flores. Third and fourth grade students who went to Robb will be relocated to Flores Elementary, which typically serves third through sixth grade. Students graduating from Dalton, who would have attended Robb, will instead remain at Dalton. Dalton Elementary typically serves pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade students. Related: Uvalde shooters grandmother discharged from San Antonio hospital Its unclear how much the new school will cost, where it will be built and when construction could begin. It's also unclear when Robb Elementary School will be demolished. The foundation did not immediately respond to inquiries Tuesday. The school will significantly enhance educational offerings and implement state-of-the-art safety and security measures, and infrastructure to support the availability of new technology, according to H-E-Bs announcement. The Butt family and H-E-B are founding donors for the new school. Fort Worth-based architecture firm Huckabee and San Antonio-based Joeris General Contractors are donating their services to design the campus. The school district will work with the community and donors to gather feedback on the new schools features, according to the foundations website. Robb Elementary was built in the 1960s and served about 538 students in grades second through fourth. It has deep roots for many Uvalde residents, given that multiple generations of some families were educated there. It was also the focus of district-wide walkout in 1970 after the contract of a popular Hispanic teacher at the school was not renewed. Staff writer Claire Bryan contributed reporting. madison.iszler@express-news.net Jae C. Hong, STF / Associated Press Celia Martinez Gonzales, who was shot in the face at her home by her grandson before he opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last month, has been discharged from University Hospital in San Antonio. We are pleased to share some good news related to last months tragic shooting in Uvalde: The 66-year-old woman has been discharged, the hospital tweeted Tuesday morning. Imagine your beloved dog trapped in a small, rusty, wire cage where she spins in circles, making herself as small as possible so she can lay down, dodging her own excrement. She has the same needs for human connection as other pets. But breeders have decided her fate: She will produce litter after litter, and have her puppies taken away to faraway pet stores. We are far removed from this atrocity in our everyday lives. However, those cute puppies you see in stores are often products of this merciless enterprise, known as puppy mills. Statistics from the Humane Society of the United States reveal that 2.6 million puppies sold annually originated from puppy mills, and about 500,000 dogs are held in puppy mills for breeding purposes. Let me share my experience. RELATED: Commentary: Pass city ordinance on puppy mills In March of 2021, I bought a puppy from a pet store and was told the parvo shots had been administered. A few days later, my adorable puppy was so sick that she was admitted to a veterinary ICU where she was diagnosed with parvo. After five excruciating days and immense cost, Baby Syrah survived. Today she is a 20-pound bouncing bundle of joy. Having been exposed to the puppy mill catastrophe, I am now adamant about advocating for the abolition of this dreadful trade model. After the city of San Antonio passed an ordinance, effective Jan. 1, 2020, prohibiting the sale of puppies in pet stores, several pet stores relocated to nearby Type A General Law cities in Bexar County. Under the Texas Constitution, general law cities, with populations less than 5,000, may only pass ordinances that are consistent with state law, whereas home rule cities with populations greater than 5,000 can pass ordinances as they deem necessary. A number of Texas cities including San Antonio, Austin, College Station, El Paso, Fort Worth and Houston, among more than 400 localities across the nation, plus five states, have banned the sale of commercially raised puppies in pet stores. New Braunfels is in the process of banning pet shops from dealing with commercial breeders unless the dog is obtained from an animal shelter or welfare organization and must have supporting evidence. Local families who want to acquire pets should consider adoption from our strong network of shelters and rescues. Stores selling puppies claim to source puppies only from regulated, professional, USDA licensed and inspected kennels that are at the top of the strata. Yet, a USDA-licensed breeder can confine hundreds of breeding dogs to stacked, wire cages for their entire lives. RELATED: Editorial: Vote against puppy mills shows respect for animals Public records show that these stores across Texas import thousands of puppies from massive Midwest puppy mills, with egregious animal welfare records. I urge readers to view a very disheartening article in the Rolling Stone edition of Jan. 3, 2021, The Dog Factory: Inside the Sickening World of Puppy Mills by Paul Solotaroff. We can and will promote animal welfare and send a clear message to the state Capitol that our community does not support this inhumane undertaking and boycott stores that sell puppies - not in my back yard. Texans need to step up and reject this cruelty by advocating for a statewide ordinance. Shamila Behal, CPA, MBA, teaches accounting at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and is an ambassador with the Texas Humane Legislation Network. What is happening here? a distraught Nancy Pelosi said Friday. Its a good question, and I can answer it, because I was there at the start of the corrosive chain of events that led to women losing control of their own bodies. I saw how America went from a beacon of modernity to a benighted outlier. Over the past three decades, I have witnessed a dismal saga of opportunism, fanaticism, mendacity, concupiscence, hypocrisy and cowardice. This is a story about men gaining power by trading away something that meant little to them compared with their own stature: the rights of women. It started innocently enough on a beautiful summer day in Kennebunkport, Maine. I was covering President George H.W. Bushs nomination of a 43-year-old U.S. appeals court judge for the D.C. Circuit to take the seat of retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall. Clarence Thomas, standing in front of a weather-beaten shingled cottage, looked uneasy as Bush defended his conservative choice. The warnings were clear even then. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, threatened to investigate Thomas record on abortion, saying, I will not support yet another Reagan-Bush Supreme Court nominee who remains silent on a womans right to choose and then ascends to the court to weaken that right. Thomas was a far cry from liberal lion and civil rights hero Marshall. He opposed affirmative action, even though it contributed to his rise, and he was championed by anti-abortion activists. Bush and his father were New England Episcopalians with a proud history of supporting Planned Parenthood. Prescott Bush had been an early supporter in the 40s and once served as a treasurer of a fundraising campaign. As a Texas congressman, George H.W. Bush was christened Rubbers because he was such a cheerleader for family planning in the United States and around the world. But when Bush joined Ronald Reagan on the ticket in 1980, he adopted Reagans more restrictive position. The right remained suspicious of Bush, though, and hoping to bring it around for his re-election, he appointed the ultraconservative Thomas. He also wanted to appeal to Black voters, still angry at the Willie Horton ugliness that had helped propel him to the White House. Womens rights had to take a back seat to re-election. Three months later, Anita Hill told Congress about her boss, Thomas, tormenting her with unwanted attention and dirty talk about pornographic films. Joe Biden was the chair of those Senate hearings. He let Hill be viciously ripped apart by Republicans and then abruptly ended the hearings, canceling the appearance of her two corroborating witnesses. Many senators on the committee composed entirely of white men privately thought it was an office romance gone wrong. Poor guy, they said among themselves, no point in letting his life be ruined by someone they thought, with no evidence, was a vengeful ex. Hill was smeared as a perjuring erotomaniac, and Biden, wasting a Democratic Senate majority, allowed a liar, a pervert and a sexual harasser to be elevated to a lifetime seat on the court. Womens rights had to take a back seat to Bidens desire to foster bipartisanship with his conservative colleagues. And with Thomas, those conservatives got the justice of their dreams, the first in a line of right-wing radicals. When Donald Trump came along, trailing a history of lurid sexual transgressions, the family-values Republicans and religious right didnt care. They knew he was the one who could bring them to Valhalla on the Supreme Court. Mitch McConnell and his Federalist Society minions used Trump as the host body. After wrecking the rules to keep Merrick Garland off the court, McConnell jammed through Amy Coney Barrett. Trump, who had once been a pro-choice, Nancy-and-Hillary-and-Chuck loving Democrat, was happy to flip to gain the fervor of an anti-abortion base. Womens rights had to take a back seat to Trumps ego and ambition and McConnells desire for a conservative court that would pull back the reach of the government, denying protections to Americans who need or value them. They pushed through three conservative justices one had to defend himself against sexual assault charges and one was in a weird Handmaids Tale-style sect and that was checkmate for Roe. Neil Gorsuch and another Trump appointee, Brett Kavanaugh, are now facing accusations from senators that they dissembled to get on the court and played down their intentions to throw out Roe. I am a dont-rock-the-boat kind of judge, Kavanaugh told Susan Collins, according to the New York Times Carl Hulse. Thomas concurring opinion to the fanatical Samuel Alitos majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade chillingly warned that he would apply the same rationale to contraception, same-sex marriage and same-sex consensual relations. Back when Thomas nomination ran into resistance, the Bush administration sold him as a sterling example of a Black man who had pulled himself up from rough beginnings. That day in Kennebunkport, Thomas talked about being raised by his grandparents, sharecroppers from rural Georgia. But on the court he has been cruel, pushing opinions that would grind down the poor and underprivileged. While his wife ran around helping Trump with his coup, Thomas was the senior firebrand in a coup of extremists on the court. They yanked power from John Roberts and are defying the majority will in this country in terrifying ways. Thursday, in the middle of an epidemic of mass shootings, with Congress finally getting a mild victory on gun control, Thomas opened the door to more guns on the street. He wrote the majority opinion overturning a New York law limiting the right to carry a handgun in public, a requirement more than a century old. In another ruling, the justices chipped away at the First Amendments separation between church and state, a foundation of the republic. And next, they will get around to removing environmental protections and gutting the governments ability to regulate and restrict business rights. The court is out of control. We feel powerless to do anything about it. Clarence Thomas, of all people, has helped lead us to where we are, with unaccountable extremists dictating how we live. And that is revolting. On June 21, 1964, three civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman went missing in Mississippi. They were working as part of Mississippi Freedom Summer, registering Black people to vote. Less than 7 percent of Black Mississippians were registered to vote. They were denied voting rights through bogus literacy tests, intimidation and violence. It was straightforward voter suppression. Schwerner and Goodman were white, Jewish and from New York City. Chaney was Black and from Mississippi. All three were in their 20s. Schwerner was married. A deputy sheriff stopped them outside Philadelphia, Miss., and booked them into the Neshoba County Jail. Chaney was charged with speeding. The other two were held for investigation. RELATED: Editorial: Honor King by protecting voting rights They were released around 10 p.m., after the local Ku Klux Klan was notified and could organize a lynch mob. The same deputy sheriff who had brought them to jail followed them after their release. He stopped them again and this time delivered the three to a gang of Klansmen on remote Rock Cut Road, where they were shot and killed. Their bodies were buried in a dam under construction at Old Jolly Farm. The land was owned by Olen Burrage, one of the wealthiest men in Neshoba County. FBI field agents searched for the three men. Eventually, they received a tip about where the bodies were buried. Finally, after 44 days, their bodies were unearthed. Mississippi state authorities refused to bring murder charges against any of the Klansmen. But in 1967, the federal government brought charges of civil rights violations against 18 Klan members. Only seven Klansmen were convicted, and no one served more than six years in prison. RELATED: Commentary: Dark history hovers over todays efforts for voting rights Then, in 2005, in a very different racial and political climate, a Neshoba County grand jury indicted Edgar Ray Killen, a minister who helped organize the lynch mob, on three counts of murder. He was convicted and sentenced to 60 years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Killen died in prison in 2018, just shy of his 93rd birthday. The murders of Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman spurred passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the civil rights movements most significant accomplishments. It is important for us to remember that these three men were in Mississippi, working to make voting accessible to people who were denied the right to vote. Efforts to stop voter suppression, however, are not relegated only to events of a half century ago. Its a battle for today, too. The Brennan Center for Justice, named after the late Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, reports, Since the 2020 election, the nations voting systems have been under unprecedented attack from multiple angles. Laws that make it harder to vote, Legislation that sabotages the electoral process. Threats and harassment directed at election officials. Extreme racial and partisan gerrymandering. Lets be clear about voter suppression. It is not a bipartisan movement. MORE LIKE THIS: Editorial: Fight to protect voting rights not over yet Nick Corasaniti of the New York Times observes that the Republican Party has been taking a two-pronged approach: Imposing additional restrictions on voting (especially mail voting), and giving Republican-controlled state legislatures greater control over the administration of elections. According to the Brennan Center, 19 states passed 34 laws restricting voting in 2021. Texas was one of those states. The Brennan Centers Will Wilder and Stuart Baum report that provisions in SB 1, passed last year by the Republican-dominated Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, target election officials and workers and make it harder to vote by mail. The law imposes new identification requirements on mail-in ballots and threatens elections officials and workers with new criminal penalties for expanding voter access or even simply encouraging eligible voters to request mail ballots, according to Wilder and Baum. The National Urban League, in its recent State of Black America report, notes that the attacks on voting rights and American democracy are making it harder for Black people to achieve racial equality. The report notes that the redrawing of congressional maps, extremely strict voter ID laws and efforts to discredit votes are attempts to silence Black voices. Fifty-eight years after the murders of Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman, we find ourselves in a renewed battle for voting rights. Honor their lives by working for voting rights, not suppressing them. Roger C. Barnes is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of the Incarnate Word. LS Cable & System Asia LSCV plant in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. / Courtesy of LS Cable & Systems LS Cable & System Asia seeks to expand new businesses to be better prepared for and adapt to the changing pandemic. The company continues to grow after achieving record-high quarterly results in the first quarter of this year. Its strategy is to go beyond Vietnam and advance into global markets such as ASEAN countries and North America with its renewable energy and telecommunication businesses. LS Cable & System Asia is the "No. 1" cable maker, occupying more than 20 percent of the power cable market in Vietnam, the company said. It has three production subsidiaries Vietnam LS-VINA (Hanoi), LSCV (Ho Chi Minh City) and Myanmar LSGM (Yangon) to produce high-quality power and communication cables, and is playing a leading role in LS Cable & System's success in the global market. LS-VINA is the only cable company capable of producing ultra-high-voltage cables in Vietnam, and it is expected to benefit from the expansion to new and renewable energies such as wind and solar power. In particular, the Vietnamese government announced a plan to build 18GW of wind power capacity by 2030, which opened the way to a 3.6-trillion-won ($2.8 billion) cable market LSCV's telecommunication cable business is also expected to expand following the establishment of high-speed communication networks in North America and Southeast Asia. LSCV exports around 80 percent of all its telecommunication cables to the U.S. "Growth is expected due to the urbanization of the ASEAN countries, the establishment of high-speed communication networks and the development of new and renewable energies," Baek In-jae , CEO of LS Cable & System Asia said. "We will focus on investing in high-value-added products to improve our profit margins." (Advertorial) The death toll of migrants who have succumbed to the heat after being trapped in a tractor-trailer has risen to more than 50. Discovered Monday night on a remote stretch on San Antonios Southwest Side, these migrants deserved a humane and fair immigration system one that honors the rights of asylum workers, recognizes our workforce needs and reflects the inherent dignity in all people. But what migrants navigate in the United States whether in the back of a tractor-trailer, trekking across the desert or crossing the Rio Grande is a broken and politicized immigration system that denies our shared humanity and forces many people to put their lives at risk. We should all ask ourselves: Just what would it take to climb into the back of a tractor-trailer and risk such a perilous journey for a better life? Just what circumstances would lead a person to flee their home country? And just what hopes and dreams would that person be seeking? We know many of the migrants who were found dead Monday came from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Migrants from these countries, which have been rocked by cartels and gang violence, are likely to be expelled from the United States under Title 42, the deeply flawed public health policy masquerading as immigration policy to deny asylum claims and due process. Border hawks like to hype Title 42 as a deterrent, but this isnt the case. As we editorialized in May after a federal judge maintained Title 42, the public health law has fueled border crossings. Why? Because it is a public health law, not an immigration law. Title 42 carries no legal consequences, and as such, it encourages people to risk crossing the U.S.-Mexico border again and again. The most likely outcome of an expulsion under Title 42 is simply going to be a bus ride back to Mexico, if you are caught. And that incentivized a lot of people to start crossing the border repeatedly, rolling the die every time, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior policy counsel with the American Immigration Council, told us in May. In other words, Title 42 is often what leads people to attempt crossing the Rio Grande or climb into the back of a tractor-trailer despite suffocating heat. Since its implementation in March 2020, Title 42 has led to some 2 million expulsions. This tragedy, like those that have come before it, deserves an urgent humanitarian response. But it has instead received a predictable political one. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wasted no time in placing the blame on the White House, tweeting, These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a San Antonio Republican, took to Twitter to call for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas to resign. The Biden administration has been utterly incoherent on immigration and border security, but so have other recent administrations. While this is the deadliest human-smuggling tragedy in San Antonios history, it is not the only one. In 2017, 39 immigrants were found in the back of a tractor-trailer on the South Side, and 10 of them died. In 2018, more than 50 immigrants were discovered in the back of an air-conditioned tractor-trailer. The United States desperately needs comprehensive immigration reform. One that would allow asylum-seekers to present themselves at ports of entry and honor their due process. One that offers legal pathways for workers. And one that addresses root causes of immigration. As San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, The plight of migrants seeking refuge is always a humanitarian crisis. Until we achieve comprehensive reforms, the humanitarian crisis will endure and horrors like this will persist. Immigration is not a political issue. It is a human one. And it demands our moral urgency. Shortly after local authorities found more than 40 migrants dead inside a tractor trailer in southwest San Antonio Monday evening, Gov. Greg Abbott took to social media to blast President Joe Bidens immigration policies. These deaths are on Biden, Abbott tweeted from his personal Twitter account. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law. It was a familiar refrain for Abbott, who has repeatedly condemned the Democratic presidents moves to reverse Trump-era immigration restrictions. But while Biden has rescinded a number of his predecessors policies, he has also kept intact Trumps signature border programs some by choice, others by court order. IN-DEPTH: Bidens border plan calls for 23,000 officers, slashing asylum processing time Advocates and immigration experts were quick to argue that, contrary to Abbotts characterization of an open border, federal authorities have restricted access to an extent that has encouraged migrants to take dangerous and even deadly journeys to reach the U.S. With the border shut as tightly as it is today for migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, people have been pushed into more and more dangerous routes. Truck smuggling is way up, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director for the advocacy group American Immigration Council. Among the Trump-era policies continued under Biden is Title 42, a public health order that allows immigration authorities during a pandemic to expel migrants from the country before they can apply for asylum. Despite facing pressure from within his party to end the Trump-era policy, Biden continued it for more than a year, then announced in April he would lift the order. A federal judge has blocked the move, however, and immigration officials have continued a monthly pace of roughly 100,000 Title 42 expulsions. Critics of Bidens border enforcement have noted that while he has kept Title 42 in place, authorities under his administration have used the policy far less than under Trump, when upwards of 80 percent of migrant encounters at the southern border ended with a Title 42 expulsion. The rate has settled at around 50 percent under Biden, with an even steeper drop-off in recent months. Bidens detractors have also argued that his rhetoric during the 2020 campaign and the early months of his administration have played a leading role in the record surge of migrant encounters along the southern border. The president aimed at both human smugglers and his political foes with a statement Tuesday: Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, it said. Fate of Remain in Mexico policy uncertain Last fiscal year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended undocumented migrants a record-setting 1.7 million times, a figure on track to be easily eclipsed this year, with 1.5 million encounters reported through May. The figure is being largely propelled by repeat crossers, however: Nearly half the Title 42 expulsions since the start of the pandemic, covering both the Trump and Biden administrations, have been of migrants who were expelled multiple times, according to the American Immigration Council, which opposed Trumps border policies. Despite Bidens declining use of Title 42, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, pinned the Monday incident on the Biden administrations overall continuation of the policy, arguing it has put desperate, oppressed people in grave danger of death and created more business for human smugglers. In any case, much of Bidens preferred approach to immigration has been kept in check by court orders, several of which have resulted from lawsuits led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office. Thus far, Texas has convinced courts to halt Bidens attempts to place a moratorium on deportations during his first 100 days in office and end the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as Remain in Mexico, which requires some asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration hearings. The Biden administration ended the Remain in Mexico program before reinstating it in December under court order. Litigation over the program has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on the case this week. Biden, citing initial reports linking the tractor trailer deaths to smugglers or human traffickers, said the incident underscores the need to go after the multi-billion dollar criminal smuggling industry preying on migrants and leading to far too many innocent deaths. My administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry, Biden said. Still, Abbott was not the only Republican to take aim at Bidens immigration approach. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from San Antonio who represents a sweeping border district, called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign due to loss of confidence in his ability to command. He also repeated Abbotts characterization of Bidens open borders agenda. To stop this madness we can start by ending catch & release, hiring more agents, getting agents out of the processing centers & back on the front lines, adding more drones and sensors, and labeling cartels foreign terrorist organizations, Gonzales tweeted. Abbotts Democratic opponent, former congressman Beto ORourke, called news of the tractor trailer deaths devastating. We need urgent action dismantle human smuggling rings and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration that reflect our values and meet our countrys needs, ORourke tweeted. jasper.scherer@chron.com A Harris County judge has granted a temporary restraining order allowing some Texas abortion clinics to offer the procedure without the threat of criminal prosecution for at least the next two weeks. The clinics, which had paused abortion services amid legal uncertainty after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections on Friday, will now be able to resume providing the care to patients who are within the six-week gestation limit set by state law. That law was already one of the strictest in the country and prevented most abortions, as most women don't know they're pregnant until after that point. This decision will allow abortion services to resume at many clinics across the state, connecting Texans to the essential health care they need, said Marc Hearron, senior counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights. "Every hour that abortion is accessible in Texas is a victory. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told attorneys for the plaintiffs that he planned to appeal the decision to the Texas Supreme Court. "These laws are 100 percent in effect and constitutional," Paxton tweeted Tuesday. "The judges decision is wrong. Im immediately appealing. Ill ensure we have all the legal tools to keep TX pro-life!" After the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling was struck down, Paxton had threatened to enforce a 1925 Texas law that banned all abortions other than those needed to save the mother's life and imposed criminal penalties for providers and others who offer someone assistance in obtaining an abortion. The clinics filed suit Monday requesting the judge declare that law, which had not been enforced in almost 50 years, to be invalid. Harris County District Judge Christine Weems, a Democrat, wrote as much in her order, finding that enforcement of the old law would cause "probable, irreparable, and imminent injury" to the plaintiff clinics and their physicians and other staff. She also wrote her order is necessary to preserve the status quo, as the six-week ban was the law of the land until Roe v. Wade was overturned. TRIGGER LAWS: Map shows where abortion will be banned, protected without Roe v. Wade Weems' order likely applies only to the clinic groups that sued the state: Whole Womans Health; Whole Womans Health Alliance; Alamo City Surgery Center, Brookside Womens Medical Center; Austin Womens Health Center; Houston Womens Clinic; Houston Womens Reproductive Services; and Southwestern Womens Surgery Center. It's unclear whether the injunction applies to clinics that are not party to the suit, such as Planned Parenthood. The CEOs of Texas Planned Parenthood affiliates said in a joint statement Tuesday that their clinics had no immediate plans to resume offering abortions, but added: "This is a rapidly evolving situation and legal teams are still reviewing this order and its potential implications." The case could also offer a lifeline to Texas abortion funds, which provide transportation and other assistance to people seeking abortions, after they shuttered Friday, citing concerns of criminal liability. The court will decide on a request for a more permanent injunction at a hearing scheduled for July 12. Regardless of how the court rules, however, the states trigger law, which bans most abortions with a narrow exception for cases in which the mothers life is at risk, is set to take effect 30 days from when the Supreme Court decision is certified. The certification process typically takes about 25 days after a ruling is issued. READ ALSO: Texas abortion funds freeze indefinitely as Supreme Court shakes landscape In their suit, lawyers for the clinics argue that the 1925 ban has been absent from Texas statutes since 1984 and point to a 2004 Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that found it was repealed by implication after Roe. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas had banned abortion before Roe v. Wade. Do those laws come back into effect now? Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee, a Democrat, was among those applauding the ruling. Its reprehensible that our Attorney General would invoke laws dating back to the 1920s we all know what types of laws were on the books in the South during that time, Menefee said. Our state leadership should not be trying to take Texans back to those times. ABORTION RULING: Read the notes from a legal expert who dove into the opinions overturning Roe City funding sought for infrastructure upgrades for apartments in Government Hill a neighborhood near Pearl where property values are surging recently thrust the debate over which developments should receive public dollars back into the spotlight. A group of investors and developers led by JJ Feik plan to build 281 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments; a parking garage and retail space outside Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Its expected to cost about $78 million and will be near buildings they renovated for office and retail tenants, including a brewery. They applied for $2.1 million from the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone for the project, called the Residences at Grayson Heights. A tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, is a mechanism in which increases in property tax revenue from land within the zone are used to reimburse developers for public improvements such as utility work and new sidewalks. On ExpressNews.com: Apartments will be part of bigger Government Hill development At a June 16 meeting, several City Council members balked at the request, which was approved in a 7-3 vote. Councilwoman Teri Castillo said she is concerned about how the market-rate development will affect residents in the neighborhood, where homes are being renovated and prices and values are soaring. The average value of a single-family home in Government Hill rose from $78,208 in 2015 to $158,748 in 2020, according to the Bexar Appraisal District. The 78208 ZIP code in Government Hill had the third-highest increase in the median home price during that period, an Express-News analysis of San Antonio Board of Realtors data found. It rose 153.7 percent to $212,500. Public dollars should work for public good, Castillo said. Yes, the city of San Antonio is quickly gentrifying, but that does not mean that we should continue to feed the beast. No doubt this is going to have a ripple effect in the surrounding neighborhoods, she said. As part of their agreement with the city, the developers must contribute $500,000 to an affordable housing fund to help with home rehabilitation in Government Hill. Castillo pointed to the citys repair programs and how many homes could be rehabilitated with $2.1 million in funding. Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, whose district includes the development, said he was conflicted about it. It was in the works long before he was elected, and neighborhood associations and previous council members supported it, he said. But I still believe that any incentive going to a private housing development should come with some form of affordable housing. McKee-Rodriguez said he was ultimately comfortable voting in favor of it because of the amenities involved, including a public park and street lighting. This is the last of my inherited projects, and so moving forward, I want to be clear that Im looking for substantial community buy-in and feedback, he said. I want to see public spaces and community benefit to include deep affordability and/or a significant level of investment in the community. On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: A bleak portrait of the affordable housing crisis Councilman Mario Bravo said he is worried about energy consumption and the limited funding available for the TIRZ to distribute. Bravo said he wants to see developers go far above and beyond standard building practices for energy efficiency and that the Residences at Grayson Heights missed the mark. I fully recognize that we need to build housing at every cost level and that we need more housing, he said. But this project didnt stand out to me in any way, and so for me to want to invest public dollars toward this, I would want to see something thats catalytic. Councilman John Courage said growth should pay for growth. If this is a market-rate private development in an area that is certainly able to stand on its own after its become a multibillion-dollar valued area, I cant see why the city would be adding $2.1 million, he said. Councilman Clayton Perry and Mayor Ron Nirenberg said San Antonio needs more housing of every kind. We are phasing away from this kind of development, but in my view, we have to complete what we started, Nirenberg said. We also have to make sure that were mindful of facilitating every level of housing development. S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff. I think it would do this area a tremendous boost, especially right outside Fort Sam Houston, Perry said. The group developing the complex includes Feik and Tim Sanford, who own and operate local hotel and property management firm Paradigm Management, and real estate consultant Robert Hunt. In an interview, Feik said the development will benefit the community by adding housing, parks and space for businesses and generating more revenue for the TIRZ. Rents will be about $400 less than apartments closer to Pearl and along Broadway Street, he said. On ExpressNews.com: CVS Health taking on San Antonios affordable housing shortage with $15.3 million investment The group is putting about $3.6 million into infrastructure improvements and spending more than $1 million on green building measures. Feik said Bravo has not defined what standards he wants buildings to adhere to. Feik said hes sympathetic to residents who are struggling to keep up with rising costs, particularly those who are disabled, elderly or on fixed incomes. But to lay that at the feet of the developer versus to say, What can we do as a community, as a city and and a state to address some of these issues I think our energies are better spent coming together on that subject, Feik said. He expects the apartments to appeal to workers at Fort Sam, students in the Alamo Colleges District and young professionals working at Credit Human and Jefferson Bank. Theres a host of businesses that are in this area, and the demand generators are there to support additional housing, Feik said. madison.iszler@express-news.net New survey data on calf colostrum management shows that dairy farmers are making steady improvements, but performance monitoring needs more of a focus. MSD Animal Health has reported on the results of an early 2022 survey of current colostrum management practices in the UK. Feedback was gained from 248 dairy farmers representing both all year round and block calving herds. Questions were designed to draw out current practices relating to the accepted 5Qs of best practice colostrum management: Quality, Quantity, Quickly, sQueaky clean and Quantify. Asked whether they check the quality of their cow colostrum before storing or feeding it, 49% of respondents said they always check its quality; 25% said sometimes and 26% never. Interestingly, when farmers were asked this same question two years ago, 44% of farmers said they never test their colostrum. MSD Animal Health's youngstock product manager, Rob Simpson said the new results were particularly encouraging. Farmers are now making good strides forward in this crucial area and reaping the benefits of improved calf health as a result. Thats great news. Colostrums importance cannot be over-emphasised. In addition to providing immunity against key early life disease threats, fed correctly and in enough quantity, colostrum also helps kickstart sound organ development and a healthy metabolism. "We also know that a good colostrum intake enables a greater response by the calf to important vaccines (up to six to ten months of age)," he said. "Indeed, the additive impact of sound colostrum feeding protocols and vaccination is the cornerstone of immunity-led disease prevention. More than 70% of the 248 dairy farmers claimed to be feeding up to four litres with a further 9% of respondents feeding more than four and a half litres. And the majority seem to be getting it into the calf quickly; more than 75% giving it before the newborn calf is six hours of age and more than 15% within 12 hours of birth. Mr Simpson added that it was also encouraging that farmers now appreciate the importance of hygiene. More than 60% of farmers are feeding it within 30 minutes of harvest and another 23% within the hour. The final best practice Q relates to quantification and Mr Simpson stressed that there is no point investing in better colostrum management and feeding practices if progress cannot be monitored. Failure of passive transfer (FPT) of antibodies is nearly 14 times higher on farms that dont routinely monitor this goal compared with farms that do," he added. "However, this latest survey found that 40% of farms never check the transfer of antibodies from colostrum by calf blood analysis. Whats more, another 33% only do it in the event of a problem." Independent veterinary professional Owen Atkinson explained that farmers should be checking colostrum antibody absorption routinely. Progress has been slow in this area but now appears to be improving, he said. In 2015 just 3% of farms were blood testing calves but this latest survey suggests more than a quarter of the farms are now working with their vet in this area. Thats really encouraging. People watch as smoke billows after a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping mall, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, June 27. AP-Yonhap Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored the urgency of helping his country's military improve its position against Russia in a video meeting Monday with leading economic powers, who in turn pledged to support Ukraine ''for as long as it takes.'' Zelenskyy addressed the delicacy of the moment for Ukraine in its war with Russia to the Group of Seven Summit as the leaders of the major economies prepared to unveil plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putin's aggression. The official announcement would come shortly after Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks and as the Russian military has continued a full-on assault on the last remaining Ukrainian redoubt in Luhansk Province in order to take control of the eastern Donbas region. Ukrainian officials stressed the need for more air-defense systems Monday after Russia launched a missile attack on a crowded shopping center in the central city of Kremenchuk. Officials said 1,000 civilians were in the mall with at least twenty injured and two dead. The new aid and efforts by G-7 leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the world. The Ukrainian leader discussed his strategy for the course of the war, which has transformed into a bloody artillery battle in the country's west and east. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Zelenskyy's top request was for further air defense systems, followed by economic support to help his government meet its financial obligations. Zelenskyy also briefed the G7 leaders on how his administration is using the assistance he's received to date ''to maximize Ukraine's capacity both to resist Russian advances, and to pursue counterattacks where possible,'' Sullivan said. Sullivan added that the Ukrainian leader was ''very much focused on trying to ensure that Ukraine is in as advantageous a position on the battlefield as possible'' in the coming months because ''he believes that a grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people.'' Zelenskyy also told the leaders that he needs to be in a stronger position before engaging in peace talks with Russia, according to a senior French diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity in line with the French presidency's customary practices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with his Moldovan counterpart following their meeting in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, June 27. EPA-Yonhap After hearing from Zelenskyy, the leaders pledged in a statement to support Ukraine ''for as long as it takes.'' They said it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement. Leaders were also finalizing the deal to seek a price cap on Russian oil. G7 finance ministers will resolve details of how it would work, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview announcements from the summit. Some market analysts doubt how effective such a price cap would be, as enforcement by the G7 would likely depend on cooperation from India and China. ''It is questionable whether countries like India and China will agree to cease purchasing Russian oil, especially as it is trading at a significant discount to the global market price,'' said Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden increased the tax to 35% on certain Russian-made goods. Biden is expected to soon announce the U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense for Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. U.S. President Joe Biden, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel sit at a round table as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses G7 leaders via video link during their working session, in the Bavarian Alps, Germany, June 27. Reuters-Yonhap Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Here Is What She Wrote On Her Instagram Stories: expressed her disapproval of certain news items being circulated by sections of the media ever since her pregnancy was announced. While good wishes have been pouring in from all over, Alia Bhatt was also deeply disappointed in some of the misogynistic media coverage she received.The actress took to her Instagram stories to write, that meanwhile, we are still living in some peoples heads in a patriarchal world. She wrote that her projects had not gotten delayed. A news portal had earlier reported that Ranbir Kapoor would be traveling to the UK to bring Alia Bhatt home. The actress wrote that she doesnt need to be picked up and that she was a woman, not a parcel. She also added that she does not need to rest.Meanwhile we still live in some peoples heads we still live in some patriarchal world .. fyi. Nothing has gotten delayed!!!! No one needs to PICK anyone up. I am a woman not a parcel!!! I do not need to REST at all but good to know you'll have a doctors certification as well. This is 2022. Can we pls get out of this archake way of thinking! Now if you would excuse me my shot is ready (sic).recently shared a picture of herself with Ranbir Kapoor at the doctors office announcing her pregnancy. She later took to Instagram to share a gratitude post for all the good wishes she has received. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / Juine 27, 2022 / CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH) ("CoTec" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has retained PI Financial Corp. ("PI") to provide market making services in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange policies. PI will trade the securities of the Company for the purposes of maintaining an orderly market. The Company will pay PI a monthly cash fee of $5,000 in consideration of its services. The contract is for a minimum term of three months and renewable thereafter. The Company and PI are unrelated and unaffiliated entities and the capital required for the services will be provided by PI. PI will not receive any shares or options as compensation for its services. About CoTec CoTec is an ESG-focused company investing in innovative technologies that have the potential to fundamentally change the way metals and minerals can be extracted and processed for the purpose of applying those technologies to undervalued operating assets, as the Company seeks to transition into a mid-tier mineral resource producer. The Company is committed to supporting the transition to a lower carbon future for the extraction industry, a sector on the cusp of a green revolution as it embraces technology and innovation. CoTec is a publicly traded mining issuer listed on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol CTH.V For further information, please contact: Braam Jonker - (604) 992-5600 Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement Statements in this press release regarding the Company's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to management's expectations and the benefits to the Corporation which may be implied from such statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. For further details regarding risks and uncertainties facing the Corporation please refer to "Risk Factors" in the Corporation's filing statement dated April 6, 2022, a copy of which may be found under the Corporation's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: CoTec Holdings Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706719/CoTec-Holdings-Corp-Appoints-PI-Financial-as-Market-Maker NEW BEDFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2022 / The Port of New Bedford applauds today's appointment of Eric Hansen, a New Bedford scalloper and president of the Fisheries Survival Fund, to a seat on the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC). Hansen's appointment will help ensure the concerns of New Bedford's vital fishing community are represented at the Council level. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, chairman of the New Bedford Port Authority, recommended Hansen for the seat in a February letter to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. The Port thanks Gov. Baker, who nominated Hansen to the Council, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who made the appointment. The Port also thanks NOAA Assistant Administrator Janet Coit and NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator Michael Pentony. For the past 21 years, New Bedford has been the most valuable fishing port in the country, with $451 million worth of seafood landed in 2020. In addition to species like surf clams and ocean quahog, a major share of the Port's success is due to the value of New England's scallop fishery, one of the most valuable fisheries in the country. Port of New Bedford. Credit: Spectrum Marketing Group Prior to Hansen's appointment, there was no representative from New Bedford on the NEFMC. Having a voice on the Council who understands the needs of our fishermen and our fishing community is critical to preserving the economic and cultural future of the Port. "As the most valuable commercial fishing port in the nation, New Bedford deserves a seat at the table where management decisions are made, and we appreciate Secretary Raimondo's recognition of that fact," Mayor Mitchell said. "Eric's extensive knowledge and experience, and his solid reputation in the industry, will enable him to serve with distinction." Hansen brings years of fisheries management experience to his new role on the NEFMC. He has previously served on the Council's Scallop and Monkfish Advisory panels. In his role as president of the Fisheries Survival Fund, he has effectively advocated for the scallop fishery as it has become one of the most sustainable and effectively managed species in the country. PRESS CONTACT Bob Vanasse Stove Boat Communications (202) 333-2628 bob@stoveboat.com SOURCE: Port of New Bedford View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706717/Port-of-New-Bedford-Applauds-Appointment-of-Eric-Hansen-to-New-England-Fishery-Management-Council HONG KONG, June 28, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - On the afternoon of June 24, Argentine Time, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez met with Li Zhen, chairman of Gotion High-tech, and his delegation at the presidential residence in Olivos, he explicitly supported Chinese investment in Argentina, and praised Gotion High-tech's multiple industrial investments will promote the development of Argentina's new energy industry. The two sides also had friendly exchanges on the "Targets of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutralization" strategy, the new energy vehicle industry, the Sustainable Transportation Act and the joint venture between Gotion High-tech and Corven, a well-known American auto parts manufacturer, to establish electric bus batteries and other topics. Alberto Fernandez: The friendship between China and Argentina goes back to ancient times. I attended the Beijing Winter Olympics this year and witnessed the unique Chinese winter Olympics moment. Not long ago, I also participated in the online communication of the BRICS Summit. China's "One Belt, One Road" strategy and "Targets of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutralization" strategy have encouraged many Chinese enterprises to invest in Argentina, undertake photovoltaic power stations, hydropower DAMS and other new energy projects, and continue to promote them, it also bringing opportunities for Argentina's development. The world is already shifting to renewable energy. Argentina has made incentives for lithium, wind power, photovoltaic and other industries. The Development of Sustainable Transport Act, introduced last year, it aims to promote investment in electric vehicles, promote the electrification of transport and provide legal protection for investors in new energy. We welcome Chinese investment in Argentina. Gotion High-tech's industrial investment activities in Argentina,it cover the development, processing and battery products of lithium resources, which accelerates the development of local lithium resources and it will help the development and progress of Argentina's new energy industry. Li Zhen: Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Argentina, leaders of the two countries have actively supported complementary advantages and economic cooperation between enterprises, especially the "Belt and Road" initiative. It provides strategic guidance, points out the direction and lays the foundation for inter-enterprise cooperation. The third energy revolution with solar and wind power as the main body has come. To make full use of it, we must have energy storage technology. Gotion High-tech has been focusing on energy storage for 16 years. We plan to reach 300GWh battery production capacity in the world by 2025, which makes enterprises' demand for lithium resources more vigorous. Argentina is the third largest economy in Latin America, with a harmonious social system and orderly development of resources, it provides a good external environment for enterprises to invest. We have partnered with Jujuy National Energy and Mining Company and we will work with Corven in Buenos Aires to develop downstream applications. In the next 100 years, new energy vehicles will certainly be a new engine for the world economy. Gotion is willing to work with visionary people in Argentina to jointly create a new era of energy industry. Daniel Scioli, Argentina's minister of Production and Development, Ariel Schale, The industry minister, President Fernandez was accompanied by Cecilia Todesca, Minister of International Economic Relations, and Fernanda Avila, Minister of Mines, and communicated with the Gotion High-tech team on the development of the lithium industry. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. GOTION HIGH-TECH-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - JetBlue Airways Corp.(JBLU) said Monday that it has modified its proposal to acquire Spirit Airlines Inc. (SAVE) and issued an open letter detailing the benefits of its decisively superior proposal. JetBlue said it urged Spirit shareholders not to be misled by Spirit Board. The shareholders can protect their ability to receive JetBlue's offer by voting 'No' at the Spirit special meeting on 30th June. JetBlue's new offer raises the reverse break-up fee to $400 million from $350 million if regulators don't approve the transaction. The new offer includes a dividend to Spirit shareholders of $2.50 per share, up from a previous offer of $1.50 per share . The new offer also includes a 'ticking fee' that would provide shareholders with a monthly prepayment of $0.10 per share between January 2023 and the consummation or termination of the transaction. It represents an estimated aggregate ticking fee of up to $1.80 per share, of which the first $1.15 per share in payments will offset the reverse break-up fee or the merger consideration. Any payments in excess of the $1.15 per share will be incremental to the total purchase price of $33.50 or the reverse break-up fee. The increases the total transaction consideration to up to $34.15 per share in the event the transaction is consummated and total downside protection to $4.30 per share, or approximately $470 million in the aggregate, in the event the transaction is terminated. Earlier today, Spirit Airlines said it received an open letter from Frontier Group Holdings Inc. (ULCC), parent company of Frontier Airlines Inc., noting that its latest takeover offer gives Spirit stockholders the opportunity to realize significant upside in excess of $50 per share, delivering superior value compared to JetBlue's proposal. Spirit Airlines last Friday agreed to a sweetened offer by Frontier that includes more cash and increased reverse termination fee, after determining that JetBlue's revised offer is not a superior proposal. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX SPIRIT AIRLINES-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de TOKYO, June 28, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - E.design Insurance Co., Ltd., a direct non- life insurance company of the Tokio Marine Group, and Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that both companies have entered into a business alliance agreement aiming to realize a society where people can safely enjoy driving for a longer period of their lives in anticipation of the advent of super-aging society, under the theme of "Improving Brain Health (brain performance) for Safe Driving." EDSP, as an Insurtech (a term coined by combining insurance and technology) company which promotes "co-creation of a world without accidents" with customers and other companies or local governments, and Eisai, which aims to build a dementia ecosystem through coexisting with various industries and organizations to remove the diverse anxieties of each individual, both will take this business alliance as an opportunity to promote safe driving and extend driving life, thereby contributing to solving the issues associated with an aging society.The initiatives planned under the alliance are as follows.1. Providing an opportunity to check brain healthThe privilege of using "NouKNOW", the digital tool for self-assessment of brain health distributed by Eisai, will be offered to customers who have purchased the "&e", automobile insurance of EDSP (Scheduled for July 2022). With "NouKNOW", brain health is measured quantitatively through a simple card test using smartphone or other devices, evaluating psychomotor function, attention, learning and memory, and working memory. When driving a car, the human brain processes a variety of information, such as road conditions, traffic volume, or the route to a destination, and makes instantaneous judgements repeatedly. Introducing "NouKNOW" is intended to promote safe driving and encourage people to become more aware of their brain health on a daily basis, which is thought to contribute to human judgment while driving.2. Jointly developing solutions for maintaining and improving brain healthEDSP and Eisai will jointly develop solutions that help maintain and improve brain health, by leveraging Eisai's experience and expertise, to enable customers to drive safely for a longer period of time in their lives. Both companies aim to create new solutions, including the development of training contents utilizing data on the characteristics of daily driving behavior and data on brain functions, and the development of a service, targeting customers whose brain health has declined or whose risky behavior has increased, to compile an integrated report on their brain performance and safe driving capability by utilizing the driving score provided by "&e" and the "NouKNOW" score, that allows customers to share the results not only with themselves but also with their families.About "&e"The "&e", co-creation-type auto insurance, provides benefits such as support services for safe driving tailored to each customer by linking IoT sensors and smartphones, in order to reduce the number of customers involved in accidents by even one.For more information about the "&e", please visit www.e-design.net/About "NouKNOWTM""NouKNOW" (non-medical equipment) is a self-checking tool of brain health (brain performance) developed by Eisai based on the algorithm created by Cogstate, Ltd. (Headquarters: Australia) for which Eisai holds the rights for exclusive development and commercialization worldwide. It is not a tool for the prevention and diagnosis of diseases, but therefore for the purpose of self-checking brain performance in order to raise health awareness. This digital tool allows users to self-assess independently evaluating psychomotor function, attention, learning and memory, and working memory in a short time frame (approx.15 minutes) through a simple card test using smartphone or other devices.For more information about "NouKNOW", please visit https://nouknow.jp/ (Japanese only)About E.design Insurance Co., Ltd.E.design Insurance Co., Ltd. is an Insurtech company* of the Tokio Marine Group with the mission of "not only supporting peace of mind in the event of an accident, but also creating a world without accidents, together with our customers." E.design Insurance Co., Ltd. is taking on the challenge of realizing a "world without accidents" through projects such as the "Safe Drive With," a project to reduce accidents using driving data with "&e" and various data on traffic safety, and the "+Machi (Pla-Machi)," a donation program for community-based initiatives to reduce traffic accidents and promote traffic safety, together with customers, local governments, and companies that support our aim of "creating safety through data. E.design Insurance Co., Ltd. will continue to work with its customers to create a new form of insurance industry.*For more information on Insurtech insurer, please see Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. News Release: bit.ly/3ylN7b0About Eisai Co., Ltd.The Eisai's Corporate Philosophy is "to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase the benefits that health care provides." Under this Philosophy (also known as human health care (hhc) philosophy), we aim to effectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology. Under the medium-term business plan "EWAY Future & Beyond", which began in April 2021, Eisai is expanding its main role in healthcare, that is, we should contribute not only to people in the medical domain but also to people in the daily living domain. We aim to evolve into an hhceco (hhc philosophy + eco-system) company that empowers people "to realize their fullest life" by creating solutions based on science and data through building an ecosystem in collaboration with other industries.In addition, we demonstrate our commitment to the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which is a target (3.3) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with working on various activities together with global partners.Source: EisaiCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Achiko AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Achiko AG - Suspension of Trading 28-Jun-2022 / 06:55 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Achiko AG - Suspension of Trading Zurich, 28 June 2022: Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR - Achiko AG (SIX: ACHI; OTCQB: ACHKF; ISIN CH0522213468) ("Achiko", the "Company") announces that it has received notification from SIX Exchange Regulation AG {"SER") that the trading of Achiko's shares shall be suspended as of Tuesday, 28 June 2022. On 27 June 2022, SER has performed an initial review of Achiko's annual financial statements published on 26 June 2022 and determined that they do not comply with Art.49 and Art 51 of the Listing Rules1 ("LR") requiring the Issuer to publish an annual financial report, comprising the audited annual financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting standard, as well as the corresponding audit report. SER noted that the audit report included in the annual report 2021 of Achiko issues an Adverse Opinion and, based on the auditor's conclusion, there is strong indication that the Issuer has breached Art. 49 and 51 LR, one of the most important conditions for maintaining a listing. Therefore, SER advised that the trading of Achiko's shares shall be suspended based on Art.57 LR as of Tuesday, 28 June 2022, until the orderly conditions are restored. Furthermore, SER has given Achiko AG a deadline until 31 July 2022 to publish audited financial statements in accordance with Art 49 and 51 LR. As noted in the Company's adhoc announcement of 26 June 2022, Achiko is looking forward to immediately completing a capital increase. The Company is working with its auditors, lawyers and a number of investors and financiers to resolve the situation as soon as possible and expects to be able to comply with SER's requirement in advance of the 31 July deadline. The Company has commenced production to supply Nahdlatul Ulama in Indonesia with its affordable, non-invasive Covid-19 saliva-based rapid test AptameX and this week has started supplying tests to 600 schools in Indonesia. The Company is also producing samples for prospective customers in other Asian countries, the UK, Europe and The Middle East. ABOUT ACHIKO AG Achiko AG (SIX: ACHI.SW; OTCQB: ACHKF; www.achiko.com) is developing disruptive diagnostic solutions that puts people first. The company's 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, AptameXTM and companion health apps via its digital mobile health technology division, Teman SehatTM. The AptameX DNA aptamer tests can be rapidly chemically synthesised, 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. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference ahead of a NATO summit that will take place in Madrid, at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 27. Reuters-Yonhap North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies will boost high readiness forces to "well over 300,000" troops as they strengthen their defenses in response to Russia's war on Ukraine, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Monday. Leaders from the U.S.-led military alliance will meet in Madrid this week for what Stoltenberg said would be a "transformative" summit as it grapples with the fallout of Moscow's invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. Stoltenberg said allies would bolster some of their battle group formations along NATO's eastern flank "up to brigade level" tactical units of around 3,000-5,000 troops and ratchet up high readiness numbers to "well over 300,000." In addition, more heavy weaponry including air defense systems would be shifted forwards and forces pre-assigned to defend specific NATO members on the alliance's exposed eastern edge. "This constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War," Stoltenberg said. NATO currently has a high readiness force of around 40,000 troops under its command, but the more than 300,000 troops are expected to form a larger pool that the alliance could tap into in the case of an emergency. A NATO official said the new system would be in place next year and improve the alliance's "ability to respond at very short notice for any contingency" with land, sea, air and cyber assets. Stoltenberg also said leaders would agree to bolster NATO's essential support to embattled Ukraine, whose President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to call in via video link. US spearhead That package would include "substantial deliveries" of equipment such as secure communications, anti-drone systems and fuel, and help Ukraine over the longer term to pivot to using more advanced NATO-standard arms. This support is separate from weaponry that NATO members spearheaded by the United States are already funneling to Ukraine, including anti-tank rockets, artillery and air defense to help it hold back Russia's onslaught. NATO has been building up its forces in the east of the alliance since Moscow first moved into Ukraine with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The alliance has rushed tens of thousands more troops to the region since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion Feb. 24. NATO now has eight battle groups across its eastern members and Stoltenberg said some of these likely in the Baltics and Poland would be bolstered to "brigade level." Jittery leaders in the Baltics have pushed for major and permanent troop deployments that could stop the Kremlin's forces at NATO's border. Germany has said it would take the lead on a new brigade in Lithuania where it already has forces but most of those troops would be permanently stationed back on home soil. Britain's defense minister has said his country will likely propose a similar set-up for Estonia where it commands the existing battle group. Stoltenberg said he expected other allies to announce forces dedicated to protecting specific eastern members at the summit that starts Tuesday evening. (AFP) Critical Storage Infrastructure to Support the UK Power System Uskmouth will be one of the largest storage projects in the UK and will directly support the UK's energy transition. Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners ("Quinbrook"), a specialist investment manager focused on renewables, storage and grid support infrastructure has acquired the exclusive development rights for one of the UK's largest battery storage projects to date. The planned 230MW 460MWh Battery Energy Storage System ("BESS"), will be located at the site of the former Uskmouth coal fired power station in south Wales ("Project Uskmouth") and will seek to utilise existing power transmission infrastructure and provide a new lease of life to the area. Uskmouth was acquired from Simec Atlantis Energy Limited ("SAE"). Quinbrook has partnered with Energy Optimisation Solutions Limited ("EOS") in the origination and development of Project Uskmouth, which represents a major anchoring project in the planned re-development and regeneration of the Uskmouth site into a Sustainable Energy Park that will support innovative future industry. Quinbrook considers these types of regeneration projects as key to making meaningful contributions to delivery of the Government's Levelling Up ambitions. Quinbrook affiliate Private Energy Partners Limited ("PEP") and EOS are jointly undertaking the design and development phases of Project Uskmouth with PEP leading equipment procurement, construction and operational management. Habitat Energy, one of the major battery storage optimisers in the UK market owned by Quinbrook, will be engaged to optimise the Uskmouth assets when completed and operational. The development includes a modification of the existing grid connection agreement and a planning application, the latter to be determined by Newport City Council. Construction is envisaged to take up to 18 months, with the project expected to become operational towards the end of 2024. Quinbrook's policy is to prioritise the use of local contractors and specialists during construction works and where possible, the project will utilise the existing railway access for logistics requirements in order to minimise local impacts from construction activities. Rory Quinlan, co-founder and Managing Partner of Quinbrook commented, "The UK's 'Net Zero' transformation is an unprecedented investment opportunity for Quinbrook with a diverse array of attractive thematics. Our 'whole of system' investment philosophy puts the emphasis on addressing critical infrastructure needs and enablers for a stable transition to a decarbonised power system. If the UK power system is to meet its 2030 renewables targets (of 95% decarbonised power generation), battery storage will need to increase significantly to address urgent stability and flexibility requirements. Almost 10% of UK grid capacity is expected to be provided by battery storage by 2030, representing an estimated GBP 20 billion1 of new capital investment. Project Uskmouth is a timely example of how specialist energy infrastructure investors like Quinbrook can identify new opportunities of substantial scale and positive impact arising from the energy transition." Keith Gains, Senior Director of Quinbrook added, "Our ability to identify and build durable relationships with project development partners such as EOS, help us continue to execute innovative strategies within the UK's energy transition landscape. Investments in projects such as Uskmouth, supported by industry innovators like Habitat Energy, reinforce Quinbrook's strategic moves into the supply of critical flexible capacity, storage and grid support infrastructure that enables more variable and weather-dependent renewables to be safely accommodated on the UK power grid." About Quinbrook Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (http://www.quinbrook.com) is a specialist investment manager focused exclusively on renewables, storage and grid support infrastructure and operational asset management in the US, UK and Australia. Quinbrook is led and managed by a senior team of power industry professionals who have collectively invested c. USD 8.2 billion equity in energy infrastructure assets since the early 1990s, representing a total enterprise value of c. USD 28.7 billion or 19.5 GW of power supply capacity. Quinbrook has completed a diverse range of direct investments in both utility and distributed scale onshore wind and solar power, battery storage, reserve peaking capacity, biomass, fugitive methane recovery, hydro and flexible energy management solutions in the US, UK and Australia. About Energy Optimisation Solutions Limited EOS is a leading developer and operator of renewable projects in the UK. EOS develops projects across all renewable asset classes and has a development pipeline of c.1 GW. 1 https://www.cornwall-insight.com/press/uk-government-must-spend-20bn-on-energy-battery-storage-to-meet-2030-renewables-targets/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005707/en/ Contacts: Jennifer Pflieger jpflieger@sloanepr.com +1 (212) 446-1866 Investment Will Accelerate Development of Revolutionary Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) Technology to Make Virtual Reality Practically Indistinguishable from the Real World Swave Photonics, an innovator in Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) technology to bring the metaverse to life, today announced a 7 million seed round. The investment will be used to fund the commercialization of truly realistic, immersive 3D HXR gigapixel technology for a wide range of emerging applications. The demand for eXtended Reality (XR) technology that enhances or replaces our view of the world is exploding with the rapid emergence of the metaverse, a 3D world where participants can interact with people, objects and places and other applications benefiting from truly realistic 3D experiences. Swave Photonics is a new spin-off of imec and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005802/en/ Swave's Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) technology is the Holy Grail of the metaverse; delivering lifelike, high-resolution 3D images that are viewable with the naked eye, with no compromises. HXR technology enables 1000x better pixel resolution with billions of tiny, densely packed pixels to enable true realistic 20/20 vision without requiring viewers to wear smart AR/VR headsets or prescription glasses. (Graphic: Business Wire) Participating investors in the initial seed round include imec.xpand, a value-add venture capital fund focused on nanotechnology innovations and Flanders Future Techfund (FFTF), a Belgian/Flemish public investment fund, are co-leading this seed round. QBIC, a Belgian inter-university venture capital fund is also participating. Swave's Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR)technology is the Holy Grail of the metaverse, delivering lifelike, high-resolution 3D images that are viewable with the naked eye, with no compromises. HXR technology enables 1000x better pixel resolution with billions of tiny, densely packed pixels to enable true realistic 20/20 vision without requiring viewers to wear smart AR/VR headsets or prescription glasses. Swave's HXR technology projects lifelike holographic images that eliminate today's AR/VR/XR challenges of focal depth and eye tracking, so viewers can easily focus on nearby and faraway objects. Most importantly, the HXR chips are manufactured using standard CMOS technology, which enables cost-effective scaling. Leveraging advances in photonics and holography based on diffractive optics, Swave's HXR gigapixel technology targets metaverse platforms, 360-degree holographic walls, 3D gaming, AR/VR/XR glasses, collaborative video conferencing, and heads-up displays for automotive and aerospace systems. Swave technology can also power holographic headsets that deliver immersive 3D AR/VR/XR experiences with stunning high resolution, perfect depth of focus and 180-degree to 360-degree viewing angles, all without the headaches experienced by users of conventional headsets. Applications powered by HXR gigapixel technology will be capable of passing the visual Turing test in which virtual reality is practically indistinguishable from real-world images that humans see with their own eyes. "Our vision is to help build the fundamental holographic technology to bring the metaverse to life and work," said Theodore Marescaux, CEO and founder, Swave Photonics. "Swave's HXR gigapixel technology will forever change the way we see and experience displayed still images, videos and live imaging. True, lifelike and immersive metaverse experiences powered by Swave technology are poised to replace every AR/VR display and headset to the point where virtual, augmented or eXtended reality is practically indistinguishable from the real world." Swave's HXR gigapixel technology will play a key role in the future of work by enabling people everywhere to engage in immersive video conferences while working remotely. Swave plans to partner with leading AR/VR/XR and metaverse platforms, so companies can have a shared, lifelike 3D experience of meeting around a conference table. "We are convinced that Swave can bring to the market a fundamental technology we have been developing for more than five years through substantial R&D programs and imec investments," said Luc Van den hove, president and CEO of imec. "Imec has a strong track record of innovation and productization that can scale across a wide range of applications. We are committed to make Swave a success and have great confidence that with their extensive patent portfolio and continued support of our teams and ecosystem, Swave can become one of the biggest disruptors for immersive 3D displays and a key accelerator for applications like the metaverse." "As a co-lead investor in this seed round, investing from our brand-new xpand-II fund, we are helping to build and grow a disruptive, deep-tech holographic company," said Peter Vanbekbergen, a partner at imec.xpand. "We are convinced that Swave's transformative gigapixel holographic technology can fuel the $93 billion AR/VR, metaverse market and will position Swave to enable an upgrade to today's challenging AR/VR immersive experiences." "Swave is a fantastic addition to the growing high-tech community in Flanders, and will reinforce Flanders's place on the global map of the tech industry," said Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister of Economy and Innovation. "We are proud to see that the newly established Flanders Future Technology Fund has been instrumental in preparing this seed round for a promising company like Swave, in close cooperation with early stage deep-tech investors. The mission of the FFTF is to accelerate the breakthrough technologies developed by our knowledge centers to the market, which is exactly what we are doing with this investment in Swave." Availability Swave's HXR microchip products are mass-producible, cost-effective and reliable. Large chip versions (2 cm x 2 cm) are designed for ultra-high-end holographic display applications, and tiny 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm versions will target ultra-light-weight wearable devices. Initial HXR chip samples are planned to be available in 2023. Future versions of HXR chips will be optimized for additional emerging AR/VR/XR applications. About Swave Swave Photonics is a fabless semiconductor company that designs and markets holographic chips based on proprietary diffractive photonics technology. Its mission is to bring the metaverse to life and enable display manufacturers and content creators to disrupt the visualization market with immersive, ultra-high-resolution, lifelike, true holographic displays. Swave envisions a world where holographic displays give everyone the power to visualize the impossible, collaborate and accomplish more. www.swave.io About Imec Imec is a world-leading research and innovation center in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Imec leverages its state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure and its team of more than 5,000 employees and top researchers for R&D in advanced semiconductor and system scaling, silicon photonics, artificial intelligence, beyond 5G communications and sensing technologies, and in application domains such as health and life sciences, mobility, industry 4.0, agrofood, smart cities, sustainable energy and education. Imec unites world industry leaders across the semiconductor value chain, Flanders-based and international tech, pharma, medical and ICT companies, start-ups, and academia and knowledge centers. Imec is headquartered in Leuven (Belgium) and has research sites across Belgium, in the Netherlands, and in the US, and offices in China, India, Taiwan and Japan. In 2021, Imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 732 million euros. Further information on Imec can be found at www.imec-int.com. Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of imec International (IMEC International, a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut"), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish Government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.), imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.), imec India (IMEC India Private Limited), imec San Francisco (IMEC Inc.) and imec Florida (IMEC USA Nanoelectronics Design Center Inc.). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005802/en/ Contacts: Jade Liu // Imec // international press officer // T +32 16 28 16 93 // M +32 495 71 74 52 // Jade.Liu@imec.be Jeremy Hyatt // Green Flash Media // pr@gflashmedia.com proteanTecs' deep data enhances Vayyar 4D imaging radar-on-chip with continuous reliability and performance monitoring HAIFA, Israel, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- proteanTecs, a global leader of deep data for electronics health and performance monitoring, announced today that Vayyar Imaging will use the company's full lifecycle analytics in their automotive-grade 4D imaging radar-on-chip. By selecting proteanTecs, Vayyar is empowering their multifunctional chip with an in-demand benefit for automotive OEMs-in-use reliability and performance monitoring. Using proprietary chip telemetry data and machine learning, proteanTecs provides advanced analytics to ensure end-to-end SoC and ECU visibility. The company's cloud and edge solutions introduce a common data language throughout the automotive ecosystem, enabling predictive and prescriptive maintenance and further advancing vehicle safety. "Predictive in-chip monitoring is critical to supporting the highest standards of automotive safety," said Ian Podkamien, Vice President, Head of Automotive at Vayyar Imaging. "proteanTecs enhances our technology with unprecedented visibility, empowering our team to benefit throughout the production process and to deliver in-field monitoring to our customers." "We welcome Vayyar to our growing customer list," said Keith Morton, CRO at proteanTecs. "The company is well on its way to transforming the automotive industry with high-resolution in-cabin monitoring, ADAS and ARAS. By adding proteanTecs, Vayyar is giving their imaging radar platform the ability to report on its own health and to support unwavering reliability at scale." About Vayyar Imaging Vayyar, the global leader in 4D imaging radar, supplies the world's most advanced radar-on-chip platforms to gather life's essential data, providing solutions for senior care, automotive, security, smart home, robotics, and more, while maintaining privacy at all times. Vayyar's mission is to deliver the next generation of sensing technology that is miniature, affordable, and versatile enough to impact everyone's lives, enabling a safer world. Visit vayyar.com to learn more. About proteanTecs proteanTecs is a leading provider of deep data monitoring solutions for advanced electronics in the Datacenter, Automotive, Communications and Mobile markets. Based on Universal Chip Telemetry (UCT), the company provides system health and performance monitoring, from production to the field. By applying machine learning to novel data created by on-chip UCT agents, the company's analytics platform delivers predictive insights and visibility, leading to new levels of quality, reliability and scale. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Israel with offices in New Jersey, California, India and Taiwan. For more information, visit: www.proteanTecs.com. Press Contact: Tamar Naishlos, Media Relations tamarn@proteanTecs.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847558/proteanTecs_Vayyar.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844547/proteanTecs_Logo.jpg Education in Motion Makes Strategic Investment in Future-Ready Education DUBAI, UAE, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Education in Motion (EiM), the education provider behind some of today's most forward-thinking schools around the world, announced that it has made a significant minority investment in School of Humanity, which reimagines the high school experience with a focus on future-readiness by offering personalised, interdisciplinary, competency-based, real-world learning paths and industry leader mentorships. EiM co-Founder and Chief Collaboration Officer, Karen Yung, commented: "Our investment in a strategic partnership with School of Humanity is a critical step in our quest to build a portfolio of innovative education brands empowering the next generation of young people with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to make a difference for society and the planet, given the ever-accelerating rate of change. School of Humanity's innovative pedagogy and online-first engagement models are completely aligned with that task and our vision for the future of education." Founded by education entrepreneur Raya Bidshahri, School of Humanity offers high school learners from around the world the ability to develop the skills, mindsets, and behaviors they need to be ready for the future of work, contribute to collective human progress and flourish in individual life. The online four-year High School, along with its Summer School and After School offerings, center on interdisciplinary learning pathways focused on global learners solving real-world problems in a collaborative, project-based, and personalized way. The model is based on research from World Economic Forum and OECD. About School of Humanity: With headquarters in Dubai and the US, School of Humanity designs and delivers innovative learning models that meet the needs of today's learners and today's world. It offers three online learning programs: a four-year High School; Ascend, its After School offering; and a six-week Summer School. https://sofhumanity.com/ About Education in Motion: Education in Motion (EiM) aspires to be the global leader in pioneering education for a sustainable future, inspiring generations of learners to Live Worldwise. Its 11,000-strong learning community is united by a strong common commitment to innovative education that nurtures students who can make a positive impact for people and the planet. Today, EiM's portfolio includes Dulwich College International, Dulwich International High School, Dehong , Green School International, Hochalpines Institut Ftan AG, Wo Hui Mandarin, and EiM Ventures. Latest Resident Voice Index finding also shows that close to seven in 10 worry about being able to afford fundamental living costs LONDON, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Over half (53%) of social housing residents surveyed say they have used credit or a buy-now-pay-later service to cover an essential household cost such as a food shop or a bill in the last 12 months, according to the latest output from the Resident Voice Index(RVI) initiative. The survey of over 5,200 social housing residents on the impact of the cost of living crisis also reveals that nearly seven in 10 respondents (68%) worry all or most of the time about meeting normal monthly living expenses. "The survey makes it clear that households are having to make tough choices," says Doug Sarney, Project Lead for the Resident Voice Index and Director at MRI Software. "Alongside over half of respondents reporting that they have had to use credit or deferred payment schemes to meet essential household costs, a further 20% considered doing so. We are seeing a ticking time bomb for households on the edge of coping." The Resident Voice Index is an independent project that anonymously gathers the views of social housing residents in the UK. Developed by MRI Software, a trusted provider of software to the social housing sector and wider property market, the short RVI surveys are designed to provide policymakers and housing providers with insights from residents about their neighbourhoods and communities. The goal of the project is to ensure the voice of the resident is heard to improve the experiences of social housing residents. Other key results of the survey include: Almost nine in 10 of those under age 35 say they are using or considering using buy-now-pay-later or credit to pay for essential household costs 82% of those under 35 report being worried all the time or most of the time about meeting normal monthly living expenses Only 4% of all respondents say they rarely worry about money Over half (56%) of all respondents didn't know that help or support would be available to them if they faced a financial struggle Almost six in 10 (58%) respondents do not feel that they have the power to influence their future financial situation One of the most significant indicators of the challenges being faced was the use of the word 'food' in the free-text input from the latest Resident Voice Index survey. Analysis of these answers reveals numerous examples of parents skipping meals to feed children, increased use of food banks and people eating only cold food to avoid using domestic energy. Key quotes from survey respondents: "I have tried to cut back with my food shopping and not using my heating, but it's proving impossible. We need heat and food." "As I'm struggling now, by wintertime I won't be able to eat." "I can't possibly cut back on anything as I already don't have money to spend on anything." "Life seems to be getting more and more expensive, but wages are staying the same and the level of help available is either unreachable or unheard of because not advertised." "Mainly eating cold food to cut down on electricity." "I expect my worry and concern will increase. With no scope to earn more or work a second job, with a pay rise that has disappeared to rising costs already, I know that I will be looking to shave even more off food and clothing." A core theme that emerges from the results is that residents feel there is nothing more to cut. Many respondents indicate that they are already living on tight budgets. "This is not just an instance of forgoing holidays, trips out with the family or self-proclaimed luxuries," Sarney notes. "Instead, for a proportion of those who answered, it is applying increased pressure to already bare-bones living. For those of pension age or who are unable to work - for example, because of disability or raising children - earning more money is simply not an option." Sarney concludes: "We anticipated the survey results to be hard hitting. However, we were not prepared for the high levels of desperation, extreme worry and hopelessness in the responses. References to catastrophic mental health slides and suicide were common in the free-text input of respondents. Our hope by sharing these accounts is to inspire anyone with the ability to enact change to do so." About MRI Software MRI Software is a leading global provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. Its comprehensive suite of cloud-based products and applications that form the MRI Living for Social Housing offering delivers flexibility, choice and scale to more than 850 clients in the UK and Ireland. Worldwide, MRI Software serves more than 3,000 organisations in social, affordable, public and community housing. Built on a foundation of industry expertise and innovation, our solutions are helping create thriving, connected communities and deliver better resident experiences. For more information, please visit www.mrisoftware.co.uk You can download a copy of this report at residentvoiceindex.com Media Contacts: (EMEA for MRI) Katrina Trantau Platform Communications Katrina@platformcomms.com +44 7597 163076 Hugh Filman Platform Communications hugh@platformcomms.com +44 7905 044850 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/489877/MRI_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848445/MRI_Software_Doug_Sarney.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848444/Resident_Voice_Index.jpg NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. NOT FOR GENERAL RELEASE IN THE UNITED STATES - SEE FURTHER INFORMATION BELOW. HEERLEN, Netherlands and GENEVA, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On 31 May 2022, DSM and Firmenich announced that they have entered into a business combination agreement to establish the leading creation and innovation partner in nutrition, beauty and well-being. The merger is to be effected through a public offer for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of DSM in exchange for DSM-Firmenich shares (1:1 exchange ratio) (the "Offer") and contribution of Firmenich shares to DSM-Firmenich in exchange for DSM-Firmenich shares and 3.5bn in cash (subject to potential adjustments). Pursuant to Section 7, paragraph 1 sub a of the Netherlands Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft), which requires a public announcement containing a status update on an intended public offer within four weeks after its initial public announcement, DSM and Firmenich provide the following joint update on the Offer, also on behalf of DSM-Firmenich. DSM and Firmenich confirm that they are making good progress on the preparations for the Offer. It is expected that an offering circular that will serve both as an offer memorandum for the Offer and as a prospectus for the offering and admission to listing and trading of DSM-Firmenich shares on Euronext Amsterdam (the "Offering Circular") will be submitted for review and approval to the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiele Markten, the "AFM") in August and in any event no later than 23 August 2022, which under the applicable Dutch rules is the last permissible date for submitting the offer memorandum for the Offer to the AFM for approval. DSM and Firmenich currently anticipate that the proposed combination will close in H1 2023. About Firmenich Firmenich is the world's largest privately-owned fragrance and taste company and has been family-owned for 127 years. The Swiss company specializes in perfumes, flavors, and ingredients and is renowned for its world-class research as well as leadership in sustainability. Firmenich delivered CHF 4.5bn of sales in the calendar year 2021 with Adjusted EBITDA margin of c. 20%. About DSM DSM has transformed during its 150+ year history into today's Health, Nutrition & Bioscience global leader. The Dutch-Swiss company specializes in nutritional ingredients for food and feed with proven world-leading bioscience capabilities and an international network of high-quality manufacturing sites that underpin a business model of global products, local solutions and personalization and precision. For Health, Nutrition & Bioscience (excluding Materials), DSM delivered 7.3bn of sales in the calendar year 2021, with adjusted EBITDA of 1.4bn and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 19%. Transaction website Please visit www.creator-innovator.com for additional material on the proposed combination. For more information DSM media enquiries: FTI Consulting LLP Edward Bridges / Alex Le May Email: scdsm@fticonsulting.com Telephone: +44 20 3727 1017 Firmenich media enquiries: Brunswick Group Joseph Chi Lo / Edward Brown Email: firmenich@brunswickgroup.com Telephone: +44 20 7404 5959 DSM Investor Relations enquiries: Dave Huizing Email: investor.relations@dsm.com Telephone: +31 45 578 2864 Firmenich Investor Relations enquiries: Diego Chantrain Email: investor_relations@firmenich.com Telephone: +41 75 429 45 93 DISCLAIMER This is a joint pressrelease of DSM, Firmenich and DSM-Firmenich. This joint release includes the information required pursuant to Section 7, paragraph 1 of the Netherlands Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) in connection with the Offer. This announcement does not constitute an offer, or any solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities in DSM. Any offer will be made only by means of the Offering Circular approved by the AFM. This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly (in whole or in part) in, into, or from any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction, including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and Japan. NO OFFERING IS BEING MADE TO ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY NOT BE USED FOR, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE, OR FORM PART OF, AN OFFER BY, OR INVITATION BY OR ON BEHALF OF, DSM, FIRMENICH, DSM-FIRMENICH, OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF DSM, FIRMENICH OR DSM-FIRMENICH, TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR THE SOLICITATION TO BUY SECURITIES BY ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION. NO ACTION HAS BEEN OR WILL BE TAKEN IN ANY JURISDICTION BY DSM, FIRMENICH OR DSM-FIRMENICH THAT WOULD PERMIT AN OFFERING OF THE ORDINARY SHARES OR POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF A PROSPECTUS IN ANY JURISDICTION, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT EXPLICITLY DISCLOSED BY DSM, FIRMENICH OR DSM-FIRMENICH. This announcement is for information purposes only it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided "as is", without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, DSM, Firmenich and DSM-Firmenich do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and DSM, Firmenich and DSM-Firmenich will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation and DSM, Firmenich and DSM-Firmenich expressly disclaim liability for any errors or omissions. This announcement is not intended to be, and shall not constitute in any way a binding or legal agreement, or impose any legal obligation on the DSM Group, Firmenich Group or DSM-Firmenich. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this announcement shall vest in the DSM Group, Firmenich Group or DSM-Firmenich, as the case may be. No part of it may be redistributed or reproduced without the prior written permission of the DSM, Firmenich and DSM-Firmenich. This announcement speaks only as of this date. Additional information for US holders This announcement relates to the proposed combination of a Dutch public company and a privately-held Swiss corporation. This announcement, the Offering Circular and other documents relating to the proposed combination have been, or will be, prepared in accordance with European and Dutch law and European and Dutch disclosure requirements, format and style, all of which differ from those in the United States. The proposed transactions referred to herein and the information to be distributed in connection therewith, including the proposed Offer and related shareholder vote and any related corporate transactions, are subject to disclosure, timing and procedural requirements and practices applicable in Europe and the Netherlands, which differ from the disclosure requirements of the US tender offer and proxy solicitation rules, provided that the Offer will comply with the relevant US tender offer rules set out in Regulation 14E under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the rules thereunder. The securities referred to herein and to be issued pursuant to the proposed Offer have not been, and are not presently intended to be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under any laws or with any securities regulatory authority of any state, district or other jurisdiction, of the United States, and unless so registered may only be offered or sold pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable state and other securities laws. There is not presently expected to be any public offer of any securities in the United States. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. Further details of which US holders are eligible to receive the securities referred to herein, and the procedural steps required to be taken by such persons to so receive such securities, as well as the procedures for those US holders who do not so qualify to receive such securities (if any), will be set forth in the Offering Circular. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nor any US state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities referred to herein to be issued in connection with the proposed Offer or any related corporate transaction, or determined if the information contained herein or in the Offering Circular to be prepared in connection with the proposed exchange offer is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and are not presently expected to be listed on any US securities exchange or quoted on any inter-dealer quotation system in the United States. None of DSM-Firmenich, DSM or Firmenich presently intends to take any action to facilitate a market in such securities in the United States. Financial statements, and all financial information that is included in the information contained herein or that may be included in the Offering Circular and any other documents relating to the securities referred to herein, have been or will be prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or other reporting standards or accounting practice which may not be comparable to financial statements of companies in the United States or other companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (US GAAP). It may be difficult for US holders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since DSM is incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and DSM-Firmenich and Firmenich are incorporated under the laws of Switzerland, and in each case the majority or all of their respective officers and directors are residents of non-US jurisdictions. Judgments of US courts are generally not enforceable in either the Netherlands or Switzerland. US holders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment. In addition, original actions, or actions for the enforcement of judgments of US courts, based on the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws, may not be enforceable in the Netherlands or Switzerland. Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. This announcement includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the DSM Group's, Firmenich Group's and the Combined Group's control and all of which are based on the DSM Group's, Firmenich Group's or the Combined Group's current beliefs and expectations about future events. Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "aim", "annualized", "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "goal", "hope", "intend", "may", "objective", "plan", "position", "potential", "predict", "project", "risk", "seek", "should", "target", "will" or "would" or the highlights or the negatives thereof, other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this publication and include statements that reflect the DSM Group's, Firmenich Group's or the Combined Group's intentions, beliefs or current expectations and projections about the their respective future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, anticipated growth, targets, strategies and opportunities and the markets in which they respectively operate, and the anticipated timing of the proposed combination. These forward-looking statements and other statements contained in this announcement regarding matters that are not historical facts involve predictions. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks and uncertainties facing the DSM Group, Firmenich Group or the Combined Group. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to vary materially from the future results indicated, expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this announcement speak only as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by applicable laws and regulations, DSM, Firmenich and DSM-Firmenich expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statements are based. Transaction conditions. Completion of the proposed combination is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions as more fully described in the announcement of 31 May 2022. Consequently, there can be no certainty that completion of the proposed combination will be forthcoming. DSM refers to Koninklijke DSM N.V. and the DSM Group refers to DSM and its subsidiaries. Firmenich refers to Firmenich International SA and Firmenich Group refers to Firmenich and its subsidiaries. DSM-Firmenich refers to Danube AG, which upon completion of the proposed combination will be renamed DSM-Firmenich AG. The Combined Group refers to DSM-Firmenich and its subsidiaries following completion of the proposed combination (including the DSM Group and Firmenich Group). Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1829134/DSM_Firmenich_Logo.jpg YANTAI, China, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IRay Technology Co., Ltd. ( referred to as "InfiRay" below), a leading brand in the thermal imaging industry, has shown itself with a high profile at MCE MOSTRA CONVEGNO EXPOCOMFORT 2022 in Milan. InfiRay presented its innovative technologies and highlighted thermal imaging products in booth F53 at Fieramilano, Rho (MI). In MCE, InfiRay exhibited the thermal imaging products suitable for the HVAC industry, including handheld and online monitoring thermal cameras for air tightness detection of buildings, HVAC operation monitoring, electrical device security monitoring, pipe network/pipe leakage inspection, and defect detection of valves in heating stations. Application Advantages of InfiRay Thermal Camera Thermal camera can be applied in heating equipment troubleshooting, equipment aging detection, and abnormal pipe temperature detection in heating stations. With thermal imaging technology, it screens and highlights abnormal areas to prevent accidents from the source. C200pro: C200pro Handheld Thermal Camera adopts InfiRay self-developed high-performance 12m infrared detector to provide thermal imaging pictures and videos with rich details and accurate temperature data. 15-hour long battery life and the pro-level USB plug-and-analysis functions help improve work efficiency. P200: P200 Compact Thermal Camera is small in size. With the 90 rotary lens, it can be used for fault detection in different narrow spaces without the need for moving other devices. Users can easily capture clear thermal imaging pictures and videos. M600: M600 Professional Handheld Thermal Camera has built-in self-developed 12m infrared detector, 640 512 thermal imaging resolution, and 5-megapixel visible light lens, which makes it very competitive in the industry. T600: T600 Handheld Thermal Camera has multiple professional lenses to satisfy the requirements of the power industry. Manual and automatic focusing modes, and continuous automatic zooming functions are all supported for thermal imaging in complex power industry sites. AT61F: AT61F Online Thermal Camera can provide high-quality thermal imaging pictures and videos for various application scenarios. -20C~+550C wide temperature measurement range makes it possible to monitor more industrial targets with high temperature requirements. About InfiRay InfiRay concentrates on developing thermal imaging technologies and products with completely independent intellectual properties. InfiRay is committed to providing global customers with world-leading professional thermal imaging products and solutions. The main products include thermal-CMOS, thermal imaging modules, and handheld thermal cameras for industrial thermal imaging and night vision thermal imagers. For media enquiries, please contact: Qiong.wu@iraytek.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Australian organic infant formula and baby food producer, Bellamy's Organic, has agreed to send around 696,000 cans of general formula milk to the United States to meet the supply shortage. Under the FDA's enforcement discretion to source more infant formula to the U.S., the available Bellamy's Organic products include about 1.4 million pounds or about 21 million full-size, 8-ounce bottles of Organic Infant Formula Step 1 for 0-6 months, and Organic Follow-On Formula Step 2 for 6-12 months. The agency noted that the infant formula will be available at major and specialty retailers in early July and over the next several months. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is evaluating options for getting the product to the U.S. as quickly as possible. Last week, the agency announced the availability of more than 4.8 million cans of general infant formula from UK-based Global Kosher, which are equal to more than 8.5 million pounds or more than 128 million full-size, 8-ounce bottles. Earlier, French food company Danone SA agreed to send about 750,000 cans of general infant formula, equivalent to about 1.3 million pounds or nearly 19 million full-size, 8-ounce bottles. Further, the Biden Administration recently announced that its Operation Fly Formula mission will transport around 320,000 pounds of Bubs infant formula from Australia, and 1 million pounds of Gerber infant formula from Mexico. In its latest update, the FDA noted that its increased flexibilities have resulted in a total estimated quantity of 17.7 million cans, or about 378 million full-size, 8-ounce bottles of infant formula products from six countries to date. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. STOCKHOLM, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fishbrain ( www.fishbrain.com ) - the world's most popular platform and social network for people who love fishing - is raising money through Seedrs ( www.seedrs.com ), one of the leading online private investment platform with over 2.2BN investments to date. Fishbrain is now accepting investment ( www.seedrs.com/fishbrain ). Johan Attby, Fishbrain CEO, comments: "Fishbrain is growing rapidly, building out the platform for the world's biggest hobby, sport fishing. We already have more than 14 million registered users on Fishbrain and we're the number one in the US market where 55 million people fish every year and spend $50 billion doing so. To accelerate this growth we will now raise a round so that our community can invest alongside our renowned global investors such as Northzone, B Capital and Softbank, and get the benefits not only from our service, but also as shareholders." Already this year, Fishbrain has hired a new Chief Financial Officer and launched several new features for the community, such as: Fishbrain Reeled , a highlights reel of the year in fishing for community members (plus tips on how to progress); catch and release best practice policies; integrated Fish Rules (fishing regulations on a state by state basis in North America) into the app and website, following the 2021 acquisition ; and partnered with Aspira , the largest hunting and fishing licensing management software provider in North America, to enhance conservation efforts. In 2021, Fishbrain continued to evolve, through a combination of funding, new features, and strategic partnerships. In March last year, Fishbrain raised $31mn , which helped to expand its user base and hire across the company in multiple locations across the U.S. and Europe. Fishbrain further developed the app with the introduction of Garmin's Navionics HD Depth Charts . Additionally, Fishbrain bolstered the company's senior team with the addition of Stina Granberg as Chief Operating Officer , as well as Maria Hedengren (ex-Readly CEO), Karim Abdel-Ghaffar (Westerly Winds founding partner), and Dylan Bolden (Boston Consulting Group, Managing Director and Senior Partner), who joined the board . Companies such as Revolut and Mindful Chef also raised via Seedrs as each underwent rapid growth - Revolut is now one of Europe's most valuable fintechs, and Mindful Chef was acquired by Nestle in 2020. About Fishbrain Fishbrain is the world's most popular mobile app, social network, and social commerce platform for people who love fishing. With over 14 million registered users across the globe, the free-to-use app helps create the best possible fishing experience by providing everyone - whether beginner or pro - with the tools, insights, support, and fishing gear to fully enjoy the world's most popular hobby. The app's interactive map helps anglers find hot new fishing spots and see what other people are catching, with what bait and specifically where. Stockholm-headquartered Fishbrain disrupts an industry that has remained traditional, not only making fishing more accessible, but also levelling the playing field for the growing numbers of women, minorities, and young people looking to take up the sport. The startup has been twice named by WIRED as one of Europe's Hottest Startups, and has fostered a passionate and collaborative community; by helping them take their technique to the next level and arming them with the tools and gear needed to succeed. Fishbrain's in-app and on-web marketplace, Fishbrain Shop, allows users to find and purchase the best fishing gear from over 350 of the world's most respected brands. With other features like Fish Species Recognition, marine mapping (provided by Garmin/Navionics), forecasts, bait recommendations and more, Fishbrain has become one of the most valuable and rewarding tools in a fisherman's tackle box. Fishbrain values responsible fishing, supporting a catch and release approach, and the sustainable harvest of fish species. For more information visit www.fishbrain.com About Seedrs Seedrs is a leading online investment platform. It allows investors to buy and sell shares in private companies, and ambitious entrepreneurs to gain investment for their businesses while building communities in the process. Since its launch in 2012, Seedrs has funded over 1,600 deals, with over 1.9 billion invested on the platform to date. Business that have successfully raised funds with Seedrs include Revolut, Perkbox, Wealthify (sold to Aviva), Tandem, FreeAgent (sold to RBS), Allplants, Stamplay (sold to Apple), Chapel Down, Assetz Capital, Courier (sold to Mailchimp), THIS, Humble Grape, JAJA Finance and Mindful Chef (sold to Nestle). Seedrs is backed by leading European institutional investors as well as over 4,600 of its own customers. For more information visit www.seedrs.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1837375/Fishbrain.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1837376/Fishbrain_Logo.jpg Amsterdam/'s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 28 June 2022 27 June 2022, Van Lanschot Kempen successfully issued its inaugural 500 million long 5 year Soft Bullet Covered Bond with a 2.500% fixed coupon. The deal had a final order book of over 700 million and was placed with a broad range of European institutional investors. The transaction further strengthens and diversifies Van Lanschot Kempen's funding profile. The bonds are rated AAA by Standard & Poor's. Van Lanschot Kempen's Soft Bullet Covered Bond Programme is Dutch law-based and backed by a pool of Dutch residential mortgage loans. It is registered with De Nederlandsche Bank and is both UCITS-compliant and CRD-compliant. Van Lanschot Kempen mandated ABN AMRO, Credit Suisse, LBBW, Natixis and Rabobank as Joint Lead Managers for this transaction. Media Relations: +31 20 354 45 85; mediarelations@vanlanschotkempen.com Investor Relations: +31 20 354 45 90; investorrelations@vanlanschotkempen.com About Van Lanschot Kempen Van Lanschot Kempen is a wealth manager active in Private Banking, Professional Solutions, Investment Management and Investment Banking, with the aim of preserving and creating wealth, in a sustainable way, for both its clients and the society of which it is part. As a sustainable wealth manager with a long-term focus, Van Lanschot Kempen proactively seeks to prevent negative impact for all stakeholders and to create positive long-term financial and non-financial value. Listed at Euronext Amsterdam, Van Lanschot Kempen is the Netherlands' oldest independent financial services company, with a history dating back to 1737. To fully leverage the potential of the Van Lanschot Kempen organisation for its clients, it provides solutions that build on the knowledge and expertise across its entire group and on its open architecture platform. Van Lanschot Kempen is convinced that it is able to meet the needs of its clients in a sustainable way by offering them access to the full range of its products and services across all its businesses. For more information, please visit vanlanschotkempen.com Disclaimer This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation for the sale, purchase or acquisition in any other way or subscription to any financial instrument and is not a recommendation to perform or refrain from performing any action. This press release is a translation of the Dutch language original and is provided as a courtesy only. In the event of any disparities, the Dutch language version will prevail. No rights can be derived from any translation thereof. Attachment The Industrial Park of Hoechst is pictured in Frankfurt, Germany, June 23. AP-Yonhap European Union countries agreed Monday that all natural gas storage in the 27-nation bloc should be topped up to at least 80 percent capacity for next winter as they prepare for the possibility of Russia further reducing deliveries. The EU is trying to slash its use of Russian energy amid the Kremlin's war in Ukraine and find other sources. A ban on imports of Russian coal will start in August, and an embargo on most oil from Russia will be phased in over the coming eight months. Meanwhile, Moscow is disrupting natural gas deliveries, a fuel used to power factories and generate electricity that the EU didn't include in its own sanctions for fear of seriously harming the European economy. Before the war, the bloc got about 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia. Moscow has reduced gas supplies to several EU countries, including heavy importers Germany and Italy, and cut off deliveries to other members, such as Poland and Finland. The EU Council adopted the gas storage regulation Monday after the European Commission made a proposal in March. The regulation also says underground gas storage on EU soil will need to be filled to 90 percent capacity before the 2023-24 winter. Heads of state and government agreed last week during a summit in Brussels to step up preparations for further gas cuts from Russia and to keep searching for other suppliers. The EU already has increased deliveries from the United States, Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan. Some EU members don't have storage facilities, so the regulation provides that they should store 15 percent of their annual national gas consumption in other member countries, allowing them access to reserves in other EU nations. Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, which are not directly connected with the gas system of other members, got an exemption, the council said, adding that filling obligations will stop at the end of December 2025. The council also agreed to raise the share of renewables in the bloc's energy mix to at least 40 percent by 2030 up from the previous target of 32 percent. In addition, a 9 percent energy consumption reduction target for 2030 becomes binding on all EU member states for the first time. Up until now, non-binding energy efficiency targets left the commission with little leverage over member states that failed to meet them. Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the French minister for energy transition, said the agreement was essential to achieving the bloc's 2050 climate neutrality goal and to ''also help us to reduce our dependence on Russia for energy, in the context of the war in Ukraine.'' Ministers stripped legal hurdles from construction of renewable energy production facilities and set specific goals for sectors such as housing and transport. The council and parliament will now start talks on a final text for the two directives. (AP) Statkraft has updated its growth strategy within renewable energy with new, more ambitious targets towards 2030. The strategy increases the annual growth rate for onshore wind, solar and battery storage from 2.5-3 GW in 2025 to 4 GW in 2030. At the same time, growth ambitions for hydropower, offshore wind and green hydrogen are increased. In total, Statkraft aspires to have developed 30 GW new renewable capacity by 2030. That could increase Statkraft's annual power generation by up to 50 percent from today, to around 100 TWh per year by the end of the decade. 100 TWh equals almost three times the annual power consumption of Denmark. "The need for renewable energy is increasing sharply, both to meet net zero targets, cover new power consumption in Norway and strengthen European energy security. Combined with increased investment capacity, Statkraft is now boosting the pace of developing more renewable energy. As we look towards 2030, we raise our ambitions higher than ever with significantly higher growth ambitions across our geographies and technologies," says CEO Christian Rynning-Tnnesen in Statkraft. As part of the strategy, Statkraft is focusing on upgrading and expanding Norwegian hydropower. The goal is to start at least five major hydropower projects by 2030. A significant part of the growth will be linked to the development of onshore wind, solar and battery storage, across all Statkraft markets. Within offshore wind, Statkraft is pursuing an industrial role in Norway and Ireland. Within green hydrogen Statkraft aims to be a leading developer in Norway and Sweden, and to broaden its geographical scope outside the Nordics. The target is to develop 2 GW of green hydrogen by 2030. The foundation is the group's unique expertise and position, and the following four strategic pillars: 1. Provide clean flexibility - leveraging hydropower 2. Accelerate solar, onshore and offshore wind, and battery storage 3. Deliver green market solutions to customers 4. Scale new green energy technologies Adapting Corporate Management To support the updated strategy, Statkraft is also making structural adjustments. The structure of the Corporate Management is changed by establishing the three geographical regions Nordic, Europe and International as separate business areas. At the same time, New Energy Solutions is being established as a separate business area, to strengthen the activities to develop new business opportunities within the green energy transition. "The changes will help us grow faster within hydropower, wind power, solar power and battery storage, first and foremost through better geographical coordination of our various activities. At the same time, we prioritize the development of new energy solutions, such as green hydrogen," says CEO Christian Rynning-Tnnesen. Effective August 15, 2022, Corporate Management will have the following members: Christian Rynning-Tnnesen, President & CEO Anne Harris, Chief Financial Officer & IT Henrik Stness, EVP Corporate Staff Hallvard Granheim, EVP Markets Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, EVP Nordics Barbara Flesche, EVP Europe Ingeborg Darflot, EVP International Jurgen Tzschoppe, EVP New Energy Solutions "After more than 20 years with the company, and 12 years as a valued member of the Corporate Management, Hilde Bakken steps down from her current role to seek opportunities outside Statkraft. I want to thank Hilde for her huge contribution to Statkraft's achievements over two decades," says CEO Christian Rynning-Tnnesen. "I would also like to welcome Barbara Flesche and Ingeborg Darflot as new members of the Corporate Management. I look forward to working closely with both on the delivery of our updated growth strategy." About Statkraft Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 4,800 employees in 19 countries. For more information, please contact: Lars Magnus Gunther, press spokesperson, Statkraft AS Tel: 00 47 912 416 36 E-mail: lars.gunther@statkraft.com Stephan Skaane, VP Head of Front Office, Treasury, Statkraft AS Tel: 00 47 905 136 52 E-mail: stephan.skaane@statkraft.com Read more about the strategy at http://www.statkraft.com/about-statkraft/strategy/ This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 28, 2022 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted access to its priority medicines (PRIME) scheme for MVA-BN RSV in active immunization for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in adults =60 years of age. There are no approved vaccines for RSV, and access to PRIME has been granted upon an assessment that the available clinical data overall show the potential of MVA-BN-RSV to address the unmet medical need in the proposed target population. PRIME is a scheme launched by EMA to enhance support for the development of medicines that target an unmet medical need. Through PRIME, EMA offers early support to medicine developers to optimize the generation of robust data on a medicine's benefits and risks and enable accelerated assessment of medicines applications. This will help patients to benefit as early as possible from therapies that may significantly improve their quality of life. According to EMA, only 1 in 4 requests for PRIME eligibility are granted. For more information on the PRIME scheme, see https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/research-development/prime-priority-medicines Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, said: "Following the grant of a Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year, we are proud to receive eligibility for PRIME access for our RSV vaccine candidate, enabling us to pursue accelerated development and review processes with the regulatory authorities in both U.S. and Europe. These grants highlight the potential of our vaccine to fulfil the significant unmet need for a preventative therapy, particularly for the elderly who may be at risk from serious complications from RSV. As we continue the enrolment into the global Phase 3 trial of the vaccine, we look forward to working closely with both EMA and the FDA on accelerating the pathway towards approval." About Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) RSV is a common virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but in serious cases can lead to severe lung infections, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which ultimately can lead to death. At-risk individuals typically include infants and elderly / immunocompromised individuals. It is estimated, that each year RSV-induced infections lead to approximately 177,5251 hospitalizations and 14,0001 deaths in adults aged 65 years and older in the US, similar to influenza. Accordingly, preventing RSV-induced infections is a top priority for governments and medical professionals globally. Currently there is no approved vaccine against RSV. As such, RSV constitutes a large and critical unmet medical need and a potential multi-billion-dollar vaccines market annually. About MVA-BN RSV MVA-BN RSV, Bavarian Nordic's vaccine candidate for the prevention of RSV, is being developed for use in elderly individuals. The vaccine incorporates five distinct RSV antigens to stimulate a broad immune response against both RSV subtypes (A and B), thus mimicking the immune response observed following a natural response to an RSV infection. The incorporation of five antigens differentiates MVA-BN RSV from other RSV vaccine candidates currently in development. In 2021, Bavarian Nordic reported strong results from a clinical Phase 2 double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, which enrolled healthy adult volunteers, 18-50 years of age who were randomized to receive either a single vaccination of MVA-BN RSV or placebo. Volunteers were challenged intranasally with an RSV type A strain 28 days after vaccination. A total of 61 subjects were evaluable. The study demonstrated a significant reduction in viral load in vaccinated subjects (n=30) versus placebo (n=31), thus meeting the primary endpoint of this pivotal study. At the same time, the vaccinated subjects showed a significant reduction in clinical symptoms typically associated with RSV infections. The MVA-BN RSV vaccine demonstrated a vaccine efficacy of up to 79% in preventing symptomatic RSV infections2. Bavarian Nordic has also previously reported strong results from a Phase 2 trial of MVA-BN RSV in 421 elderly subjects aged 55 years and older, demonstrating that the vaccine was well-tolerated and induced both broad and durable antibody and T-cell responses against RSV, as well as mucosal immune responses that may be important for protection against RSV. The Phase 2 program in elderly subjects included a revaccination of subjects after one year, following which the immune responses were rapidly and significantly increased, notably in subjects with the weakest immunity prior to the booster vaccination3. The vaccine candidate is based on Bavarian Nordic's proprietary MVA-BN platform technology, also used in the Company's approved vaccines for smallpox, monkeypox and Ebola. In February 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MVA-BN RSV, for active immunization for prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adults aged 60 years or older. In April 2022, Bavarian Nordic initiated a global, randomized, double-blind Phase 3 trial (VANIR) of MVA-BN RSV, planned to enroll 20,000 adults aged 60 years and older. The trial is being conducted at approximately 115 sites across the U.S. and Germany and is designed to run through the RSV season 2022/2023 with topline results expected mid 2023 if the pre-defined number of lower-respiratory tract disease events has occurred. About Bavarian Nordic Bavarian Nordic is a fully integrated vaccines company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of life-saving vaccines. We are a global leader in smallpox vaccines and have been a long-term supplier to the U.S. Government of a non-replicating smallpox vaccine, which has been approved by the FDA, also for the protection against monkeypox. The vaccine is also approved for protection against smallpox and monkeypox in Canada, and as a smallpox vaccine in Europe. Our commercial product portfolio furthermore contains market-leading vaccines against rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Using our live virus vaccine platform technology, MVA-BN, we have created a diverse portfolio of proprietary and partnered product candidates designed to save and improve lives by unlocking the power of the immune system, including an Ebola vaccine, which is licensed to the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. We are also committed to the development of a next generation COVID-19 vaccine. For more information visit www.bavarian-nordic.com . Forward-looking statements This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law. Contacts Europe: Rolf Sass Srensen, Vice President Investor Relations, Tel: +45 61 77 47 43 US: Graham Morrell, Paddock Circle Advisors, graham@paddockcircle.com , Tel: +1 781 686 9600 1 Falsey AR, Hennessey PA, Formica MA, Cox C, Walsh EE. Respiratory syncytial virus infection in elderly and high-risk adults. N Engl J Med. 2005 Apr 28;352(17):1749-59 2 https://www.resvinet.org/uploads/2/2/2/7/22271200/abstract_booklet_rsvvw21.pdf 3 Jordan E. et al. 2010. J. Infect, Dis. 28:223(6). 1062-1072 Attachment June 28, 2022 Testing in accordance with ISO 18562 and ISO 10993 standards conducted by five certified, independent testing laboratories in the US and Europe Amsterdam, the Netherlands - On June 14, 2021, Philips '* to address potential health risks related to the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam in specific CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilator devices. At the time the recall notification/field safety notice* was issued, Philips Respironics relied on an initial, limited data set and toxicological risk assessment, and assumed a worst-case scenario for the possible health risks out of an abundance of caution. Since then, together with five certified, independent testing laboratories in the US and Europe, as well as other qualified third-party experts, Philips Respironics has been conducting a comprehensive test and research program on the PE-PUR foam to better assess and scope the potential patient health risks related to possible emission of particulates from degraded foam and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This update is intended to provide healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders with updated information on the testing results to date. Philips will continue to provide regular updates as new test results and assessments become available, as not all tests have been completed to date. The overall guidance for healthcare providers and patients in the recall notification/field safety notice* remains unchanged at this time. Testing methods Testing results and conclusions to date are grouped by device air path design and configuration, i.e., based on how the air flows through the device. Of the five device categories, the first-generation DreamStation devices represent 68% of the registered affected devices globally. Within each device category, testing and analyses are performed on new devices with pristine foam, devices with lab-aged foam and used devices: Visual assessment of the foam in returned/used devices to assess the prevalence of visible foam degradation. VOC testing to identify and quantify organic compounds that may be inhaled during device use. Particulate Matter (PM) testing to determine concentrations of respirable particulates, i.e., particulates up to 10 micrometers in diameter, as it relates to inhalation risks and established health thresholds. Additional physical, chemical and biological testing of the PE-PUR foam related to patient risks if patients were in contact with foam material. The complete update on the PE-PUR testing results and conclusions available to date can be found here , and the main findings have been presented below. Healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders should use the complete update for any informed decision making, and not the overview in this press release. "I deeply regret the concern experienced by patients who rely on the affected Respironics sleep and respiratory devices for their health and quality of life and want to emphasize our commitment to providing them with a resolution as fast as possible," said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. "More than 1,000 of our colleagues are working extremely hard to achieve this. While certain prolonged tests across the affected product categories are still to be completed, the results to date for the first-generation DreamStation devices, which represent the majority of the registered affected devices, show a very low prevalence of visible foam degradation. In addition, the new and used first-generation DreamStation devices passed volatile organic compound and respirable particulate emission testing. This is very encouraging. Results to date also indicate that ozone cleaning significantly exacerbates foam degradation." First-generation DreamStation devices (68% of registered affected devices globally) Visual assessment : In order to determine the prevalence of foam degradation, which may result in foam particulate emission, a visual assessment of the foam was performed on a sample of 60,847 returned/used first-generation DreamStation devices from the US and Canada. The visual inspection was conducted according to a specific protocol as part of the repair process. The sample included 36,341 devices for which the users reported no use of ozone cleaning, 11,309 devices for which the users reported use of ozone cleaning, and 13,197 devices for which it was reported unknown by the user whether ozone cleaning was used. Prevalence of visible foam degradation (US and CA): 164 of 36,341 (0.5%) devices with self-reported no ozone use showed significant visible foam degradation. 164 of 36,341 (0.5%) devices with self-reported no ozone use showed significant visible foam degradation. Impact of repeated ozone cleaning: Devices with self-reported ozone use were 14x more likely to have significant visible foam degradation than those with self-reported no ozone use: 777 of 11,309 devices (7%) showed significant visible foam degradation. Devices with self-reported ozone use were 14x more likely to have significant visible foam degradation than those with self-reported no ozone use: 777 of 11,309 devices (7%) showed significant visible foam degradation. Assessment of a sample of devices linked to reported alleged foam degradation complaints: 422 devices of the inspected 60,847 returned/used devices are linked to a reported foam degradation complaint. However, only 18 out of these 422 devices (4%) actually showed visible foam degradation. In those devices where visible foam degradation was significant, i.e., there was reduction in foam volume, it was observed that there was accumulation of degraded foam within the airpath inside the device. The foam becomes hygroscopic (i.e., absorbs moisture) and sticky with degradation. It also loses significant volume and increases density as the structure changes from a foam to a viscous liquid material. As such, even when foam particulates are formed by degradation, they are likely to accumulate within the device and may not be directly emitted by the device. A visual assessment of the foam was also performed on a sample of 1,360 returned/used first-generation DreamStation devices from various countries in Europe and on a sample of 931 returned/used devices from Japan. Prevalence of visible foam degradation (EU and JPN): None of the assessed devices from Europe or Japan showed significant visible degradation. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) : VOC testing according to ISO 18562-3 was performed on new, lab-aged and used devices to (1) quantify VOC emissions from devices, and (2) assess the toxicological risk associated with exposure to the quantified concentrations of those VOCs. It is important to note that these tested new and lab aged first-generation DreamStation devices were not exposed to ozone cleaning, in accordance with the instructions for use. As previously provided in an update (https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/press/2021/20211223-philips-provides-update-on-the-test-and-research-program-in-connection-with-the-cpap-bipap-and-mechanical-ventilator-recall-notification.html) on December 23, 2021, VOC emissions are below established limits based on ISO 18562-3 testing and evaluation of new, lab-aged, and used devices. Exposure to the level of VOCs identified to date for the first-generation DreamStation devices is not anticipated to result in long-term health consequences for patients. Particulate Matter (PM) : PM testing according to ISO 18562-2 was performed on the devices to (1) quantify the particulate matter emitted from devices, and (2) assess whether the concentration detected is less than thresholds provided in the standard. New devices and used devices (including used devices with visible foam degradation) were tested and were all found to be compliant with ISO 18562-2 allowable limits for PM emissions . . Tested PM emissions of used devices with degradation were not statistically different than PM emissions without degradation, suggesting that degradation did not contribute to appreciable elevated levels of respirable particles in the devices tested . . The used devices that were tested for PM emissions, were also evaluated for cleanliness based on a visual inspection of the exterior of the device, i.e., the presence of environmental materials on the external surface of the device, such as the inlet filter location. For these devices, average particulate matter counts in devices classified as 'dirty' were significantly greater than those classified as 'clean'. Biocompatibility testing of (degraded) PE-PUR foam : Additional testing is still being performed in accordance with ISO 10993 to facilitate a toxicological risk assessment of (degraded) foam particulates, which is relevant if they would potentially contact the patient. This testing includes chemical characterization (i.e., what chemicals may potentially extract or leach from the foam and have direct contact with body tissues and/or fluids), in vitro assessment (i.e., tests performed in a test tube, dish, etc. outside the body), and in vivo assessment (i.e., preclinical testing) of new, lab aged and/or used PE-PUR foam. To support the assessment of potential genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and irritation risks of lab-aged foam, chemical characterization of lab-aged foam, as well as experiments to assess the amount of foam that can potentially contact the patient are being conducted, as lab-aged foam did not pass Ames (genotoxicity), cytotoxicity and skin irritation bioassay testing. Further, complementing the lab-aged foam assessment, a chemical characterization of returned/used degraded foam is also being conducted to better elucidate risks under field conditions. Per ISO 10993, the bioassay results cannot stand alone and, therefore, a positive Ames, cytotoxicity, or skin irritation result triggers a required follow-up evaluation including identification of potential confounding factors, and a weight of evidence assessment to determine a confirmed conclusion on potential risks for patients under expected usage of the device. Other devices under the recall notification/field safety notice Other devices that are being tested include DreamStation Go (1% of the registered devices) and SystemOne (26% of the registered devices). These devices each have a different air path design/configuration compared to the first-generation DreamStation devices but contain the same PE-PUR foam. New DreamStation Go and SystemOne devices passed VOC and PM testing based on standards available prior to ISO 18562 i.e., Indoor Air Quality Evaluation (as previously disclosed in the April 25, 2022, update). Further ISO 18562 VOC and PM testing is ongoing. The results of ISO 10993 biocompatibility testing of degraded PE-PUR foam for the first-generation DreamStation devices, which is ongoing, will also apply to DreamStation Go and SystemOne devices. Further devices include Trilogy 100/200 (3% of the registered devices) and OmniLab/A-Series BiPAP (2% of the registered devices). New Trilogy 100/200 passed VOC and PM testing. New OmniLab devices passed VOC and PM testing based on standards available prior to ISO 18562 i.e., Indoor Air Quality Evaluation (as previously disclosed in the April 25, 2022, update). New and used OmniLab devices passed VOC testing based on ISO 18562. Further testing is ongoing. Summary of ongoing tests The first-generation DreamStation, DreamStation Go and SystemOne CPAP/BiPAP devices represent 95% of the registered affected devices globally. Philips Respironics expects to complete the remaining VOC and PM testing for these devices, as well as the degraded foam toxicological risk assessmentsthat Philips retain an independent laboratory to perform additional testing to determine what, if any, potential safety risks may be posed to patients by silicone-based foam. Philips Respironics engaged independent testing laboratories to perform additional VOC testing. Based on the draft reports, Philips Respironics has not identified any safety issues. The assessment is being completed, and the final reports are subject to FDA review, which are expected in the coming months. Guidance for healthcare providers and patients As indicated, this update is intended to provide healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders with updated information on the testing results to date. The overall guidance for healthcare providers and patients in the recall notification/field safety notice * remains unchanged at this time. Philips Respironics remains fully committed to addressing all devices affected by the recall notification/field safety notice* and continues to work with the relevant competent authorities to further optimize the remediation plan. To date, approximately 2.7 million replacement devices and repair kits have been produced. Additional information Further information, including the complete update and FAQs, as well as video messages from Philips CEO Frans van Houten, Chief Business Leader Connected Care Roy Jakobs and Technical Project Manager for the test and research program Jan Bennik, can be found here and here . * Voluntary recall notification in the US/field safety notice for the rest of the world. For media questions, please contact: Steve Klink Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +31 6 10888824 E-mail: steve.klink@philips.com Ben Zwirs Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +31 6 15213446 E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips. Forward-looking statements This statement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips' organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Attachment Positive Results From Follow Up Soil Sampling Program at El Pantano Confirms Previous Work. High Level Gold in Soils Anomaly Over 1km, Plus Pathfinder Elements Over Wider Area, Suggestive of a Major Epithermal System. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or the "Company") (TSXV:OMI)(AIM:OMI), is pleased to announce positive assay results from a follow up soil sampling program at the La Esfinge prospect at El Pantano, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. For the full PDF version of the announcement with Figures 1-5 included, please refer to: http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/3737Q_1-2022-6-27.pdf As announced on May 3rd, 2022, field teams had returned to El Pantano to complete a short infill program designed to add more detail to the positive soil sampling results from the first pass reconnaissance program undertaken in March 2022. 13 additional soil sampling lines were completed across the western section of La Esfinge (Figure 4) and have returned highly anomalous results, with gold in soil results up to 152ppb Au. Figure 1. Gold (Au) in soils These results are highly encouraging in both scale and composition. A geochemical anomaly has now been defined in detailed over a strike length in excess of 1km (Figure 1), but open to both east and west. This anomaly is also evident in a range of additional pathfinder elements, such as would be expected from a substantial epithermal system. This work has now defined a high priority exploration target which will be followed up after the winter recess which is expected to last until early September. El Pantano The El Pantano project ("Project") is subject to an Exploration & Joint Venture agreement ("Agreement") with private Argentinean company DESEADO DORADO S.A.S and its shareholders ("Deseado"). The general terms of the Agreement allow for the Company to earn 100% equity in the Project by investing US$3m over five years in two phases: Phase 1, earn 51% by investing US$1m over an initial 3-year period. Phase 2, move to 100% ownership by investing an additional US$2m over a subsequent 2-year period and granting Deseado a residual 2% net smelter return royalty on the Project. Figure 2. Regional Location Figure 3. Licences Survey This second pass program entailed 13 additional geochemical survey lines at a nominal spacing of 120m, across the western end of the La Esfinge silicified ridge. The program was only small due to approaching winter and was designed to better define the highest coarse scale anomalies that had been previously defined by the first pass survey in March. It was felt that such definition was important so as to gain a better understanding of the potential of the prospect and allow for follow up work to be planned over the winter break. The same sampling techniques were employed as per the earlier work in March. Figure 4. Line plans, phases 1 and 2 The results of the program were extremely positive, with the broad anomalous responses at the western end of La Esfinge being confirmed, and much better defined. While anomalous gold results are important, of equal importance is the response from a range of pathfinder elements which are generally more mobile. Multielement geochemical analysis of the soil samples has confirmed good correlation between gold, and anomalous responses from a suite of other elements such as Ag, As, Bi, Cu, In, and Bi (Figure 5), that are suggestive as being derived from an epithermal system. Work at El Pantano has now ceased for the winter recess, which in general would be expected to last until early September. After this, the Company plans follow up work, which could include additional geochemical analysis over a wider area, ground magnetics, mapping, which if positive, could lead to a drilling campaign in the medium term. Figure 5. Plans, path finder elements. Orosur CEO Brad George commented: "It is early days at El Pantano, but it is highly encouraging to obtain such positive results from what is essentially an untouched grass roots project. We look forward to returning after the winter, but work so far has supported our strategy of carefully selecting attractive earlier stage projects on the best possible terms." For further information visit www.orosur.ca, follow on twitter @orosurm or contact: Orosur Mining Inc Louis Castro, Chairman, Brad George, CEO info@orosur.ca Tel: +1 (778) 373-0100 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Joint Broker Jeff Keating / Caroline Rowe Tel: +44 (0) 20 3 470 0470 Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker Andy Thacker James Pope Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050 Flagstaff Strategic and Investor Communications Tim Thompson Mark Edwards Fergus Mellon Tel: +44 (0) 207 129 1474 orosur@flagstaffcomms.com The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ('RIS'), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. About Orosur Mining Inc. Orosur Mining Inc. (TSX-V: OMI; AIM: OMI) is a minerals explorer and developer focused on identifying and advancing projects in South America. The Company currently operates in Colombia, Argentina and Brazil. Qualified Persons Statement The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Mr. Brad George, BSc hons (Geology and Geophysics), MBA, Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG), CEO of Orosur Mining Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Orosur Mining staff follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures to ensure that sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. Forward Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the exploration plans in Colombia and the funding from Monte Aguila of those plans, Monte Aguila's decision to continue with the Exploration and Option agreement, the ability for Loryser to continue and finalize with the remediation in Uruguay, the ability to implement the Creditors' Agreement successfully as well as continuation of the business of the Company as a going concern and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. The Company's continuance as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain adequate financing, to reach profitable levels of operations and to reach a satisfactory implementation of the Creditor's Agreement in Uruguay. These material uncertainties may cast significant doubt upon the Company's ability to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business and accordingly the appropriateness of the use of accounting principles applicable to a going concern. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including, but not limited, those as described in Section "Risks Factors" of the MDA and the Annual Information Form. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Orosur Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706714/Orosur-Mining-Inc-Announces-El-Pantano-Argentina-Update WALLIX and Axians France have entered into a two-year partnership after a year of collaboration on large-scale projects to secure access and digital identities for companies in the airport, nuclear, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors, among others. and have entered into a two-year partnership after a year of collaboration on large-scale projects to secure access and digital identities for companies in the airport, nuclear, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors, among others. This partnership will allow WALLIX to accelerate its development in the industrial sector in France. From now on, joint projects will multiply to meet the cybersecurity challenges of the sector. to accelerate its development in the industrial sector in France. From now on, joint projects will multiply to meet the cybersecurity challenges of the sector. WALLIX and Axians share the conviction that cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation of companies, especially those in the industrial sector, which is particularly critical, to ensure business continuity, resilience to cyberattacks, and compliance with regulatory requirements in terms of data protection. Paris, 28 June 2022 - WALLIX, (Euronext ALLIX) a European cybersecurity software publisher and expert in access and identity solutions, and Axians France (VINCI Energies) have signed a two-year partnership agreement. Axians is now part of the Business Partner Program, WALLIX's distribution network, alongside its 300 international partners (distributors, reseller-integrators, global integrators or GSIs, and consulting firms). Axians has initially certified 12 members of the team in charge of joint projects in the WALLIX PAM4ALL unified solution. With offices throughout France, Axians supports the digital transformation of companies, particularly those in the industrial sector. Axians also works with Actemium, a VINCI Energies brand dedicated to industrial processes, which aims to improve the industrial performance and competitive advantage of its customers. This partnership will enable WALLIX to accelerate its development in the industrial sector in France as industrial organizations accelerate their digital transformation with the aim of meeting the challenges of competitiveness, sustainable development, and traceability with regard to consumers and global regulations. The industry is using IT technologies - Internet of Things, cloud services, Big Data Analytics, blockchain, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity - to optimize production costs, energy consumption, and maintenance operations, but also to drastically reduce its carbon footprint. "Working with Axians means being able to rely on a double expertise in IT and OT, thus providing a solid technological response that is perfectly adapted to the business uses. This response will be relayed as close as possible to our common customers through the proximity on the ground that characterizes VINCI Energies companies. In the long term, thanks to the global presence of Axians and WALLIX, we will be able to cover the cybersecurity needs of manufacturers with production sites all over the world," explains Yoann Delomier, OT Team Leader at WALLIX. "To create constructive synergies, it is essential for Axians to share our development ambitions with a local team and a trusted partner such as WALLIX, whose solutions have been recognized by the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI), . Thanks to this ambitious partnership, we want to offer solutions that allow VINCI Energies companies (Axians and Actemium) to guarantee their customers a cybersecurity approach that reassures them about both the tools selected and the methodology used. We will also offer a single point of contact for OT/IT convergence to best support our customers in their digital transformation," adds Pascal Girard, Business Development Manager, Industrial Cybersecurity & IIOT at Axians. ABOUT WALLIX A software company providing cybersecurity solutions, WALLIX is the European specialist in digital Identity and Access Security Solutions. WALLIX PAM4ALL, the unified privilege management solution, enables companies to respond to today's data protection challenges. It guarantees detection of and resilience to cyberattacks, which enables business continuity. The solution also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements regarding access to IT infrastructures and critical data. WALLIX PAM4ALL is distributed through a network of more than 300 resellers and integrators worldwide. Listed on the Euronext (ALLIX), WALLIX supports more than 1900 organizations in securing their digital transformation. WALLIX is a founding member of the HEXATRUST group and has been included in the Futur40, the first ranking of growth companies on the stock exchange published by Forbes France and is part of the Tech 40 index. WALLIX affirms its digital responsibility and is committed to contributing to the construction of a trusted European digital space, guaranteeing the security and confidentiality of data for organizations as well as for individuals concerned about the protection of their digital identity and privacy. Digital technology, whether for professional or personal use, must be ethical and responsible in order to pursue a secure societal digital transformation that respects individual freedoms. www.wallix.com | info@wallix.com ABOUT AXIANS Axians supports its customers - private companies, public sector, operators, and service providers - in the evolution of their infrastructures and digital solutions. To do this, Axians masters all information and communication technologies: application solutions and data analytics, corporate networks and digital workspaces, datacenters and clouds, telecom infrastructures, and cybersecurity. Through its consulting, design, integration, and services activities, Axians develops customized solutions to transform technology into added value. Axians: 12,500 employees in 27 countries and 2.7 billion in revenues by 2021, of which 100 million in industry. Axians is a VINCI Energies brand. www.axians.fr PRESS CONTACT AxiCom UK Jenny Gallacher wallixuk@axicom.com COMMUNICATION CONTACT Axians France Erwan TOULLEC erwan.toullec@axians.com FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION ACTUS Finance & Communication Investors Relations - Helene DE WATTEVILLE +33 1 53 67 36 33 / wallix@actus.fr Press Relations - Deborah SCHWARTZ +33 6 27 09 05 73 / dschwartz@actus.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: yW1pk5pmYmmcy3JtY5ZlmWSWaWdnk2DJlmSXl2Jqa8eVaGxpyWppnJrHZnBmlmlo - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-75142-20220628_axians_eng_final.pdf The project will be rolled out globally after a pilot phase in Europe across Pernod Ricard's strategic international brands Regulatory News: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005826/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Press Release 28 June, 2022 Continuing its efforts as a proactive player in the industry, Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI) today announces the launch of a digital label system to better inform consumers about the products they purchase as well as responsible drinking. This initiative aims to offer consumers an efficient solution to their desire for more transparency on product content and health information. A European pilot program will be launched in July 2022, before being rolled out globally across all brands in the Group's portfolio by 2024. In 2021, to support the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking's commitments, Pernod Ricard announced the addition of two warning pictograms on its packaging against underage drinking and drink driving, complementing its pre-existing warning logo against drinking when pregnant. Now the Group has gone a step further in terms of product and health information. Every bottle of Pernod Ricard's brands will soon carry its own QR code on its back label. Once scanned with a smartphone it will redirect the consumers directly to a platform where they will be able to access, on one unique place, relevant information for each product: The list of ingredients and full nutrition facts that Pernod Ricard will be providing together with the European wine and spirits associations, - Information about the health risks associated with the consumption of alcohol, and where to find relevant information in their country, - Responsible drinking guidelines issued by their country's government authorities,including information about standard drinks and who should not drink alcohol, as well as a link to a consumer information website. All the available content will be adapted to local specificities, in particular local drinking guidelines that vary from one country to another, and will be displayed in the local language. Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard: "As a consumer-centric company committed to responsible drinking, this new digital label system strives to respond to our customers' evolving needs. Now more than ever, consumers want to know what is in their drinks Thanks to digital technology, this information can now be accessed easily. I am proud that Pernod Ricard continues to be an industry pioneer in spearheading such a proactive initiative About Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales amounting to 8,824 million in FY21. The Group, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive portfolios in the industry with over 240 premium brands distributed across more than 160 markets. Pernod Ricard's portfolio includes Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Campo Viejo, Mumm Sparkling and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term and sustainable growth for all its stakeholders, remaining true to its founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and strong sense of ethics. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 18,500 employees to be on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite". Pernod Ricard 2030 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap "Good Times from a Good Place" is integrated into all its activities from grain to glass, and Pernod Ricard is recognised as a UN Global Compact LEAD participant. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005826/en/ Contacts: Emmanuel Vouin Head of External Engagement +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 34 News summary: Tele2 Estonia wanted to reduce repair times and prevent network outages Deploying ADVA's compact, cost-effective ALM assurance solution provides full fiber network visibility Technology enables Tele2 Estonia to rapidly repair fiber breaks and offer enhanced SLAs ADVA (FSE: ADV) today announced that Tele2 Estonia has deployed the ADVA ALM fiber monitoring solution for real-time assurance across its national network. The compact, plug-and-play device boosts operational efficiency and service availability. This helps Tele2 Estonia to improve customer experience and offer enhanced SLAs. Managed by the Ensemble Controller network management system with Ensemble Fiber Director, the solution gives Tele2 Estonia's field forces full control over their optical infrastructure. With its simple graphical overlay, the ADVA ALM precisely pinpoints the location of fiber impairments, enabling proactive maintenance, reducing repair times and preventing network outages. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005471/en/ ADVA's ALM is helping Tele2 Estonia to eliminate downtime and ensure services stay online. (Photo: Business Wire) "With the ADVA ALM, we can offer even more value to our customers. Needing no calibration, it easily plugged into our infrastructure to instantly provide detailed info on any fiber event. Having the ability to rapidly respond to network issues and take immediate targeted action helps us ensure zero downtime and uninterrupted connectivity," said Asse Hang, head of international sales at Tele2 Estonia. "This deployment is also central to our role as a sustainability leader. As the first communication service provider (CSP) in the Baltic region to have achieved climate neutral operations, we're dedicated to reducing environmental impact in every aspect of our business. The ADVA ALM fiber monitoring solution enables us to dramatically decrease truck rolls, helping to further cut our carbon footprint". The ADVA ALM is a low-power, service-agnostic solution that offers total fiber infrastructure visibility. Requiring no active equipment at the user site, it's now delivering comprehensive insight into the integrity and performance of Tele2 Estonia's fiber infrastructure. The Ensemble Fiber Director provides a GIS-based, real-time graphical user interface that proactively notifies the CSP's field forces of any fiber anomaly, enabling them to take countermeasures before problems develop and services are affected. With complete control, Tele2 Estonia is now significantly improving robustness and efficiency across its nationwide network, which is built on the ADVA FSP 3000. "Tele2 Estonia is a CSP committed to adding value for its customers. Now it's harnessing our ALM as part of its mission to eradicate network downtime. With round-the-clock fiber monitoring, Tele2 Estonia can initiate instant troubleshooting, helping to avoid service disruption and empowering it to offer more valuable SLAs," commented Hartmut Muller-Leitloff, SVP of sales, EMEA at ADVA. "Uniquely compact and affordable, there really is no other fiber assurance technology on the market that delivers as much with such little investment. Our ALM is the easiest way to guarantee superior network performance, save time and money, and help tackle environmental impact." About ADVA ADVA is a company founded on innovation and focused on helping our customers succeed. Our technology forms the building blocks of a shared digital future and empowers networks across the globe. We're continually developing breakthrough hardware and software that leads the networking industry and creates new business opportunities. It's these open connectivity solutions that enable our customers to deliver the cloud and mobile services that are vital to today's society and for imagining new tomorrows. Together, we're building a truly connected and sustainable future. For more information on how we can help you, please visit us at www.adva.com. Published by: ADVA Optical Networking SE, Munich, Germany www.adva.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005471/en/ Contacts: For press: Gareth Spence t +44 1904 699 358 public-relations@adva.com For investors: Stephan Rettenberger t +49 89 890 665 854 investor-relations@adva.com Plural, a new investment platform started by the founders and backers of Europe's most significant tech companies, has unveiled today a 250m early stage venture fund (Plural Platform SCSp RAIF, "Plural") to back the next generation of founders with global ambitions. Set up by Ian Hogarth, Khaled Heloui, Sten Tamkivi and Taavet Hinrikus with other recognised founders who will announce themselves soon Plural is a scalable investment platform whose investors are exclusively former founders and operators with decades of company building experience. Plural was founded because the Plural founders saw that across Europe the vast majority of investors lacked experience of building tech businesses. In Europe just 8% of investors are former operators, in contrast to more than half of tech investors in the US. Plural's founders believe that the scar tissue from building tech companies is invaluable in helping the next generation of founders to build companies with global potential. Plural's intention is to be a more hands-on investor, with a focus on leading early stage rounds between 1 and 10m. The Investment Manager's investment committee have commented as follows: Taavet Hinrikus, co-founder of Wise, said: "We're the investors we would have liked to have when we were building our own companies. Founding a company is a craft and the best way to learn that craft is to work alongside those who have done it before." Ian Hogarth said: 'We call experienced founders 'unemployables', because once you've experienced the intense authorship that comes with creating something new it's hard to work for anyone again. Plural was created to give unemployables a place to call home and put their entrepreneurial energy behind missions and founders they deeply believe in." Khaled Helioui said: "So much opportunity is left untapped today as exceptional founders often fail to meet standard investors' pattern recognition criteria. Sadly investors lack the risk appetite needed to fulfill founders' ambitions and consequently the full impact founders seek can not be realised. By changing the funding mechanisms that act as conservative gatekeepers today we can unlock so much potential." Sten Tamkivi said: "We are huge optimists for the potential of technology coming from Europe which can benefit the whole world, as well as improve the lives of people across the continent. We've already seen the real impact a well-funded startup scene can have on economies in small countries like Estonia now it is time to scale this GDP level impact across the whole of Europe." Between them Taavet, Sten, Ian and Khaled have founded four startups Wise, Songkick, Teleport and Certific and played a significant role in building three companies, including Skype, Bigpoint and Topia. All four operators turned investors have also been angel investing for years, with significant success. Companies in their portfolio include Deliveroo, Hopin, Pipedrive, Chorus, Uber, Zego and Bolt. As Plural, they have already invested in 14 companies including Feather, NFTport an NFT infrastructure company, energy storage company Field, metaverse company Ready Player Me and student banking challenger MOS. About Plural Set up by founders for founders, Plural is a 250m investment platform which is investing early stage venture capital in exceptional European tech companies. Its investors with scar tissue support founders to build tech companies that can make a GDP impact. https://pluralplatform.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005148/en/ Contacts: Antonella@Burlington.cc 07530815018 "An unmissable event for insurance senior management keen to discuss the concept of tomorrow's insurance." Earnix, a global provider of real-time AI-driven rating, dynamic pricing, product personalisation, and fully operationalised telematics solutions for Insurance and Banking, will join insurance industry leaders on June 30th, as they gather at Le Grand Forum D'Assurance ("The Great Insurance Forum") at L'Orangerie d'Auteuil, Paris. Sammy Krikler, Founder and Chief Insurance Officer, Earnix, will address the conference at 11.30 a.m. CET on the topic of: "How real-time pricing is creating new possibilities in insurance." His presentation will outline the value of intelligent insurance operations. It will include insights on informed decision-making at all levels of the organisation by operationalising advanced analytics; and how to launch products rapidly with precise measurement, and with proactive engagements that deliver highly contextual, relevant, and strategic offers. "We are delighted to be an official partner of this prestigious event which brings together top players and influencers in the insurance industry," says Adrian Coupland, recently appointed Head of Sales, Insurance, EMEA, for Earnix. "For its 18th year, the event has been entirely remodeled, reflecting the seismic changes that this historical traditional industry is undergoing. We look forward to engaging with our peers to discuss the current and future shape of the industry, which is one of the oldest in the world and which really lies at the heart of humanity as a whole," he added. Le Grand Forum D'Assurance offers a day of prospective reflection on the future of insurance, and a unique opportunity to discover the vision of leaders on the challenges of the sector including transformation of business models and the evolution of traditional markets and new markets. About Earnix Earnix is the premier provider of mission-critical solutions that are composable and intelligent and are designed to transform how global insurers and banks are run. Its solutions unlock value across all facets of the business, breaking away from the status quo imposed by legacy monolithic, inefficient systems. Earnix's solutions offer systemised, enterprise-wide value with ultra-fast ROI. It has been innovating for Insurers and Banks since 2001 with offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Israel. For more information please visit: earnix.com. Connect with Earnix via Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Read the Earnix Blog. Event Details: Vist Earnix at L'Orangerie d'Auteuil, Paris, 2 Bd d'Auteuil, 75016 Paris From: 0830 hrs 1700 hrs Metro ligne 10; Porte d'Auteuil View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005422/en/ Contacts: Jena Murphy pr@earnix.com Elanders will issue its Quarterly Report for the second quarter 2022 on Tuesday July 12 at 07:30 CET, followed by a conference call at 09:30 CET, hosted by President and CEO Magnus Nilsson and CFO Andreas Wikner. We invite fund managers, analysts and the media to participate in the conference call. Please see below details to join the conference. To join this event, please use the below Click to Join link 5-10 minutes prior to start time, where you will be asked to enter your phone number and registration details. Our Event Conferencing system will call you on the phone number you provide and place you into the event. Please note that the Click To Join link will be active 15 minutes prior to the event. CLICK TO JOIN Use the Click to Join option above for the easiest way to join your conference or use one of the access numbers below: Sweden: +46 (0)8 5664 2754 Germany: +49 (0)69 22222 5195 UK: +44 (0)330 165 3641 USA: +1 646-828-8082 Participant Passcode: 767304 Agenda 09:20 Conference number is opened 09:30 Presentation of quarterly results 09:50 Q&A 10:30 End of the conference During the conference call a presentation will be held. To access the presentation, please use this link: https://www.elanders.com/presentations For further questions, please contact Magnus Nilsson, President and CEO, telephone: +46 31 750 07 50 Andreas Wikner, CFO, telephone: +46 31 750 07 50 Attachment Multinational telco will use Unacast Turbine Platform-as-a-Service to power insights NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Unacast , a global location data and analytics firm, today announced a partnership with London-based BT Group, one of the largest multinational telecommunications firms. Through the partnership with Unacast, BT seeks to set a new gold standard for human mobility insights in the United Kingdom. BT Group needed a way to move faster to market with multiple data insights offerings for industries ranging from retail to transportation, urban development, tourism, banking and finance, and disease control. BT Group chose Unacast for the company's proven track record of delivering high-quality human mobility insights. The company will use the cloud-native Unacast Turbine Platform-as-a-Service to transform raw mobile network data into high-quality, privacy friendly aggregated location intelligence. These clean, filtered insights can be used to make better strategic decisions on a global scale. Learn more about some of the insights derived from BT Group's data in this blog. Chris Withers, director of data and artificial intelligence, BT Group, said: "BT Group has for some time been using aggregated and anonymized mobile data to uncover mobility insights in the UK and has seen healthy industry growth in the last few years. We are now looking toward significant growth in this area. To achieve this, BT has chosen to partner with Unacast because of the company's proven track record in Europe, operating under GDPR, and for its transparent and result-oriented culture. We look forward to becoming the market leader within data monetization for the UK market, and our partnership with Unacast is essential to that growth strategy." Andreas H.F. Olsen, vice president of platform operations, Unacast, said: "At Unacast, we've invested heavily in designing a platform to help telecommunications companies succeed with data processing and monetization. BT Group's strong presence and market share in the UK, coupled with unmatched data processing capabilities and reliability from Unacast, will lead to a successful partnership." About Unacast Unacast is a global location data and analytics company that provides the most accurate understanding of human activity in the physical world for consultancies, software analytics firms, and multinational organizations. The Data-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service offerings provide customers with clean, filtered insights to make better strategic decisions on a global scale when it comes to competitive analysis, site selection and demand forecasting. Visit us online at www.unacast.com. About BT BT Group is the UK's leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions and services. We also provide managed telecommunications, security and network and IT infrastructure services to customers across 180 countries. BT Group consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer serves individuals and families in the UK; Enterprise and Global are our UK and international business-focused units respectively; Openreach is an independently governed, wholly owned subsidiary, which wholesales fixed access infrastructure services to its customers - over 650 communication providers across the UK. British Telecommunications plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.bt.com/about Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1740858/Acct_2434697_Unacast_logo_Logo.jpg Kenji Yamaguchi appointed as IFR's new Vice President The Executive Board of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has elected Marina Bill of ABB as its new President. Kenji Yamaguchi of FANUC appointed as IFR's new Vice President. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005570/en/ The new IFR President Marina Bill and her predecessor Milton Guerry. (Photo: Business Wire) "I am honored to head the IFR as President and serve our industry and I thank the members of the IFR for their trust and support," said Marina Bill. "The unprecedented pace of change we're experiencing in global business provides a historic opportunity to shape industry for the next generation. Robotics and automation create flexible, sustainable and efficient solutions for businesses of all sizes that minimize cost, promote resilience and benefit society." Bill thanked her predecessor for his work: "Milton Guerry took office at the starting point of the COVID-19 pandemic and served the industry dealing with a great number of challenges. He worked relentlessly as our ambassador and I am proud to continue this mission together with our new Vice President, Kenji Yamaguchi." Marina Bill heads Global Marketing Sales for ABB's Robotics business which has approximately 11,000 employees, operating in over 100 locations in 53 countries. She has over 25 years of experience in a number of management and sales and marketing roles across automation at ABB. The Swedish and Swiss national holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Kenji Yamaguchi has been serving as Representative Director, President and CEO of FANUC CORPORATION since April, 2019. After joining the company in April, 1993, he started his career with research and development of industrial robots, and has contributed to the development of several successful models. His main past responsibilities include heading the Production Engineering Department and Production Division, along with the CNC Business Division. He completed the master's course at the Department of Precision Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo in March 1993. Download Pictures are ready for download at: https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/ About IFR The International Federation of Robotics is the voice of the global robotics industry. IFR represents national robot associations, academia, and manufacturers of industrial and service robots from over twenty countries: www.ifr.org Follow IFR on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005570/en/ Contacts: Press contact International Federation of Robotics Carsten Heer phone +49 (0) 40 822 44 284 E-Mail: press@ifr.org Confo Therapeutics announced today that it has been awarded a EUR 1.7 million grant from Flanders Innovation Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). The award further validates and supports Confo's leadership in the discovery of novel GPCR (G protein-coupled receptor) drug candidates using its proprietary universal ConfoBody technology, specifically for the purpose of developing needed new treatments for orphan and rare diseases. As an example, the company intends to address an important target for neurological orphan conditions which is currently considered to be an undruggable GPCR. "If successful, the research pursued under the aegis of this VLAIO grant will allow us to unlock new potential treatments for unmet disease areas and to simultaneously pursue new technology developments. This will ultimately shorten our drug discovery timelines, allowing us to access relevant GPCR conformations faster while dramatically increasing our screening efficiency," said Christel Menet, CSO of Confo Therapeutics. A ConfoBody is a single-domain VHH antibody that binds to and stabilizes a GPCR in its therapeutically relevant conformation1. ConfoBodies therefore enable superior and more efficient drug discovery for dynamic membrane proteins in their natural environment and state. The grant will enable the company to further extend its current universal ConfoBody, Cb35, toward other G proteins. The funds will also be used to identify additional universal ConfoBodies for use in the company's ConfoSensor screening technology, which enables the identification of smaller, difficult to detect chemical starting points in GPCR drug discovery and development. Cedric Ververken, CEO of Confo Therapeutics, added: "We are grateful to once again be the recipient of a VLAIO grant, a valuable recognition by the Flemish government of our position as an innovative leader in the GPCR space and a key member of the biotech cluster in Flanders. As we await data from our ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial with our lead neuropathic pain program, CFTX-1554, VLAIO's support will allow us to continue investigating the broad utility of our ConfoSensor technology and expand our proprietary pipeline for rare disease indications." About Confo Therapeutics Confo Therapeutics' unparalleled technology stabilizes functional conformations of GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors) to uncover a wide range of previously inaccessible drug targets. This platform, combined with the pharmacologic and biologic insight it provides, allows Confo to build a multi-indication pipeline of drug candidates with the vision of transforming therapeutic outcomes for patients with severe illnesses lacking disease-modifying treatments. Confo Therapeutics was spun out of VIB-VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) in 2015. Supported by international life-science focused investors and led by an experienced team of entrepreneurial professionals and scientists from successful biopharmaceutical companies, Confo Therapeutics benefits from the rich scientific and innovative ecosystem in Belgium. For more information, visit www.confotherapeutics.com 1 The company recently published an overview on ConfoBodies in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005115/en/ Contacts: Confo Therapeutics Dr. Cedric Ververken, CEO +32 (0) 9 396 74 00 info@confotherapeutics.com Trophic Communications Valeria Fisher or Desmond James +49 175 8041816 or +49 1516 7859086 confo@trophic.eu Continued increase in citation impact for journals publishing COVID-19 research LONDON, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today released the 2022 update to its annual Journal Citation Reports (JCR). The annual JCR release enables the research community to evaluate the world's high-quality academic journals using a range of indicators, descriptive data and visualizations. The reports are used extensively by academic publishers across the globe to understand the scholarly impact of their journals relative to their field and promote them to the research community. The JCR is based on 2021 data compiled from the Web of Science Core Collection, the leading collection of quality journals, books and conference proceedings in the world's largest publisher-neutral global citation database. Publications are evaluated by a global team of in-house editors at Clarivate using rigorous selection criteria. The data from selected content are then carefully curated to ensure accuracy in the JCR metrics, together with a wide body of descriptive data. These insights enable researchers, publishers, editors, librarians and funders to explore the key drivers of a journal's value for diverse audiences. COVID-19 continues to influence every aspect of scholarly publishing, just as it has affected every aspect of society Dr Nandita Quaderi, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President Editorial, Web of Science said: "Through the carefully selected and curated data within the Journal Citation Reports, we can fully appreciate and understand the enormous impact of the academic community's rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "As researchers explored the origins, spread and ramifications of the virus, working at speed to create new therapies and vaccines, we see this reflected in the trusted insights contained in the annual JCR. The effects of this pandemic will continue to be seen in the literature and citation impact for decades, particularly under the lens of the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Health and Wellbeing. We are proud to support the research community and the UN SDGs with expertly curated data that informs decisions and helps them accelerate the pace of innovation." This year's release sees continued notable increases in citation impact for journals in the fields of general medicine, critical care, public health, infectious diseases, immunology and basic biomedical sciences This year The Lancet 's Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of 202.731 has moved it to the #1 position in the general & internal medicine category, overtaking the New England Journal of Medicine, which has been the top-ranked title in that category since the first release of the JCR 45 years ago. Of the 10 articles with the highest citation count in 2021, three appeared in The Lancet . All three are directly related to the characterization and treatment of COVID-19. 's Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of 202.731 has moved it to the #1 position in the general & internal medicine category, overtaking the which has been the top-ranked title in that category since the first release of the JCR 45 years ago. Of the 10 articles with the highest citation count in 2021, three appeared in . All three are directly related to the characterization and treatment of COVID-19. This year Nature earns the distinction of being the first ever journal to accumulate more than one million total citations in one year. Nature published 16 items with over 500 JIF citations - of which 12 items were COVID-19 related. earns the distinction of being the first ever journal to accumulate more than one million total citations in one year. published 16 items with over 500 JIF citations - of which 12 items were COVID-19 related. Seven journals had JIFs of more than 100 for the first time, all of which published high quantities of COVID-19 related research. These are the Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, Nature Reviews Immunology, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology and the New England Journal of Medicine. Upholding research integrity and a new type of citation distortion To support objectivity in journal selection and the integrity of the reports, Clarivate has suppressed three journals from the JCR (without presumption or accusation of wrong doing), representing 0.01% of the journals listed. Clarivate monitors and excludes journals that demonstrate anomalous citation behavior including where there is evidence of excessive journal self-citation and/or citation stacking. The methodology and parameters for the effect of journal self-citation on JCR metrics were updated in 2020 to better account for discipline norms. The suppression of a journal from the JCR does not equate to a de-listing from the Web of Science Core Collection. In addition, this year the editorial integrity team at Clarivate identified a new type of anomalous citation behavior: self stacking. This is where the journal contains one or more documents with citations that are highly concentrated to the JIF numerator of the title itself. This is the first year we have formally defined the criteria for self-stacking suppression, and as such we have made the decision to issue a warning to six journals rather than suppress the journal's JIF. Going forward, continued journal self-stacking will result in suppression of JIF. Clarivate continuously reviews content with the goal of developing additional screening for distortions of the JIF. Key facts from the 2021 data: The Journal Citation Reports contains more than 21,000 journals, from 254 research categories and 114 countries. This includes: 12,800 science journals 6,600 social science journals 3,000 arts and humanities journals Almost 13,000 journals have at least one gold open access publication More than 5,300 journals publish all of their content via open access 192 journals received a Journal Impact Factor for the first time Each journal profile in the JCR provides a rich array of journal intelligence metrics and allows users to filter by category and rank. These include: The Journal Citation Indicator, which represents the average category-normalized citation impact for papers published in the prior three-year period. All journals in the JCR are eligible to receive this metric as of 2021; The Immediacy Index, which measures how frequently the journal's content is cited within the same year as publication; The journal's rank in category, determined by Journal Impact Factor, expressed as a percentile; Cited half-life, which is the median age, in years, of items in the journal that were cited during the JCR year; and The Journal Impact Factor, which is given to journals in SCIE and SSCI, and which scales the citations received to recent content by a measure of the size of the journal's scholarly output. In addition, the Journal Citation Reports include descriptive data such as open access content, top contributing institutions and regions. For a more detailed explanation of this year's release, please see our blog. Visit the Journal Citation Reports website to explore all available data, metrics and analysis. You can find more information including our suppression policy in the Journal Citation Reports Reference Guide. Follow us on Twitter via @ClarivateAG JCR2022. About Clarivate Clarivate is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the pace of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of Academia & Government, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Professional Services and Consumer Goods, Manufacturing & Technology. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit clarivate.com. Media Contact Amy Bourke-Waite External Communications Director (Academia and Government) newsroom@clarivate.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159266/Clarivate_Logo.jpg TORONTO, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toubani Resources, Inc. (formerly African Gold Group, Inc.) (TSX-V: TRE, FRA: 3A61) ("Toubani Resources" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that in line with its corporate strategy and shareholders' approval, the Company completed its change of name to "Toubani Resources Inc." on June 15, 2022. Common shares of the Company began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new trading symbol "TRE" at the opening of trading on June 15, 2022. The Company has changed its name to better reflect its strategic focus on the development of the Kobada Project in Southern Mali and its decision to dual list on the Australian Stock Exchange. The name change to "Toubani Resources Inc." and the related rebranding exercise will provide an opportunity to position the Company anew with all stakeholders as a growing and prospective gold company. Toubani Resources Highlights: A robust multi-million-ounce gold resource base with significant expansion potential Total proven and probable mineral reserve of 1,252,522 ounces of gold Total measured and indicated mineral resource of 1,711,000 ounces of gold Total mineral resource (including inferred resource) of 3,144,000 ounces of gold Over 50 km of new potential shear zones identified on Kobada and Kobada Est concessions Over 5,500 hectares of prospective mineral trends within trucking distance yet to be explored Recently published definitive feasibility study outlines robust economics of the Project 3 Mtpa operation producing 1.2 Moz of gold over a 16-year Life-of-Mine (" LOM ") Average annual gold production of 100,000 oz over the first 10 years Pre-tax NPV5% of US$506 million with an IRR of 45% Toubani Resource's President and CEO, Mr. Danny Callow, stated: "We are pleased to complete the first step in our strategic expansion by re-branding and enhancing our marketing strategy with the change of the corporate identity to Toubani Resources Inc., combined with our new trading symbol 'TRE' and corporate logo." "The name change to Toubani Resources Inc reflects the name of a popular bird in the region, in the local Malinke language. The name change reflects the company spreading its wings, the near-term resource growth potential of the Company and better reflects our local heritage, our strong relationship within the local communities in which we operate and our progress in the development of our flagship Kobada Project. The Company is poised for transformational growth with the advancement of continued exploration of the Kobada Project over the coming year which we believe gives us the potential for further resource growth increases and build on the highly successful drilling campaigns since late 2019. Over the last 2 years our team has been successful in expanding the resource base at Kobada with a 144% increase in reserves and 44% increase in measured and indicated resource categories." The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Mr. Uwe Engelmann (BSc (Zoo. & Bot.), BSc Hons (Geol.), Pr.Sci.Nat. No. 400058/08, MGSSA), a director of Minxcon (Pty) Ltd and a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. About Toubani Resources Inc Toubani Resources is a TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: TRE) listed exploration and development company with a focus on building Africa's next mid-tier gold producer. The Company has a highly experienced board and management team with a proven track record in the African mining sector operating mines from development through to production. Toubani Resource's principal asset is the Kobada Project in southern Mali, which is in an advanced stage of development having completed the 2021 definitive feasibility study and is targeting gold production of 100,000 oz per annum. As well as the initial Kobada Gold Project, other exploration locations have been identified on the Kobada, Farada and Kobada Est concessions, offering the potential for an increase in resource. For more information regarding Toubani Resources visit our website at www.toubaniresources.com. For more information: Danny Callow President and Chief Executive Officer +(27) 76 411 3803 Danny.Callow@toubaniresources.com Daniyal Baizak Vice President, Corporate Development +1 (647) 835 9617 Dbaizak@toubaniresources.com Cautionary statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, the expansion of mineral resources and reserves, and drilling and exploration plans of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals from Canadian and Australian regulatory authorities; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; available infrastructure and supplies; the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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. London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, Better Diversification Ltd is an emerging wealth management company that uses algorithmic trading to help users. The company recognizes the potential of algorithmic trading and the fact that it is an emerging industry. One thing to note is that algorithmic trading doesn't guarantee profits because the setup and analysis must be carefully considered. With keeping the same in mind, the company has come up with a strategy that includes the use of algorithmic trading, dealing in all major asset classes, and proper risk management techniques. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/128837_541a390be4f60888_001full.jpg The company uses historical backtests to gauge the performance of trading strategies. It then doubles down on this result by taking into account risk management techniques and a professional approach to investments. It will also use computer-generated trade scripts. However, the company's primary goal revolves around passive income and the concept of diversifying investments. The company is pretty transparent regarding risk management and will inform investors about performance and the risks of trading. It will also be more focused on providing value to investors. Better Diversification Ltd has already successfully launched several trading strategies with a high level of efficiency and profitability. The company has yielded investment through many promising avenues. It is also important to note that the company is determined to prove the viability of algorithmic trading, and wants to give investors a better model through which they can benefit from their investments. Media Contact: Company name: Better Diversification Ltd. Contact name: Vincent JAFFRENNOU Company address: 128, City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, UNITED KINGDOM Website URL: http://better-diversification.com/ Phone: +33627119059 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128837 This strategic alliance formed by UbiPharm and Imperial, both significant logistics and distribution players in the healthcare industry in Africa, will provide complementary continental route-to-market solutions to healthcare principals and clients, leveraging best-in-class operations and commercial services. While UbiPharm and Imperial will each maintain their individual business autonomies, the strategic alliance will drive better access to medicines, vaccines and other healthcare products for patients and consumers across 40 African countries, representing one of the most expansive networks for healthcare distribution on the continent. All the activities essential to the availability of medicines including manufacturing, regulatory, promotion and distribution will be readily available to healthcare principals through this network. "This strategic alliance with UbiPharm is in line with this ambition and our 'Gateway to Africa' strategy, which is also focused on expanding our geographic footprint and reach on the African continent, including in Francophone and Lusophone African countries. A Pan-African solution such as this one bodes well for our principals, clients and customers and, more importantly, enhances healthcare through increased patient access to vital medicines that are critical for sustainable development of the African continent," says Mohammed Akoojee, Group CEO of Imperial The alliance between UbiPharm and Imperial also aims to meet the growing demand from the healthcare industry for a global, secure and efficient continental solution in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone Africa countries, in compliance with Good Distribution Practices. Gerard Mangoua, Group CEO of UbiPharm, adds "UbiPharm is a socially responsible company that, for 30 years, has pursued the same mission: to promote access to health solutions in the regions where we operate. Our alliance withImperial is aligned with our strategy, which is to continuously innovate to meet the changing needs of populations. This alliance will make it possible to strengthen access to health solutions on the African continent". The synergies provided through this strategic alliance present Imperial and UbiPharm's combined client base with a unique and unprecedented offering in terms of development, consolidation and access to new markets and territories. For more information about UbiPharm, pharmaceutical supply chain expert present in Africa and French Overseas Territories, visit https://www.ubipharm.com/en For more information about Imperial, an African focused provider of integrated market access and logistics solutions, visit www.imperiallogistics.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005628/en/ Contacts: Juliette Vienot juliette.v@oxygen-rp.com KBRA Europe (KBRA) releases a report on current funding methods for battery storage in mainland Europe and the UK, as well as the revenue streams and regulatory environment that underpin the sector's transactions. While there is an emerging opportunity for battery storage to become an important technology in Europe's renewable energy transition, the financial community faces challenges in funding the sector, and there are uncertainties regarding how it can achieve the requisite scale to meet its full potential. The report notes the need for greater collaboration between sponsors developing the batteries, regulators and national policymakers setting renewable targets, and the financing community funding development. This cooperation is necessary for battery storage to be maximally useful amid profound shifts in how Europe and the UK source energy. Key Takeaways: Battery storage is set to come into focus given government requirements to keep up with renewable energy and energy security ambitions, especially given headwinds stemming from the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Funding techniques vary, but most battery storage transactions are funded on a short-term basis, taking into account corporate risk rather than on a pure stand-alone, nonrecourse basis. Regulation has a role in bridging the gap between inherent merchant exposure and long-term lenders' needs for predictable cash flows. Achieving scale for battery storage will likely require a greater diversity of funding including from long-term nonrecourse bank, institutional, and capital market funding. Click here to view the report. Related Publications Demand for Environmentally Friendly European Power Assets Risks Weakening Credit Profiles The Coming Charge: Energy Storage Impacts on Project and Corporate Credit Quality Diminishing Russian Carbon Reliance: Funding the Household Renewable Energy Transition in Europe About KBRA KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered in the U.S., the EU and the UK, and is designated to provide structured finance ratings in Canada. KBRA's ratings can be used by investors for regulatory capital purposes in multiple jurisdictions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005625/en/ Contacts: Gordon Kerr, Head of European Research +44 20 8148 1020 gordon.kerr@kbra.com Karim Nassif, Director, Project Finance Infrastructure +353 1 588 1245 karim.nassif@kbra.com Garret Tynan, European Head Project Finance Infrastructure +353 1 588 1235 garret.tynan@kbra.com Andrew Giudici, Global Head of Corporate, Project, and Infrastructure Finance +1 (646) 731-2372 andrew.giudici@kbra.com Business Development Mauricio Noe, Co-Head of Europe +44 20 8148 1010 mauricio.noe@kbra.com Miten Amin, Managing Director +44 20 8148 1002 miten.amin@kbra.com BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks advanced on Tuesday, with commodity-linked stocks leading the surge after China relaxed its COVID-19 quarantine mandate. The relaxation of the country's 'zero-COVID' policy came after Beijing and Shanghai reported no new local COVID-19 infections for the first time in months. The benchmark FTSE 100 rose 83 points, or 1.2 percent, to 7,341 after climbing 0.7 percent on Monday. Anglo American, Antofagasta and Glencore rallied 1-3 percent as iron ore futures gained on optimism over improved demand from China, the world's second-biggest economy and top metals consumer. Oil & gas firm BP Plc and Shell both jumped around 3 percent after Brent crude prices rose above $116.2 per barrel. Energy services firm Petrofac gained nearly 4 percent. The company said it expects revenue for its Asset Solutions unit to be higher in the second half of the year, supported by strong order intake in the year to date. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Denmark's retail sales declined in May after rising in the previous month, figures from Statistics Denmark showed on Tuesday. Retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 1.1 percent month-on-month in May, after a 1.1 percent growth in April. The latest decline was led by a 1.6 percent fall in sales of food and grocery sales. Sales of other consumables decreased 0.9 percent, while those of clothing and other goods rose by 0.1 percent. On an annual basis, retail sales decreased 7.0 percent in May, after a 1.2 percent growth in the previous month. In March, sales dropped 10.6 percent. For the March to May period, retail sales fell 5.6 percent annually and increased 0.2 percent quarterly. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TORONTO, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or "the Company") (TSX: FM) will release second quarter 2022 financial and operating results on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 after the close of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 9:00 am (EDT). Conference call and webcast details: Toll-free North America: 1-800-319-4610 Toll-free International: +1-604-638-5340 Webcast: www.first-quantum.com (http://www.first-quantum.com) A replay of the webcast will be available on the First Quantum website. For further information, visit our website at www.first-quantum.com (http://www.first-quantum.com) or contact: Bonita To, Director, Investor Relations (416) 361-6400 Toll-free: 1 (888) 688-6577 E-Mail: info@fqml.com (mailto:info@fqml.com) Extensions to Gold-Silver discovery and VMS system at C2A-East LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM)(OTCQB:MRRDF), ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an extensive exploration update within the 11km long Cabacal Mine Corridor. Results from recently completed IP surveys have extended the prospectivity of the C4-A gold-silver discovery1 along strike to the southeast linking up with further gold-in-soil anomalies. The Company is also announcing that recent geophysical surveys from the VMS copper target at C2-A East2, have defined strong basement EM and IP anomalies, creating a new priority target for future drilling. The strong geophysical results to date, coupled with ongoing drilling success at Cabacal, highlight the outstanding potential of the essentially untested 22km strike length of open soil anomalies within the Cabacal Project (Figure 1). These combined results are strengthening the Cabacal project as one of the most exciting, emerging metallogenic belts in South America. Three surface drill rigs and four drill crews are currently confirming, infilling, and expanding the extensive near-surface copper-gold mineralization of the Cabacal Mine. Referenced images are presented at the end of this release as well as on the Company's website. Further results are pending. Highlights Reported Today: CD-139 Discovery: New IP anomalies extend prospectivity of C4-A Gold-Silver Extensions; Next phase of work to focus on untested northwest trend back towards Cabacal Mine; Strong basement responses detected southeast of discovery hole CD-139 confirm further upside; C2-A East Copper Prospect: New Priority target - Geophysics confirms basement potential Priority target 3km southeast of Cabacal Mine; Extensive geophysical anomalies define basement geophysical signature; Copper anomaly with peak readings of 0.1% Cu associated with 1.2km alteration system from Worldview 3 satellite survey; Ongoing geochemical - geophysical data compilation and exploration emphasizes Cabacal's belt-scale potential of emerging targets; Extensive soil anomalies cover only 22km of the 50km long Cabacal project; with unsurveyed gaps to be progressively infilled; and Infill gravity program commencing at Espigao to delineate future IOCG drill targets. encouraged by strong anomalies: regional survey phase completed. Dr Adrian McArthur, CEO and President comments : "Three drill rigs are advancing the drilling at the Cabacal Mine and its extensions in preparation for the first resource statement at the end of Q3. The Company continues to delineate additional upside potential to our new C4A gold-silver discovery and with today's C2A-East discovery, a priority target. Our next phase of drilling starting in Q4 will focus on extending and infilling at the Cabacal Mine but also more delineation drilling within the largely untested Mine Corridor. Our team has shown great ability and initiative in discovering new anomalies beyond those outlined by BP Mineral's original 1980's campaign. As we continue to build our portfolio of copper-gold prospects at Cabacal, our investors have exposure to probably the most exciting, emerging metallogenic belt in South America and more importantly it is located in Brazil, where new copper and gold mines are frequently being, permitted, built and entering sustainable production." Figure 1: View NW along the trend of the .Cabacal Belt, with copper in soil geochemistry draped on relief model. Geophysics Builds Targets Along the C4-A / C2-A Discovery Corridor Southeast of the Cabacal Mine Results from pole-dipole geophysical programs confirm basement targets flanking and along strike from the CD-139 discovery hole. Anomalies are also emerging in satellite positions associated with additional base and precious metal targets located further southeast in the C2-A corridor from ongoing programs. The Company has continued its geophysical programs along the C4-A - C2-A corridor, having now completed 13-line kilometres of Pole-Dipole / Dipole-Dipole and 16-line kilometres of Gradient Array Induced Polarization ('IP') surveys (Figure 2). The objective of the surveys has been to better prioritize targets based on geophysical responses, given significant concentrations of sulphides seen associated with the new discovery position in the southern sector of the C4-A target. IP traverses over the original discovery area outlined basement chargeability anomalies with a threshold of up to 9.8mV/V. The chargeability response broadens and strengthens to the south, to peaks in the range of 11.3-15.9mV/V. This area has a flanking Worldview 3 satellite anomaly, marked by a silica-clay- jarosite-hematite signature. C2-A's soil response becomes progressively stronger in its base metal signature associated with the IP and Worldview3 anomalies (peak: Cu @ 500 ppm, Zn @ 418 ppm Zn; sample CAC4A-S-1640, and gold @ 402ppb Au). The C2-A East Prospect was found as a result of Meridian's soil programs, in an area where there was no historical BP soil anomaly. It falls within a larger alteration response detected in Meridian's 2021 WorldView3 satellite survey, measuring 1200 x 650m. The alteration domain is centred around an area with >200ppm Cu in soil values, with a peak value of 1004 ppm (0.1%) Cu. Pole-Dipole surveys have confirmed a peak basement chargeability response of 16.7mV/V, with local Fixed-Loop EM anomalies with conductivity-thickness 815 Siemens. The geochemical and geophysical response is reminiscent of the signature over the alteration pipes of the Cabacal Mine containing concentrations of disseminated to stringer and locally breccia to massive sulphide mineralization. Local float of quartz veins carrying sulphides (chalcopyrite and galena) have been observed, suggesting the influence of a late hydrothermal overprinting event in the area. Survey programs are ongoing. Whilst Cabacal advances, the Company is also working to position itself for assessment of Santa Helena as a satellite open pit development target. A similar program of checks and reviews to that implemented at the Cabacal Mine's, will be undertaken in preparation for a NI43-101 resource update. Field checks have located a significant number of historical collars to validate field positions and complete audit of BP Minerals and Prometalica will be undertaken. Figure 2: Map and example profiles of chargeability inversions (Top to Bottom: Line 6, Line 2NW, Line 5) Espigao IOCG Target Program - Update on Gravity Survey The Company has also continued its IOCG targeting program at Espigao in Rondonia. The regional survey phase has now been completed (Figure 3), and work has commenced on a 200 x 200m gravity survey grid over the southern anomalies where the highest threshold gravity responses have been encountered. Additional work will also be undertaken on a number of anomalies internal to the project area where the wide-spaced survey grid indicated elevated responses above backed associated from structural corridors, including positions within the Lavra, Ademir Curral, Vitalino, The Company continues to be encouraged by the strength of the anomalies encountered in this first phase of the reconnaissance program and looks forward to the results of the second phase of the survey, and expects to be in a position to review potential drill targets by the end of 2022 / early 2023. Figure 3: Updated first vertical derivative gravity image over the Espigao Project, with magnetic gradient modelling ("worms") superimposed. About Cabacal In November 2020, Meridian signed a Purchase Agreement3 to acquire 100% ownership certain tenements covering the historical Cabacal and Santa Helena lines and the along strike tenements from two, private, Brazilian companies ("Vendors"). Subsequently, Meridian expanded its land tenure to today's 55km of strike length. Cabacal had two historical, shallow, high-grade selectively mined underground mines that cumulatively produced ~34 million pounds of copper, ~170,108 ounces of gold, ~1,033,532 ounces of silver and ~103 million pounds of zinc via conventional flotation and gravity metallurgical processes. Cabacal is located in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Meridian has defined an open 2,000m trend of shallow copper-gold mineralization centred on the Cabacal Mine. This mineralization trends northwest-southeast, sub-crops along its northeast limits and dips to the southwest at 26 and is up 90m thick; presenting excellent open-pit geometry and mineral endowment. Meridian is currently focused on infilling this 2,000m zone. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within units of deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks ("VMS"). A later stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization truncating the dipping VMS layers. It was explored and developed by BP Minerals/Rio-Tinto from 1983 to 1991 and then by the Vendors in the mid 2000's. This historical exploration database includes over 83,000 metres of drilling, extensive regional mapping, soil surveys, metallurgy from production reports and both surface and airborne geophysics. The majority of Cabacal's prospects remain to be tested. Cabacal has excellent infrastructure with access by all-weather road, industrial electricity provided by the adjacent hydroelectric power station supplying this clean energy grid, and local communities provide a large population to draw employees from. Cabacal consists of 1 mining license, 1 mining lease application and 4 exploration claims which total 28,324 hectares. A further three licences totalling 15,941 Ha are awaiting formal transfer from the ANM following the licence auction system. About Meridian Meridian Mining UK S is focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on resource development of the Cabacal VMS copper-gold project, exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts located in the state of Mato Grosso; exploring the Espigao polymetallic project and the Mirante da Serra manganese project in the State of Rondonia Brazil. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S Dr. Adrian McArthur CEO, President and Director Executive Chairman Meridian Mining UK S Email: info@meridianmining.net.br Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST) Qualified Person Dr Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM., CEO and President of Meridian as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/subscribe/ Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining Further information can be found at www.meridianmining.co Technical Notes The geophysical survey has been conducted by the Company's in-house team utilizing its GDD GRx8-16c receiver and 5000W-2400-15A transmitter Electromagnetic surveys have been conducted using the SMARTem Geophysical Receiver System manufactured by ElectroMagnetic Imaging Technology (EMIT). Data sent to the Company's independent consultant, Core Geophysics. Modelling of conductivity response is undertaken using industry-standard Maxwell software. Geophysical exploration targets are preliminary in nature and not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit. Soils samples have been analysed at the accredited SGS laboratory in Belo Horizonte. gold analyses have been conducted by FAA505 (fire assay of a 50g charge), and base metal analysis by portable XRF calibrated with certified references. ~10% of base metal results area checked verified by laboratory analysis at SGS using methods ICP40B (four acid digest with ICP-OES finish). Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps are retained for umpire testwork, and ultimately returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. Figures and intervals are rounded to 1 decimal place. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. 1 Meridian Mining Press Release of June 21, 2022. 2 Meridian Mining Press Release of December 6, 2021 (previously referred to as Area 4). 3 Meridian news release November 9, 2020 SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706739/Meridian-Confirms-Cabaals-Mine-Corridors-Significant-Exploration-Potential WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices rose for a third straight session on Tuesday after Libya and Ecuador flagged potential output cuts on political unrest and the United Arab Emirates' Energy Minister said the nation has no spare capacity. Investors also pinned hopes for improved demand in China after the country halved the length of mandatory quarantine for inbound travelers, in the biggest relaxation of entry restrictions after sticking to a rigid COVID policy throughout the pandemic. Benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 1.5 percent to $112.60 a barrel, while WTI crude futures rose 1.3 percent to $111.02. Analysts have warned that political unrest in Ecuador and Libya could tighten supply further. Libya's National Oil Corp said on Monday it might have to halt exports in the Gulf of Sirte area within 72 hours amid unrest that has restricted production. Ecuador's Energy Ministry said the country could suspend oil output completely within 48 hours, if road blocks and vandalizing of oil wells continue. Separately, UAE Energy Minister said the country is producing near to the maximum production capacity based on its current OPEC+ production baseline (3,168 mbopd) which UAE is committed by until the end of the agreement. A U.S. official said today that the Group of Seven nations have agreed to work on a price cap for Russian oil. NATO's summit will see its 30-member countries meet in Span today with the war in Ukraine top of the agenda. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. ANN ARBOR, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Zomedica Corp. (NYSE American:ZOM) ("Zomedica" or the "Company"), a veterinary health company offering diagnostic and therapeutic products for equine and companion animals, is honored to announce that the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named PulseVet as the Official Shock Wave Therapy Supplier of US Equestrian Team Veterinarians. "The USEF is pleased to partner with a company that supports our efforts to improve the welfare of our horses," said Bill Moroney, CEO of US Equestrian. "PulseVet is known for quality, innovation, and the science behind their products, and we are proud to welcome them as an official partner and supplier." PulseVet Founder and current Zomedica Vice President and General Manager Adrian Lock commented, "We are honored to be able to work alongside USEF to help provide optimal care and educational support for these amazing equine athletes and all the animals that we rely on for so much." Zomedica's PulseVet is a world leader in electro-hydraulic shock wave technology for the treatment of a wide variety of conditions in veterinary patients. The PulseVet shock wave therapy is a non-invasive treatment modality that utilizes high-energy sound waves to stimulate cells and release healing growth factors in the body that reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and accelerate bone and soft tissue development. PulseVet's technology has been clinically proven to treat tendon, ligament and muscle injuries, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, navicular syndrome, chronic back and neck pain, fractures and wounds. "We feel privileged to partner with the USEF as their Official Shock Wave Therapy," PulseVet's Director of North American Sales & Client Education, Trudy Gage said. "Zomedica and USEF share a commitment to provide the best possible care for horses at every level of training and competition, whether that be rehabilitation from an injury or maintenance to stay at peak performance." For more information about Zomedica and PulseVet please visit www.zomedica.com. About the United States Equestrian Federation US Equestrian is dedicated to uniting the equestrian community, honoring achievement, and serving as guardians of equestrian sport. Since its inception, US Equestrian has been dedicated to pursuing excellence and promoting growth, all while providing and maintaining a safe and level playing field for both its equine and human athletes. For more information visit www.usef.org. About Zomedica Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zomedica (NYSE American:ZOM) is a veterinary health company creating products for companion animals by focusing on the unmet needs of clinical veterinarians. Zomedica's product portfolio will include innovative diagnostics and medical devices that emphasize patient health and practice health. It is Zomedica's mission to provide veterinarians the opportunity to increase productivity and grow revenue while better serving the animals in their care. For more information, visit www.ZOMEDICA.com. Follow Zomedica Email Alerts: http://investors.zomedica.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zomedica Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/zomedica Twitter: https://twitter.com/zomedica Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zomedica_inc Reader Advisory Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include statements relating to our expectations regarding future results. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, including assumptions with respect to American economic growth, demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to produce and sell its products, our ability to successfully integrate and operate the PulseVet business, the sufficiency of our budgeted capital and operating expenditures, the cost, adequacy and availability of supplies required for our operations, the satisfaction by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements, our ability to realize upon our business plans and cost control efforts and the impact of COVID-19 on our business, results, and financial condition. Our forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; uncertainty as to the timing and results of development work and verification and validation studies; uncertainty as to the timing and results of commercialization efforts, as well as the cost of commercialization efforts, including the cost to develop an internal sales force and manage our growth; uncertainty as to our ability to successfully integrate and operate the Pulse Vet business, uncertainty as to our ability to supply equipment and assays in response to customer demand; uncertainty regarding the cost, adequacy and availability of supplies required for our operations; uncertainty as to the likelihood and timing of any required regulatory approvals, and the availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; veterinary acceptance of our products; competition from related products; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships; performance by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements, including product manufacturing obligations: risks pertaining to permits and licensing, intellectual property infringement risks, risks relating to any required clinical trials and regulatory approvals, risks relating to the safety and efficacy of our products, the use of our products, intellectual property protection, risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact upon our business operations generally, including our ability to develop and commercialize our products, and the other risk factors disclosed in our filings with the SEC and under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Investor Relations Contact: PCG Advisory Group Kirin Smith, President ksmith@pcgadvisory.com +1.646.823.8656 SOURCE: Zomedica Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706721/Zomedica-Announces-Designation-of-PulseVetR-System-as-the-Official-Shock-Wave-Therapy-Supplier-of-the-United-States-Equestrian-Team WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold traded firm on Tuesday despite a stronger dollar and rising yields. The focus shifted to the ECB central bankers' forum in Portugal. Spot gold edged up 0.1 percent to $1,825.29 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures were up 0.1 percent at $1,826.50. Gold is tracking gains in the wider commodity complex after China halved the length of mandatory quarantine for inbound travelers, in the biggest relaxation of entry restrictions after sticking to a rigid COVID policy throughout the pandemic. The relaxation of the country's 'zero-COVID' policy came after Beijing and Shanghai reported no new local COVID-19 infections for the first time in months. Meanwhile, in a speech at the ECB forum on central banking in Sintra, Portugal, ECB President Christine Lagarde played down fears of a recession in the euro zone. 'We have markedly revised down our forecasts for growth in the next two years. But we are still expecting positive growth rates due to the domestic buffers against the loss of growth momentum,' Lagarde said. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The Gottingen base of Gotion High-Tech Co Ltd. (Gotion High-tech") is expected to reach the goal of annual production capacity of 6GWh and 12GWh in two phases respectively, thereby enabling the production of Gotion's battery in Europe . . GenDome, the first portable energy storage brand for overseas markets, was launched at the Gottingen base, and it is intended to be produced locally in Gottingen. GOTTINGEN, Germany, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On 27 June, Gotion High-Tech held the 5th New Energy Economic Forum and the Opening Ceremony of Gotion Germany at its Gottingen base. It is noted that the Gottingen base, as the first battery production and business operation base of Gotion in Europe, is expected to start the transformation by the end of this year. Chairman Li Zhen said that Gotion perfectly combined China's advanced battery technology with Germany's advanced process engineering, thereby enabling the production of Gotion's battery in Europe. At the ceremony, Gotion High-Tech also released GenDome, its first portable energy storage product for overseas markets and Gendock 3000, its first portable mobile energy storage product at the same time. Wu Ken, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Germany, Stephan Weil, Premier of lower Saxony, Germany, Petra Broistedt, Mayor of Gottingen, Luo Yunfeng, Mayor of Hefei Municipal People's Government, and Li Zhen, Chairman of Gotion High-Tech, participated in and witnessed the ceremony. Gottingen base with annual production capacity of 6GWh in the first phase is expected to start transformation by the end of this year It is noted that the Gottingen base covers a site area of approximately 174,000 sq.m., and has an existing gross floor area of approximately 40,000 sq.m.. According to the plan, the project will be constructed in two phases, namely the brownfield plant and the greenfield plant, with an annual production target of 6GWh and 12GWh, respectively. The first phase of the brownfield plant transformation is expected to be officially launched by the end of 2022, and the first production line with an annual capacity of 3.5GWh will be officially put into operation in September 2023. It is expected that the annual production capacity target of 18GWh will be achieved after the brownfield and greenfield plants of the base are fully put into operation. Dr. Ahmet Toptas, Head of Gottingen Factory of Gotion Germany, introduced that: the Gottingen base will be product-oriented with the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality, as well as will build a local product research and development team in Europe. Combined with the development and technology orientation of the new energy market in Europe, the base will research and develop new energy battery products that cater to the local European market, and carry out the production of bus batteries, automotive batteries, energy storage batteries, mobile charging and other series of products. In the future, it intends to cover customers in sectors of energy storage, commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles. "With the advanced lithium iron phosphate battery cell technology of Gotion High-Tech, together with experienced German employees, strict quality control and high quality requirements of Europe, we intend to cover customers in sectors of energy storage, commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles in the future, so as to meet the demand of the new energy market in Europe and help Gotion High-Tech accelerate the expansion of overseas markets." The first portable energy storage product for overseas markets will be manufactured locally in Gottingen After releasing the semi-solid battery and the first smart mobile energy storage charging pile in May, Gotion High-Tech continuously launched more new battery products. At the opening ceremony, the Gottingen base released GenDome, the first portable energy storage product for overseas markets, and Gendock 3000, the first large-capacity portable mobile energy storage product, which can convert solar energy and wind energy into electricity; it not only helps customers manage the use of household energy and meet the daily needs of household and outdoor users, but also meets 99% of customers' power needs, and effectively reduces energy bills. The household energy storage product includes three different models, which are developed and manufactured by the international business team of Gotion High-Tech. In the future, it will mainly target the European market. In the later stage, the product will be manufactured locally at the Gottingen base. On the day of the opening ceremony, the 5th New Energy Economic Forum jointly organized by Gotion High-Tech, Committee of 100, Technical University of Braunschweig, Gottingen mbH ("GWG"), Die Chinesische Handelskammer in Deutschland ("CHKD") and the School of Automobile of Tongji University was successfully held at the Gottingen base. The forum focused on topics such as China-Europe economic relations, energy revolution, low-carbon transition and new energy market, and attracted senior executives of many famous enterprises in the new energy industry, university professors, scholars and relevant economic and political officers attended the forum. Li Zhen, Chairman of Gotion High-Tech said: With Chinese technology and German process engineering, we achieve the production of Gotion's battery in Europe" Li Chen, President of International Business of Gotion High-Tech, introduced in the closing speech that Gotion High-Tech is a global company that provides energy solutions for suppliers, customers and other partners at home and abroad. "We not only focus on the development and promotion of new energy battery products, but also strive to develop ToC business at the same time." According to Li Chen, since May 2022, Gotion high-tech has successively released its first self-developed E-PLUS smart mobile energy storage charging pile for ordinary consumers and Gendome portable energy storage product for the overseas market. In 2025, Gotion High-Tech's global production capacity is planned to reach 300GWh, of which overseas production capacity is planned to be 100GWh. Li Zhen, Chairman of Gotion High-Tech, said in his speech that today we have started the application research and development and product manufacturing of Gotion Battery in Germany and Europe. The Gottingen base of Gotion will gradually transform from the production of automotive parts in previous years to the manufacturing of battery application products, which is a difficult but promising process. In this process, we must protect the existing corporate culture, proactively participate in the development of Gottingen, and accelerate the pace of product transformation. "We will combine China's advanced battery technology with Germany's advanced process engineering to create more excellent products and contribute to society, so as to promote the progress and development of the new energy industry." *for reference purpose only WALLDORF, Germany and LONDON, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bank of London, the world's first purpose-built global clearing, agency and transaction bank, has teamed up with SAP Fioneer, a leading global provider of financial services software solutions and platforms, to transform and simplify global clearing and transaction banking. The Bank of London is the UK's second clearing bank authorised in the last 250 years. Its technology platform is engineered to be a foundational building block of borderless economic infrastructure of the future. The solution uses a combination of The Bank of London's own unique patented technologies in parallel with SAP Fioneer's proven hyper-scalable cloud banking platform. SAP Fioneer's Cloud for Banking platform (C4B) is seamlessly integrated with The Bank of London's API, providing the UK's first fully integrated real-time, friction free compliance, clearance, settlement, and payments solution designed to service banks, fintechs and corporates. After the expected go live in October 2022, the solution will provide the fastest connection to payment schemes in the market. Anthony Watson, Group Chief Executive & Founder of The Bank of London, commented: "Combining our offering will provide the world's leading solution for compliance, clearing, payments and settlement in GBP, EUR and USD. Now banks, fintechs and corporates gain significant advantages over their competitors, benefiting from near instant clearing, settlement and payments without liquidity constraints or financial intermediary friction in the flow of funds." Dirk Kruse, CEO at SAP Fioneer, commented: "To achieve real innovation and disrupt the global clearing and transaction market at the heart of banking, The Bank of London needed a partner who could deliver stable solutions at hyper-scale. SAP Fioneer provided exactly that: rooted in world-class technology coupled with the agility to co-innovate and seamlessly integrate with our customers' systems. We are excited to partner with The Bank of London to achieve its goals and support its growth journey as a major player in the market." Founded in 2021 as a joint venture between the global technology leader SAP and PE firm Dediq, SAP Fioneer set out to accelerate innovation in the financial services industry for and with its customers. SAP Fioneer's integrated C4B runs on SAP's S/4HANA Enterprise Cloud and SAP Business Technology Platform and is an open platform with a low total cost of ownership (TCO) and quick time to market. Notes to editors: About The Bank of London The Bank of London is a leading-edge technology company and the world's first purpose-built global clearing, agency, and transaction bank. Launched in November 2021 as the sixth principal clearing bank of the United Kingdom, and only the second in 250 years. With a $1.1 billion valuation, it is the first bank in history to attain 'unicorn' status upon debut. With headquarters in London and offices in New York and Belfast, The Bank of London has been established to serve banks, clearing houses, digital & traditional asset firms, governments, financial services companies, from local fintechs to global institutions, payment networks and non-financial brands seeking to launch fully compliant financial products and services in-country and across-borders. For more information, visit www.thebankoflondon.com. Follow The Bank of London on Twitter and on Instragram. About SAP Fioneer Founded in 2021 as a joint venture between the global technology leader SAP and private equity firm DEDIQ, SAP Fioneer's vision is to build the next generation of financial services software and platforms. By combining proven world-class technology with development expertise and a broad ecosystem of partners, SAP Fioneer enables banks and insurance companies to transform, grow and differentiate their business while meeting their needs for speed, scalability, and cost-efficiency through digital business innovation, cloud technology, and solutions that cover banking and insurance processes end-to-end. SAP Fioneer has offices and operations spanning the globe and a strong presence in Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit www.sapfioneer.com. Follow SAP Fioneer on Twitter and on LinkedIn. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1849225/SAP_Fioneer_Dirk_Kruse.jpg Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - ScreenPro Security Inc. (CSE: SCRN) (OTCQB: SCRSF) ("ScreenPro" or the "Company") announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Concierge Medical Consultants Inc. ("Concierge"), is pleased to introduce Prestige Medical Care (PMC) to private clientele in the Vancouver area. The Company also plans to expand its (PMC) services to other provinces to help provide personalized healthcare to Canadians. The Company's prestige care service anticipates achieving major popularity in Vancouver with its premium healthcare program, delivering a full-service concierge health management system through personalized medical and non-medical care. About Prestige Care Our team of health care professionals provide the following services for patients: Your own personal physician led team of health care professionals that follow you through your health journey 24/7 medical care with house calls, virtual appointments, and wellness visits Unlimited and same day clinic visits Prescriptions Corporate and Executive Health Plans Naturopathy IV Therapy The B.C Medical Journal reports an evolving crisis in B.C.'s primary health care indicating that 17.7% of B.C residents lacked a health care provider due to staff shortages. The situation in the B.C. capital reports that an estimated 100,000 residents lack a family physician. Burnout and lack of adequate compensation are one of the many reasons reported for a shortage of health care professionals. Concierge's mission is to fill the gap and provide health care professionals to those who need it. (Source: The evolving crisis in primary care | British Columbia Medical Journal (bcmj.org)) "With private health care on the rise as the public sector faces demand, our team of board-certified physicians and registered nurses are prepared to service the community. Management is confident that continued growth is expected for our medical division and look forward to expanding Concierge to help improve the lives of our community," said Lena Kozovski, CEO of the Company. About ScreenPro ScreenPro is a Screening and Medical Technology company that provides turnkey screening solutions with its proprietary medical alerting software. ScreenPro's unique access to multiple manufacturers of high-quality test kits and its strategic partnership with labs in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec allows ScreenPro to be a full-service nationwide provider of COVID testing and breast cancer screening solutions across Canada. In addition, ScreenPro has its own medical doctor and nursing professionals with on the ground support staff and transportation, with access to high quality PPEs to ensure that clients are protected in all aspects of their testing needs. For additional information on ScreenPro and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.screenprosecurity.com About Concierge Concierge Medical Consultants is a small group of board-certified practicing emergency physicians who think that urgent care does not just happen in an ER or your doctor's office, it can happen anywhere at any time. Dr Jibran Sharif, MD, CCFP EM, RDMS, is the founder and President of Concierge Medical Consultants, he is a passionate advocate of Concierge medicine and believes that all patients should have robust, timely and personalized access to health care professionals. He earned a degree in Economics at the University of British Columbia before graduating with a medical degree and residencies in Emergency Medicine and Ultrasound at the University of Sydney, University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Calgary, respectively. He is a full time Emergency physician in the GVRD and a Clinical lecturer with the faculty of Emergency Medicine at the University of British Columbia. For additional information, please visit Concierge's website at www.conciergemedical.ca For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information please contact: Lena Kozovski, CEO (647) 878-6674 Email: lena@screenprosecurity.com Priya Atwal, Communications Manager 416-901-5611 x 204 Email: priya@screenprosecurity.com Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements relating to expectations regarding the acquisition and business of Concierge Medical Consultants Inc. and the future development of ScreenPro's business. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The actual results of ScreenPro could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which ScreenPro operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to ScreenPro's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of ScreenPro. Management of ScreenPro believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents ScreenPro's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. ScreenPro 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 securities legislation. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129219 CARGOTEC CORPORATION, PRESS RELEASE, 28 JUNE 2022 AT 2:00 PM (EEST) Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has received a repeat order for shuttle carriers to APM Terminals in Tangier, Morocco. The first phase of the project consisted of 42 shuttle carriers between 2016 and 2020. As a next step in the collaboration, APM Terminals has selected Kalmar to deliver 23 additional units - manually-driven, semi-automated hybrid shuttle carriers. The latest batch of shuttles are in support of APM Terminals' expansion of their newest facility TM2 in Tangiers, Morocco. These units to be delivered will be integrated into the Terminal Operation System via KalmarOne software, complemented by professional services, maintenance and support. Jack Craig, Vice President, Global Head of Operations at APM Terminals: "We are pleased with our partnership with Kalmar in developing this significant infrastructure and operational change at TM2. Together, we have introduced a fleet of semi-automated equipment that will ensure high productivity in a sustainable manner as part of our terminal modernisation initiatives. Kalmar's hybrid AutoStrad solution will help us reduce CO2 emissions." Antti Kaunonen, President, Kalmar Automation Solutions: "We are proud of our continued collaboration with the APM Terminals in Tangier. The solution combines our industry-leading hybrid technology helping to reduce CO2 emissions." In addition, as has been planned since 2019, APM Terminals has also completed an order for 62 Kalmar Hybrid AutoStrads for its Los Angeles facility. This unique, eco-efficient, horizontal transportation solution operating between the vessels and truck lanes has removed significant safety risks and driven faster gate turntimes for the local customers during a period of unprecedented volumes in the port. Combined, these investments represent a continuation of APM Terminals' cooperation with Kalmar to bring efficient terminal solutions to critical pieces of the global supply chain. Further information for the press: Antti Kaunonen, President, Kalmar Automation Solutions, antti.kaunonen@kalmarglobal.com Maija Eklof, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Kalmar, tel. +358 20 777 4096, maija.eklof@kalmarglobal.com Kalmar offers the widest range of cargo handling solutions and services to ports, terminals, distribution centres and to heavy industry. Kalmar is the industry forerunner in terminal automation and in energy efficient container handling, with one in four container movements around the globe being handled by a Kalmar solution. Through its extensive product portfolio, global service network and ability to enable a seamless integration of different terminal processes, Kalmar improves the efficiency of every move.www.kalmarglobal.com Kalmar is part of Cargotec. Cargotec's Attachment Victory's Exploration Team is engaged in a comprehensive effort to d to delineate and extend significant lithium mineralization on its Smokey Lithium Property In response to drilling results, the Company has completed an extensive ground sampling program aimed at helping to develop a clear picture of the best potential drill locations for its next round of drilling Based on results from its overall efforts, the Company anticipates a beneficial revision to its drilling application with the relocation of several holes, which will be an expedited process once undertaken VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Victory Resources Corporation (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company's exploration team has completed an extensive ground sampling program, building upon favourable drill results, aimed at guiding prime drill locations for its next round of drilling on the Company's Smokey Lithium Property in Nevada. The ground sampling program focused on sampling the Esmeralda Formation on and throughout the surrounding grounds of the Smokey Lithium property and has led to the Company locating a zone of higher values to the south and southwest. Mapping was done to locate controls on lithium clay deposition and locate clay beds, which have informed additional staking to protect the interests of Company. "We are continuing our exploration efforts at the property through a combination of surface sampling, geologic mapping and geologic modeling all aimed at providing additional drill targets," said Victory President and CEO, Mr. Mark Ireton. "Victory is focused on expanding the footprint of the subsurface claystone hosted lithium mineralization in its maiden drill program and our exploration team is actively working the property and environs to do so." On behalf of the Victory Resources leadership team and board, the Company is pleased to welcome entrepreneur, Mr. Gerald Tritt, as a Director. Mr. Tritt is an accomplished business leader, with vast experience in capital markets as an early-stage investor with multiple ventures, and within the hospitality industry as the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of several restaurant concepts, most recently the Vera's Burger Shack chain. Earlier in his career he served in senior management positions of both national and international hospitality groups. As an investor in multiple start-ups across multiple industries, Mr. Tritt brings tremendous firsthand capital markets experience including an extensive network, corporate governance, and a strong private equity background. About Smokey Lithium, Nevada Victory's Smokey Lithium project is a clay lithium property that lies approximately 20 miles north of Clayton Valley, to the west of American Lithium's flagship lithium project. Smokey Lithium is located northwest of Cypress' Clayton Valley Lithium Project and to the southwest of American Lithium Corporation's Tonopah Lithium Claims Property in southwest Nevada. Esmeralda County Nevada is a prolific region for lithium clay deposits, (Noram, Cypress, American Lithium, Spearmint, Enertopia, and Jindalee). The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Bob Marvin (PGeo), who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. For further information, please contact: Mark Ireton, President Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653) E-mail: IR@victoryresourcescorp.com About Victory Resources Corporation VICTORY RESOURCES CORPORATION (CSE: VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The Company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Victory Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706702/Victory-Advances-Smokey-Lithium-Exploration-with-Completed-Ground-Sample-Program DGAP-News: Hydrogen Fuel and EV Charge Solutions AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Hydrogen Power and EV Charge Solutions AG facing a high demand for the new charging stations and queues at their existing charging stations in China. 28.06.2022 / 13:10 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Hydrogen Power and EV Charge Solutions AG facing a high demand for the new charging stations and queues at their existing charging stations in China. The hot wave came and went, and there was another round of queuing for charging of new energy vehicles at the company's charging stations. The taxi owners who charge at the company's stations say that cars consume electricity quickly in summer, sometimes even needing to be charged twice a day, and that there are often no available charging posts and long queues to wait. The company's charging stations are almost always faced with full capacity. The Official data shows that the number of new energy vehicles in China reached 10 million in 2021, compared to the cumulative number of charging infrastructure in the country is less than 2 million units, the ratio of vehicles to piles is seriously disproportionate, and the increase in the number of charging piles is far from catching up with the number of electric vehicles, there is still a large gap in the future charging market. In 2021, the State Council has issued central documents such as the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" for the construction of new infrastructure and the "Action Plan for Carbon Peak by 2030", which have plans for the development of the new energy charging market. And with the provincial and municipal government policies, more than 20 provinces and municipalities have already proposed the layout of the charging pile industry in their "14th Five-Year Plan" outlines. Henan Province in China belongs to the new energy demonstration and promotion area, Zhengzhou is a first-tier city in China, but there is still a public charging pile and electric vehicle ratio is not coordinated site, accelerate the development of new energy charging market is still the top priority of the Zhengzhou Municipal Government's work, in order to gradually achieve new energy vehicles and charging piles to adapt to the coordinated development. Hydrogen Fuel and EV Charge Solutions AG address: Maximilianstrasse 35 A 80539 Munich Commercial register: HRB 234833 Register court: Munich Local Court Represented by: Ms. Xia Zhao Director: Eduard William Rudolf Contact details https://evchargeholding.com/contact 28.06.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) announced Tuesday it has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of its STANLEY Oil & Gas business to Pipeline Technique Ltd., a leading provider of solutions to the energy industry. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. STANLEY Oil & Gas encompasses pipeline services and equipment businesses including CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Pipeline Induction Heat Ltd. and STANLEY Inspection, which generated combined revenues of approximately $140 million in 2021. The proposed transaction further advances Stanley Black & Decker's portfolio transformation and strategic commitment to streamlining the company to focus on its core Tools & Outdoor and Industrial businesses. Stanley Black & Decker expects to incur a pre-tax, non-cash charge of approximately $125 to $200 million related to the write-down of the Oil & Gas net assets, which will be excluded from adjusted earnings. The results of the Oil & Gas business will remain in continuing operations and will not be reclassified as discontinued operations. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX STANLEY BLACK & DECKER-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - Mobi724 Global Solutions Inc. (TSXV: MOS), a fintech enabler of AI-enhanced payment card-linked incentives, announces that it has entered into a long-term license and support agreement with CGI, (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A), in connection with one of its projects. The Agreement is for an initial term of 10 years and will come into effect once customization, currently being conducted by Mobi724 for a CGI project is completed. There is also an option for a five-year extension of this agreement. "Today's announcement is the culmination of customization efforts the past 20 months," says Marcel Vienneau, CEO of Mobi724 Global. "I am very proud of the work performed by our IT team to meet the demanding standards of this project. Working alongside CGI, an industry leader, has been tremendously rewarding and we are excited to be able to licence our proprietary solutions to CGI and look forward to continuing to work closely with CGI." Mobi724 and CGI began a collaborative business relationship back in the fall of 2020. Since then, both companies are enjoying a solid working relationship and, look forward in the future, to building upon this foundation. "Mobi724 has proven to be a valuable partner and has shown their expertise and agility to meet customer needs," says Francis Lachance, Senior Vice-President of Consulting Services, CGI. "We are always looking to partner with innovative experts." About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 84,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2021 reported revenue is $12.13 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. About Mobi724 Global Solutions Inc. Every Transaction is An Opportunity Mobi724 Global Solutions Inc. (TSXV: MOS) is an AI powered fintech company which provides a platform, that enables banks and merchants to offer their customers real-time payment card-linked incentives, in a white-label format. Mobi724's objective is to add a layer of AI-driven actionable intelligence to every payment transaction, creating engaging consumer experiences & generating incremental commercial opportunities to its clients. Learn more at mobi724.com. Legal Disclaimer Mobi724 cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by Mobi724 are subject to risks and uncertainties, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 'Risk Factors and Uncertainties' in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis, available on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Mobi724 cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Mobi724's control. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Mobi724 undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION TO BUY OR SELL ANY SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. For further information, please visit www.MOBI724.com or contact: Investor Relations: For further information, please visit www.MOBI724.com or contact: Marcel Vienneau, CEO Mobi724 Global Solutions Inc. T: 514-394-5200 ir@mobi724.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129201 Intersects a further 177 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold equivalent at Guintar Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company") announces results from a further three diamond drill holes at its Guintar copper-gold exploration project and initial drill results from the immediately contiguous El Aleman option agreement area, in Antioquia Department, Colombia. The Guintar project is part of the Guintar-Niverengo and Margaritas (GNM) project area which comprises the two contiguous Guintar and Niverengo concession contracts and the neighboring Margaritas concession contract, located approximately 50 Km west of Medellin in Antioquia Department, Colombia (see Figure 1). The titles were acquired through the Company's purchase of Northern Colombia Holdings Limited, an affiliate of AngloGold Ashanti Limited (see Press Release May 31, 2019). The GNM project is a 50-50 exploration joint venture pursuant to a strategic alliance agreement dated March 2, 2020 between the Company and Mineros S.A. ("Mineros" TSX:MSA; MINEROS:CB; see Press Release March 3, 2020). Royal Road is operator of the strategic alliance. Drilling at Guintar commenced in July of 2021 and was aimed principally at testing for an underlying intrusive or porphyry-related source to the gold and copper mineralization which had been intersected in previous drilling and is evident in surface geochemical sampling over an area of more than 10 square kilometers (see Figure 1). Results to-date have been encouraging and include; GUI-DD-012, 303.7 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold equivalent[1] (including 62.0 meters at 2.1 grams per tonne gold, 12.4 grams per tonne silver and 0.62% copper), GUI-DD-013, which returned 126.0 meters at 1.4 grams per tonne gold equivalent, GUI-DD-020 which returned 118.0 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold equivalent and GUI-DD-021 which returned 181.0 meters at 1.1 grams per tonne gold equivalent (including 43.0 meters at 2.4 grams per tonne gold, 8.0 grams per tonne silver and 0.40% copper), from diorite-hosted, porphyry-style mineralization. In December of 2021, the Company entered into option agreements with neighboring and immediately contiguous property holders (see Press Release December 14, 2021) including the El Aleman Mining title area (see Figure 1). Drill hole ALM-DD-001 is the first exploratory drill hole to have been completed on the El Aleman property. The drill hole targeted an approximately 200 meter wide, east-west oriented zone of polymetallic veins, hosted in metasedimentary rocks and intersected 80.5 meters at 1 gram per tonne gold, including 18 meters at 3 grams per tonne gold (from 323 meters down hole depth: See Table 1). The mineralization is located approximately 500 meters to the northwest of - and is interpreted to represent a lateral and vertical extension to - the porphyry-style mineralization intersected at Guintar. The Company has also received results from a further three diamond drill holes from the Guintar project (see Figure 1 and Table 1). Significant intersections include: GUI-DD-023 14 meters at 1.2 grams per tonne gold equivalent (1.0 grams per tonne gold, 2.8 grams per tonne silver and 0.2% copper); and 31 meters at 1.1 grams per tonnne gold equivalent (0.8 grams per tonne gold, 3.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.23% copper) GUI-DD-024 177.0 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold equivalent (0.8 grams per tonne gold, 3.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.16% copper) (Not true width and the company does not have sufficient information to make a determination of the true widths of the drill hole intersections) Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/129292_Figure%201.jpg Table 1 To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/129292_table1.jpg Gold and copper mineralization at Guintar is associated with porphyry-style veins hosted in diorite dykes and sills, skarn and siliceous hornfels. From surface and over its entire length, GUI-DD-24 returned 260.35 meters at 0.8 grams per tonne gold equivalent (0.5% copper equivalent) and extends mineralization at Guintar a further 100 meters towards the west (the drill hole ended in 0.3 grams per tonne gold: See Figure 1). The generally broad distribution of gold and copper mineralization in drill holes at Guintar, together with the style of alteration, the block-dyke and sill relationships and extensive regional roof-type geometry is interpreted to imply potential for a major mineralized probably porphyry-style intrusion at depth. The Company is currently drilling to test the deeper (to maximum 1000 meter) extents of the mineralizing system. "We are becoming more familiar with the geometry and depth potential of gold, copper and silver mineralization at Guintar". said Dr Tim Coughlin, Royal Road's President and CEO. "We believe we are in the aerially extensive roof zone to a major underlying mineralized body and our drilling program has now been adapted to test this concept". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Dr. Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSc (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM, President and CEO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Royal Road Minerals employees are instructed to follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures intended to ensure that all sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. More information can be found on Royal Road Minerals web site at www.royalroadminerals.com Quality Assurance and Quality Control: Sample preparation and analyses are conducted according to standard industry procedures. Drill core and saw-cut channel samples are crushed, split and pulverized prior to analysis of Gold by fire assay and Atomic Absorption and multi-elements by ICP-AES and ICP-MS after four acid digestion. Soil samples are sieved to -200 mesh and analyzed for Gold by fire assay and ICP AES and multi-elements by ICP-AES and ICP-MS after aqua regia digestion. Analytical performance is monitored by means of certified reference materials (CRMs), coarse blanks, coarse and pulp duplicate samples. Surface samples have been prepared in ALS Chemex preparation lab in Colombia and analyses have been completed in ALS Chemex Lima. Cautionary statement: This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the Company's exploration plans. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. For further information please contact: Dr. Timothy Coughlin President and Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)1534 887166 info@royalroadminerals.com [1] Gold equivalent calculation assumes USD $1850/Oz gold, USD $25/Oz silver, USD $4.0/lb copper and 90% recovery for all metals To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129292 Innokin's latest pod system vape takes the industry by storm LONDON, England, June 28, 2022pod device picking up three awards across three major international events. Q2 typically marks the start of the international vape exhibition circuit, providing manufacturers with the opportunity to showcase the future of next-generation nicotine across major global markets. Among thousands of new products released each year, only a select few are recognised by industry experts with coveted international awards. The pod system category continues to be the most competitive in vaping hardware, as manufacturers are keen to provide new vapers with the best entry-level devices possible. Success for Innokin's new Klypse device started with winning "Best Pod" at Vapexpo Spain. The Innokin Klypse stood out for its exceptional vaping performance and build quality. Innokin's success continued at the World Vape Show Dubai. The Klypse won "Best Pod" with performance, reliability and affordable price point being highlighted as reasons for the honour. Most recently, the Innokin Klypse was awarded "Best Pod Vape" by Vaping Post, the number one vaping publication in France. After a promising start to the exhibition and awards season, Innokin is set to continue its investment in beginner-level hardware and water-based vaping technology, with partner Aquios Labs. Commenting on the awards haul, George Xia, Innokin co-founder, said, "It is a privilege to be recognised by fellow industry veterans, especially as we focus on transitioning smokers with simple, affordable devices. We have been greatly encouraged by the consumer reaction to our new releases and look forward to gathering more feedback in the remainder of the exhibition season." The latest stop on Innokin's worldwide vape exhibition tour was Hall Of VapeStuttgart, Germany, June 25-26. Industry tastemakers Phil Busardo and Dimitris Agrafiotis hosted Innokin's booth throughout the event, giving deep insight into the latest vaping innovations. Learn more about innokin.com. For further information, please contact marketing@innokin.com. Related Images Image 1: Innokin Klypse The multi-award-winning Innokin Klypse vape pod This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk Awarded Best Product at Coffee Fest Chicago 2022 Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk Featured and Sampled on Good Morning America, Reaching Over Three Million Viewers Across the United States Planting Hope Partners With Metropolis Coffee, Chicago's Largest Independent Coffee Roaster Shirazi Distributing To Add Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk, Expanding Reach to an Additional 200 Independent Cafes in the Northeastern United States CHICAGO, IL and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK)(FRA:J94) ("Planting Hope" or the "Company"), a plant-based food and beverage company focused on producing the world's most nutritious and planet-friendly products, is pleased to announce that Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk was awarded Best Product at Coffee Fest Chicago 2022 ("Coffee Fest"). Coffee Fest was held on June 24-25, 2022. Planting Hope exhibited Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk along with Mozaics Real Veggie Chips and Veggicopia Veggie Snacks in booth #916. Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk Featured in Leading U.S. National News Outlets Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk was selected by celebrity chef George Duran on Good Morning America on June 25, 2022, as a top trend find from the Summer Fancy Food Show held in New York City from June 12-14, 2022. In the segment, Chef Duran showcased Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk and highlighted its sustainability and ability to froth beautifully for cappuccinos. Good Morning America has more than three million viewers across the U.S. Watch the full segment by clicking here. Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk was also highlighted on June 16, 2022, in a Washington Post article titled "6 Food Trends to Watch For in 2022 and Beyond", which discussed what the next 'It' alternative milk could be. Read the full article by clicking here. "We are thrilled that the specialty coffee industry is embracing sesamemilk as the next big plant milk trend," said Julia Stamberger, CEO and Co-founder of Planting Hope. "Validation by coffee experts, baristas, and chefs, and widespread positive media coverage of Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk as a prominent new trend on Good Morning America and in the Washington Post, are stamps of approval that add to the momentum fueling cafe and consumer demand for our sesamemilk." Planting Hope Expands Distribution Into Independent Cafes Planting Hope partnered with Metropolis Coffee ("Metropolis"), Chicago's largest independent coffee roaster, to host a Coffee Fest kick-off party at their headquarters on June 23, 2022. Metropolis is adding Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk to the menu at all its cafes, rolling out in summer 2022. Shirazi Distributing has also signed with Planting Hope to distribute Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk to cafes and restaurants in the Boston and Greater New England Area. Shirazi Distributing has more than 200 foodservice customers reached by their own trucks and a small network of sub-distributors. The Shirazi family has been supplying greater Boston restaurants, small markets, and institutions with the highest quality eggs, milk, dairy, and other restaurant foods since 1989. The following independent coffee shops announced they have added Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk to their menus: Aiyaohno Cafe (Vancouver, BC) Fusion Brew (Normal, IL) The SisterYard (New York City, NY) Storied Coffee (Scotia, NY) The Ridge Tea and Spice Shop (New Paltz, NY) Uncharted Tea (Portland, ME) S & S Corner Shop (East Hampton, NY) Henry's Local (Brooklyn, NY) Planting Hope Continues to Showcase Hope and Sesame Across North America The Summer of Love Hope and Sesame Barista Tour ("Tour") is kicking off Tuesday, June 28, 2022, with an event at Little City Cafe at Yeti corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas. The Tour will be continuing to Austin's Revival Coffee on Thursday, June 30, 2022. On Tour dates, Hope and Sesame 'takes over' each cafe, offering all hot and cold drinks featuring sesamemilk free to cafe customers. Planting Hope is also sponsoring a three-member barista team at the Crush the Rush barista competition in Vancouver, British Columbia, on July 9, 2022. The team will be using Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk as they battle against other top contenders in a series of barista 'bar flow' challenges. Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk Awarded 'Best Product' at Coffee Fest Chicago 2022 4g complete plant-based protein per serving (provides all nine essential amino acids) Excellent source of Calcium and a good source of Vitamin D and Phosphorus Vegan / Soy-Free / Dairy-Free / Gluten-Free Certified / Kosher Certified Froths, foams, and steams like a dream, great for latte art! Delicious in any hot or iced drink Sesame - One of the Most Sustainable Crops on the Planet Requires little water to cultivate, thrives in drought conditions Bee-friendly, self-pollinating An excellent cover crop, contributing positively to sustainable agriculture Sesamemilk upcycles the protein-rich pulp remaining after sesame seeds are pressed for oil (traditionally considered a by-product used primarily for animal feed) About Hope and Sesame Hope and Sesame has cracked the code on unlocking the dense nutrition in tiny sesame seeds, creating an important new trend in plant milk: sesamemilk, both ultra-nutritious and highly planet-friendly. Sesame is sustainable, requiring very little water to cultivate, is naturally drought- and pest-resistant, and can self-pollinate. Sesamemilk is nutritionally comparable to dairy milk, delivering 8g of complete protein per serving (including all nine essential amino acids) - that's 8x the protein in most nut milks and 3x the protein in most oat milks! Specifically developed for and tested by top baristas, Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk froths, steams, and foams like a dream, great for latte art, and delivers 4g of complete protein per 8oz serving. Sesamemilk is an excellent source of Vitamin D and Calcium and is upcycled from the byproduct of sesame oil extraction. Hope and Sesame Sesamilk creamers are free from saturated fat and contain only 40 calories per serving. All Hope and Sesame products are vegan, Certified Gluten-Free and Certified Kosher, free from soy and dairy, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Certified by the Plant Based Foods Association. Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk was awarded Best Product at Coffee Fest Chicago 2022 and was a finalist for Best Product of the Year at the 2022 Specialty Coffee Awards; Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk was awarded Best Milk Alternative and Best Plant-Based Sustainability in FoodBev's 2021 World Plant-Based Food Awards; signature Chocolate Hazelnut Sesamemilk flavor received the 2020 Sofi Award for Best New Product, Plant-Based Milk from the Specialty Food Association. About The Planting Hope Company Inc. Planting Hope develops, launches, and scales uniquely innovative plant-based and planet-friendly food and beverage brands. Planting Hope's award-winning and cutting-edge products fill key unmet needs in the skyrocketing plant-based food and beverage space. The Planting Hope brand family includes award-winning Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk and Barista Blend Sesamemilk, Sesamilk creamers, RightRice Veggie Rice, Mozaics Real Veggie Chips, and Veggicopia Veggie Snacks. Founded by experienced food industry entrepreneurs, Planting Hope is a women-managed and woman-led company focused on nutrition, sustainability, and diversity. For more information visit: www.plantinghopecompany.com. Contacts: Company Contact: Julia Stamberger CEO and Co-founder (773) 492-2243 julia@plantinghopecompany.com Media Contact: Jessup PR Alex Jessup (323) 529-3541 alex.jessup@jessuppr.com Investor Relations Contact: Caroline Sawamoto Investor Relations (773) 492-2243 ir@plantinghopecompany.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will, or may, occur in the future, including statements about the Company's ability to execute on its goals, the timing pertaining to these goals the potential demand for the Company's products, the timing and success of anticipated product launches and distribution of the Company's products, and the Company's business prospects, future trends, plans and strategies. In some cases, forward looking statements are preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "may", "will," "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "continues", or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. In preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumption that demand for the Company's product will be sustained or increase in accordance with management's projections, that the Company's internal research and analysis is indicative of broader market trends and the Company's anticipated future demand for its products, that changes in consumer preferences in the plant-based food industry will continue in accordance with the Company's expectations, that the Company's current business objectives can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement herein will prove to be accurate. 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 be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company, as well as trends identified by the Company affecting its industry can be found in the Company's annual information form dated January 6, 2022 and the Company's continuous disclosure record available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements made in this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE: The Planting Hope Company Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706743/Hope-and-SesameR-Barista-Blend-Sesamemilk-Wins-Best-Product-at-Coffee-Fest-2022-Adding-to-Sesamemilks-Strong-Momentum-as-the-Next-Big-Trend-in-Plant-Milks Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - Galleon Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") is pleased to report the first two diamond drill holes of the 2022 drill program have been completed at the West Cache Gold Project ("West Cache" or the "Project") in Timmins, Ontario. The initial two holes of the drill program were collared to intersect the South Area zones along strike to the west within 90 meters of untested ground from intersections encountered in the 2020/21 drill program. The objective of the first two holes was to intersect mineralized horizons at approximately the same elevation as in discovery holes WC-20-077 and WC-20-078 to identify a plunge or potential shoot within the South Area. Core logging and sampling has been completed and assays are pending. Hole WC-22-131EX, an extension of hole WC-21-131, was drilled to a total depth of 633 meters, which extended the 2021 hole by 492 meters. Multiple mineralized horizons were intersected across the two dominant lithologies, which may correlate to zones seen in holes WC-20-077 and WC-20-078 approximately 85 meters to the east, including the deepest sulphide zone seen to-date in the South Area at a down-hole depth of 563.5 m (Figure 3). Hole WC-22-214, totaling 552 meters, was planned to intersect the South Zone(s) between hole WC-22-131EX and hole WC-20-78. Zone #9 was intersected at a depth of 110 meters along with mineralized zones down-hole into the South Area (Figure 4). Visible gold has been found in both drill holes. Figure 1 shows the target area of the first two holes in relation to high-grade Zone #9 which is hosted in the metasediment-dominant stratigraphy. The cross section in Figure 2 identifies the relative locations of the holes, while Figures 3 and 4 provide photographs of the core that has been logged and sampled. R. David Russell, President and CEO of Galleon Gold commented, "As we continue to expand our knowledge of the South Area at West Cache, we are pleased to be able to keep shareholders up to date on our progress, while awaiting assays. The South Area was a new discovery identified at the end of our 2021 program. There is no historic drilling in this area, and we are pleased that our interpretations of the geology are being confirmed. I suspect that the South Area will provide Galleon Gold with additional resources as we continue to explore the ground between our 2022 mineral resource area and the Destor - Porcupine Fault." The fourth hole of the program is currently underway and core logging and sampling remains ongoing. An advantage of a summer drill program, located just 13 km west of Timmins, is that a "10 days on 4 days off" drill schedule can be utilized. This schedule should allow for assays from the initial holes to be returned in a timelier manner to assist with drill planning. Figure 1 - 3D View (east) of mineralized zones at West Cache and area of first two drill holes in the South Area. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1014/129205_48e0d48694a218c4_001full.jpg Figure 2 - Cross sectional view (east) of first two drill holes in the South Area To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1014/129205_48e0d48694a218c4_002full.jpg Figure 3 - Core Photos from WC-22-131EX To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1014/129205_48e0d48694a218c4_003full.jpg Figure 4 - Core Photos from WC-22-214 To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1014/129205_48e0d48694a218c4_004full.jpg Technical Content and Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by West Cache Gold Project Manager Leah Page, P. Geo. (APGNS #217) a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About the West Cache Project The Property is situated in the Western Porcupine Gold Camp along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone ("DPFZ") within the Abitibi greenstone belt. The Property is predominantly underlain by Archean rocks of the Tisdale and Deloro Assemblages (metavolcanics), Porcupine Assemblage (metasediments) and quartz feldspar porphyry of the Porcupine Intrusive Suite. Paleoproterozoic diabase dikes trend north-south to northwest-southeast across the Property. The main break of the DPFZ trends east-west through the eastern part of the Property and is offset to the south in the western portion of the Property by the Mattagami River Fault. Gold mineralization is characterized by roughly east-west trending "shear" zones, dipping 60 to 80 to the north, and is associated with pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. To-date, the quartz feldspar porphyry unit and associated contacts with the metasedimentary units have been the focus of exploration activities. In addition, large areas of Tisdale and Deloro metavolcanics have yet to be explored, including the Rusk contact zone, which is associated with gold mineralization at the Timmins West Complex, approximately 7 km southwest of the Property. About Galleon Gold Galleon Gold is an exploration and development company focused on advancing the West Cache Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario. The project is situated approximately 7 km northeast of Pan American Silver's Timmins West Mine and 14 km southwest of Newmont's Hollinger Mine. Since acquiring the Project the Company has demonstrated significant resource growth while providing a strong valuation in its maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment. Permitting and baseline studies in support of a bulk sample are currently underway. Eric Sprott holds approximately 21% of the Company's outstanding common shares. For further information: Galleon Gold R. David Russell Chairman and CEO T. (416) 644-0066 info@galleongold.com www.galleongold.com Investor Relations Harbor Access Graham Farrell T. (416) 842-9003 Graham.Farrell@harbor-access.com Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Galleon Gold with respect to its long-term strategy, proposed work, plans and other reports including the PEA for its projects. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which Galleon Gold operates. Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Galleon Gold are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Galleon Gold's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, risks related to infectious diseases, including Covid-19 and the uncertainty of future exploration activities and cash flows, and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Galleon Gold undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129205 New Premier Version Provides the Ability to Create, Edit, Form Fill, and eSign Documents at One Affordable Price FREMONT, Calif., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Foxit, a leading provider of innovative PDF and eSignature products and services, helping knowledge workers to increase their productivity and do more with documents, today announced the launch of Foxit PDF Editor Version 12, including the introduction of PDF Editor Pro +, the most complete offering of Foxit PDF editing tools ever made available. PDF Editor Pro + is an editor and eSign solution combination that allows users to create, edit, form fill, and eSign documents all in one place at an affordable price. PDF Editor Pro + is a complete solution that consists of PDF Editor Pro (Windows) or PDF Editor (Mac), PDF Editor for Cloud, PDF Editor for Mobile and Foxit eSign (supporting both cloud and mobile app platforms). The comprehensive offering allows users to create, edit and sign PDF documents anywhere, on any platform - including desktop, mobile, or the cloud. Amazing Introductory Offering Customers signing up for PDF Editor Pro + will also receive an amazing added bonus - unlimited personal eSignatures. Users will be able to eSign their own documents within the PDF Editor and automate how they collect eSignatures on documents sent to multiple people as often as they need at no additional cost. "Our focus on innovation, customer experience and affordability has led to the launch of PDF Editor Pro +, our most comprehensive and customer friendly PDF package to date," said Phil Lee, CRO of Foxit. "It is extremely important to us that our users have the tools that they need where and when they need them, whether that be in the office or on the move. PDF Editor Pro + ensures our customers always have editing and eSign capabilities at their fingertips." To learn more, Foxit is offering a 5-part complimentary webinar series. Foxit PDF Editor Foxit PDF Editor allows users to create awesome PDFs with powerful yet easy workflows across desktop, mobile, and cloud - whether at the office, home, or on the go. Foxit PDF Editor provides a cost-effective solution for business professionals to work securely with PDF documents and forms. It provides a full featured platform to view, create, edit, collaborate, share, secure, organize, export, OCR, and sign PDF documents. Integration with Foxit eSign makes eSigning documents even easier. Foxit PDF Editor provides unmatched benefits and features to users, including: Quickly and easily update your own PDF documents Integration with Foxit eSign to: Create, edit and sign legally binding documents without leaving your PDF editor Easily collect signatures from multiple contacts and manage an eSignature workflow Export PDF to popular file formats Manipulate PDF files and pages Annotate, share, and collaborate with PDF Create PDF docs, forms, and portfolios Protect the information in your confidential documents Improve document accessibility through assistive technology Foxit PDF Editor V12 offers many upgrades and user experience improvements. Highlights include: Add Accounting Calculations with tape - You can open an Accounting Calculator window within the application and, after performing the calculations, insert it into your PDF document as a tape. - You can open an Accounting Calculator window within the application and, after performing the calculations, insert it into your PDF document as a tape. Cross References - Create connectors that appear on the document as annotations and connect to each other as links, thereby automating the process of creating several interconnected links in a PDF document. Create connectors that appear on the document as annotations and connect to each other as links, thereby automating the process of creating several interconnected links in a PDF document. View Documents Side by Side - Create "tab groups" within a single window of PDF Editor. These groups are shown side by side, so the two documents can be viewed within a single window. To learn more about Foxit PDF Editor, please visit: https://www.foxit.com/pdf-editor/ About Foxit Foxit is a leading provider of innovative PDF and eSignature products and services, helping knowledge workers to increase their productivity and do more with documents. Foxit delivers easy-to-use desktop software, mobile apps, and cloud services that allow users to create, edit, fill, and sign documents through their integrated PDF Editor and eSign offerings. Foxit enables software developers to incorporate innovative PDF technology into their applications via powerful, multi-platform Software Developer Kits (SDK). Foxit has over 700 million users and has sold to over 485,000 customers, ranging from SMBs to global enterprises, located in more than 200 countries. The company has offices all over the world, including locations in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia. For more information, please visit https://foxit.com. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - MineHub Technologies Inc. (TSXV: MHUB) (OTCQB: MHUBF) ("MineHub" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore ("MPA") has awarded MineHub a grant to co-fund a project using the MineHub platform to promote open standards and interoperability of electronic Bills of Lading ("eBLs"). MineHub has been focused on removing friction from supply chain operations through digitalisation, and enabling and promoting the use of electronic Bills of Lading is core to MineHub's mission. Arnoud Star Busmann, CEO at MineHub Technologies, said "The Singapore government's support through its institutions like the MPA and the IMDA is instrumental in pushing the industry forward towards digitalisation. We are very pleased to contribute to this drive, and work with industry to promote the use of electronic Bills of Ladings, enabling interoperability between platforms and existing providers through open standards." The Bill of Lading is the most important international trade document. It underpins all seaborne transactions, which is 80% of global trade, but because it is usually required to be presented on physical paper to be legally valid, it has also prevented trade to be fully digitalised and as such is a major source of processing costs and time delays. In fact, some of the supply chain disruption we have seen in recent years are a direct consequence of pandemic lockdowns preventing couriers to deliver the physical paper Bills of Lading to banks or customers, which in turn delays payments from being settled and discharge of cargos. Those shipments that involved eBLs have done much better, and as such the use of eBLs has increased rapidly. Only 0.1% of bills of lading today are issued today as eBLs, and are only valid in limited or closed systems, each guided by their own rules and standards. Supply chain parties also have different Bills of Lading formats or varying IT system requirements. Changes are underway though in the regulatory landscape, as Singapore and several other nations have adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law for Electronic Transfer of Record. It was announced recently that the UK is also working towards adoption of electronic Bills of Lading in English law, the governing law for most of global trade. In addition, the Company completed its AGM on June 22, 2022, where all items of business put forward at the meeting were approved, and Arnoud Star Busman was appointed to the board of directors. Please refer to the Company's information circular as filed on SEDAR. About MineHub Technologies MineHub is an open, enterprise-grade platform for digital trade, bringing efficiency, transparency and responsibility to supply chains. MineHub connects the many parties involved in a physical commodity transaction in a digitally integrated workflow, operating on the basis of shared authentic and validated information secured by a global enterprise blockchain network. Users of MineHub are in full control of their supply chains, enabling them to optimize their use of resources, respond better and faster to customer needs and have confidence in the resilience, security and compliance of their operations. Arnoud Star Busmann CEO, MineHub Technologies Inc. For further information regarding MineHub, please email info@ Minehub.com or visit website at www.minehub.com . Media Contact Citigate, Angus Campbell at angus.campbell@citigatedewerogerson.com Investor Relations RB Milestone Group, LLC (RBMG) at minehub@rbmilestone.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains statements that are considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements") with respect to MineHub including, but not limited to, statements with respect to MineHub's future operational plans, the timing of such plans and anticipated customers. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts are generally, but not always, identied by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although MineHub believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its operations, applications and for general working capital purposes, changes in economic conditions or nancial markets, changes in laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, dependence on its key management personnel and market competition. Other risk factors are identified in the Company's prospectus dated August 18, 2021, available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. There may be other risk factors not presently known that management believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information is made as of the date included herein. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of MineHub's management on the date the statements are made. However, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129200 New Study From Waitwhile Shows How Waiting in Line Makes People Feel Apathy, Boredom and Annoyance, and Describes How Brands Can Do More To Win Over Customers SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Waitwhile, a queue management platform built to eliminate wait times and create delightful guest experiences, today announced the publication of The State of Waiting in Line , a new study that explored how frequently consumers are waiting in line, how they feel about waiting, and how brands can improve their customer experience when customers are forced to wait. Recognizing that waiting in line is a universal pain point with consumers, the inaugural study took a deep dive into how long people are willing to wait for a product or service, and offers actionable insights for organizations to boost brand loyalty and increase profitability. In the United States alone, people spend roughly 37 billion hours each year waiting in line. To better understand the consumer mindset regarding waiting in line, Waitwhile conducted an online survey of 1,202 adults in the United States to determine the most common reasons for waiting in line, how long people typically wait before abandoning a line, and specific ways organizations can better meet their customers' needs. The research found that 70 percent of respondents prefer to wait in a virtual line if given a choice, and that wait time estimates, self check-in and the option to complete any requisite forms rank highest among ways to improve the waiting experience. Waitwhile's study found that 85 percent of people wait in line for longer than 5 minutes at least once a month, and that waiting is most common at retail stores (30%), restaurants (16%), and pharmacies (12%). The research also showed that 80% of guests most frequently waited on-premises, offering compelling evidence that organizations who engage with guests during this time have an opportunity to differentiate their brand and boost customer loyalty. "Our research shows that a staggering 74 percent of people will abandon a physical line before it's their turn, and that consumers who are subjected to wait for a product or service most frequently report feeling apathetic, bored and annoyed," said Christoffer Klemming, CEO & Co-Founder, Waitwhile. "The good news for brands is that waiting in line doesn't need to be a burden for customers and negatively impact business. Using virtual queues that give guests the freedom to move, relax or shop while waiting, organizations can significantly improve the customer experience while simultaneously increasing sales and saving their staff precious time." Other key takeaways from the study indicate that: 70% of guests are only willing to wait up to 15 minutes in a physical line for an item or service 69% of guests are less likely to leave a virtual line 57% of respondents would be willing to wait for a longer amount of time in a virtual line; 71% are willing to wait 15+ minutes longer 45% of guests are more likely to join a line if it is virtual Waitwhile helps businesses transform existing physical lines into virtual lines within minutes, saving time and eliminating the negative response caused by pointless waiting. It allows businesses to integrate queue management features directly into existing applications through its open API. In the background, the platform automatically learns about wait time patterns, resource constraints and guest preferences to help businesses reduce wait times and improve operations. To access the complete Waitwhile study The State of Waiting in Line, please visit https://waitwhile.com/assets/pdf/waiting-in-line-consumer-survey.pdf About Waitwhile Waitwhile is a queue management platform that helps businesses deliver better guest experiences for their customers. Waitwhile lets customers wait from anywhere, schedule appointments, communicate with staff members, and track their status in real-time - and helps businesses automate their customer flows and reduce wait times with machine-learning optimization. Waitwhile has improved waiting for over 180 million guests and collectively given people back over 2 million days they would have otherwise wasted standing in line. Customers include IKEA, Lululemon, Louis Vuitton, Best Buy, Applebee's, US Air Force, Hartford HealthCare and thousands of other businesses around the world looking to improve their guest experience. For more information visit https://waitwhile.com . Media Contact: Escalate PR waitwhile@escalatepr.com SOURCE: Waitwhile View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706732/New-Survey-More-Than-70-Percent-of-Guests-Will-Abandon-a-Physical-Line-Before-Their-Turn NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Madi Minerals Ltd. (the "Company" or "Madi") (CSE:MADI) is pleased to provide an update to its exploration program on the Georgina Au-Cu-V Project located 45 km north of Campbell River, BC. Madi Minerals Ltd. undertook an exploration programme on the Georgina Property from April 18 to June 24, 2021 at which time several soil samples returned anomalous results of Au ranging from 84 pbb to 998 ppb Au and five rock samples returned up to 3.49% copper as well as up to 202 ppm Vanadium. The company is currently conducting a Phase 2 exploration program on the property which includes extending the geochemical grid in all directions, trenching and sampling of anomalies identified by the 2021 program as well as undertaking a geophysical interpretation. The company expects the program to be completed in early July with assay results to follow. Madi further announces the resignation of Gary Musil as CEO and President but will remain on with the Company as a Director. Mr. Musil's contributions to Madi since inception have been greatly appreciated. Michael England will assume the responsibilities of CEO and President effective immediately. About Madi Minerals Ltd. Madi Minerals Ltd. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration on the Georgina Project. The Georgina Property consists of 1 mineral claim covering an area of 2,069 ha approximately 20 km south of the coastal town of Sayward; 105 km north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island, within the Nanaimo Mining Division. For more information, please refer to the Company's prospectus dated March 18, 2022, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Derrick Strickland, P. Geo (1000315), has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Mike England Chief Executive Officer and Director Phone #604-307-4776 Email: mike@engcom.ca Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Madi Minerals Ltd View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706761/Madi-Minerals-Announces-Work-Program-at-Georgina-Property Favorable efficacy and safety support further development of RGX-202-01 in advanced or metastatic second-line colorectal cancer Inspirna, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class small molecule cancer therapeutics, announced today data from the ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial studying RGX-202-01 in combination with FOLFIRI and bevacizumab (FOLFIRI/BEV) in second-line advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) at the 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer being held June 29 through July 2, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. "These clinical data continue to demonstrate the clear potential of RGX-202-01 to improve on the standard of care for patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, especially for those whose tumors harbor KRAS mutations," said Andrew Hendifar, M.D., Assistant Professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Principal Investigator on the study. "RGX-202-01 employs a novel mechanism by inhibiting the creatine transporter SLC6a8, which enables cells to generate ATP as well as other nucleotides by importing phospho-creatine (p-creatine). These results also show that KRAS mutant tumors are highly sensitive to the effects of SLC6a8 inhibition by RGX-202-01. The drug is also very well-tolerated, enabling a safe and effective combination therapy with FOLFIRI/BEV to provide further optionality for patients." RGX-202-01 is an oral, potential first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of SLC6a8, a creatine transporter that drives colorectal cancer and certain other cancers' progression. It is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1b dose escalation and expansion study in combination with FOLFIRI/BEV in second-line, advanced or metastatic CRC. The primary endpoint of the study is to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD), overall response rate (ORR), and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). In the dose escalation stage of the study, two dose levels of RGX-202-01 with FOLFIRI/BEV have been evaluated in patients with advanced or metastatic CRC who have progressed on available oxaliplatin based first line therapy. In the ongoing expansion stage, additional patients with CRC are being treated at the dose of 3000mg PO BID to provide further characterization of the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of the treatment. Key findings to be presented at ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer: Previously reported data from the study (at ASCO 2022) as of a data cutoff of April 28, 2022 included 19 patients who were enrolled in the study, including eight total patients in the dose escalation stage treated with either 2400mg twice daily (BID) of RGX-202-01 plus FOLFIRI/BEV (n 4) or 3000mg BID RGX-202-01 plus FOLFIRI/BEV (n 4), and 11 patients treated in the expansion stage with 3000mg BID RGX-202-01 plus FOLFIRI/BEV. 17 patients were evaluable for response per RECIST v1.1 at data cutoff, of which 10 patients had KRAS mutant tumors and seven patients had KRAS wild-type tumors. In the KRAS mutant population, five patients (50%) had confirmed partial responses (PR) and five patients (50%) had stable disease (SD). In the KRAS wild-type population, one patient (14%) had an unconfirmed PR, five patients (71%) had SD, and one patient (14%) had progressive disease (PD). Preliminary median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 11.8 months in the enrolled patients with KRAS mutant tumors. Tumor regression was observed to deepen over time in patients with KRAS mutant tumors, with first radiographic achievement of PR appearing as late as 40 weeks post-treatment induction. Updates since April 28, 2022 (data cutoff date) through June 10, 2022: Two patients with KRAS mutant tumors had follow up imaging: patient 102-3112 remains in PR status and patient 102-2407 now has SD. Two patients with KRAS WT tumors had follow up imaging: patient 102-3121 remains in SD status and patient 103-3127 maintained SD radiographically but was declared clinical PD as per the Investigator. The ORR remains unchanged (50% in KRAS mutant group, 14% in the KRAS WT group). Two grade 3 TEAEs (neutropenia, pulmonary embolus) deemed unrelated to RGX-202-01. No grade 4 or 5 TEAEs reported. The poster is available at the Annals of Oncology website and https://inspirna.com/presentations-publications/. Poster Presentation Details Title: Phase 1b study of RGX-202-01, a first-in-class oral inhibitor of the SLC6a8/CKB pathway, in combination with FOLFIRI and bevacizumab (BEV) in second-line advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) Date and time: July 1, 2022 at 10:30 10:50am CEST and 4:30 5pm CEST Abstract Category: Clinical Colon Cancer Abstract Subcategory: Metastatic Disease Abstract ID: 291 About Inspirna Inspirna, Inc., is a privately-held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer drugs that target key pathways in cancers of high unmet need. The company is pursuing two first-in-class small molecule drug candidates, RGX-202 and RGX-104. Inspirna's lead drug candidate RGX-202 is an orally-administered small molecule that targets the CKB/SLC6A8 pathway. This pathway becomes activated in the tumors of select patients with gastrointestinal cancers where it enables the generation of the energy molecule ATP in response to tumor hypoxia. RGX-202 is currently being tested in a Phase 1b clinical trial in combination with standard-of-care FOLFIRI and bevacizumab for the second line treatment of patients with advanced CRC. Inspirna is also developing a first in class small molecule that activates ApoE, RGX-104 (abequolixron), in high unmet medical need lung cancer settings and in advanced endometrial cancer in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Inspirna identifies novel cancer targets using its RNA-based target discovery platform, RNA-DRIVEr, which was originally developed by Inspirna's scientific co-founders at The Rockefeller University and exclusively licensed to Inspirna. The Company brings together distinguished scientific founders, a seasoned board of directors, and a leadership team comprised of experienced drug developers. The Company is funded by leading biotechnology investors, including Novo Holdings A/S, Sofinnova Partners, Lepu Holdings Limited, Sixty Degree Capital, K2 HealthVentures, Oceanpine Capital, WuXi PharmaTech Healthcare Fund I, LP, Alexandria Venture Investments, LLC, Exor Seeds, and the Partnership Fund for New York City. For more information, please visit www.inspirna.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005222/en/ Contacts: Argot Partners Maeve Conneighton 212-600-1902 inspirna@argotpartners.com Slovakia has selected the CV90MkIV as its new Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005726/en/ The CV90 during firing demonstrations. (Photo: BAE Systems) The joint bid from the Government of Sweden and BAE Systems was filed earlier this year by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and BAE Systems Hagglunds. Following the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic's feasibility report last month, the CV90 was placed in both first and second position (in two different turret variants) when measured against all requirements for the IFV program. Negotiations will now begin to finalize a production contract before the end of the year. With the CV90MkIV, the Slovak Army will acquire the most advanced CV90 available. Together with Slovak industry, BAE Systems is prepared to deliver the program on time and on budget. Slovakia's requirements call for multiple variants of the CV90MkIV, including several turreted versions and both engineer and recovery vehicles. The program also includes training and education, tactics, and future vehicle development. This selection brings Slovakia into the CV90 User Club, which currently consists of seven countries, including four members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). "The joint Swedish FMV and BAE Systems team confirms the Swedish government's support for Slovakia and further strengthens government-to-government relations," said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hagglunds in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. "Our approach is built on strategic collaboration with local Slovak suppliers, enabling them to play a high-value role throughout the production and lifecycle of the CV90 and all its variants." BAE Systems Hagglunds has delivered multiple CV90 export programs to European and NATO customers and has a strong track record of highly successful industrial cooperation that goes beyond the mechanical assembly of the vehicles. By working with local Slovak industry across all aspects of the contract, BAE Systems will ensure a significant level of collaboration during production to support defense industrial cooperation, jobs, and economic growth. BAE Systems is committed to exceeding the mandated requirement for Slovak content and to work closely with the country's industry to deliver the most capable IFV on the market today. The CV90 is available in 15 variants and designed to provide optimum mobility, with the highest level of protection in any terrain or tactical environment. The CV90MkIV combines improved battlefield speeds and handling with an upgraded electronic architecture to support future growth capabilities as the complex battlefield evolves. Today, there are nearly 1,300 CV90s in operation in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005726/en/ Contacts: For additional information, please contact: Ola Thoren, BAE Systems Hagglunds Office: +46 660 80506; Mobile: +46 708 335000 ola.thoren@baesystems.se www.baesystems.com @BAESystemsInc Red Light Holland launches: 'Red Light. Set. Go!' program to work with exceptional local Oregonians from diverse backgrounds who wish to enter the legal psilocybin service market. Shunji Smith, Japanese American avid mushroom grower, teacher, and small business owner from Eugene, Oregon joins the program. Red Light Holland and Halo Collective mutually dissolve Red Light Oregon, Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTC Pink: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth, and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles, is pleased to announce its updated plan regarding aiming to enter the legal psilocybin service market that will be created by the adoption of Measure 109 in the state of Oregon ("Measure 109"). While some of the regulations in Oregon are still unclear at this time, Measure 109 intends to promote diversity and provide a head start to local Oregonians, which prompted Red Light to create the 'Red Light. Set. Go!' program (the "Program") - a unique program aimed at working with exceptional Oregonians from diverse backgrounds who wish to enter the legal psilocybin service market. The Program will provide selected candidates with expert advice and funding to help them attempt to enter the legal psilocybin service market. Shunji Smith, a Japanese American avid mushroom grower, teacher, and small business owner from Eugene, Oregon, is the first to team up with the Company under the Program. "I've been a big believer in Red Light's mission since I first heard of them and I'm very grateful to join this Program," exclaimed Mr. Smith. "It's a big dream of mine to enter the Oregon Psilocybin services market on the manufacturing side and with Red Light's support, I believe together we can make a big impact," added Mr. Smith. "We noticed a big gap between Measure 109's intentions and what we are seeing on the ground when it comes to promoting diversity and equity as the regulations are complex and entering the market requires initial capital that most individuals wishing to enter do not have access to" said Todd Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Red Light Holland. "Therefore, we established this Program to further align our vision with the intention of Measure 109 while seeking to provide value to our shareholders. With this Program, we will continue to grow our Mycelium network. Shunji has a combination of unique expertise and a deep passion for the promise of psilocybin services so we are very excited to work with him," added Mr. Shapiro. Measure 109 will make psilocybin services available to Oregonians 21 years and older without a need for medical diagnosis. The service must include a required prep-session, psilocybin session in a licensed facility supervised by a licensed facilitator and a possibility of an integration session. On December 31, 2022, the Oregon Health Authority will prescribe forms and regulations necessary for the exact implementation. To follow the current state of regulations in Oregon check out OHA website: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/Pages/Oregon-Psilocybin-Services.aspx Dissolution of Red Light Oregon, Inc. Further to the Company's joint press with Halo Collective Inc. ("Halo") released date April 27, 2021, the Company wishes to announce that Halo and the Company have agreed to mutually dissolve Red Light Oregon, Inc. "We wish Halo well, but after monitoring Oregon's developments of Measure 109 very closely and having conversations with an Oregonian Senator, Measure 109 committee members, legal counsel and our direct Red Light team on the ground - we genuinely believe that our true alignment and best step forward is with our newly formed 'Red Light. Set. Go!' initiative. We are excited to work with Shunji and look forward to more advancements in Oregon," said Sarah Hashkes, Red Light Holland Chief Technology and Innovation officer. About Red Light Holland Red Light Holland is an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles. For additional information: Todd Shapiro Chief Executive Officer and Director Tel: 647-643-TRIP (8747) Email: todd@redlight.co Website: www.RedLight.co Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or its respective subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained in this news release. Examples of such information include statements with respect to: the future plans and goals of the Company; the success of the Program; future participants and guidelines of the Program; Red Light Oregon, Inc. being dissolved; the adoption of Measure 109 and future regulations surrounding psilocybin and the Company; the Company providing funding and expertise to Program participants; the continued growth of the Mycelium network; and future changes in legislation, including Measure 109 and the regulations surrounding psilocybin. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued growth of the Company; the Company meeting their anticipated timeline and process for growth, sales, production and commercialization; the Company's products being safe and providing their anticipated benefits; continued demand for the Company's microdosing products; the success of the Program, including the Company adding future participants to the Program; Red Light Oregon, Inc. being dissolved; the adoption of Measure 109 and future regulations surrounding psilocybin and the Company not changing such that the Program will be unable to continue; the Company providing funding and expertise to Program participants; the continued growth of the Mycelium network; and future changes in legislation, including Measure 109 and the regulations surrounding psilocybin not impacting the Company's ability to fulfil its plans and goals. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, expectations regarding future growth and expansion of the operations of the business; regulatory and licensing risks; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets; risks related to infectious diseases, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; legal and regulatory risks inherent in the psychedelics industry, including the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to psychedelics; political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation and the interpretation of various laws regulations and policies; public opinion and perception of the psychedelics industry; risks surrounding the success of the Program and the ability of the Company to gain future Program participants; risk that Red Light Oregon, Inc. will not be dissolved; risk that Measure 109 with not be adopted and/or future changes to regulations surrounding psilocybin and/or the Company's business may hinder the ability of the Company to attain its goals and/or pursue its plans; risk that the Company will be unable to fund and/or provide expertise to Program participants; risks that the Company's Mycelium network will no longer grow and/or plateau; and such other risks contained in the public filings of the Company filed with Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129273 Historic grab samples of six undrilled high-grade showings have returned results up to 48.10 g/t Au, 11,270 g/t Ag and 7.49% Cu Property has potential to host a large epithermal-porphyry system within the major Bennett Lake Caldera complex Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Pike Warden Au-Ag- Cu Property located approximately 65 kilometres southwest of Whitehorse (see Figure 1). The property consists of 185 contiguous mining claims totalling approximately 37 km2. The property encompasses historic and recently discovered high-grade polymetallic gold (Au), copper (Cu), and silver (Ag) epithermal showings that are potentially indicative of a large epithermal-porphyry system in the major Bennett Lake caldera complex. To date, limited exploration has outlined six undrilled high-grade showings that have returned grab sample results up to 48.10 g/t Au, 11,270 g/t Ag and 7.49% Cu as shown in Table 1 below. These showings are located over an area of approximately 30 km2. CEO Scott McLean commented, "The newly discovered showings in this major caldera complex suggest the potential for a large epithermal-porphyry system. The property has seen only limited exploration and we believe that a more thorough and systematic exploration program has the potential to identify a major polymetallic mineral deposit. We plan to proceed with an aggressive exploration program including reverse circulation drilling of the main showings as well as geological and petrographic work to better characterize and understand the nature and extent of the extensive epithermal-porphyry system." Table 1: Highlight Historic Grab Sample Results from Showings on the Pike-Warden Property1 Showing Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Mo (%) Upper Saddle 2.38 493 0.17 0.12 1.80 821 0.14 Confession 10.60 378 0.66 3.98 Squeaker 25.50 157 1.47 1.10 Middle Saddle 37.72 75 4.65 4.29 491 0.14 59.56 Silver Saddle 0.12 110 0.14 2.32 67.9 0.26 18.33 0.67 59.9 0.59 3.60 Bonanza 48.11 47.6 0.53 27 0.74 Cro 1.55 23 0.26 Silver Train 493 0.88 0.04 140 4.87 0.09 60 0.13 1.66 SV Zone 0.73 185 0.39 0.03 3.7 0.92 ERT 1.26 11,270 0.39 1.98 5.46 615 0.04 0.22 Note: the results provided in Table 1 are historic in nature and have not been verified by the Qualified Person About the Agreement Transition retains the option to earn a 100% interest in the property by issuing $150,000 in cash ($10,000 on signing) and 1,000,000 shares to the Vendor and completing an aggregate of $1,000,000 in work over a 4-year period. If the Company vests its interest, the Vendor will retain a 1% Net Smelter Return royalty (NSR) and a $1,500,000 Milestone Payment to be paid within 6 months following Commercial Production being achieve from the Property. Geology of the Pike-Warden Property Regionally, the Property is located near the boundary between the Jurassic andesites and siliciclastic rocks of the Stikine Terrane and Paleozoic gneisses of the Nisling Terrane which are intruded by late Triassic to Cretaceous intrusions of the Coast Plutonic Complex2. There are at least four Late Paleocene to Early Eocene volcanic complexes of the Skukum Group that in part overlie the older lithologies, including the Mount Skukum volcanic complex (MSVC) and the Bennett Lake volcanic complex (BLVC). The MSVC and the structures associated with it's emplacement host the Skukum Creek deposit. The Skukum Creek gold-silver deposit is estimated to contain an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,001,300 tonnes at 7.75 g/t Au equivalent and an additional Inferred Mineral Resource of 537,000 tonnes at 6.22 g/t Au equivalent3. The Pike-Warden Property is located approximately 10 km to the south and associated with the BLVC which is a 19-by-30 km volcanic centre. The property is underlain by a series intrusions of the Coast Plutonic Complex including the Fenwick Creek diorite-quartz-diorite, the Mt. McNeil granodiorite, the Nisling leucogranite, and Mt. McAuley granite. The caldera of the BLVC immediately to the south of the property, with quartz-feldpsar porphyry rings and NE-trending rhyolite dykes associated with caldera formation located on the property. Work completed by the Optionor in 2019, 2020 and 2021 has identified a number of new showings associated with the ring dykes and the NE-trending dykes and associated structures1. Mineralization tends to be concentrated near the intersection of NE and EW trending structures. High silver, gold, copper, molybdenum and lead values in quartz veins suggest an intermediate sulfidation setting. At the Silver Train showing, elevated copper and molybdenum values along with quartz-carbonate breccias, heterolithic intrusive breccias and pervasive epidote-pyrite alteration within granodiorite suggest potential for a buried porphyry system at depth. 1 Burke, R, 2021. Rock and Geochemical Sampling, Airborne Geophysics and Hand Trenching performed between August 8th - August 30th, 2021 on the Pike Warden Property; Yukon Mineral Exploration Program, YMEP 21-043 2 Hart, C.J.R. and Radloff, J.K., 1990. Geology of Whitehorse, Alligator Lake, Fenwick Creek, Carcross and part of Robinson Map Areas, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Open File Report 1990-4 3 Simpson, R.G, 2020, Skukum Gold-Silver Project, NI43-101 Technical Report for Whitehorse Gold Corp Qualified Person The technical elements of this press release have been approved by Mr. Thomas Hart, P.Geo. (PGO), who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. The QP has not yet visited the Property and has not verified the historical sampling results. Transition Metals Corp Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity project generator that specializes in converting new exploration ideas into discoveries. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Further information is available at www.transitionmetalscorp.com or by contacting: Scott McLean President and CEO Transition Metals Corp. Tel: (705) 669-1777 Figure 1: Location of the Pike-Warden Property To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/129295_df9f45699480ea54_002full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129295 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / (TSXV:GDP) Golden Pursuit Resources Inc. ("Golden Pursuit"). Golden Pursuit is pleased to report that it has completed a work program consisting of sampling, line-cutting, permitting and geophysical surveys (magnetometer and IP) undertaken at the South Gordon Lake Project in the NWT. This work is summarized in a new NI 43-101 report which will be posted on Sedar and on the company's website (www.goldpursuit.ca). The property comprises ten historical occurrences of high-grade gold in quartz veins. The current mineral tenure comprises four (4) historical mining leases, eighteen (18) territorial claims and thirteen (13) federal claims. The South Gordon Lake property lies 80 kilometers north-northeast of Yellowknife, the capital city of Northwest Territories. The total land package of 6,851.27 hectares with all properties owned 100% with no payments and no royalties except an optioned 1% NSR on two recently acquired leases (Vaydik and Nickerson). The South Gordon Lake occurrences are underlain by metaturbidites of the Archean Burwash Formation, and the area is considered favorable for turbidite-hosted quartz vein gold deposits. Gold mineralization is commonly accompanied by sulphides and appears structurally controlled, contained within veins formed by folding of a prominent refold at Gordon Lake at the continued movement through shearing on the limbs of the refold. Notable examples of similar deposit types include the Meguma Group deposits in Nova Scotia, which produced in excess of 1.5 million ounces of gold, the Bendigo District deposits in Australia including Kirkland Lake Resources, which have produced in excess of 18 million ounces of gold and the recently discovered New Found Gold turbidite hosted deposits in Newfoundland. Although New Found Gold is situated in Cambrian to Silurianaged rocks, the mechanisms of emplacement can be used to build a conceptual model for the South Gordon Lake project. Clearly, major structures are important. The grades of these types of deposits commonly range from 5 g/t to more than 50 g/t gold. Sampling from the fall 2021 program resulted in spectacular sample results that included 1 sample of 6,190 grams/t, 2 samples of >1,000 gms/t and many of the showing areas have historical intersections of high-grade gold content, ranging from 10's of g/t up to > 400 g/t Au across widths ranging from 0.3 meters to 1.5 meters. The Kidney Pond area has historical intersections ranging up to 4 g/t Au across 20 meters of true width. It is the ambition of Golden Pursuit to develop large breccia zones that are close to surface and host the historic intersections amenable to bulk surface and underground mining methods. The structural refold zone located south of the previously explored properties at Gordon Lake is described in a PhD thesis by Dr. Tim Stokes and has generally been ignored by previous operators whose focus was on veins with a minimum 15 gm/ton Au content due to gold prices and logistics. Golden Pursuit believes that the south end of Gordon Lake represents a large, mineralized gold system with the opportunity to systematically explore all the occurrences in what can only be termed as under-explored. The historical work at Camlaren has shown that high-grade gold mineralization continues at depth below the historical mining depth of 1,000 feet. The highest-grade intersection reported from the 1980 drill program was at 1,120 feet below surface returning 2.65 ounces/ton Au across 21.1 feet (82.41 g/t Au across 6.43 meters). Brian McClay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Pursuit commented "Golden Pursuit has for the first time in history consolidated the ownership of all known historical producers and advanced projects in the South Gordon Lake district under one corporate owner and has completed the first serious exploration effort since the early 1990's. Our field geologists have identified multiple sets of quartz veins and breccia zones at key prospects containing gold grades hosted by turbidite formations and we look forward to further developing these assay results in the near term." Highlights The exploration program through 2021 allowed for the relocation of many of the quartz veins and breccia zones to be revisited and resampled along with new zones being recognized. Sampling has shown that historical assays have been confirmed with a significant number of 2-4 g/t, up to 30-40 g/t, Au samples with one value at Lynx Zone returning an assay of 6,190 g/t Au Work in Lynx and Lynk Bay area during the 2021 field season resulted in the collection of numerous high grade rock samples from the Lynk area, mostly taken from historic trenches in this area. Two rock samples collected from one trench exceeded 1,000 g/t Au, along with several other high grade rock samples. The induced polarization surveys have documented strong resistivity and chargeablilty zones associated with the Kideny Pond Zone. The resistive responses are associated with the intense silicification. The chargeability zones are attributed to the disseminated mineralization and the graphitic zones associated with the carbonaceous siltstones which are key to the deposition of the gold in the quartz breccias. Successful negotiations with permits and access agreement established over key prospects at Gordon Lake including ten primary occurrences of gold mineralization; Burnt Island, Goodrock, Storm, Camlaren, Daf, Kidney Pond, Myrt - WT, Murray Lake, the May showing on the Nickerson lease and the CZone on the Vaydik lease. These are the individual properties that make up the South Gordon Lake property. Golden Pursuit completed a LiDAR survey in August of 2021. A threeweek prospecting and sampling program, obtaining 202 rock samples, was completed in the late summer and early fall of 2021. That program was immediately followed up with 1,120 line kilometers of magnetic surveying (1,030 km of snowmachine-towed and 90 km of walk mag) and over 10 kilometers of induced polarization surveying. Recommendations It is recommended an immediate airborne electromagnetic (frequency domain) and magnetic survey to be flown across all extents of the ground of interest. The importance of this is that airborne can be used to target groundwork (prospecting and sampling). It is significant to note that groundwork can be undertaken on the interim land withdrawal areas as long as no line cutting, brushing or physical disturbances occur. This allows the company to look at all areas of interest within the southern portion of Gordon Lake, including the mafic/sediment contact along the Cameron River greenstone belt. Additional and extensive prospecting, mapping and sampling at all areas, upon completion of the airborne, will be instrumental in moving this program forward. Once the geological program has identified additional areas for geophysical surveying, IP and mag should be completed to advance showings to the drill stage. It is Golden Pursuit's mandate to have a number of drill targets identified by January of 2023 and in time to use the winter road for access. It is well understood that Coarse Gold Vein systems are economically more significant when the veining is at, or along, the sediment-volcanic contact. An example of this is the historical Discovery Mine, just 40 km northwest of the south Gordon Lake property, which produced 1,000,000 ozs of gold from 1,000,000 tonnes of rock. This model exists in the South Gordon Lake area along the east side of Gordon Lake. The Cameron River greenstone belt offers potential for Coarse Gold veins as is related to sediment-volcanic contacts. It is estimated that a budget of $4.885 M should complete the first-year program at South Gordon Lake. Qualified Person Statement The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared and approved by Gary Vivian, M.Sc., P.Geol. Chairman, Aurora Geosciences Ltd., who is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. About Golden Pursuit Resources Inc. GOLDEN PURSUIT RESOURCES INC. (GDP-TSX-V) is a Canadian based junior venture mineral exploration issuer which is uniquely positioned to be a dominant player in the Northwest Territories of Canada and a significant project generator in Nevada with ownership of 16 claim groups, The company has a growth strategy focused on the consolidation and exploration of high potential, mineralized precious metals properties in these two prolific regions of North America. The company owns all projects free and clear of any debt or payment obligations. Total shares issued are 33,979,467. For further information please contact: Brian McClay, CEO bmcclay@aol.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. 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. Although the Issuer believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706684/Golden-Pursuit-Completes-Rock-Sampling-and-Geophysical-Surveys-at-South-Gordon-Lake-Gold-Project-NWT Maturity of Old Oil Reserves to Offer Glycol Pumps US$ 123.7 Mn Market Opportunity by 2022 Fact.MR's in-depth analysis of the global glycol pumps market provides readers with a 360-degree view for the forecast period of 2022 to 2032. The study also reveals key information regarding future growth drivers, opportunities, and trends across multiple segments including type, capacity, operating pressure, pump type, and end-use industry across six major regions. NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global glycol pumps market size is expected to be valued at US$ 224.3 Mn in 2032 and exhibit a considerable growth at a CAGR of 6.1% in the forecast period (2022-2032). Increasing demand for industrial gear pumps, including glycol pumps in a wide range of industries, such as asphalt pouring and food processing is set to augment growth. As per Fact.MR, sales in the global glycol pumps market are projected to reach US$ 123.7 Mn in 2022. The market stood at US$ 119.1 Mn in 2021. Surging usage of glycol pumps in the oil and gas industry for leaning or moving rich glycol from reboilers to the contractor is anticipated to drive the market. Moreover, increasing demand for energy, coal bed methane, tight gas, and shale gas across the globe on the back of maturity of conventional oil & gas resources is likely to spur the sales. Subsequently, implementation of stringent regulatory frameworks in China and the Middle East to improve the production output of the domestic refining industry is another factor fueling the sales in the market. For more insights into the Market, Get A Sample of this Report! https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7500 In addition to that, rising investment by government and private organizations in specialized reciprocating pumps to initiate complex refining processes is expected to accelerate growth. As current refining processes involve high pressures and temperatures, the requirement of state-of-the-art glycol pumps is surging as these can efficiently handle volatile fluids. Presence of a robust infrastructure for processing oil in Saudi Arabia is another significant factor that is projected to foster growth. Besides, increasing usage of glycol pumps in the automotive industry as a heat transfer fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze agent, and hydraulic fluid would augment growth. Key Takeaways: The U.S. glycol pumps market is expected to generate the largest share of nearly 86.9% in North America and exhibit a CAGR of 5.3% between 2022 and 2032. and exhibit a CAGR of 5.3% between 2022 and 2032. China is projected to hold the second-largest market share of about 73.2% in East Asia and register a CAGR of 7% during the assessment period. is projected to hold the second-largest market share of about 73.2% in and register a CAGR of 7% during the assessment period. Based on type, the ethylene segment is anticipated to dominate by generating a glycol pumps market share of around 75.2% in 2022. By end-use industry, the oil & gas category is estimated to hold 21.1% of the market share in 2022 and grow at 7.5% CAGR by 2032. The automotive & transportation industry is set to expand at a CAGR of 6.3% and generate a market share of approximately 18.9% in the upcoming years. Growth Drivers: Increasing consumption of natural gas is set to boost the demand for advanced electrical glycol pumps offering longer duty cycles and less downtime. High demand for cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional pumps in end-use industries is set to aid growth. Restraints: Accumulation of trash or debris in the dehydration system can often make their way through glycol pumps, thereby leading to scratches on the piston rod. Short stroking of glycol pumps can cause excessive wear in the middle of the piston rod, which would require replacement of the rod. Get Report Customization As Per Your Requirements! https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=7500 Competitive Landscape: Leading players operating in the global glycol pumps market are focusing on mergers and acquisitions with local or international companies to co-develop novel products and gain a competitive edge. Meanwhile, a few other key players are aiming to conduct research and development activities to introduce cutting-edge products to cater to the high demand from various industries across the globe. For instance, In April 2022 , North Ridge Pumps, an independent manufacturer of pumps headquartered in the U.K., conducted a case study on ATEX Triplex Plunger pumps for the production of green hydrogen. The pumps were specially designed to suit high pressures, as compared to piston models. , North Ridge Pumps, an independent manufacturer of pumps headquartered in the U.K., conducted a case study on ATEX Triplex Plunger pumps for the production of green hydrogen. The pumps were specially designed to suit high pressures, as compared to piston models. In March 2022 , the Atlas Copco Group, a multinational industrial company based in Sweden , signed a new agreement to acquire Geveke B.V. and subsidiaries, as well as LEWA GmbH and subsidiaries. The acquisition would enable Atlas Copco to strengthen its presence and technology portfolio in the positive displacement pumps segment. Key Companies Profiled by Fact.MR North Ridge Pumps Kimray Mcmaster Viking Pump LEWA Verder Cat Pumps Xylem TriRotor Inc Goulds Pumps Heat Exchange & Transfer, Inc. John Wood , Inc. , Inc. T-Mag Exterran Rotor Tech Bifold HERMETIC-Pumpen GmbH March Pumps Sintech More Valuable Insights on Glycol Pumps Market In the latest study, Fact.MR offers a detailed study on global glycol pumps market for the forecast period of 2022 to 2032. This study also highlights key drivers promoting the sales of glycol pumps through detailed segmentation as follows: By Type: Ethylene Propylene By Capacity: Less than 5 Gpm 5-10 Gpm 10-15 Gpm Above 15 Gpm By Operating Pressure: Less than 50 Bar 50-100 Bar 100-150 Bar Above 150 Bar By Pump Type: Centrifugal Pumps Positive Displacement Pumps By End-use Industry: Chemicals & Petrochemicals Food & Beverages Pharmaceuticals Automotive & Transportation Oil & Gas Cosmetics Plastics Paints and Inks Others By Region: North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & Oceania & Oceania MEA Interested to Procure The Data? Inquire here https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=EB&rep_id=7500 Key Questions Covered in the Glycol Pumps Market Report What is the projected value of the glycol pumps market in 2022? At what rate will the global glycol pumps market grow until 2032? Which are the factors hampering the growth in the glycol pumps market? Which region is expected to lead in the global glycol pumps market during 2022-2032? Which are the factors driving the glycol pumps market during the forecast period? What is the expected market value of the glycol pumps market during the forecast period? Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Industrial Goods Domain Fuel Pump Driver Module Market: Increasing usage of fuel pump driver modules to maintain the optimum fuel delivery and pressure to the engine is set to drive growth. Urgent need to improve fuel efficiency in automobiles to reduce carbon emission in the atmosphere is another vital factor that is anticipated to augment growth. Fabric Mesh for Industrial Dryer Market: As per Fact.MR, the global fabric mesh for industrial dryer market is likely to exceed USD 1.6 Mn in 2032 and showcase growth at a CAGR of 4.2% in the forecast period. Increasing investment in the textile industry worldwide is likely to push sales in the market. Automated Industrial Door Market: Increasing focus of key companies on research and development activities to enhance their portfolio of automotive industrial doors is projected to bolster the market in future. Besides, high demand for factory automation in developed countries, such as Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and Germany is set to drive growth. Crane Pumps Market Study: Asia-Pacific is expected to hold a major market share and witness a high growth rate in the crane pumps market over the forecast period, owing to the presence of growing economies such as China and India. North America and Europe, despite being matured markets, are pegged to witness slower growth in the crane pumps market over the forecast period. Aircraft Pumps Market Forecast: Future market demand is dependent on rising preference for incorporating versatile aircraft fleet offering maximum capability and minimizing risks. Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly incorporating light material to reduce overall drag and improve operational efficiency. Thus, the sales of aircraft pumps are expected to exceed US$ 6 Bn by registering a CAGR of nearly 5% in the 2022-2032 Agricultural Pumps Market Research: Agricultural pumps market is creating lucrative opportunity for market participants to breach a high market share during the forecast period. The agricultural pumps market comprises huge local and global vendors. U.S. Vacuum Pumps Market Share: The West U.S. vacuum pump market and South-East U.S. vacuum pump market hold 28.1% and 23.2% share, respectively, of the overall market. Both these regional markets are projected to expand 7.1% and 6.7% CAGRs during the forecast years. Self-priming Pumps Market Report: The rising investment in water treatment plants in developing economies such as India, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Malaysia, Turkey, Thailand and other gulf countries have driven the global self-priming pumps market. Currently, Europe and North America are leading the global self-priming pumps market. Chemical Pumps Market Study: The most crucial markets that are researched in the chemical pumps market study include North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Europe is expected to continue to be a highly lucrative market for players in the chemical pumps industry. About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a market research and consulting agency with deep expertise in emerging market intelligence. Spanning a wide range - from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare, technology, chemical and materials, to even the most niche categories. 80% of Fortune 1000's trusts us in critical decision making. Contact: Mahendra Singh US Sales Office 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 E: sales@factmr.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713666/FactMR_Logo.jpg SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global breast implants market size is anticipated to reach USD 4.11 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 7.4%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing focus on the enhancement of physical appearance has led to the growth of the market. Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report: In 2021, silicone implants dominated the breast implants market since it has a natural resemblance to the breast tissue. Saline implants are anticipated to showcase significant growth during the forecast period due to lesser risk of complications during implant rupture. Round-shaped implants held the largest market share in 2021 owing to fewer complications involved during implant rotation. Anatomical-shaped devices are expected to showcase lucrative growth in the future due to their design that has a natural appearance, which makes them ideal for breast enhancement. The cosmetic surgery segment dominated the market in 2021 due to the growing number of cosmetic procedures conducted globally. North America dominated the market in 2021 due to the rising number of augmentation procedures of this organ conducted in the U.S. Get more Insights from full market research report, "Breast Implants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Silicone Breast Implants, Saline Breast Implants), By Shape (Round, Anatomical), By Application, By End-use, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research. Breast Implants Market Growth & Trends Breast reconstructions are being highly adopted by women to enhance their physical appearance. This kind of surgery involves esthetic repair of any damage taking place after the implantation procedure. Breast implants are used post mastectomy to enhance the esthetic appeal. Breast augmentation is another procedure requiring the application of these implants. Esthetic appeal plays an important role in increasing the demand for these procedures, thereby, making the cosmetic industry lucrative for the target population. The COVID pandemic has had a significant impact on the aesthetic market. The increased prevalence of coronavirus cases had put a greater strain on medical personnel. As a result, facilities such as ICUs, surgical units, ventilators, hospital beds, and certain other surgical equipment have been reallocated from all disciplines and divisions to treat COVID-19 patients. As a result, governments in some countries have chosen to hold all non-essential & elective surgeries. Cosmetic procedures such as breast enhancement, cheek augmentation, dermal fillers, and others are all postponed or cancelled as they were considered "non-essential" elective procedures. For instance, to create extra inpatient beds, the NHS, postponed 2 million planned procedures. The Medicare and Medicaid Services announced guidelines in March 2020 to limit elective operations in the U.S. In May 2022. (Dublin, Ireland), GC Aesthetics, Inc. (GCA), a private medical technology organization that provides Health Aesthetic Solutions announced a launch of an advanced NAC (Nipple Areola Complex) reconstruction implant called FixNip. Many women around the world will receive support from this unique medical product, which addresses a well-known clinical necessity. Until now, a variety of surgical methods have been attempted to try to reconstruct the nipple-areola complex, but none have proven to be effective in the long run. Breast Implants Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global breast implants market based on product, shape, application, end-use, and region: Breast Implants Market - Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030) Silicone Breast Implants Saline Breast Implants Breast Implants Market - Shape Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030) Round Anatomical Breast Implants Market - Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030) Reconstructive Surgery Cosmetic Surgery Breast Implants Market - End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030) Hospitals Cosmetology Clinics Ambulatory Surgical Centers Breast Implants Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. Asia Pacific Japan China India Latin America Brazil Mexico MEA South Africa List of Key Players of Breast Implants Market ALLERGAN GC Aesthetics GROUPE SEBBIN SAS Mentor Worldwide LLC; Sientra, Inc. Polytech Health & Aesthetics GmbH Establishment Labs S.A. Shanghai Kangning Medical Supplies Ltd. Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials Co., Ltd. LABORATOIRES ARION HANSBIOMED CO. LTD. Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research: Breast Reconstruction Market - The global breast reconstruction market size is expected to reach USD 826.9 million by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2022 to 2030. Rising cases of breast cancer, an increase in the number of reconstructive procedures, and rising awareness regarding the availability of breast reconstruction procedures are expected to be the key factors driving the market. The global breast reconstruction market size is expected to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2022 to 2030. Rising cases of breast cancer, an increase in the number of reconstructive procedures, and rising awareness regarding the availability of breast reconstruction procedures are expected to be the key factors driving the market. Breast Imaging Market - The global breast imaging market is expected to reach USD 7.3 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing prevalence of breast cancer and supportive government initiatives to increase awareness are expected to boost demand in the market. - The global breast imaging market is expected to reach by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing prevalence of breast cancer and supportive government initiatives to increase awareness are expected to boost demand in the market. Breast Pump Market - The global breast pump market is expected to reach USD 5.20 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.3% from 2022 to 2030. Improving healthcare infrastructure in emerging economies, increasing global women's employment rates and the presence of favorable demographics are the key driving factors for the breast pump market. Browse through Grand View Research's Medical Devices Industry Research Reports. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Grand View Compass | Astra ESG Solutions Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced financing for gross proceeds of $682,125 through the exercise of warrants by certain warrantholders, including a number of insiders. "The proceeds received by Prismo will be primarily used to drill a minimum of 2,000 meters of HQ core at the Company's Verdes property in several holes to test mineralization at depth under the high-grade intercepts from previous drilling campaigns," said Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo. He added: "Two of these holes intersected high-grade mineralization similar in grade and width to the results of Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA and NYSE: VZLA) in the Panuco district, whose property is contiguous to Palos Verdes. The best intercepts of these previous drilling campaigns were 2,336 g/t Ag and 8.42 g.t Au over a true width estimated at 0.8 meters within a larger mineralized interval with 1,098 g/t Ag and 3.75 g/t Au over a true width of 2.3 meters (see Prismo's news release dated September 30, 2020). The Company believes these intercepts indicate the presence of a potentially large Ag-Au shoot of the type being defined by Vizsla Silver." Dr. Gibson concluded: "We are currently in the process of selecting a drilling contractor and we expect drilling to begin in late-July pending reception of our environmental permit." The Company also expects to use some of the proceeds to finalize surface exploration work on the Los Pavitos property to advance to the drill ready stage, with expected drilling in the fall. Management of Prismo recently held an investor update call. The video of such investor update can be viewed on the Company's website at https://player.vimeo.com/video/721614600 Prismo also announced that Mr. Louis Doyle has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Mr. Doyle has over 30 years of experience focused primarily on capital markets and public companies. Since 2016, he has also provided consulting services to private companies seeking listing on Canadian exchanges. Since January 2016, Mr. Doyle is the Executive Director of Quebec Bourse. Between October 1999 and December 2015, he was the Vice-President, Montreal of the TSX Venture Exchange. As such, he was responsible for business development and listing activities in the Province of Quebec and Atlantic Canada. During his tenure, he acted as chairman of TSX Venture Listing Committee and was a member of the Policy committee. Mr. Doyle also led the nationwide TSX Venture Mentorship program and further acted regularly as a speaker and advisor at conferences and workshops. He also holds directorship roles with two other publicly traded companies. Mr. Doyle was granted 150,000 incentive stock options exercisable at $0.165 per share before June 26, 2027. Also, three other directors were granted 50,000 incentive stock option each exercisable at $0.165 per share before June 26, 2027. About Prismo Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is junior mining company focused on precious metal exploration in Mexico. Contact: Craig Gibson, Chief Executive Officer and Director 1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6 craig.gibson@prismometals.com Jason Frame, Manager of Communications jason.frame@prismometals.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the warrants exercise financing, the proceeds received from such warrant exercise financing, the use of proceeds of the warrant exercise financing, the future performance of our business, its operations and its financial performance and condition, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks, the availability of financing, the potential impact of COVID-19 on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129281 CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSXV:EPL) ("Eagle Plains") has received notice from its option partner (an arm's length private Alberta company), (the "Company") that drilling activity is currently underway on Eagle Plains' 100%-owned Iron Range Project located near Creston, in Southern British Columbia. A 5-6 hole, 3500m (11500') diamond drilling program is planned with targets in various areas of the property and is expected to take 8-9 weeks to complete. Drilling is underway on Hole IR22049, which is currently at 725m with a target depth of 920m. Under terms of the option agreement as announced May 5th, 2020, the Company holds the exclusive right to earn up to a 60% interest in the Iron Range Project (the "Project") from Eagle Plains over a five-year period by incurring $3,500,000 in exploration expenditures and making $250,000 in cash payments to Eagle Plains. The Company retains the right to increase its interest to 80% by making a one-time cash payment of $1,000,000 to Eagle Plains. See Iron Range Project Map here Iron Range Project Summary The Iron Range project is located near Creston, BC, and is owned 100% by Eagle Plains, subject to a 1% NSR on a portion of the claim group. A well-developed transportation and power corridor transects the southern part of the property, including a high-pressure gas pipeline and a high-voltage hydro-electric line, both of which follow the CPR mainline and Highway 3. The rail line provides efficient access to the Teck smelter in Trail, B.C. The Iron Range property covers an extensive area approximately 10km x 60km which overlies the regional Iron Range Fault System ("IRFS"). Prior to the acquisition and initial involvement of Eagle Plains in 2001, the property had seen little systematic exploration for other than iron resources known to exist on the property since the late 1800s. Since 2001, Eagle Plains and its partners have completed 17,226m in diamond-drilling in 70 holes, collected 2482 line-km of airborne and surface geophysical data and analysed 10,053 soil geochemical samples, 495 rock samples and 5749 drill core samples. Management of both Eagle Plains and the Company consider the Iron Range project to hold excellent potential for the presence of both iron-oxide copper-gold ("IOCG") and Sullivan-style lead-zinc-silver sedimentary-exhalative ("sedex") mineralization. The Sullivan Mine was discovered in 1892 and is one of the largest sedex deposits in the world. Over its 100+ year lifetime, Sullivan produced almost 300 million ounces of silver, 36 billion pounds of lead, zinc and other associated metals, collectively worth over $40B at current metal prices. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Iron Range property. Drilling at Iron Range in 2010 resulted in the discovery of the Talon Zone, where drill-hole IR10-010 intersected 2 intervals of strong and continuous mineralization including 14.0m grading 5.1g/t gold, 1.86% lead, 2.1% Zinc, 75.3g/t silver and 7.1m grading 8.13g/t gold, 2.84% lead, 3.07% zinc, 86.6g/t silver (Eagle Plains news release December 21st, 2010). Previous drilling 10km north of the Talon Zone in 2008 by Eagle Plains intersected gold mineralization in drill-hole IR08006 which assayed 7.0m grading 51.52g/t (1.50 oz/ton) gold (Eagle Plains news release dated April 20th, 2009). The most recent drilling activity on the property was carried out by the Company in 2020 when 10 holes totalling 738.7m were been completed, with no significant results reported. Diamond drilling activity will be carried out by TerraLogic Exploration Inc. under the supervision of Kerry Bates, P.Geo.. Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a Director of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. About Eagle Plains Resources Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSX-V (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin-outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and recently Taiga Gold being notable examples. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team. Eagle Plains also holds significant royalty interests in western Canadian projects, covering a broad spectrum of commodities on projects controlled by Cameco Corp., Iso Energy Corp., Denison Mines Corp., Skeena Resources Ltd. and Alexco Resource Corp./Banyan Gold Corp., among others. Management's focus is to advance its most promising exploration projects. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices. Expenditures from 2011-2021 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $27M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 42,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim J. Termuende" President and CEO For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673) Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of Property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706683/Drilling-Underway-on-Eagle-Plains-Iron-Range-GoldSedex-Project-Southeastern-BC In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly. The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. However, without providing us with your personal data, you will be unable to (as appropriate): contact us; subscribe to our mailing list; subscribe to any of our publications; or receive information about In Defence of Marxism. We collect information about you: (1) When you give it to us DIRECTLY You may give us your personal data in order to subscribe to a newsletter or publication, when you contact us by phone, email or post, when you sign a petition / statement, and/or when you donate money to us. (2) When you give it to us INDIRECTLY Your information will also be provided to us when you follow us or otherwise interact with on or via Twitter, when you like and/or join our page on Facebook or interact with us in other ways on or via Facebook. (3) When you give permission to OTHER ORGANISATIONS to share it or it is AVAILABLE PUBLICLY We may combine information you provide to us with information available from external publicly available sources. Depending on your privacy settings for social media services, we may also access information from those accounts or services. We use this information to gain a better understanding of you and to improve our communications and fundraising activities. (4) When you visit our WEBSITE We use cookies to identify you when you visit our website. Please refer to our Cookies Policy for details on the way our use of cookies affects your personal data. What information do we collect? We may collect, store and use the following kinds of personal data: (1) We will typically hold your name and contact details, including telephone number, location, and e-mail address. However, we may request other information where it is appropriate and relevant, for example: Your bank details or debit/credit card details (if making a donation). (2) any communication preferences you give; (3) information about your computer and about your visits to and use of this website including your IP address, geographical location, browser type, referral source, length of visit and number of page views; and/or (4) any other information shared with us as per clause 1. Do we process sensitive personal information? Applicable law recognises certain categories of personal information as sensitive and therefore requiring more protection, including political opinions and trade union membership. In limited cases, we may collect sensitive personal data about you. We would only collect sensitive personal data if there is a clear reason for doing so; and will only do so with your explicit consent. How and why will we use your personal data? Personal data, however provided to us, will be used for the purposes specified in this Policy or in relevant parts of the website. We may use your personal information to: (1) Enable you to subscribe to our hard copy publications; (2) Send you information about our work, campaigns, organisations and any other information, products or services that we provide (this will not be done without your consent); (3) Provide you with the services, products or information you have requested; (4) If you request, put you in touch with other supporters in your area (who have also provided such consent); (5) Handle the administration of any donation or other payment you make via credit/debit card, cheque, standing order or BACS transfer; (6) Collect payments from you and send statements and/or receipts to you; (7) Conduct research into the impact of our activity / campaigns; (8) Deal with enquiries and complaints made by you relating to the website or us in general; (9) Make petition submissions to third parties, where you have signed a petition and the third party is a target of the campaign to which the petition relates; and/or (10) Audit and/or administer our accounts. Supporter Analysis Google Analytics We may use some of your personal information to analyse our digital performance, for example to see how our website can be improved to help us achieve the purposes set out in section 9 below, to record how you are using our website or to assess the popularity of different articles / campaigns. For more information on how we use your personal information in relation to Google Analytics, please view our cookie policy by clicking this link cookies policy You can opt-out of the collection of information for such purposes here: http://www.aboutads.info/choices Communications, updates, fundraising Where you have provided appropriate consent, we will contact you by telephone and e-mail, with targeted communications to let you know about our events and/or activities that we consider may be of particular interest; about the work of In Defence of Marxism; and to ask for donations or other support. Donations and other payments All financial transactions carried out on our website are handled through either: PayPal (Europe) S.a r.l. (PayPal), a third party payment services provider. We recommend that you read PayPals privacy policy (available at https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full?locale.x=en_GB ) prior to effecting any transactions with us through PayPal; or GoCardless Ltd (GoCardless), a third party payment services provider. We recommend that you read GoCardlesss privacy policy (available at https://www.gocardless.com/legal/privacy) prior to effecting any transactions with us through GoCardless. We will provide your personal data to PayPal / GoCardless only to the extent necessary for the purposes of processing payments for transactions you enter into with us. We do not store your financial details. Childrens data We do not knowingly process data of any person under the age of 16. If we come to discover, or have reason to believe, that you are 15 and under and we are holding your personal information, we will delete that information within a reasonable period and withhold our services accordingly. Security of and access to your personal data We endeavour to ensure that there are appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to prevent the loss, destruction, misuse, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or of access to your personal information. Your information is only accessible by appropriately trained staff and volunteers. We may also use agencies and/or suppliers to process data on our behalf. We may also merge or partner with other organisations and in so doing transfer and/or acquire personal data. Please note that some countries outside of the EEA have a lower standard of protection for personal data, including lower security requirements and fewer rights for individuals. We may transfer and/or store personal data collected from you to and/or at a destination outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Such personal data may be processed by agencies and/or suppliers operating outside the EEA. If we transfer and/or store your personal data outside the EEA we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient implements appropriate measures to protect your personal data. Otherwise than as set out in this Privacy Policy, we will only ever share your data with your informed consent. Your rights Where we rely on your consent to use your personal information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This includes the right to ask us to stop using your personal information for direct marketing purposes or to be unsubscribed from our email list at any time. You also have the following rights: (1) Right to be informed you have the right to be told how your personal information will be used. This Policy and any other policies and statements used on our website and in our communications are intended to provide you with a clear and transparent description of how your personal information may be used. (2) Right of access you can write to us to ask for confirmation of what information we hold on you and to request a copy of that information. Provided we are satisfied that you are entitled to see the information requested and we have successfully confirmed your identity, we have 30 days to comply. (3) Right of erasure as from 25 May 2018, you can ask us for your personal information to be deleted from our records. (4) Right of rectification if you believe our records of your personal information are inaccurate, you have the right to ask for those records to be updated. (5) Right to restrict processing you have the right to ask for processing of your personal data to be restricted if there is disagreement about its accuracy or legitimate usage. (6) Right to data portability to the extent required by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) where we are processing your personal information (i) under your consent, (ii) because such processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are party or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contact or (iii) by automated means, you may ask us to provide it to you or another service provider in a machine-readable format. To exercise these rights, please send a description of the personal information in question using the contact details in section 15 below. You can also unsubscribe from our email list by sending a blank email to news-unsubscribe@marxist.com Where we consider that the information with which you have provided us does not enable us to identify the personal information in question, we reserve the right to ask for (i) personal identification and/or (ii) further information. Lawful processing We are required to have one or more lawful grounds to process your personal information. Only 4 of these are relevant to us: Personal information is processed on the basis of a persons consent Personal information is processed on the basis of a contractual relationship Personal information is processed on the basis of legal obligations Personal information is processed on the basis of legitimate interests (1) Consent We will ask for your consent to use your information to send you electronic communications such as newsletters and and fundraising emails, and if you ever share sensitive personal information with us. (2) Contractual relationships Most of our interactions with supporters are voluntary and not contractual. However, sometimes it will be necessary to process personal information so that we can enter contractual relationships with people. For example, if you subscribe to one of our publications, or purchase merchandise online. (3) Legal obligations Sometimes we will be obliged to process your personal information due to legal obligations which are binding on us. We will only ever do so when strictly necessary. (4) Legitimate interests Applicable law allows personal information to be collected and used if it is reasonably necessary for our legitimate activities (as long as its use is fair, balanced and does not unduly impact individuals rights). We will rely on this ground to process your personal data when it is not practical or appropriate to ask for consent. Achieving our purposes These include (but are not limited to) promoting socialist policies Governance Internal and external audit for financial or regulatory compliance purposes Statutory reporting Publicity and income generation Conventional direct marketing and other forms of marketing, publicity or advertisement Unsolicited messages, including campaigns, newsletters, and fundraising appeals Analysis, targeting and segmentation to develop and promote or strategy and improve communication efficiency Personalisation used to tailor and enhance your experience of our communications Operational Management Maintenance of suppression files Processing for historical, scientific or statistical purpose Purely administrative purposes Responding to enquiries Delivery of requested products or information Communications designed to administer existing services including subscriptions, administration of petitions and financial transactions Thank you communications and receipts Maintaining a supporter database and suppression lists Financial Management and control Processing financial transactions and maintaining financial controls Prevention of fraud, misuse of services, or money laundering Enforcement of legal claims Reporting criminal acts and compliance with law enforcement agencies When we use your personal information, we will consider if it is fair and balanced to do so and if it is within your reasonable expectations. We will balance your rights and our legitimate interests to ensure that we use your personal information in ways that are not unduly intrusive or unfair in other ways. Data retention The length of time each category of data will be retained will vary depending on how long we need to process it for, the reason it was collected, and in line with any statutory requirements. After this point the data will either be deleted, or we may retain a secure anonymised record for research and analytical purposes. In the event that you ask us to stop sending you direct marketing/fundraising/other electronic communications, we will keep your name on our internal suppression list to ensure that you are not contacted again. Policy amendments We keep this Privacy Policy under regular review and reserve the right to update from time-to-time by posting an updated version on our website, not least because of changes in applicable law. We recommend that you check this Privacy Policy occasionally to ensure you remain happy with it. We may also notify you of changes to our privacy policy by email. Third party websites We link our website directly to other sites. This Privacy Policy does not cover external websites and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external websites you visit via links on our website. Updating information You can check the personal data we hold about you, and ask us to update it where necessary, by emailing us at webmaster@marxist.com Contact We are not required by law to have a Data Protection Officer however we have a Data Protection Manager. Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") Is pleased to announce that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement of 8 million units at a price of $0.07 per unit for gross proceeds of $560,000. Each Unit consists of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase, for a period of 60 months from the date of issue, one additional common share of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.10 per share. Directors, officers or other insiders of the Company may participate in the foregoing offerings, and such parties may sell securities of the Company owned or controlled by them personally through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange to finance participation in such offerings. There is no material fact or material change of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. A finder's fee may be paid to eligible finders in accordance to the TSX Venture Exchange policies. All securities issued pursuant to the offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of closing. The offering and payment of finders' fees are both subject to approval by the TSX-V. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for exploration expenses on the Company's British Columbia mineral properties and general working capital. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Christopher R. Anderson" Christopher R. Anderson, President, CEO and Director 604 488-3900 Investor Relations: Sophy Cesar, 604-488-3900, ir@XimenMiningCorp.com About Ximen Mining Corp. Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen's two Gold projects The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under a option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment. SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706737/Ximen-Mining-Financing Customer Engagement Leader Scales Up To Accelerate Revenue Growth and Meet Market Opportunity RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Relay Network, the innovator of experience feeds that drive unmatched customer, patient, member and employee engagement, today announced a key hire following a year of continued massive growth. John Thomas joins the company as Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer as its 101st employee, another testament to Relay Network's expansion. Thomas's hire follows the onboarding of several other key executive roles that reflect the impressive and growing demand for Relay Network's SaaS Feed platform as well as the ability to recruit executive talent in today's competitive market. The company announced 35% year-over-year revenue growth, delivering more than 75 million engagement feeds to their clients' customers, members, patients and employees. Thomas has more than 25 years of experience in various service industries including digital media, marketing technology, e-commerce and financial services. As a seasoned GM and business development executive, he has built and managed numerous new businesses and product lines inside multi-national companies including Bank of America, Amazon, MBNA America, Hibu and, most recently, TD Bank where he was responsible for enterprise innovation and strategic business architecture. Thomas's expertise lies in the areas of digital advertising, consumer technology and marketplaces, consumer and business payments and scaled business transformation. In his role, Thomas will focus on communicating and executing Relay Network's strategic objectives. He will also be responsible for managing the innovation process inside the organization, identifying market opportunities and advancing new technologies. "As a client, I experienced firsthand the impact customer feeds had on customer lifetime value. I look forward to helping all Relay clients succeed in fostering meaningful digital relationships with their customers, patients, members and employees with feeds," said Thomas. "We have a tremendous opportunity to become the feed platform for every business and dramatically change digital engagement for the better." "As our business continues to accelerate, we are strengthening our leadership team for scale," said Relay Network CEO Matt Gillin. "I'm heartened to have John Thomas, one of our biggest customer advocates and thought leaders join us at this juncture. Customer demand for Relay's innovative feed platform has never been stronger. I see it as a testament to the strength of our business, the trust our clients place in us and the uniqueness of our platform that we are able to recruit high-caliber talent to see us through our next explosive growth chapter." Additional key executive hires added in the last year are: Todd Graber, Chief Financial Officer. Graber has over 25 years of experience as a financial leader within the financial, marketing and security industries, primarily for high-growth SaaS companies. As Chief Financial Officer, Graber has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in both equity and debt financing and has led several companies to a successful exit. Graber's expertise lies in building scalable financial and operational organizations through a combination of leading great teams, implementing cutting-edge financial and business intelligence platforms and providing actionable insights to the executive team and board. In his role at Relay, Graber will partner with the executive team and will focus on efficiently scaling the financial and operational foundation of the firm, as well as providing strategic insights for further growth. Graber has over 25 years of experience as a financial leader within the financial, marketing and security industries, primarily for high-growth SaaS companies. As Chief Financial Officer, Graber has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in both equity and debt financing and has led several companies to a successful exit. Graber's expertise lies in building scalable financial and operational organizations through a combination of leading great teams, implementing cutting-edge financial and business intelligence platforms and providing actionable insights to the executive team and board. In his role at Relay, Graber will partner with the executive team and will focus on efficiently scaling the financial and operational foundation of the firm, as well as providing strategic insights for further growth. Dan Salinas, Chief Revenue Officer. Salinas is a sales, product management and business development executive with over 25 years of experience building and leading sales teams primarily focused on digital experience. Prior to joining Relay Network, Salinas was Vice President of Business Development at Lakeside Software where he was instrumental in the growing and positioning of Lakeside as a leader in the digital experience monitoring market, leading to a significant exit. Prior to Lakeside, Salinas spent 18 years at IBM where he served in a variety of roles managing and growing sales, new product offering development and technical activities with a strong focus and experience in the digital experience market Salinas is a sales, product management and business development executive with over 25 years of experience building and leading sales teams primarily focused on digital experience. Prior to joining Relay Network, Salinas was Vice President of Business Development at Lakeside Software where he was instrumental in the growing and positioning of Lakeside as a leader in the digital experience monitoring market, leading to a significant exit. Prior to Lakeside, Salinas spent 18 years at IBM where he served in a variety of roles managing and growing sales, new product offering development and technical activities with a strong focus and experience in the digital experience market Tal Klein, Chief Marketing Officer. Klein brings with him over two decades of marketing expertise, having served as CMO of digital experience monitoring leader Lakeside Software, Microsoft-acquired cloud access security broker Adallom, HP-acquired Bromium and others. As the digital engagement opportunity continues to grow, these leaders' tenure and experience will continue to position Relay Network at the forefront for employees, customers and partners. ABOUT RELAY NETWORK Relay Network is the innovator of SaaS feed technology, with over 10 years of experience helping companies more meaningfully engage with the people they serve. Using Relay Feeds, companies are deepening their relationships with their customers, members, patients, and employees. Our goal is to help our clients maximize the value of the relationships they've cultivated. COMPANY CONTACT Taylor Fleming, Relay Network tfleming@relaynetwork.com https://www.relaynetwork.com/ SOURCE: Relay Network View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706661/Relay-Network-Names-New-Chief-Strategy-Officer-Expands-Leadership-Team BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - To address and mitigate further impacts on global food security and surge in prices triggered by the Russian blockade of Black Sea ports, the G7 Summit pledged an additional $4.5 billion. More than half of it - $2.76 billion - will come from the United States. The leaders of the world's seven major economies called on countries and companies with large food stockpiles to contribute to the global food basket. 'We call on those partners with large food stockpiles, as well as on the private sector, to make food available without distorting the market,' says a statement issued by the Group of Seven leaders after the three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany. They called on all countries to avoid excessive stockpiling of food which can lead to further price increases. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and its dramatic economic impacts, in particular soaring food and energy prices, has dominated this year's G7 discussions. The leaders were focused on discussing a range of approaches to addressing the issue of how to facilitate Ukraine's grain reach global markets. Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports prevents millions of tons of food grain from being shipped out of Ukraine, a country known as Europe's breadbasket. Ukraine is a major global grain producer, and its inability to export the stock resulted in the shortfalls in global markets. Those pressures are becoming more acute as Ukraine reaches harvest season. Estimates suggest that up to 40 million more people could be pushed into poverty in 2022 as a result of Putin's war in Ukraine and its secondary effects. The G7 leaders, from UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, have agreed to 'explore further measures to prevent Russia from profiting from its war of aggression.' 'As for oil, we will consider a range of approaches, including options for a possible comprehensive prohibition of all services, which enable transportation for Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products globally, unless the oil is purchased at or below a price to be agreed in consultation with international partners,' they said in the joint communique. G7 will further reduce reliance on civil nuclear and related goods from Russia, including working to assist countries seeking to diversity their supplies. 'We encourage producer countries to increase their production to decrease the tension in energy markets, and in this context welcome OPEC's recent responses to tightening international markets. We call on them to continue action in this regard.' The summit decided to end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector by the end of 2022, except in limited circumstances clearly defined by each country consistent with a 1.5 degree Celsius warming limit and the goals of the Paris Agreement. G7 leaders expressed serious concern over the human rights violations in China, and the situation in the East and South China Seas. The leaders committed to working together to develop a coordinated approach to remedy China's non-market practices to help ensure a level playing field for businesses and workers. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Multi-million-dollar project will enable conversion of Reunion Island power station to biomass, reducing emissions by 84% Global technology and software company Emerson (NYSE: EMR) has been selected by Albioma (PAR: ABIO), a French independent energy provider, to help transition its coal-fired Bois Rouge plant to 100% renewable energy. As part of Albioma's wider mission to transition all of its existing fossil fuel plants to renewable energy, Emerson's automation systems and software will enable the coal-fired power station to convert to biomass feedstock. The multi-million-dollar project is the latest example of how Emerson technologies are helping customers accelerate their transition to more sustainable energy. The power plant, one of three that Albioma operates on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, will be converted to use 100% biomass wood pellets. The overhaul of the 108-megawatt facility will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 640,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year, an 84% decrease in direct emissions compared to current operating levels. "Our aim as a company is to reach almost 100% renewable energies by 2030 at the latest, and the complete discontinuation of coal at our flagship site represents a major milestone in this green revolution," said Pascal Langeron, chief operating officer, Reunion Island of Albioma. "Emerson is an automation partner with whom we have a trusted relationship and whose extensive experience and expertise in biomass power plants will be crucial to this project being completed on schedule." The Bois Rouge plant consists of three generating units. Two units are already controlled by Emerson's Ovation distributed control system, which will be modified for use with biomass feedstock, and the third unit will be replaced with a new Ovation system. The units will also be modernized with new turbine protection and health monitoring systems, safety systems for the boilers, and upgraded boiler control elements and instrumentation. To ensure the project is completed within the available timeframe a critical requirement of Albioma Emerson will provide its Project Certainty methodologies, digital technologies and software expertise. In addition to delivering local engineering support for the project, Emerson will provide its Remote Virtual Office (RVO) collaboration platform a secure virtual engineering and testing environment that will enable Albioma to access Emerson's resources and ongoing support to reduce project risk and costs. "Emerson has a vital role to play in the global transition to a sustainable energy future by supporting customers in their conversion projects," said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson's power and water business. "Our automation technologies, software, solutions and biomass project expertise will help Albioma operate Bois Rouge at peak performance, while also benefiting the environment by achieving a very significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions." Work on the transition project will begin during a planned outage in June 2022 and is scheduled to be completed within five months. Additional resources: Join the Emerson Exchange 365 Community Connect with Emerson via Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube About Emerson Emerson (NYSE: EMR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial and residential markets. Our Automation Solutions business helps process, hybrid and discrete manufacturers maximize production, protect personnel and the environment while optimizing their energy and operating costs. Our Commercial Residential Solutions business helps ensure human comfort and health, protect food quality and safety, advance energy efficiency and create sustainable infrastructure. For more information visit Emerson.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005642/en/ Contacts: For Emerson Denise Clarke 512.587.5879 denise.clarke@fleishman.com Global nonprofit World Hope International (WHI) has partnered with first-aid supplies and training company My Medic to supply 3,000 first aid kits, valued at over $500,000 USD, to emergency first responders who are treating individuals injured as a result of the war in Ukraine. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005310/en/ A delegation of My Medic and World Hope International medical and crisis response team members traveled to Odesa, Ukraine last week to donate 3,000 Individual First Aid Kits and train first responders, paramedics, and civilian emergency response personnel on their use. (Photo: Business Wire) Created by My Medic as an essential trauma kit, the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK), can mean the difference between life and death for casualties of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The kits include emergency response equipment designed to stop bleeding, stabilize fractures, seal open chest wounds, clear compromised airways, and care for burns and other medical emergencies. To ensure seamless use of the equipment, a delegation of My Medic and WHI medical and crisis response team members traveled to Odesa, Ukraine last week to train over 400 first responders, paramedics and civilian emergency response personnel. The trainers, who focused on how to properly utilize the equipment in each kit, represent over seventy years of experience and have deployed with and trained some of the world's top crisis response teams. WHI CEO John Lyon, who traveled with the delegation, said, "Ordinary citizens and volunteer paramedics are on the front lines of this war. They lack equipment. They lack resources. They lack money. What they do not lack is a force of will to help those severely injured. These first aid kits and training will equip these fearless leaders to save lives." My Medic CEO David Barlow added, "One of the most rewarding aspects of the partnership is that the training and kits will be implemented immediately to help save lives on the front lines of the war." The cost of the kits provided to WHI were discounted by My Medic. The donation of the kits and the delegation of trainers deployed to Ukraine were funded by WHI donors. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, WHI has delivered over $12 million worth of medical supplies to aid those fleeing the war zone. Efforts have included partnering with churches, governments, and other aid agencies to help refugees in Moldova and Poland and training teams on the ground to watch for evidence of human trafficking. For more information on this effort and WHI's other work across the globe, please visit: https://www.worldhope.org/. For more information on My Medic, please visit: https://mymedic.com/. About World Hope International World Hope International addresses global poverty with sustainable, grassroots solutions that promote dignity and build opportunity and hope in the communities where it works. World Hope International responds to both acute crises and systemic challenges by partnering with local communities to implement the most sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions initiatives that belong to the communities and are centered on their visions for a better future. World Hope International does this through strong partnerships that share its compassion for those who have been marginalized. About My Medic A family-operated first-aid kits, supplies, and training company based on the objective to save lives, is driven by a goal to prepare everyone with equipment and training for the unexpected emergency. Based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, My Medic believes everyone should have instant access to a life-saving first-aid kit. Visit My Medic to learn more and follow @MyMedicofficial. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005310/en/ Contacts: Jeanne Hoffa for WHI Coast Public Relations jeanne@coastprgroup.com 949-233-5372 Sunlight is a Lenovo Innovator Program partner and an NVIDIA Inception member Sunlight.io, the edge infrastructure company, today announced support for the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform, and the Lenovo SE70, with the launch of its beta program 'Project Rosie.' Sunlight NexVisor is the first full hyperconverged stack to support the Arm-CPU-based NVIDIA Jetson. Sunlight NexVisor coupled with the Lenovo SE70 makes it easy to deploy AI applications anywhere at the edge. Application developers can be the first to access the technology and test their AI applications by applying here. AI is a 'killer application' at the edge where it is bringing real-time "insight to action" across a wide range of use cases. For example, computer vision combining cameras, video streaming and analytics is being implemented at drive-thrus nationwide for faster and more personalized food ordering; on manufacturing production lines to instantly identify and remove faulty items; and across smart cities to enhance population and crowd security. These sorts of AI applications need high levels of processing power with low latency and reliable networking in order to give real-time results. Enterprises want to replicate the simplicity of the hyperconverged infrastructure they enjoy in their core data centers for their edge AI applications. However, datacenter HCI isn't able to run in the constrained environments that exist at the edge due to their large RAM and CPU overhead and lack of edge management capabilities. This makes edge deployments extremely resource intensive to manage and hard to scale. Sunlight NexVisor is the only hyperconverged stack that is able to run on both x86 and Arm architectures and with a tiny footprint suitable for constrained edge environments. It includes centralized management and application deployment capabilities. NVIDIA Jetson is the world's leading platform for AI at the edge. NVIDIA Jetson modules are small form-factor, high-performance computers containing an Arm processor and GPU. The combination of Sunlight NexVisor and the NVIDIA Jetson-powered Lenovo ThinkEdge SE70 makes it possible to run demanding edge AI applications in harsh environments that span hundreds or thousands of sites with easy single-pane-of-glass management, low TCO and tiny power and space requirements. Sunlight is a member of NVIDIA Inception, a global program designed to nurture cutting-edge startups. Scott Tease, Lenovo's VP for HPC and AI said, "Our customers realize the advantages of edge AI and deploying solutions closer to the point of data capture to run real-time inferencing. That is why we are so excited to be partnering up with Sunlight as they support our edge portfolio to significantly improve the efficiency and economics of AI deployments for customers worldwide." "We are excited to launch this exclusive beta program for users who need to run efficient, manageable AI out where the data is generated at the edge," said Julian Chesterfield, Founder and CEO of Sunlight. "Sunlight already offers full support for the Lenovo ThinkEdge and ThinkSystem range, including the Intel-based SE30, SE50, SE350 and SE450. Together, we've been able to produce a truly industry-first solution by combining Sunlight's turn-key, edge-as-a-service offering with Lenovo's leading AI edge platform powered by NVIDIA Jetson. Sunlight was born out of a collaboration with Arm back in 2013 to build a lightweight hypervisor, and we're seeing huge demand for the use of Arm-based servers at the edge due to their performance and power-efficiency." About Sunlight The Sunlight Edge is a reliable, secure, zero-touch and economic infrastructure that helps turn your critical edge data into real-time insight and action across your retail stores, manufacturing lines and smart cities. Sunlight makes running and managing applications and infrastructure at the edge as easy as in the cloud. Sunlight works with efficient, ruggedized edge hardware so you can consolidate all of your in-location edge applications with full isolation, security and high availability. Contact info@sunlight.io with any queries, demo requests, or to arrange a free trial. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005051/en/ Contacts: Contact Hannah Mellow Marketing Director hannah.mellow@sunlight.io In addition to his investment, Georges brings listing expertise LIMASSOL, Cyprus, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SquaredFinancial, headquartered in Europe, has welcomed back co-founder Georges Cohen who has returned to the company as an investor. Georges is a renowned French businessman who joined Capgemini at the age of 17 as a sales commercial engineer in 1970 and climbed the ranks to become one of its directors. In 1990, he left the group to found Transiciel, one of France's fastest growing information technology consulting groups. In 2003, he merged Transiciel to Capgemini through a share exchange offer. Following this transaction, Georges was tasked to merge Sogeti and Transiciel. Georges successfully led the operation and managed the new entity, which was established in many countries throughout Europe and the United States. Currently based in Geneva, Cohen has created a family group which predominantly invests in technology and commodities, one of which being Altergaz - the first independent natural gas company in France. In particular, Georges enjoys helping with the development of young companies and sharing his expertise. The family group portfolio is diverse and present in many countries. Cohen took control of Robex, a Canadian gold mining company in Mali Philippe Ghanem, founder and executive chairman of Squared Financial, said: "We are in a new phase of execution as our scale and size are being driven by demand. Georges wanted to return to the fold as he shares our vision. "Our trajectory of increasing capital means we have the funds to acquire technology and continue to attract the best talent, and, as in this case, returning talent. Georges brings with him a wealth of expertise in capital markets and companies listing, which is something we have always been clear that we aim to achieve." Georges explained: "When Philippe and I founded this company in 2005, we wanted to build the financial institution of the future. Our vision is now a reality, and I want to continue to be a catalyst for success by funding further technology capability. Traders want a timely, personalised, accessible platform, and we are well capitalised to meet future demand." SquaredFinancial sees thousands of clients trading every day on its platform. The FinTech incorporated allows customers to trade the world's most popular markets with seven different asset classes and more than 20,000 trading instruments. https://www.squaredfinancial.com The company also partners with Proofpoint to block malware and cryptomining threats Sysdig, the unified container and cloud security leader, announced Drift Control to prevent container attacks at runtime. Teams can detect, prevent, and speed incident response for containers that were modified in production, also known as container drift. Additionally, Sysdig enhanced malware and cryptomining detection with new threat intelligence feeds from Proofpoint Emerging Threats (ET) Intelligence and the Sysdig Threat Research Team. To be successful in the cloud, teams need a single view of risk with no blind spots, which includes having prevention that flags and blocks container drift. Read: Preventing Container Runtime Attacks with Sysdig's Drift Control New critical vulnerabilities uncovered, including Log4j and Spring4Shell, are a reminder that threat detection is critical both in the cloud and data center. This detection needs to provide multiple layers of protection. Sysdig, using the Falco open source project, the de facto standard for cloud-native threat detection, covers all of the common system intrusion attack categories identified in Verizon's 2022 Data Breach Investigation Report. With this announcement, Sysdig adds additional layers of detections. The first uses enhanced malware and cryptomining detection with the Proofpoint threat feeds for known and emerging threats. Drift Control, the second additional technique, enforces the immutability principle, providing a preventative defense layer to cloud-native workloads. Container immutability ensures that container software is not modified during its lifetime, preserving consistency from source to run and preventing actions that could be part of an attack. Given the dynamic nature of cloud-native environments and legacy practices carrying over to cloud environments, teams often neglect immutability best practices and are blind to drift, especially at scale. To close the dangerous security gaps created by container drift, Sysdig provides Drift Control to automatically flag and deny deviations from the trusted original container. Key Benefits Detect and prevent container drift with Drift Control: With Sysdig, teams can prevent common runtime attacks by dynamically blocking executables that were not in the original container. Sysdig helps customers follow security best practices of immutability and ensure containers aren't modified after deployment in production. Enhance detection with the latest threat intelligence feeds: Sysdig Secure has added threat intelligence feeds from Proofpoint Emerging Threats (ET) Intelligence and the Sysdig Threat Research Team. With these feeds, teams can rely on the most timely and accurate threat information, including malicious IPs and domains, to better protect their environments against threats such as Command Control (C2), malware, backdoors, crytominers, and anonymization. Speed incident response and mitigation with Rapid Response: Inaddition to the new prevention and detection capabilities powered by Drift Control and threat intelligence feeds, teams can then use Sysdig Secure to dig directly into the compromised or suspicious container with on-demand secured shell access and investigate the blocked executable and detected malicious communications. Teams can minimize exposure by removing the malicious file locally from the command line. Sysdig keeps a detailed audit trail of all mitigation commands and can upload session history to a user-defined external storage. "When there is an attack every 11 seconds, it is important to have multiple layers of defense," said Omer Azaria, Vice President of Research and Development at Sysdig. "Sysdig's new Drift Control capability enforces best practices that can stop an attack before damage is done." Availability Sysdig Secure customers have access to Drift Control and new threat feeds now and for new customers, it is included in Sysdig Secure at no additional cost. Resources Read: 5 Reasons Why Sysdig Partners with Proofpoint to Enhance Cloud Security. Read: Preventing Container Runtime Attacks with Sysdig's Drift Control. Learn more about Sysdig Secure. About Sysdig Sysdig is driving the standard for cloud and container security. The company pioneered cloud-native runtime threat detection and response by creating Falco and Sysdig as open source standards and key building blocks of the Sysdig platform. With the platform, teams can find and prioritize software vulnerabilities, detect and respond to threats, and manage cloud configurations, permissions, and compliance. From containers and Kubernetes to cloud services, teams get a single view of risk from source to run, with no blind spots, no guesswork, no black boxes. The largest and most innovative companies around the world rely on Sysdig. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005539/en/ Contacts: Amanda McKinney Smith amanda.smith@Sysdig.com 703-473-4051 LUGANO, Switzerland, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Temera, Luxochain and Polygon are to announce the collaboration with Bulgari into its newest high jewellery collection, launched in Paris, featuring emeralds, rubies and a surprising, sparkling new addition: NFTs. On this special occasion, the Maison also revealed Beyond Wonder, the first NFT jewel ever realized by Bulgari: an intangible creation, transcending the boundaries of materiality though a unique dialogue between creativity and the unlimited universe of cutting-edge digital technologies under the sign of Italian genius. This unprecedented jewel is a bold testament to the Roman House's pioneering approach, trailblazing DNA and relentless quest for innovation. Beyond Wonder is presented together with the NFT artworks of two High Jewellery creations, namely the Ruby Metamorphosis and the Emerald Glory necklaces. Further strengthening the connection between High Jewellery and High Technology through Bulgari's know-how and ever-evolving creative vision, the two digital artworks will be sold only together with their physical twin necklace, uniting the tangible and the intangible into one perfect whole. The two "digital twins" are not replicas of the necklaces to wear on Metaverse, instead, they are digital artworks inspired by the necklaces. Their data is stored on the Aura blockchain and also on Polygon Blockchain. The NFTs are minted by Luxochain, an innovative company that is becoming a reference for Fashion & Luxury, with the support of Polygon Studios, and are accessible through a digital experience created by Temera, leader of innovation-driven business journey for Brands. Digital twins are set to become a popular type of NFT for fashion brands. While some argued digital twins lack a suitable luxury halo and are more akin to a "bonus pack" mentality, Bulgari is diving in by directly linking its NFTs to high jewellery purchases. The LVMH-owned jeweller, with the same team of partners, has already launched a limited-edition collection of 10 NFT artworks inspired by the Octo Finissimo Ultra, which bills itself as the world's thinnest mechanical watch. They open up with a QR code engraved on the barrel's ratchet wheel. While the watch industry has been an early supporter of Web3, jewellery has so far shied away from it. Guido Mengoni, CMO of Temera, said: "To launch a second project in the NFT field, after Octo Finissimo, is a great honor for us at Temera. In this case, the Digital Twin concept makes us even more proud, as it comes very close to what is our main goal: serializing and tracking the product even in its entirely digital life. Bulgari has given us the opportunity to start this journey together, leading the way on an innovative path that is unique in the high jewelry industry" Davide Baldi, CEO of Luxochain, added: "We are very proud to be part of this consortium of top-level players on the international scene and we are honored by the esteem and trust that Bulgari has been confirming in us over time. We have always been committed to protecting the reputation of brands and safeguarding the authenticity of goods, what better opportunity to be able to achieve it with such precious jewels. We are convinced the market is still in the early stages of experimentation with this new technological innovation, which can guarantee authenticity and a new form of experience and loyalty to the end customer, and Bulgari is proving to be an innovative company in this sector, also for products of high-end like jewellery". Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, said: "Tying property rights to proof of authenticity is a powerful way of demonstrating verifiable digital ownership and ensuring against counterfeiting. Polygon and Polygon Studios are proud to be pioneering this new NFT standard to fortify authenticity in the luxury goods sector." The teams of Polygon, Temera and Luxochain, jointly, confirm the will to create a standard for the creation of NFTs, excluding speculation, becoming a symbol of authenticity and anti-counterfeiting obtaining full support from a Maison such as BVLGARI. About BVLGARI Part of the LVMH Group, Bulgari was founded in Rome in 1884 as a jewellery shop. Known as the magnificent Roman jeweller and master of coloured gems, Bulgari has established a worldwide reputation for Italian excellence and enjoys renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship. The company's international success has evolved into a global and diversified luxury purveyor of products and services, ranging from fine jewels and high-end watches to accessories and perfumes, and featuring an unrivalled network of boutiques and hotels in the world's most exclusive shopping areas. About Temera Temera is a center of excellence that supports business through the development of solutions based on the innovative use of IoT technologies such as RFID (UHF NFC) and Blockchain specifically designed for the Fashion & Luxury sector, addressing issues related to the optimization of logistics and production processes, traceability, anti-counterfeiting, customer engagement and control of distribution channels. Since 2009 it is the leading company for Digital Passport Identification. With offices in Europe and the United States, Temera has reached 650 million scanned tags in more than 60 countries. To learn more, visit: https://temera.it/ About Luxochain Luxochain is a Swiss company, based in Lugano, with world-class expertise in leveraging blockchain technology and product certification. Our mission is to deliver sustainability, reputation, and authenticity into the luxury market and ensure ownership of real products, creating unique certificates of authenticity and ownership combined with each product. Luxochain aims to increase brand awareness and fight the counterfeiting market. Luxochain registers goods' ownership transfers, the customer receives a certificate of digital property, as if it were the passport of the product itself, with a guarantee of non-repeatability. Luxochain offers a service to end-users, protecting them in the purchase of their products. At the same time, it works alongside the luxury brands, providing them with a transparency and loyalty system, as well as for analytics and insights towards their customers. About Polygon Polygon is the leading platform for Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development. Its growing suite of products offers developers easy access to all major scaling and infrastructure solutions: L2 solutions (ZK Rollups and Optimistic Rollups), sidechains, hybrid solutions, stand-alone and enterprise chains, data availability solutions, and more. Polygon's scaling solutions have seen widespread adoption with 7000+ applications hosted, 1B+ total transactions processed, ~100M+ unique user addresses, and $5B+ in assets secured. About Polygon Studios Polygon Studios aims to be the home of the most popular blockchain projects in the world. The Polygon Studios team is focused on supporting developers building decentralized apps on Polygon by providing Web2 and Web3 teams with a suite of services such as developer support, partnership, strategy, go-to-market, and technical integrations. Polygon Studios supports projects from OpenSea to Bulgari, from Adidas to Draft Kings and Decentral Games to Ubisoft. For more information please contact: Raffaella Di Vita for Bulgari International Press Relations and Press Events Sr Manager Bulgari Spa Lungotevere Marzio 11 00186 Rome tel. +39 06 68 810 282 Raffaella.DiVita@bulgari.com Guido Mengoni for Temera guido.mengoni@temera.it Federico Vigano for Luxochain federico.vigano@luxochain.io Katie Olver for Polygon polygon@cryptolandpr.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848388/Bulgari_NFT.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1691490/LOGO_LUXOCHAIN_Logo.jpg ELM Solutions' AI applications and thought leadership win a raft of prestigious global awards programs Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions' outstanding thought leadership and innovative use of data and AI have propelled the company to a record half year for independent industry recognition, with 16 trophies year to date. A host of leading industry publications and global awards programs have recognized ELM Solutions' contributions to the legal sector, most recently including: Lawyer Monthly: Barry Ader Technology Executive of the Year, Legal Awards Lawyer Monthly: Thought Leadership Innovation of the Year, Legal Awards 2022 IT World Awards: Creative Project or Initiative of the Year, Gold Globee 2022 IT World Awards: Milestone of the Year, Gold Globee New World Report: Legal Operations Technology Firm of the Year, Legal Elite Awards New World Report: Best Use of AI, Legal Elite Awards Lawyer Monthly has a circulation of more than 750,000 legal professionals globally. The publication's annual highly coveted Legal Awards are free to enter and recognize law firms, consultants and other legal professionals who have demonstrated tangible success in their markets. Barry Ader, Vice President, Product Management and Marketing, at Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions, was recognized as Technology Executive of Year. ELM Solutions' LegalVIEW Insights program an ongoing series of reports, webinars and podcasts discussing trends from the company's LegalVIEW spend database received additional praise as Thought Leadership Innovation of the Year. This is the second time this year that the company has been honored for its thought leadership prowess, following success in the Stevie awards. The LegalVIEW Insights campaign was also bestowed recognition by The IT Global Awards, a subset of the internationally recognized Globee Business Awards program celebrating achievements in the information technology space. ELM Solutions' expansive thought leadership program was feted with a Gold Globee in the Creative Project or Initiative of the Year category, while the LegalVIEW database's recent climb past more than $150 billion in legal invoices received identical honors in the Milestone of the Year category. New World Report, meanwhile, covers business news unfolding across the Americas and is part of the AI Global Media digital media group, which averages more than 600,000 pageviews per month. The online publication's Legal Elite Awards are free to enter and celebrate businesses, individuals and initiatives that achieve outstanding results within the legal industry. In addition to naming ELM Solutions Legal Operations Technology Firm of the Year, the awards program also celebrated the company's LegalVIEW Bill Analyzer and Predictive Insights solutions with a Best Use of AI plaudit. ELM Solutions' record half year for independent industry recognition also includes a previous array of honors from both the Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards and the American Business Awards. "I would like to thank the editorial teams of Lawyer Monthly and New World Report for recognizing ELM Solutions' dedication to providing market-leading technology and unparalleled insights," said Raja Sengupta executive vice president and general manager of Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions. "I'm extraordinarily proud of ELM Solutions Product and Engineering teams for ensuring that our company remains at the forefront of innovation while continuing to shape many important technology conversations unfolding across the legal industry." ELM Solutions, part of Wolters Kluwer GRC, is the market-leading global provider of enterprise legal spend and matter management, contract lifecycle management and legal analytics solutions. The company provides a comprehensive suite of tools that address the growing needs of corporate legal operations departments to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs. Corporate legal and insurance claims departments trust its innovative technology and end-to-end customer experience to drive world-class business outcomes. The other legal solutions business of Wolters Kluwer GRC is CT Corporation. Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions was named a leader in both the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Legal Spend Management 2020 Vendor Assessment and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Matter Management 2020 Vendor Assessment. The company's award-winning products include Passport, one of the highest rated ELM solutions in the latest Hyperion MarketView Legal Market Intelligence Report and TyMetrix 360, the industry's leading SaaS-based e-billing and matter management solution. CLM Matrix, meanwhile, was named a "strong performer" in The Forrester Wave: Contract Lifecycle Management For All Contracts, Q1 2021 report. ELM Solutions' LegalVIEW portfolio of legal analytics solutions is based upon the industry's largest and most comprehensive legal spend database, with more than $150 billion in invoices. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk Compliance Governance, Risk Compliance is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to help ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of 4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005229/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts for Wolters Kluwer GRC (Including Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions, Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation, Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions and Wolters Kluwer Finance, Risk Regulatory Reporting) Paul Lyon Senior Director, Global Corporate Communications: Global Marketing, Communications Planning Governance, Risk Compliance Division Wolters Kluwer Office +44 20 3197 6586 Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com Frank Ready Senior Specialist, Corporate Communications, Legal Services Governance, Risk Compliance Division Wolters Kluwer 717-205-3647 Frank.Ready@wolterskluwer.com Shifting from classrooms to e-commerce: China's education giant finds new life with bilingual livestreaming sessions 16:39, June 28, 2022 By Wu Chaolan ( People's Daily Online (Screenshot/Livestreaming studio Dongfang Zhenxuan operated by New Oriental Education & Technology Group) China's private tutoring giant, New Oriental Education & Technology Group (New Oriental), is making a comeback. This time the arena is not inside the classroom but a live-streaming studio. In late 2021, the tutoring company jumped onto the bandwagon, starting its live-streaming channel to sell agricultural products, with its founder Yu Minhong occasionally hosting the sessions himself. The company's sales were lackluster until a few weeks ago when its host Dong Yuhui, a former teacher, began bilingual livestream e-commerce sessions, creating a national buzz. In a video that went viral on Chinese social media, Dong, after promoting a set deal for steaks, pulled out a small whiteboard where he wrote English words related to beef, such as steak, seasoning, and cuts. Dong's enthusiasm, fluency in English, witty jokes, personal stories, and talent for singing soon won over audiences across China, drawing a surge of followers and boosting sales on their official live streaming platform. After the unexpected sky-rocketing popularity of Dong, the company waged a bilingual live-streaming bonanza with dozens of tutors-turned-live streamers grabbing every opportunity to teach their viewers a little English by using a whiteboard to introduce new vocabulary related to the product they were promoting. The bilingual online sales approach starkly contrasts with other live-streaming rooms where hosts can be seen excitedly presenting products and urging people on with a direct sales pitch to make an immediate purchase. In the New Oriental's live-streaming studio, the hosts would chat about life, poetry, and philosophy and even recite some of Shakespeare's sonnets while introducing the goods. "I like the way they promoted products. It's calm and educational," said He Yunyi, who partook in one of the live-streaming sessions as a viewer. "The wide knowledge reserve of the hosts has made them the 'top ceiling' for live streamers," she added. "Selling products in two languages is a significant transformation for New Oriental," said Yu in a video he posted online. "They have changed from being teachers to being live-streaming hosts, which has attracted public attention and recognition, all thanks to consumers' tolerance and support." Although various kinds of social e-commerce categories are trendy in China, the New Oriental's bilingual live-streaming strategy combines education, e-commerce, and live streaming has hit the sweet spot with Chinese netizens who like to learn something while being entertained and perhaps also buying something. "Online shopping has never been more educational," one viewer commented. "When I was a kid, I took your class, and now I bought your products," another wrote. On June 10, when Dong first wowed Chinese social media with his English-language sales promotion show, the company's live-streaming account garnered over 680,000 followers. As of June 27, the account has accumulated nearly 20 million followers. Since June 10, New Oriental's live-streaming platform sales have surpassed 680 million yuan, nearly twelves times higher than the sales from the previous two months, according to data from live-streaming tracking platform Huitun. Now, New Oriental's Dongfang Zhenxuan, literally Oriental's Selection, is one of the highest cash-earning live streaming studios on Douyin, a domestic video-sharing platform in China known internationally as Tiktok. The stellar performance of the company in the stock market can also testify to the popularity of its new bilingual online sales approach. After the company's new strategy went viral, New Oriental Education & Technology Group staged a shock turnaround with a dramatic upsurge in its stock over many consecutive days, amid hopes that a new live-streaming strategy might salvage some of its diminished business prospects. As one of the largest private education providers in China, the company has been hit hard by China's "double reduction" policy introduced in July 2021 aimed at easing the burden of excessive homework on Chinese youngsters and the consequent bans on off-campus subject-based curriculum tutoring for young students, with its shares having plunged and with tens of thousands of its staff having been laid off. Facing these sweeping regulations, the company tried to keep its head above water by exploring new market ideas and pivoting to sectors unaffected by the new rules. Venturing into selling agricultural products online via live streaming is one of the self-saving approaches that the company has pursued. "It is revolutionary for the current live-streaming industry. The growth potential could be expected," said Cai Jiaojiao, an industry insider who has worked in the live-streaming sector for five years. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun) WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) on Tuesday welcomed the recent public support in favor of its clearly superior offer to acquire Spirit Airlines Inc. (SAVE). JetBlue said it has received support from independent proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and major Spirit shareholder TIG Advisors. ISS said clients may find the modified JetBlue proposal 'preferable' to the Frontier Airlines, Inc. (FRNT) offer for Spirit and may therefore choose to vote AGAINST the inferior Frontier transaction at Spirit's upcoming special meeting. TIG Advisors publicly declared that it will vote AGAINST the Frontier merger at the Spirit special meeting. Further, JetBlue added that by entering into a revised merger agreement with Frontier less than a week before the special shareholder meeting, the Spirit Board has given ISS, and all shareholders, little time to weigh the improved proposals. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Slovakia has selected the CV90MkIV as its new Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005779/en/ Slovakia selects BAE Systems' CV90 for new combat vehicle (Photo: Business Wire) The joint bid from the Government of Sweden and BAE Systems was filed earlier this year by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and BAE Systems Hagglunds. Following the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic's feasibility report last month, the CV90 was placed in both first and second position (in two different turret variants) when measured against all requirements for the IFV program. Negotiations will now begin to finalize a production contract before the end of the year. With the CV90MkIV, the Slovak Army will acquire the most advanced CV90 available. Together with Slovak industry, BAE Systems is prepared to deliver the program on time and on budget. Slovakia's requirements call for multiple variants of the CV90MkIV, including several turreted versions and both engineer and recovery vehicles. The program also includes training and education, tactics, and future vehicle development. This selection brings Slovakia into the CV90 User Club, which currently consists of seven countries, including four members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). "The joint Swedish FMV and BAE Systems team confirms the Swedish government's support for Slovakia and further strengthens government-to-government relations," said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hagglunds in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. "Our approach is built on strategic collaboration with local Slovak suppliers, enabling them to play a high-value role throughout the production and lifecycle of the CV90 and all its variants." BAE Systems Hagglunds has delivered multiple CV90 export programs to European and NATO customers and has a strong track record of highly successful industrial cooperation that goes beyond the mechanical assembly of the vehicles. By working with local Slovak industry across all aspects of the contract, BAE Systems will ensure a significant level of collaboration during production to support defense industrial cooperation, jobs, and economic growth. BAE Systems is committed to exceeding the mandated requirement for Slovak content and to work closely with the country's industry to deliver the most capable IFV on the market today. The CV90 is available in 15 variants and designed to provide optimum mobility, with the highest level of protection in any terrain or tactical environment. The CV90MkIV combines improved battlefield speeds and handling with an upgraded electronic architecture to support future growth capabilities as the complex battlefield evolves. Today, there are nearly 1,300 CV90s in operation in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005779/en/ Contacts: Ola Thoren, BAE Systems Hagglunds Office: +46 660 80506; Mobile: +46 708 335000 ola.thoren@baesystems.se Issued by: BAE Systems, Inc. www.baesystems.com @BAESystemsInc With over five million Ukrainians displaced from their homeland since the start of the war - disproportionately women - Tent urges companies to join the Sunflower Project and offer employment, training, and remote work opportunities to tens of thousands of Ukrainian women BRUSSELS, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent), a network of over 250 large companies committed to integrating forcibly displaced people round the world, has launched the Sunflower Project - a pan-European initiative focused on accelerating the inclusion of tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugee women across the continent through better access to work. Five million refugees from Ukraine are currently displaced. Many -- at least one million Ukrainian women -- are likely to remain displaced in Europe over the coming years , even if Russian violence subsides. European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said: "Until now, the focus of the response to the war in Ukraine has been primarily humanitarian. With no end to the war in sight, it's now critical to address how displaced Ukrainians can get livelihoods. The Temporary Protection Directive gives those fleeing from the war the right to work in the EU. As the majority coming from Ukraine in this crisis are women and children, this initiative can broaden opportunities for women to have a job in the EU." Starting with 18 anchor companies - Accenture, The Adecco Group, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Generali, Hilton, ISS, KontoorBrands, LinkedIn, ManpowerGroup, PepsiCo, Randstad, Royal FrieslandCampina, SAP, Swarovski, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), TTEC, and Visa - and looking to enrol many more, the Sunflower Project will enlist companies to undertake activities in a number of areas, including direct hiring into companies' workforces; training and upskilling programs; mentoring; remote freelance work opportunities; and other wrap-around support. In the coming months, Tent will work with companies to develop specific programs, and to announce public commitments, in these and other areas in support of Ukrainian women. Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO of Chobani - a major U.S. food company - and founder of Tent, said: "The heartbreaking events in Ukraine have mobilised so many of us - individuals, governments, and businesses - to support Ukrainians in need. But as attention on the crisis starts to fade away, this is the time to step up and redouble our efforts. I call on companies to join us, and help give Ukrainian women a chance to provide for themselves and their families." Ukrainian women can bring critical value to companies. A recent survey showed that around two-thirds of Ukrainian refugees are mothers with higher education degrees or highly qualified specialists from sought-after professions. However, according to research published late last year by Economist Impact and sponsored by Tent, refugee women face "double discrimination" when seeking jobs and a number of hurdles - ranging from a lack of understanding of the local labour market, through to lower proficiency in the local language, a lack of access to social and professional networks, and higher childcare and domestic burdens. Chris Heutink, Executive Board member at Randstad, headquartered in the Netherlands, said: "Randstad has a longstanding commitment to help connect refugees to jobs. We're proud of our work to support displaced Ukrainians across the world - so many of whom are women - find a way to make a living. We're thrilled to join this initiative and pledge to play our part in helping make a meaningful difference to refugees' lives." Jean-Marc Ollagnier, CEO Europe, Accenture, said: "Businesses have a key role to play in supporting refugees as they rebuild their lives, and by joining this initiative, we can foster collaboration across Europe, scale initiatives and accelerate the much-needed access to livelihood opportunities for Ukrainian refugees. Accenture has been supporting refugees for many years and we have already mobilised to address the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and those being displaced. " To shape the programme, Tent will be working with Impact Force - a leading Ukrainian NGO focussed on behaviour change, social impact, and creating economic opportunities - and other Ukraine-focussed organisations to ensure the voices and needs of Ukrainian women are reflected in the initiative. Tent will also leverage its close relationships with over 80 refugee-serving organisations across the continent and will work with many others that support Ukrainian refugee women. Companies interested in joining the Sunflower Project, should visit: www.tent.org/the-sunflower-project , or email info@tent.org. For media enquiries: Kate Riminton katie.riminton@fleishmaneurope.com +32 4 78 70 19 83 About the Tent Partnership for Refugees With more and more refugees displaced for longer periods of time, businesses have a critical role to play in helping refugees integrate economically in their new host communities. The Tent Partnership for Refugees mobilises the global business community to improve the lives and livelihoods of more than 36 million refugees who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries. Founded by Chobani's founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya in 2016, we are a network of over 250 major companies committed to including refugees. Tent believes that companies can most sustainably support refugees by leveraging their core business operations - by engaging refugees as potential employees, entrepreneurs, and consumers. Tent has produced several guidebooks to advise companies on how to hire and support refugees across Europe, which can be found here . Find out more at www.tent.org. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1630553/TENT_LogoBlackText_Logo.jpg WELLINGTON (dpa-AFX) - NASA's CubeSat, designed to test a unique lunar orbit is safely in space and on the first leg of its journey to the Moon. The spacecraft is heading toward an orbit intended in the future for Gateway, a lunar space station built by the agency and its commercial and international partners that will support NASA's Artemis program, including astronaut missions. After postponing its launch by a day to allow more time to perform final systems checks, the mission, led by Advanced Space, took off aboard a Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 5.55 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The CAPSTONE mission, or the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, aims to send a microwave oven-sized spacecraft weighing just 55 pounds to elliptical lunar orbit. CAPSTONE is currently in low-Earth orbit, and it will take the spacecraft about four months to reach its targeted lunar orbit, NASA said. CAPSTONE is attached to Rocket Lab's Lunar Photon, an interplanetary third stage that will send CAPSTONE on its way to deep space. Shortly after launch, Lunar Photon separated from Electron's second stage. Over the next six days, Photon's engine will periodically ignite to accelerate it beyond low-Earth orbit, where Photon will release the CubeSat on a ballistic lunar transfer trajectory to the Moon. CAPSTONE will then use its own propulsion and the Sun's gravity to navigate the rest of the way to the Moon. The gravity-driven track will dramatically reduce the amount of fuel the CubeSat needs to get to the Moon. 'Delivering the spacecraft for launch was an accomplishment for the entire mission team, including NASA and our industry partners. Our team is now preparing for separation and initial acquisition for the spacecraft in six days,' said Bradley Cheetham, principal investigator for CAPSTONE and chief executive officer of Advanced Space, which owns and operates CAPSTONE on behalf of NASA. 'We have already learned a tremendous amount getting to this point, and we are passionate about the importance of returning humans to the Moon, this time to stay,' he added. As a pathfinder for Gateway, a Moon-orbiting outpost that is part of NASA's Artemis program, CAPSTONE will help reduce risk for future spacecraft by validating innovative navigation technologies and verifying the dynamics of this halo-shaped orbit. CAPSTONE's orbit also establishes a location that is an ideal staging area for missions to the Moon and beyond. The orbit will bring CAPSTONE within 1,000 miles of one lunar pole on its near pass and 43,500 miles from the other pole at its peak every seven days, requiring less propulsion capability for spacecraft flying to and from the Moon's surface than other circular orbits. After a four-month journey to its destination, CAPSTONE will orbit this area around the Moon for at least six months to understand the characteristics of the orbit. The peer-to-peer information that determines CAPSTONE's position in space will be used to evaluate its autonomous navigation software. If successful, this software, referred to as the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS), will allow future spacecraft to determine their location without having to rely exclusively on tracking from Earth. This capability could enable future technology demonstrations to perform on their own without support from the ground and allow ground-based antennas to prioritize valuable science data over more routine operational tracking. A successful CAPSTONE mission is expected to pave the way and expand opportunities for small and more affordable space and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars and other destinations throughout the solar system. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The global vacuum interrupters market achieved revenue of USD 2.45 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach around USD 3.51 billion by 2028, the market is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3 percent during the forecast period. Key Industry Insights & Finding of the Vacuum Interrupters Market Reports: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Vacuum Interrupters Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 5.3 % (2022-2028). (2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the Vacuum Interrupters Market was valued approximately USD 2.45 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly USD 3.51 Billion by 2028. Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly Billion by 2028. India , China , South Korea , and Japan are among the key nations regarded to be the primary vacuum interrupter production hubs. , , , and are among the key nations regarded to be the primary vacuum interrupter production hubs. According to World Economic and Financial Surveys, the economic momentum in Asia Pacific's top economies is likely to stay robust, indicating policy stimulus in Japan and China , which benefits other Asian countries. top economies is likely to stay robust, indicating policy stimulus in and , which benefits other Asian countries. Increasing expenditure on smart grid technologies, such as smart meters, distribution grid automation, and demand response systems, in countries such as South Korea , Japan , and Australia , would provide development prospects for the market during the projection period. , , and , would provide development prospects for the market during the projection period. According to the Kyoto Protocol, SF6 is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, having a global warming intensity of 23,000, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has classified it as a highly hazardous greenhouse gas. Zion Market Research published the latest report titled as "Vacuum Interrupters Market By Rated Voltage (0-15 KV, 15-30 KV, Above 30 KV), By Application (Circuit Breaker, Contactor, Recloser, Load Break Switch, & Tap Changer), By End User (Oil & Gas, Mining, Utilities & Transportation), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 - 2028." into their research database. Vacuum Interrupters Market: Overview A vacuum interrupter is a switch that employs electrical contacts in a vacuum in electrical engineering. It is the key element in generator circuit breakers, medium-voltage circuit breakers, and high-voltage circuit breakers. When electrical contacts separate, a metal vapor arc forms, which is soon extinguished. In utility power transmission networks, power production units, and power-distribution systems for trains, industrial facilities, and arc furnace applications, vacuum interrupters are commonly utilized. Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/vacuum-interrupters-market Our Free Sample Report Includes: 2022 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included 145 + 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 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: Vacuum Interrupters Market: Growth Drivers Rapid expansion of distribution and transmission can boost the market growth. In the future years, transportation and other related industries are likely to see a massive increase in electrification. This would result in a massive rise in the energy demand and, as a result, its generation, necessitating a billion-dollar investment in transmission over the following decade. The electrical transmission and distribution industry might attract more than USD 600 bn in investment. The electric car category is likely to get the majority of this investment. In addition to this expenditure, the existing transmission infrastructure must be maintained and integrated with power generated from renewable sources to fulfill the current electrical demand. According to research, a trade organization lobbying for transmission investment, the amount of investment by 2030 is estimated to be similar to USD 4 to 7 bn per year, which is a 25 to 50 percent increase over the previous decade. All of this is likely to be driven largely by two primary factors: connecting more renewables to the grid and maintaining system reliability as peak load grows. All of these factors are likely to drive the growth of the global vacuum interpreters market. Vacuum Interrupters Market: Restraints Dearth of explicit government policies for vacuum interrupters may hinder market growth. According to the Kyoto Protocol, SF6 is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, having a global warming intensity of 23,000, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has classified it as a highly hazardous greenhouse gas. Concurrently, SF6 is categorized as a greenhouse gas, which will be subject to green taxes. As a result, the Kyoto Protocol calls for an emissions reduction. Other gases with lesser global warming potential, such as nitrogen, dry air, and CO2, or their mixes, have far low dielectric strength than SF6. However, specific guidelines and government rules regarding the usage of vacuum interrupters are required. Industries that are prohibited from using these enumerated greenhouse gases are shifting to air-type equipment or other gas equipment, according to reports. The use of vacuum-type interruption devices is not decreasing as a result of this. As a result, the lack of vacuum interrupter-specific rules, norms, and reforms is a key stumbling block in this scenario. Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/vacuum-interrupters-market Vacuum Interrupters Market: Opportunities Cumulative investments and funding for smart grid & power distribution in the emerging nation will provide better growth prospects for the market. Utility companies are increasing their investments in smart grid infrastructure throughout the world. By 2027, the European Union is expected to invest almost USD 133 billion in the smart grid sector. For example, Tavrida Electric secured a series of contracts for the delivery of 25 reclosers with PKP Energetyka. A two-year period of demonstrations and testing of the delivered equipment preceded the sale. As a consequence, approximately 50 reclosers were delivered to the latter by the end of 2017. Furthermore, Southeast Asian countries are projected to invest nearly 10 billion in smart grid infrastructure in the next 10 years, thereby driving growth avenues for the global vacuum interpreters market. Vacuum Interrupters Market: Challenges Accessibility to low-quality and cheap products poses a major challenge to the market. Asia Pacific region is the greatest market for vacuum interrupters, with several emerging countries planning to install a high number of vacuum interrupters in the near future. In these emerging countries, cost takes precedence over quality. The price of electrical items is given considerable attention in major nations such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. Vacuum interrupters of good quality are projected to last for roughly 30 years. However, as the price of a product falls, so does the quality of the product. Local manufacturers face the same problems as multinational businesses in this region. These grey market firms have pricing competitiveness and a local supply network advantage over major competitors, which is tough for leading players to obtain. Global Vacuum Interrupters Market: Segmentation The global vacuum interrupters market is segregated based on rated voltage, application, end-user, and region. By rated voltage, the market is categorized into 0-15 kV, 15-30 kV, and above 30 kV. The application segment of the market is split into a circuit breaker, contactor, load break switch, tap changer, recloser, and others. The end-user segment is bifurcated as utilities, oil & gas, mining, transportation, and others. Get More Insight before Buying@: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/vacuum-interrupters-market List of Key Players of Vacuum Interrupters Market : ABB Eaton Crompton Greaves Limited Siemens AG LS Industrial System Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Shaanxi Baoguang Vacuum Electric Device Company Limited Toshiba Corporation Meidensha Corporation ACTOM Chengdu Zuguang Electronics Company Limited Shaanxi Joyelectric International Company Limited Wuhan Feite Electric Company Limited. Key questions answered in this report: What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Vacuum Interrupters Market ? What are the key driving factors propelling the Vacuum Interrupters Market forward? What are the most important companies in the Vacuum Interrupters Market Industry? What segments does the Vacuum Interrupters Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Vacuum Interrupters Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 2.45 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 3.51 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 5.3 % 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 ABB, Eaton, Crompton Greaves Limited, Siemens AG, LS Industrial System, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Shaanxi Baoguang Vacuum Electric Device Company Limited, Toshiba Corporation, Meidensha Corporation, ACTOM, Chengdu Zuguang Electronics Company Limited, Shaanxi Joyelectric International Company Limited, and Wuhan Feite Electric Company Limited. 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/3317 Free Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/vacuum-interrupters-market Recent Developments August 2021 , Eaton Corporation had announced ambitions to launch HYPERRIDE, a ground-breaking cooperative research initiative focused on DC power grids. The firm will design circuit breakers for an automated and efficient DC power system as part of the USD 7.5 million project. , Eaton Corporation had announced ambitions to launch HYPERRIDE, a ground-breaking cooperative research initiative focused on DC power grids. The firm will design circuit breakers for an automated and efficient DC power system as part of the project. In 2020, ABB Electrification's facility in Ratingen, Germany , celebrated a significant milestone when it produced its seven millionth vacuum interrupter (VI). Regional Dominance: Asia Pacific is to lead the market over the forecast period. Asia Pacific is estimated to lead the global vacuum interrupter market. India, China, South Korea, and Japan are among the key nations regarded to be the primary vacuum interrupter production hubs. This region has experienced remarkable economic development in recent years. According to World Economic and Financial Surveys, the economic momentum in Asia Pacific's top economies is likely to stay robust, indicating policy stimulus in Japan and China, which benefits other Asian countries. The fast expansion of the economy would result in a rise in the demand for electricity. This would need a higher level of investment in electricity-producing infrastructure. Furthermore, increasing expenditure on smart grid technologies, such as smart meters, distribution grid automation, and demand response systems, in countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Australia, would provide development prospects for the market during the projection period. Global Vacuum Interrupters Market is segmented as follows: Vacuum Interrupters Market: By Rated Voltage Outlook (2022-2028) 0-15 kV 15-30 kV Above 30 kV Vacuum Interrupters Market: By Application Outlook (2022-2028) Circuit Breaker Contactor Recloser Load Break Switch Tap Changer Others Vacuum Interrupters Market: By End User Outlook (2022-2028) Utilities Oil & Gas Mining Transportation Others Vacuum Interrupters 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 Press Release For Vacuum Interrupters Market : https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/news/global-vacuum-interrupters-market Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research AEC Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global AEC market was worth around USD 7,085.5 million in 2021 and is estimated to grow to about USD 15,237.4 million by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.8 percent over the forecast period. The global AEC market was worth around in 2021 and is estimated to grow to about by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.8 percent over the forecast period. Battery Operated Lights Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global battery operated lights market is estimated to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.5 percent over the forecast period. The global battery operated lights market is estimated to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.5 percent over the forecast period. Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing Market - Global Industry Analysis; The global outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing market was worth around USD 34.85 billion in 2021 and is estimated to grow to about USD 50.9 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.8 percent over the forecast period. Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Semiconductor & Electronics Industry Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook About Us Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly 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. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.com Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/ Blog : https://zmrblog.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1605489/Zion_Market_Research_Logo.jpg WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Monday, President Joe Biden signed a National Security Memorandum to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related harmful fishing practices in the United States. The White House said the Biden Administration will address IUU fishing by increasing coordination with diverse stakeholders - public and private, foreign and domestic. The United States Government will use the full range of existing conservation, labor, trade, economic, diplomatic, law enforcement, and national security authorities to address these challenges, it added. The White House outlined a number of actons that the Administration is taking to combat IUU fishing, which will be announced during this week's U.N. Ocean Conference. The United States, the UK, and Canada will launch an IUU Fishing Action Alliance, including a pledge to take urgent action to improve the monitoring, control, and surveillance of fisheries, increase transparency in fishing fleets and in the seafood market, and build new partnerships that will hold bad actors accountable. The U.S. Interagency Working Group on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, comprising 21 Federal agencies, will release its National Five-Year Strategy for Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (2022-2026) by the end of July. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will also issue a proposed rule to enhance and strengthen its ability to address IUU fishing activities and combat forced labor in the seafood supply chain. These new actions build on President Biden's proclamation declaring June as National Ocean Month and key announcements the White House made earlier this month to conserve and restore the health and productivity of the ocean for the benefit of all Americans. IUU fishing is among the greatest threats to ocean health and is a significant cause of global overfishing, contributing to the collapse or decline of fisheries that are critical to the economic growth, food systems, and ecosystems of numerous countries around the world. Distant water fishing vessels, which engage in industrial-scale fishing operations on the high seas and in waters under other states' jurisdictions, can be significant perpetrators of IUU fishing and related harmful fishing practices. IUU fishing often involves forced labor, human trafficking, and other crimes and human rights abuses. Left unchecked, IUU fishing and associated labor abuses undermine U.S. economic competitiveness, national security, fisheries sustainability, and the livelihoods and human rights of fishers around the world and will exacerbate the environmental and socioeconomic effects of climate change. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Tacrolimus, which was recently approved by the FDA as a transplantation medicine, is anticipated to boost the category in the years to come The Asia Pacific region is a major region for transplant drug monitoring assay. The growing emphasis on organ donation is what is driving the market in Asia Pacific ALBANY, N.Y., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The value of the global transplant drug monitoring assay market stood at US$ 198.0 Mn in 2021. The global market is anticipated to rise at CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period, from 2022 to 2031. The global transplant drug monitoring assay market is also expected to attain valuation surpassing US$ 542 Mn by 2031. In order to keep blood and plasma concentrations of immunosuppressants within the acceptable therapeutic limits, healthcare providers must use therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in transplant medicine. TDM controls concentrations to ensure that they are neither too high or too low, reducing the likelihood of toxicity or rejection, as appropriate. These factors are likely to drive market demand for transplant drug monitoring assay in the years to come. In order to assist in patient monitoring, top firms in the healthcare sector provide a wide range of immunosuppressant drug monitoring (ISD) tests, including those for everolimus, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and mycophenolic acid. In the coming years, firms in the transplant drug monitoring assay market is likely to benefit financially from rising healthcare spending, government reimbursement schemes, improved healthcare infrastructure, and rising global per capita income. The global market for transplant drug monitoring assay is anticipated to expand significantly during the forecasted period. The need for organ transplants is growing, R&D spending is surging, and chronic liver and kidney disorders are becoming more common, all of which contribute to this market expansion. For companies in the global transplant drug monitoring assay market, the rising demand for home-based therapeutic drug monitoring and point-of-care therapeutic drug monitoring is projected to present profitable prospects. Request Brochure of Transplant Drug Monitoring Assay Market Research Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=84851 Key Findings of Market Report The global population is aging quickly, particularly in affluent nations like Japan , Germany , and the US. The need for organ transplants as well as replacements is being driven by an increase in the prevalence of chronic illnesses of the pancreas, kidney, heart, and liver, as well as blood disorders like aplastic anemia and leukemia. The market for transplant medication monitoring assays is anticipated to grow as a result. , , and the US. The need for organ transplants as well as replacements is being driven by an increase in the prevalence of chronic illnesses of the pancreas, kidney, heart, and liver, as well as blood disorders like aplastic anemia and leukemia. The market for transplant medication monitoring assays is anticipated to grow as a result. As a result of government organizations' activities, more people are becoming organ donors worldwide. Through educational initiatives, financial support, and practical programs and policies, several governmental entities in developing and developed nations promote organ donation. The global transplant drug monitoring assay market expansion is also attributed to government encouragement for organ donation. Depending on product type, the equipment segment accounted for a sizable portion of the global market in 2021. The category is one of the key market segments in transplant drug monitoring assay and is anticipated to expand quickly throughout the projection period. Mid-to-high volume laboratories can adapt their operations to increase productivity and cut costs with the help of immunoassay analyzers and clinical chemistry analyzers. This equipment offers laboratories all around the world dependability and effectiveness that has been field-tested, and it has great onboard parameters throughput. Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Transplant Drug Monitoring Assay Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=84851 Global Transplant Drug Monitoring Assay Market: Growth Drivers In terms of technology, the chromatography-MS category is likely to expand rapidly in the years to come and is expected to have prominent market share for transplant drug monitoring assay. The category is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast timeframe. The segment's expansion can be attributed to the global increase in demand for organ transplants. In 2021, North America held a significant percentage of the global transplant drug monitoring assay market and is likely to offer largest opportunity for transplant drug monitoring assay. The supremacy of North America can be attributed to surgical methods, advancements in medical science, organ transplant success rates, and immunosuppressive medications. Get Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of Transplant Drug Monitoring Assay Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=84851 Global Transplant Drug Monitoring Assay Market: Key Players Some of the key market players are Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Siemens Healthineers AG Abbott Laboratories Make an Enquiry Before Buying - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=EB&rep_id=84851 Global Transplant Drug Monitoring Assay Market: Segmentation Product Equipment Consumables Technology Chromatography-MS Immunoassays Drug Tacrolimus Methotrexate Cyclosporin Others End-Use Hospital Laboratories Commercial & Private Laboratories Others Modernization of healthcare in terms of both infrastructure and services have pushed the healthcare industry to new heights, Stay Updated with Latest Healthcare Industry Research Reports by Transparency Market Research: Organ Transplant Rejection Medications Market: The global organ transplant rejection medications market is expected to reach a value of ~US$ 6.3 Bn by the end of the forecast period. High prevalence and increase in incidence of several acute and chronic disorders worldwide are anticipated to drive the global organ transplant rejection medications market. Multiplex Detection Immunoassays Market: The global multiplex detection immunoassays market is on the course to surpass US$ 3.65 Bn mark by the end of 2030. High prevalence and increase in incidence rate of chronic and infectious diseases are projected to drive the global multiplex detection immunoassays market in the near future. Immunoassay Market: Rise in prevalence of such diseases is likely to provide lucrative opportunities for the prominent market players. In order to speed-up the diagnosis process, the companies operating in the global immunoassay market are focusing on development of novel immunoassay products. Clinical Chemistry Analyzers Market: The global clinical chemistry analyzers market was valued at ~US$ 11.3 Bn in 2018. The clinical chemistry analyzers market is projected to expand at a CAGR of ~4% from 2019 to 2027. Prepacked Chromatography Columns Market: Technology has been the biggest aid for development in healthcare. As new diagnostic and treatment methods come up, the pharmaceutical industry becomes stronger. This has a positive impact on the markets that support smooth operations of pharmaceutical companies. One such aiding market for pharmaceuticals is the prepacked chromatography columns market. Cleanroom Consumables Market: The high demand for products such as goggles, gloves, surgical masks, and gowns are translating into income streams for stakeholders in the global cleanroom consumables market. The ever-evolving nature of coronavirus strains has kept medical professionals engaged in innovations for antiviral drugs and vaccines. PRP and PRF in Cosmetics Market: Changing lifestyles of the people in developing regions, increase in per capita income, and rise in awareness about beautification contribute to the growth of the global PRP and PRF in cosmetics market. Fetal Bovine Serum Market: Technological advancement in biopharmaceuticals, innovative drug development process, and rising applications in cost-effective personalized medicine are some of the major factors driving the demand for biologics. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market research company providing business custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyze information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit Our YouTube Channel and hit subscribe for Future Update - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ Contact Us: Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research Inc. CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN, 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Blog: https://tmrblog.com Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1682871/TMR_Logo_Logo.jpg Boxspring Configurator_social_1200x628Boxspring Configurator_social_1200x628Latest real-time 3D rendering techniques deliver stunningly realistic images Beter Bed is launching an online configurator offering high-quality 3D visualisations that allows customers to put together their new box spring. Thanks to the latest real-time 3D rendering techniques, every choice the customer makes is instantly visible, down to the smallest detail. With this innovation Beter Bed is optimising the customer experience and boosting online purchases. The bedroom specialist is therefore taking another big step towards realising the strategic growth ambitions of its omnichannel strategy. Better experience and more convenience Configurators are already being used in various industries, including the automotive industry, where they are now well established. They help customers put together their ideal product via any channel, while also gaining an insight into availability and delivery times. A box spring is a highly personal product, due to its aesthetic aspects and the comfort the customer wants to enjoy. The high level of sleeping comfort it offers also makes the box spring one of the most popular bedroom systems of our time and a perfect fit with the vision of sleep expert Beter Bed: 'Sleep better, live better'. Jasper Logtens, Websites Manager: "We put this vision into practice by advising our customers on how to make the best choices when it comes to beds, mattresses and bedding." Beter Bed has an ambitious online growth strategy(online revenue of at least 100 million by 2025). Further developing and optimising our own websites is one of the pillars for achieving this growth. "We are convinced that the online configurator greatly enhances the customer experience and increases (online) shopping convenience. The configurator can, of course, also be used in stores" explains Perijn Hoefsloot, who is responsible for Marketing, Customer Experience & Strategic Business Development. "The digital channel is becoming increasingly important within our omnichannel strategy. Supporting and expertly advising the customer at every stage of the purchasing process, including via the configurator, is an important part of our strategy and is expected to boost online and offline purchases." Extensive choice Beter Bed has a very extensive box spring range - too extensive to present in full and in all colour and fabric variations in stores and online. The new configurator solves that problem. Using a simple selection process, the customer chooses the type of box spring, fabric, colour and legs step by step. The end result is an overall computer-generated image (CGI) of stunningly high quality. Every seam and stitch is visible. The configurator is a major step forward, especially when it comes to fabrics and colours. Instead of choosing on the basis of a fabric or colour sample, the customer now sees the whole picture. The configurator also supports the customer with the choice of mattress. As the options are fully customised, customers get a product that is completely tailored to their taste and the level of sleeping comfort they want. Augmented reality The Karlsson brand is the first to be fully available via the online configurator. The other brands will follow in phases over the coming period, starting with the new B Bright collection(summer 2022). By the end of 2022, it will be possible for half of the bed and box spring collection to be configured online. The next step will be the addition of Augmented Reality capabilities, which will allow customers to virtually place their customised box spring into their own bedroom. About Beter Bed Holding Beter Bed Holding (BBH) is the Netherlands' leading sleep specialist in retail, wholesale and B2B. Our mission is simple. We believe that the better we sleep, the happier, healthier and more productivewe are. And we won't rest until everyone gets the high-quality sleep they deserve. Listed on Euronext Amsterdam, BBH operates the successful retail brands Beter Bed, Beddenreus, the new subscription brand Leazzzy and the digital organisation LUNEXT. In addition, through its subsidiary DBC International, BBH has a wholesale business in branded products in the bedroom furnishings sector, which includes the well-known international brand M line. With 4 distribution centres, a fleet of 80 vehicles, 134 stores, a fast-growing online presence, and a wholesale company our team of over 1,000 dedicated employees generated 214.2 million revenue in 2021. Providing expert sleep advice is at the very heart of our strategy, and thanks to our revolutionary 'Beter Slapen ID' tool, our sleep consultants help customers to get the perfect night's sleep. BBH is proud that M line is the official sleep supplier of AFC Ajax, TeamNL, Jumbo-Visma, NOC*NSF and the KNVB. For more information Press enquiries: Uneke Dekkers / CFF Communications T +31 For the PDF version of the press release please click on the link under attachment(s). Press photos can be downloaded here . Attachments WEXFORD, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / S.T.L. Resources, LLC, through a newly created affiliate company, S.T.L. Marshlands, LLC ("S.T.L."), is pleased to announce that on June 6, 2022 it closed on the acquisition of shale natural gas assets previously owned by Tilden Marcellus, LLC (the "Seller"). The Seller filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on February 4, 2022. As a result of the closing, S.T.L. controls 100% of the working interest and will be the operator of record on all natural gas wells across the ~24,000 net mineral acres in Tioga and Potter Counties, Pennsylvania. A majority of the mineral acres are held-by-production and contain significant in-place infrastructure. The Marshlands Field is in the core of the Marcellus and Utica Shale dry natural gas fairway with producing wells and prospective acreage across both formations. UGI Texas Creek, LLC, a subsidiary of UGI Corporation (NYSE: UGI) will continue to own and manage the gathering assets associated with the Marshlands Field. This transaction marks the second area of mutual interest entered into between S.T.L. Resources and UGI. Although, S.T.L. is the new owner and operator of the Marshlands assets, the management team has a long and successful track record with this field. Bill Hayward, Chairman of S.T.L. Resources, helped to drill the initial Utica Shale pilot well in Marshlands and was the prospecting geologist that originally pieced together the acreage and subsequently sold it to Ultra Petroleum in the early 2000's. William Dressel, Founder and Managing Partner of S.T.L. Resources, negotiated many of the original mineral leases and surface right-of-ways and managed the original 3D seismic shoot over Marshlands. S.T.L. has also retained multiple employees from the Seller who have intimate knowledge of the assets. William Dressel commented, "This acquisition is consistent with our long-term growth strategy - to identify assets where we can leverage the deep talent of our team and help to unlock trapped value. We look forward to collaboratively working with both private stakeholders and public agencies to responsibly operate and develop this field." About S.T.L. Resources, LLC S.T.L. Resources, LLC is an independent oil and gas company with headquarters outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. S.T.L. Resources' business strategy is to pursue the leasing, acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays of the Appalachian Basin. The S.T.L. Resources team has developed over 5 Tcf of gas reserves and in the Appalachian Basin, participated in the drilling of over 2,000 unconventional wells and the leasing and management of over 500,000 acres. For further information, please contact: S.T.L. Resources, LLC Brian Van der Waag www.stlresources.com +1 800 407-7398 contact@stlresources.com SOURCE: S.T.L. Resources, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706674/STL-Resources-LLC-Announces-a-Transformative-Acquisition-of-the-Marshlands-Field-in-North-Central-Pennsylvania Regulatory News: In keeping with Korian SA's (Paris:KORI) conversion to the status of a European company, as approved by the General Meeting of Shareholders on 22 June 2022, the company has announced the signature of an agreement to establish a new European Works Council. As soon as its members are appointed at the end of 2022, it will replace the European Works Council set up in June 2020. In order to assist them in the negotiations, the members of the special negotiating group representing the Korian Group's employees were supported by the European Federation of Public Services Trade Unions (EPSU), which represents national and European trade union federations in this business sector, and which will continue to assist the members of the Council for the duration of the agreement. Currently, Korian is the only company in its sector to have set up a European Company Works Council. The Council will be made up of 20 employee representatives appointed by the trade unions.1 The agreement is the result of the discussions that took place in six negotiating sessions between December 2021 and June 2022, and, among other things, strengthens the role of its select committee by proposing four meetings of that committee per year (rather than two), thus facilitating consultation on subjects not requiring the involvement of the full Council. It also introduces consultation thresholds depending on the importance and impact of the subjects submitted, and clarifies the list of subjects open to information and consultation. Finally, the agreement confirms the presence of "observers" such as cooperatives, in Italy (where they were already represented under the previous agreement) and in the United Kingdom. The new agreement also improves the training of delegates, with a minimum of two days of training per year, in line with the previous agreement, which has offered them training on European works councils (in 2020), gender equality (in 2021), and environmental issues (in 2022). The Council's plenary meetings (two per year) will enable quality dialogue to continue between the delegates and members of General Management concerning the Group's development strategy and environmental, social and governance (ESG) policy. Korian's European Works Council will also continue the work started by the previous Council, which, in particular, led to the adoption in November 2021 of a first European agreement on health safety at work, including 25 measures to reduce workplace accidents. "Korian continues to regard the quality of social dialogue as a priority for the company, in all countries and at various complementary levels: at the level of every establishment as well as at national and European level. This agreement provides additional impetus compared to its original version, by making use of the new advances in social dialogue at European level based on best practice in each of our countries, and by strengthening the culture of social dialogue at all levels," says Remi Boyer, Korian's Group Chief Human Resources CSR Officer. According to Jan Willem Goudriaan, General Secretary of the European Federation of Public Services Trade Unions (EPSU): "It should be noted that the Korian Group's agreement represents a first for a company in the sector and continues the work that has been done to represent workers' interests including within the Board of Directors of the company. Our challenges are many to deliver quality working conditions and quality of care. Next publication 28 July 2022 First half 2022 revenue and results About Korian Korian, the leading European care services group for elderly and fragile people. www.korian.com Korian has been listed on Euronext Paris Section A since November 2006 and is included in the following indices: SBF 120, CAC Health Care, CAC Mid 60, CAC Mid Small and MSCI Global Small Cap Euronext ticker: KORI ISIN: FR0010386334 Reuters: KORI.PA Bloomberg: KORI.FP 1 In proportion to the workforce in the 6 EEA member states in which the Korian Group operates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005967/en/ Contacts: INVESTOR RELATIONS Sarah Mingham VP Investor Relations & Financing sarah.mingham@korian.com Tel: +33 (0)1 55 37 53 55 Carole Alexandre Deputy Head of Investor Relations carole.alexandre@korian.com Tel: +33 (0)7 64 65 22 44 MEDIA CONTACTS Pascal Jentsch VP International Communications Tel: +33 (0)7 65 18 58 55 pascal.jentsch-ext@korian.com Marjorie Castoriadis Head of Media Relations Tel: 07 63 59 88 81 Marjorie.castoriadis@korian.fr Cyrille Lachevre Tel: +33 (0)6 20 42 12 08 clachevre@cylans.ovh Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 28 June 2022 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 100,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 785.68p per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 9 February 2022. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 4,518,772; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 220,472,531. The figure of 220,472,531 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Stria Lithium Inc. (TSXV:SRA) ("Stria" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant of up to $275,000 by Quebec's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MERN). The grant will be used to finance a geometallurgical study of lithium-bearing spodumene pegmatites at its Pontax property, located in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James region of Quebec. The grant award is part of the Government of Quebec's program to support mineral exploration for minerals needed for green and renewable energy technologies as outlined in its 2020-25 Plan for the Development of Critical and Strategic Minerals. "We appreciate the financial support of the Quebec Government as we move forward with the continued exploration and development of our lithium prospects at Pontax," said Dean Hanisch, President and CEO of Stria Lithium. "We continue to be highly impressed with Quebec's long-term vision and practical support in creating a positive environment for companies in critical and strategic minerals to succeed." Stria plans to engage IOS Services Geoscientifiques of Saguenay, Quebec to design and conduct the geometallurical surveys, which are expected to begin in June using samples taken from the Pontax property in 2021. About Stria Lithium Inc. Stria Lithium is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with an expanding technology focus and has a 100% interest in the Pontax spodumene lithium project in Northern Quebec. Lithium is a critical metal in the universal fight against global warming. It is a core component of Lithium-ion batteries used for powering electric vehicles and for industrial scale energy storage. For more information about Stria Lithium and the Pontax Lithium project, please visit http://strialithium.com. Forward Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Please refer to the risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the 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 accuracy of this release. For more information on Stria Lithium Inc., please contact: Kimberly Darlington Communications, Stria Lithium Inc. kimberly@refinedsubstance.com Judith T. Mazvihwa-MacLean CFO, Stria Lithium Inc. Jmazvihwa@grafoid.com (613) 581-4040 SOURCE: Stria Lithium, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706803/Stria-Lithium-Awarded-275000-Grant-from-the-Quebec-Government BWRX-300 small modular reactor technology chosen after four-year evaluation process The GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) has been selected by SaskPower for potential deployment in the mid-2030s. "We are excited that SaskPower has chosen the BWRX-300 for the generation of carbon-free electricity," said Jay Wileman, President CEO, GEH. "The BWRX-300 is the ideal SMR technology solution for SaskPower and customers that want to make an impact on climate change and energy security in a meaningful timeframe. There is the potential for great synergy between the work we plan to do with SaskPower and the ongoing work with Ontario Power Generation (OPG). OPG is expected to submit a construction license application this year, a major step toward the deployment of the first BWRX-300. Decades of design and licensing experience coupled with our proven and existing fuel supply chain make BWRX-300 the leading SMR solution." "This is an important milestone as Saskatchewan works towards a cleaner, more sustainable future," said Don Morgan, Minister responsible for SaskPower. "Conducting an independent and comprehensive evaluation while also collaborating with the other provinces on the SMR Strategic Direction has been extremely valuable in reaching this important milestone to potentially bring nuclear power to Saskatchewan." In December 2021, GEH was chosen by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) as technology partner for the Darlington New Nuclear Project. GEH is working with OPG to deploy a BWRX-300 at the Darlington site that could be complete as early as 2028. "Canada has a robust nuclear energy supply chain that we look forward to continuing to build to support the global deployment of the BWRX-300," said Lisa McBride, Country Leader, GEH SMR Technologies Canada, Ltd. (GEH SMR Canada). In July 2021, GEH and Cameco Corporation announced a collaboration through which the companies would explore areas of cooperation to advance the commercialization of the BWRX-300. In May 2022, GEH SMR Canada and the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Supplier's Association (SIMSA) agreed to cooperate to support the potential deployment of the BWRX-300 in Saskatchewan. Advanced nuclear technologies like the BWRX-300 are a key pillar of GE's energy transition leadership. The BWRX-300 produces no carbon during operation and has been designed to achieve construction and operating costs that are substantially lower than traditional nuclear power generation technologies. Specifically, the BWRX-300 leverages a unique combination of a new, patented safety breakthrough, proven components, the licensing basis of the U.S. NRC-certified ESBWR and the existing, licensed GNF2 fuel design. This unique combination positions GEH to deliver an innovative, carbon-free baseload power generation source this decade. GE's support for the Canadian nuclear industry dates to the early 1950s. The company helped build the first Canadian nuclear power plant, the Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD) reactor that became the basis for the CANDU fleet. There is significant and growing global interest in the BWRX-300. In addition to Canada, GEH has memoranda of understanding or other agreements in place with companies in the U.S., Poland, Sweden, Estonia and the Czech Republic, among others, to explore deployment of the technology. About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety. Follow GEH on LinkedIn and Twitter. About GEH SMR Canada Based in Ontario, GEH SMR Technologies Canada, Ltd. (GEH SMR Canada) is supporting the deployment of the BWRX-300 in Canada through collaboration with Canadian customers, stakeholders, suppliers and partners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628006045/en/ Contacts: Jon Allen GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy +1 910 819 2581 jonathan.allen1@ge.com Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (TSXV: WHY) ("West High Yield" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Toronto-based Oak Hill Financial ("Oak Hill") to assist with investor relations activities. West High Yield has partnered with Oak Hill to enhance its visibility and profile to the public and in the financial community. Oak Hill has been engaged for an initial three-month period. Oak Hill is to provide west High Yield with Canadian investor relations advisory activities, at a monthly advisory fee of CAD$14,000 plus applicable taxes, as long as this agreement remains in effect. Oak Hill and West High Yield are not related parties and operate at arm's length. Oak Hill does not have any additional interest in the Company's securities, directly or indirectly, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. "We are excited to work with Oak Hill to expand the visibility of our world class strategic critical mineral resource and to provide business and capital markets advisory to the Company. We believe that at the current stage of our Record Ridge magnesium project development, and in the middle of an exciting gold drilling program at the Midnight deposits, working with a great IR firm like Oak Hill will create the right awareness and understanding of the Company among the investor community, and help attain a fair valuation of the Company," said Frank Marasco, Jr, CEO of West High Yield. "West High Yield is an exciting, differentiated opportunity for our clients," says Marc Raffoul, Managing Partner of Oak Hill. "It combines the unique attributes of ESG, highly seasoned management as well as the potential for strong cash flow generation. We look forward to working with the Company to dramatically enhance its visibility in the investment community." About West High Yield West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge strategic critical mineral magnesium deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions. Contact Information: West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: frank@whyresources.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. 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 OF THIS RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129338 Open Systems, the only cybersecurity services provider with Mission Control, today announced it has won the 2022 Microsoft Swiss Partner of the Year Award. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. "Winning the Microsoft Swiss Partner of the Year Award is a tremendous honor for us, especially as it comes so soon after we won Security MSSP of the Year in the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards at RSAC 2022," said Geoff Haydon, CEO of Open Systems. "These awards recognize how well both companies work together and our shared commitment to excellence in protecting our joint customers from cyber threats." The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft-based applications, services and devices during the past year. Awards were classified in various categories, with honorees chosen from a set of more than 3,900 submitted nominations from more than 100 countries worldwide. Open Systems was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in Switzerland. In addition to winning Swiss Partner of the Year, Open Systems was also named a finalist for NGO Partner of the Year, in recognition of its efforts to substantially improve the cyber defenses of a leading, global NGO. "I am honored to announce the winners and finalists of the 2022 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards," said Nick Parker, corporate vice president of Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft. "These partners were outstanding among the exceptional pool of nominees and I'm continuously impressed by their innovative use of Microsoft Cloud technologies and the impact for their customers." Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are announced annually prior to the company's global partner conference, Microsoft Inspire, which will take place on July 19-20 this year. Additional details on the 2022 awards are available on the Microsoft Partner Network blog. The complete list of categories, winners and finalists can be found at https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/inspire/awards. History With Microsoft Open Systems is a five-time Microsoft Gold Partner and one of a handful of companies that have received the Microsoft Cloud Security Advanced Specialization and Microsoft Threat Protection Advanced Specialization certifications. These achievements ensure the company's continued place in MISA's MSSP program, which Open Systems was invited to join when it launched in 2020. Open Systems Managed Security Services Open Systems believes a comprehensive and tailored cybersecurity approach is essential for rapid threat detection and an effective response to protect an organization's most critical assets. The Open Systems MDR+ and Open Systems SASE+ services with Mission Control combine certified experts, exemplary processes, and seamless technology to deliver 24x7 security and connectivity protection specialized to an organization's environment and business operations. Open Systems MDR+ Open Systems SASE+ Additional Resources Press release: Open Systems Recognized as a Microsoft Security Excellence Awards Winner for Security MSSP of the Year Blog: Open Systems Wins Microsoft Security Excellence Award for Security MSSP of the Year Press release: Open Systems' Co-Innovation With Microsoft Exemplifies the Power of This Ecosystem to Transform Security Blog: Open Systems Achieves Microsoft Cloud Security Advanced Specialization Certification Connect With Open Systems LinkedIn Twitter About Open Systems Open Systems delivers cybersecurity beyond expectations. Our award-winning managed detection and response (MDR) and secure access service edge (SASE) services connect and protect customers today while increasing their security maturity for tomorrow. Our Mission Control SOCs and NOCs provide 247 global coverage for nearly 10,000 locations across 184 countries. As a five-time Microsoft Gold Partner, we help customers better grasp and reduce their attack surface by unlocking the value of their security investments. With our outstanding 97% retention rate, it's no wonder our customers call it crazy good cybersecurity. Discover more at open-systems.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005409/en/ Contacts: Open Systems Courtney Cantwell mediarelations@open-systems.com Bospar Matt Culbertson PRforOpenSystems@bospar.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE/ June 28, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Granite Creek Copper and Baseload Energy Corp. on their latest news. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. Granite Creek Copper (TSXV:GCX) discusses updated PEA In 2017, Copper North Mining (CGX) commissioned a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Carmacks Project in Yukon. The updated PEA includes a resource estimate of 36 million tons, three times the amount contemplated in the original PEA. President & CEO Tim Johnson sat down with Sabrina Cuthbert to discuss the latest PEA, how it differs from the 2017 PEA and the role it will play in reevaluating the company. For the full interview with Tim Johnson and to learn more about Granite Creek Copper's news, click here. Baselode Energy Corp. (TSXV:FIND) provides update from the ACKIO Discovery Baselode Energy (FIND) has provided an update on the ongoing 20,000-metre diamond drilling program on the ACKIO high-grade uranium discovery, Hook project. The company plans to continue exploring for more high-grade uranium mineralization along the ACKIO trends. James Sykes, CEO, President and Director of Baselode discussed the update with Daniella Atkinson. For the full interview with James Sykes and to learn more about Baseload Energy's news, click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets. DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information. CONTACT: The Market Herald Brianna Anthony brianna.anthony@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE: The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706825/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-Interviews-With-Granite-Creek-Copper-and-Baseload-Energy-Corp VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Blackwolf Copper and Gold Ltd. ("Blackwolf" or the "Company") (TSXV:BWCG)(OTC PINK:BWCGF) is pleased to announce the results of its Annual General Meeting of shareholders held on June 28, 2022, including the appointment of Julia Gartley, P.Eng and Matthew Moore as independent directors. The Company would also like to thank outgoing directors Edie Thome and Ron Stewart, who have stepped down due to other commitments and wish them the upmost success in their future endeavors. "We are thrilled to welcome Julia Gartley and Matthew Moore as new directors; her expertise in metallurgy, mineral processing and engineering coupled with his background in economics, business development plus Indigenous engagement and consultation will augment our Board's skill sets. I believe that Matthew may be the first Nis g a'a citizen who is a director of a public company," said Robert McLeod, President and CEO of Blackwolf. "Additionally, on behalf of the rest of the Board, management, staff and shareholders, would like to thank Directors Thome and Stewart for their service to the Company and will continue to consult them as friends and shareholders of Blackwolf." Biographies of Blackwolf's new directors are as follows: Julia Gartley, P.Eng, Julia Gartley is a professional mineral process engineer with over 10 years of experience of operational and corporate experience in project management, metallurgical test programs, process optimization, operational support and engineering design. Julia currently is a director of BBA Consultants, a private engineering firm and Team Lead, Mineral Processing. She brings a wealth of practical experience including corporate development of new projects and properties, on-site optimization, and operational support. Julia's experience includes acting as Project Director for the engineering of large projects, report writing, leading senior management decision-making workshops, conducting on-site due diligence visits and technical report review and writing. In addition to Julia's technical experience, Julia is an active volunteer in the mining community. She has been serving as Community Liaison for the Canadian Mineral Processors BC/Yukon branch for over seven years, and as Vice-President of the Board for Mine Shift (formerly Me Too Mining) for four years. She is also actively involved with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum National ("CIM"), where she has most recently served as a stream chair coordinating the technical presentations for The Value of People stream in CIMBC22. In May 2022, Julia was a recipient of CIM's Bedford Canadian Young Mining Leaders Award, which recognizes the exceptional achievement and potential of young leaders. Matthew Moore Matthew Moore brings a wealth of experience in community and economic development working with First Nations and Indigenous groups and governments. Matthew previously spent many years working with the Nis g a'a Tribal Council on the Nis g a'a Treaty with British Columbia and Canada, the first modern First Nations Treaty in the Province. He also worked for the First Nations Economic Development Corporation with an emphasis in construction, was CEO of Giltxat'in Development Corp. in Greenville BC and was a member of the Nisga'a Tribal Council prior to their Treaty. Matthew is a citizen of the Nis g a'a Nation and a graduate of Simon Fraser University where he received a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Economics and diploma in Business Plan Development. From the Sauder School of Business, Matthew received his Professional Realtor license, currently practicing on Vancouver Island. Matthew is Head of the House Wissen Xbiltkw and holds the name Wissen Xbiltkw. He is an active volunteer, carver and author of the book "The Name of My Blanket is Hlbin Hloxs." Annual General Meeting Results A total of 5,647,675 common shares were voted, representing 17.04% of the total issued and outstanding as of the record date. Details of the proxy voting are as follows: Shareholders also voted (i) 94.82% in favour of the re-appointing DeVisser Gray LLP, Charter Professional Accountants, as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the directors to fix their renumeration and (ii) 94.32 % in favour of the Company's Amended Omnibus Share Incentive Plan. ABOUT BLACKWOLF COPPER AND GOLD Blackwolf's founding vision is to be an industry leader in transparency, inclusion and innovation. Guided by our Vision and through collaboration with local and Indigenous communities and stakeholders, Blackwolf builds shareholder value through our technical expertise in mineral exploration, engineering and permitting. The Company holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Niblack copper-gold-zinc-silver VMS project, located adjacent to tidewater in southeast Alaska as well as the Cantoo, Casey, Texas Creek and Mineral Hill gold-silver and VMS properties in southeast Alaska. For more information on Blackwolf, please visit the Company's website at www.blackwolfcopperandgold.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Robert McLeod" Robert McLeod President, CEO and Director For more information, contact: ROB MCLEOD 604-617-0616 (Mobile) 604-343-2997 (Office) rm@bwcg.ca LIAM MORRISON 604-897-9952 (Mobile) 604-343-2997 (Office) lm@bwcg.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. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements relating to the Hyder properties and the Company's future objectives and plans. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market volatility; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; fluctuations in commodity prices and changes in the Company's business plans. In making the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including without limitation, that the Company will continue with its stated business objectives and its ability to raise additional capital to proceed. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company seeks safe harbor. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: Blackwolf Copper and Gold Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706820/Blackwolf-Announces-AGM-Results-and-Welcomes-Julia-Gartley-and-Matthew-Moore-to-Board-of-Directors LONDON, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atech Support (Atech) today announced it has been named a finalist of Modern Endpoint Management 2022 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award. The company was honoured among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. Ryan Langley, CEO of Atech, celebrates the achievement: 'By aligning efforts with Microsoft, we have been able to achieve impressive organic growth and become experts in our field. We are honoured to receive this award in recognition of our solutions and services in endpoint management. We feel privileged to work with some fantastic clients who recognise the enormous difference that technology can make in transforming their business.' The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognise Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft-based applications, services and devices during the past year. Awards were classified in various categories, with honourees chosen from a set of more than 3,900 submitted nominations from more than 100 countries worldwide. Atech was recognised for providing outstanding solutions and services in Modern Endpoint Management. Modern Endpoint Management Partner of the Year recognises a partner with proven expertise in helping customers modernise their endpoint and device management posture while enabling organisations to operate their IT estate with a lower cost. This modernisation includes deployment of Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, leveraging cloud and hybrid identity management with Azure Active Directory, migrating customer to Windows Autopilot for modern device provisioning, and leveraging Microsoft Endpoint Manager for device security, compliance and management. "I am honoured to announce the winners and finalists of the 2022 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards," said Nick Parker, corporate vice president of Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft. "These partners were outstanding among the exceptional pool of nominees and I'm continuously impressed by their innovative use of Microsoft Cloud technologies and the impact for their customers." Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are announced annually prior to the company's global partner conference, Microsoft Inspire, which will take place on July 19-20 this year. Additional details on the 2022 awards are available on the Microsoft Partner Network blog: https://blogs.partner.microsoft.com/mpn/congratulations-to-the-2022-microsoft-partner-of-the-year-awards-winners-and-finalists/ The complete list of categories, winners and finalists can be found at https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/inspire/awards. About Atech Atech delivers digital transformation, managed security and cloud services in addition to infrastructure and end-user support, with a specific focus and expertise built around optimising the Microsoft technology stack to deliver innovative technology transformation projects. Atech's track record is particularly strong in the private sector, delivering 24 x 7 global support to mid-market and enterprise organisations globally. With a deep focus and specialism in Microsoft technologies, Atech enables, and supports, digital transformation to visionary businesses. More on atech.cloud Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1849708/Atech_Logo.jpg La Defense, 28 June 2022 Indigo & Patria signed an agreement for the business combination of their car parking activities in Brazil Indigo Group, the global car parking and individual mobility operator, and Patria Investments, leader in alternative investments focused on Latin America, recently agreed on a business combination between PareBem, the subsidiary of an investment fund managed by Patria Investments, and Administradora Geral de Estacionamentos, Indigo Group's Brazilian car parking subsidiary. Indigo Group will, through a limited partial cash-out, be the controlling shareholder of the combined entity by owning a majority of its share capital, the remainder of which will be owned by the investment fund managed by Patria Investments. With this complementary partnership, Indigo Group is pursuing its growth strategy in its core business in Brazil, enriching its long-term portfolio by expanding its geographic presence and integrating car parks especially in Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza and Curitiba, and entering on-street parking services. The combined entity will operate the car parks under the INDIGO brand and will increase its ability to compete in local markets. Building on its established relationship with local clients, PareBem operates in Brazil around 150 car parks, while Administradora Geral de Estacionamentos operates around 200 car parks. The combined entity is expected to bring its clients reinforced expertise in parking operation, digital channels, customer experience, and commitment to operational excellence and improved efficiency by creating significant synergies, with the ambition to promote urban mobility and new urban models for parking infrastructure in Brazil. Indigo Group will finance the cash-out required by this transaction with its current liquidity which amounted to 710 million euros as of 31 March 2022 (including 410 million euros of cash and 300 million euros of its undrawn RCF maturing in October 2023). The closing of this transaction is subject to customary conditions including its review by the Brazilian anti-trust authority. As set out in its strategic plan, Indigo Group confirms its positioning as a key partner of the public and private sectors for car parking and individual mobility solutions, as well as its solid and profitable growth strategy in countries where it holds a significant position, in the long term and with the intention to maintain its Investment Grade rating, while pursuing its innovation and quality policy focused on its customers. Banco ABC Brasil and Banco Santander Brasil acted as financial advisors to Patria Investments and Indigo Group, respectively. Pinheiro Neto Advogados and Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados acted as legal advisors to Patria Investments and Indigo Group, respectively. About Patria Investments Patria Investments is a leading alternative investment firm focused on Latin America, with over 30 years of history and combined assets under management of $27.6 billion, and a global presence with offices in 9 cities across 4 continents. Patria Investments aims to provide consistent returns in attractive long-term investment opportunities that allow for portfolio diversification through its Private Equity, Infrastructure, Credit, Public Equities and Real Estate products. Through its investments Patria Investments seeks to transform industries and untangle bottlenecks, generating attractive returns for its investors, while creating sustainable value for society. About PareBem An urban mobility company, Grupo PareBem is responsible for managing more than 150 car parks across the country. In 2015, it received investments and became controlled by Patria Investments, a global alternative asset management company and a pioneer in the Private Equity industry in Brazil. With a solid financial structure, the company has a legacy of strong growth through intensive investment in technology, innovation and the improvement of management processes, standing out for its efficiency and operational excellence. With a focus on generating value for its customers, the best experience for users, PareBem currently employs around 1,800 people and operates in shopping malls, hospitals, airports, commercial buildings, public rotating parking lots in 7 cities, among others. ********** Indigo Group Analysts / investors contact: Press contact: Noe Poyet Benjamin Voron ir@group-indigo.com benjamin.voron@group-indigo.com About Indigo Group Indigo Group S.A., holding about 100% of Indigo Infra, Indigo Neo (ex-OPnGO) and INDIGOweel, is a key global player in car parking and urban mobility, that manages more than 1.2 million parking spaces and related services in 11 different countries. Indigo Group is indirectly held at approximately 47.8% by Credit Agricole Assurances, 33.3% by Vauban Infrastructure Partners, 14.4% by MEAG, 0.50% in treasury shares and the remainder by its management. Visit www.group-indigo.com Disclaimer The information in this press release has been included in good faith but is for general informational purposes only. All reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information contained herein is not untrue or misleading. It should not be relied on for any specific purpose and no representation or warranty is given with regards to its accuracy or completeness. It should be read together with the information on Indigo Group S.A. published on its website at www.group-indigo.com This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities. Its making does not constitute a recommendation regarding any securities. Nothing herein may be used as the basis to enter into any contract or agreement. This press release may contain forward-looking objectives and statements about Indigo Group's financial situation, operating results, business activities and expansion strategy. Although we believe these objectives and statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including matters not yet known to us or not currently considered material by us, and there can be no assurance that anticipated events will occur or that the objectives set out will actually be achieved. All forward-looking statements are management's present expectations of future events and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The information is valid only at the time of writing and Indigo Group does not assume any obligation to update or revise the objectives on the basis of new information or future or other events, subject to applicable regulations. Additional information on the factors and risks that could have an impact on Indigo Group's financial results is contained in the documents filed by Indigo Group with the French securities regulator (AMF) and available on the its website at www.group-indigo.com. Neither Indigo Group nor any affiliates or their officers or employees shall be liable for any loss, damage or expense arising out of any access to or use of this press release, including, without limitation, any loss of profit, indirect, incidental or consequential loss. No reproduction of any part of it may be sold or distributed for commercial gain nor shall it be modified. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: l25xkpeZZG3GnJ9wY8hpaWiYm26SxWaVZ2abyJedlpaWbnBomGdqm5WXZnBml2Vr - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-75205-20220728-press-release-signing-of-a-merger-between-indigo-brazil-x-parebem.pdf Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - NEWFOUNDLAND DISCOVERY CORP. (CSE: NEWD) (OTC Pink: NEWDF) (FSE: M4K) ("Newfoundland Discovery" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Brandon Schwabe as its Chief Financial Officer of the Company. About Incoming CFO Mr. Brandon Schwabe, CPA, CGA, has provided management consulting and corporate finance services to public and private companies for twelve years. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and has a Bachelor of Technology in Accounting degree with distinction from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He has also completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC). The Company wishes to thank Mr. Glen Wallace for his tenure as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and for his continued support of the Company. The Company wishes him all the best in his future endeavours. About Newfoundland Discovery Corp. Newfoundland Discovery is a Canadian junior mining exploration company focused on exploration and development along the Detour Gold trend in Quebec and the Central Gold Belt in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Detour trend and retains significant landholdings in Newfoundland. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, NEWFOUNDLAND DISCOVERY CORP. "Jeremy Prinsen" President, CEO & Director Investor Relations Email: info@newfoundlanddiscovery.com Direct Line: (604) 440-8474 Website: www.newfoundlanddiscovery.ca Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129339 EDMONTON, AB / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2022 / Rocky Mountain Liquor Inc. (TSXV:RUM) (the "Company" or "Rocky Mountain"), listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), today reported the shareholder voting results of its 2022 Annual and Special Meeting held June 28, 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta. Shareholders voted and approved to fix the number of directors at five (5). The below individuals were nominated and received the requisite majority of votes and will be directors of the Company for the ensuing year: Peter J. Byrne Frank Coleman Robert Normandeau Allison Radford Courney Burton Shareholders voted and approved to appoint Grant Thornton LLP, Chartered Accountants as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizes the directors to fix their remuneration. Shareholders voted authorizing the amendment, ratification and approval of the Company's Stock Option Plan as adopted August 23, 2010. Shareholders voted and approved to confirm the Advance Notice By-Law, in the form adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation April 14, 2022. About Rocky Mountain Rocky Mountain owns 100% of Andersons Liquor Inc. ("Andersons"), headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, which now own and operate 26 private liquor stores in that province, up from 18 stores since the Common Shares began trading in December 2008. It is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V:RUM). Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as investment decisions. In particular, results achieved in 2022 and previous periods might not be a certain indication of future performance, which is subject to other risks, including but not limited to changes in operational policies, changes in management, changes in strategic focus, market conditions and customer preferences, the impact from COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and third party suppliers. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, the risks that these events may not materialize as well as those additional factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in RUM's Management Discussion and Analysis, which can be obtained at www.sedar.com. If they do materialize, there remains a risk of non-execution for any reason. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless so required by applicable securities laws or the TSX-V. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information: Scott Morrow Chief Executive Officer (780) 483-8183 Sarah Stelmack Chief Financial Officer (780) 483-8177 SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Liquor Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706834/RUM-Announces-Voting-Results-from-Annual-and-Special-Meeting-of-Shareholders PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Leonardo Del Vecchio, the chairman of eyeglass retailer EssilorLuxottica (ESLOF) and one of Italy's wealthiest business figures, passed away at the age of 87. The company, in a statement, said, 'EssilorLuxottica sadly announces today that its chairman has passed away,' adding that the board would meet to 'determine the next steps.' Del Vecchio grew up from a childhood in an orphanage to amass a fortune of tens of billions of euros in one of the most famous rags-to-riches stories in Italy's post-war economic recovery. 'Leonardo Del Vecchio was a great Italian. His story, from orphanage to leadership of a business empire, seems like a story from another time. But it is an example for today and tomorrow. RIP,' European Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said on Twitter. The Italian businessman founded Luxottica in 1961 and built up a company that owned the Ray-Ban brand and combined forces with France's Essilor in a major merger in 2018. He remained executive chairman of EssilorLuxottica until December 2020, when he handed the day-to-day leadership of the company to Chief Executive Francesco Milleri. He had supported Milleri as head of the Franco-Italian eyewear giant when the merged group was created. Del Vecchio's influence extended beyond his own business and at the end of 2021, he became Italy's second richest man behind Giovanni Ferrero of the Nutella-making group, as per Forbes. His Delfin holding company is the largest shareholder in Italian financial services group Mediobanca and has a stake of just under 10% in Italy's largest insurer Generali. It also owns about 7% of real estate company Covivio, which is listed in both Paris and Milan stock exchanges. Talking about Del Vecchio, Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said, 'With the passing of Del Vecchio, Milan loses one of the most emblematic figures of its recent history.' Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2022) - EDM Resources Inc. (TSXV: EDM) ("EDM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Christopher Hopkins, a long-standing director and shareholder of EDM, has assumed the role of interim Chief Financial Officer. EDM's President and CEO, Mr. Mark Haywood, stated: "Chris is a highly experienced financial executive, Chartered Accountant and MBA holder. He also has over 25 years of experience in the mining sector, and we greatly appreciate him making the time to take on a number of management tasks as we advance EDM towards commercial production. The Company would also like to thank Mr. Robert Suttie, our former Chief Financial Officer, who has diligently and professionally served the Company for nearly nine years. Robert will assist with the transition and handover to Chris during the next 30 days." The Company has commenced a formal search for a full-time Chief Financial Officer of EDM. Suitably qualified applicants may enquire via EDM's website or via the Company's primary email address at info@EDMresources.com. Additionally, the Company has set the next Annual General Meeting ("AGM") date for August 30, 2022, with a record date of July 15, 2022. Further details of the AGM will be provided in the upcoming Management Information Circular, to be distributed to shareholders eligible to participate at the AGM. About EDM Resources Inc. EDM is a Canadian exploration and mining company that has full ownership of the Scotia Mine and related facilities near Halifax, Nova Scotia. EDM also holds several prospective exploration licenses near the Scotia Mine and in the surrounding regions of Nova Scotia. The Company's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EDM". For more information, please contact: Mark Haywood - President & Chief Executive Officer Christopher Hopkins - Chief Financial Officer Simion Candrea Vice - President, Corporate Development Head Office Purdy's Wharf, 1959 Upper Water Street, Suite 1301, Nova Scotia, B3J 3N2, Canada Telephone +1 (902) 482 4481 Facsimile +1 (902) 422 2388 Email & Web info@EDMresources.com & www.EDMresources.com The Company's corporate filings and technical reports can be viewed on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Further information on EDM is also available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/EDMresources.inc Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EDMresources and LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/EDMresources . CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release includes certain forward-looking statements which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "should", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, potential mineralization, exploration and development results, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from EDM's expectations include, among others, the degree to which mineral resource and reserve estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources and reserves, the degree to which factors are present which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable, the price of zinc, lead and gypsum, uncertainties relating to availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, risks related to international operations, the actual results of current exploration activities, delays in the development of projects, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future prices of metals, ability to predict or counteract potential impact of COVID-19 coronavirus on factors relevant to the Company's business, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in EDM's management's discussion and analysis of the Company's annual financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2021. Although EDM has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results to be not as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129365 CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan will on Wednesday release May figures for retail sales, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Sales are expected to rose 3.3 percent on year, up from 2.9 percent in April. Japan also will see June results for its consumer confidence index; in May, the index score was 34.1. Australia will provide May retail sales data, with forecasts calling for an increase of 0.4 percent on month - slowing from 0.9 percent in April. Singapore will release May figures for import prices, export prices and producer prices. In April, import prices jumped 24.7 percent on year, export prices spiked 26.3 percent on year and producer prices soared an annual 29.5 percent. Thailand will see May numbers for industrial production, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 1.5 percent on year - up from 0.56 percent in April. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Kaiko, a Paris, France-based digital assets data provider serving institutional investors and enterprises, raised $53m in Series B funding. The round was led by Eight Roads, with participation from Revaia and existing investors Alven, Point9, Anthemis, and Underscore. The company intends to use the funds to further strengthen its institutional data products and infrastructure, and to expand its global presence. Founded in 2014 and led by Ambre Soubiran, CEO, Kaiko provides a digital assets market information platform enhancing transparency and operational efficiency for institutional companies, DeFi participants, and Web3 enterprises. The companys product suite comprises market data, portfolio solutions, rates & indices, pricing services, DeFi data, and research covering digital assets that comprise over 95% of global traded volume. Today, Kaiko serves financial firms including ICE Global Network, Deutsche Borse, Oanda, Bloomberg, and some of the largest asset managers and investment banks in North America and Europe. It is also integrated with the blockchain ecosystem, providing data feeds for participants such as Ledger, Paxos, Chainlink, Tezos, Messari, SupraOracles, Flux, and the Pyth network, a Jump Trading initiative. The company currently has four global offices in Paris, London, New York, and Singapore, which enables the team to tailor products and marketing to meet the specific needs of local markets. Over the past year, Kaiko has invested in targeted M&A to expand its institutional product suite. The company recently announced the acquisition of Kesitys, a provider of quantitative decision tools for risk optimization, as well as an agreement with CoinShares for the acquisition of its Napoleon Index subsidiary, enabling the launch of Kaiko Indices. In February 2022, Kaiko also received their SOC-2 Type-1 accreditation, a gold standard certification developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) that indicates how companies manage data security, confidentiality, and availability of measurements and controls. FinSMEs 28/06/2022 OpenReplay, a Paris, France-based open-source session replay tool for developers, raised $4.7M in a Seed funding. The round was led by Runa Capital with the participation of Expa, 468 Capital, Rheinghau Founders and cofounders of Tekion. The company will use its funding to grow its community, accelerate deployment at scale and improve user experience. Led by Mehdi Osman, CEO and founder, OpenReplay provides developers with a session replay stack that helps them troubleshoot issues faster by making debugging visual. It combines session replay, devtools and performance monitoring to make it easy for developers to replay everything users do on their web app and understand where and why they got stuck. OpenReplays devtools enabled developers to analyze logs, diagnose errors, track performance metrics, inspect HTTP payloads and record the entire applications state. Being able to replay, side-by-side, what users were doing and how your stack behaved after each and every interaction, is like reproducing issues in a browser. OpenReplay can even be used to assist customers directly on your website while theyre browsing, using live session replay and co-browsing capabilities. FinSMEs 28/06/2022 CCTV: According to reports, the 24th General Assembly of Latin American Academy of Social Sciences (FLACSO) was held on June 24, which adopted a resolution by an overwhelming vote to admit China as an observer state of the organization. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video speech at the event upon invitation. Could you offer more details? Zhao Lijian: The Latin American Academy of Social Sciences (FLACSO) recently held its 24th General Assembly in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. After a voting at the General Assembly, China officially became an observer country of FLACSO. In his video speech delivered at the meeting upon invitation, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China attaches great importance to its cooperation with FLACSO and is willing to take this opportunity to have closer cooperation with the organization, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between China and LAC countries, and contribute more wisdom and strength to the sustainable development of China and LAC countries. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), charting the course for safeguarding world peace and security and promoting sustainable development around the globe. China stands ready to work with LAC countries to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility, boost economic recovery, improve peoples well-being and build a China-LAC community with a shared future. After the meeting, the Chinese ambassador to Ecuador held a celebration event, which was attended by Francisco Valdes Ugalde, President of the Supreme Council of FLACSO, Josette Altmann-Borbon, Secretary General of FLACSO, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs Qiu Xiaoqi, who was on a visit there, and the Chinese ambassadors to Costa Rica and El Salvador. Secretary general Josette Altmann-Borbon, on behalf of the Latin American side, highly commended Chinas commitment to stepping up academic exchanges with LAC countries and expressed readiness to deepen cultural and people-to-people mutual learning between the two sides to promote innovation-driven development and deliver benefits to the peoples. Chinas becoming a FLACSO observer is an important and joyful event in China-LAC relations. This is the first time in the past 10 years that China has established institutional relations with a Latin American and Caribbean organization. Since last year, the two sides have jointly held lecture series featuring contemporary China, which has played a positive role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust between China and LAC countries. Going forward, China stands ready to work with FLACSO to further cement public support for bilateral relations, promote greater participation of regional countries in the GDI and GSI, and jointly advance the building of a China-Latin America community with a shared future. China News Service: After the US government announced the entry into force of the so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) last week, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby expressed concerns on June 25 over the so-called forced labor in China again when asked about the upcoming G7 meeting. Do you have any response to that? Zhao Lijian: Forced labor is not taking place in China, but in the US. For quite some time, the US has sought to use Xinjiang-related issues to contain China by repeatedly rehashing forced labor in Xinjiang, a staggering lie propagated by the US, along with a series of attempts to create forced unemployment in Xinjiang. Facts have shown, however, that the false assertions made by the US against China best summarize the poor track record of the US itself. Forced labor has been a deep-seated problem with the US since the day it was founded. The long history of slavery is solid evidence of forced labor in the US. According to statistics, between 1525 and 1866, over 12.5 million Africans were shipped to the New World for forced labor. Numerous black slaves were forced to work at the bottom of society and tormented by dire working conditions, heavy labor and the brutal whipping by slave owners. In many ways, the USs fortune began with the blood, sweat, tears and ultimate sacrifices of slaves. Even today, the US is still fraught with serious forced labor. It might even be called a country of prevalent modern slavery. The website of the University of Denver disclosed that there are currently at least 500,000 people living under modern slavery and forced labor in the US. Forced labor is a particularly prominent and prevalent issue in 23 industries, including domestic service, agriculture, planting, tourism sales, catering, medical care and beauty. The US is a source, transit, and destination country for victims of forced labor and involuntary servitude. Human trafficking can be found in any sector, whether legal or illicit. Up to 100,000 people are trafficked into the US for forced labor annually. There are approximately 500,000 child farmworkers in the US. The International Labour Organization has expressed concern for many years in a row about the serious occupational injuries to children working on American farms. While busy generating lies and rumors about forced labor in other countries, the US government turns a blind eye to the actual forced labor at home. It still hasnt ratified the Forced Labour Convention, 1930. It seems that the beacon of human rights fails to shine a spotlight on the USs dark history, and nothing in its human rights toolbox could aim at its own deep-seated social malaise. The US needs to face up to its own serious forced labor issue and respond to the international communitys concerns sooner rather than later. After all, slinging mud at others is no way to clean up its own record. Phoenix TV: On June 24, the White House issued a statement that the US will officially establish Partners in the Blue Pacific together with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the UK. The statement reads that the five countries will strengthen cooperation to respond to the growing pressure on the rules-based international order under the framework, support prosperity, resilience, and security in the Pacific, and conduct cooperation with Pacific Island countries on climate change, maritime security, health, among others. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: The recent visit to the South Pacific by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi covered all the Pacific Island countries (PICs) having diplomatic ties with China, and injected strong boost to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. China and PICs value their traditional friendship and are committed to enhancing political mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation, responding to challenges together and realizing common development. China welcomes more tangible efforts to promote South Pacific Island countries development and prosperity by any country willing to do so. At the same time, I want to stress that any cooperation initiative for the South Pacific needs to respond to the trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and respect PICs independence and sovereignty. Such initiatives should not be designed to form exclusive blocs, still less target any third party or undermine its interests. CCTV: On June 26, Cambodias National Election Committee released the official results of the 5th Commune/Sangkat Council Election, showing a landslide victory for the Cambodian Peoples Party. Whats Chinas comment? Zhao Lijian: We congratulate Cambodia on successfully holding the 5th Commune/Sangkat Council Election and congratulate the Cambodian Peoples Party on winning the election. The Chinese side stands ready to work together with the Cambodian side to forge a community with a shared future, which is of strategic significance, and to deliver more benefits to both peoples. Associated Press of Pakistan: China hosted a high-level development dialogue on the sidelines of BRICS. There are media reports about the participation of Pakistan. Do you have any comment on that? Zhao Lijian: The decision to hold the High-level Dialogue on Global Development was based on consultation among BRICS countries. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Pakistan is an important member of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative. China highly values the important role of Pakistan in promoting global development, advancing implementation of the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and boosting regional cooperation. China and Pakistan maintain close communication and coordination. We have conducted substantial cooperation in the field of development, which has delivered tangible benefits to the people in both countries and the region. Pakistan remains a priority partner for China in implementing the Global Development Initiative and we will continue to work with Pakistan to advance the global development agenda. Beijing Youth Daily: The US Supreme Court overturned the New York State gun law that restricts the concealed carry of firearms in public on June 23, setting off an uproar among the American public. The people are now more concerned that gun violence in the US may get further out of control. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: I have noted relevant reports. I also read that the day after this ruling was adopted, a 5-month-old girl was shot and killed in a shooting in Chicago. The US suffers from the most serious gun violence problem in the world. The number of victims keeps hitting new highs as 122 people lost their lives to guns on a daily average. The American public lives with the shadow of gun violence and fear for their lives on an almost daily basis. According to the statistical website Gun Violence Archive, since the beginning of this year, nearly 21,000 people have died due to gun violence and 279 mass shootings have taken place in the US, in each of which four or more people were killed or injured. But not even these tragic numbers have spurred US politicians to take any real action. People cannot but ask: what have US politicians done to respond to the countless lives lost and devastated families other than staging political stunts? New tragedies are already taking place and again testing peoples moral conscience while the memory of the Robb elementary school shooting in Texas is still fresh. What makes US politicians think they can moralize about other countries human rights when they cannot even protect the lives of American children? CRI: Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk recently extended condolences and offered donations to the Chinese side over the floods in southern China. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: China and Cambodia enjoy an iron-clad friendship and a long tradition of mutual support and assistance. King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk provided generous assistance quite a few times when China was previously hit by natural disasters. Their latest kind gesture in the wake of the flooding in China signifies the deep friendship between the Cambodian royal family and the Chinese people as well as the spirit of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future. We highly appreciate this and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks. Reuters: The G7 leaders, who are meeting at the moment, have said that they aim to raise $600 billion for mainly infrastructure-based projects in developing countries to counter Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Whats the Chinese governments comment? Zhao Lijian: I noticed relevant reports. They said Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has led to debt trap. To call the BRI a debt trap is a false narrative. For nine years since its inception, the BRI has followed the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and delivered tangible benefits to partner countries and their peoples. According to World Bank forecast, if all BRI transport infrastructure projects are carried out, by 2030, the BRI will generate $1.6 trillion of revenues for the world each year, or 1.3% of global GDP. Up to 90% of the revenues will go to partner countries, and upper-middle- and low-income corridor economies are expected to benefit the most. The BRI could contribute to lifting 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty from 2015 to 2030. In fact, no BRI partner has agreed to the so-called debt trap accusation. Rather, it is the US that should be held responsible for creating the debt trap. The USs expansionary monetary policies, financial innovation with lax supervision and ill-intended short-selling are weighing down developing countries with debt burden and the very reason some countries have fallen into debt trap. With regard to the new initiative put forward by G7, China always welcomes initiatives that promote global infrastructure. Such initiatives do not have to cancel each other out. What we oppose is moves to advance geopolitical calculation and smear the BRI in the name of promoting infrastructure development. I also noticed that a year ago, it was also at a G7 Summit that the US put forward the B3W Initiative. The US committed then to developing global infrastructure in a different way from the BRI. Whether it is B3W or any other initiative, the world wants to see real investment and projects that will truly deliver for the people. Bloomberg: Will President Xi Jinping attend the Hong Kong celebrations on July 1 in person or via video link? Zhao Lijian: We have put out the press release. Please refer to the competent authorities if you want to know more details. AFP: According to Australian media reports, China has invited ministers from ten Pacific Island countries to a virtual meeting with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi next month. Can the foreign ministry confirm whether there is such a plan? Zhao Lijian: As I understand, these reports couldnt be further from the truth. Bloomberg: Uzbekistans Energy Ministry last week said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization members met to discuss cooperation in several fields of energy, including energy security and renewable energy. What role will China play in that cooperation? And did China and Russia reach any specific agreements about energy trade and energy security at that meeting? Zhao Lijian: I would refer you to competent authorities for the specific question you asked about. What I can say is that for more than 20 years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), guided by the Shanghai Spirit, has deepened cooperation in various areas and created a new cooperation model. It has played a vital role in maintaining regional security and stability and promoting development and revitalization of countries. China is ready to work with all parities to continuously deepen political, security, economy and trade, and people-to-people cooperation, and make the SCOs contribution to peace and development in the region and beyond. AFP: I have a question about the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Indonesia next month. Can you confirm whether Wang Yi will attend in person or virtually the summit? Zhao Lijian: Please stay tuned. We will release relevant information in due course. Reuters: The foreign minister of Tuvalu has decided to pull out of a United Nations oceans conference in Portugal after three Taiwanese participants on the pacific islands delegation had their accreditation blocked. Whats Chinas comment? Zhao Lijian: There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. The one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and shared consensus of the international community. It is also a fundamental principle affirmed in UNGA Resolution 2758. The Taiwan authorities are accustomed to resorting to such gambits in the context of international affairs. Stooping to joining the entourage of a foreign country in order to tag along and wedge into the United Nations Ocean Conference can only bring disgrace. China follows true multilateralism and supports parties in participating in the UN Ocean Conference in line with relevant laws and rules. On June 27, 2022, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Irfaan Ali to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Xi Jinping pointed out, since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China-Guyana relations have achieved significant development, with political mutual trust continuously deepened and practical cooperation yielding fruitful results. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, people of the two countries have worked together with solidarity and mutual assistance, writing a new chapter of China-Guyana friendship. I attach great importance to the development of China-Guyana relations, and am willing to work with President Ali to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to lift bilateral relations to new levels and bring benefits to the two countries and two peoples. Ali said that Guyana was the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to establish diplomatic ties with China, and that Guyana firmly adheres to the one-China principle. Over the past 50 years, Guyana and China have always respected each other and enjoyed equality and mutual benefit, and the traditional friendship has withstood the test of time. Guyana stands ready to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Guyana and China as an opportunity to continuously deepen bilateral friendship. The European soft drinks sector has delivered a 17.7% reduction in average added sugars in the last seven years based on the bolstered health and nutrition commitments... Read More Jessica Jackovich, 28, made the big move from Alaska to Albany. And shes not the only one who is glad she did. Jackovich, Albanys firefighter of the year, is a leader at Albany Fire Department, according to Chief Shane Wooton. I just want to tell you from my perspective how much I appreciate you and how much you do for our fitness committee and the health of our people, Wooton said while presenting Jackovich with the award during a June 22 City Council meeting. Jess is a huge asset to our department. I remember the day you thought about coming here from Alaska, and we are so thankful that you made that choice. Albany Fire's annual awards are voted on by the entire department. This is one of the reasons the award means so much to Jackovich. Its an honor. It was unexpected, she said. It makes me very humble to think that my peers think of me as firefighter of the year. A fulfilling career Jackovich is still early in her career, but shes already making an impact. According to Wooton, Jackovich is a leader in the health and fitness part of the department and serves as a great example for her peers. Jackovich tries to keep her co-workers motivated to exercise every day and maintain their health, she said. This, along with her normal firefighter duties, makes the work fulfilling for Jackovich. I enjoy coming to work and every day is a new day. Every day is dynamic, she said. Some people call us on their worst days, and I just enjoy getting to help them. Jackovichs firefighting journey started in her native Alaska. She was around 20 years old and considering a career in medicine. A ride-along with her stepdad, who was working at the local station, changed everything: She instantly fell in love with the job. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. She started volunteering and eventually was hired with a station in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2016, a friend with Albany Fire Department encouraged Jackovich to apply for a job here. Now, shes becoming a leader in not just Albany but in the county as well. Inspiring young women Just last week, Jackovich was at the Linn County Young Womens Fire Academy in Lebanon training and inspiring the next generation of female firefighters. The program is designed for young women 16 to 19 years old who live in Oregon. Firefighting being the male-dominated career that it is, encouraging other young women to get into the profession is important to Jackovich. I had a very strong female mentor who helped me grow immensely as a female firefighter, she said. A lot of people dont know what its like to be discriminated at a job. As a female firefighter, Jackovich is committed to getting other young women involved in the profession. She said she talks to various people in Albany whose daughters might be interested in a similar career path. In just a short time at AFD, Jackovich said she's already seen growth in terms of a female presence. AFD is very diverse and open to inclusion, she said. I think there were two females when I started at AFD, and now theres six. Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_ Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Were off to a flyer here. Later on in the night, at 7:30, our friend and three of his coworkers hit the town to grab a bite and some booze. Three hours later, the group split. Old mate still had the bag and USB in his possession at this time. The next piece of information the company gives us takes place at 3am. Like most one too many nights our USB holder is unaccounted for almost 5 hours. Anyway, at 3am the man was sleeping on the street and the bag was not with him. By Vic Medina | 20 hours ago The future of warfare is much closer than we think, according to a report from Futurism.com, which details how technology is close to making hiding behind walls or within structures during combat totally obsolete. A new radar-based military device called the Xaver 1000 can now give soldiers on the ground the ability to literally see through walls, detecting human beings moving within structures with an accuracy never before seen. The technology was developed by the Israeli-based Camero-Tech, an imaging solutions firm that has been working on the logistics of Sense Through The Wall (or STTW) technology for years. Their products are available on the market today, as this video on the companys YouTube page shows. Released over a year ago, this simpler version of the Xaver 1000, dubbed the Xaver LR80, is currently available for purchase from the company. Prices (or requirements for purchase) are not readily available. According to The Business Insider, the new Xaver 1000 was unveiled earlier this month at Eurosatury 2022, a defense and security exhibition in Paris, France. According to the companys website, the Xaver 1000 is a significant upgrade from their previous designs, as the military device is easier to carry into combat and is user-friendly. It also provides real-time, 3D images of hostile individuals behind walls and concealed within structures, which would give soldiers a decided advantage on the battlefield. It is now available to order, although it looks like the company is limiting purchases to military, law enforcement, and search-and-rescue firms. Billed as a military device that can provide an unprecedented situational awareness 3D visual picture, the Xaver 1000 can distinguish between stationary and moving individuals, and can even tell if the live object is a soldier or an animal. The imaging is so precise, that it can even tell if a person is standing, sitting, or lying down, and even distinguish body parts. While it has the potential to keep soldiers out of harms way by literally seeing the enemy behind walls, it has non-military applications, as mentioned before. The tech could be used in disaster situations, helping to locate and identify human beings trapped within the rubble, for example. It could also be a serious privacy issue, especially if the technology is available to the public. In both hostage and combat situations, the tech could make breaching structures much safer and more precise, protecting soldiers and law enforcement, while reducing the possibility of civilian casualties. The Xaver 1000, according to the company website, weighs only 36 pounds, sets up quickly, and can even transmit data to other soldiers or authorities, with the use of WiFi. Unlike heat-based motion detection, this new military device uses pulse-based, ultra-wideband radar waves, and an AI algorithm to see through walls from more than 100 feet away. It sounds like the type of technology seen in movies like Arnold Schwarzeneggers Eraser, although that film was made nearly 20 years before the tech became a practical reality. The problem with such technology is the possible misuse and privacy issues. Although designed to be used as a military device or a search-and-rescue tool, it could also be used to spy on private citizens without their consent, or even without government or judicial oversight. We have already seen how drones could be used to invade a persons privacy and track their actions without their knowledge. This sort of tech could make every inch of a persons home visible to anyone using the device. Camero-Tech is currently not releasing public comments on its products. NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New York Young Elite Association (NYYEA) hosted a charitable and get-out-the-vote event on June 26 in Corona, Queens, giving away personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and disinfecting wipes. The event was also one of many in the past month that coincided with the group's efforts lobbying for US Congressman Tom Suozzi for his bid for the New York governorship in November. This would be the final election rally the organization would hold for Suozzi before Primary Day on June 28. A separate get-out-the-vote event was held the day before, in Flushing, Queens. A larger rally was held on June 18, at the Queens Library at Flushing. Many Chinese community leaders and groups, along with Suozzi, were among the attendees. The crowd's chant and the sound of the Chinese drums reverberated many blocks away. Suozzi was also a guest on Wei Wei Talk at the rally, hosted by Chinese journalist Wei Wei Gao on her channel MGM. Suozzi and his running mate for Lieutenant Governor Diana Reyna, along with volunteers, passed out flyers and PPEs while taking photos with supporters. Suozzi, a Long Island native who had also previously served as the county executive of Nassau County, New York, had been campaigning vigorously since his announcement of his bid for governorship last November. The NYYEA has been vocal of their support for Suozzi -- as evident from the numerous fundraising events and rallies they have since hosted for the congressman. The organization, which is comprised of members from the local Chinese community, believes Suozzi's success as governor would benefit the overall interest of not only the Chinese residents but the broader community as whole. The recent uptick in crimes against the Asian community has also been a priority issue of the NYYEA, which coincides with Suozzi's stance on improving public safety. NYYEA President John JD Liu said recently that he and the NYYEA believe in many of Suozzi's ideas, such as fixing the controversial bail reform laws that have been plaguing the city and often viewed as being soft on crime, as well as a stricter gun control. Incumbent governor Kathy Hochul had also been riddled in controversy lately since Suozzi had brought it to attention that she had received an endorsement from the National Rifle Association (NRA) in 2011. Liu also said the rallies are an opportunity for young people to understand the importance of democracy and freedom, which include aspects such as voting rights and women's rights. Tel: 516-858-8899 Website: www.nyyea.org Related Images Image 1: John JD Liu, Tom Suozzi and Diana Reyna with volunteers and supporters This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- P2 Gold Inc. (P2 or the Company) (TSX-V:PGLD) reports that, subject to regulatory approval, it has entered into an agreement (the Amending Agreement) amending the terms of the option agreement (the Option Agreement) dated June 10, 2020 pursuant to which the Company can acquire up to a 100% interest in the Silver Reef Property located in northwest British Columbia. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, the Company initially has the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the Silver Reef Property by paying to the vendor over a three-year option period $750,000 and issuing 1.2 million common shares in its capital (Common Shares) as follows: $50,000 (paid) and 200,000 Common Shares (issued) on the signing of the Option Agreement; $200,000 (paid) and 200,000 Common Shares (issued) on the first anniversary of the Option Agreement; and $500,000 and 800,000 Common Shares on the second anniversary of the Option Agreement. The Company is also required to incur exploration expenditures of $250,000 (incurred) before the first anniversary of the Option Agreement, $750,000 (incurred) of cumulative exploration expenditures by the second anniversary of the Option Agreement and $2 million of cumulative exploration expenditures by the third anniversary of the Option Agreement. Under the terms of the Amending Agreement, in place of paying the vendor $500,000 and 800,000 Common Shares on the second anniversary of the Option Agreement, the Company will now pay the vendor: $175,000 (in cash or Common Shares valued at $0.50 per share) and 300,000 Common Shares following TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) acceptance for filing of the Amending Agreement; $175,000 (in cash or Common Shares valued at the greater of the closing price of the Common Shares on the Exchange on June 9, 2023 and the Discounted Market Price, as defined in Exchange Policy 1.1) and 300,000 Common Shares on June 12, 2023; and $200,000 (in cash or Common Shares valued at the greater of the closing price of the Common Shares on the Exchange on June 7, 2024 and the Discounted Market Price) and 200,000 Common Shares on June 10, 2024. In addition, the Company has until September 30, 2024 to incur any remaining exploration expenditures at Silver Reef. Following exercise of the option and earning a 70% interest in the Silver Reef Property, the Company has the right for a period of 120 days to acquire the remaining 30% interest in Silver Reef, for a 100% total interest, on payment of $7.5 million of which up to $4 million may be paid in Common Shares at its election. If the Company elects to not purchase the remaining 30% interest, the Company and the vendor shall form a joint venture, with the Company appointed the operator. During the first three years of the joint venture, the Company will fund the vendors participating interest in the joint venture. If the vendor fails to sell its interest in the joint venture during such three-year period, the vendors interest will convert to a 3% net smelter returns royalty, provided that the Company will have the opportunity to purchase the vendors interest prior to such conversion for $7.5 million. About P2 Gold Inc. P2 is a mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing precious metals and copper discoveries and acquisitions in the western United States and British Columbia. For further information, please contact: Joseph Ovsenek President & CEO (778) 731-1055 P2 Gold Inc. Suite 1100, 355 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8 info@p2gold.com (SEDAR filings: P2 Gold Inc.) Michelle Romero Executive Vice President (778) 731-1060 Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbours created by those laws. Forward-looking information includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, anticipate, believe, continue, potential or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, information with respect to the Companys expectations, strategies and plans for the Silver Reef Property including the Companys planned expenditures and exploration activities. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including without limitation, risks associated with mineral exploration, including the risk that actual results and timing of exploration and development will be different from those expected by management. See Risk Factors in the Companys annual information form dated March 31, 2022 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for a discussion of these risks. The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Vancouver, BC, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recharge Resources Ltd. (Recharge or the Company) (RR: CSE) (RECHF: OTC) (SL5: Frankfurt) is pleased to report that it has applied for and is awaiting the approval of diamond drilling permits for its 100% owned Brussels creek Copper-Gold-Palladium property, located in the Kamloops Mining District, British Columbia. The fully funded Phase 1 Drill Program was designed based on the results of the previously announced Induced Polarization (IP) survey to establish the potential for copper-gold mineralization similar to mineralization present at the adjacent New Afton mine owned by New Gold Inc. (NGD TSX). The interpretation led to the selection of five high-priority drill targets, with each hole approximately 300 m in depth, for a total proposed program of 1500 metres. The targets for these proposed locations are highly conductive zones which are interpreted to continue from surface outcrops below near-surface more resistive zones. Recharge Resources CEO and director, David Greenway, states, "With Recharges recently closed flow through private placement the company is fully funded for its designed Phase 1 drill program. Recharge was greatly encouraged by the results of the Quantec IP survey and excited to drill test these new high-priority targets at Brussels. About the Brussels Creek Project The Property is an early-stage exploration property, located approximately 24 kilometres west of Kamloops, B.C., and is immediately adjacent to New Gold's New Afton mine. The Property comprises 17 claims (66 cells) covering 1,350.43 hectares. The geological setting of the property is very similar to New Afton, a silica-saturated copper-gold alkalic porphyry-style deposit, as well as the Highland Valley, Mount Polly, Kemess and Galore Creek deposits. Recent field observations noted the presence of a substantial mineralized quartz-feldspar porphyry body intruding the overlying Nicola group volcanics. Historic sampling and mapping on the property, in 1983 and 1984, located a broad anomalous zone (200 metres by 400 metres) with gold values up to 3.5 grams per tonne. Grab samples taken from the property in 2019 include values of 10.1 g/t Au (with 0.7 g/t palladium) and 11.5 g/t Au. Brussels Creek Web Page: https://recharge-resources.com/projects/brussels-creek/ Qualified person Chris M. Healey, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist, is the qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 responsible for the technical content of this release, and consents to its release. About Recharge Resources Recharge Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring and developing the production of high-value battery metals to create green, renewable energy to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle market. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, David Greenway David Greenway, CEO For further information, please contact: Recharge Resources Ltd. Mr. Joel Warawa Phone: 778-588-5473 E-Mail: info@recharge-resources.com Website: recharge-resources.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding Recharges intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Recharge will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including Recharges results of exploration or review of properties that Recharge does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Recharge assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEW YORK, New York, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (Ivanhoe Electric), a U.S.-based minerals exploration and development company, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 14,388,000 shares of its common stock at a price of US$11.75 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately US$169.1 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by Ivanhoe Electric. In addition, Ivanhoe Electric has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,158,200 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The shares are expected to begin trading on the NYSE American and the Toronto Stock Exchange on June 28, 2022 under the ticker symbol IE. The offering is expected to close on June 30, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. Ivanhoe Electric intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund certain payments to acquire or maintain its mineral and property rights to its material and key mineral properties, to further its metals exploration activities at all of its mineral properties, to construct and deploy additional sets of its Typhoon electrical pulse-powered geophysical surveying transmitter technology, as well as working capital and general and administrative costs. BMO Capital Markets and Jefferies are acting as the lead bookrunners for the offering. J.P. Morgan is acting as a joint bookrunner for the offering. Raymond James, RBC Capital Markets and Scotiabank are acting as co-managers for the offering. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 151 W 42nd Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10036, telephone: (800) 414-3627, email: bmoprospectus@bmo.com ; or Jefferies LLC, Attn: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone: 1-877-821-7388 or by email: Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com . A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Ivanhoe Electric has also obtained a receipt for a final base PREP prospectus filed with the securities commissions or similar securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada (except Quebec) on the date hereof. A copy of the supplemented PREP prospectus containing pricing information and other important information relating to the shares of common stock may, when available, be obtained from the underwriters at the addresses set out above and will be available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov/edgar under Ivanhoe Electrics profile. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Ivanhoe Electric Ivanhoe Electric Inc. is a United States domiciled technology and metals company that is re-inventing mining for the electrification of everything. Ivanhoe Electric represents the confluence of advanced exploration technologies (Typhoon and Computational Geosciences Inc.), electric metals projects focused in the United States and renewable energy storage solutions (VRB Energy Inc. vanadium flow batteries). Ivanhoe Electric is uniquely positioned to support American supply chain independence by delivering the critical metals necessary for electrification of the economy. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding the expected closing date of the offering and the use of proceeds from the offering are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including changes in the prices of copper or other metals Ivanhoe Electric is exploring for, the results of exploration activities, significant risk and hazards associated with mining operations, extensive regulation by the U.S. government as well as local governments; the impact of political, economic and other uncertainties associated with operating in foreign countries, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economy. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements described in Ivanhoe Electrics registration statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and base PREP prospectus filed with Canadian securities commissions. Ivanhoe Electric expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Media Contact Evan Young Vice President, Corporate Development Evan.Y@ivanhoeelectric.com 604-598-8765 June 28, 2022 Testing in accordance with ISO 18562 and ISO 10993 standards conducted by five certified, independent testing laboratories in the US and Europe Amsterdam, the Netherlands On June 14, 2021, Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) subsidiary Philips Respironics, initiated a voluntary recall notification/field safety notice * to address potential health risks related to the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam in specific CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilator devices. At the time the recall notification/field safety notice* was issued, Philips Respironics relied on an initial, limited data set and toxicological risk assessment, and assumed a worst-case scenario for the possible health risks out of an abundance of caution. Since then, together with five certified, independent testing laboratories in the US and Europe, as well as other qualified third-party experts, Philips Respironics has been conducting a comprehensive test and research program on the PE-PUR foam to better assess and scope the potential patient health risks related to possible emission of particulates from degraded foam and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This update is intended to provide healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders with updated information on the testing results to date. Philips will continue to provide regular updates as new test results and assessments become available, as not all tests have been completed to date. The overall guidance for healthcare providers and patients in the recall notification/field safety notice* remains unchanged at this time. Testing methods Testing results and conclusions to date are grouped by device air path design and configuration, i.e., based on how the air flows through the device. Of the five device categories, the first-generation DreamStation devices represent 68% of the registered affected devices globally. Within each device category, testing and analyses are performed on new devices with pristine foam, devices with lab-aged foam and used devices: Visual assessment of the foam in returned/used devices to assess the prevalence of visible foam degradation. VOC testing to identify and quantify organic compounds that may be inhaled during device use. Particulate Matter (PM) testing to determine concentrations of respirable particulates, i.e., particulates up to 10 micrometers in diameter, as it relates to inhalation risks and established health thresholds. Additional physical, chemical and biological testing of the PE-PUR foam related to patient risks if patients were in contact with foam material. The complete update on the PE-PUR testing results and conclusions available to date can be found here , and the main findings have been presented below. Healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders should use the complete update for any informed decision making, and not the overview in this press release. I deeply regret the concern experienced by patients who rely on the affected Respironics sleep and respiratory devices for their health and quality of life and want to emphasize our commitment to providing them with a resolution as fast as possible, said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. More than 1,000 of our colleagues are working extremely hard to achieve this. While certain prolonged tests across the affected product categories are still to be completed, the results to date for the first-generation DreamStation devices, which represent the majority of the registered affected devices, show a very low prevalence of visible foam degradation. In addition, the new and used first-generation DreamStation devices passed volatile organic compound and respirable particulate emission testing. This is very encouraging. Results to date also indicate that ozone cleaning significantly exacerbates foam degradation. First-generation DreamStation devices (68% of registered affected devices globally) Visual assessment : In order to determine the prevalence of foam degradation, which may result in foam particulate emission, a visual assessment of the foam was performed on a sample of 60,847 returned/used first-generation DreamStation devices from the US and Canada. The visual inspection was conducted according to a specific protocol as part of the repair process. The sample included 36,341 devices for which the users reported no use of ozone cleaning, 11,309 devices for which the users reported use of ozone cleaning, and 13,197 devices for which it was reported unknown by the user whether ozone cleaning was used. Prevalence of visible foam degradation (US and CA): 164 of 36,341 (0.5%) devices with self-reported no ozone use showed significant visible foam degradation. 164 of 36,341 (0.5%) devices with self-reported no ozone use showed significant visible foam degradation. Impact of repeated ozone cleaning: Devices with self-reported ozone use were 14x more likely to have significant visible foam degradation than those with self-reported no ozone use: 777 of 11,309 devices (7%) showed significant visible foam degradation. Devices with self-reported ozone use were 14x more likely to have significant visible foam degradation than those with self-reported no ozone use: 777 of 11,309 devices (7%) showed significant visible foam degradation. Assessment of a sample of devices linked to reported alleged foam degradation complaints: 422 devices of the inspected 60,847 returned/used devices are linked to a reported foam degradation complaint. However, only 18 out of these 422 devices (4%) actually showed visible foam degradation. In those devices where visible foam degradation was significant, i.e., there was reduction in foam volume, it was observed that there was accumulation of degraded foam within the airpath inside the device. The foam becomes hygroscopic (i.e., absorbs moisture) and sticky with degradation. It also loses significant volume and increases density as the structure changes from a foam to a viscous liquid material. As such, even when foam particulates are formed by degradation, they are likely to accumulate within the device and may not be directly emitted by the device. A visual assessment of the foam was also performed on a sample of 1,360 returned/used first-generation DreamStation devices from various countries in Europe and on a sample of 931 returned/used devices from Japan. Prevalence of visible foam degradation (EU and JPN): None of the assessed devices from Europe or Japan showed significant visible degradation. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) : VOC testing according to ISO 18562-3 was performed on new, lab-aged and used devices to (1) quantify VOC emissions from devices, and (2) assess the toxicological risk associated with exposure to the quantified concentrations of those VOCs. It is important to note that these tested new and lab aged first-generation DreamStation devices were not exposed to ozone cleaning, in accordance with the instructions for use. As previously provided in an update on December 23, 2021, VOC emissions are below established limits based on ISO 18562-3 testing and evaluation of new, lab-aged, and used devices. Exposure to the level of VOCs identified to date for the first-generation DreamStation devices is not anticipated to result in long-term health consequences for patients. Particulate Matter (PM) : PM testing according to ISO 18562-2 was performed on the devices to (1) quantify the particulate matter emitted from devices, and (2) assess whether the concentration detected is less than thresholds provided in the standard. New devices and used devices (including used devices with visible foam degradation) were tested and were all found to be compliant with ISO 18562-2 allowable limits for PM emissions . . Tested PM emissions of used devices with degradation were not statistically different than PM emissions without degradation, suggesting that degradation did not contribute to appreciable elevated levels of respirable particles in the devices tested . . The used devices that were tested for PM emissions, were also evaluated for cleanliness based on a visual inspection of the exterior of the device, i.e., the presence of environmental materials on the external surface of the device, such as the inlet filter location. For these devices, average particulate matter counts in devices classified as dirty were significantly greater than those classified as clean. Biocompatibility testing of (degraded) PE-PUR foam : Additional testing is still being performed in accordance with ISO 10993 to facilitate a toxicological risk assessment of (degraded) foam particulates, which is relevant if they would potentially contact the patient. This testing includes chemical characterization (i.e., what chemicals may potentially extract or leach from the foam and have direct contact with body tissues and/or fluids), in vitro assessment (i.e., tests performed in a test tube, dish, etc. outside the body), and in vivo assessment (i.e., preclinical testing) of new, lab aged and/or used PE-PUR foam. To support the assessment of potential genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and irritation risks of lab-aged foam, chemical characterization of lab-aged foam, as well as experiments to assess the amount of foam that can potentially contact the patient are being conducted, as lab-aged foam did not pass Ames (genotoxicity), cytotoxicity and skin irritation bioassay testing. Further, complementing the lab-aged foam assessment, a chemical characterization of returned/used degraded foam is also being conducted to better elucidate risks under field conditions. Per ISO 10993, the bioassay results cannot stand alone and, therefore, a positive Ames, cytotoxicity, or skin irritation result triggers a required follow-up evaluation including identification of potential confounding factors, and a weight of evidence assessment to determine a confirmed conclusion on potential risks for patients under expected usage of the device. Other devices under the recall notification/field safety notice Other devices that are being tested include DreamStation Go (1% of the registered devices) and SystemOne (26% of the registered devices). These devices each have a different air path design/configuration compared to the first-generation DreamStation devices but contain the same PE-PUR foam. New DreamStation Go and SystemOne devices passed VOC and PM testing based on standards available prior to ISO 18562 i.e., Indoor Air Quality Evaluation (as previously disclosed in the April 25, 2022, update). Further ISO 18562 VOC and PM testing is ongoing. The results of ISO 10993 biocompatibility testing of degraded PE-PUR foam for the first-generation DreamStation devices, which is ongoing, will also apply to DreamStation Go and SystemOne devices. Further devices include Trilogy 100/200 (3% of the registered devices) and OmniLab/A-Series BiPAP (2% of the registered devices). New Trilogy 100/200 passed VOC and PM testing. New OmniLab devices passed VOC and PM testing based on standards available prior to ISO 18562 i.e., Indoor Air Quality Evaluation (as previously disclosed in the April 25, 2022, update). New and used OmniLab devices passed VOC testing based on ISO 18562. Further testing is ongoing. Summary of ongoing tests The first-generation DreamStation, DreamStation Go and SystemOne CPAP/BiPAP devices represent 95% of the registered affected devices globally. Philips Respironics expects to complete the remaining VOC and PM testing for these devices, as well as the degraded foam toxicological risk assessments (in accordance with ISO 10993) in the coming months. Philips Respironics will also continue with the tests to assess the impact of repeated ozone cleaning on foam degradation in these CPAP/BiPAP devices, as well as the remaining VOC and PM testing and the degraded foam toxicological risk assessments for the Trilogy 100/200 and OmniLab ventilator devices. Silicone foam testing per FDAs November 2021 request In November 2021, the FDA requested that Philips retain an independent laboratory to perform additional testing to determine what, if any, potential safety risks may be posed to patients by silicone-based foam. Philips Respironics engaged independent testing laboratories to perform additional VOC testing. Based on the draft reports, Philips Respironics has not identified any safety issues. The assessment is being completed, and the final reports are subject to FDA review, which are expected in the coming months. Guidance for healthcare providers and patients As indicated, this update is intended to provide healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders with updated information on the testing results to date. The overall guidance for healthcare providers and patients in the recall notification/field safety notice * remains unchanged at this time. Philips Respironics remains fully committed to addressing all devices affected by the recall notification/field safety notice* and continues to work with the relevant competent authorities to further optimize the remediation plan. To date, approximately 2.7 million replacement devices and repair kits have been produced. Additional information Further information, including the complete update and FAQs, as well as video messages from Philips CEO Frans van Houten, Chief Business Leader Connected Care Roy Jakobs and Technical Project Manager for the test and research program Jan Bennik, can be found here and here . * Voluntary recall notification in the US/field safety notice for the rest of the world. For media questions, please contact: Steve Klink Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +31 6 10888824 E-mail: steve.klink@philips.com Ben Zwirs Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +31 6 15213446 E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter . Forward-looking statements This statement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Attachment Dublin, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Drug Type (Small, Large Molecules), by Therapeutic Area (Respiratory System, Immunomodulation), by Workflow, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global drug discovery outsourcing market size is expected to reach USD 6.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 7.4% The COVID-19 pandemic has brought pharmaceutical companies in limelight. Drug discovery is a costly and lengthy process. This has urged pharmaceutical and biotech companies to opt for outsourcing their research activities to academic and private Contract Research Organizations (CROs). Rising partnerships between public or private entities accelerate drug discovery processes, which, in turn, increase the global demand for outsourcing services for drug discovery. This scenario is expected to sustain post the covid implications as well. A rise in cases of chronic diseases has urged companies to develop medicines that extend life expectancy. According to the United Nations, people aged 65 years between 2015 and 2020 are expected to live an additional 17 years. Some of the key therapeutic areas where companies are actively involved in outsourcing include oncology, cardiovascular, and anti-infectives. In November 2020, AstraZeneca collaborated with 9 of the foremost oncology medical centers to expedite research in some of the hardest-to-treat cancers. The company will be funding clinical and non-clinical research proposals from members of this network. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the value of drug discovery and development. People across the world are waiting for a vaccine while several companies are proactively involved in developing an effective vaccine to combat COVID-19. Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE received first approval for the vaccine following a worldwide Phase 3 trial of a potential strain to combat the virus. As for clinical trials, many of them are halted, while some are functional by adopting remote monitoring technologies. Thus, the pandemic has brought the pharmaceutical industry to center stage with drug discovery outsourcing becoming a key aspect to develop effective treatments against the virus. This is expected to boost the market revenue for the next 2 years i.e. a short-term boom, after which it shall regain its original growth curve. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market Report Highlights In 2021, the lead identification & candidate optimization segment dominated the market. It is one of the most critical processes in drug discovery. Oncology and anti-infective are projected to be among the fastest-growing segments during the forecast period. Small molecules dominated the market in 2021. The segment is also projected to register a high CAGR during the forecast period. This, however, may change in the short term with higher emphasis on biologics. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market during the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to the government initiatives to forge alliances with U.S. pharmaceutical companies. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope Chapter 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Outlook 2.2. Segment Outlook 2.3. Competitive Insights Chapter 3. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market Variables, Trends & Scope 3.1. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping 3.2. Industry Value Chain Analysis 3.2.1. Reimbursement framework 3.3. Market Dynamics 3.3.1. Market driver analysis 3.3.2. Market restraint analysis 3.3.3. Industry challenges 3.4. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market Analysis Tools 3.4.1. Industry Analysis-Porter's 3.4.2. PESTEL Analysis 3.4.3. Major Deals & Strategic Alliances Analysis 3.4.4. Market Entry Strategies Chapter 4. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market: Workflow Estimates & Trend Analysis 4.1. Segment Dashboard 4.2. Definitions and Scope 4.3. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market Share, 2021 & 2030 4.4. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the following 4.4.1. Target Identification & Screening 4.4.2. Target Validation & Functional Informatics 4.4.3. Lead Identification & Candidate Optimization 4.4.4. Preclinical Development 4.4.5. Other Associated Workflow Chapter 5. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market: Therapeutics Area Estimates & Trend Analysis 5.1. Segment Dashboard 5.2. Definitions and Scope 5.3. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market Share, 2021 & 2030 5.4. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the following 5.4.1. Respiratory System 5.4.2. Pain and Anesthesia 5.4.3. Oncology 5.4.4. Ophthalmology 5.4.5. Hematology 5.4.6. Cardiovascular 5.4.7. Endocrine 5.4.8. Gastrointestinal 5.4.9. Immunomodulation 5.4.10. Anti-Infective 5.4.11. Central Nervous System 5.4.12. Dermatology 5.4.13. Genitourinary System Chapter 6. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market: Drug Type Estimates & Trend Analysis 6.1. Segment Dashboard 6.2. Definitions and Scope 6.3. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market Share, 2021 & 2030 6.4. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the following 6.4.1. Small Molecules 6.4.2. Large Molecules (Biopharmaceuticals) Chapter 7. Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis 7.1. Regional Market Dashboard 7.2. Regional Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 7.3. Regional Market Share, 2020 Chapter 8. Competitive Landscape 8.1. Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, by Key Market Participants Albany Molecular Research Inc. Evotec Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Genscript Ppd Inc Charles River Wuxi Apptec Merck & Co. Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Dalton Pharma Services Oncodesign Jubilant Biosys Discoverx Corporation Qiagen For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tq7as7 Attachment The Zimbabwe Republic Police have launched investigations into the death of two senior Zanu PF officials in Nyatsime area of Chitungwiza with one of them alleged to have been poisoned, while the other reportedly succumbed to a stress-related illness after his house was recently burnt down by CCC supporters rampaging after the murder of a woman by a violent ex-boyfriend, now in custody. The two officials are former Manyame district chairperson Cde Tina Gweshe, who is suspected by family to have been poisoned after she attended a party last week, and Cde George Murambatsvina, the Zanu PF chairman for Nyatsime, whose house was set ablaze by CCC supporters in Nyatsime about a fortnight ago. Cde Murambatsvina suffered serious injuries and stress from the violent attack. In an interview yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police have begun the investigations over the deaths of the two Zanu PF officials, but now needed the results of the post mortems to ascertain the causes of the deaths. We are conducting investigations with a view to find out what exactly happened and we would like to urge the public to cooperate with the police, he said. On the heavy police presence, Asst Comm Nyathi said, There is need for police to maintain law and order especially considering what has happened and the investigations being conducted. The Herald yesterday visited the area where Zanu PF supporters were still mourning their two leaders. Senior party officials also visited the area where they handed over food and goods to the bereaved families. Seke Constituency legislator Cde Munyaradzi Kashambe also reiterated the need for peace and applauded police for ensuring that there is order in the area. Cde Kashambe said he was saddened that after the CCC supporters had unleashed violence, they then lost one of their hard working senior party members. A few days ago we also lost another comrade, Cde Gweshe who was also known as Greenhouse. As a party we have, however, then decided to donate food to the two families. I would also want applaud the unity that has been displayed between the party supporters in both the province and also at national level during this period. I would also want to thank you for maintaining peace. Even our President, Cde ED Mnangagwa, has always emphasised the need for maintaining peace as we head towards the 2023 elections, he said. Mashonaland East Zanu PF provincial vice chairman Cde Kudzai Majuru said Zanu PF was a peaceful party and it was his hope that the law will take its course. Cde Majuru said they had decided to assist the two families with maize meal, rice, cooking oil, flour, salt and various groceries. As Zanu PF we are a peaceful party and we have allowed the law to take its course. Following the loss of our two officials, as Zanu PF we have decided to assist with some groceries and cash for the bereaved families. We will continue to assist them and even the families left behind, he said. Cde Murambatsvina is expected to be buried in his rural home in Gutu and Cde Gweshe at Zororo cemetery. Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala and his Chitungwiza North legislator Godfrey Sithole, have since been arrested on charges of incitement to commit violence after the violence by CCC supporters in Nyatsime, remarks they are alleged to have made before that violence and allegations of involvement in assembling supporters. Sikhala, who is also the CCC deputy national chairperson, and Sithole are accused of mobilising their party supporters to unleash violence in Nyatsime during a memorial service for Moreblessing Ali, who they claimed had been killed by a Zanu PF member, when in fact she was killed by her former lover. Ali, who the CCC said was a supporter, was abducted outside a nightclub in Nyatsime on May 14 and her dismembered remains were discovered in a disused well at a farm in Beatrice about 10km away from where she was taken. The chief suspect in her murder, Pius Jamba (31), was arrested five days later and is remanded in custody. On Sunday, Zanu supporters also held a peaceful demonstration at Chibhanguza Shopping Centre where they castigated the opposition supporters including Sikhala and CCC leader Nelson Chamisa. New York, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Turboexpander Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Loading Device, By Application, By End-use, By Power Capacity, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2022 2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06289296/?utm_source=GNW Turboexpander have recently gained popularity in the oil and gas industry for extracting hydrocarbon liquid from natural gas. Turbo expanders are employed extensively in petrochemical applications such as nitrogen, hydrogen, and ethylene to liquefying natural gas. Oil and gas continue to dominate the energy landscape. Several countries are moving away from dirty energy sources. Natural gas is amongst the most suitable fossil fuel alternatives. It generates less carbon dioxide and burns cleaner than coal. As a result, operators are continually investing in boosting natural gas production, which might fuel the turboexpander markets expansion. Moreover, the market is expected to rise due to continual technological developments in bearing technology and a greater demand for Active Magnetic Bearings (AMB) over oil-bearing in turboexpanders. An increase in industry awareness of the need to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions would further drive the demand for turboexpander in geothermal and heat recovery applications. The need for LNG for domestic uses, along with the resulting requirement to store and transport LNG, is predicted to increase the demand for turboexpander. Natural gas is regarded as a more environmentally friendly and dependable energy source. In October 2021, Sinopec Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), and local authority energy suppliers such as Zhejiang Energy started agreements with US natural exporters Cheniere Energy (LNG.A) and Venture Global. The goal of the effort was to establish a long-term collaboration to avoid LNG supply shortfalls in the face of rising gas prices and domestic power problems owing to poor coal production. COVID-19 Impact The turboexpander market saw a modest downturn due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Lower consumption of natural gas across economies is to blame, prompting many corporations to reschedule or postpone investment choices in LNG projects. The deployment of the new turboexpanders was delayed by two to three years as a result of this. However, since the outbreak of the pandemic, demand for liquid oxygen has increased dramatically, prompting numerous governments to declare plans to build additional oxygen plants. In 2021, this opened up new growth opportunities for turboexpander OEMs, which are projected to continue for the next few years. Due to the cumulative effects of low heating demand after a mild winter, the execution of lockdown restrictions in practically all nations, and the reduced level of physical activity caused by the COVID-19 induced macroeconomic crisis, natural gas demand fell by 4% in 2020. Market Growth Factors Liquid natural gas hydrocarbon extraction process utilize turboexpander Natural gas is mostly composed of methane (CH4), with smaller amounts of heavier hydrocarbon gases including propane (C3H8), ethane (C2H6), and normal butane (nC4H10), isobutane (iC4H10), pentanes, and even higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. Acid gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), and mercaptans such as methanethiol (CH3SH) and ethane thiol (ETH) are also present in crude gas (C2H5SH). These heavier hydrocarbons are referred to as NGLs when they are turned into final products (natural gas liquids). Turboexpander and a low column extraction temperature are often used in the extraction of NGL also known as called demethanizer. In a heat exchanger, the incoming gas is compressed to around -51 C. The gas produced by the liquid combination is split into a liquid-gas stream and a stream. The flow of liquid travels through a valve and is subjected to an isenthalpic process that lowers the flow temperatures from about -51 C to about -81 C. Advancement in the Turboexpander cold gas services Low-temperature, refrigeration, and cryogenic services all require turbo-expanders. The primary purpose of such turbo-expanders is to minimize energy temperature in a high-pressure gas stream. Expansion cools the gas significantly while also supplying mechanical power to rotate tools to perform beneficial tasks. In some implementations, the turbo-expander is connected to a compressor, and the created work is used to compress the gas in the process. The turbo-expander and compressor are sometimes combined into a single machine with a single shaft. In much refrigeration, cryogenic and low-temperature gas applications, a turbo-expander can produce low-temperature gas significantly more effective than solutions such as a "Joule-Thomson" (JT) valve or others. Market Restraining Factors Presence of the Alternative Energy Recovery devices in the market In between furnace/reactor and the ultimate end product, most process plants employ single- or multi-stage outflow systems. These systems lower the flow pressure while preserving the medias integrity. Energy is released in numerous phases when the pressure is reduced, allowing the flow to stabilize before reaching the desired product conditions or extrusion process downstream. Depending on the media and process conditions, let-down systems can use both control and isolation valves. These valves can be subjected to turbulence, vibration, and noise while decreasing high pressures and/or velocities, as well as abrasion, corrosion, and viscous sludge. Product Outlook Based on Product, the market is segmented into Radial Flow and Axial Flow. The radial flow segment acquired the highest revenue share in the turboexpander market in 2021. The widespread use of radial expanders is in low-output power applications such as hot gas expanders in refineries, binary cycle geothermal facilities, and other low-power cryogenic plants. A carbon-free power source, binary cycle geothermal plants require radial flow turboexpander. A pseudo radical flow function can be used to calculate reservoir pressure and transmissibility when real pseudo radical flow is determined. Loading Device Outlook Based on Loading Device, the market is segmented into Compressor, Generator, and Hydraulic/Oil-brake. The generator segment witnessed a substantial revenue share in the turboexpander market in 2021. The hydrogen turboexpander-generator is an axial flow turbine or radial expander for energy recovery that expands a high-pressure hydrogen gas to produce work that drives an electrical generator. It takes the place of the control valve or regulator that lowers the pressure to the proper level for the low-pressure network. A turboexpander-generator can aid in the recovery of energy losses as well as the reduction of electrical demands and CO2 emissions. Application Outlook Based on Application, the market is segmented into Cryogenic, Air Separation, Oil & Gas Processing, and Others. The cryogenic segment procured the highest revenue share in the turboexpander market in 2021. It is because it lowers the enthalpy of the fluid throughout the expansion, which sub-cools it and reduces boil-off losses. It can also export the recovered energy as electrical energy. Propanes thermodynamic qualities are ideal for taking advantage of a cryogenic turboexpander. End-use Outlook Based on End-use, the market is segmented into Oil & Gas, Energy & Power, Chemical & Petrochemicals, and Others. The energy & power segment witnessed a substantial revenue share in the turboexpander market in 2021. The market for LNG gas is expected to rise as a result of favourable government policies to encourage sustainable energy and net-zero emissions. Over the projected period, the increased adoption of cryogenic energy storage (CES) and, in particular, energy storage with liquid air, is expected to fuel market expansion. Power Capacity Outlook Based on Power Capacity, the market is segmented into 1MW - 4 MW, 5MW - 9MW, Less than 1 MW, 10MW - 19MW, 20MW - 24 MW, 25 MW - 40 MW, and Others. 1MW - 4 MW segment dominated the turboexpander market with the highest revenue share in 2021. It is due to the increasing usage of such power capacity of turboexpander across different industrial verticals. In addition, there are many key players of the market, which are increasingly investing in advancing their products for better use. Regional Outlook Based on Regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, Middle East & Africa. The Asia Pacific segment acquired the largest revenue share in the turboexpander market in 2021. It is mainly driven by China, Japan, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other emerging economies in Southeast Asia. The Asia Pacific region is driven by an increase in the consumption of cryogens for ultra-high vacuum settings needed for semiconductor fabrication, as well as favourable government measures to promote the hydrogen economy throughout the automotive industry processes. The market research report covers the analysis of key stake holders of the market. Key companies profiled in the report include Honeywell International, Inc., Baker Hughes Company, Siemens AG, Atlas Copco AB, Cryostar, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Chart Industries, Inc., MAN Energy Solutions SE, Elliott Group, and R&D Dynamics Corporation. Strategies deployed in Turboexpander Market Apr-2022: Baker Hughes completed the acquisition of Mosaic Materials, an engineering and chemicals enterprise focused on allowing greenhouse gas depletion. Under this acquisition, the company would bring its actual advanced abilities, adding material science and modular design, to advance and measure Mosaics innovative technology, allowing direct air capture with a solution that demands extremely less energy to work and delivers decrease cost of possession. Mar-2022: Baker Hughes acquired Altus Intervention, providers of well intervention services and down-hole oil and gas technology. This acquisition aimed to improve Baker Hughes life-of-well abilities as executives look to enhance the effectiveness from cultivated fields. Feb-2022: Baker Hughes expanded its geographical footprint by establishing a new domestic supercenter facility for oilfield devices and services in Guyana. Under this expansion, the supercenter would cover more than 8 acres, which would support local consumers and reinforce Baker Hughes regionalization attempt within South America. Feb-2022: Atlas Copco joined hands with Plug Power, an American company engaged in the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems. Together, the companies aimed to establish a hydrogen liquefaction industry. Additionally, Liquifying hydrogen creates easy transportation, prominent to notable cost savings and wide circulation area. Jul-2021: Chart Industries completed the acquisition of L.A. Turbine, a turboexpander service, engineering, design, and manufacturing company. Through this acquisition, the L.A. Turbine lineup with Chart Industries artificial investment principles would contributes to financial strength and growth through extended profit and revenue. Moreover, LATs abilities are an organic fit and provide a competing point of distinction for Chart. Feb-2021: Chart Industries took over Cryogenic Gas Technologies, a producer of customized engineered process systems. Through this acquisition, the company aimed to integrate Cryo Technologies knowledge with its competence, Chart would provide the industry a distinctive one-stop shop for consumers to liquefy and advertise the hydrogen molecule, irrespective of plant ability, but requires dependable and experienced machinery and process distributor for storage and liquefaction. Jan-2021: Atlas Copco introduced XATS 900E, an electric convenient compressor. The XATS 900E is equipped with a 160kW motor that is highly capable and silent in working. Aug-2020: Atlas Copco came into a partnership with Vericor, a manufacturer of aero-derivative marine and industrial gas turbines. Through this partnership, the companies aimed to produce comprehensive geared centrifugal Companders and compressors that would be operated by Vericor gas turbines. Nov-2018: Air Products signed two gas manufacturing and delivery agreements with Sonatrach, the largest state-owned oil and gas enterprise. Under this agreement, the companies aimed to form a joint venture HELIOS. Through this joint venture, Sonatrach would regain helium from two actual liquefied natural gas provisions, and that helium would be provided to HELIOS actual liquid helium industry in Arzew. Aug-2018: Air Products completed the acquisition of the Rotoflow subsidiary of Baker Hughes, an Air Products business. Through this acquisition, Air Products obtained complete service and engineering abilities to continue delivering superior service to Rotoflow consumers. Additionally, the acquisition broadens Air Products actual word wide industrial gas and liquefied natural gas turboexpander abilities into increasing energy, petrochemical, and hydrocarbon division. Scope of the Study Market Segments covered in the Report: By Product Radial Flow Axial Flow By Loading Device Compressor Generator Hydraulic/Oil-brake By Application Cryogenic Air Separation Oil & Gas Processing Others By End-use Oil & Gas Energy & Power Chemical & Petrochemicals Others By Power Capacity 1MW - 4 MW 5MW - 9MW Less than 1 MW 10MW - 19MW 20MW - 24 MW 25 MW - 40 MW Others By Geography North America o US o Canada o Mexico o Rest of North America Europe o Germany o UK o France o Russia o Spain o Italy o Rest of Europe Asia Pacific o China o Japan o India o South Korea o Singapore o Malaysia o Rest of Asia Pacific LAMEA o Brazil o Argentina o UAE o Saudi Arabia o South Africa o Nigeria o Rest of LAMEA Companies Profiled Honeywell International, Inc. Baker Hughes Company Siemens AG Atlas Copco AB Cryostar Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Chart Industries, Inc. MAN Energy Solutions SE Elliott Group R&D Dynamics Corporation Unique Offerings Exhaustive coverage Highest number of market tables and figures Subscription based model available Guaranteed best price Assured post sales research support with 10% customization free Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06289296/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. (NYSE: FSM | TSX: FVI) hereby announces the voting results at the Companys annual general meeting held on June 27, 2022 and announces the appointment of an additional Director to the Board. A total of 138,713,814 common shares were represented at the meeting, being 47.48 percent of the Companys issued and outstanding shares as at the record date. Shareholders voted in favor of all matters brought before the meeting including the appointment of auditors and the election of managements nominees as directors. Detailed results of the votes on the election of directors are as follows: Director Votes For Votes Withheld Jorge Ganoza Durant 104,658,257 (99.26%) 780,272 (0.74%) David Laing 80,580,329 (76.42%) 24,858,201 (23.58%) Mario Szotlender 104,351,248 (98.97%) 1,087,282 (1.03%) David Farrell 87,371,942 (82.87%) 18,066,588 (17.13%) Alfredo Sillau 89,962,016 (85.32%) 15,476,514 (14.68%) Kylie Dickson 102,933,091 (97.62%) 2,505,438 (2.38%) Kate Harcourt 104,445,839 (99.06%) 992,690 (0.94%) Fortuna is also pleased to announce that after the annual general meeting, the Board approved the appointment of Ms. Salma Seetaroo as an additional Director of the Company. Salma brings her skills and experience in commodities, financing, investment banking and project development in West Africa. She has spent the last 17 years working on debt, equity and special situations investments in Africa as an investment banker. Salma is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Cashew Coast, an integrated cashew business located in Cote dIvoire, with two processing factories employing over 1,000 people, primarily women, and supporting approximately 5,000 farmers. She currently sits on the board of GoviEx Uranium Inc., a Canadian mineral resource company, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, which is focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa, and is also a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Bayes Business School, City University London, UK, where she earned an Executive MBA. Salma started her career as a City solicitor with the global law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright in London. David Laing, Chair of the Board of Fortuna, commented, On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am very pleased to extend Salma a warm welcome to our team. Her extensive business and operational experience in Africa will complement our Boards capabilities as Fortuna continues to position itself as a leading global precious metals mining company with operations in Latin America and West Africa. Mr. Jorge Ganoza, co-founder, President, CEO & Director of Fortuna, commented on the appointment of Ms. Seetaroo, Salmas knowledge, skill and experience in investment banking and business development in West Africa complement our Boards capacity to steward the company as we expand our presence in West Africa, one of the most prolific gold producing regions in the world. This year, West Africa is planned to contribute approximately 100,000 ounces to our gold production, which represents 27% of consolidated gold equivalent ounces. In 2022, the region will receive 71% of our capital investment budget of $244 million. We have seeded brownfield and greenfield opportunities to continue expanding gold production in the region in the coming years. About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. is a Canadian precious metals mining company with four operating mines in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Mexico and Peru, and a fifth mine under construction in Cote d'Ivoire. Sustainability is integral to all our operations and relationships. We produce gold and silver and generate shared value over the long-term for our stakeholders through efficient production, environmental protection, and social responsibility. For more information, please visit our website. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Jorge A. Ganoza President, CEO and Director Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Investor Relations: Carlos Baca | info@fortunasilver.com | Twitter: @Fortuna_Silver | LinkedIn: fortunasilvermines Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, Forward-looking Statements). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward-looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward-looking Statements. The Forward-looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the Companys plans for its mines and mineral properties; estimates of gold production from operations in Burkina Faso, and the percentage of consolidated gold equivalent ounces that this is estimated to represent for 2022; the Companys estimated capital investments attributable to West Africa for 2022, and the percentage that this represents of the Companys consolidated investment budget for 2022; proposed future continued investment in brownfields and greenfield opportunities in West Africa; and other matters. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, planned, reflecting, will, anticipated, estimated containing, remaining, to be, or statements that events, could or should occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. 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 be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys mining operations and construction activities; the duration and impacts of COVID-19 on the Companys production, workforce, business, operations and financial condition, and the risks relating to a global pandemic, which unless contained could cause a slowdown in global economic growth; uncertainties related to the impacts of COVID-19 which may include: changing market conditions, changing restrictions on the mining industry in the countries in which the Company operates, the ability to operate as a result of government imposed restrictions, including restrictions on travel, the transportation of concentrates and dore, access to refineries, the impact of additional waves of the pandemic or increases of incidents of COVID-19 in the countries in which we operate; the duration of any suspension of operations at the Companys mines as a result of COVID-19 which may affect production and the Companys business operations and financial condition; the risks associated with the completion of the business combination with Roxgold, including the ability of the Company to successfully consolidate functions, integrate operations, procedures and personnel; changes in prices for gold, silver and other metals; increase in inflations; changes in the prices of key supplies; technological and operational hazards in Fortunas mining and mine development activities; risks inherent in mineral exploration; the ability of the current exploration programs to identify and/or expand mineral resources; operational risks in exploration and development; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects including the construction of the mine at the Seguela Project; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; changes to current estimates of mineral reserves and resources; changes to production and cost estimates; governmental and other approvals; changes in government, political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; fluctuations in currencies and exchange rates; the imposition of capital control in countries in which the Company operates; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to the accuracy of the Companys current mineral resource and reserve estimates; that the Companys activities will be in accordance with the Companys public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that the reconciliation of mineral reserves at each of the Companys mines remains consistent with the mineral reserve model; changes to production estimates (which assume accuracy of projected ore grade, mining rates, recovery timing, and recovery rate estimates and may be impacted by unscheduled maintenance, labor and contractor availability and other operating or technical difficulties); the duration and impacts of COVID-19 on the Companys production, workforce, business, operations and financial condition, and the risks relating to a global pandemic, which could cause a slowdown in global economic growth; government mandates in Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Burkina Faso and Cote dIvoire with respect to mining operations generally or auxiliary businesses or services required for the Companys operations; government and the Companys attempts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 which may affect many aspects of the Companys operations, including transportation of personnel to and from site, contractor and supplier availability and the ability to sell or deliver concentrate and dore; the expected trends in mineral prices, currency exchange rates and rates of inflation; that the Companys activities will be in accordance with the Companys public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals and permits will be obtained for the Companys business and operations; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting operations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that these Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward-looking Statements. Sydney, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Lithuania-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Operator investment has been focussed on fibre broadband and mobile network upgrades. Fibre is now by far the dominant fixed broadband platform, with the number of DSL and cable connections in steady decline. A number of alternative operators offer services although the incumbent Telia Lithuania remains the dominant player in the fixed-line and broadband sectors. SIM card penetration is relatively high for the region, with a growing proportion of subscribers being on higher-ARPU contract plans. While LTE services are available nationally, operators have made steady investments in 5G, with Telia being the first MNO to launch a commercial 5G service earlier in 2022. The regulator has helped the network operators to develop 5G by allowing them to repurpose spectrum in the 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz bands. After some delay, the regulator is expected to complete the auction of spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.4GHz bands later in 2022. Service obligations on the licensees include the provision of services to the five main cities by the end of 2023. Total revenue from the electronic communications sector increased 4.1% in 2021, year-on-year, showing the fastest growth since 2016. Revenue growth in the mobile sector was driven mainly from mobile broadband services. This report provides an overview of Lithuanias fixed-line telecom sector. It includes a variety of statistics from the regulator and the main players, as well as an overview of regulatory developments and telecom infrastructure. In addition, the report reviews the highly developed mobile market, covering the major operators, regulatory developments, mobile technologies, and services. The report also offers a wide range of statistical data on the fixed and wireless broadband markets, including subscriber forecasts. Key developments: Telia launches a 2Gb/s fibre-based broadband service; Bite Group contracts Ericsson through to 2028 as the sole vendor for 5G covering Lithuania and Latvia; Regulator proceeds with 700MHz and 3.4GHz spectrum auctions for 5G, allows 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz spectrum to be repurposed for 5G; Telia aiming to close down 3G network by end-2022; Telia launches commercial 5G services; Tele2 launches fibre broadband services in Vilnius; Report update includes the regulators market data to December 2021, telcos financial and operating data to Q1 2022, updated Telecom maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Telia Lietuvos (Telia Lithuania), Bite Lithuania, Vinita, Balticum TV, Tele 2, Cgates. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Lithuania-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW New York, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Anti-Counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market Report 2022-2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06288936/?utm_source=GNW The Anti-counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market Report 2022-2032: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region. Growing Demand for Secure Packaging in the Pharmaceutical Industry Counterfeit drugs have become a more severe threat to international supply chain risk management, causing enterprises millions and millions of dollars and putting patients health in jeopardy. In the battle against counterfeit products, secure packaging is essential. As a result, strict laws was designed to make sure that pharmaceutical package could never be reproduced simply. Pharmaceutical packaging producers may simply create secure packaging that fulfils regulatory criteria thanks to sophisticated anti-counterfeiting technology. Counterfeiters are attempting to enter legitimate supply networks in addition to making fake pharmaceuticals. This enables them to seize legitimate cargo and resell it for a profit. Packaging production during the third shift is another possible security concern in the drug supply chain. Contractors or their employees carry out clandestine production runs, which are subsequently sold to counterfeiters. What Questions Should You Ask before Buying a Market Research Report? How is the anti-counterfeit packaging technologies market evolving? What is driving and restraining the anti-counterfeit packaging technologies market? How will each anti-counterfeit packaging technologies submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2032? How will the market shares for each anti-counterfeit packaging technologies submarket develop from 2022 to 2032? What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2022 to 2032? Will leading anti-counterfeit packaging technologies markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others? How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2032 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032? Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period? What are the anti-counterfeit packaging technologies projects for these leading companies? How will the industry evolve during the period between 2020 and 2032? What are the implication of anti-counterfeit packaging technologies projects taking place now and over the next 10 years? Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the anti-counterfeit packaging technologies market? Where is the anti-counterfeit packaging technologies market heading? And how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market? What can be the best investment options for new product and service lines? What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite? You need to discover how this will impact the anti-counterfeit packaging technologies market today, and over the next 10 years: Our 520+ page report provides 307 tables and 293 charts/graphs exclusively to you. The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them NOW. Contains in-depth analyse of global, regional and national sales and growth Highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors This report tells you TODAY how the anti-counterfeit packaging technologies market will develop in the next 10 years, and in-line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years. Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal the commercial prospects In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares. You find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments. Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising anti-counterfeit packaging technologies prices and recent developments. This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report. Segments Covered in this Report Type Track and Trace Tamper-Evident Overt Covert Forensic Application Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Food & Beverage Industrial and Automotive Apparel & Footwear Electrical & Electronics Other Applications Technologies Radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs) Barcodes Security Ink & Printing Smart Labels and Holograms Digital Encryption & Serialization Other Technologies In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for 4 regional and 20 leading national markets: North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany Spain United Kingdom France Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific LAMEA Brazil Turkey Saudi Arabia South Africa UAE Rest of Latin America, Middle East and Africa The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Anti-counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market, 2022 to 2032, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations. Leading companies and the potential for market growth 3M Company Agfa Gevaert NV AlpVision SA Amcor plc Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. Arjo AB Authentix, Inc. Avery Dennison Corporation Catalent, Inc. CCL Industries Inc. Digimarc Corporation DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Giesecke & Devrient Impinj, Inc. Intelligent Label Solutions PharmaSecure Inc Sato Holdings Corporation SAVI Technology, Inc. Sicpa Holding S.A SML Group Systech International UFLEX Limited Zebra Technologies Corporation Overall world revenue for Anti-counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market, 2022 to 2032 in terms of value the market will surpass US$172.93 billion in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead. How the Anti-counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market, 2022 to 2032 Market report helps you? In summary, our 529-page report provides you with the following knowledge: Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Anti-counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market, 2022 to 2032 Market, with forecasts for type, application, technologies each forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues Revenue forecasts to 2032 for 4 regional and 20 key national markets See forecasts for the Anti-counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market, 2022 to 2032 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies. Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 20 of the major companies involved in the Anti-counterfeit Packaging Technologies Market, 2022 to 2032 Market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06288936/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ English Finnish The Savings Banks Group reforms its management model. The aim of the reform is to enable the Savings Banks Group to serve its customers in the best possible way in an increasingly competitive environment. As part of the reform, CEO Tomi Narhinen will leave his position at the Savings Banks Union Coop by mutual agreement. The management model reform will be led by Karri Alameri who has been appointed Acting CEO and took up the position on 27 June 2022. Mr. Alameri has long experience in implementing and leading change. According to Pirkko Ahonen, Chairman of the Board of Saving Banks Union Coop, the Savings Banks in Finland are in an excellent position to succeed, as the Savings Banks Group is a strong and solid institution with more than 200 years of experience. Additionally, the member banks are committed to the group, and our way to face the customer, regardless of the channel, is first-class. Further information: Pirkko Ahonen, Chairman of the Board, Saving Banks Union Coop +358 50 407 0334 pirkko.ahonen@saastopankki.fi Sp Mortgage Bank is part of the Savings Banks Group and the Savings Banks Amalgamation. The role of Sp Mortgage Bank is, together with Central Bank of Savings Banks Finland Plc, to be responsible for obtaining funding for the Savings Banks Group from money and capital markets. Sp Mortgage Bank is responsible for the Savings Banks Group's mortgage-secured funding by issuing covered bonds. PHOENIX, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Rare Earths Limited (ASX: ARR, OTCQB: ARRNF, FSE: 1BHA) (ARR or 'the Company') is pleased to announce highly promising assay results from recent exploration drilling in the Halleck Creek Rare Earth project in Wyoming, USA. These preliminary results are from four of nine holes drilled at Halleck Creek. Results for the remaining five holes are pending assay analysis and expected soon. During the period from March to April 2022 the Company drilled nine holes for 917 meters and collected 650 core samples. The assay results from 280 samples from four core holes demonstrate consistent rare earth mineralization associated with clinopyroxene quartz monzonite (CQM) rocks of the Red Mountain Pluton (RMP). A more detailed report, including data tables and disclaimers, can be reviewed in the announcement section at https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/company/arr Due to these promising assay results the company will accelerate its exploration plans to define a maiden JORC resource at Halleck Creek. Planning is well underway for this exploration program and the company will update the market once drilling permits are finalized. CEO Chris Gibbs commented: This project continues to deliver well beyond our expectations. The initial acquisition was a tiny land package with some interesting surface data. We have since increased the land holding to over 6000 acres. Now we are beginning to understand the massive nature of this deposit as these drill assay results confirm our extensive field surface sample work. The sheer size and consistent higher grades of this deposit are extremely exciting. The low Thorium content will also set this deposit apart from others in the rare earths industry. Our next objectives for this project are to upgrade the Exploration Target and fast track establishing a significant JORC resource with our next drill campaign. Assay Results Preliminary assay results for four holes (HC22-RM01, HC22-RM02, HC22-RM03, HC22-RM04) indicate promising and consistent levels of rare earth element (REE) enrichment. Core holes HC22-RM01, HC22-RM02, and HC22-RM03 contain an average TREO value of 4,252 using a cut-off of TREO 1,500ppm. Rare Earth mineralization exceeding TREO 3,500 ppm continues to the end of each of these core holes. Thus the deposit remains open at depth. It is notable that these large thickness TREO mineralisation observations are significantly higher grade and deeper than that estimated in the Halleck Creek Exploration Target. (See Companys ASX Announcement, 26 April 2022) If current trends continue into the remaining core drilling assays, the Company intends to expand the current Exploration Target. Next Steps Additional drilling results, from the project, are expected to be reported in July, 2022. Next steps include updating the existing Exploration Target and developing a more comprehensive drilling program, intending to define a high tonnage maiden JORC resource. If successful, the project could become a major rare earths mine supplying the US defense industry and renewable energy supply chains. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below: This market announcement has been authorized for release to the market by the Board of American Rare Earths Limited. Mr. Chris Gibbs CEO & Managing Director Competent Persons Statement: The information in this document is based on a company memorandum entitled Preliminary Assay Results for Red Mountain Resource Area at Halleck Creek, June 2022, compiled by Ms. Sara Stotter and Mr. Dwight Kinnes (Society of Mining Engineers #4063295RM) employed by Western Rare Earths and American Rare Earths. This memorandum has been reviewed and approved for release by Mr. James R. Guilinger. Mr. Guilinger is Consulting Geologist at World Industrial Minerals LLC. Mr. Guilinger is a Qualified Professional Member (QP) #01260280RM of the Society of Mining Engineers (SME) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 JORC Code. Mr. Guilinger consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears. About American Rare Earths: American Rare Earths Limited (ASX: ARR, OTCQB: ARRNF, FSE: 1BHA) is an Australian company listed on the ASX with assets in the growing rare earth metals sector of the United States of America, emerging as an alternative international supply chain to China's market dominance of a global rare earth market expected to expand to US$20 billion by 2030. The Company's mission is to supply Critical Materials for Renewable Energy, Green Tech, Electric Vehicles, National Security, and a Carbon-Reduced Future. Western Rare Earths (WRE) is the wholly owned US subsidiary of the Company. ARR owns 100% of the Halleck Creek Rare Earths project. ARR's other flagship project is the world-class La Paz Rare Earth Project, located 170km northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. As a large tonnage, bulk deposit, La Paz is potentially the largest, rare-earth deposit in the USA and benefits from containing exceptionally low penalty elements such as radioactive thorium and uranium. La Paz and Halleck Creeks mineral profiles are incorporated into emerging US advanced rare earth processing technologies in collaboration with US national laboratories, major universities and the US DOE innovation hub, the Critical Materials Institute. Media Contact Susan Assadi susan@americanrareearths.com.au 347 977 7125 English French CN is building the premier railway of the 21st century by investing in Louisiana HOMEWOOD, Ill., June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today plans to invest approximately $25 million in Louisiana in 2022. This includes investments in technology, capacity, rolling stock units and company-wide decarbonization initiatives, as well as network improvements. These investments will power sustainable growth and ensure the continued safe movement of goods in Louisiana and everywhere on CNs transcontinental network. We continue to make significant investments in our network, technology, and capacity. We are building the premier railroad of the 21st century to do even more for our customers, railroaders, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate. Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of CN CN is an integral part of the transportation system here in Louisiana, safely and reliably serving New Orleans and our industrial corridor on the Mississippi River, including my hometown of Amite, Louisiana. I thank CN for being a strong local partner, and I look forward to a continued relationship with the railroad as we work towards growing the state economy and bettering the communities we serve. John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana Maintenance program highlights include: Replacing 4 miles of rail; Installing approximately 20,000 new railroad ties; Rebuilding 16 road crossing surfaces; and Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure Louisiana in numbers: Capital investments: More than US$300 million in the last five years Employees: approximately 280 Railroad route miles operated: 239 Community partnerships: US$9,000 in 2021 Local spending: US$29 million in 2021 Cash taxes paid: US$9 million in 2021 Forward-looking Statements Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as believes, expects, anticipates, assumes, outlook, plans, targets, or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement. About CN CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Contacts: CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LiveToBeHappy, Inc. (OTC: CAVR) (LTBH or the Company), a vertically integrated lifestyle services company, today announced the grand opening of its RenuYou clinic in the Myers Park community of Charlotte, NC, is set for October 2022. We are thrilled to open our second location for RenuYou, our premier clinic that is pioneering the advancement of neurofeedback therapy, said Kevin Cox, Chief Executive Officer of LiveToBeHappy. The feedback from RenuYou patients has been resoundingly promising so far, including reports of alleviation of symptoms from those diagnosed with various disorders. Our expansion of the RenuYou footprint reflects our commitment to building brands and services that improve the lives of individuals in our community, which we apply across each of our businesses. The rollout of our RenuYou franchise strategy will allow us to expand our brand presence and diversify our revenue streams, said Grant Edwards, Chief Financial Officer of LiveToBeHappy. We believe RenuYou will be a stable, positive contributor to our overall financial performance as we continue to make progress across each of our business units. About LiveToBeHappy, Inc. LiveToBeHappy, Inc. (OTC: CAVR) is a vertically integrated platform company focused on developing and building lifestyle brands. The Company acquires undervalued assets and manages a diversified portfolio of technology, education, and real estate services companies. The LTBH mission is to build lives, not just places to live. For more information, please visit our website at www.livetobehappy.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements that include the words expect, intend, plan, believe, project, forecast, estimate, may, should, anticipate and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law. Company Contact: IR@LTBH.com Investor Relations: MZ North America +1 949-546-6326 LTBH@mzgroup.us New York, New York, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fordham University - Gabelli School of Business Responsible Business Coalition (RBC), an incubator for collective action among the leaders of modern business to improve the ESG impact on industries worldwide, in partnership with Rockbridge Associates, today announced the results of a nationally representative survey designed to gain insight into consumers opinions related to fashion brands use of eco-labels on garments to provide information on sustainability and social responsibility. As the conscious consumer movement continues gaining momentum, theres been a large focus on fashion given the size and scope of the industry and its significant impact on the planet. Consumers have become increasingly more aware of the environmental and societal impacts associated with the manufacture, sale, use, and recyclability of the fashion brands that they wear. As a result, 69% of consumers say sustainability is an important factor when making a fashion purchase according to a 2021 study. To understand consumers needs and wants related to fashion eco-labels, RBC partnered with Rockbridge Associates to survey 500 US consumers on their level of interest in eco-labels, the environmental and social issues of greatest importance to them, and their preferred means of receiving this information as part of the 2021 National Technology Readiness Survey. Full findings can be found here. Notable survey findings include: When asked to rate interest in eco-labels on a scale of 1-7, approximately half of consumers responded with a 5, 6 or 7, indicating a substantial interest in eco-labels among this population. Interest in eco-labels is primarily driven by younger, college educated and employed fashion consumers who live in urban settings. By contrast, older, high school educated, and unemployed consumers tend to show much less interest. Nearly half of consumers (46%) indicated that recyclability is an issue of importance to them that they would like displayed on eco-labels, followed by human and labor rights (39%). One-in-three respondents (33%) indicated that chemical usage, animal welfare and material usage are important to them, with information on carbon footprint following close behind in importance, chosen by 31% of respondents. Most consumers (65%) want eco-labels attached directly to the garments that they are considering purchasing via a brand label, the price tag, or both. As it relates to online shopping, 44% of respondents indicated theyd prefer an eco-label in the form of a sustainability icon on the website, a website filter, or both. Taken as a whole, these results indicate that eco-conscious fashion consumers want brands to communicate garments sustainability credentials through a means that is straightforward and easily accessible. While the majority indicated they prefer this information displayed on either brand labels or price tags in-store, and displayed via an icon or website filter while online shopping, nearly one-in-four respondents (24%) also indicated that they would like a designated area (in-store or online) for purchasing sustainable products. Moreover, their first priorities for eco-labels are knowing that clothing can be recycled, as opposed to ending up in a landfill, that the brand treats humans and animals fairly, and that no harmful substances or materials were used in the manufacturing process. Its also worth noting that one-in-five consumers (21%) indicated diversity and inclusion information is of importance to them as well. From these findings, its clear that there is a lot of potential for eco-labels in the pursuit of sustainable fashion, said Dr. Lerzan Aksoy, managing director of the Responsible Business Coalition. While older generations may not find them as influential or necessary as younger generations, millennials and Gen Z will represent over half of the worlds income within the next ten years. Brands who want to remain competitive and relevant will need to prioritize transparency when it comes to social and environmental impact, and clearly communicating their credentials to these consumers. At the RBC, we believe fashion has the potential to be a powerful force for good in the world and are committed to working with leaders in the industry to identify people- and planet-focused solutions that protect ecosystems and people while driving business value and profitability. The release of the Consumer Interest in Fashion Eco-Labeling" survey comes on the heels of RBCs release of their Scaling ESG Solutions in Fashion report, which serves as a playbook on actionable solutions the fashion industry can implement now in order to lessen its impact and achieve sustainability goals. By implementing the solutions outlined, brands and retailers will be able to more clearly communicate their sustainability credentials via eco-labels online and in-store. To learn more about the Responsible Business Coalition, please visit: www.fordham.edu/RBC About the RBC: The Responsible Business Coalition (RBC) at Fordham Universitys Gabelli School of Business is an applied research center and incubator for collective action among the leaders of modern business, focused on building the business case for sustainability to drive transformation. The RBCs mission is to bridge industry and academia with a focus on sustainability, to convene leaders of modern business, incubate collective action, and engage faculty and industry leaders to foster a values-based education. About Rockbridge Associates: Rockbridge is an innovative market research firm that provides research and consulting to Fortune 500 companies in the services and technology sectors, as well as leading non-profits and government. The firm guides clients on strategic areas including customer loyalty, segmentation, branding, and product development. Rockbridge offers a suite of proven solutions designed with the sole purpose of discovering insights that drive business outcomes. Rockbridge was founded in 1992, and has offices in the Washington, DC and New York metro areas. www.rockresearch.com BELGRADE, Serbia, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brightscout, a leading Brand and Innovation studio for high-tech companies, is proud to announce the official opening of its brand new office in Belgrade, Serbia. The new Serbian office will serve as an extension of the Brightscout brand to provide the world-class design and innovation services it already offers in the United States to its customers in eastern and southeast Europe. In opening a branch in this location, Brightscout also seeks to tap into the talent and market potential of the region to build its universal infrastructure of elite designers, strategists, and engineers. The company looks to hire local talent within Belgrade to contribute to developing its global design and development services. It also aims to grow its client base and influence in the region and leverage new exciting partnerships. Targeting Local Talent to Develop Business Technology Products One of the top reasons Brightscout has grown from a small company with a handful of employees in Austin, Texas, to a global digital design agency is how the company approaches its product development, attention to detail and agile work style. It takes finding the right talent and passion for putting together a team of designers and developers who can understand these challenges from diverse perspectives. Brightscout is positioning itself among the first U.S.-based companies to fully venture into the Serbian market with the intention to establish roots in the region. Considering its rich market experience and success in the competitive American market, Brightscout is well-prepared to unleash its team and employ new talents and idea-makers to refine its efforts. Brightscout Areas of Expertise Coming to Serbia While it is a budding five-year-old company, Brightscout is led by a team of enterprise software veterans. This trusted expert team had worked most of their lives in business technology disciplines, including project management, network and system administration, DevOps, product design, cyber security, and development. Their experience with the most complex challenges and their controversial solutions have shaped the company into what it is today. However, their tech verticals and problem-solving approaches are proven, and they are ready to bring them to Southeast Europe. The opening of a new Brightscout office in Belgrade is Brightscout's ongoing effort to grow its global business. The company is establishing itself as a leader in business-transforming technology services by opening offices in growing global markets over the next half-decade to better further its business interests, client base, and partners. About Brightscout Founded in 2017, and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Brightscout provides digital design and innovation services that give clients the ability to compete and scale in highly competitive markets. Brightscout boasts of a multi-discipline design and development team who has earned recognition from the likes of Awwwards, CSS Winner and Webby awards. They provide product management services that simplify and implement complex ideas and feature an engineering team who takes pride in building new products and fixing existing ones. In addition, its business strategy and data analysis tools use the latest tools in the market to ensure the company provides lasting solutions to current problems. Brightscout, Inc. 600 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701 Email: hello@brightscout.com Phone: (512) 298-2593 Website: https://www.brightscout.com/ Related Images Image 1: Belgrade Brightscout Office This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday declared that he will rule the country after elections expected next year. Addressing scores of mourners at the burial of the late constitutional law expert and academic Alex Magaisa in Mangisi Village, Chikomba district in Wedza, Mashonaland East province, Chamisa (44) said it was high time Zanu PF leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa prepared for his retirement. Mnangagwa (79) has already been endorsed by his party as the presidential candidate for the 2023 elections. He came into power on the back of a November 2017 coup which toppled late former President Robert Mugabe. I am going to lead, no doubt about that. I feel it, the heavens have endorsed me. Even endorsed me. Even my brother Mnangagwa is feeling the heat. We are not going to let go of our victory this time, Chamisa declared. My brother Mnangagwa will be on pension in Kwekwe, while we will be leading this country to glory. Even (Vice-President) Constantino Chiwenga, he will be in his rural home of Wedza enjoying pension benefits. An old man cannot till the land, while a young a man is there, he added. Zanu PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi yesterday scoffed at Chamisas utterances, saying: The boy is over-excited for nothing. Chamisa will for the second time be contesting against Mnangagwa for the Presidency next year. In 2018, Chamisa, who was then the MDC Alliance leader, narrowly lost to Mnangagwa after both candidates amassed more than two million votes each. The opposition leader accused Mnangagwa of rigging the elections through the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and State security apparatus. Chamisa also told mourners that Zimbabwes economy has been completely destroyed by people who claim to be educated, including Finance minister Mthuli Ncube. In his eulogy, Chamisa described Magaisa, who died of a heart ailment on June 6 in the United Kingdom at the age of 46, as a true academic. Magaisa was a true academic; his writings were for the good of the people. This country has been destroyed by people who claim to be educated, the CCC leader said. I was listening to (Mthuli) Ncube recently as he said this and that, but he has failed. He was roaming around, no direction in his speech, nothing new. Zimbabweans are suffering, they need a better life. Chamisa pleaded for peace during the forthcoming 2023 polls, saying: I am here to represent Zimbabwe, I and Mnangagwa are one. There is, therefore, no need for us to fight over our political differences because we are one people. Chikomba district, where Magaisa was buried, has over the years experienced serious political violence which claimed the lives of a number of opposition activists. Chamisa bemoaned political persecution in the country and pleaded to Mnangagwa to end the heavy-handedness on political dissent, including arrests of CCC MPs Job Sikhala (Zengeza West) and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North). We all know that Sikhala is in prison for challenging bad governance and speaking the truth. We do not want that, he added. The late Kent University law lecturer, Magaisa was well known for his incisive legal and constitutional analysis published in his blog, the Big Saturday Read. His burial yesterday was attended by several high-profile people from all walks of life, which included top lawyers, civic society organisation (CSOs) leaders, academics and others who braved the chilly weather to say goodbye to their colleague. When he died early this month, CSOs declared him the peoples hero. Newsday Charleston, SC, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Marie Florence Desire immigrated to the US as a child. Empowered by a land of opportunity, Marie seized her chance for a better education and ultimately pursued a career in elementary education. Throughout her career, she recognized the importance of lifelong financial security and developed a set of guiding principles to allow her to strategically plan and invest. Forever a teacher, Marie is ready to impart her knowledge to help others achieve financial success. In her debut book, Improve Your Finances Year After Year, Marie cuts through the noise of financial advisors and offers simple tips on organization, creating a budget, and setting intentions for the future. Whether you are looking to grow individual wealth or an entrepreneur looking to start or grow a business, her helpful instructions take the guesswork out of financial decisions. This engaging and easy step-by-step guide provides access to financial literacy for all and will set readers on a path toward total financial freedom. Marie has lived the process and reaped the rewards. And now she is ready to show the world how they can achieve their financial goals too Improve Your Finances Year After Year is available for purchase online at Amazon.com. For more information on the book and Marie Florence Desire, please visit DesireLiteracy.com or any of her social media platforms. Marie Florence Desire is a non-fiction writer. She immigrated to the United States from Port-au-Prince, Haiti at the age of eight. She has a masters degree in special education and taught elementary education for 22 years. She enjoys broadening her knowledge of culture and the Arts. Attachment RENO, Nev., June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Dickson Commercial Group (DCG), a locally owned and operated, full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Reno, announced the formation of its new healthcare services division, DCG Medical Group. The division includes a Nevada-based, eight-person team led by Jamie Krahne, previously with Ensemble Real Estate Solutions. "Both Ensemble and Jamie have a successful track record of development, leasing and management of real estate within our state's healthcare industry," said Dominic Brunetti, a Principal owner at DCG. "We are proud to carry that forward; building off the relationships they have cultivated in the healthcare space in northern and southern Nevada." The team will continue to perform leasing and property management services for 396,888 square feet on three Reno hospital campuses and leasing for 692,888 square feet on six Las Vegas hospital campuses. "I am thrilled at the opportunity for my team and I to join Dickson Commercial Group as our home to continue servicing our healthcare clients and medical office community," said Krahne "The assets have played an integral role in delivering healthcare in the state of Nevada for several decades, making it a natural choice to partner with a Nevada real estate firm." Krahne will lead the DCG Med Group as Senior Vice President. Krahne is a healthcare real estate specialist overseeing leasing, marketing, property management, and construction management for more than one million square feet of medical office space in Nevada. She also acts as a tenant representative working on behalf of both private physician groups and various hospital systems as a real estate advisor. Krahne's success stems from her in-depth understanding of the unique needs of physicians and aligning the nuances of healthcare with their medical real estate needs. Krahne's involvement in managing her client's tenant improvements allows her to oversee the transaction from lease negotiation through completion of premises delivery. Mike Tymczyn will continue as vice president of leasing for six medical campuses in the Las Vegas market. Tymczyn brings more than 15 years of involvement within the southern Nevada healthcare community. He has worked for The Valley Health System, St. Rose Dominican Neighborhood Hospitals: Dignity Health, North Vista Hospital, and Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center. Tymczyn will focus primarily on leasing in Las Vegas, Henderson, and surrounding areas. Also in Las Vegas, Lily Ponce, RBA will continue as the leasing assistant with a focus on supporting Krahne and Tymczyn. In northern Nevada, Nikki Tanner, senior property manager, will lead DCG Med Group's Reno property management portfolio of three hospital campuses including Northern Nevada Medical Center, St. Mary's Center for Health, and Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center. She will also continue managing the Copperfield Medical Building in South Reno. Tanner brings 23 years of property management experience to the organization and teaches pre-licensing courses for property management permits. The engineering team will be led by Mark Rumble, alongside building engineer Fred Bonnenfant, who share a combined experience of 20 years. Elisa Weeks, the property management assistant, has been involved in real estate since 2001 and is licensed in Nevada and California. Cody Chorjel is the property accountant in charge of all financial reporting for the northern Nevada portfolio. For more information, visit the DCG Medical Group website. DCG Medical Group has the insight and integrated approach to help healthcare clients design, implement and manage real estate solutions. We specialize in on-and off-campus facilities, including hospital-sponsored facilities, investor-owned facilities, and physician-owned office buildings. Chrisie Yabu chrisie.yabu@kps3.com Related Images Image 1: DCG Medical Group This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment DANVILLE, Calif., June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crosschq , pioneers of the Talent Intelligence Cloud that is powering a revolution in data-driven hiring and people analytics, announced today that TalentWall co-founder, Jo Avent, has been named Chief People Officer of the combined entity. Crosschq acquired TalentWall, the popular recruiting analytics platform that enables talent acquisition teams to hire more efficiently and collaboratively through the use of data, in May 2022. Now more than 80 people strong, Crosschq supports 450+ customers and more than 9,000 active users at companies including Snowflake, Box, HubSpot, Palo Alto Networks, GoPuff, Glassdoor, Upwork, DISH, Roblox, Flexport, Cloudflare, Reddit, and more. Avent co-founded TalentWall in 2017, along with Jacob Paul and Nick Urban. Earlier in her career, she was an independent consultant specializing in recruiting selection process design, adapting agile methods for talent teams, and diversity and inclusion programs. Before that, she was a program manager at ThoughtWorks, where she began as a recruiter. Her career started in the IT recruiting category, where she was a recruiter for a London-based consultancy. Jos combined experience of running recruiting teams, followed by building her own talent technology company makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead this role, said Michael Fitzsimmons, CEO of Crosschq. She has consistently proven her ability to translate ideas into action, through her firsthand experience of what it takes to help employees develop while supporting the goals of the business. Avent commented, Going from co-founder to Chief People Officer is perhaps an unusual path but since Ive done some aspect of every role in an organization, Im keenly aware of the dynamics between different teams and the challenges faced by each role. She continued, We create people products for use by people who are, in turn, collaborating with people, putting us in such a unique position. The Crosschq product suite in use within our own organization respects and elevates the voice of the candidate and employee, ensuring they are well-positioned for success. Im excited to be part of the difference were making. About Crosschq Crosschq is powering a revolution in data-driven hiring and people analytics to help companies better recruit and retain talent. Crosschq's Talent Intelligence Cloud provides solutions across the new hire lifecycle to help enhance sourcing, screening, and onboarding new hires while providing a single source of truth for customers to accurately measure Quality of Hire. The company's AI-driven cloud-based SaaS solutions were built with a talent-first approach prioritizing trust and transparency, minimizing bias, and protecting privacy. Leading innovative companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, Glassdoor, Upwork, and DISH trust Crosschq to help build diverse, winning teams. Founded in 2018, Crosschq is backed by Tiger Global Management, GGV Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, SAP.iO, Intersect Capital, Okta Ventures, Slack Fund, and Rocketship.vc. To learn more, visit crosschq.com . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d960380f-0483-4ee4-ba0c-041ed8afdbd8 LEAMINGTON, Ontario, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas food workers union published its annual Status of Migrant Agricultural Workers Report at the UFCW Canada Agricultural Worker Support Centre in Leamington, Ontario, on Sunday, June 26. Leamington is the epicentre of factory greenhouse farming in Canada, which is a multi-billion-dollar business that uses tens of thousands of migrants from the Global South every year. The special COVID-19 report highlights the increasing vulnerability experienced by migrant workers in the wake of a deadly pandemic which has already claimed the lives of nine workers. The report makes twenty recommendations that must be implemented as part of a desperately needed overhaul of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) to more adequately address the well-evidenced vulnerability that migrant workers experience. Much of the food we enjoy in Canada is the product of migrant labour, yet migrant workers continue to be mistreated by some irresponsible employers and a system that desperately lacks the necessary reforms to effectively tackle the abuse that migrants in Canada have long endured, says UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema. The time is now for the federal government to work with UFCW to find solutions, and to reduce vulnerability and migrant exploitation, adds Meinema referring to the growing number of calls the union is receiving from migrants who end up being victims of human trafficking. Migrant workers joined UFCW activists for the report launch, as did Mexican Congressman and Federal Deputy for Migration Alejandro Robles, who made the trip from Mexico to be part of the announcement and solidarity event hosted at the Leamington support centre. For more than three decades, UFCW Canada has led the fight for migrant workers rights. To learn more about this advocacy and the reforms that are urgently needed, see UFCW Canada's report: The Status of Migrant Farm Workers in Canada, 2022. About UFCW Canada is the countrys leading private sector union, representing more than 250,000 union members across Canada working in food retail and processing, transportation, health care, logistics, warehousing, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, and the security and professional sectors. UFCW is the country's most innovative organization dedicated to building fairness in workplaces and communities. UFCW Canada members are your neighbours who work at your local grocery stores, hotels, car rental agencies, nursing homes, restaurants, food processing plants, and thousands of other locations across the country. Contact Information Derek Johnstone UFCW Canada 416-679-3417 derek.johnstone@ufcw.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ef52425-1a52-4369-8e68-f508fb16a611 SALT LAKE CITY, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elevar Therapeutics, Inc., a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company dedicated to elevating treatment experiences and outcomes for patients who have limited or inadequate therapeutic options, today announced the hiring of Jan M. Van Tornout, M.D., MSc., as chief medical officer, and Gordon Schooley, Ph.D., as chief regulatory officer. Van Tornout, an accomplished hematologist-oncologist, genetic epidemiologist and pharma-biotech executive, joins Elevar after serving as acting chief medical officer of biotechnology company Tyme Technologies, Inc. since March 2021. He brings more than 25 years experience in the medical industry and related academia, including over 15 years successfully developing drugs across the full spectrum of hematological, oncological and immuno-oncological indications from pre-investigational new drug (IND) meeting through Phase 4. Jan Van Tornouts broad experience and demonstrated leadership in every phase of the clinical development process, and his interest in the potential of drugs that address gaps in critical medical treatments, make him an ideal addition to the Elevar team, said Dr. Saeho Chong, chief executive officer of Elevar. We are pleased to add him to our leadership team. Van Tornouts clinical management and development experience includes work for Moleculin Biotech, Inc., Bright Peak Therapeutics, Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Puma Biotherapeutics, Maverick Therapeutics, ERT Inc., HUYA Bioscience Intl, Gradalis Inc., Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Natera Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb and Amgen. He played an instrumental role in two successful NDAs, led several INDs and has expertise in all phases of clinical trials. Van Tornout previously held academic appointments at the University of Southern California (USC), with a clinical appointment as attending pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), Leuven, Belgium, a Master of Science in classical philosophy from KUL and a Bachelor of Science from the Faculte Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium. He obtained his certification as a pediatrician from the Gasthuisberg University Hospitals, KUL, and completed his training as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Childrens Hospital. Van Tornout earned a Master of Science in applied biometry from USC and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular epidemiology at USC. Schooley, a global regulatory leader with more than 30 years of drug development experience, joins Elevar after nine years as chief regulatory officer for BeyondSpring Pharmaceuticals Inc., a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops immuno-oncology cancer therapies. Careful navigation of the road to regulatory approval is so critical to the clinical development process and Gordon Schooley has demonstrated his leadership in this discipline throughout his distinguished career, said Chong. His addition to the Elevar team adds valuable perspective with respect to both regulatory strategy and execution, and will bolster our efforts to fulfill the unmet needs of patients awaiting new therapeutic options. Schooley has spent more than a quarter century at the vice president level or higher, working in both startup and large company environments. Hes led global development teams through every clinical development milestone; worked closely with regulatory bodies in several different countries; overseen successful breakthrough designations and accelerated approvals; and managed complex label negotiations for initial product approvals. Prior to BeyondSpring, Schooley spent seven years as a consultant for drug development activities related to clinical development, biostatistics and regulatory affairs. He previously worked at SkyePharma PLC/Pacira Pharma, Alliance Pharmaceuticals and Allergan/Herbert Labs. Schooley holds a doctorate in biostatistics from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He earned a Master of Science in statistics and Bachelor of Science in business management at Brigham Young University. About Elevar Therapeutics United States, Rockville MD, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Fact.MR's recently released analysis on ferroniobium, worldwide demand stood at 134 kilo tons at the end of 2021. Due to lack of local production and efficient replacements, ferroniobium is strategically important to many developed and developing countries, including the United States. This is on top of its use in military equipment, such as in missiles and other aerospace applications. Ferroniobium has been named as one of the top 23 minerals that are critical to the U.S. economy and national security. It has a vulnerable supply chain and performs a critical function in the manufacturing of several products, without which, national security would suffer serious consequences. For Critical Insights on Ferroniobium Market, Request a Sample Report https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7514 Demand for ferroniobium is inelastic, and it dropped by only 8% in the previous eight months. This refers to the reality that, to some extent, demand remains steady even when prices grow. Drop in ferroniobium demand in the worldwide steel sector during the global economic downturn and also during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, had only a minor influence on ferroniobium pricing. This is understandable, considering that, while ferroniobium is just a small part of the total cost of HSLA steel, its utilisation provides significant performance and cost benefits to steel makers and their consumers. Owing to this, global producers such as CBMM and CMOC are seeing market growth as a result of rising steel demand and they have expanded their existing facilities to 250 thousand metric tons in 2021, up from 110 thousand metric tons per annum in 2019. What are some of the Upcoming Use Cases of Ferroniobium? Niobium is used in the creation of high-performance and ultra-safe ultra-rapid rechargeable batteries for electric cars, as well as medical imaging, particle accelerators, and space exploration. Jet-engine components, rocket subassemblies, gas turbines, and turbo-charge systems, along with various other heat-resistant and combustion equipment, all employ large amounts of niobium in nickel, cobalt, and iron-based superalloys. This ferroniobium super alloy was employed in advanced airframe systems of the Gemini program and the primary engine of Apollo Lunar Modules, as well as the rocket thruster nozzles of SpaceX's Melin Vacuum engines for the upper stages of the Falcon 9 rocket. Moreover, niobium's usage in battery packs is a promising breakthrough. Toshiba's next-generation battery pack for electric cars has a niobium anode, which allows for improved performance, longer life, faster charging, and safer batteries. It is projected to become an industry standard. Niobium is classified as a 'strategic metal' by some nations, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Russia, due to its broad usage in defence and aerospace. Because there are just a few sources throughout the world and it is entirely reliant on imports, the critical nature of niobium is high in the United States of America. Owing to the aforementioned reasons, demand for ferroniobium is on the rise and is anticipated to provide a higher absolute $ opportunity over the short-term forecast period. To learn more about Ferroniobium Market, you can get in touch with our Analyst at https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=7514 Key Segments Covered in the Ferroniobium Industry Survey Ferroniobium Market by Form : Lumps Fines Briquettes Ferroniobium Market by Grade : Standard Ferroniobium High Purity Ferroniobium Ferroniobium Market by End Use : HSLA Production Stainless Steel Production Others Ferroniobium Market by Region : North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & Oceania Middle East & Africa Winning Strategy End users involved in the steel manufacturing industry, as well as vital stakeholders across diverse end-use industries, are investing in expanding their production capacity. Tier-2 manufacturers need to follow suit and invest in setting up their production facilities closer to mines and collaborating with mine owners and end users in an attempt to capitalize on new pioneering discoveries in ferroniobium, ensuring futuristic revenue-generating opportunities. R&D into next-generation battery technologies and burgeoning demand for newer-age space-flight technologies are already on the horizon, and manufacturers have been quite vocal in their strategies to increase their market presence and regional dominance. Currently, the market has remained oligopolistic and newer players find it extremely difficult to enter the market in such a competitive scenario. Get Customization on Ferroniobium Market Report for Specific Research Solutions https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=7514 Key players in the Ferroniobium Market Existing Players Anglo American CBMM Niobec (Magris Company) China Molybdenum Potential Players Cradle Resources Alkane Resources Key Takeaways from Ferroniobium Market Study Regional markets of the future will continue to be reliant on imports, as two of the mines that are situated in Brazil currently serve over 92% of the global demand. Ferroniobium has always been a demand-driven commodity and supplying it has always been a challenge. Because there are just a few producers in the market, worldwide supply is constrained. Based on end use, HSLA production is poised to account for over 85% of the total consumption of ferroniobium. By 2032, North America is expected to account for 25.8% of the worldwide ferroniobium market share. Fact.MRs Domain Expertise in Chemicals and Materials Division Expert analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations of the highly seasoned chemicals and materials team at Fact.MR helps clients from across the globe with their unique business intelligence needs. With a repertoire of over thousand reports and 1 million-plus data points, the team has analysed the chemicals and materials division across 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides unmatched end-to-end research and consulting services. Explore More Chemical and Materials Industry Reports: Biodiesel Market- The global biodiesel market reached a valuation of US$ 90.4 Bn in 2020. Demand for biodiesel is slated to rise at a CAGR of 6.9% to reach US$ 187.6 Bn by the end of 2031. Agricultural Fumigants Market- The global Agricultural Fumigants Market is estimated at US$ 1 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 1.4 Bn by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 2.8% through the forecast period of 2022-2032. Cryogenic Ethylene Market- Worldwide consumption of cryogenic ethylene is estimated at US$ 4.78 Bn in 2022. Detailed industry analysis has revealed that, the global cryogenic ethylene market is forecast to reach a valuation of US$ 11.53 Bn by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 9.2% during 2022-2032. Abrasives Market- The global abrasives market was valued at US$ 54.03 Bn in 2020. Consumption of abrasives is expected to increase at a CAGR of 5.5% to reach a market valuation of US$ 97.7 Bn by the end of 2031. Anticoagulant Rodenticides Market- The global Anticoagulant rodenticides Market is estimated at US$ 720.4 Mn in 2022 and is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 1.4 Bn by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 3.3% through the forecast period of 2022-2032. Flock Adhesives Market- The global Flock Adhesive market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 4.6 Bn by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 5.5% through the forecast period of 2022-2032. Aroma Chemicals Market- The market for aroma chemicals is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% between 2022 and 2032, from US$ 5,127 Million in 2022 to reach US$ 8,115.52 Million in 2032. Demulsifiers Market- Demulsifiers Market Value is projected to reach US$ 3.25 Bn by 2032-end, increasing at a CAGR of around 3.4% over the decade. Global demand for demulsifiers increased year-on-year (YoY) at 1.7% in 2021 to reach a market valuation of US$ 2.28 Bn at the end of 2021. Bonded Magnet Market- The global bonded magnet market is estimated at US$ 5.1 Bn in 2022, and is forecast to reach a valuation of US$ 10.9 Bn by 2032, expanding at an impressive CAGR of 7.8% from 2022 to 2032. Super Absorbent Polymers Market- The global super absorbent polymers (SAP) market saw steady growth at 3.5% CAGR over the past half-decade and is set to be valued over US$ 6 Bn in 2022. Detailed industry analysis reveals that worldwide super absorbent polymer consumption is predicted to increase at 4.9% CAGR to reach a valuation of US$ 9.7 Bn by 2032. About Us: Market research and consulting agency with a difference! Thats why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Our sales offices in United States and Dublin, Ireland. Headquarter based in Dubai, UAE. Reach out to us with your goals, and well be an able research partner. Contact: Mahendra Singh US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 Email: sales@factmr.com Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Washington, DC, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, in a major win for cannabis patients, the DC Council voted unanimously to pass the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022. This bill allows individuals 21 years of age and older to self-certify their eligibility for medical cannabis without needing a healthcare practitioner's recommendation. The bill expands access to medical cannabis by easing the logistical burden of becoming a medical cannabis patient. Bypassing the arbitrary and antiquated recommendation process will allow patients to save time and money - often hundreds of dollars because these types of appointments are not covered by insurance, creating an additional barrier. Studies have shown that even among adult-use customers, the majority are using cannabis for health and wellness reasons. This reform makes DC one of the most accessible and affordable medical programs in the country. The bill also expedites the medical cannabis card process to one day if the patient selects to visit ABRAs office located at 2000 14th Street, NW. By allowing residents 21+ to self-certify as medical cannabis patients, access to safe and legal medical cannabis will expand and residents will hopefully be deterred from obtaining potentially harmful street cannabis from illegal sources, said Linda Mercado Greene, Chair of the DC Cannabis Trade Association. It is absolutely critical to have a safe, legal cannabis market so that those who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes are able to safely and reliably access their medicine. Currently, ABRA is waiving registration fees through August 18, 2022, meaning no out-of-pocket cost for patients. The program allows patients to purchase up to two ounces and offers reciprocity for patients registered in 38 other states. This bill was considered on an emergency basis and will take effect immediately, pending mayoral review. DCCTA thanks CM Mary Cheh for sponsoring the bill, CM Kenyan McDuffie for co-sponsoring, and Chairman Phil Mendelson for putting it on the agenda. The DC Cannabis Trade Association (DCCTA) is a coalition of legally licensed cannabis businesses. For more information on DCCTA, you can visit our website at dccta.org. ### HOD HASHARON, Israel, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weebit Nano Limited (ASX:WBT; Weebit or the Company),a leading developer of next-generation memory technologies for the global semiconductor industry, is pleased to announce it has taped-out (released to manufacturing) demonstration chips integrating its embedded Resistive Random-Access Memory (ReRAM) module to SkyWater Technologys foundry. This is the first tape-out of Weebits ReRAM technology to a production fab and is a major milestone toward commercialization. The technology will be available on SkyWaters 130nm CMOS process, which is ideal for applications such as analog, power management, automotive, IoT and medical. SkyWater customers can now use the highly integrated demo chip as the final platform for testing and prototyping ahead of volume production. Coby Hanoch, CEO of Weebit Nano, said: Weve developed a close and efficient partnership with SkyWater, enabling us to meet our milestones, and bringing us ever closer to volume production. This successful tape-out concludes the technology transfer to SkyWaters US production fab, and once the chips are back from the fab, we will proceed with technology qualification. Were in discussions with early-adopter customers looking to leverage our faster, more efficient memory technology to increase their competitiveness in the market. Thomas Sonderman, SkyWater president and CEO, said: We plan to offer Weebit ReRAM as part of our growing portfolio of silicon-proven design IP. Weebit ReRAM is a rich building block our customers can leverage to create innovative, highly differentiated SoC designs. Given the technologys ultra-low power consumption and integration flexibility, we are already seeing enthusiastic interest from customers in areas such as IoT, power management and mixed-signal designs. Weebits embedded ReRAM module includes a 256Kb ReRAM array, control logic, decoders, IOs (Input/Output communication elements) and error correcting code (ECC). It is designed with unique patent-pending analog and digital smart circuitry running smart algorithms, thereby significantly enhancing the memory arrays technical parameters. It also supports an extended temperature range, 10 years data retention at high temperatures, fast access time, extremely low standby power, and is radiation-hardened (rad-hard) by nature. The demo chip comprises a full sub-system for embedded applications, including the Weebit ReRAM module, a RISC-V microcontroller (MCU), system interfaces, memories and peripherals. Approved for release by the Board of Weebit Nano Limited. About Weebit Nano Limited Weebit Nano Ltd. is a leading developer of next-generation semiconductor memory technology. The companys ground-breaking Resistive RAM (ReRAM) addresses the growing need for significantly higher performance and lower power memory solutions in a range of new electronic products such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smartphones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 5G communications and artificial intelligence. Weebits ReRAM allows semiconductor memory elements to be significantly faster, less expensive, more reliable and more energy efficient than those using existing Flash memory solutions. As it is based on fab-friendly materials, the technology can be quickly and easily integrated with existing flows and processes, without the need for special equipment or large investments. See www.weebit-nano.com and follow us on https://twitter.com/WeebitNano. Weebit Nano and the Weebit Nano logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Weebit Nano Ltd. in the United States and other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. For further information please contact: Investors Eric Kuret, Market Eye P: +61 417 311 335 E: eric.kuret@marketeye.com.au Media Australia Tristan Everett, Market Eye P: +61 403 789 096 E: tristan.everett@marketeye.com.au Media US Jen Bernier-Santarini, Weebit Nano P: +1 650-336-4222 E: jen@weebit-nano.com South Africa: President Ramaphosa urges Africa to focus on food security President Cyril Ramaphosa says food, fertiliser and grain shortages caused by the conflict between Ukraine and Russia must motivate Africa to wake up and take food security into its own hands. The President was speaking following discussions held at the G7 Leaders' Summit held in Bavaria, Germany. There are food shortages. Food prices have gone up. Theres a shortage of fertilisers, cereals and grains that Russia and Ukraine produce are not getting through, and this has led to huge shortages and prices have gone up for many developing economy countries. United Nations Secretary General [Antonio Guterres] explained the initiatives he has been involved in to open the channels so that the grains, cereals and fertilisers that come from Russia and the Ukraine can begin to be exported to various parts of the world, he said. President Ramaphosa said discussions expanded to a proposition similar to the one we worked on with the vaccines, which would culminate in African countries producing their own fertilisers and gaining self-reliance. We want African countries to be self-reliant when it comes to fertiliser production and we are going to be working with G7 countries. I am particularly pleased and excited that we should improve fertiliser production on the African continent to secure food security be it grains or any other type of food commodity. It is fertilisers that are going to help us reach that level. Africa must begin to produce its own fertilisers; we must become economically independent when it comes to food security. As much as there is conflict, the silver lining is that it could actually make us wake up and begin to produce our own fertilisers to secure our own food security. Climate change The President said during deliberations, fruitful discussions were held on climate change and the responsibility that developed countries have to ensure that developing countries are supported in their just energy transitions. The G7 countries recognised that many developing economy countries are not responsible for the terrible emissions that have led to climate change and they recognised that they have a responsibility,and also need to pledge solidarity to assist us as we traverse towards [a] renewable energy type of economic development and that they need to make funding available. They recognised that they did not live up to their [Paris Climate Accords]... to provide funding for developing economies so that we can begin to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, he said. President Ramaphosa revealed that negotiations are underway regarding South Africas $8.5 billion energy transition deal that was struck at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last year with Germany committing a further 300 million to the countrys transition. Negotiations are still going to ensue as to what that exact package means for us. But we made it clearthat we will only be able to embark on a [just energy] transition [which] makes sure that the jobs of our mine workers are not adversely affected and the communities that live in and around mining towns are also not adversely affected. So we need to manage the transition very well. It needs to be done within a timeframe that will enable us to accede to a renewable energy transition particularly as we begin to embrace new technologies such as hydrogen [and] such as fuel cells. We need to walk together with our people in full consultation so that no one is ever left behind, President Ramaphosa said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-06-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Digital yuan helps stimulate consumption, supports recovery of SMEs across China People's Daily Online) 17:10, June 28, 2022 A visitor (R) applies to access payment with digital Chinese yuan (e-CNY) at the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Multiple Chinese cities have recently issued red packets of digital yuan, or e-CNY, to stimulate consumption, with more e-CNY applications to be introduced in the future. On May 30, Shenzhen city in south Chinas Guangdong Province started distributing e-CNY red packets worth 30 million yuan (about $4.50 million) on Meituan, a Chinese e-commerce platform, to revive consumption and aid businesses. In the latest campaign, local consumers could join in a lottery for digital yuan red packets to spend the embedded money at over 15,000 offline merchants and through online consumption scenarios provided by Meituan. Similarly, Chengdu city in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province began handing out digital yuan consumption vouchers on Meituan on June 12. The vouchers can be used to foot the bill for food, hotel bookings, tickets for tourist attractions, and other life services on Meituan. Wenzhou city in east Chinas Zhejiang Province issued red packets of digital yuan worth 30 million yuan between June 19 and June 21, while Xiamen city in southeast Chinas Fujian Province began giving away digital yuan red packets worth 20.22 million yuan and e-CNY discount coupons worth 40 million on June 22. Driven by digital yuan red packets and consumption vouchers, consumers have shown enthusiasm using the e-CNY when engaging in consumption activities. From May 30 to June 19, the average daily number of orders on Meituan paid in digital yuan rocketed about 115 percent, compared with the number from May 9 to May 29. Rolled out in January this year, the e-CNY payment service on the platform had attracted some 6 million users by June 20. Data from JD Technology, a subsidiary of e-commerce giant JD.com, has indicated that users spent a total of about 400 million yuan using the e-CNY on the e-commerce platform during the mid-year shopping festival known as 618 that lasted for weeks, more than 18 times the sum for the same period one year ago. Issuing e-CNY subsidies can aid consumption and helps small and medium-sized businesses in recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. After Shenzhen started issuing consumption vouchers and digital yuan red packets, our business has gotten better, said an executive at a 24-hour supermarket chain based in Shenzhen, adding that the chain received a much larger number of orders during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival, which fell on June 3 this year. The supermarket chain, though seeing a hit from the ongoing pandemic, saw a recovery in its prospects thanks to the digital yuan red packets recently distributed by Shenzhen. Over 20 supermarkets operated under the chain have benefited from the digital yuan red packets, the executive introduced. From May 30 to June 19, consumers used the e-CNY at over 52,000 merchants in Shenzhen listed on Meituan. Their total number of orders increased by 58.9 percent year-on-year and the total order value meanwhile rose by 64.6 percent from the same period last year. Data from the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), the countrys central bank, showed that transactions using e-CNY reached about 87.6 billion yuan by the end of 2021, with 261 million individual wallets for the digital yuan opened and over 8 million application scenarios formed. The combination of the e-CNY, consumption vouchers and e-commerce platforms can promote the use of the digital yuan and boost the recovery of consumption, said Zhou Maohua, a researcher with the China Everbright Bank. The usage of digital yuan has also been extended to include financial services. Recently, China Construction Bank has allowed its mobile app users in pilot cities to buy wealth management products with the e-CNY. As pilot cities continue to promote the use of digital yuan, the e-CNY is expected to be used in increasingly more diverse scenarios. An official with the PBOC said that the central bank would further deepen the pilot use of the e-CNY in retail transactions, lifestyle-related fee payments, government services and other scenarios. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Epitomising magnificence, the imposing six-storey circular Parliament Building in Mount Hampden sitting on a 70-metre platform above the picturesque surrounding area, symbolically projecting legislative supremacy, is now 100 percent complete, and ready for handover. Breath-taking furnishings and top-notch equipment for offices and chambers have already been installed, with only works on two other parking lots and landscaping being outstanding, a recent visit to the site has shown. Royalty greets the visitor from the main entrance of the superstructure, where two water fountains, inspired by one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), the splendid Victoria Falls, majestically tells the Zimbabwean story of beauty and an enduring legacy of peace. On either side of the impressive stepladders and squares are four pillars at the top of which eight Zimbabwe birds are perched. The construction of the building, whose concept was born in 1983 with the Kopje area in Harare as the proposed site, is being undertaken on a six-hectare stand in Mount Hampden, about 18km north-west of Harare along Old Mazowe Road, thus creating opportunities for a new city project. The project was made possible by a grant from the government of the Peoples Republic of China through China-Aid. Feasibility studies were carried out by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design Company Limited in 2015. It was designed by China SIPPR Engineering Group, and Shanghai Construction Group, a global construction behemoth, was the contractor. The Government of Zimbabwe also expended US$2,4 million towards enabling works to kick-start the project. The designs for the New Parliament Building, which embody Zimbabwean culture and heritage enshrined in the Great Zimbabwe monument were completed and approved in October 2017. Works on the project commenced in November 2018 and were completed on May 27, 2022. The project, which comprises four floors on the Parliament side and an adjacent six-storey office building, encompasses a Chamber House, containing the 350-seat National Assembly and 100-seat Senate. A 108-seat gallery overlooks the National Assembly, while an 84-seat gallery overlooks the Senate. There are also 24 interpreters rooms for both the National Assembly and the Senate; 12 for each House, which are linked to the state-of-the-art public address system. The public can follow proceedings from outside through television sets in the civic square, which also provides a clearer view of the building. From the ground floor to the fourth floor on the Chamber House building, and up to the fifth floor on the offices side, a comfy ambiance captures the discerning visitors eye. Three bridges link the Chamber House to the office building on each of the floors from the first, second and third, making a total of nine. Also, there are two specious and exquisitely furnished special committee rooms, and 15 equally adorned 30-seat and 44-seat committee rooms, connected to cutting-edge conference systems. At least 600 well-furnished rooms, among them service areas, VIP offices and directors offices are part of the offices section. There are also bar areas for National Assembly and Senate members, a well-equipped staff canteen, comfortably furnished dining hall, library, storerooms, and server rooms as well as public receptions on each floor. The building also has a press studio and conference room, a multi-purpose hall, and when complete 800 parking bays will be available, 50 of which reserved for VVIPs, and associated services. High quality information technology, which has seen the building being installed with world-class systems for conferencing, fire-fighting, air conditioning and cooling technologies, completes the route for excellence. From atop the hill upon which the edifice magnificently stands, the visitor is consumed in the serenity of the underlying environs, an expanse that stretches to the eyes limit, creating a feeling of dejavu that only comes with familiarity. It is that kind of peace and tranquil which lingers on in the heart, and is therapeutic to the soul. Outside, the dreamy feeling is only interrupted by the chirping birds in the foliage yonder, and the momentary whispering of both machinery and man. Indeed, man has the ability to turn stone, boulder, pebble, metal, wood, water, cement and soil into infectious beauty. Joltingly, one is reminded of mans ability to fashion out his world through sheer belief and workmanship. This was made possible by a workforce that constituted 135 Chinese experts and 350 Zimbabwean citizens. Had it not been for Covid-19-induced delays, which have seen the workforce at the site being scaled down in line with the World Health Organisation guidelines on curbing the spread of the highly contagious virus, the New Parliament Building would have been completed in April last year. The existing Parliament Building opposite Africa Unity Square was converted from a hotel that went broke in the 1890s, and was bought at bargain price by the British South Africa Companys (BSAC) administrator. The space has since become inadequate for the current 350 legislators (including the Senate and National Assembly), and 248 secretariat staff, as it was meant for 100 representatives. The precinct of the new sites proximity to Harare as well as its geographical environs offer opportunities for growth, and present Zimbabwe with a chance to define herself as a nation through a home-grown plan pregnant with vast prospects for all citizens cutting across the entire gamut of human endeavour. Herald Subscribe to The Freeman today! DIGITAL: JUST $10 PER MONTH PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $21 PER MONTH A trusted news source since 1859 Delivered Tuesday-Saturday SUBSCRIBE TODAY Albemarle Corp is planning to build a major lithium processing plant in the United States that would produce as much of the battery metal as the entire company produces today, according to a report from Reuters. At the Fastmarkets Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Eric Norris, head of Albemarles lithium division, said the company aims to build a processing plant with 100,000 tonnes of annual capacity in the US Southeast somewhere within rail access of a major port. Albemarle is in active discussions with automakers on buying supply from the facility, Norris said. Albemarle already supplies Tesla as well as several other major automakers. Norris said the US plant will be key as the company aims to boost its overall lithium production capacity fivefold to 500,000 tonnes annually by 2030. The US plant would be of a similar design to a processing plant Albemarle recently opened in Kemerton, Western Australia. The plant would be supplied from lithium extracted from the companys Kings Mountain mine in North Carolina, which is currently mothballed but may reopen as soon as 2027. (Earlier post.) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MADRID (AP) President Joe Biden opened his three-day visit to a NATO summit Tuesday by pledging to beef up the American military presence in Europe as he denounced Russias Vladimir Putin for trying to wipe out Ukrainian culture in the ongoing war in eastern Europe. Biden, in talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, detailed plans to increase the number of Navy destroyers based in Rota, Spain, from four to six. Biden said the move was one of multiple announcements that he and NATO allies would make during the summit to help bolster the alliance in the region. Biden arrived in Spain for the summit amid an intense barrage of Russian fire across Ukraine including a horrific missile attack on a shopping mall in Kyiv on Monday and growing weariness over the grinding war that is battering the global economy. Sometimes I think Putins objective is just to literally change the entire culture -- wipe out the culture of Ukraine (with) the kinds of actions hes taking, Biden said after meeting with Sanchez. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the destroyers' move will help increase the United States' and NATOs maritime presence." He said Biden would announce additional moves on Wednesday. The president said before the war started that if Putin invaded Ukraine, the United States and NATO would enhance the force posture on the eastern flank, not just for the duration of the crisis, but to address the long-term change in the strategic reality that that would present, Sullivan added. Biden is looking to use this week's NATO summit to shore up allies amid signs of fractures in the western alliance. After heaping an avalanche of sanctions on the Russian economy and funneling billions of dollars of weaponry into Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, NATO partners are showing signs of strain as the cost of energy and other essential goods has skyrocketed. As the U.S. president departed for the NATO meeting from the German Alps, where he met this week with leaders of the Group of Seven leading economies, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the prices are putting European economies in an untenable situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed the G-7 on Monday, has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of the war. The U.S. has been building up its presence since shortly before the Russian invasion in late February, adding about 20,000 troops to the 80,000 who were previously in Europe. And the U.S. has signaled that the Russian invasion will have reverberations on its and NATO allies' defense posture for years to come. The U.S. and Spain, in a joint statement following the Biden-Sanchez meeting, said the invasion fundamentally altered the global strategic environment and that the aggression constitutes the most direct threat to transAtlantic security and global stability since the end of the Cold War. Sullivan suggested that other moves Biden is set to announce will involve positioning additional forces on NATO's eastern flank in a steady state." He declined to say if some U.S. forces that serve there on a rotational basis would become permanent. The U.S. president praised Spain for taking in tens of thousands of Ukrainian migrants who have fled the war. Our people have stood together," Biden said during a meeting with Spain's King Felipe VI. Theyve stood up and theyve stood strong. Biden attended a dinner on Tuesday with other NATO leaders at the 18th Century Royal Palace of Madrid, hosted by Spain's king and queen, Letizia. Biden is set to meet with Turkish President Erdogan on Wednesday, a day after Turkey lifted its objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The two countries made the historic step of applying for NATO membership in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. Sullivan said the U.S. did not have a role to play in negotiations between Turkey and the Nordic nations, which were being brokered by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. A senior administration official said Tuesday that the U.S. offered no concessions to Turkey to coax it to accept a deal and drop its opposition to membership for Finland and Sweden. The official said Biden told Erdogan when they spoke earlier Tuesday that closing the deal with the Nordic countries that night would set up a good opportunity for their own talks on Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss administration strategy. Biden will also look to highlight progress made by NATO members at meeting the alliances goal of spending 2% of gross domestic product on their defense budgets. Sullivan said a majority of members would report that they have met the benchmark or are on track to by 2024. He described it as a substantial shift in the intensity and commitment of NATO allies in terms of putting their money where their mouth is. Biden's predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, fiercely criticized NATO partners who failed to hit the target. The president will also hold a rare joint meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss North Korea's nuclear program. U.S. and South Korean officials say that North Korea has all but finished preparations for its first nuclear test since September 2017, when it claimed to have detonated a thermonuclear warhead designed for intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea may use its next nuclear test to claim that it has acquired the ability to build small nuclear warheads that can be placed on short-range missiles or other new weapons systems it has demonstrated in recent months, analysts say. ___ Madhani reported from Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) Drowned in the Rio Grande. Murdered in Mexico. Perished in the Arizona desert. For migrants traveling to the United States, the journey has always been full of peril. A tragic reminder came this week when at least 51 people died after being abandoned in the back of a tractor-trailer in sweltering San Antonio. Authorities believe the vehicle was part of a human-smuggling operation. While the scale of the calamity was shocking, it's only the most recent example to illustrate how U.S. officials have struggled to find the right strategy for patrolling the border and preventing deaths. Lax enforcement can encourage more people to travel north in hopes of a better life. But clamping down is not always a deterrent. Instead, migrants may rely on riskier routes to avoid detection, or put themselves in the hands of smugglers who promise that they can evade authorities for a price. The San Antonio tragedy triggered familiar reactions across the U.S. political spectrum, indicating that a solemn record as the deadliest smuggling attempt in the nations history will do little or nothing to reshape a debate that has hamstrung Washington for decades. Finger-pointing began almost immediately. President Joe Biden, in Europe this week for international summits, said the deaths were "horrifying and heartbreaking." Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry, Biden said. The migrants were discovered on Monday when a city worker heard a cry for help from the abandoned truck that was parked on the side of a back road. Dozens were already dead; more died at nearby hospitals. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who is investing billions of dollars of state money on border security, tweeted within hours of the grisly discovery that the deaths were on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law," Abbott said. Immigration advocates disagreed with Abbott's criticism and said Biden was too focused on enforcement. A federal judge has kept in place a Trump-era policy that denies many migrants a chance to seek asylum on grounds of preventing spread of COVID-19. If the Biden administration continues to illegally turn away migrants and deny their chance to rightfully seek asylum, individuals and families escaping persecution, war, and climate disasters will continue to face violence and death, advocacy group RAICES Texas said in a statement. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden was flying between summits in Germany and Spain that the administration was focused on the victims and holding human smugglers accountable. The fact of the matter is, the border is closed, which is in part why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks, she said. The U.N. migration agency has reported that nearly 3,000 people went missing or died trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States since 2014. The San Antonio tragedy pushed the total to nearly 300 for the first half of this year. The International Organization for Migration, along with the U.N. refugee agency, called for a swift investigation. Without sufficient pathways to safety, vulnerable and desperate people will continue to be preyed upon by smugglers or forced to resort to desperate measures to cross borders," said Matthew Reynolds, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees' representative to the United States and Caribbean. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which counts deaths differently, reported 557 people perished on the southwest border in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, more than double the 247 deaths reported in the previous year and the highest since it began keeping track in 1998. Deaths became commonplace on the border after Operation Gatekeeper, launched in 1994, pushed migrant traffic to the Arizona deserts from San Diego. Despite billions of dollars spent every year on border security since then, neither Republican or Democratic administrations have been able to stem the loss of life. Migrants routinely take risks to cross into the United States. Jose Castillo, 43, left Nicaragua with his wife and 14-year-old son in January but didnt cross the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, until May, paralyzed with fear that they would drown. He and his wife finally decided that one of them could die, as long as their child made it safely. They took a chance and it worked. We can never return to Nicaragua, he said. Under Trump and Biden, Border Patrol agents have been stretched extremely thin because they spend long stretches of time processing cases for immigration court. Such responsibilities take them out of the field, making it easier for people to cross undetected. The Border Patrol recently began releasing tens of thousands of migrants on parole in hopes of freeing up more agents to be in the field to try to stop migrants. The number of people found crossing the border illegally is at or near the highest in about two decades. Decisions to migrate are complex, but it could be that many people are getting through undetected and encouraging others to come. Migrants who succeed sometimes tell their stories to family and friends back home, encouraging them to follow. At the same time, Title 42 has encouraged repeat attempts to cross the border because there are no legal consequences, such as criminal charges or records of deportation, for getting caught. Many people cross several times until they succeed. Its unclear whether any of the migrants who died in San Antonio had previously been expelled. Isis Pena, 45, fled Honduras with a friend, who urged her to cross the border illegally. Pena refused but began to regret her decision after the friend soon called from San Antonio to say she made it easily and U.S. authorities didnt even ask her any questions before getting released. The next day, Pena tried to cross. Although she made it across the river, she was expelled to Mexico under Title 42 authority. ___ Spagat reported from San Diego. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH The acclaimed novel Olga Dies Dreaming is the Greenwich Reads Together selection for 2022, and the Greenwich Library will welcome the author, Xochitl Gonzalez, to an event this fall. The annual program is designed to unite the community around reading one book and hosting the author for a talk. In making its announcement Tuesday, the Greenwich Library described Gonzalezs book as a bold, thought-provoking debut novel about resilience and diaspora that presses readers to examine their ambitions and at what cost pursuing an American success story may come. A committee led by librarian Siobhan Schugmann made the selection, which she said is already causing a buzz. It has been so exciting to see the response this Greenwich Reads Together pick has received thus far, Schugmann said Tuesday. Olga Dies Dreaming covers so much ground that theres really something in it for everyone - part political thriller, part rom-com, (with) a heavy helping of family drama. The novel tells the story of adult siblings Olga and Pedro Prieto Acevedo. Prieto is a popular, closeted congressman who represents their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y., while Olga is a wedding planner for Manhattans power brokers. But there are troubles ahead for both. For Olga, the pursuit of perfection has become her survival mechanism, but a new love interest forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets, the library said in a statement. Blanca, Olga and Prietos politically radical mother who abandoned her children years ago to advance revolutionary causes, has come barreling back into their lives. The story takes place in the months surrounding the devastation of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and the title is an allusion to a poem by Pedro Pietri called Puerto Rican Obituary. It contains the lines Olga / dies dreaming of a five dollar raise. This is a story that examines political corruption, familial strife and the very notion of the American dream all while asking what it really means to weather a storm, the library said in its announcement. According to Greenwich Library, 30 titles were considered before Olga Dies Dreaming was selected. The selected book must be of literary quality, reflective of universal issues and capable of generating thought-provoking discussions. It must lend itself to engaging public programs and appeal to a diverse population, according to the criteria for Greenwich Reads Together. The selected title must also be available in large quantities in print as well as in formats for an eBook, audiobook and large print. All of those are available at Greenwich Library. We have multiple copies on two displays near the entrance of the library and quite a number of patrons have been stopping by to flip through and pick up a copy, Schugmann said. That the covers are so bright and sunny and recognizable from a distance is just an added bonus. The author talk is set for fall, but she said readers can read it now. Greenwich Reads Together also lines up nicely with the librarys Summer Reading Program, so anyone who is participating in GRT can use Olga Dies Dreaming toward their Summer Reading goals, Schugmann said. Gonzalez is scheduled to speak at the Berkley Theater at Greenwich Library on Oct. 25. The event will also be streamed and recorded. Registration will open in October. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Gonzalez fictionalized parts of her own life for the novel, including the concepts of an absent, activist mother and Gonzalezs actual career as a high-end wedding planner, the Greenwich Library said. Gonzalez won the 2019 Disquiet Literary Prize, and her work has been published in Vogue, The Cut and Bustle. She is a contributor to The Atlantic, where she explores gentrification of people and places in a weekly newsletter called Brooklyn, Everywhere. Greenwich Reads Together, now in its 11th year, is sponsored by the Friends of Greenwich Library. In 2021, thousands of readers participated in events around that years selection, Deacon King Kong by James McBride, the library said. For more information about Greenwich Reads Together, as well as additional title suggestions for younger readers, visit www.greenwichreadstogether.org. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Ghislaine Maxwell, the jet-setting socialite who once consorted with royals, presidents and billionaires, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The stiff sentence was a victory for a group of women who spent years fighting for justice after an earlier generation of prosecutors failed to pursue the predatory power couple. Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14. Prosecutors said he couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion. Maxwell, wearing a blue prison uniform and a white mask to conform with coronavirus rules, looked to one side as the sentence was announced, but otherwise did not react. She wore leg shackles that could be heard rattling when she walked into the courtroom. The sentence was shorter than the term sought by prosecutors, but Epstein's accusers still expressed relief. Its been an incredibly long road to justice for myself and for many other survivors," said Sarah Ransome, one of Epstein's accusers. "This is for the girls that didnt have their say, the ones that werent here. A jury in December convicted Maxwell, 60, of sex trafficking, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts and two conspiracy charges. Judge Alison J. Nathan noted as she imposed the prison term and a $750,000 fine that Maxwell never expressed remorse for her crimes. The judge said she wanted the sentence to send an unmistakable message" that nobody was above the law. Addressing the court earlier, Maxwell stood at a lectern and said she empathized with the survivors and hoped her punishment would bring them peace. But she did not admit culpability and laid blame for the abuse on Epstein, saying meeting him was the greatest regret of my life. She called him a manipulative, cunning and controlling man who lived a profoundly compartmentalized life." The judge said Maxwell was being punished for her heinous and predatory crimes, not Epstein's. She criticized Maxwell's pattern of deflection and blame." Four survivors at the sentencing described their sexual abuse, including Annie Farmer, who was briefly overcome with emotion as she addressed the judge. She said she and her sister tried to go public with their stories about being abused by Epstein and Maxwell two decades ago, only to be shut down by the powerful couple through threats and influence with authorities. We will continue to live with the harm she caused us, Farmer said. Inside a courtroom crowded with reporters, three of Maxwell's siblings sat in a row behind her. Outside the courthouse, Kevin Maxwell said that his sister wont give up on her legal battle, and we as a family will be solidly behind her. Defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim promised to appeal. She said Epstein left Maxwell holding the whole bag. We all know that the person who should have been sentenced today escaped accountability, avoided his victims, avoided absorbing their pain and receiving the punishment he truly deserved, she said. Over the past 17 years, scores of women have accused Epstein of abusing them, with many describing Maxwell as the madam who recruited them. The allegations against Epstein first surfaced in 2005. The FBI and local police had, at the time, amassed evidence of sexual misconduct with many underage girls. But under a deal with federal and state prosecutors in Florida, later criticized as lenient, Epstein pleaded guilty to prostitution-related charges involving just one girl and served 13 months in prison, much of it in a work-release program. Afterward, he was required to register as a sex offender. In the years that followed, many women sued Epstein over alleged abuse. One, Virginia Giuffre, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had also pressured her into sexual trysts with other powerful men, including Britain's Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations, and Giuffre ultimately settled a lawsuit against Andrew out of court. Federal prosecutors in New York revived the case against Epstein after stories by the Miami Herald in 2018 brought new attention to his crimes. He was arrested in 2019, but killed himself a month later. Eleven months after his death, Maxwell was arrested at a New Hampshire estate. Since then, she has been jailed in a federal facility in New York City. Epstein and Maxwells associations with some of the worlds most famous people were not a prominent part of her trial, but mentions of friends such as Bill Clinton and Donald Trump showed how the pair exploited their connections to impress their prey. The trial revolved around allegations from only a handful of Epstein's accusers. Four testified that they were abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins mansions in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Three were identified in court only by their first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, an ex-model from the U.K.; and Carolyn, now a mom recovering from drug addiction. The fourth was Farmer, the sole accuser to identify herself in court by her real name, after speaking out publicly. They described how Maxwell charmed them with conversation and gifts and promises that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to help fulfill their dreams. Then, they testified, she led them to give massages to Epstein that turned sexual and played it off as normal. Carolyn testified that she was one of several underprivileged teens who lived near Epsteins Florida home in the early 2000s and took up an offer to massage him in exchange for $100 bills in what prosecutors described as a pyramid of abuse. Maxwell made all the arrangements, Carolyn told the jury, even though she knew the girl was only 14 at the time. Maxwell's lawyers fought to have her conviction tossed out on the grounds of juror misconduct. Days after the verdict, one juror gave media interviews in which he disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child something he hadn't told the court during jury selection. Maxwell's lawyers said she deserved a new trial. A judge disagreed. During Maxwell's sentencing hearing Tuesday, the juror sat quietly among other spectators. At least eight women submitted letters to the judge, describing the sexual abuse they said they endured. Anne Holve and Philip Maxwell, her eldest siblings, wrote to the court to ask for leniency and said that their sister's relationship with Epstein began soon after the 1991 death of their father, the British newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell. Robert Maxwell, they wrote, subjected his daughter to frequent rapid mood swings, huge rages and rejections, which "led her to becoming very vulnerable to abusive and powerful men who would be able to take advantage of her innate good nature. Ransome an accuser whose allegations werent included in the trial testified about the lasting harm to her life, gazing directly at Maxwell several times. You broke me in unfathomable ways," said Ransome, who twice tried to die by suicide. "But you did not break my spirit. People from around the country, including in Connecticut, will have access to abortion in this state despite the recent ruling from the Supreme Court. But if authorities from another state seek to charge people from their state with a crime in Connecticut, officials in this state may not have the power to prevent it. Connecticuts first-in-the-nation safe harbor law that strengthens legal protections for people seeking a goes into effect July 1. While someone from this state would have nothing to fear legally for having an abortion, the law doesnt necessarily prevent officials from a state that has criminalized abortion from seeking to extradite that person back to their home state and pressing charges. The Connecticut legislature has provided legal protection to health care providers and others who assist women from out of state get abortion services, said Jilda Aliotta, associate professor of politics, economics and international studies at the University of Hartford. One very important unresolved issue raised by the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health is to what extent states may punish their citizens who travel to other states for reproductive health services that are illegal in their home state. Before the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling last week overturning Roe v. Wade, Connecticut passed the safe-harbor bill, in response to a Texas law that allowed private individuals to sue patients or the providers of abortions. To anyone in a red state whose rights have been stripped: Our state is a safe harbor for anyone who needs an abortion, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said Friday on Twitter. You are welcome in Connecticut. Youll be safe here. Todd Fernow, a professor emeritus at the UConn School of Law specializing in criminal law and procedure, said the U.S. Constitutions extradition clause makes preventing extraditions difficult at best. Fernow said the courts majority opinion came very close to declaring a fetus a person. Thats troubling because it validates what is already on the horizon, making termination of a pregnancy a homicide, he said. If a state declares that a fetus is a person without any reference to viability, why shouldnt a murder apply? You can be prosecuted for murder for killing another person. The U.S. Constitution is explicit when it comes to extraditions from one state to another. Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2, says: A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. So, if Connecticut attempts to prevent extradition to Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Alabama or any other state after a criminal charge, Thats flatly unconstitutional thats not going to fly, Fernow said. There are only four things one state can consider when examining an extradition request from another state, Fernow explained: Whether or not the documents are in order, if the person has been charged with a crime, if the person named in the request is actually the person being held and if the person being held is, actually, from the requesting state. The legality, morality or logic of another states laws cannot be considered, though it remains to be seen how aggressively other states will seek extraditions and prosecute their residents who seek abortions in states where abortion remains legal. You cant prevent an extradition. Thats not a choice, and its specific in the extradition clause of the constitution, he said. States will be powerless to prevent anyone from being extradited. State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, who helped draft Connecticuts safe harbor law, said whether the state would agree to another states extradition request depends of the situation. He agreed that all states must honor what are called fugitive extraditions, but said that would only apply if a person was accused of committing a crime in the requesting state. That might apply to women who come to Connecticut seeking an abortion, in violation of the law in their home state, or a provider. The short answer is if the person performed an abortion in Alabama, we would have to return them. If they did not perform the abortion we would not return them, he said. Whatever the crime is they would have to be physically present in the state that is seeking their extradition. Thats not so clear, Fernow said. Connecticut doesnt necessarily get to define where the locus of the crime is. The U.S. Constitution governs execution between states, but so does the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, which he said is about 30 statutes that every state in the country and the federal government have signed, so its like a treaty thats on top of the constitutional requirements. What you cannot do in this situation is you cannot say we refuse to recognize the legality of having an abortion under Texas law or under Mississippi law, Fernow said. You cannot do that. Max Reiss, spokesman for Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, said if another state requested extradition of a woman or provider in Connecticut, it would begin with a letter from one governor to the other. At that point, Connecticut could respond positively or negatively to that request. If we respond in the negative we could be brought to federal court, he said. There would be very, very little we could do. Fernow offered a hypothetical: If, for example, an adult man is accused of convincing an out-of-state minor to cross state lines for the purpose of having sex, both states or either state would be able to charge that man with a crime. You use a phone, you write a letter, you use the internet, you do a search, you are doing an act in violation of the law, Fernow said. It all depends on how they write the law, and Arkansas and Texas and Mississippi and all these states, theyre going to start doing this. Blumenthal agreed that there are some gray areas there: Theoretically they could charge that person with conspiracy to do whatever, though he said obviously we would resist that. Then, Fernow said, it will come down to specifics. Youre going to have states basically saying, If the germ of the crime is committed in our state, and then you leave the state in order to perfect the crime, were going to say youre guilty of a felony in our state before you left, Fernow said. What its ultimately going to boil down to is, where did you get pregnant? When you find out you were pregnant? What evidence is there that you knew you were pregnant when you started making plans to get the plan B pill or go to another state for an operation? Doctors in Connecticut or another safe harbor state who provide care through telehealth that results in an illegal abortion in another state may not be protected by Connecticut law, either. I have no hesitation in telling you that if you are involved in the internet, you commit a crime on the internet and you affect people in another state, they can charge you in that other state with a felony, Fernow said. Thats why all these doctors are now concerned about telehealth, Reiss said. Theyre now worried about what they do through the mail that would be problematic. Fernow, like Blumenthal, said it may come down to the definition of the word fugitive. If that theoretical doctor does not flee from one state to another, they may not be considered a fugitive under the law. If a safe harbor state like Connecticut refused to extradite to another state on those terms, it might be in violation of Uniform Criminal Extradition Act but possibly not the constitutions extradition clause. Theres some meat on that bone, Fernow said. If that challenge to the extradition clause does arise, it will be the U.S. Supreme Court that will have to decide it. This is going to have to be resolved by the Supreme Court because the extradition clause is in the U.S. Constitution, Fernow said. They may or may not weigh in on the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, but they have to weigh in on the extradition clause. That, Blumenthal said, is ironic. A lot of the conservative justices basically said we should overturn Roe so we can get out of the abortion business, Blumenthal said. Instead, passing the question back to the states complicates things in, All sorts of complex and legally novel ways that are highly variable and unpredictable, he said. It doesnt simplify things. It sets state law against state law, Blumenthal said. Our safe harbor laws and other states anti-abortion laws, the battle between those laws will be resolved ultimately in federal court. Whatever happens when and if another state requests an extradition, Blumenthal said he is confident that Connecticuts safe harbor law will remain. Were very confident that our statute is constitutional, he said. We are not going to shrink from defending our residents and were not going to leave them unprotected. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Robert Franklin/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Emily DiSalvo / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald called out U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for suggesting the rights of same-sex marriages should be reconsidered. McDonald, who is gay, criticized Thomas on Facebook for being hypocritical in the concurring opinion of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the case that overturned Roe v. Wade last week, CNBC reports. WASHINGTON (AP) When President Donald Trump learned his attorney general had publicly rejected his election fraud claims, he heaved his lunch at the wall with such force that the porcelain plate shattered and ketchup streamed down. On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, consumed by crowd size concerns, he directed staff in profane terms to remove metal detectors he thought would slow down supporters who'd amassed in Washington for a speech. Never mind that some were armed they weren't there to hurt him, he said. And later that day, irate at being driven back to the White House instead of the Capitol, Trump uttered words to the effect of, I am the f'ing president. Take me up to the Capitol now" and grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle. Trump's volcanic temper has been the stuff of lore throughout his career in business, but during his presidency it has rarely been described with such evocative detail as in the testimony Tuesday of Cassidy Hutchinson, a junior White House staffer whose proximity to the-then president and top aides that day gave her a remarkably close view. Hutchinson offered previously unknown details about the extent of Trump's rage in his final weeks of office, his awareness that some supporters had brought weapons with them and his ambivalence as rioters later laid siege to the Capitol. The testimony came as the Justice Department expands its investigation into the insurrection and deepened, but did not resolve, questions about whether Trump himself could face criminal charges for his conduct. Though Attorney General Merrick Garland has given no hint about whether his department will bring a criminal case against Trump, some legal experts said Hutchinson's testimony could give prosecutors additional facts to pursue. Potentially problematic for Trump could be his urging on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021 to take down metal-detecting magnetometers that he thought were slow down supporters who'd gathered for a rally near the White House. Upset that some in the crowd might not get to see him, Trump, according to Hutchinson, said words to the effect of, I don't care that they have weapons. They're not here to hurt me. Take the f'ing mags away. Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here." Mags refers to magnetometers. A congressional hearing is not a court of law, but if this isnt powerful evidence that he wasnt just aware of the possibility of violence on the 6th but that he actively wanted to encourage it, Im not sure what is, said Stephen Vladeck, a University of Texas law professor. Whatever any outcome related to a criminal proceeding, the disclosures come as Trump is laying the groundwork for another presidential run in 2024. Aides have been debating the merits of when he should announce his intentions. Looking to blunt negative publicity surrounding her testimony, Trump issued statements Tuesday on his social media platform calling her accounts of his behavior fake and denying that he had requested that we make rooms for people with guns to watch my speech. Trump is well-practiced at marginalizing his critics and accusers, but Hutchinson's well-calibrated testimony will test that power anew. Tuesday's hearing, the sixth by the House committee investigating the insurrection, was accompanied by suspense even before it began. It was hastily announced on Monday, but the committee did not reveal the identity of the witness until Hutchinson entered the room. Where prior hearings have involved clusters of witnesses who have recounted pressure campaigns on the Justice Department, or on local election officials, to overturn the election results, Tuesday's hearing involved a singular narrator with an easy-to-follow tale sprinkled with had-to-be-there color. Some anecdotes she witnessed herself. Others she heard second-hand. She recalled, for instance, being in the White House on the afternoon of Dec. 1, 2020 when she heard noise coming from down the hallway. Trump, it turned out, had just learned of an interview Attorney General William Barr had given to The Associated Press in which Barr said the Justice Department had not found widespread fraud sufficient to alter the outcome of the election. Inside the dining room was a shattered porcelain plate on the floor, apparently thrown in anger by the president. Ketchup streamed down the wall. Hutchinson says she grabbed a towel to wipe it off. She says she later heard about a separate episode on the afternoon of Jan. 6 when Trump tried to grab at the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle so that it would take him to the Capitol and not to the White House. He was, he said, the f'ing president. Trump was directed to take his hand off the wheel. The story drew pushback after the hearing, with a person familiar with the matter saying the agent who was driving the vehicle and another official were prepared to testify under oath that Trump never lunged for the wheel. In that instance and others, according to the testimony, the president's will did not always prevail and Hutchinson detailed aides' best efforts to rein in Trump's worst impulses. The morning of Jan. 6, for instance, White House counsel Pat Cipollone cautioned Hutchinson that if Trump did go to the Capitol to intervene in the certification of the election, Were going to get charged with every crime imaginable if we make that movement happen." Whether the Justice Department thinks it has a case against the president, especially one that could further divide an already polarized nation, remains an open question. But there's also no doubt that the investigation is expanding far beyond the rioters themselves, with law enforcement officials last week serving a wave of subpoenas across the country to state elections officials. When you have witnesses who are in these conversations, who are in these rooms, who are actively participating in the high-level discussions of Jan. 6, it seems to me that one of two things has to be true: either they're lying, or President Trump and a lot of people close to him are in serious jeopardy," Vladeck said. ___ Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday authorized an increase in funding for debris removal and other emergency measures being taken as a result of a historic wildfire season in New Mexico that stemmed partly from missteps by federal forest managers in starting a prescribed burn. The additional funding comes through an amended disaster declaration signed by the president that calls for direct federal assistance to be increased to 100% of the total eligible costs for 90 days following the declaration. The wildfire still smoldering in the Rocky Mountain foothills of northern New Mexico grew to become the largest in the U.S. this spring after it was sparked in April by two planned government burns meant to reduce wildfire danger. The U.S. Forest Service acknowledged in a recent report that managers underestimated how dry things have become in the Southwest over the last two decades and that modeling and training needs to improve to account for the extreme conditions. Thousands of residents were displaced by the blaze, hundreds of homes were destroyed and now officials are warning of post-fire flooding. Burn scars in both New Mexico and neighboring Arizona have been hit over recent days with rain as the Southwest region marks a robust start to the monsoon season. Scott Sterns, a meteorologist assigned to the big fire in New Mexico, said Monday that up to 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain fell over the last three days on some parts of the fire which spans more than 533 square miles (1380 square kilometers) of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The potential for runoff is high now that the soils are saturated and the vegetation is moist, Sterns said. There's really not a whole lot more good we can do with more moisture at the moment, he said during a briefing. The nice thing is so far on the incident we've had fairly consistent long duration moisture and that's always good to keep the (relative humidity) higher, which really helps us out in terms of the fuel situation. There has been much criticism of the federal government in New Mexico for causing the largest wildfire, with some residents saying they have been left to wade through a bureaucratic maze as they look to be reimbursed for their losses. Biden vowed during a visit earlier this month that 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. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more than $3.5 million in assistance for housing and other needs have been approved for residents so far. The agency also is considering disaster requests for several other states from Minnesota to Tennessee because of wildfires, tornadoes and flooding since late April. Scientists and government officials have warned of more severe weather as the world keeps getting hotter. In the United States, there were 20 weather or climate disasters last year with losses exceeding $1 billion a year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In southwestern New Mexico, a half-inch of rain has fallen each day, stalling efforts to rehabilitate fire lines around a massive blaze that has burned through the rugged Black Range. Parts of northern Arizona, where a series of wildfires burned homes and forced evacuations over recent months, saw flooding over the weekend as storms brought rain, hail and wind. The National Weather Service reported that some roads in the Flagstaff area were closed as creeks and washes filled up with storm runoff. Qualcomm usually unveils its new flagship chipset on the first weekend of December but this year we expect it two weeks earlier. The official website of the San Diego chip company scheduled a Snapdragon Summit for November 14-17, which is likely when well see the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Screenshot from Qualcomm's website The event was later taken down from the website, and while it could be a false flag, we are keen to believe the chip is really coming in November. That would allow makers like Xiaomi and Motorola to get into the race of being the first maker to launch a phone with the new chip. Qualcomm does not unveil the date for its summit in Hawaii as early as five months ahead, so we believe it was a true slip-up by the team in California. There is still enough time for the rumor mill to keep going and allow us to piece the puzzle of the SM8550 platform. The first rumors suggested an unusual 1+2+2+3 CPU combo with one Cortex-X3 unit, two Cortex-A720, two A710, and three A510. Source (now deleted) The Xiaomi 12S that leaked last month will be officially unveiled next week - on July 4. This revelation comes from Xiaomi, which also said that the 12S will be joined by the 12S Pro and 12S Ultra at the event. Xiaomi also confirmed its partnership with Leica for the cameras on the 12S series and gave us a glimpse of the three smartphones. Judging by the leaked image of the 12S, we believe the smartphone with the white-colored back panel is the 12S, while the one in the center might be the 12S Pro, and the smartphone on the left might be the 12S Ultra. It has a golden metal frame with a green-colored leather panel. Xiaomi hasn't detailed the specs sheets of the 12S series smartphones yet, but the company said the 12S is a small-sized high-end flagship, whereas the 12S Pro is 2022's new flagship standard. The 12S Ultra is touted as the "new height of mobile imaging flagship." You can expect Xiaomi to share more information about the 12S lineup in the lead-up to the event next Monday. Source 1, Source 2 (both in Chinese) The Guam Department of Education began a three-day health and safety conference Tuesday that teaches educators how to handle active shooter situations and other threats. The conference is similar to safety workshops held before the pandemic. We wanted to reinstitute this so itd be an opportunity for staff, administrators, management and also our partners like the police department to come together, go over some of the major safety issues that we foresee taking place on campus, and even thxose that we may not foresee, but need to be prepared for, said Superintendent Jon Fernandez. Law enforcement professionals presented best practices and methods in school violence prevention, school shooting mitigation, and community response to an active shooter situation. Its been the Chiefs (Steven Ignacio) direction and initiative to ensure that GDOE or any other schools or locations are confident that the officers will not hesitate and they will address the threat immediately, said Guam Police Department Lt. Troy Lizama. Lizama, who is with Special Operations, said officers in precincts are also receiving training. Wednesdays training will focus on table-top exercises, and Thursday will be a full-scale interactive exercise involving one high school and multiple response agencies. The training also features workshops on dealing with students, developing skills, safety and security, and managing health. The workshops feature professionals in education, health, public policy and law. Sentencing of a former Guam Police Department officer in a 2014 sexual assault case has been rescheduled but a judge encouraged Paul Santos take advantage of the time before he turns himself in. Santos appeared in the Superior Court of Guam Tuesday afternoon to be sentenced for charges connected to the 2014 rape of a woman who was advertising sexual services on Craigslist. The sentencing was moved to allow Santos attorney, Curtis Van de veld, more time to prepare because of recent heart surgery. Judge Vernon Perez also allowed Santos to remain on house arrest until the Aug. 19 sentencing. Perez said hes not interested in prolonging sentencing anymore. Im encouraging you to finalize your time with your family over the next month, month and a half, ... because I will sentence you in the month of August and I will require you to turn yourself in shortly thereafter, Perez told Santos. Santos initially was sentenced to serve 21 years at the Department of Corrections in 2016 after being found guilty of several criminal sexual conduct charges, bribery, official misconduct and abetting prostitution, PDN files state. During the trial, the woman testified Santos, while wearing his GPD uniform, met her at a Tamuning hotel. Santos told her she could go to jail for prostitution and shed never see her family again if he arrested her. She described details of the sexual assault that were absolutely violent, PDN files state. Santos appealed the sentence. Some charges were vacated. Santos faces a minimum of 15 years in prison for the remaining charges. Four-term Sen. Mary Torres on Monday announced she wont be seeking a return to office in the upcoming election. By no means was this an easy decision. During my first bid for senator many years ago, my solemn commitment was to be your voice a voice for the vulnerable, a voice of reason, and a voice of hope, she said in a news release. I had seen too many families facing barriers to gainful employment, small businesses that felt government wasnt on their side, and a growing demand to help victims speak up and seek justice. She said she was proud to have worked with the support of the public to reduce taxes for small businesses, get citizens a fair chance for work and open more homes for foster kids, among other accomplishments. Like my father, I have always believed in putting the people before any one party, in working across the aisle to reach compromise and find common ground. But this is becoming increasingly rare. Here and across the nation, political polarization has made it harder to get work done, she said in the release. Sound bites took over sound legislation, petty quarreling replaced patience and civility, and deliberation gave way to grandstanding. I dont think policymaking should ever be easy, but over time Ive learned that deep division in the institution serves no one. And while I still believe more unites us than divides us, lawmakers must spend less time pointing fingers and more time building consensus to find it. Torres said she would continue to push through the end of her term for an update to Guams Child Protective Act, to close the gap on protection orders for sexual assault and help develop home industries. She said she would continue her community advocacy outside the Legislature, but for now, I thank you for allowing me to serve for as long as I have. Del. Michael San Nicolas asserted he was found not guilty in a years-long Congressional ethics investigation against him and said he and running mate Sabrina Salas-Matanane would stay the course in their gubernatorial bid this year. This ethics process is done, it is concluded, after three years, thousands of pages recorded, hundreds of hours committed. It has concluded with us not being found guilty of anything, and not even being charged with anything, he said in a Tuesday press conference. The delegate, who was accompanied by two of his attorneys throughout the virtual conference, painted a very different picture from the final House Committee on Ethics report. It found substantial evidence San Nicolas may have accepted an illicit $9,000 cash donation, conspired to cover it up and attempted to influence key witnesses. Stanley Brand, an attorney for San Nicolas, said the bipartisan ethics committees so-called referral of the report to the U.S. Department of Justice wouldnt meet the standard of evidence for federal prosecutors to take action under any circumstance. Candidly, this was a way to charge Congressman San Nicolas without charging him, without giving him the opportunity to present his case in an adversary proceeding, Brand said. San Nicolas and his counsel said the panel charged with the investigation cherry picked correspondence and misrepresented a good faith attempt to represent the delegate throughout the investigation when it stated he engaged in delay tactics. Every page The report asserted the delegate refused to voluntarily address allegations against him, didnt take up an opportunity to respond in writing under oath and that his conduct merits public condemnation. For three years, we provided them with every page they asked us for, attorney Stanley Woodward said in response. For the committee to claim that there was some refusal to provide testimony simply couldnt be farther from the truth, he said. According to Woodward, the delegates failure to testify in his defense at a compulsory April 29 deposition was caused by a last-minute subpoena being served and the investigative subcommittees unwillingness to accommodate his legal team, which was in federal court that day. San Nicolas said they had tried to contact investigators after he didnt appear at the deposition saying, Hey, were still interested. They didnt respond. They didnt take us up on that. According to San Nicolas, the decision to release the report at the most politically impactful moment just prior to the 60-day cutoff before the primary, after which the committee would be unable to release the report was meant to send a message to the rest of Congress. Whats the best way to send that message? Impact our elections. He said he would write other members of Congress asking them to review the ethics committees processes. $9,000 question San Nicolas asserted he had never accepted an illegal $9,000 cash contribution in 2018 from an unnamed campaign donor, whose interview is cited in the report. At the time of the alleged donation, the limit for a single campaign donor was $2,700 and just $100 for cash donations. The refund of $10,000 to the donor in October and September of 2020, reflected in filings with the Federal Election Commission, was made out of an abundance of caution and didnt mean San Nicolas had knowingly accepted the cash donation, Woodward said. It doesnt matter that we dont know what happened to that money. The law requires that it be refunded. So the campaign made a payment to that donor, Woodward said. The donor, in a letter attached to the report dated Jan. 22, 2020, said he made the contribution at the advisement of San Nicolas. Time-stamped WhatsApp messages about the cash exchange between the donor and the delegates former campaign manager, John Paul Manuel, appear to match the dates provided on the refund nearly two years later. San Nicolas on Tuesday said he was never given an opportunity to provide evidence refuting the claim and that the committee report failed to adequately present the testimony collected and the substantial evidence against him. When asked about a series of campaign donations the report questioned, which were made in October 2018, after the alleged illegal donation, San Nicolas said, When else are we going to have a campaign fundraising event, if not in September and October for the General Election, and after a primary election in August? In response to allegations made by the donor that a staffer waited outside the donors office in November of 2019, followed him in his car and told him that the donation never occurred, San Nicolas said: Im not quite sure (what) theyre trying to insinuate, that there was some kind of conversation trying to manipulate an outcome when the actual outcome is exactly what we did, returning the funds. Still in While she wasnt present during the press conference, Salas-Matanane committed to her partnership with San Nicolas for Adelup in a pre-recorded video statement played for reporters during the press conference. Although this has been referred to the U.S. Department of Justice, it does not mean he is guilty of anything, she said in part, But over the next few weeks, our opponents will capitalize on this report. They will continue their campaign of cyberbullying and vindictiveness. They will attack my credibility and my integrity. They will do what they do best attack, shame, vilify, buy votes and pork adobo our governments finances. I am not a quitter. I signed up to fight for the people of Guam. I think our response is clear, San Nicolas said. Were not going anywhere. The peoples day will come, and its coming Aug. 27. Haiti - FLASH : Arrest of the fearsome Gang Leader Baz Pilat Sunday, June 26, 2022, agents of the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) proceeded to the arrest at Carrefour Feuilles, at Place Jeremie (Commune of Port- au-Prince) of Ezechiel Alexandre, alias "Ze", fearsome "Baz Pilat" gang leader based at the southern entrance to the capital. At the time of his arrest, he was in the company of Junior Claude, a former police officer (registration number: 09-21-07-10718) dismissed by the PNH after leaving his post in 2019, who was also arrested. Under warrant to bring and subject to a wanted notice Ezechiel Alexandre is accused of involvement in acts of assassination, illegal possession of firearms, rape and armed robbery. Following this arrest, the men of "Ze" created great tension and sowed panic in the population of the city center. Bursts of automatic weapons and barricades of burning tires to block traffic, they demanded in vain the release of their Chief. Other armed men of "Baz Pilat" circulated in certain neighborhoods of the 3rd district of Port-au-Prince. Vehicles and pedestrians left the Portail Leogane area in a hurry. The PNH has deployed its men and several specialized units to regain control of the situation. SL/ HaitiLibre A COUPLE have called for police to do more to tackle speeding after their plant stall was hit by a passing car. Val and Chris Neal believe the culprit may have been a driver who was accidentally sprayed with a hose while Mr Neal was out watering. The couple sell flowers from the verge outside their home in Memorial Avenue, Shiplake. They were woken up early one morning recently by a loud bang and discovered the stall had been struck by a vehicle and flowers strewn across the road. Mrs Neal, 83, said: I actually heard the bump at 6.45am. I thought something had happened next door. It sounded as though someone was throwing something at the door, hard. Chris came down to check the door, then went out to check the plants. The ones that were hit were all down the road, squashed flat. The couple, who have lived in the street for 50 years, began offering flowers in return for small donations several years ago and have built up a loyal group of customers. Mrs Neal said: Its a hobby to help out my pension. I only sell them during the summer, from May to early July. I have a lot of customers who come back year after year. It keeps me going and keeps me out of the funny farm. The couple say that three to four trays containing a dozen or more plants were destroyed in the incident on Thursday, June 16. Mr Neal, 79, called the police non-emergency number 101 and spent more than an hour on hold before hanging up to go to his part-time job as a medical supplies delivery driver. His wife said: It is not everyone that speeds we have an awful lot of people who obey the 20mph limit. It is morning and evening when drivers put their foot down. In the morning it is just whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Mr Neal said hed had some minor altercations with speeding drivers in the past as he waved at them to slow down and one of these could have led to the plant stall being targeted. In this incident, he was watering the plants when he inadvertently sprayed an offending driver with the hose as he turned to find the vehicles window open. The road has a 20mph speed limit as both Shiplake Primary School and the Memorial Hall are there and many of the residents are elderly. The couple believe that Thames Valley Police are not interested in enforcing such limits. Mr Neal said: There was a statement from the police in the Henley Standard a couple of weeks ago in connection with quite a few villages looking to implement 20mph limits. In the article the polices comment was, We enforce speed limits but we consider the 20mph limit is a matter of driver conscience. In other words, We dont want to know. He would like police to visit Memorial Avenue with a speed camera periodically to encourage drivers to stick to the limit. Mr Neal said: It would be interesting to know what we have to do to get the police up here. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: We operate an evidence-and risk-based assessment of all potential enforcement sites. If there is evidence of speed and a risk to road users then camera enforcement will be considered as a potential solution. There is a number of considerations and checks made before deploying cameras. These include evidence of excessive speed from speed survey data, collision and casualty data, potential risk to road users, analysis of traffic data, site assessment for suitability of mobile enforcement, including van placement, and operational requirements. We rely on the public to provide information and would encourage anyone with information about speeding or poor driving to please report it so that we can gather information about a particular area and take action where appropriate. What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters @henleystandard.co.uk Opinion: US-led sanctions against Russia spawning 'debt traps' 17:46, June 28, 2022 By Qing Ming ( People's Daily Online Illustration: Liu Rui/Global Times Since the Ukraine conflict erupted on February 24, the US has taken on a leading role among the bloc of Western nations in imposing sanctions, sending weapons, and dispatching batches of its politicians for a Ukraine tour. Yet, four months into the crisis, Washington is still masterminding behind the scenes, bullets and artillery shells are still flying, and people are still bleedingnothing appears to have changed, except for skyrocketing oil prices, looming food and energy shortages, and a Russia--together with other world financial institutions--now trapped in "defaults" and unpaid debts. A statement from the White House on June 27 has offered fresh clues on the Pyrrhic victory that the US-led sanctions have clinched. According to Reuters, the Biden administration announced Monday that Russia had "defaulted" on its international bonds for the first time since the Bolshevik Revolution a century ago. The Kremlin, on the other hand, has clarified that the payments due Sunday had been made, in US dollars and euros, on May 27 and yet the money remained stuck with Euroclear, a clearing house based in Belgium, according to CNN. Despite that, some view such defaults as a win for the US-led "sanctions bloc," a victory secured by the effective severance of Russia from the global payments system. Well, think again. A host of experts on global finance have sounded their alarms upon the announcement. "It's a very, very rare thing, where a government that otherwise has the means is forced by an external government into default," said Hassan Malik, senior sovereign analyst and expert on emerging market hedge funds. Russia owes $100 million in interest payments on one bond priced in US dollars and another priced in euros, which was originally due for payment on May 27, according to Al Jazeera. With Russia being forcibly decoupled from the global payment systems, it has also been reduced into a state of non-payment, "an artificial crisis manufactured by the West," as one analysis put it. For international lenders who lent out the money to Russia, it also presents an unprecedented "debt trap," with their money withheld not by the borrower itself but by the "force majeure" of the situation, in which their unpaid loans are regarded as "collateral damage." The "Made in the US default" indicates the destructive consequences that the current US dollar hegemony may bring to others. For the global financial market as a whole, the event offers a chilling lesson: that is, the international financial web, on which global trade and investment have been built, isn't immune to manipulation and weaponization. With the dominance of its currency and the capricious demeanor of a certain superpower, it is no guarantee that similar acts of manipulation or weaponization won't happen in other contexts. In fact, such malpractice is not without precedent. Washington's freezing of nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to Afghanistan's central bank last year is reminiscent of just such economic hegemony at work. In any event, the US may argue that its end justifies the means, but that all depends on what end the US is actually harboring. If its end is to see global lenders getting unpaid, the global financial system undermined, and the formation of "debt traps," then the US apparently has succeeded. Likewise, Washington may also feel a strong sense of contentment with the roles it has played in "mediating" the Ukraine crisis over the years. After four years of isolationism and a disgraceful pullout from Afghanistan, the US finally has seized its chance to rally together its allies and deploy its "weaponry of strength." At least that is the standpoint of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said in April that the conflict has only strengthened NATO's "collective resolve and unity." But with the passage of time, Washington has increasingly proved its Ukraine solution is nothing but a fig leaf, one that is just for show. As Christopher Caldwell, an American journalist and researcher, wittily and accurately put it in his New York Times guest essay back in May entitled The War in Ukraine May Be Impossible to Stop; And the U.S. Deserves Much of the Blame: "The United States is making no concessions. That would be to lose face." And given the high-stakes game now being played, "the administration is closing off avenues of negotiation and working to intensify the war." (Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji) Montreux (Switzerland) - June 28th 2022 2022 marks Glion Institute of Higher Education 60 years. As part of the Anniversary celebrations, Glion alumni are reuniting around the world in a succession of events. After the London event at Harvey Nichols in March, last weeks it was in Bangkok, Thailand and in Montreux, Switzerland that the alumni community was commemorating this special occasion. Over one weekend it was just around 400 people attending events. Starting with 15 students from 5 countries, Glion campus in Switzerland first opened its doors in 1962. In 60 years, the institution has built a unique network with highly influential figures of the Hospitality industry and beyond acting as a career success factor for its members. The support of the community starts right at the beginning during students studies. Bachelor and masters students get personalized support from the institutions Career & Internship service. With 3480 industry partners and 655 companies who recruited last year from the highly recognized Swiss institution, Glion affirms a 98% employability rate. After graduation, alumni stay connected to the influential global network of industry professionals and entrepreneurs spread over 144 countries. Glion today unites a community of 7 board members, 66 regional vice presidents and Ambassadors with more than 15,000 alumni from all over the world. Through a state-of-the art on-line platform, Glion alumni enjoy privileged access to new positions and career opportunities from other members of the community, who choose Glion first when recruiting fresh talent and forging new partnerships. Overall, Glion is ranked in the top three worldwide for employer reputation since its entry in the QS World University Rankings by Subject in 2018. 86% of Glion Alumni become managers in less than 5 years. 48% of Glion Alumni work in other sectors than hospitality, including FMCG, Luxury Goods and Services, Marketing, Events, Banking and Finance. 52% join the traditional Hospitality, Tourism and Food and Beverage sectors. Among the prizes awarded to Glion Alumni on Saturday June 18th in Montreux, just to name a few were: Stephen Alden, Glion Alumnus, 1981 and CEO Raffles & Orient Express, Member of the Executive Committee at Accor awarded for outstanding professional accomplishment and Susanne Kaufmann, Alumnus 1993 and founder of the eponymous cosmetic brand who received the special Achievement Award Entrepreneurial Leadership. The Alumni Association Glion (AAG) strives to foster the continuation of the Glion Spirit throughout the life its members by creating an active worldwide community of Glion Alumni which supports each individuals personal development and growth, careers, networking, entrepreneurship, thus enhancing the value of the membership and the prestige of both the Association and Glion Institute of Higher Education. The AAG Board members are Christopher Jones, President (CEO of Sushi Shop); Ronald Homsy, Vice President (COO and Co-Founder of Pinktada); Mayumi Matthaus, Secretary General (founder of Suskind); Beatrice Leon, Member (Front of House, Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como); Caroline Ellul, Member (Founder of French Luxury Consulting); Tibor Fejes, Member, (Director, Global Revenue Performance, Policy and Planning at Marriott International) and Frederic Frere, Member, (CEO and Co-Founder, Travelstore.pt) They are at the forefront of community engagement initiatives such as the Ambassador programme, Innovation and entrepreneurship commission, fostering industry relations and Alumni events like this the 60th anniversary celebrations world-tour in which recruitment and passion were high on the agenda. About Glion Institute of Higher Education Founded in 1962, Glion Institute of Higher Education is a Swiss institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality, luxury and finance to an international student body across three campuses in Switzerland and London, UK. Glion is ranked among the world's top five higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management, and in the top three number for employer reputation since its entry in the ranking in 2018. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022). Part of Sommet Education, worldwide leader in hospitality education, Glion is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). For more information, visit glion.edu Anouck Weiss Chief Communication Officer Glion View source Orlando, Florida Mews, one of the leading hospitality cloud property management systems, today announced it has launched Mews for Salesforce on Salesforce AppExchange, empowering hoteliers to connect their Property Management System (PMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems in real-time. This will fast-track guest personalization and enable data-driven guest experiences that increase loyalty and lifetime value. Mews for Salesforce marks the first collaboration between the two companies following the strategic investment made by Salesforce Ventures, the global investment arm of Salesforce, in Mews in December 2021. Mews is solving a huge headache for hotels: the inability to reap the benefits of integrating customer data which is held separately in a CRM and a PMS. This prevents hotels from offering personalized experiences or tailored communications and offers that drive customer satisfaction, loyalty and new revenues. Integrated directly with Salesforce, Mews for Salesforce is currently available on AppExchange click here. Mews makes it possible to connect the Mews PMS and Salesforce CRM in just a few hours, with minimal technical expertise. This enhanced connection enables hoteliers to create personalized guest communications before, during and after their stay. This includes delighting clients the moment they enter the hotel by instantly knowing who they are and their preferences, offering a unique dining experience during their stay based on their previous dining choice, to sending post-stay communications with offers, and products that are uniquely relevant to them as an individual not just at customers like them. Comments on the News Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews, said; For hoteliers to create and deliver exceptional guest experiences they need the tools and information about every one of their guests at their fingertips, no matter where they stayed in the hotel group. By having one single profile of each guest, they can focus their efforts on delighting guests to make every stay remarkable and every subsequent stay even better than the last. This rapid integration feature means every member of staff can now become a super-charged concierge, enabling them to make personalized product or service recommendations based on a guests current and past stays. Mark Liversidge, Chief Digital, Technology & Experience Officer at The Student Hotel, said; The Student Hotel always strives to offer a unique experience to each customer in our community of international citizens. No matter which of our locations they visit across Europe, we want our customers to feel personally engaged, to have an experience that is personalized to their needs and become a lifelong member of our community. Technology has a key role to play in this, acting as the enabler for our team members and helping them wow customers throughout the customer journey. With Mews and Salesforce as our two core operating systems becoming connected we are now able to optimize our operational processes and take customer experiences to the next level. About Salesforce AppExchange Salesforce AppExchange, the worlds leading enterprise cloud marketplace, empowers companies, developers and entrepreneurs to build, market and grow in entirely new ways. With more than 7,000 listings, 10 million customer installs and 117,000 peer reviews, AppExchange connects customers of all sizes and across industries to ready-to-install or customizable apps and Salesforce-certified consultants to solve any business challenge. Additional Resources Like Salesforce on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/salesforce Follow Salesforce on Twitter: https://twitter.com/salesforce Follow Mews on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mewssystems/ Follow Mews on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MewsSystems Salesforce, AppExchange, Ventures and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc. About Mews Founded in 2012 by a team of former hoteliers, Mews is transforming the hospitality industry with a cloud-based property management system. The Mews Hospitality Cloud acts as a central nervous system for properties of all sizes from small independents to large group brands. Over 3,000 properties across 70+ countries run their hotel operations, booking, payments, and guest management on Mews. Customers include Accor, Autocamp, The Student Hotel, Generator-Freehand, Life House, and the Wythe Hotel. For more information, please visit www.mews.com George Barker Director of Communications Chicago, IL Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of communications solutions and Managed IT Services for more than 5,000 hotels, MDUs, and commercial facilities across the Americas, is set to demonstrate its Conference Services to this years HITEC Orlando attendees, as hybrid events grow in popularity and in-person events experience a dramatic resurgence. From June 27-28, 2022, visitors to Cloud5s booth, #2225, will discover how Cloud5s industry-leading expertise and high-touch consultation can guide them to build and operate reliable, right-sized, contained networks for conferences and events - in turn, boosting ROI as well as a propertys reputation as a preferred venue of choice. The return of events and meetings represent a tremendous opportunity for the industry to make up for lost revenue, and hoteliers need to ensure that they put their best foot forward in addressing modern connectivity needs at scale, said Mark Holzberg, President and CEO at Cloud5 Communications. Cloud5 looks forward to providing industry professionals with the essential insights and support they need to ensure that each event they host is successful and leads to revenue growth. Cloud5s Conference Services are designed to help hotels and resorts sidestep guesswork and common network challenges, quickly scale up or down to deliver on events of all sizes, successfully bridge gaps between AV partners and internal IT capabilities, and provide a seamless, fast, and reliable online experience that delivers on attendee and meeting planner expectations. Cloud5s Conference Services offerings include: Technical and Conference Support Services with direct access to expert network engineers who are available prior to, during and following an event to provide network assessments, design, and pre-event consultation, ensuring that allocated bandwidth is sufficient, and networks seamlessly perform without issue. Engineers can continuously oversee event network performance and provide real-time feedback and take actions to optimize the quality of network connections and meet any specific requirements of event groups and attendees. Cloud5 engineers can be assigned to provide exclusive support to a specific event, either remotely or onsite. with direct access to who are available prior to, during and following an event to provide network assessments, design, and pre-event consultation, ensuring that allocated bandwidth is sufficient, and networks seamlessly perform without issue. Engineers can continuously oversee event network performance and provide real-time feedback and take actions to optimize the quality of network connections and meet any specific requirements of event groups and attendees. Cloud5 engineers can be assigned to provide exclusive support to a specific event, either remotely or onsite. Effortless network redesign that can include the installation of new switches, cabling, and access points, depending on event network requirements and goals. Once an event has taken place, Cloud5 is also available to reset network infrastructure if a property requires a re-balancing of its available resources. that can include the installation of new switches, cabling, and access points, depending on event network requirements and goals. Once an event has taken place, Cloud5 is also available to reset network infrastructure if a property requires a re-balancing of its available resources. Custom Packages to support the unique needs of large and/or long-term events. To schedule a meeting with Cloud5 at booth #2225 during HITEC Orlando exhibition hours, please contact Jamie Murphy by emailing [email protected]. About Cloud5 Communications Cloud5 is the leading communications technology and services provider to customer-centric brands across the Americas. The company's fast, reliable Internet solutions and flexible voice systems enhance the guest experience and resident satisfaction at more than 5,000 hotels, MDUs, and commercial facilities. Cloud5's award-winning Contact Center combines innovation with skilled agents to deliver sales and service that add value across any channel. The company's comprehensive Managed IT services include Vendor Management, Dispatch & Onsite Support, Help Desk Support, Virtual Guest Services and more to help customers control operating costs and free up internal resources. For more information visit cloud5.com or call 877.241.2516. Mark Howbrook PR Manager ORLANDO, Fla. Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems and guest-centric technology, and the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, today released the results of a study on U.S. traveler sentiments on attribute based shopping. The report concluded that moving from Traditional Hotel Shopping (THS) to Attribute Based Shopping (ABS) is likely to increase traveler value, price transparency, and satisfaction, critical for hoteliers success in a post-pandemic era characterized by new cost, service and guest satisfaction challenges. The report surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. travelers to better understand their views on booking hotel rooms through a more customized booking process with Attribute Based Shopping. Key findings from the study include: ABS creates greater transparency - A large majority (85 percent) of survey respondents indicated that booking rooms as they do currently, via THS, creates levels of uncertainty that the rooms delivered will contain the features most important to them. Nearly a quarter of respondents also believe that Attribute Based Shopping will improve price transparency when booking a guest room, while 21 percent indicated it can improve the clarity of guest room descriptions. ABS builds value More than 60 percent of travelers find value in the ability to customize a guest room via ABS. A large portion (63 percent) of travelers who pay $251 or more per night, as well as 48 percent of those who pay between $151 and $250 per night, are willing to pay more for preferred room features with ABS. ABS and Guest Personalization Respondents overwhelmingly indicated that ABS would improve personalization, with 78 percent saying it would provide features tailored to my preferences, and 75 percent indicating that a room booked via ABS would likely be designed specifically for my needs. A further 56 percent of respondents indicated it would be a convenient way to ensure their most desired amenities and room elements are available and factored into their booking. Were pleased to share the results of this report with the industry, in partnership with NYU SPS Tisch Center, said Michael Heflin, chief revenue officer at Stayntouch. We believe it is path-breaking in many respects, not least because it establishes a definitive link between traveler preferences and the move toward Attribute-Based Shopping, which has been high on the agenda of hotel industry leaders for at least ten years. With this validation, Stayntouch looks forward to continuing to spearhead innovation to bring true ABS closer to reality. We are proud to stand alongside Stayntouch in showcasing the results of our collaborative report on traveler sentiment into Attribute-Based Shopping, a technology that will transform the booking process for the better, said Vanja Bogicevic, a clinical assistant professor at the Tisch Center and the director of the HI Hub Experiential Learning Lab. Here at HITEC Orlando, we are excited to discuss the findings of the study, in addition to the ways ABS is continuing to revolutionize hospitality. Further detail on the reports findings can be accessed by visiting this link and by attending a special briefing on the report at HITEC 2022. The session, titled The Future of Booking: Presenting Traveler Sentiments on Attribute Based Shopping, will discuss insights from the study authored by Vanja Bogicevic, PhD; Owen Wexman; and Justin DeRise, and examine how emerging technologies will influence the future of the hotel booking experience and guest personalization. Speakers at the panel will include Carolyn Fredey, Tisch Center adjunct professor & area director, revenue management advisory services for Marriott International; Michael Heflin, chief revenue officer at Stayntouch; Klaus Kohlmayr, chief evangelist & development officer at IDeaS; and Safet Dokara, director of operations at the Valencia Hotel Group. Download the full report: Traveler Sentiments on Attribute-Based Shopping About Stayntouch Stayntouch provides a cloud-native, guest-centric, and fully mobile hotel property management system (PMS) and over 1100+ integrations, enabling hotels to raise service levels, drive revenues, reduce costs, and ultimately captivate their guests. Backed by a team of professionals with deep roots in the hospitality industry, Stayntouch is a trusted partner to many forward-thinking hotels and resorts, including the TWA Hotel, First Hotels, Conscious Hotels, Margaritaville, Valencia Hotel Group, and Modus Hotels. Stayntouch is also a preferred PMS partner to some of the leading independent hotel collections around the world including; Design Hotels, an Independent Marriott Brand, and Curator Hotel & Resort Collection. Visit Stayntouch at www.stayntouch.com. About NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality The NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality is a leading center for the study of hospitality, travel, and tourism. Founded in 1995, the Tisch Center was established in response to the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education. Its cutting-edge curricula attract bright, motivated students who seek to become leaders in their fields. The Tisch Center recently launched the Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub) that will foster entrepreneurship and creative solutions for the industries it serves. The state-of-the-art facilities offer students, start-ups, established industry partners, and investors opportunities to learn, discover, innovate, and invest. For more information about the NYU SPS Jonathan M.Tisch Center of Hospitality, visit sps.nyu.edu/tisch. Elliott Mest MFC PR In overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court presented corporate America with a question that may prove uncomfortable for big companies headquartered in states such as Texas, where abortion has effectively been banned. Several national companies including Disney, Goldman Sachs, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook reacted the Dobbs v Jackson ruling handed down Friday by announcing that they would reimburse the cost of employees who need to travel out of state to access abortion care. Companies including Apple, Amazon, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, SalesForce, Bumble and Levis had already announced similar policies, in anticipation of such a ruling or after draconian restrictions on abortion were adopted by states such as Texas, which last year banned virtually all abortions after the six-week mark of pregnancy. On HoustonChronicle.com: How Houston abortion clinics plan to pivot post Roe But many Houston companies have not been forthcoming about whether they will modify their benefits to help employees get access to reproductive health services. We do not have a comment on this issue, said Kinder Morgan, contacted by the Houston Chronicle on Monday. "We decline to contribute at this time, said EOG Services, an oil and gas company. We have no comment on this, said Hines, the real estate firm. The Supreme Court ruling that struck down Roe left the question of legal abortion to states. About half the states, including Texas, are set to ban abortion, if they havent already. The Chronicle on Monday contacted 40 of Houstons biggest companies, and only eight, including those that declined comment, responded. Companies that did not respond included oil majors Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, oil field services company Halliburton, and food services company Sysco. ABORTION RULING: A law professor dove into the opinions overturning Roe. Read her notes. Hewlett Packard Enterprise, based in Spring, said the company would continue to cover travel and lodging costs for out-of-state medical care, including abortion services. Our @HPE values compel us to stand up for a womans right to choose, said CEO Antonio Neri on Twitter the day after the Dobbs ruling. Restricting a womans ability and choices in obtaining health care is inequitable and harmful to the advancement of women. In a statement, the company added, We believe people of good will can disagree on matters of policy, and everyone is entitled to his or her personal beliefs. But, as a company, we must stand for unconditional inclusion and for the continual advancement of an equitable workplace. A similar policy is in place at Phillips 66. The refiner said its medical plans cover includes travel and lodging expenses for specialized care not available in a patients local geographic area, adding that its benefits include reproductive healthcare, adoption assistance and surrogacy support. On HoustonChronicle.com: Abortions wont stop post Roe. But they will be more expensive, harder to access Our commitment to our people recognizes that the decisions our employees make about their own health care are personal, Phillips 66 spokesperson added. Experts say no Texas laws prohibit companies from paying for travel for abortion services. A 2017 state law limits the extent to which conventional insurance companies can cover elective abortion, but makes no mention of travel. I dont see they currently have liability if they pay for travel expenses for a lawful, out-of-state abortion, said Seth J. Chandler, a professor at the University of Houston Law Center. Whether companies decide to pay for travel expenses may have something to do with how it will affect their ability to attract talent, Chandler said. THE IMPACT: Texas abortion funds freeze indefinitely as Supreme Court shakes landscape There is an issue of how you would attract employees, if there is a type of health care they perceive they may need is illegal, Chandler said. One vehicle for companies to overcome that reluctance is to say, Well pay for your travel. Schlumberger, the worlds biggest oil field services company, said it is still considering how it may adjust its health care policies for its U.S. employees following the Supreme Court ruling. Houston is one of Schlumbergers four principal offices, and the company employs nearly 8,000 here, according to a Houston Chronicle survey. Our health care benefits in the United States have included and will continue to include coverage for required and elective procedures, the company said in a statement. We will continue to ensure equal access to these benefits, regardless of an employees location. Over 100,000 new business applications were filed in Harris County in 2021, breaking the previous record set a year prior. The U.S. Census Bureau released its county-level Business Formation Statistics on Thursday, showing that Harris County's growth swelled by 28 percent last year, from 82,721 in 2020 to 105,787. The boom in new business applications continues a trend that picked up during the pandemic, when layoffs and uncertainty about future unemployment may have nudged more people to take their working lives into their own hands. Harris's growth mimicked the statewide growth rate of 28 percent. Of the largest Texas counties, only Travis Countys 36 percent was ahead of Harris in growth rate from the previous year. Harris County's entrepreneurial spirit was only outperformed by a few others in the state in 2021. Harris filed 22.6 applications per 1,000 residents, landing the county in 5th place for Texas. Fort Bend County topped the list with a rate of 25.7 filed applications, and Travis, Dallas, and Collin counties rounded out positions two through four. Statewide figures show that not all of these newly formed businesses plan on hiring employees. Census Bureau data shows that only about a third of applications filed in Texas are for businesses likely to have a payroll. The rest include individuals who are self-employed or work gig-economy jobs. The Census Bureau determines the total number of new business applications by looking at the number of Employee Identification Numbers assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to new businesses. National-, regional- and state-level data are released monthly and weekly, while county-level data is released annually. WASHINGTON - The U.S. energy industry added 300,000 jobs last year, driven largely by growth in clean energy technology as the oil and gas sector faltered, according to a new report from the Department of Energy. The solar industry added more than 17,000 jobs, a 5.4 percent jump. Jobs producing electric and hybrid vehicles and parts increased 25 percent, with more than 45,000 new jobs. Meanwhile the oil and gas industry lost more than 31,000 jobs, a 6.4 percent decline. Even with the decline in oil jobs,Texas added more than 30,000 energy jobs last year, the most of any state except Michigan, with its large automobile manufacturing sector. RELATED: Granholms meeting with oil executives productive but produces no agreement on gasoline supplies "Energy jobs are growing faster than the economy as a whole, notably jobs in renewables like solar and wind," said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. "The jobs are growing in industries we need to support a 100 percent clean power sector." Driving last year's oil sector job losses was continued low crude prices coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic. But with public health restrictions now loosened and economies clamoring for oil, crude prices are up more than 50 percent since the beginning of the year, with the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate trading for almost $110 per barrel Monday. The Energy Department is projecting jobs in the fuels sector, which includes oil and gas, coal and biofuels, will grow by 3 percent this year. Granholm said as the economy shifts towards clean energy, jobs in the oil and gas sector would inevitably decline. But with fuel prices at historic highs, for now those jobs remained necessary. "We need to have supply meet demand and that's the bottom line," she said. "Most project there will be a demand curve (for oil and gas) that comes down, and this transition will happen. But we want to make sure it happens in a way that is managed and orderly and doesn't injure people at the pump." Other sectors of the energy industry that saw job declines in 2021 were coal extraction, down 11.8 percent, and nuclear power, down 4.2 percent. Wind energy companies added more 3,300 new jobs, a 2.9 percent increase. Jobs in the biofuels sector grew 6.7 percent, with almost 1,200 new jobs. And the energy efficiency sector added more than 57,000 jobs, a 3.3 percent increase. Chevron is offering to pay for California employees to voluntarily relocate to Houston and is selling its San Ramon headquarters campus, as the companys center of gravity continues to shift to Texas. Last week Chevron confirmed it will remain in California, but it is inviting employees to move to Houston as it puts its 92-acre corporate campus in San Ramon on the market and plans to move its headquarters offices into a smaller leased office spaces elsewhere in the region. The 1.4 million square-foot campus is about 35 miles east of San Francisco. It's still a question though of how many of its 2,000 employees in San Ramon would actually make the move. Chevron isnt requiring employees to move to Texas, but its offer to cover employees relocation is another sign that Houston is a primary center of operations for the oil major. Chevron has about 8,000 employees in the Houston area, including about 6,000 employees in downtown Houston. Chevrons real estate shuffle was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The energy firm has roughly 3 million square feet of office space in downtown Houston spread across three buildings. Chevron also owns two office buildings in northwest Houston that it picked up after it acquired Noble Energy. One of those 438,000 square-foot building represented one of the largest blocks of sublease office spaces available in Houston area as of the first quarter 2022, according to real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. In the past year, Chevron also moved into a leased small office space in The Ion, Rice Management Co.s startup incubator in Midtown Houston. In February, Chevron started requiring office-based employees to physically commute to the office at least three days a week. One of the primary reasons that we felt strongly that it was the right thing to eventually come back is we believe that every company has to preserve a strong culture and that comes from collaboration, face-to-face feedback and our ability to interact with each other on a human (level). We strongly believe that contributes to better business outcomes, Steve Green, president of Chevron North America, in a March interview. Ive heard more and more people had forgotten all the positive things from being together, like the ability to go to lunch with someone, the ability to walk out of the building to go to a different restaurant, the ability to collaborate fact-to-face on a business issue, or to ask a short question without having to jockey for positions on a calendar for a Teams or Zoom call. As the biggest private employer in downtown Houston, Chevrons return-to-office was a major boost in assisting downtown Houstons economic recovery from the pandemic. Green, however, said the company has continued to see value in allowing for some flexibility. We did learn some things working remotely that we very much want to preserve, Green said. Long-term it will be less necessary for people to travel for a 2-hour meeting (for example). The pandemic has shifted companys physical office space needs as more firms adopt hybrid strategies both in Houston and the Bay Area. Chevron is among numerous Bay Area companies that have sought to cut office space during the pandemic, including Wells Fargo, Salesforce and Airbnb. In Houston, where the oil price crash early in the pandemic hit the energy industry, many energy firms moved to shed office space too. Halliburton has said it has cut its real estate footprint in Houston by about 30 percent since the start of the pandemic. Exxon, Schlumberger, EP Energy and Petroleum Geo Services also put large blocks of sublease space on the market at the end of last year, according to research from the real estate firmCushman and Wakefield. Additionally last quarter Engie put sublease space on the market in the Galleria and BP put its 76,600 square-foot on WestLake Park Boulevard on the market for sublease, according to Cushman & Wakefield. EARLIER: Why $100 oil won't unleash an office boom in Houston Even as oil prices rebounded, energy firms aren't all jumping to expand their office spaces even as many do commit to long-term leases. Enbridge is halving its office footprint as it moves its employees to McDermott International tower in the Energy Corridor from the Galleria next month. And Exxon is selling its former headquarters campus in Irving, Texas after moving its headquarters officially to Houston. Although many California companies have relocated to Texas during the pandemic - from Tesla to Oracle and Hewlett Packard Enterprises - Chevron has maintained it plans to headquartered in the Golden State. The current real estate market provides the opportunity to right-size our office space to meet the requirements of our headquarters-based employee population, the company said in a statement. Chevron will remain headquartered in California, where the company has a 140-year history and operations and partnerships throughout the state. Chevrons roots in San Francisco stretch to Pacific Coast Oil Co. in 1879, a company that was later part of John D. Rockefellers corporate juggernaut Standard Oil. For three and a half decades, Chevron was headquartered on Market Street before moving its headquarters in 2001 to San Ramon. The company also has a major refinery in Richmond, Calif. with more than 3,000 workers. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Roland Li contributed. A new master-planned community could bring more than 2,000 new homes to one of the fastest growing counties in the Houston metro. Starwood Land, a Florida-based residential real estate firm, has teamed with Houston-based developer Land Tejas on a new master-planned community on 933-acres in southwest Fort Bend County. Called Starbridge, the community is planned near the intersection of Highway 59 and Doris Road in Beasley, about 41 miles southwest of downtown Houston near Rosenberg. Work is underway on the initial phase of Starbridge, which includes 815 homes across 375 acres, Starwood Land said. The first homes are expected to be available for purchase later in 2023 and into early 2024. Fort Bend County continues to be a very popular destination for homeowners, John Brian, east region president of Starwood Land, said in a statement. Starbridge will include many of Houstons top homebuilders, a variety of family-oriented amenities and a well-planned community design. Land Tejas has developed some of Houstons finest communities, and Starbridge will continue that legacy. On HoustonChronicle.com: What are Houston homes worth now? We break down the data. Land Tejas is developing the roads, utilities and other infrastructure on the site over the next several months, with the goal of turning over the first phase of developed lots to homebuilders early next year. Starwood said the project is in its early phases and it has yet to announce homebuilders or settle on floor plans and prices. Starwood Land has developed more than 90 communities in 10 states, including Harpers Preserve in Montgomery County north of Houston. Starwood acquired the land in Beasley about 18 months ago and it is financing for the development of Starbridge. Starbridge will add more homes to a county in the middle of a residential real estate development boom. The countys population soared nearly 47 percent in the past decade, hitting an estimated 858,527 residents by July 2021, according to the Census Bureau. Officials in Fort Bend County expect the countys population to eclipse 1.1 million residents by 2030, reaching 1.44 million residents by 2050, according to estimates by Woods & Poole, a demographic data consultancy in Washington. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houstons suburbs used to be a place to go for affordable homes. Not anymore, data suggests. Real estate developers have taken note of the population projections. In Richmond, near the center of the county, Johnson Development earlier this year said would add some 117 acres to accommodate more homes in its master-planned community Candela, as well as adding several hundred home sites to its Harvest Green community. Richmond also is where apartment developer Camden Property Trust has proposed a 16-acre build-to-rent single-family home community near the master-planned communities of Aliana and Long Meadow Farms. Elsewhere in Fort Bend County, Johnson Development also unveiled plans for a new 1,258-acre master-planned community in Fulshear. Separately The Signorelli Company has also proposed a 4,700-acre master-planned community, called Austin Point that could eventually encompass 14,000 single-family homes if fully built out. The new developments come as the suburbs are increasingly losing ground on affordability, forcing more homebuyers to drive even farther out of the city metro to be able to afford homes, according to a recent study from Rice Universitys the Kinder Institute, In Beasley where Starbridge is planned the typical home value is about $267,724, according to Zillow data. Thats more affordable than homes in pricier parts of Fort Bend County but still a 36 percent jump from a year ago, compared to a 23 percent increase in the Houston metropolitan area, according to Zillow. marissa.luck@chron.com,twitter.com/marissaluck7 To get into Houstons newest exclusive cocktail bar, you must make a reservation, limit your drinking to 90 minutes and plan to sip the citys priciest drinks Thursday through Saturday only. The 20-seat Bandista, tucked away in an enclave within Four Seasons Hotel Houston, represents a posh, ultra-refined example of Houstons growing appetite for hidden speakeasy-style restaurants and cocktail lairs. Getting inside Bandista is part of the hidden process. Snagging a reservation is tricky and may take several shots, given the precious few spots available. Once passage is secured, guests meet a staff member in the hotel lobby and are directed to a special elevator up to the third floor and through Toro Toro restaurant to an anteroom outfitted with a special bookcase. That bookshelf is actually the door to Bandista. Push it and youre inside the low-lit space where chummy bartenders working with top-shelf liquor concoct specialty cocktails, with razzle-dazzle garnishes, served in antique stemware. Its a unique and expensive experience. A gin/vodka Vesper cocktail is priced at $32, although it does come with side dish on which rests a wee spoonful of caviar and a frozen shower of liquid nitrogen truffle cream. The house French 75 will set you back $35, and the Manhattan is an eyebrow-raising $45. Those are examples of 1920s cocktails. The 2020s side of the list includes modern elixirs such as Fig Daisy (rum, tea, fig jam, lime and bitters), Viking Funeral (single-malt scotch, sherry, amaro, honey, vermouth and cherry bark vanilla bitters) and Sparkling Courage (gin, raspberry, Aperol, lemon and champagne). Here are some of Houstons other hidden spots. Hidden Omakase There are only two seatings per night (Thursday through Saturday) at this 18-seat sushi bar chef counter presided over by chef Niki Vongthong, working with ingredients sourced from Japan. The multicourse dinners, including impeccable nigiri, have sent Houston foodies aflutter. But first you have to find the restaurant. Theres no sign, so look for the storefront lined with old comic books in the Galleria-area shopping mall. 5353 W. Alabama; hiddenomakase.com Pattons The owners of Savoir in the Heights had some fun creating their new steakhouse. They hid the 38-seat venue behind the bar, with a wine-cellar entrance. Step through and youre in a moody, leather banquette-lined chamber brightened by the soft glow of chandeliers and table lamps. Tuck into beef carpaccio, Waldorf salad, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, and rib-eye and New York strip cuts washed down with big martinis and bold wines. 1344 Yale; pattonsheights.com Lees Den Atop Local Foods Market in Rice Village, this intimate wine lounge has a food menu that includes dishes such as pistachio-whipped goat cheese with date jam and flat bread; spinach dip with hearts of palm; sesame ginger meatballs; and buttered bread with smoked trout roe. Access is from Local Foods or through an entrance on the east side of the building. 2424 Dunstan; leesdenhtx.com Juliet Theatrical flair accompanied the premier of Juliet, a new cinema-inspired restaurant in the Galleria area, when it debuted in February. Its entrance is a movie theater marquee, beyond which is a mock movie lobby decorated with a candy counter and popcorn machine. Behind the curtain is the dining room, decorated with black-and-white movie stills. The menu is upscale steakhouse stuff, including an Oscar-worthy tomahawk rib-eye wrapped in 24-karat gold leaf. 5857 Westheimer; juliethtx.com Parlour Hideaway Parlour Hideaway isnt open to the public, but if youre planning a special party for up to 65 guests, this chic new space, designed by Kate Rohrer of Philadelphias ROHE Creative, might fit the bill. The boite behind a hidden door near the Lobby Bar of downtowns C. Baldwin hotel features leather settees and velvet slipper chairs set against botanical wallpaper-clad walls. A marble fireplace, a pink bar and 8-foot crystal chandelier fill the space. Theres also a menu from chef Chris Cosentino of Rosalie Italian that includes nibbles such as Texas wagyu tartare, Parmesan gougeres, and bacalao fritters. 400 Dallas; cbaldwinhotel.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Lightning struck a League City home during Monday night's thunderstorms and caused multiple fires to erupt and destroy the home, according to the League City Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters were dispatched to the two-story home in the Victory Lakes subdivisions at 10:01 p.m., according to the department. When crews arrived, the fire was venting from the roof and was so rampant that League City had to call for additional help from seven other agencies to assist, including fire departments in Kemah, Forest Bend, Nassau Bay, Webster, Dickinson, Santa Fe and Bacliff, according to the LCVFD Facebook page. NEWS IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for breaking news email alerts from HoustonChronicle.com here The fire hydrant across the street from the fire reportedly broke away causing a minor injury to one of the firefighters and a loss of their water supply. "League City Fire Chief Michael Lugo then pulled everyone out of the house and crews used their ladder truck to flow water from the outside to knock down a lot of the fire," spokesperson Nora Garcia said via email Tuesday. Crew extinguished the fire at 12:24 a.m., according to the post. LCVFD reported that all occupants of the home and pets were safely evacuated from the home, and crews were able to salvage some of the homeowner's valuables. There were no reported injuries. Currently, League City's Public Works Department is investigating what caused the hydrant to break away and plan to replace it, according to Garcia. In 2021, Texas led all states in the total number of pulses at more than 69.4 million and more than 5.59 million cloud to ground strikes, followed by Florida, Kansas, and Oklahoma, according to a recent lightning report by AEM/Earth Networks, which details the full scope of U.S. lightning activity. At a Tuesday news conference, U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, slammed the Texas Republican Party for taking the most infamous political U-turn in history and called, once again, upon the states business leaders to speak out against gun violence. The Republican Party has lost its way and desires to go back to a future that doesnt exist, Green said. This is not the Wild Wild West. We resolve our disputes with a ballot not a bullet. At the Texas GOP Convention this weekend, the party proposed a far-right platform which rejects the results of the 2020 presidential election, declares opposition to LGBTQ people, and calls for the abolition of abortion rights and the Federal Reserve. In addition to dubbing homosexuality an abnormal lifestyle choice and endorsing conversion therapy, this years platform also said that Texas retains the right to secede from the United States, and the Texas Legislature should be called upon to pass a referendum consistent thereto. This will take us back to the past when transgender people had no rights, when voting rights for minorities were trampled upon, Green said. This would take us back to before Texas became part of the Union in December 1845. This would take us back to before the Voting Rights Act became law in 1965. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was booed onstage for working with Democrats to reform gun laws. The bipartisan gun legislation would toughen background checks on gun buyers younger than 21. When you say no to gun safety laws, and that it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun, you are literally saying that were going to solve our disputes with guns, Green said. Thats what you see happening now, many young people and people in general are resolving their disputes with guns. This will take us back to July 11, 1804, when Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. GOP delegates argued that those under 21 were most likely to be victims and may need to quickly buy guns. Our society is governed by meritocracy, not by looks, said Green. The position the Republican Party is extolling is largely based on racist views that reward the good ol boys club white, straight men and penalize anyone else who does not fit the standards of that physicality. Some convention attendees called Cornyn a RINO (Republican in name only). Missouri GOP Senate candidate Eric Greitens released a controversial campaign ad on Monday in which he and a group of armed men in combat gear are seen hunting RINOs. Green slammed the ad for inciting political violence, stating that free speech did not mean sending messages that certain people should be killed. People who in your opinion are Republicans in name only have a right to be Republicans in name only, Green said. You have no right to indicate that these persons can be harmed and made to suffer. Are we now in a society where we want to resolve issues with long guns, hunting people down? Where the quickest draw wins? This is not the America that we have fought for. Green entreated Houstons organized business community to take a firm stand against gun violence, reiterating they had the ear and respect of policymakers. Youve been their supporters, they listen to you, Green said. Its time for you to send a message that you wont tolerate having weapons of war in the hands of 18 year olds. Weve reached a point now where nobody can be on the sidelines, because our countrys democracy and our way of life is at risk. juhi.varma@hcnonline.com MADRID (AP) Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, ending an impasse that had clouded a leaders summit opening in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades, triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent top-level talks with leaders of the three countries, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. He called it a historic decision. Among its many shattering consequences, President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status and apply to join NATO as protection against an increasingly aggressive and unpredictable Russia which shares a long border with Finland. Under NATO treaties, an attack on any member would be considered an attack against all and trigger a military response by the entire alliance. NATO operates by consensus, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to block the Nordic pair, insisting they change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. After weeks of diplomacy and hours of talks on Tuesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the three leaders had signed a joint agreement to break the logjam. Turkey said it had got what it wanted including full cooperation ... in the fight against the rebel groups. Stoltenberg said leaders of the 30-nation alliance will issue a formal invitation to the two countries to join on Wednesday. The decision has to be ratified by all individual nations, but he said he was absolutely confident Finland and Sweden would become members, something that could happen within months. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said the agreement was good for Finland and Sweden. And its good for NATO. She said completing the process of membership should be done the sooner the better. But there are 30 parliaments that need to approve this and you never know, Andersson told the Associated Press. Turkey hailed Tuesdays agreement as a triumph, saying the Nordic nations had agreed to crack down on groups that Ankara deems national security threats, including the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its Syrian extension. It said they also agreed not to impose embargo restrictions in the field of defense industry on Turkey and to take concrete steps on the extradition of terrorist criminals. Turkey has demanded that Finland and Sweden extradite wanted individuals and lift arms restrictions imposed after Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northeast Syria. Turkey, in turn, agreed to support at the 2022 Madrid Summit the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. Details of exactly what was agreed were unclear. Amineh Kakabaveh, an independent Swedish lawmaker of Kurdish origin whose support the government depends on for a majority in Parliament, said it was worrisome that Sweden isnt revealing what promises it has given Erdogan. Andersson dismissed suggestions Sweden and Finland had conceded too much. Asked if the Swedish public will see the agreement as a concession on issues like extraditions of Kurdish militants regarded by Ankara as terrorists, Andersson said they will see that this is good for the security of Sweden. U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the three nations on taking a crucial step. Amid speculation about a U.S. role in ending the deadlock, a senior administration official said Washington did not offer any concessions to Turkey to coax it to accept a deal. But the official said the U.S. played a crucial role in helping bring the two parties closer together, and Biden spoke with Erdogan Tuesday morning at the behest of Sweden and Finland to help encourage the talks. The agreement came at the opening of a crucial summit, dominated by Russias invasion of Ukraine, that will set the course of the alliance for the coming years. The summit was kicking off with a leaders' dinner hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI at the 18th-century Royal Palace of Madrid. Top of the agenda in meetings Wednesday and Thursday is strengthening defenses against Russia, and supporting Ukraine. Moscows invasion on Feb. 24 shook European security and brought shelling of cities and bloody ground battles back to the continent. NATO, which had begun to turn its focus to terrorism and other non-state threats, has had to confront an adversarial Russia once again. Biden said NATO was as united and galvanized as I think we have ever been. A Russian missile strike Monday on a shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was a grim reminder of the wars horrors. Some saw the timing, as Group of Seven leaders met in Germany and just ahead of the NATO gathering, as a message from Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is due to address NATO leaders by video on Wednesday, called the strike on the mall a terrorist act. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko traveled to Madrid to urge the alliance to provide his country with whatever it takes to stop the war. Wake up, guys. This is happening now. You are going to be next, this is going to be knocking on your door just in the blink of an eye, Klitschko told reporters at the summit venue. Stoltenberg said the meeting would chart a blueprint for the alliance in a more dangerous and unpredictable world and that meant we have to invest more in our defense, Stoltenberg said. Just nine of NATOs 30 members meet the organizations target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Spain, which is hosting the summit, spends just half that. Stoltenberg said Monday that NATO allies will agree at the summit to increase the strength of the alliances rapid reaction force nearly eightfold, from 40,000 to 300,000 troops. The troops will be based in their home nations, but dedicated to specific countries on NATOs eastern flank, where the alliance plans to build up stocks of equipment and ammunition. Beneath the surface, there are tensions within NATO over how the war will end and what, if any, concessions Ukraine should make to end the fighting. There are also differences on how hard a line to take on China in NATOs new Strategic Concept its once-a-decade set of priorities and goals. The last document, published in 2010, didn't mention China at all. The new concept is expected to set out NATOs approach on issues from cybersecurity to climate change and the growing economic and military reach of China, and the rising importance and power of the Indo-Pacific region. For the first time, the leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand are attending the summit as guests. Some European members are wary of the tough U.S. line on Beijing and dont want China cast as an opponent. In the Strategic Concept, NATO is set to declare Russia its number one threat. Russias state space agency, Roscosmos marked the summits opening by releasing satellite images and coordinates of the Madrid conference hall where it is being held, along with those of the White House, the Pentagon and the government headquarters in London, Paris and Berlin. The agency said NATO was set to declare Russia an enemy at the summit, adding that it was publishing precise coordinates just in case. ___ Associated Press Writers Aritz Parra, Ciaran Giles, Sylvie Corbet and Zeke Miller in Madrid, Karl Ritter in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany and Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul contributed. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina businesswoman has been arrested in separate instances on charges stemming from complaints by elderly customers about her car repair shop, police said. Roanoke Rapids police said Vivian Pompliano, 59, is facing three new counts of exploitation of elder/disabled person, a month after she was arrested following a complaint from an elderly woman that her late husbands car was being held at the shop for minor repairs, news outlets reported. Houston Chronicle Three people were arrested Saturday and charged with kidnapping seven people from a Tomball group home, according to Tomball Police Department. Ebony Nikkisha Polk, 46; Henry Wayne Polk, 46; and Ganae Christine Segura, 49, were arrested on June 25, according to a press release. Each was charged with seven counts of kidnapping, according to police. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A pioneering jurist and a veteran news breaker captured attention anew this week. Judge Darrell Jordan of Harris County's misdemeanor bench was arrested in connection with a 2020 spat that ended with media consultant Wayne Dolcefino being jailed for his conduct in the judge's court. There are a lot of big personalities involved. Both of the men are strong-willed and outspoken and have taken public stands on hot-button issues. JUDGE JORDAN: Harris County misdemeanor court judge arrested, charged with official oppression Here's everything to know about the two Houston personalities and their latest headline-grabbing spat: What happened between Judge Darrell Jordan and Wayne Dolcefino? The judge was charged this week with unlawfully arresting and detaining Dolcefino following an incident in which the ex-reporter demanded an interview with the judge during court on June 30, 2020. Jordan repeatedly warned the consultant not to interrupt court proceedings, according to court documents. When he did not stop, Jordan held Dolcefino in contempt. A grand jury determined that Jordan should be indicted for wrongfully holding Dolcefino in contempt or subjecting him to summary punishment and jail without a hearing. Dolcefino was convicted and sentenced to three days in Harris County Jail, six months of probation and a $500 fine. An appeals court ultimately tossed his conviction. The new charges were bolstered by video evidence Dolcefino obtained by wearing a hidden camera during the 2020 hearing. Who is Judge Darrell Jordan? Jordan, 46, first made headlines in 2015 when he was appointed as part of a panel of special prosecutors to investigate Sandra Bland's arrest and death in Waller County in 2015. Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle Then a criminal attorney, the protege of Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis began serving as a criminal court-at-law judge in Harris County in 2017. His arrival on the county misdemeanor court coincided with early hearings in the ODonnell case, a federal civil rights suit challenging the way Harris County treated people detained in its jails. He was the only Democratic judge on the 16-person misdemeanor courts for the bulk of that case, and he took a firm stand -- all by himself for a while -- against the use of cash bail for defendants too poor to afford it. The federal judge in that case ultimately ruled that the system in place in Harris County violated the constitution by detaining people based on whether they could come up with bail money. BAIL BOND ISSUE: Harris County officials pass bail measure requiring 10 percent fees by defendants For several years, he has spoken at conferences and training sessions around the country about myths, realities and constitutional underpinnings of bail reform. When Beto O'Rourke's Senate bid led to a "blue wave" in county government in 2018, Jordan suddenly was surrounded by Democrats. He and the new judges revised who could qualify for "general order bonds," and the bail case was resolved in a landmark settlement. Jordan also backed the civil rights lawyers in the filing of a federal lawsuit in 2019 challenging the county's felony bail system. Jordan has indicated his conflict with Harris County District Attorney Ogg began with his concerns over the way she ran her office and made decisions about who to prosecute. It boiled over into his courtroom, where Jordan confronted Ogg's staff over their behavior in his court. Jordan was admonished in May by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and ordered to do additional training in a separate incident. The commission found Jordan threatened to charge at least prosecutor with contempt of court for failing to show him the proper respect and in October 2018 he summoned several prosecutors to his chambers to talk about disrespect he was feeling. Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle Ogg's office filed a complaint with the judicial commission in Austin, asserting he'd been unprofessional. The commission said Jordan referred to himself in that meeting as the king of his court and the assistant district attorneys as hang-em-high prosecutors. Jordan recently returned from overseas duty in the Middle East with the Army National Guard. He has served in the Army for more than 20 years, including as a captain in with Judge Advocate General, or JAG Corps. According to a 2017 profile in Houstonia, Jordan grew up shutting between his mother's home in Columbia, Mo., and his fathers in Albany, Ga. He was poor, lived in homeless shelters and spent time in a child-abuse shelter, the magazine reported. His mother, uncles and younger brother were all incarcerated at various points in time. His own experiences with police profiling and overreach made him want to become a lawyer, according to Houstonia. MORE ON JUDGE JORDAN: Judge who referred to himself as king of court admonished for lashing out against prosecutors He studied at the University of Missouri and got his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Who is Wayne Dolcefino? Dolcefino, 65, bills himself at his consulting firm's website as "one of the nations most decorated journalists." When he left journalism in 2012, the Houston Chronicle dubbed him "arguably the most controversial and most accomplished investigative reporter in the recent annals of Houston television." Dolcefino has 30 Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow award, three medals from Investigative Reporters and Editors, as well as honors from the Associated Press and Texas Association of Broadcasters. Cody Duty/Staff In terms of his journalism career, Dolcefino breaks it into two phases. First, he lived through what he called his "Hurricane Wayne" era, when he covered storms along the Gulf Coast. Then came his "13 Undercover" phase where he filed pieces on the "cocaine trail" from South America to Houston and improper conduct by city, county and school district employees. He ultimately ran undercover investigations for ABC13 KTRK for nearly 27 years and drew attention with his flashy presentation. He would march into schools on camera to show how poor their security was or slice up a pie and have coins popping out of it to demonstrate how people were getting rich off government money. If he was covering the Port of Houston, he might show up in a Hawaiian shirt. His focus was "exposing public corruption, wasted taxpayer money, government malfeasance and fraud," his site says. He previously worked as an investigative radio reporter. Many credit Dolcefino with tanking Sylvester Turners first bid for Houston mayor in 1991. Dolcefino's broadcasts implied Turner may have been involved in an attempted multimillion dollar insurance scam involving a man who faked his own death. The man was a client of Turner's, Sylvester Foster, who reportedly drowned in 1986 while sailing near Galveston, but was, it turned out, still alive. The report devastated Turner, all but torpedoing his chances at the mayor's office, the Chronicle reported. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Turner sued Dolcefino and KTRK for libel. A Harris County jury found the broadcast false and awarded Turner $5.5 million. The award and verdict were overturned on appeal and the Texas Supreme Court found that while "Turner established that the broadcast as a whole was false and defamatory... he failed to present clear and convincing evidence of actual malice." CHANGE OF PACE: Wayne Dolcefino ready for his second act Years later, Dolcefino put his name in for election, coming close to winning a bid for Katy ISD Board of Trustees in 2013. Since 2012, he has been at the helm of Dolcefino Consulting, where he has represented prominent figures such as David Wilson, a Houston Community College trustee who questioned the impartiality of the college system's internal investigation into procurement practices. In addition to media support, Dolcefino provides "crisis management," a la Olivia Pope. Many of his clients are both prominent and confidential, he says. As a media image manager, he has continued to play a role in challenging power players in the region, including Ogg. He became embroiled in a spat over who was more connected with Houston's poker clubs. Ogg filed felony charges against nine employees of the Prime Social and Post Oak poker clubs. Later, she said, she learned that Amir Mireskandari, a financial crimes consultant for her office, had been lobbying on behalf of Prime Social. Prime Social attorneys said the club paid more than $500,000 to Mireskandari for campaign contributions to get an ordinance or law passed to legalize poker clubs. Dolcefino, who exposed the scandal, worked for one of the poker clubs that was accusing Mireskandari and the district attorney herself of misdeeds. In 2017, he was hospitalized after a head-on collision along Highway 87 near Brady, about 130 miles northwest of Austin. He underwent surgery for a fractured pelvis and foot and knee injuries. RELATED: Former Houston TV reporter Wayne Dolcefino sues after car crash He has spoken openly about having multiple sclerosis. Wayne Dolcefino grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Austin in 1968. He attended University of Texas and worked for an Austin radio station before coming to Houston to work for KTRH-AM radio. *** Ogg also has a (nonspeaking) role in this story. Because Jordan has a history of butting heads with the district attorney, Ogg's office has bowed out to avoid a conflict in interest. As a result, Fort Bend County District Attorney will be handling the prosecution of Jordan on the charge of official oppression. Ogg clearly trusted Dolcefino, who served as her campaign spokesman when she ran for district attorney in 2016. In the years that followed, the two developed a beef over the poker clubs and her office prosecuted him in the 2020 spat when he interrupted proceedings in Jordan's court. gabrielle.banks@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The deaths of 46 migrants found in a tractor trailer truck in San Antonio on Monday night is believed to be the deadliest human smuggling incident on U.S. soil. Law enforcement officials often encounter smuggling deaths, but not at this proportion. Victoria, 2003 On May 13, 2003, 19 migrants died after riding in the rear compartment of an 18-wheeler in South Texas. In the incident, truck driver Tyrone Williams who agreed to smuggle the migrants across a border checkpoint for $7,500 failed to turn on the trucks cooling system causing temperatures inside to reach 173 degrees. DEATH TOLL RISES: As death count rises to 50 migrants found in Texas tractor-trailer, here's what we know When Williams opened the trailer in Victoria, the migrants were found dead of dehydration, overheating and suffocation. He was eventually sentenced to 34 years in prison. San Antonio, 2017 In another incident, 10 migrants died eight on scene and two at the hospital after being smuggled in a tractor-trailer to a Walmart parking lot in San Antonio on July 23, 2017. The driver, James Matthews Bradley Jr., pleaded guilty to charges in their deaths and was given a life sentence. Officials believed 39 migrants were found at the scene but as many as 200 may have been on the trip. Pedro Silva Segura, his co-defendant, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and five years of supervised release, according to court records. Elsewhere in the world This manner of migrant death is not unique to the U.S. as similar truck incidents have been reported in England, Austria, Thailand, Libya and Pakistan, according to the Missing Migrants Project. Internationally, Monday's incident mirrors one of Britains biggest ever homicide investigations. In 2019, officials discovered the bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals inside a refrigerated truck container in Essex, England. Four men were charged in connection to the deaths last year. Joel.Umanzor@chron.com Susan Walsh, STF / Associated Press WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for a crackdown on human smuggling after the bodies of 50 people who crossed into the U.S. from Mexico were found inside and around a San Antonio tractor-trailer Monday night. Initial reports are that this tragedy was caused by smugglers or human traffickers who have no regard for the lives they endanger and exploit to make a profit, Biden said in a statement. This incident underscores the need to go after the multi-billion dollar criminal smuggling industry preying on migrants and leading to far too many innocent deaths. A Texas mayor has resigned after recently being arrested and charged with soliciting a minor online, according to multiple reports. Matthew Mcllravy, 42, was booked into the Dallas County Jail on June 21 on a second-degree felony charge and has since been released on bond, according to the Dallas Morning News. Dallas police said in a Facebook post that Mcllravy was arrested after a five-month investigation that also included the U.S. Marshals Task Force, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Collin County district attorneys office. As part of the investigation, Mcllravy reportedly exchanged messages with an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit obtained by KTVT-TV. The warrant says he wanted to engage in "deviant sexual intercourse." Police said the investigation also revealed additional "communications with minors" who have not been identified. Pilot Point City Manager Britt Lusk released a statement the night of Mcllravy's arrest, saying he was arrested that morning while at City Hall, according to a WFAA report. Lusk also said the city will follow applicable state law and its charter to fill any vacancies. In the absence of the mayor, Mayor Pro Tem Chad Major filled in to preside over meetings. Mcllravy's government profile has since been removed from the City of Pilot Point's website. Pilot Point is located in Denton County, more than five hours northwest of Houston and roughly 45 miles north of Dallas. Police are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective Michael Fontenot at (214) 671-4281 or email him at michael.fontenot@dallascityhall.com. KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Dozens of people were found dead Monday afternoon inside a tractor-trailer, according to multiple media reports. KSAT said 42 bodies had been found and that San Antonio police had surrounded an 18-wheeler near the 9600 block of Quintana Road next to railroad tracks. Regarding Opinion: I mourn this day Roe v. Wade was overturned, (June 24): Ms. Herrick says June 24 was a day of mourning for our country because Roe was overturned. Sad that someones values are so out of kilter that they would mourn the loss of the right to put an unwanted child to death. Rather, Ms. Herrick should be rejoicing that mourning for more barbaric executions of babies will be stopped, at least in some states. If she wants to mourn, let her mourn for the approximately 60 million babies needlessly killed since Roe allowed and glorified it in 1973. J. Jones, La Porte I applaud the Supreme Court decision to return the abortion issue to the states in accordance with the Constitution. This decision takes abortion from the federal government and returns it to the individual states where it resided for more than 100 years. Abortions will still be legal in most states, while some states may take a more firm stance on when a pregnancy can be terminated. This decision by the Supreme Court may also bring back some morality to the country which has been rapidly receding. Robert T. Haas, Missouri City Regarding Anti-abortion demonstrators celebrate Roe ruling outside Houstons Planned Parenthood, (June 25): One of the most horrific and wicked practices has finally been overturned, and that is abortion, aka murder on demand. The argument about the right to have an abortion has never been about rape or incest. This genocidal practice has always had a targeted audience, and that is those who are in underserved communities. This is no secret. Just do the research. Minister Jerry Wharton, Kingwood Who should decide? Regarding Supreme Courts abortion ruling sets off new court fights, (June 27): There are really two questions at issue in the abortion debate, and they are often confused. First, how should decisions be made about controversial issues like abortion? Should the decision be made by our democratically elected representatives, or should it be made by unelected jurists? Should the laws be determined by the legislature or the judiciary? Most people, especially in a free society, would rather have them determined by elected officials who represent the voters. The second question involves the actual content of the laws. Under what circumstances should abortion be legal? Arguments about this issue may involve prevailing attitudes, moral issues and public reactions. Different communities may arrive at different conclusions. My point is that (the) Supreme Court decision was only about the first question and did not rule on the second one. Dave Dyer, Houston I wonder if anyone who is celebrating the millions of lives saved by the overturning of Roe vs. Wade is being realistic about how this planet is being overrun with human beings. Who in their right mind thinks we need more human beings? We are not doing a good job of taking care of the ones who exist now. We are not doing a good job of coexisting with each other or with other species. We are not doing a good job of using and conserving the precious resources of this planet. I cannot think of one good reason why anyone thinks it is a good idea to bring an unwanted human being into this world, especially if the one person who will be most responsible for the welfare of that child does not feel prepared to shoulder that responsibility. How can this be good for the child, the mother or the society? We have not thought this through very well. Joanna Friesen, Houston Its ironic that people will protest that it is not right for the government to force them to wear a mask or be vaccinated, in order to protect others from COVID and its possible deadly outcome, but that it is OK for the government to tell a woman she doesnt have the right to control her own body. This absolutely faulty logic makes the anti-abortion right-to-life argument look pretty ignorant. The decision to terminate a pregnancy is between the woman and God, not the woman and the Supreme Court, some male-dominated legislature or some stranger sitting next to her in church. Im anti-abortion but pro-choice. Paul Pieri, Houston Cost of care Regarding Essay: I didnt abort my child. Now the world must step up for women like me. (June 24): I was very touched by Mrs. Boadas story. It was far more than I could have done, and her daughter was very lucky to be born of such a mother. But I have a couple of questions: How have you managed to pay for the care this child has needed? For us regular folks, the birth of a child with such difficulties would have meant the child would have lived a year and left the family bankrupt. That, of course, assumes the family has insurance because, in Texas, 17.3 percent dont. The second question involves what happens when you get too old to care for your daughter or you die? I hope you can leave enough money for the childs continued care for the rest of her life, but even then it will never be equal to what you have given. Alan Wilson, Houston Editors note: As the Fourth of July approaches, we invite readers to send letters about how you will be marking the holiday and what freedom means to you. The best way to submit letters is through houstonchronicle.com/opinion/submit/ or viewpoints@chron.com. Over the last few years, states have taken unprecedented steps to expand parent choice in education for Americas families. Across the nation, Education Savings Accounts and tax-credit scholarships are being created, expanded or improved to make educational freedom attainable for all. In Texas, the topic has become quite important for families. Not only did Gov. Greg Abbott recently decide to speak up in support of school choice and of empowering parents, but candidates in favor of educational freedom are being elected up and down the ballot throughout the state. The latest historic win comes from the first Mexican-born Congresswoman Republican Mayra Flores who flipped Texas U.S. House District 34, a heavily Hispanic district created a decade ago which includes the southern border of the Rio Grande Valley. Flores understands the importance of parental school choice and the doors it can open for Latinos and disadvantaged children, and she voiced that support in October 2021. A recent study conducted in Texas sides with Abbott and Flores, finding an overwhelming support for school choice among the 608 Hispanic adults surveyed. The study, published by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, states that 78 percent of the survey respondents believe that parents should have the right to utilize earmarked tax funds to send their child to whichever school public, charter or private that best meets their needs. Although that number may seem small in relation to the total population of Hispanics in Texas, the results concur with a recent national poll conducted by the American Federation for Children and conducted by RealClear Opinion Research. The survey of over 2,000 registered voters nationwide overwhelmingly showed support among all demographics for school choice. Of the Hispanics surveyed, 77 percent strongly supported giving families educational options. As a Hispanic school choice advocate and parent myself, I understand why families, now more than ever, are asking for access to educational freedom. All one has to do is watch the news to see the frightening statistics. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened both academic and non-academic difficulties that Latino students already experienced, particularly for those growing up in low-income homes. Reports show that many students were forced to drop out of school to help support their families, and those who remained in school lacked access to technology and other necessary resources. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. For years, disadvantaged children have systematically slipped through the cracks and been assigned to schools that have been failing for decades. The achievement gaps have considerably increased, and private schooling alternatives have become even more out of reach for many lower- and middle-income families. The pandemic exacerbated these failures and gave parents a front-row seat to what is truly happening in Americas classrooms. Unfortunately, the failures go way beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. As a first-generation American from Chile, I understand the importance and value of education. My parents and grandparents always reiterated how schooling is something invaluable that would open doors for my future. Latinos who can attend college or obtain a valuable education take pride in that. Many of us come from generations of poverty, and being able to break this cycle means freedom and opportunity for generations to come. No child should be forced to wait for a system to improve; they should have even greater access to school choice as a viable and cost-effective alternative to closing the achievement gaps. According to a 2016 EdChoice report, 25 studies show that school choice programs save taxpayers money. More importantly, these programs can help families who have been harmed most by generations of systemic failures. Most school choice programs in the country are limited based on income, and over 600,000 students successfully use them all across the country. From my experience visiting schools and working with families, I know firsthand that schools will often work with families to ensure low-income students are able to attend, and in some cases, offer supplemental scholarships as these schools want to be partners in education and help low-income families attend their schools. Texan families are no different, and their representatives should be bold enough to improve the school system in their state. Texans need legislators who are representative of their beliefs. They also deserve legislators willing to create an educational system process that is inclusive of their diverse community through school choice. As leaders in a state that does not provide scholarships for students to attend private schools, Texas legislators should view the strong support for school choice as a wake-up call. They should move to release the stranglehold on education for the next generation, considering Hispanics represent more than 52 percent of the 5.5 million students enrolled in public schools in the state during the 2019-20 school year. For years, Hispanics have been asking for a seat at the table, and that time has come. As a growing political power, Latinos are equipped not only to vote for leaders who empower parents and families, but also to become the educational leaders our community yearns for. The education status quo in Texas should not be our only option. Despite the challenges our community faces, freedom in education should be embraced by the Lone Star State as the remedy for minority communities to achieve the American Dream. Valeria Gurr serves as director of external affairs relations for the American Federation for Children. She was the program manager for the Nevada Institute for Childrens Research and Policy and is a passionate advocate for educational choice, particularly for underserved families. Texas abortion funds have played a critical role over the past 10 months for women trying to evade the states new six-week abortion ban, helping them pay for and travel to providers in states where the procedure is still legal. But when the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, upending nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections, those same groups were not offering help. Many announced instead they are pausing their operations while they reviewed the ruling and existing state laws. We want to protect our abortion fund staff and volunteers to the greatest degree possible from the risk of arrest and involvement with the racist criminal justice system, the Lilith Fund, the oldest abortion fund in the state, said in a statement. Abortion funds are among those facing difficult legal questions over what theyre allowed to do under state law. The answers will have implications for everyday Texans, covering whether people in Texas can donate to abortion funds, whether they can drive someone across state lines for an abortion, or even if they just post information online about how to get around state abortion laws. EXPLAINER: The Supreme Court's abortion opinions, explained by a law professor Texas has a trigger ban that criminalizes nearly all abortions and takes effect within a month of the courts final judgment. It carries punishment of first- or second-degree felonies and civil penalties of at least $100,000. But the state also has abortion bans that predate the 1973 Roe ruling, and its six-week abortion ban known as SB 8 is still on the books, enforced exclusively through civil lawsuits. Those laws dont just target abortions themselves, but all the support services that help people access them as well. The point of SB 8 was to close the clinics, and it was actually successful, said Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at Houstons South Texas College of Law. But now that women are having to go to other states now that Roes overruled, well see a lot more litigation. On Monday, more than a half dozen Texas abortion providers filed a lawsuit to block officials from enforcing the states 1920s-era abortion ban, arguing that the care should remain lawful until the trigger law takes effect this summer. But even if theyre successful, SB 8 remains in place and, later this summer, so will the trigger law. IN-DEPTH: How Texas became the training ground for Post-Roe America Elizabeth Sepper, law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said she doubts the state could file charges in many instances without passing a new law attempting to criminalize acts like driving a person to an abortion appointment out-of-state or donating to an abortion fund. Thats the kind of activity that is usually not a crime, Sepper said. What they will be facilitating is not a crime in the place where it will happen That would require a new legal structure and would infringe on other liberties that we have that are protected or under the state Constitution, U.S. Constitution or both. On the issue of donations in particular, she added that the Supreme Court has already set the precedent that money is protected speech under the First Amendment. Restricting pro-abortions rights donations but not anti-abortion donations could constitute viewpoint-based discrimination that would violate the First Amendment. But Blackman said someone could still try suing over a donation under SB 8s aiding and abetting clause. The usual rule is you have free speech to promote your views, but under the laws of the state now, those views are themselves illegal, he said. So this could be a prescient discussion about whether youre facilitating the commission of a crime, which is an exception to the First Amendment. I dont think that argument is very good, but I want to flag it. The bigger point, Blackman said, is the mere threat of a lawsuit may lead more people to refrain from donating or posting information online about how to access abortions. If state lawmakers try to pass such laws or if a prosecutor tries to use an existing law to seek criminal penalties for such actions, Sepper foresees a lot of lawsuits, as there already have been. ACLU of Texas staff attorney David Donatti said it would be extraordinary if the state tried to pass laws with extraterritorial reach. There would be serious concerns as to whether theyd be able to do that, Donatti said. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his concurring opinion that he did not believe those types of laws would pass Constitutional muster. As I see it, some of the other abortion-related legal questions raised by todays decision are not especially difficult as a constitutional matter, he wrote. For example, may a state bar a resident of that state from traveling to another state to obtain an abortion? In my view, the answer is no based on the constitutional right to interstate travel. Sepper said abortion funds have likely stopped operating because they want reassurance that they wont be subject to criminal charges, and the only way for them to get that will be through litigation. Abortion funds learned with SB 8 (the six-week abortion ban) they have a target on their back, she said. The aiding and abetting language in SB 8 was an example of the legislature aiming anti-abortion laws not only at providers but also at the funding institutions and structures. In March, two Texas abortion advocacy groups filed four lawsuits, two in state court and two in district court, challenging the private enforcement mechanism of the states six-week ban, saying it denies Texans the right to due process, free speech and equal protection under the law. The cases are still pending. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com Texas leaders directed more than $100 million to school safety initiatives and mental health services on Tuesday, about a month after a teenage gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school. The funds include $50 million for bulletproof shields for school police officers and $17 million for school districts to purchase silent panic alarms. The allocation marks legislators most direct response to the Uvalde shooting yet, as Gov. Greg Abbott has so far declined to call a special legislative session that would immediately bring lawmakers back to Austin to discuss appropriations and other legislative responses. The Legislature is not scheduled to reconvene until January, when students will already be about halfway through the next academic year. Texas Republican leaders have focused heavily on mental health and school security after the massacre, rejecting calls from the left to restrict firearm access. The Uvalde shooter used an AR-15-style weapon, purchased just days after his 18th birthday, and Democrats have been advocating for expanded background checks and limits on who can buy assault-style rifles. Funding these much-needed initiatives marks the first of many steps that we will take at the Legislature to respond to the horrific events in Uvalde and prevent another tragedy like this from happening again, said House Speaker Dade Phelan, who had suggested most of the appropriations earlier this month. Important policy discussions and debates remain on how the Legislature will tackle issues such as school safety, mental health, firearm safety and more, but this important first step will ensure that action is taken and implemented before school starts again in August. IN-DEPTH: Texas legislative leaders want to spend millions on mental health, school safety by end of summer The package will direct nearly $6 million to expand the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine program, or TCHATT, which offers telehealth services to public school students who need mental health treatment. Another roughly $6 million will fund an expansion of specialty therapy across the state, providing more community-based treatment for juvenile offenders and helping young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Lawmakers are also giving up to $5 million to the Hill Country Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Center, which will evaluate mental health services in Uvalde and provide recommendations to lawmakers based on its findings. The rest of the funding will support new security measures, including $10 million for more law enforcement officials to take active shooter training. The funds were allocated through an emergency budget appropriation, which redistributes resources from existing pools. Texas Legislatures Uvalde response Texas allocations for mental health and school safety. $50 million for bulletproof shields $5.8 million to expand Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) $4.7 million to increase Multisystemic Therapy (MST) across the state $950,000 to expand Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) teams across the state $7 million for rapid response training by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center $3 million for local law enforcement agencies to travel for ALERRT trainings $7 million to the Texas School Safety Center for on-site campus assessments $17.1 million for school districts to buy silent panic alert technology $5 million to the Texas Department of Public Safety to expand fusion center research and capabilities Up to $5 million for the Hill Country Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) Center See More Collapse Almost all of the money will come from a surplus in the Foundation School Program, the main source of funding for Texas schools. The allocations will last through August 2023. Childrens advocates welcomed the announcement on Tuesday but stressed that lawmakers must continue supporting mental health resources when the Legislature convenes in January. With the vast majority of this new funding going towards security measures, it looks like state leaders are making a down payment on addressing the childrens mental challenges that escalated over the last decade and laying the groundwork to make mental health a bigger priority during the next legislative session, said Josette Saxton, the director of mental health policy for the nonprofit Texans Care for Children. We will certainly be pushing the Legislature to close the remaining gaps in comprehensive childrens mental health services next session. cayla.harris@express-news.net As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Developers Pursue Duplex Project with Affordable Component for Former Williamstown Grange Site WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The owner of the former Grange Hall property on Water Street is looking to develop more than 20 sustainable, energy-efficient homes with a quarter of the owner-occupied units set aside for residents earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. Last week, Alexander Carlisle appeared before the board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust to seek its support for the project in anticipation of an approval process that will involve the town waiving zoning regulations to allow the development. Carlisle and his wife purchased the 6.6-acre 584 Water St. property in 2005 with hopes of renovating the historic structure after it no longer served the local branch of the Grange, America's oldest advocacy group for agriculture. The Great Recession in 2008 killed off initial interest that the couple had in such a project, but the Carlisles' fallback position had been to subdivide the property into three single-family residential lots. "But we realized building costs had become so high that there was simply no interest in it," he told the board. "No one was asking to buy lots, period. Even in the recent run-up to the housing bubble, there was no interest as well. Some of the fancier lots in town with great views they had to drop their lot prices, which finally sold during this incredible time of housing pressure." The Carlisles pursued the idea of establishing a community-supported agriculture farm on the property and communicated with Williams College about locating faculty housing on the site before connecting with Hicks Stone and Bill Freeman, who put together a plan to erect pre-fabricated, two-family duplexes on helical piles on the site. "Right now, we have 22 units [in the plan]," Stone told the trustees. "It's conceivable we could get 26." The developers face two primary regulatory hurdles. The first is a need for approval from the town's Conservation Commission, which has jurisdiction over projects that occur near waterways like the Green River, which abuts the Grange Hall property. The second is the town's zoning bylaw, which would not allow that many residents on that size parcel. That is where the affordable housing component comes in. Under Chapter 40B of Massachusetts General Law, local zoning can be waived to permit developments that include at least 25 percent affordable units six such income-restricted units in the development currently under consideration. In a community with less than 10 percent of its housing stock classified as "affordable" by the commonwealth basically income restricted housing Chapter 40B development is allowed by law. Williamstown, on the other hand, is nearing the 10 percent threshold with recent developments that include 330 Cole Ave., Highland Woods and 27 more planned units at the third phase of the Cable Mills development. If the project stays at 22 units, Stone said he projects the market rate units to sell for about $750,000. The six units designated as affordable which would be indistinguishable from their neighbors in the complex would sell for $175,000. "I've taken the Pittsfield area median income and calculated the monthly amounts for housing expenditure," Stone said. "At 70 percent [AMI] it's $1,488 per month. At 80 percent, it's $1,700 per month. At a sales price of $175,000 with an assumed down payment of 5 percent you end up with a monthly payment of about $1,684 a month, which places it below the 80 percent threshold." That number includes the homeowners association fees that would be associated with the planned duplexes. The development includes a central green space for the residences in addition to the existing marsh land on the site. "My colleague, Bill Freeman, is very interested in pollinator pathways and natural landscaping," Stone said. Stone is a Harvard-trained architect with a firm in New York City who moved to Williamstown "as part of the COVID diaspora," he told the housing board. In addition to an interest in preserving green space at the planned development, he and Freeman share a passion for sustainable architecture, he said. He shared that the duplexes under development would have maximum insulation and "a fairly sophisticated heat recovery ventilator, dehumidifier and heating and cooling unit made in Canada by Minotair." He noted that energy efficiency will add to all of the units' long-term affordability. "Our motto is, 'Planet, People and Profit,' with the emphasis on the planet and serving the people," Stone said. "I'd love to see a combustion-free, net-zero housing development with an affordable component in Williamstown. I hope this will be one step in a number of projects like this." As for the existing Grange Hall, Carlisle said that over the years, he has realized that any attempt to make the structure a fully-functioning, four-season building would not be cost effective. "As someone who has been involved in historic preservation most of my career, I know the process to take a building like that and turn it into a four-season structure is so damaging to the original building structure that it's not advantageous to anyone to do that," he said. He said he is interested in finding "alternate uses" for the Grange Hall, either on its current site or by disassembling and relocating the historic structure. "The cost of taking it down would be much less than the cost of conversion," he said. "It's possible to repurpose it in a much more cost-effective, utilitarian manner." Carlisle said he was surprised when the developers expressed an interest in keeping the Grange Hall on the property and working around it, but a decision one or another is still a ways off. Carlisle and his partners did not come to the Affordable Housing Trust last Wednesday with any specific requests, and the trustees did not take any votes. The developers did not give a timeline for when they would begin the formal process of seeking the wetlands and zoning approval they would need to break ground. Trustee Daniel Gura recommended that the group run the numbers to see whether an infusion of town funds either from the Affordable Housing Trust or directly from the Community Preservation Act allotments at next year's annual town meeting would help increase the number of affordable units in the project above the required 25 percent. Gura said they may find the number needed to move that needle is beyond the town's capacity to help but it is worth exploring the question. Gura also complimented the development team for pursuing a mixed-income development. "The single most valuable and lasting way to create affordable housing is through mixed-income," he said. "The extracted value of those who are the low-income recipients, to be in a mixed neighborhood, their outcomes vastly outweigh any other structure. The data is staggering versus putting 50 low-income people in one place. [Mixed-income] is what we at Habitat for Humanity are doing nationwide. "I don't mind a $700,000 house next to a $175,000 house. It sounds great to me." Stone told the board that based on conversations with some of the residents in the Water Street neighborhood, there was support for the proposal, but he acknowledged there could be some opposition when the time comes to go through the Chapter 40B process. "I'm told Williamstown is not as NIMBY-oriented as some other communities," Stone said. "Is that your impression?" "Largely, but not totally," board Chair Tom Sheldon replied. Dalton Voters OK Articles at Special Town Meeting DALTON, Mass. Fewer than a dozen voters at Monday's special town meeting took only 10 minutes to pass the two articles on the warrant. Article 1 was amended to include an additional $4,000 to cover trash removal from Town Hall, the senior center, garage, and park, based on a recent contract proposal with Casella. This addition brought the total amount for Article 1 to $12,643, of which $8,6324 will pay sewer and debt expenses that were not anticipated for the annual town meeting. Article 3 transfers $2,066 from free cash to the Miscellaneous Grants account to cure a deficit. Of this amount, $1,436 will be used for an e-911 grant, $630 will be used for funding the Coronavirus Supplemental Funding Program. Each of these articles passed with little to no discussion. Mayor Linda Tyer speaks to Congressman Richie Neal at Monday's small-business networking event hosted by General Dynamics at the Berkshire Innovation Center. PreviousNext General Dynamics Seeks Small-Business Connections Congressman Neal says there are more than 133,000 Massachusetts residents employed by small businesses in the state. PITTSFIELD, Mass. General Dynamics Mission Systems gathered around 75 small businesses and professional organizations at the Berkshire Innovation Center on Monday for a day of making connections. The event titled "Innovating for The Future" sought to expand the company's supply chain in the state and further GD's relationship with the community by strengthening the local industrial sector. "I think one of our main objectives today is to make connections. Make connections between General Dynamics and all of the folks we have here representing the various companies, we have several of the General Dynamics companies represented," Vice President of Supply Chain Management Ann Rusher said. "So getting our message out as to what our needs are and what would be important for small businesses to be able to support us and making the connections than with the small business, what are their capabilities and where do they want to go, everyone's on their own respective growth journeys, and then how do we make the connection so that we can follow up and actually find ways to work together and to help each other and collaborate on the hard problems that we are facing right now." Vice President and General Manager of Maritime and Strategic Systems Carlo Zaffanella said that the event is also aimed to expand accessibility for small businesses who may find the pre-requisites to work for GD intimidating. He explained that there are regulations involved when working for the U.S. Department of Defense and that over the last few years, cyber requirements have drastically changed. For small businesses, this can be a lot to deal with and one aspect of the event was to offer help in this situation. "If you're a small business, you're like 'I don't want to hire an IT expert,' well, let us help you," Zaffanella said. "Let us help you get to where you can meet the requirements without a lot of pain because we need you. So let us help you." The day began at 9 and concluded at 5. Presenters included the GD Innovation Sourcing Network, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center of Western Mass, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Berkshire Black Economic Council, and 1Berkshire. There was also a demonstration of the BIC Manufacturing Project. "I want to thank you again for the American Rescue Plan Act," she said. "Communities like Pittsfield have benefited in amazing ways in terms of how we're putting money to work in our community." Tyer expressed a shared concern among mayors that the Congress may cut back on COVID funding but Neal said he cannot see a chance of that happening. Afterward, Neal said he learned just how pleased Tyer and the rest of the attendees were with the CARES Act, as there was applause when it was mentioned. "What's come of it is clearly the role that General Dynamics and the Berkshires are going play in the defense ecosystem of the country," he concluded. SVMC Celebrates Accredited Nursing Residency Graduates Seated, left to right: Graduates Pauline Evans, BSN, RN, of Medical-Surgical; Caraline Sprague, RN, of Medical-Surgical; Rebekah Keasbey, BSN, RN, of ICU; and Regina Johnson, RN, of Medical-Surgical. Standing, left to right: Current students Leanne Hallenbeck, MS, RN, of ICU; Tayler Ferris-Dow, RN, of the Emergency Department; Mariah Micare, RN, of the Emergency Department; Michael Sigsbury, BSN, RN, of the Emergency Department; and Alison Camarda, MSN, RN, director of Clinical Education. Graduates not pictured include Christina Cooper, BSN, RN, of Womens and Childrens Services; Sam Irion, RN, of the Emergency Department; Daelyn Peterson, BSN, RN, of Medical-Surgical; and Claire Quigley, BSN, RN, of the Emergency Department. BENNINGTON, Vt. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), graduated eight nurses from its Transition-to-Practice Nurse Residency Program. The program is the first program in the state and one of only 208 in the United States to have received accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Practice Transition Accreditation Program for nurses working in the medical-surgical, women's and children's, and emergency departments. Accreditation for the intensive care unit is expected to be obtained later this year. Current students in the program joined the graduates in celebrating their completion. The year-long program is completed during the students' first year of employment and as they serve in nursing roles across the organization. Monthly meetings connect RNs with nurse educators, leaders, and skilled preceptors for mentorship. They incorporate clinical skills assessments and hone the interpersonal and organizational skills needed to coordinate care with a team of health care providers on the job. Topics for group sessions include communication, leadership, inter-professional teamwork, evidence-based practice, and ethics. Skill sessions provided new graduate nurses opportunities to gain confidence in the hands-on aspects of their work. "We are very proud of these distinguished graduates," said Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, the chief nursing officer and vice president for Patient Care Services at SVMC. "Each of them is prepared for a long and successful career in the field of nursing." iciHaiti - Santiago : The former Consul Jacques abandons his charges and returns to Haiti In a letter dated June 27, 2022, addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Haiti, James Jacques, the former Consul General in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic, following the incident of Friday June 24 and the diplomatic note sent by the Chancellery on June 25 to the Dominican Embassy in Port-au-Prince written : "I hereby wish to inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Mr. Jean-Victor Geneus of my decision with immediate effect to leave my charges at the Consulate General of Haiti in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic following the publication of the letter sent by the said Ministry to the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Haiti saying that I am a former Consul while, according to administrative principles, I was liquidating current affairs at the said Consulate. I return to Haiti as soon as possible. I never intended to resist the order of the Ministry, quite simply, I wanted as a Haitian Government representative to ensure the smooth running of the Consulate administratively and to be available for our compatriots like I recently did it faced the Dominican immigration agents who violated the rights of our valiant entrepreneurs and our peaceful citizens while waiting for the arrival of my successor. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37012-haiti-santiago-the-dgm-dismantles-a-gang-of-haitian-passport-and-visa-traffickers.html Receive my patriotic greetings. James Jacques Consul General See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37012-haiti-santiago-the-dgm-dismantles-a-gang-of-haitian-passport-and-visa-traffickers.html IH/ iciHaiti This year marks the 20th anniversary of Anhui's "counterpart assistance" to the Tibet Autonomous Region. In 2002, Anhui started the project to support Tibet, and the aid targets were Cona County, Comai County, and Nagarze County of Shannan City. Over the years, batches of aid-to-Tibet teams from Anhui have spread their love on the snowy plateau. Since the seventh batch of Anhui aid-to-Tibet teams entered Tibet in July 2019, they have done an excellent job in assisting Tibet with their heart and devoted themselves to supporting the construction and development of Shannan. Recently, a reporter approached Shannan and used the camera to witness the achievements of Anhui's aid to Tibet. On June 24, At the People's Hospital of Shannan in Tibet, Dr. Gong Binbin, an aid-to-Tibet physician from the Department of Urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University was leading the local doctors to check the ward and study the medical condition together. On June 24, Cui Haiyan, an obstetrician-gynecologist from the Anhui Maternity and Child Health Hospital, received the banner of gratitude, khata and buttered tea presented by the patient Baima Yangzong's family at the People's Hospital of Shannan in Tibet. Aerial photo of the People's Hospital of Shannan on the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Since 2019, Anhui Province has successively sent three batches of 88 medical talents to support the hospital. On June 24, students at the No. 2 Senior High School of Shannan City, Tibet, are doing special exercises between classes. It combines the national "intangible cultural heritage"-Anhui Chaohu Folk Songs with the characteristic music and dance elements of 7 cities in Tibet. On June 24, students perform the Huangmei opera "Chuangyuan Girl" (The Female Prince Consort) at the No. 2 Senior High School in Shannan City, Tibet. Music teacher Jin Huilin guides the children to learn to sing Huangmei Opera at the No. 2 Senior High School in Shannan City, Tibet. Physics teacher Yang Liuqi leads the students to conduct physics experiments at the No. 2 Senior High School in Shannan City, Tibet. Chinese teacher Yang Bin gives moral education to students. No. 2 Senior High School of Shannan City, Tibet "The birthplace of Tibetan civilization"-Shannan. Despite the ban on the march ordered by the governor and the heavy police presence, protestors gathered in large numbers around Taksim Square. The last authorised march in 2014 drew thousands of participants and the event has taken place every year since 2015, even though it was banned each year. Police detained about four busloads of people, around 200 demonstrators, according to the pride organisers. AFP reported Turkish police prevented the media from filming the arrests, while DISK Basn-Is Sendikas reported police beatings of journalists on the ground. AFP's chief photographer Bulent Kilic was arrested while covering the event and taken away handcuffed after denouncing police violence against other media workers. His lawyer stated that he was released later on the day. Bulent Kilic is a member of IFJ/EFJ affiliate Turkiye Gazeteciler Sendikasi and was also detained while covering 2021 Istanbul Pride. DISK Basn-Is also denounced similar scenes in Izmir, where the association Kaos GL accounted for 12 people detained by the police. IFJ and EFJ affiliates DISK Basn-Is Sendikas, Gazeteciler Cemiyeti Dernegi (GCD), Turkiye Gazetciler Cemiyeti (TGC), Turkiye Gazeteciler Sendikasi (TGS) have condemned the attacks and restrictions on journalists covering a public interest event. The IFJ and the EFJ stand in solidarity with their Turkish affiliates and all Turkish journalists who suffered beatings and harassment by the police for simply doing their job. IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: Once again, Turkish authorities have shown the little respect they have for the journalists right to work independently and safely. We stand in solidarity with our Turkish affiliates and strongly condemn this new attack on Turkish journalists rights and freedoms." If your employees feel like they're under constant scrutiny, you're less likely to retain them. When it comes to tracking worker productivity, especially in remote, hybrid, and asynchronous work environments, when bosses may not physically "see" their employees, some monitoring tactics are contentious. More than half of workers would leave their jobs if their employer insisted on recording audio or video of them, or used facial recognition to monitor productivity, according to a May 2022 survey of 750 technology workers by the Washington, D.C.-based business intelligence company Morning Consult. To Dan Pupius, the San Francisco-based founder of the remote workplace management tool Range, the Big Brother issue is directly related to whether leaders ascribe to Theory X or Theory Y, which were coined by social psychologist Douglas McGregor at the MIT's Sloan School of Management in 1960. Basically, Theory X proposed that workers, by default, are unmotivated, which means they require strict supervision and rules; Theory Y, on the other hand, maintains that people are intrinsically motivated and want to find a sense of mastery in their jobs--so they can function in a more laissez-faire workplace. Subsequent researchers have studied Theory X and Theory Y in regards to their impact on both skilled and unskilled labor, though Theory Y is more frequently associated with knowledge workers. "Theory Y is backed by a lot of behavioral research," Pupius says. "So if your management style comes from the perspective of thinking that people are lazy and don't want to work, you're going to create a low-trust environment, with a lot of stress and anxiety, which will actually reduce peoples' performances." Surveillance-style monitoring, he says, is not the answer. But leaders still need to find ways to make sure that employees stay on track to meet business goals. Here's how they can do so effectively and ethically, with tactics that can even boost productivity in the long run. Create a check in-routine Good workplace communication requires two-way trust, says Jeanine Turner, affiliate professor at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. It can take some time to develop that trust, but creating a consistent check-in routine with your employees--daily or weekly--can help. "There should be an opportunity for both employer and employee to say, 'This is what I'm doing. Is this what you want?'" she says. "Make it a part of your weekly conversations to share what's going well and what's not." That way, you can identify any problem areas that might be hurting productivity, and you can address them. Check-ins can happen as a one-on-one process, but group check-ins can also be conducive to developing a more collaborative and team-oriented environment, Pupius adds. "Individual check-ins can feel like going up against the principal at school," he says. "But when you share what you're working on as a group, it's more communal." Make goal-setting a collaborative process To track productivity, leaders should clearly establish goals and expectations collaboratively, Claire Schmidt, CEO and founder of the Los Angeles-based employee feedback management platform AllVoices. "As goals are being set by managers, for their team, there should be an ongoing conversation about how it's going," she says. "Leaders should ask, 'what are the barriers standing in your way to achieving these goals?'" This can be challenging when employees don't feel like they can be open about difficulties they may be facing, which is why providing multiple channels for feedback may be helpful, Schmidt adds. Platforms like AllVoices offer anonymity, which can allow employees to more freely express concerns that may be impacting their work--though they aren't a substitution for the regular conversations that should occur in parallel. Gain a bigger picture understanding Poor productivity tracking fails to contextualize employees' outputs, Pupius says. That's why, during goal-setting, it's important for leaders to understand leading indicators, but focus more on end results. "One leading indicator for a salesperson might be the number of emails they send--but that's short-sighted. A person could send 200 bad emails, but 20 good emails might result in more sales," he says. "Instead of making a judgment purely on the metrics, you should ask questions, that then lead you to inspect and diagnose what might be happening." Another behind-the-scenes factor that plays into productivity, he adds, is emotion. Through Range's check-in platform, workers can note their general feelings for the day with an emoji, which gives leaders more context to why an employee's output might be different from one day to the next--and gives employees context for how their bosses are feeling. "In a remote environment, you lack context for how people are showing up," Pupius says. "If I'm a little bit short in my emails, people can attribute that to my mood and not that I'm upset with them." To repay the liquidity support given to state governments during the Covid-19 period, Indias federal government has extended the timeline for GST compensation cess levy by four years until March 31, 2026. The move will impact sectors like automotive and tobacco through higher tax rates. The cess is levied on notified luxury goods falling in the 28 percent GST slab. While it will be levied on imported goods, exporters will be eligible to claim input tax credit refund relating to goods exported. Indias federal government recently notified the extension of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation cess, which is levied on notified luxury goods and demerit goods in the 28 percent slab. As per the recently issued GST (Period of Levy and Collection of Cess) Rules, 2022, the compensation cess, whose levy was slated to end on June 30, 2022, will now continue to be imposed for another four years until March 31, 2026. The move was recommended by the GST Council as a way to recompense for the liquidity support given to the Indian states during the Covid-19 period, when tax collection was not sufficient to compensate for GST revenue losses. This extension will continue to impose a burden on the impacted businesses, such as tobacco and cars, through increased tax rates. What is the GST compensation cess? With operationalization of GST in India in 2017, the federal government assured the states that they will be compensated for revenue shortfall resulting from subsuming their taxes, such as value added tax (VAT), into the GST, for a period of five years, that is till July 1, 2022. Accordingly, the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 was enacted to impose the compensation cess. The compensation cess is applicable on specific goods, including tobacco, cigarettes, hookah, aerated water, high-end motorcycles, aircraft, yachts, and motor cars. Why is the timeline for levy of GST compensation cess extended? The government decided to prolong the levy of the GST compensation cess till March 2026 for repayment of the loans that were obtained in the previous two fiscal years. To meet the resource gap of states due to short release of compensation, the federal government had borrowed and released consecutive loans worth INR 1.1 trillion in FY 2021 and INR 1.59 trillion in FY 2022 to meet a part of the shortfall in cess collection. While it has repaid INR 75 billion as interest cost for the borrowing in FY 2022, INR 140 billion is to be paid in FY 2023. Further, the repayment of the principal amount will start from FY 2024 and will continue till March 2026. Who is liable to collect GST compensation cess? All taxable persons selling the notified goods will be liable to collect and remit the GST compensation cess. GST compensation tax payers have been exempted from it. The compensation cess on goods imported into India shall be levied and collected in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. At the same time, it will not be charged on goods exported by an exporter under bond. Can input tax credit (ITC) on compensation cess be availed? ITC can be availed on GST compensation cess paid on inward supplies. It means that the exporter will be eligible for refund of ITC of the cess relating to goods exported. However, credit of cess paid can be utilized only towards payment of the compensation cess on supply of goods or services. How is the GST compensation cess calculated? The cess is calculated on the transaction value, that is, the price at which the goods are sold. It should be levied in addition to the GST taxes (CGST + SGST) in case of intrastate supplies and IGST in case of interstate supplies. How is industry responding to the extension of cess? Industry stakeholders are unhappy with the extension but had anticipated the move by the government. Businesses remain concerned about the increased taxes slowing down macroeconomic variables. According to M S Mani (Partner, Deloitte India), The extension of the levy of compensation cess, although expected, will continue to impose a burden on the impacted businesses, especially sectors like automotive, which need to be encouraged as it is one of the sectors that has a multiplier effect on GDP and employment. What items are set to lose their GST exemption status? Items that could soon lose their GST exemption status include packaged curd (yogurt), lassi, buttermilk, foodgrains, cereals, honey, papad, and several non-branded food items. Hotel rooms that charge a tariff lower than INR 1000 per night and hospital rooms that charge a tariff of above INR 5000 per day will also become taxable under GST. These recommendations were submitted by state finance ministers and accepted by the GST Council on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. The date for implementation of these recommendations have not yet been decided. Further discussions on which items of daily use should retain their GST exemption status will continue on Wednesday, June 29, the second day of the two-day GST Council meeting. The magazine provides a general overview of the options available to foreign firms to sell to the online India... The Board of Directors of Bank of Baroda in their meeting held on June 27, 2022 has approved the proposal of Raising of Long term Bonds for financing of Infrastructure & Affordable Housing to the tune of Rs5000 crore in single or multiple tranches during Financial Year 2022-23.According to the regulatory filing, these bonds shall be senior, unsecured and will not form part of capital of the Bank.At around 10:01 AM, Bank of Baroda was trading at Rs100.65 per share up by Rs0.7 or 0.7% from its previous closing of Rs99.95 per share on the BSE. The majority of Silchar, a city in south Assam, is still drowned in water on the eighth day since the flood began, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the deluge was "man-made." The Cachar district government had previously stated that the city of Silchar and its surrounding territories had been inundated due to a breach in an embankment at Bethukandi on the city's outskirts. From the next day, things got worse (June 20). The Barak river's water level increased as a result of heavy rains in the nearby Meghalaya and Mizoram highlands. In 2,542 villages across 28 districts, more than 22 lakh people were still affected by the floods, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority's daily flood report published on Sunday. File image Floods are arguably Assam's most frequent, widespread, and devastating natural hazard. It is concerning that Assam endures significant losses each year as a result of floods and the erosion of river banks. Man-made factors contributing to the problem Man-made factors, including human habitation, deforestation, and expanding populations in watershed regions all contribute to accelerated sediment deposition. Increasing numbers of people are reportedly living close to rivers as the riverbed encroaches. Without any adequate disaster response, cities and villages have sprung up all over the state. Shifting cultivation, also known as jhum, is the term for the traditional slash-and-burn farming done in the state's hilly parts. They burn the plants there, removing the uppermost layer of defence, hence, increasing the vulnerability of the land to rain erosion. The dead soil and crop detritus subsequently enters the river basin and builds up there in significant amounts. Reuters Landslides are significantly influenced by the seismic activity in Assam and some other northeastern regions. River beds are raised by the massive amounts of debris transferred by landslides and earthquakes. The issue has been exacerbated by embankments, encroachments, and deforestation. Sandbanks and islands are created as a result of the silt that is deposited in high-altitude regions. These places have become populated over time, obstructing the river's flow. The issue has gotten worse as a result of widespread deforestation and hill cutting. Understanding Assam's typography Assam is known as a river-rich nation. However, these rivers pose a significant threat to human populations and property in the region in the form of floods, drought, and erosion. The Brahmaputra is both a lifeline and a threat to Assam. It is a vast river system with numerous channels and water basins that traverses a sizable portion of Assam. The Brahmaputra and Barak river system is frequently susceptible to significant flooding, drainage obstructions, and bank erosion, which causes extensive land submersion, loss of life, and damage to property. AFP In addition to receiving water from rivers coming from the Himalayas, wherein the Brahmaputra is by far the largest, Assam also receives monsoon rains. The monsoon intensifies downstream due to the monsoon's timing with the glacier melting in the summer, resulting in yearly flooding. Deforestation and Assam Flood Gaon Connection reported that according to geographers deforestation is the primary factor that exacerbates floods in the area. Deforestation and haphazard hill-cutting are two significant causes of floods in Assam, retired professor Abani Kumar Bhagabati of Gauhati University, told Gaon connection. Soil erosion is driven by deforestation, which is one of its main causes. In addition to providing shelter from the wind and rain, trees and their roots hold the soil. When forests are destroyed, the land is left unprotected and exposed to the weather, making it susceptible to being washed or blown away. AFP Despite the fact that the slash and burn method of deforestation emits large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, it has gained popularity since it is quick and inexpensive to clear an area. Particularly using this method, soils are exposed to wind and rain, which significantly increases soil erosion. Several reports also draws attention to the fact that increased deforestation causes rainfall to carry more silt, which then dumps in the lake and river beds. Once the river beds are shallow, they lose their capacity to hold water, causing the rivers to overflow and eventually flooding the surrounding areas. AFP "Another cause of waterlogging is cutting hills in the higher catchment regions, as the majority of the tributaries and sub-tributaries of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers originated in the nearby highlands. To stop it, we must cease cutting down hills and trees in the upper catchment regions of the streams, and for a long-term fix, we must launch significant afforestation drives " Bhagabati told Gaon Connection. In what is said to be a brutal case of murder, a tailor was hacked to death in broad daylight inside his shop in Rajasthan's Udaipur allegedly for posting a social media statement in favour of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who had made controversial remarks about Prophet Mohammad. Both the accused have been apprehended from Rajsamand district. The attackers arrested have been identified as Mohammad and Riyaz. The victim has been identified as Kanhaiyalal Teli (40), a tailor who ran a shop by the name of Supreme Tailors in Dhanmandi. Reports said that the attackers entered his shop on the pretext of giving their measurements for cloth stitching and stabbed him multiple times with daggers and also slit his throat. A video of the incident where the accused have claimed responsibility for the murder has gone viral on social media. They have also threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The shops in the areas like Hathipol, Ghantaghar, Ashwani Bazar, Dehli Gate and Maldas Street in Udaipur have been shut. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has appealed to the people to maintain peace. After the gruesome murder, leader of opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Gulabchand Kataria, called the SP and inquired about the incident. Kanhaiyalal was a resident of Govardhan Vilas area. Ten days back, he had put up a social media post in favour of Nupur Sharma. Since then, people from a particular community were threatening to kill him, IANS reported. Kanhaiyalal did not even open his shop for six days besides filing a police complaint in this matter. The police asked him to remain careful for a few days. District Collector Tara Chand Meena and SP Manoj Chaudhary also reached the spot after receiving the news of the gruesome murder. Choudhary said that action will be taken against the culprits. All records related to the deceased are being investigated, he said. The family members of the deceased have demanded Rs 50 lakh and a government job as compensation. Prohibitory orders imposed, mobile internet suspended across Rajasthan Rajasthan government on Tuesday imposed prohibitory orders and suspended mobile internet service across the state in view of communal tension following the murder of a tailor in Udaipur. Two men slit the throat of the tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, in the Rajasthan city on Tuesday, saying in a video posted on social media that they avenged an insult to Islam. Chief Secretary Usha Sharma directed officials to suspend mobile internet service across the state for 24 hours and impose section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) -- preventing the assembly of more than four people -- in all districts of the state for a month. NIA team rushes to Udaipur A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was on Tuesday rushed to Rajasthan's Udaipur after a man was allegedly beheaded by two men in broad daylight in the region, sources said. The NIA team includes a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer, source told ANI on anonymity, adding the move comes following an order issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). As per government sources, the NIA team is likely to file a case under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after visiting the crime spot. The incident took place in Udaipur's Maldas area. Soon after committing the crime, the two accused posted a video on social media boasting about the beheading and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life as well, police said. The two accused were arrested within hours of the incident. Muslim body condemns act Prominent Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind condemned the heinous killing of a tailor in Rajasthan's Udaipur on Tuesday, saying such an act cannot be justified in any way and is against the religion of Islam. Two men slit the throat of a tailor in Udaipur, saying in a video post on social media that they were avenging an insult to Islam. In a statement, Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi, general secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, condemned the "brutal killing in Udaipur apparently on the pretext of the insult to the Prophet" and called it against the law of land as well as "against the religion of Islam". With Agencies inputs While there are a lot of celestial events that occurred in the month of June alone, there was one very rare event that took place a decade ago and it may not happen for a very long time. NASA shares pic of rare event American space agency NASA took to its Instagram to share a picture of a rare celestial event that took place 10 years ago. This rare event was the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun. This was captured by the agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). She was one of the rare ones, so effortlessly herself, and the world loved her for it, the space agency wrote. Just over a decade ago, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured one of the rarest celestial events the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun. Solar transits are a planet's passage across the Sun's face, as seen from Earth's perspective, where the only observable transits are that of Mercury and Venus, they added. NASA Venus' solar transits happen in pairs just over 100 years apart: the last pair of transits occurred in 2004 and 2012, and the next will not happen until 2117. The solar transit in 2012 lasted nearly 7 hours and was visible worldwide, with observers on all seven continents able to view the event. Transits help astronomers study the atmospheric composition and orbit of planets, Nasa also explained. NASA's SDO continuously observes our Sun, measuring its atmosphere and magnetic field as it examines the core of our closest star, they expressed and concluded their post. The post was shared over 10 hours ago. Since being posted, it has garnered more than 4 lakh likes and the numbers are quickly increasing. People have commented on various different things on the post. Many showcased their reactions through fire or heart emoticons. Wow, wrote an Instagram user. Awesome, shared another. Beautiful, expressed a third. What is a transit? According to NASA, a transit is when one object crosses in front of another in space. "This can happen in a lot of different ways. To help you, the example of the moon is perfect. When the moon passes between the Earth and the sun then it is transiting. The orbit of the planet needs to be lined up right so the planet will pass in front of the star that it orbits. Looking for transits is one of the ways that scientists find exoplanets. NASA also added that the light from the star dims by a very small amount during the transit which is measured by astronomers. Follow us on telegram. A video of a waiter asking homeless kids to leave a restaurant even though they had paid for their meals has left the internet outraged. The video was shared on Twitter Twitter by a user Hatinder Singh. This was later retweeted by Kaveri on her account. The sight of seeing the little kids leaving the restaurant looking very upset is a very hard watch. Waiter Asks Homeless Kids Sitting At A Restaurant To Leave In the now-viral clip, a waiter at a fast-food restaurant can be seen approaching a group of kids and berating them. The kids were seated at a table and enjoying the food that they had paid for. The waiter then told the kids to leave, and the sadness on their faces was all too visible. It is not known when and where the video was shot. Screengrab/Twitter Don't know about the place, but if these kids have paid for something they should be allowed to sit inside. But the way the waiter is pushing them out and kids looking at each other shows, we see the financial status of a person and decide how much respect to give, the video caption reads. This just broke my heart. https://t.co/g7QBzWCyxf Kaveri (@ikaveri) June 27, 2022 Video leaves internet outraged The video has left the internet enraged. While some internet users wanted to know where the incident took place, others urged that the man be reprimanded for his insensitive behaviour. Its a cultural thing sadly . Ingrained in the way househelp is treated and menial workers are treated. They do back breaking work which goes unrecognised and grossly undervalued. Aamna (@aminak40) June 27, 2022 This country lacks compassion Swapneel (@Swapneel2010) June 27, 2022 This isn't right..... Kumail Ansari (@kumailansari) June 27, 2022 Inequality is the biggest curse Luv Datta #INC (@LuvDatta_INC) June 27, 2022 This is awful! Deepak Pokhariyal (@Pokhy) June 27, 2022 Do you know which place this is? (@Ghaafil) June 27, 2022 In May, a homeless man drowned in the US state of Arizona while three police officers just stood there watching. The man identified as Sean Bickings begged police officers for help as he struggled to stay afloat in the Arizona reservoir. According to the transcript of the May 28 incident, Bickings said to police 'Im going to drown, Im going to drown'. A police officer, identified as Officer One in the transcript, then replied: Okay, Im not jumping in after you." After this, the police officer asked Bickings to grab onto a nearby bridge. Bickings meanwhile kept asking the officer to help him. He said, Please, please, please. After this, Bickings went underwater while his wife kept pleading with the cops to help him out. Im just distraught because hes drowning right in front of you and you wont help, Bickings' partner said, as per the transcript. Bickings however drowned shortly after this. According to the Washington Post, after this incident took place, three police officers from Tempe, Arizona, have now been put on 'non-disciplinary paid administrative leave. The cops were initially called to the scene following reports of a domestic violence situation at Tempe Beach Park between Bickings and his wife. The two denied any fight had taken place. When the police arrived at the location where domestic violence was apparently taking place, the 34-year-old man tried to flee police by jumping into the lake where he eventually drowned. He was later pronounced dead when he was found by Tempe Fire's Dive and Rescue team. For the latest from trending, click here. It's 2022, and same-sex relationships remain unacceptable in many parts of India. The bitter truth remains that families still look down upon their children's choices after declaring they're not heterosexual. Will we ever learn? Representational Image The reality of acceptance remains a distant dream, and proof of the fact is right here. According to a report in India today, a woman in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj changed her gender after her family opposed her relationship with a 'woman.' Patheos Two women in love promised to be together for the rest of their lives, but their dreams turned into nightmares after their family rejected their relationship. To be able to be with her girlfriend, one of the two decided to go for a sex-change operation. To keep their families' displeasure out of the way, the couple chose a twisted route to make their 'happily ever after a reality. Unsplash After many attempts to convince their families of their relationship, one of the two women decided that 'sex-change' could only be their middle ground. The same report confirms that a team of doctors at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj went ahead with the sex reassignment surgery. The woman's upper body parts were changed, and she underwent restructuring. The doctor confirmed that the entire process would take 1.5 years. Pic Credit: BCCL/representational pictures Talking to India today, Dr. Mohit Jain said, "The woman will be given testosterone replacement therapy. The testosterone therapy will stimulate the growth of chest hair." He also confirmed that the woman would not be able to conceive after the sex-change operation. BBC/Representational Image He was quoted as saying, "This is the first time that such an operation has been conducted, and a time of around 18 months is expected to complete this. A full health check-up of the woman was done, and she is doing fine." For the latest From trending, click here. It was during a trial in February, when Credit Suisse Group AG faced charges that it had failed to prevent a drug trafficker from laundering millions. With hazy information surrounding the stashes of cash and cocaine, the final verdict was not given. But yesterday, the historic verdict came out. Credit Suisse was convicted by Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court for failing to prevent money laundering by a Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang. shutterstock The ruling, in which a former relationship manager at the Swiss bank was also convicted on money laundering charges, was handed down by Switzerlands top criminal court on Monday afternoon, as per a Bloomberg report. A former relationship manager at the bank was found guilty of money laundering and received a 20-month suspended prison sentence. Her 1.7m fine was also suspended, as per BBC. Credit Suisse faces a fine of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.1 million). The court said on Monday that it found deficiencies within Credit Suisse, both with regard to the management of client relations with the criminal organization and failure in the monitoring of the implementation of anti-money laundering rules. "These deficiencies enabled the withdrawal of the criminal organisation's assets, which was the basis for the conviction of the bank's former employee for qualified money laundering," the court said. The bank said in a statement it will appeal the decision, noting that the pretrial investigation dates back more than 14 years. Prosecutors alleged that the former relationship manager helped to conceal the criminal origins of money for clients through more than 146 million Swiss francs in transactions, including 43 million francs in cash, some of it stuffed into suitcases, as per Reuters. On the other hand, the main Bulgarian at the heart of the scandal, who was later sentenced to a 20-year term for his drug offences, had reportedly organized the import of tens of metric tons of cocaine into Europe between 2002 and 2012, using boats, planes and drug mules willing to swallow cocaine-packed rubber balls. Two other Bulgarians were convicted in the case for participation in a criminal organization and aggravated money laundering. One was given a 36-month prison sentence, with 18 months of it suspended, and the other was handed a 12-month suspended sentence. The bank had earlier expressed its astonishment in late 2020 when Swiss prosecutors publicly charged it with money laundering offences, given the alleged crimes took place between 2004 and 2008. Reuters Also Read: Switzerland Applies 'Time Is Money' Concept, Allows Citizens To ' Save & Deposit Their Time' In Banks Under Swiss law, local prosecutors can press criminal charges against banks if they believe those institutions didnt do enough to screen clients and their cash for obvious ties to illicit activity. The former Credit Suisse manager, who can only be named as E. under Swiss reporting restrictions, accepted deposits of used bank notes that regularly exceeded 500,000 euros ($528,650) at a time, according to the 515-page indictment. Cash deposits were very common given the parlous state of Bulgarias banks at the time, she said in testimony, as per the Bloomberg report. The judgment is another blow to the tarnished reputation of Credit Suisse, which had reportedly argued that the crimes date to an era when compliance standards were less stringent. It has been struggling with a series of scandals that have sent its shares to near-record lows and may face a second criminal indictment in an unrelated case later this year. The ruling also marks another headache for the second-biggest bank of Switzerland, which has been reeling from billions in losses racked up via risk-management and compliance blunders, as per Reuters. For the latest and interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here. In an effort to push past doubts cast by its data lake and data warehouse rivals, Databricks on Tuesday said that it is open sourcing all Delta Lake APIs as part of the Delta Lake 2.0 release. The company also announced that it will be contributing all enhancements of Delta Lake to The Linux Foundation. Databricks competitors such as Cloudera, Dremio, Google (Big Lake), Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, AWS Snowflake, HPE (Ezmeral) and Vertica have criticized the company, casting doubt whether Delta Lake was open source or proprietary, thereby taking away a share of prospective customers, analysts said. "The new announcement should provide continuity and clarity for users and help counter confusion (stoked in part by competitors) about whether Delta Lake is proprietary or open source," said Matt Aslett, research director at Ventana Research. With the announcements, Databricks is putting customer concerns and competitive criticism to bed, said Doug Henschen, principal analyst at Constellation Research. "In competitive deals, rivals such as Snowflake would point out to would-be customers that aspects of Delta Lake were proprietary," Henschen said, adding that Databricks customers can now trust that their data is on an open platform and that they're not locked into Delta Lake. Databricks refers to Delta Lake as a data lakehouse, a data architecture that offers both storage and analytics capabilities, in contrast to the concepts for data lakes, which store data in native format, and data warehouses, which store structured data (often in SQL format). Competition grows in commerical open source market With an increasing number of commercial open source projects in the data lake market, Databricks' Delta Lake may find itself facing new competition, including Apache Iceberg, which offers high-performance querying for very large analytic tables. "There are also open source projects that have recently started to be commercialized, such as OneHouse for Apache Hudi and both Starburst and Dremio coming out with their Apache Iceberg offerings," said Hyoun Park, chief analyst at Amalgam Insights. "With these offerings coming out, Delta Lake faced pressure from other open source lakehouse formats to become more functionally robust as the lakehouse market starts to splinter and technologists have multiple options," Park added. Many other players in this space are focused on Apache Iceberg as an alternative to Delta Lake tables, Ventana's Aslett said. Delta tables, in contrast to traditional tables that store data in rows and columns, can access ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability) transactions to store metadata to help with faster data ingestion. In April, Google announced Big Lake and Iceberg support, and earlier this month, Snowflake announced support for Apache Iceberg tables in private preview. The Iceberg announcements, just like Databricks' open source strategy, aim to appeal to prospective customers who might have concerns about committing to one vendor and the prospect of having access to their own data encumbered down the road, Henschen said. In the face of renewed competition, Databricks' move to open source Delta Lake is a good move, said Sanjeev Mohan, former research vice president at Gartner. "Databricks' announcement to open source the full capabilities of Delta Lake is an excellent step to drive wider adoption," said Sanjeev Mohan, former research vice president for big data and analytics at Gartner. Delta Lake 2.0 offers faster query performance Databricks' Delta Lake 2.0, which will be fully available later this year, is expected to offer faster query performance for data analysis, the company said. Databricks on Tuesday also released the second edition of MLflowan open source platform for managing the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle (MLOps). MLflow 2.0 comes with MLflow Pipelines, which offer data scientists predefined, production-ready templates based on the model type they're building to allow them to accelerate model development without requiring intervention from production engineers, the company said. According to analysts, MLflow 2.0 will serve as a more mature option for data scientists as machine learning production continues to be a challenging process, and translation of algorithmic models into production-grade application code on securely governed resources continues to be difficult. "There are a number of vendor solutions in this space including Amazon Sagemaker, Azure Machine Learning, Google Cloud AI, Datarobot, Domino Data, Dataiku, and Iguazio. But Databricks serves as a neutral vendor compared to the hyperscalers and Databricks' unified approach to data and model management serves as a differentiator to MLOps vendors that focus on the coding and production challenges of model operationalization," Amalgam's Park said. The move to release MLflow 2.0 eases the path to bring streaming and streaming analysis into production data pipelines, Henschen said, adding that many companies struggle with MLOps and fail even after successfully creating machine learning models. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Religious schools got what they wanted when the Supreme Court allowed them to participate in a state tuition program. But the state attorney general said the ruling will be for naught unless the schools are willing to abide by the same antidiscrimination law as other private schools that participate in the program. An attorney for the families criticized the knee-jerk comments, and the leader of a religious group predicted further litigation. The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Maine cant exclude religious schools from a program that offers tuition for private education in towns that dont have public schools. But religious schools didnt have long to savor their victory before learning of a new hurdle. Attorney General Aaron Frey said both Christian schools involved in the lawsuit have policies that discriminate against students and staff on a basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, preventing their participation in the tuition program despite the hard-fought litigation. The education provided by the schools at issue here is inimical to a public education. They promote a single religion to the exclusion of all others, refuse to admit gay and transgender children, and openly discriminate in hiring teachers and staff, he said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from two schools, Temple Academy in Waterville or Bangor Christian Schools. Michael Bindas, senior attorney for the Institute for Justice, said the attorney general isnt paying close attention to the Supreme Courts commitment to religious liberty in recent years. It was an erroneous opinion of the Maine attorney general that embroiled the state in five lawsuits spanning three decades and that culminated in the Supreme Courts ruling against the state, Bindas said Thursday in a statement. The current attorney general seems to not have learned any lessons from that experience. If the state truly intends to use the state law to create another obstacle, then more litigation will be inevitable, said Carroll Conley, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine. The original lawsuit by three families seeking reimbursements to attend Christian schools dates to 2018, but it goes back even further. The state always sought to maintain a solid line between church and state by reimbursing for private schools _ but not religious schools. The goal was to give rural students without a public high school an education thats similar to what public school students get. In Maine, 29 private schools participate in the program, enrolling 4,526 students, officials said. Private schools that meet the states criteria can get about $12,000 in taxpayer funding per student. The most immediate effect of the courts ruling beyond Maine probably will be in nearby Vermont, which has a similar program. The Supreme Courts 6-3 decision could propel school choice pushes in some of the 18 states that have not directed taxpayer money to private, religious education. It was seen as an affirmation for states that already have voucher programs open to religious schools. But all schools receiving state tuition must abide by the Maine Human Right Act, which bans discriminating against someone because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability, Frey said. The Legislature in the last session strengthened the law that clarified the scope of the Maine Human Rights Act in education. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill into law last year. The updated law, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Craig Hickman, the first openly gay African American to serve in both chambers of the Legislature, bans discrimination in education on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, among other things. The American Association of Christian Schools, meanwhile, brushed aside concerns of discrimination against the LGBTQ community. We dont look at it as discrimination at all. We have a set of principles and beliefs that we believe are conducive to prosperity, to the good life, so to speak, and we partner with parents who share that vision, said Jamison Coppola, spokesperson for the association. The lead plaintiffs, Dave and Amy Carson, were students of Conley when he used to be headmaster at Bangor Christian Schools. Conley said the attorney general laid down the gauntlet for religious schools, but he said legal precedent favors the schools. Dave Carson, for his part, said his family wont benefit from the ruling because his daughter is already a junior at Husson University. But he said he doesnt think its right for the state to try to put up roadblocks. As long as its an accredited school, students should be able to go wherever they want to, he said. Youre teaching the basics. If you want to have a Bible class, too, then thats a parents choice, not someone down in Augusta. Bindas said the attorney general should undertake a sober reflection of how best to balance the rights of parents in the litigation versus the states anti-discrimination interests. It is possible to develop policies that respect the concerns of both advocates for LGBTQ rights and advocates for religious liberty, but only if elected officials are genuinely committed to that task, he said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation K-12 Maine Taiwans financial regulator said on Tuesday that seven Taiwanese insurance companies have not received interest due on May 27 on Russian Eurobonds after a grace period ended on Sunday evening. Russia defaulted on its international bonds for the first time in more than a century, the White House and Moodys credit agency said on Monday, as sanctions have effectively cut the country off from the global financial system. The payments in question are $100 million in interest on two bonds, one denominated in U.S. dollars RU000A0JWHA4= and another in euros RU234748670=, that Russia was due to pay on May 27. The payments had a grace period of 30 days, which expired on Sunday. Russian debt makes up only a fraction of overall Taiwanese bond holdings. The Kremlin and the finance ministry have repeatedly said Russia was honoring its obligations, saying that the currency payments were made but not processed by Euroclear to reach non-Russian bondholders. Russia Defaults on Foreign-Currency Debt for 1st Time in More Than a Century Asked on Tuesday whether Russia would sue Euroclear or other Western financial intermediaries involved in the transaction, Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, said: This question should be analyzed by our lawyers, our financial institutions. According to Alexander Afonin, head of debt market analysis at Moscow-based Sinara investment bank, bondholders may call a default on Russia themselves under certain conditions. In order to do so, a certain quorum must be called and is very unlikely to be presented given that the bulk of those bondholders are Russian investors, Afonin said. He estimated that foreign investors own 15-20% of Russian sovereign Eurobonds. Unlike foreign bondholders, Russian investors are receiving their payments on sovereign Eurobonds via the National Settlement Depository which is sanctioned by the European Union. (Reporting by Emily Chan; writing by Ben Blanchard; editing by Angus MacSwan and Tomasz Janowski) Topics Carriers Russia Numbers Chinas third-most populous province Henan will launch pilot programs for catastrophe insurance in six cities that were the hardest hit by historic floods last summer. Aside from its capital Zhengzhou, trials are to be set up in the cities Anyang, Xinxiang, Hebi, Zhoukou and Xinyang, the provincial government said in a statement on Monday. Local governments in typhoon-prone areas on the Chinese coast have taken on catastrophe insurance, but such insurance is largely still in its infancy in China, partly due to a lack of a central government push. Chinas Cities Arent Prepared for Extreme Weather Caused by Climate Change However, the devastating 2021 floods in Henan, a province of almost 100 million people, was a wakeup call for local officials. It caused billions of dollars in economic losses and hundreds of fatalities, spurring officials to seek greater protection against natural catastrophes. Under the Henan trial program, the history, probability of disasters and local conditions of the selected cities will be taken into account when negotiating with insurance agencies to determine a unified insurance plan. The cities are encouraged to boost insurance coverage as much as their financial resources allow, the Henan government said. Henan said it had selected cities with the highest risk and which were severely affected by rainstorms and floods last year as the first batch in the pilot program. It will later expand the coverage areas and the scope of protection based on the situation, and gradually cover the whole province. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Liz Lee in Kuala Lumpur; editing by Bernadette Baum) Photograph: Rescuers use boats to evacuate people from a flooded area in Weihui in central Chinas Henan Province, on Monday, July 26, 2021. Photo credit: Chinatopix via AP. Related: Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1986 and based in Teesside, England, Erimus is an established retail insurance broker with a strong presence in the North East of England, serving a mainly regional commercial client base. Product offerings include commercial combined, business interruption, commercial property, cyber, D&O and employers liability insurance. The firm, which is headed up by Paul Davison, will become part of Gallaghers UK Retail division, which serves local and national businesses across the UK. Davison will report to Elliot Miller, regional managing director of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East. We are delighted to welcome the Erimus team to Gallagher. This business is a great fit with our UK retail operations and provides us with a fantastic opportunity to expand our regional presence in England, said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman, president and CEO. We look forward to working with Paul and his colleagues to expand their service offerings. Headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Gallagher provides insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services in 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Source: Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies A.J. Gallagher This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Willis Towers Watson (WTW) and Hiscox. A summary of these new hires follows here. WTWs Hires EYs Mayers for Commercial Lines Pricing, Underwriting WTW announced the appointment of Taffy Jo Mayers to the companys Insurance Consulting and Technology business. In her new role, Mayers will lead the units commercial lines pricing and underwriting propositions in order to help insurers modernise and thrive in this evolving market. Mayers most recently served as head of Commercial P&C and Specialty Insurance and Underwriting Transformation for EY North America. In that role she was responsible for identifying and developing strategies and technologies to assist commercial insurance carriers with automation and business modernisation initiatives to scale and future proof their operations. Prior to this, Mayers held several leadership roles at Zurich North America, including head of Middle Markets Underwriting Transformation. WTWs Insurance Consulting and Technology business has over 1,200 colleagues operating in 35 markets worldwide. It is a leading provider of advice, solutions and software primarily to the insurance industry. Its consulting services help clients manage risk and capital, improve business performance, and create competitive advantage by focusing on financial and regulatory reporting, enterprise risk and capital management, M&A and corporate restructuring, products, pricing, business management and strategy. *** Hiscox Names Flaquet to Newly Created Role of Group COO Specialist global insurer Hiscox has announced the appointment of Stephane Flaquet as the groups chief operating officer, effective Sept. 1, 2022 and subject to regulatory consents. Flaquet has been with Hiscox since 2010 and held a number of senior roles across the group. He initially joined Hiscox as chief operating officer for Hiscox Europe, before moving on to become group IT director in 2012 and then chief executive officer for Hiscox Europe between 2016 and 2021. He is currently group chief transformation officer and interim chief executive officer for Hiscox UK. In his new role, Flaquet will oversee a number of critical central functions including group claims, group IT, property services, procurement and group marketing to ensure the continued effective and efficient delivery of core services. He will be a member of the group executive committee and report to Hiscox Group CEO, Aki Hussain. As Stephane takes on this new role for the group, we will benefit enormously from his institutional knowledge, having run a number of Hiscox business areas. With a focus on driving process maturity, continued digital transformation and service excellence, Stephane will play an important part in ensuring we continue to build a better business that delivers for our customers, commented Hussain. Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance Underwriting Pricing Trends Willis Towers Watson Burlington, Iowa, has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the mother of a man who was shot to death by police nearly five years ago, the two sides said. The settlement comes nearly five years after Officer Chris Chiprez shot and killed 27-year-old Marquis Jones. Police stopped Jones on Oct. 1, 2017, for allegedly playing music too loudly, and police say Jones ran away with a gun in his hand. Chiprez fired several shots at Jones, saying in reports that Jones had refused orders to drop the gun. Jones fled into a backyard, followed by Chiprez, who fired a final shot that struck and killed Jones. Chiprez said in reports that he thought Jones was armed and was unaware that Jones had dropped the gun about 50 yards from where he was shot. But lawyers for Jones mother, Altovese Williams, said police body camera video and autopsy results showed that Jones was nearly prone on the ground when he was shot. Im not aware of a settlement larger than this in the state of Iowa for a wrongful death, civil rights claim, Cedar Rapids attorney Dave OBrien, who represented Williams, said in a statement. We believe the citys agreement to settle for their policy limits shows that they understand that the shooting and killing unarmed people in Burlington needs to stop. Police Chief Marc Denney declined to comment on the settlement, but he did confirm that Chiprez remains on the police force. Hes an officer in good standing who has been with the force for 20-plus years, Denney said. In March, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Chiprez was not entitled to qualified immunity in the lawsuit, citing body-camera footage that appeared to show Chiprez looking directly at items including the gun dropped by Jones while running after him. The appeals court also noted that autopsy results did not support Chiprezs assertion that Jones was in an upright firing position when he shot him. The Davenport law firm of Betty, Neuman & McMahon, which is representing Chiprez and the city, didnt immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment. Burlington is a city of 24,000 people, located on the Mississippi River about 140 miles east of Des Moines. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Iowa New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Hertz Corp. has offered to settle about three dozen cases filed by renters that say they were wrongly arrested for auto theft, the company said.The settlement push comes after Colleen Batcheler took over as general counsel for the rental company. During her first month on the job, Batcheler made it her top priority to end suits from more than 230 customers accusing Hertz of improperly calling in police on its renters, mostly while haggling about overdue rentals. Weve tried to take a step back and say How can we make progress in a way that is fair to our customers and is based on individual facts and circumstances,' Batcheler said in an interview. Hertz lost a key court battle earlier this month when a federal judge allowed more than 70 customers to sue for false arrests. Until then, Hertz had successfully forced nearly all of the lawsuits to remain under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge in Wilmington, Delaware. Batcheler declined to say how much money the company was offering to the alleged victims and their families. Hundreds of customers say in court papers that Hertz filed police reports against them and had them falsely arrested, often at gunpoint. A small number of those cases allege errors by Hertz employees caused police to pull over innocent customers on suspicion of driving stolen cars. Lawyers for the customers say about 100 more claims are being prepared. Victims will review the offers before deciding whether to accept them, said attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy, the Philadelphia lawyer who has spent years fighting Hertz in court. Hertz has indicated interest in settlement in the past, only to reveal they were not serious about addressing the full scope of the harm they have caused, Malofiy said in an emailed statement. Hertz must also agree to withdraw theft reports it filed against about 40 customers who are still being prosecuted, Malofiy said. The false arrest claims are an early challenge for Batcheler, who became Hertzs top lawyer last month, and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Scherr, who took over in February and pledged Hertz would change its practices to protect customers whove done nothing wrong from false arrests. The company will try to settle as many of the cases as it can in the coming months, Batcheler said. Some offers will be for more money than the victims asked for in their bankruptcy court claims. Other offers will be for significantly less, the company said in a statement. Hertz Corp. is the unit of Hertz Global Holdings Inc. that operates the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty rental brands in regions that include Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia. The company filed bankruptcy in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the economy and brought car rentals to a halt. Hertz exited bankruptcy oversight last year, but left a shell company behind to pay off its older, disputed debts, including the false arrest claims. Hertz files thousands of criminal cases against customers annually, according to court documents. The company says the majority involve disputes about vehicles that werent returned on time and likely have been stolen, and it tries to contact customers via phone calls, text messages, emails and certified letters about overdue cars and get them back through private means, working for about 63 days beyond the return date before involving police. Lawyers for the drivers say all the cases could cost Hertz more than $700 million. The company said in a quarterly filing that it doesnt expect a significant impact. About the photo: A traveler pulls luggage past a line rental vehicles at a Hertz location at the Louisville International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. The U.S. car rental industry achieved overall revenues of $28.1 billion in 2021 a 21% gain over the pandemic year of 2020, according to data collected by Auto Rental News. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The U.S. Supreme Court on June 27 made it harder for prosecutors to win convictions of doctors accused of running pill mills and excessively prescribing opioids and other addictive drugs, by requiring the government to prove that defendants knew their prescriptions had no legitimate medical purpose. The 9-0 ruling, authored by liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, sided with Xiulu Ruan and Shakeel Kahn, who argued that their trials were unfair because jurors were not required to consider whether the two convicted doctors had good faith reasons to believe the numerous opioid prescriptions were medically valid. While both doctors were registered under the a U.S. law called the Controlled Substances Act to prescribe such drugs to their patients, prosecutors at their trials argued that the prescriptions fell outside the usual course of professional practice. Breyer, who is retiring at the end of the courts current term in the coming days, wrote that once the doctors produced evidence that they were authorized to dispense drugs like opioids, prosecutors needed to prove they knowingly or intentionally acted in an unauthorized manner. Breyer said a decision by a doctor registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to intentionally prescribe addictive drugs in an unauthorized way would be illegal, not the prescriptions themselves. We normally would not view such dispensations as inherently illegitimate; we expect, and indeed usually want, doctors to prescribe the medications that their patients need, Breyer wrote. The justices, though, declined to decide whether jurors were sufficiently instructed in Ruans and Kahns cases or, if not, whether the mistakes were harmless. The Supreme Court sent the cases back to two federal appeals courts that had upheld the convictions for further proceedings based on Mondays ruling. Justice Samuel Alito, writing on behalf of himself and fellow conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett, said he agreed with the decisions bottom-line result but said its reasoning could result in confusion. Beau Brindley, Kahns lawyer, said the ruling totally changes the landscape of these prosecutions by requiring proof that doctors knew they were committing a crime when they write prescriptions. Ruans attorney did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment. The United States for more than two decades has struggled with an opioid epidemic that, according to federal health officials, has claimed the lives of more than a half million Americans. States have sued drug companies and pharmacies to hold them liable, but another key element in the public health crisis has been the role of doctors in prescribing massive volumes of the highly addictive pain medication. Some doctors have been accused of turning their medical practices into pill mills routinely prescribing controlled substances without a medical necessity and outside the bounds of a normal professional practice. Ruan, who practiced in Alabama, and Kahn, who practiced in Arizona and then Wyoming, were sentenced to 21 and 25 years in prison, respectively, in separate criminal cases. Prosecutors said Ruan with a business partner ran a clinic in Mobile that issued nearly 300,000 controlled-substance prescriptions from 2011 to 2015 and was one of the top U.S. prescribers of certain fentanyl-based pain medications. Prosecutors said he accepted kickbacks from drugmaker Insys Therapeutics Inc to prescribe a fentanyl spray to patients. Insys founder, John Kapoor, was later convicted of conspiring to bribe doctors including Ruan to prescribe the drug and defraud insurers into paying for it. The Supreme Court on June 13 rejected Kapoors bid to overturn his conviction. Prosecutors said Kahn regularly sold prescriptions for cash and unlawfully prescribed large amounts of opioid pills, resulting in at least one patient dying of an overdose. Topics USA New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A federal judge in California on Monday ordered a new trial on the damages Tesla Inc. owes to a Black former factory worker who accused the company of race discrimination, after he turned down a $15 million award. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco granted Teslas motion for a new trial a week after the former elevator operator, Owen Diaz, said he would not accept the judges award. Tesla Worker Rejects $15M Payout in Race Bias Lawsuit A jury last October had awarded Diaz $137 million, one of the largest verdicts ever in a discrimination case involving a single worker. Orrick in April said Tesla was liable to Diaz for discrimination, but he said the award was excessive and lowered it to $15 million. Tesla Seeks Retrial, Cut in Staggering $137M Award in Racial Bias Workplace Case Diazs lawyers said last week that the lower award was unjust because it undermined his constitutional rights to a trial by jury. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lawrence Organ, a lawyer for Diaz, said we are hopeful that a new jury will see the evidence in a similar light to the first jury and that Mr. Diaz will get the justice that the jury system is supposed to provide to him. Orrick did not set a date for the new trial, but scheduled a conference for July 12. In his 2017 lawsuit, Diaz alleged that his colleagues and a supervisor at Teslas Fremont, California, assembly plant subjected him to a hostile work environment that included racist slurs, caricatures and swastikas. Tesla is facing a series of lawsuits involving alleged widespread race discrimination and sexual harassment at the Fremont factory, including one by a California civil rights agency. This month, a Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit accusing the companys chief executive, Elon Musk, and board of directors of neglecting worker complaints and fostering a toxic workplace culture. Tesla has denied wrongdoing and says it has policies in place to prevent and address workplace misconduct. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Tesla New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The Food and Drug Administrations order to Juul Labs Inc. to take its products off shelves in the US threatens to undermine the e-cigarette makers defense in a sprawling legal fight over its youth marketing practices. But it also raises the risk of scant payoffs for those suing, if Juul ultimately loses its appeal over the ban. While a federal court on Friday gave Juul some respite by temporarily blocking the FDA order, both sides now have extra incentive to settle more than 2,500 personal injury lawsuits and hundreds more cases brought by local governments and school districts seeking to hold the company responsible for an epidemic of underage vaping. Experts estimate that Juul could potentially be hit with hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. There is a real question about Juuls ability to contribute much to a settlement if theres a strong possibility its income is substantially curtailed, said Mark Gottlieb, executive director of Public Health Advocacy Institute and a lecturer at the Northeastern University School of Law. That has reduced the settlement value for the enormous pool of cases brought against Juul. The FDAs decision, years in the making, comes nearly three months before the first youth marketing case is set for trial in San Francisco federal court. That personal injury complaint was brought by the mother of a Tennessee girl who allegedly got hooked on Juul products at age 12. Juul Soon to Be Ordered Off the Market by FDA In rejecting Juuls application to market its product, the FDA cited inadequate toxicology data. Even though the agency didnt get into the teen vaping issues that are at the heart of the litigation, its findings could bolster the addiction claims in the personal injury suits, said Elizabeth Burch, a professor at University of Georgia law school. The FDA is an expert agency that Congress entrusts with protecting public health, so courts and juries may give it a fair amount of weight if it comes into evidence and Juul will try to prevent that, Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. Juul said it disagrees with the FDAs findings and succeeded in persuading a federal appeals court to grant an emergency order temporarily blocking the decision. Juul claimed the FDA action was arbitrary and capricious and that the agency didnt consider the evidence before making a decision. Juul is also reportedly weighing a bankruptcy filing. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the company may seek protection if it doesnt get relief from the government ban. If theres no rapid solution to the FDA ban, all bets are off, said Matthew Myers, the president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Altria Group Inc., which owns a 35% stake in Juul and is also a defendant in the youth marketing litigation, has argued that the harm caused to young vapers occurred before its investment in the e-cigarette company. Its likely shielded from direct liability, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Kenneth Shea. A spokesperson for Juul didnt respond to a request for comment on the impact of the FDA order on the litigation. Sarah London, a co-lead plaintiffs lawyer in the Juul litigation, said her team will continue to fight for its clients. This action by the FDA in pulling Juuls toxic, dangerous and deceptively marketed products out of circulation vindicates the claims weve brought on behalf of the victims, London said. If Juuls products are ultimately taken off the market, it may be less inclined to throw its weight behind safeguarding the integrity of its e-cigarettes and more interested in looking for a way to end its legal woes, the University of Georgias Burch said. Theyre going to say, Look, weve got no cash coming in and youre going to have to take what you can get.' Photo: A person smokes a Juul Labs Inc. e-cigarette. Photographer: Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. A first-in-the-nation law that enables private citizens to sue manufacturers of dangerous firearms passed on Monday in the Assembly. The bill, backed by Gov. Newsom, returns to the Senate for consideration later in the week. Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, sponsored Senate Bill 1327, notes that the state Legislature declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. The wording of the bill calls firearms especially dangerous in the hands of young people, because research shows the are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. The bill continues: In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age. According to an analysis by the Assembly, the bill would make it a violation to do either of the following: Purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part. Sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age. It also authorizes any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity, to bring a civil action against anyone who knowingly does any of the following: Violates any of the above; Engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be in violation; or Commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described above. The bill passed on a 50-19 vote in the Assembly. Topics Lawsuits California Gun Liability News Global pce powder market trend 2025-2030 Differences Between Early Strength Agent and Water Reducing Agent by Newsintegra927 After Russia pledged to scale back its military operations around Kyiv and in northern Ukraine, the prices of most industrial metals fell, led by aluminum, showing people's concerns for supply shortage eased. At an earlier time, the West imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which aroused concerns about the supply problem because Russia is a major producer of nickel, aluminum, and copper. Russia is also a major gas supplier to Europe, where potential supply disruptions are seen as hitting power-intensive aluminum and zinc pce powder are still very uncertain. Definition Early strength agent refers to the admixture which can improve the early strength of concrete and has no significant effect on the late strength. Water reducing agent is a kind of concrete admixture which can reduce the water consumption under the condition of keeping the slump of concrete basically unchanged. Classification Early strength agents can be divided into strong electrolyte inorganic salts, water-soluble organic compounds, organic and inorganic compound early strength agents according to their chemical composition. Water reducing agent according to the chemical composition is usually divided into lignosulfonate type of water reducing agent, naphthalene series of high-efficiency water reducing agent, melamine series of high-efficiency water reducing agent, amino sulfonate series of high-efficiency water reducing agent, fatty acid series of high-efficiency water reducing agent, polycarboxylate series of water reducing agent. Composition Early strength agent in addition to chlorine salt and sulfate nitrite, chromate and other organic compounds such as triethanolamine, calcium formate, urea and so on. Water-reducing agent category is different, the composition is also very different, mainly a kind of surfactant, is widely used in the third generation of polycarboxylate water-reducing agent. Use Early strength agent does not contain chloride ion, no corrosion of steel bar, applicable to all civil and industrial buildings and prestressed reinforced concrete members, mortar and so on. It is most suitable for construction under low temperatures in early winter and early spring. Water reducing agent is widely used in high-speed railway, high-speed, civil, industrial buildings and prefabricated parts factory, etc., with wide applicability and suitable for four seasons. Note Early strength agent dosage is 3-6% of cement. In order to keep the quality of concrete mixed with this agent uniform, people need to extend the mixing time by 1-2 minutes. Concrete mixed with early strength agent cannot use orthopedic active minerals (such as opal). This agent such as damp agglomerate phenomenon, must be crushed or weathered rear can be used, its performance unchanged. Because there are many kinds of water-reducing agent, it is necessary to choose the appropriate type of water-reducing agent according to the needs of the project. In winter construction, it is recommended to choose the third generation polycarboxylate water reducing agent. Concrete Superplasticizer Supplier TRUNNANO is a reliable concrete additives supplier with over 12-year experience in nano-building energy conservation and nanotechnology development. If you are looking for high-quality concrete superplasticizer and early strength agents, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (sales@cabr-concrete.com) We accept payment via Credit Card, T/T, West Union, and Paypal. Trunnano will ship the goods to customers overseas through FedEx, DHL, by air, or by sea. According to Reuters, U.S. Treasury officials said they would discuss with G7 leaders pricing caps and tariffs on Russian oil as an alternative to the embargo, which would keep the market supplied, limit price spikes, and reduce Russian revenues. The EU foreign ministers' meeting was held in Brussels. The meeting failed to agree on the sixth round of sanctions, including an oil embargo on Russia, because of objections from Hungary. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said at a press conference after the meeting, that the meeting failed to reach an agreement on the final adoption of the sixth round of sanctions, the permanent representatives of member states to the EU will continue to discuss. The foreign ministers faced similar difficulties trying to reach an agreement on an oil ban. He said Hungary's position was based on economic rather than political concerns. Hungary is highly dependent on Russia for energy, getting more than 60 percent of its oil and 85 percent of its natural gas from Russia. A few days ago, the European Commission submitted the sixth round of proposed sanctions against Russia, including a total ban on Russian oil imports by the end of this year. Hungary immediately objected and said it wanted substantial compensation from the EU to offset its loss from giving up Russian oil. The pce powder price is predicted to increase in the next few days, due to geopolitical factors. Inquery us News Global spherical quartz powder market trend 2022-2030 Where can Spherical Quartz Powder be Used? by Newsintegra927 Russian president demanded that exports of Russian gas to "unfriendly" countries be settled in rubles. The demand has raised concerns in Germany about possible supply disruptions and the impact on industry and households if utilities do not pay in robles. Europe gets about 40% of its gas from Russia. Last year, Europe imported about 155 billion cubic meters. Germany, Europe's largest economy, depends heavily on Russian gas. The chief executive of Germany's E.ON said the German economy would face "significant damage, which should be avoided if possible" without Russian supplies. He also said it would take Germany three years to wean itself off Russian gas. In the event of a supply disruption, Germany's gas network regulator would prioritize home heating over industrial use, so energy-hungry manufacturers such as steelmakers would be the first to suffer, he said. The volatile international situations will continue to affect the markets and prices of many commodities like the spherical quartz powder. Quartz powder, also known as silica powder, is a hard, wear-resistant, stable chemical properties of silicate minerals, its main mineral composition is SiO2. The color of quartz powder is milky white, or colorless translucent. The hardness is 7. The density is 2.65. Slightly soluble in KOH solution. The melting point is 1650. The product with the general fineness in 120 mesh below is called quartz sand, and that more than 120 mesh is known as quartz powder. Quartz powder can be divided into nanometer silicon dioxide and spherical silica powder because of its fineness and morphology. Quartz powder is widely used in the industry, including the glass industry, machinery industry, artificial quartz stone plate, ceramics and metallurgy, construction, chemical industry and other industries used in the number of products in dozens to hundreds of mesh, purity requirements are different; In plastics, coatings, adhesives and other industries as fillers, fineness requirements in hundreds of mesh to thousands of mesh, high purity requirements; Used in the integrated circuit industry, product mesh and purity requirements. Quartz powder can be used as filler to add plastic, rubber, coating, etc., to improve performance, improve process characteristics, reduce costs, etc. The hardness of paint film can be improved by adding high purity quartz powder into the coating. High purity spherical quartz powder has special optical properties that conventional silicon dioxide does not have. It has strong UV absorption and red-light reflection characteristics. The spectrophotometer test shows that the absorption rate of ultraviolet light within the wavelength of 400mm is as high as 70%. It can be added to the coating to form a shielding effect, to achieve the purpose of UV aging and thermal aging, while increasing the heat insulation of the coating. The high purity quartz powder was added to the coating, which obviously weakened the radiation degree of UV light to the coating, and thus reduced the curing speed of the coating. Quartz sand can be used to remove rust because of its high hardness. The quartz sand is installed in the sand-blasting machine, through higher air pressure or water pressure, spewed quartz sand to the metal surface of the rust, through the quartz sand and rust surface of high-speed friction contact to achieve the effect of rust removal. Some manufacturers choose to use river sand instead of quartz sand because of its low cost. But the hardness of river sand is much lower than quartz sand, the content of silica in the two is different, quartz sand silicon content of nearly 99.9%, and the soil content of river sand is more, in the sandblasting process, river sand will be quickly broken or stand on the metal surface, cannot achieve the effect of real friction derusting, and the quartz sand for derusting. High hardness, uniform, and angular particles can be fully stable contact with the rusty surface, to achieve the effect of rust removal. Quartz powder also has a filtering effect. Quartz powder is mainly used for water treatment to remove turbidity, soften water, and reverse osmosis pretreatment, can also be used for surface water and groundwater. It can effectively remove suspended matter, organic matter, colloid, and sediment in water. Spherical Silica Powder Price The price is influenced by many factors including the supply and demand in the market, industry trends, economic activity, market sentiment, and unexpected events. If you are looking for the latest spherical silica powder price, you can send us your inquiry for a quote. ([email protected]) Spherical Silica Powder Supplier Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd. (TRUNNANO) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and nanomaterials including silica powder, nitride powder, graphite powder, zinc sulfide, calcium nitride, 3D printing powder, etc. If you are looking for high-quality spherical silica powder, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. ([email protected]) Due to the limited total amount of traditional energy, people have a huge demand for cleaner and greener new energy alternatives. Now, the emergence of graphene is unlocking the possibility of its application in the energy field, which can create a greener, more efficient, and sustainable future. Here Francesco Bonaccorso, Deputy Director of Innovation at the Graphene Flagship Program, explains how his researchers have developed a series of initiatives to bring graphene from the lab to the commercial market. Graphene has become a research hotspot for new materials in the 21st century. Graphene has been adopted by many industries, the most notable of which are healthcare and key material applications. The development of graphene has brought huge fluctuations in the demand for spherical quartz powder, and the demand for spherical quartz powder will continue to grow in the future. You can contact us for the latest news on spherical quartz powder. Inquery us Products Global Sodium stearate,Overview of Sodium Stearate,Application of sodium stearate,Sodium stearate price,Sodium stearate supplier market trend 2022-2028 Overview and application of sodium stearate by Newsintegra927 Chile's government is considering phasing in a proposed ban on glacial mining to limit projects high in the Andes by some big copper companies. Chile's constitutional assembly has approved a proposal to ban mining in glaciers, protected areas, and areas vital to protecting the country's water system. Chile's mining minister, Marcela Hernando, said about 20 mines had been identified in protected areas, some close to glaciers, including Codelco's El Teniente and Andina projects and Anglo American Plc's Los Bronces project. The new measures for glaciers and other protected areas will put about a fifth of Chile's copper Sodium stearate,Overview of Sodium Stearate,Application of sodium stearate,Sodium stearate price,Sodium stearate supplier prices are predicted to increase in the next few days. Overview of Sodium Stearate Sodium stearate is also known as sodium octadecanoate. White fine powder or lumps of sodium stearate, it is a chemically synthesized ingredient, not natural, but derived from the natural ingredient stearic acid, which is a saturated fatty acid that can be extracted from plant sources such as rapeseed oil, palm oil and sunflower oil. py solids have a slippery feel, have a fatty smell, and absorb water in the air. Dissolved in hot water or hot alcohol, it is decomposed into stearic acid, and in case of acid, the corresponding sodium salt is formed. Insoluble in ether, light gasoline, acetone and similar organic solvents. It is also insoluble in electrolyte solutions such as salt and sodium hydroxide. The aqueous solution is alkaline due to hydrolysis, while the alcoholic solution is neutral. It is prepared by the interaction of stearic acid and sodium hydroxide. Widely used in the manufacture of toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, as well as waterproofing agents, plastic stabilizers, adhesives, etc. Sodium stearate is an organic substance, a natural acid salt. Application of sodium stearate Sodium stearate is the sodium salt of stearic acid. This white solid is the most common soap. It is found in many types of solid deodorants, rubber, latex paints and inks. It is also an ingredient in some food additives and food flavorings. Sodium stearate can be used as a heat stabilizer for polyethylene. It has excellent lubricity and good processing properties. Works synergistically with zinc soaps and epoxy compounds to improve thermal stability, base lead salts and lead. Soap is used in hard products to increase the rate of gelation. The use of sodium stearate in polyethylene and polypropylene eliminates the detrimental effect of residual catalyst on resin color and stability. This product is also widely used as a lubricant and release agent for thermosetting plastics such as polyolefin, polyester reinforced plastic, phenolic resin amino resin, etc. Sodium stearate price The price of sodium stearate will change randomly with factors such as production cost, transportation cost, international situation, exchange rate, and market supply and demand of meat sodium stearate. Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd. aims to help industries and chemical wholesalers find high-quality, low-cost nanomaterials and chemicals by providing a full range of customized services. If you are looking for Sodium Stearate, please feel free to send an inquiry to get the latest price of Sodium Stearate. Sodium stearate supplier As a global sodium stearate supplier, Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd. has extensive experience in the performance, application and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced engineering materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (including oxides, carbides, nitrides, single metals, etc.), high-purity targets, functional ceramics and structural devices, and provides OEM services. Sodium Myristate Powder Properties Other Names SODIUM MYRISTATE 822-12-8 Sodium tetradecanoate, Tetradecanoic acid, sodium salt, Myristic acid sodium salt CAS No. 822-12-8 Compound Formula CH3(CH2)12COONa Molecular Weight N/A Appearance white fine powder Melting Point N/A Solubility in water N/A Density N/A Purity >98% Particle Size 200 mesh Boling point N/A Specific Heat N/A Thermal Conductivity N/A Thermal Expansion N/A Young's Modulus N/A Exact Mass 478.387252 Monoisotopic Mass 478.387252 The Japanese minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry recently held talks with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and industry in Washington, where he is visiting, and agreed to include basic principles on joint research and development of semiconductors and strengthening of supply chains. Japan's economy, Trade and Industry Minister has asked the United States to increase the Sodium stearate,Overview of Sodium Stearate,Application of sodium stearate,Sodium stearate price,Sodium stearate supplier will continue to increase in the future. Inquery us US retail giant Walgreens is abandoning the sale of the Boots pharmacy chain in the UK and Ireland citing unexpected and dramatic change in the global financial markets since launching the sales process in January. The American healthcare group had been in talks with a consortium between Reliance Industries and Apollo Global Management over the more than 5.8bn sale of the chain. Boots has 89 outlets in Ireland employing more than 2,000 people As a result of market instability severely impacting financing availability, no third party has been able to make an offer that adequately reflects the high potential value of Boots, Walgreens said in a statement. The recent strong performance of Boots, and its key No7 beauty brand, is also behind the decision to retain the business, the company added in the statement. The Boots sale was considered a litmus test for dealmaking with credit markets becoming increasingly fragile. The easy financing conditions that supported a series of debt-fueled takeovers of British companies last year have mostly come to an end. Banks have been cutting their exposure to leveraged loans for risk of being saddled with debt they cant then sell on to investors. Thats cast a shadow over at least $25bn (23.75bn) of transactions in Europe. This year, banks have run into problems offloading 6.6bn (7.66bn) of debt tied to Clayton Dubilier & Rices take-private of UK supermarket chain Wm Morrison Supermarkets. The focus is now on how the financing will come together for deals including the possible 5bn (5.8bn) sale of UK gas station operator Motor Fuel Group. Meanwhile, Reckitt Benckiser Group has been struggling to attract bidders for its $7bn (6.65bn) infant nutrition unit. The Reliance-led consortium had been the frontrunner to buy Boots although the amount they offered was still short of the valuation of about 7bn (8.12bn) that Walgreens had been seeking initially. Its main competitor in the bidding was a consortium of Britains billionaire Issa brothers and TDR Capital, although the race between the two lost steam as financing markets became weighed down by concerns around inflation and the war in Ukraine. Boots has a sprawling web of more than 2,000 stores in the UK and many of them need to be renovated and adapted to changing consumer trends. Boots has also been slow to catch up with online shopping, just one of the areas where investment is needed. There are also billions in pension guarantees that would have to be taken on. The board and I remain confident that Boots and No7 Beauty Company hold strong fundamental value, and longer term, we will stay open to all opportunities to maximise shareholder value for these businesses and across our company, said Walgreens Chief Executive Officer, Rosalind Brewer. - Bloomberg Diageo, the world's largest spirits maker, will wind down its business operations in Russia over the next six months, it said on Tuesday, becoming the latest Western brand to withdraw. "Our focus will remain on supporting our employees in the region and providing them with enhanced redundancy terms, while ensuring we comply with local regulations," a Diageo spokesperson said in a statement. Foreign companies seeking to exit Russia over the war in Ukraine face the prospect of a law being passed in the coming weeks to allow Moscow to seize assets and impose criminal penalties. That has encouraged some businesses to accelerate their departure. Nike and Cisco announced plans to leave last Thursday. Michelin plans to hand over its Russian activities to a new entity under local management by the end of the year, it said on Tuesday, becoming the first Western tyre-maker to withdraw from business in Russia. However, Diageo, which stopped shipping to and selling goods in Russia in March, will retain a business licence there that requires a number of employees to remain, a source said familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Once the process of winding down is complete, Diageo will have fewer than 10 employees in Russia, the source said. Stocks of non-Russian alcohol have started to dwindle in Russia, hampered by sales suspensions by major Western firms and supply disruptions, leaving Russian consumers with less choice and higher prices. In early March, the leading Western brewer in the country Carlsberg, as well as Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken, suspended sales in Russia. They have since said they will sell their Russian businesses. Reuters Relatives of children killed during the Troubles will tell their stories to MPs ahead of a vote on controversial legislation granting amnesty for crimes committed during the Northern Ireland conflict. Martin McGavigan and Mary Feeney-Morrison, both now in their 60s, are among a group of six families taking part in a special event in Parliament on Tuesday evening that aims to bring the reality of their experiences to Westminster. Mr McGavigans sister Annette was shot dead by British soldiers during a riot in the Bogside area of Derry in 1971. She was just 14 years old and still wearing her school uniform. He told PA he remembered his mother talking to Annettes clothes that she was murdered in, the blood-stained slippers, the school uniform and that as an adult his daughter, Maria, would find him reading Annettes papers and crying. Are all of those MPs who are prepared to pontificate about Northern Ireland and the past prepared to walk up two flights of stairs and listen to them? Ms Feeney-Morrisons sister, Kathleen Feeney, was also 14 when she was killed by an IRA sniper in Derry in 1973. In 2005, the IRA made an official apology to her family, but so far nobody has been convicted for the murder. She said: When my sister was shot dead, when we buried her nobody came to us and said are you okay. Thats widespread around the north of Ireland there was no assistance, there was no help for anybody. They couldnt cope, you just had to get on with it. You just blended it into your daily life while you were fighting mentally. Although both are still affected by the loss of their siblings, they said they had been helped by a production staged by the Derry Playhouse in which their children helped tell their stories. Mary Feeney-Morrison (left) and her daughter Sarah Feeney-Morrison. Marys sister Kathleen Feeney was shot and killed at the age of 14 by an IRA sniper in Derry in 1973 (Ashlee Ruggels/PA) Ms Feeney-Morrison said seeing her daughter, Sarah, perform her story had helped her heal, while Mr McGavigan said seeing Maria on stage had made him both proud and able to talk more openly about his experiences. It is a stripped-down version of that production that has been brought to Westminster at the invitation of SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, who hopes the families testimonies will persuade MPs to oppose the Governments controversial Troubles Legacy Bill. The Bill is due for its next debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday, and has been criticised by Amnesty International for giving murderers and those responsible for torture a free pass. Mr Eastwood told the PA news agency: Particularly on the Tory benches there has been a fairly cavalier attitude to the impact that this Bill will have on ordinary peoples lives. Ive not met a victim yet who supports it. Its important they have the opportunity to see for themselves the impact that the past has had on people. Hopefully this doesnt go through because we need answers, we need truth, we need justice for our loved ones Mr McGavigan, who was 11 when his sister was killed, added: Hopefully this doesnt go through because we need answers, we need truth, we need justice for our loved ones. You just dont brush it under the carpet and say move on. So far, only one Conservative Northern Ireland Affairs Committee chair Simon Hoare has agreed to see the production on Tuesday evening, which Mr Eastwood described as a test. He said: The test is a fairly simple one. Are all of those MPs who are prepared to pontificate about Northern Ireland and the past prepared to walk up two flights of stairs and listen to them? We have tried to make it as easy as possible for them and it will say an awful lot about them if they dont turn up. A mortgage company has secured a temporary High Court order allowing it to appoint a receiver over an estimated six-figure insurance payout to a convicted child rapist whose property burnt down. The interim order was secured by Start Mortgages DAC which claims that the man, who cannot be identified and who the High Court heard on Tuesday is currently in jail, owes it over 400,000 arising out of his failure to repay loans. The court heard that while the exact figure of the payment is not known, it estimates that it will be approximately 125,000. Start says that those funds should be paid to it to satisfy the man's alleged debt to it. The man received a 12-year prison sentence from the Central Criminal Court in 2014 after he was found guilty by a jury of charges including rape and the sexual assault of his ex-partner's young daughter. The abuse commenced when the victim was aged seven years. On Tuesday, Ms Justice Nuala Butler at the High Court heard that several years before being jailed the man obtained a mortgage with Start for over 265,000 to obtain a property in the South-East. Property destroyed by fire A year later, that property was destroyed following a fire. The property was insured by Zurich Insurance, and on foot of the insurance policy it agreed to pay out over 222,000 for the reconstruction of the property. Zurich paid out 85,000 to the man's then lawyers as a first instalment. Start claims that the man informed it that those monies were being kept in a safe place until planning permission was obtained to allow his property to be reconstructed. The property, Start claims, was never rebuilt and planning permission for the reconstruction was never obtained. Start claims that some of the monies that were paid out were used by the man for improper purposes. Start says that following correspondence with the man, he informed the fund that 30,000 from the first instalment was paid by the man's former solicitors, without his consent, to clear arrears due on the mortgage. Those monies, the court heard should have been used to refurbish the property. Letters of demand Start said that it issued letters of demand against the man. When the monies were not repaid it obtained a High Court judgment against him, prior to his imprisonment. There was a delay in executing that judgement due to the lengthy interactions between the parties, that lasted several years, and the intervention of the Covid-19 pandemic, Start claimed. Start intends to seek a renewal of that judgment, which it has made all reasonable efforts to execute, that was obtained over six years ago. Start told the court that when interest is included the man currently owes it a sum of just over 402,000. Start also told the court that following his incarceration it appointed a receiver who sold the man's property, which it said was a derelict shell, for a sum of just over 33,000. Start claims that the man is due to receive the balance of the insurance pay from Zurich. Start had hoped that the insurer would pay the monies to it. However, Start says that Zurich's lawyers have indicated that the insurer is only prepared to pay the monies to the man's current solicitors. Start had hoped that those monies would be kept in a holding account until the matter between the parties had been resolved. However, the man's current lawyers declined to do that. Terms not honoured Start claims that the man has no intention of honouring the terms of the mortgage, and it fears that the monies due to be paid by Zurich may be dissipated unless a receiver is appointed over those funds. It is not known exactly when those monies will be paid. However, Start believes that the payment will be made in the coming days, and want a receiver appointed over the payment. That application was made on an ex-parte basis, before Ms Justice Butler. The judge said she was satisfied to appoint a receiver. The judge said she was not satisfied at this stage of the proceedings to make any permanent orders in relation to the payment until the court had heard from the man's legal representatives. The matter was adjourned to a date in July. A Garda surveillance operation intercepted a drug trafficking route from Dublin to Cork and now two Cork men have been jailed for the parts they played in the operation. Sergeant Paul Leahy gave evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of how a Dublin man carried 55,000 worth of heroin to Cork for onward transmission. The modus operandi entailed the Dublin man travelling by bus to Cork and getting off at Merchant's Quay. At the bus station, the plan was to meet a Cork man who would guide him to the third man to whom he would transfer the heroin. Without talking or giving any appearance of being in each others company, the Dublin man and the guiding local man would get on to a bus and travel to Gurranabraher and walk to St Marys Avenue off Cathedral Road. On this quiet cul-de-sac, the Dublin man would pass the drugs to a third man waiting on an electric bike. As this was about to happen, gardai emerged from their concealed positions and arrested all three parties. The Dublin man was not before the court. The man who led him from Merchant's Quay to St Marys Avenue without ever handling the heroin himself was 42-year-old Roy Twohig. The man on the bicycle who was to receive the package was William Kenny, 45. Both men were homeless and living at the time at St Vincents hostel on Anglesea Terrace in Cork. Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Sarah Berkeley has jailed Kenny for four and a half years. Twohig was jailed for two years. Twohig indicated he was to have been paid 100 for his part in the crime. Differentiating between the two parties, Judge Berkeley said of Kenny: His level of participation in the crime was at a high level of culpability. He was described by Sergeant Leahy as the organiser in facilitating the crime and involved in the sale or supply of the drug in the city of Cork. He recruited Mr Twohig and he [Kenny] has serious relevant crime. He made admissions. He was homeless and an addict. In all of those circumstances the judge set a sentence at seven years but suspended the last two and a half years of it. Judge Berkeley noted Kenny accepted that he played a greater part in the crime and that his co-accused Roy Twohig had only played a small part in the enterprise. In respect of Twohig, the judge said: There was an early plea of guilty. He was homeless and had a drug addiction. He had a limited role in the transaction. He has been of good behaviour in prison. He made admissions in relation to his role and he apologised. Albeit a smaller role, he must have known what was going on. His co-accused said he had recruited Mr Twohig to take the man to the locus. The judge sentenced him to two years and six months with the six-month portion of the sentence suspended. Commenting generally on the crime of heroin-dealing, the judge said she had to take into consideration the harm drugs caused to the public. Roy Twohig and William Kenny both pleaded guilty to having diamorphine [better known as heroin] for the purpose of sale or supply to others at a time when the street value exceeded 13,000 the threshold amount which gives rise to mandatory 10-year sentence unless the sentencing judge finds there are exceptional circumstances. Each man entered a signed guilty plea to the case against them. The charges against each man relate to St Marys Avenue, off Cathedral Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, on Wednesday, January 19. Its very superficial, I sense at times, and its sort of plucking one aspect of it or one manifestation of it and turning it into a big sort of toxic discussion, which I have no time for and we dont need that. On the eve of Dublins Pride, Taoiseach Micheal Martin was unequivocal: Trans rights, as the saying goes, are human rights. Martin was speaking after a couple of weeks in which the so-called trans debate reached a kind of fever pitch. (There is no trans debate, by the way; transgender people exist, and framing discussion about different aspects of their lived experience under the net of debate often implies otherwise.) But what Martin was really getting at was not that the discussion (it is important at this juncture to be clear I am not arguing against anyones right to speak freely) but was hitting on a key issue of the discourse: Namely that this is largely an imported battle in the culture wars, designed to do little but sow division. In the UK, the discussion around trans rights and treatment has become incredibly toxic. It has taken on many of the characteristics of a moral panic, about which many faceless Twitter profiles care suspiciously deeply. The question which Irish politicians have asked in the last week is salient: Is this the kind of debate we want to import? And, as importantly, to what end? To the first question, Martin was clear. Id be very concerned about that and Ive watched it in the UK and we certainly dont need that kind of debate in Ireland. We dont need to have that kind of debate in Ireland, he said. Taoiseach Micheal Martin: 'Acceptance is the key for trans persons.' Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire First of all, acceptance is the key for trans persons and I think we need a debate that creates a space for understanding and from an informed perspective, and sometimes we dont get that in a highly charged forum. As was the Green Party whip Marc O Cathasaigh in the Dail on Thursday: Were beginning to see an importation of culture wars that are being waged elsewhere where debates around these issues are becoming weaponised and are being used to stoke fears and to sow division. The debate around trans rights has become increasingly heated in Ireland over the past number of weeks, he said. It is a debate around somebodys basic right to exist. We always have to be conscious of that. Fuelling a narrative The importation of these debates exists purely to fuel a narrative that we, as a society, are being driven apart by our differences on social issues, that our day-to-day lives are riven with violence and upheaval because minorities are demanding more than their fair share and it is tearing apart our very social fabric. Look around you. Is that an Ireland you recognise? Because it certainly is not the country I live in. The Ireland I know can have grown-up conversations about issues (not peoples right to exist), while putting the dignity of those about whom we are conversing front and centre. Neither is that a representation of the minority communities in Ireland that I recognise, the vast majority of whom just want to get on with their lives in a country which recognises their basic rights and dignity. The second question is more complicated. To what end do people want to have this debate? There are some who say they worry about the invasion of female spaces by trans women, but under the Gender Recognition Act of 2015, according to the most recent review, there have been 599 gender recognition certificates issued to both trans men and women up to the end of 2020, about 10 a month. While this is not empirical data on the number of trans people in Ireland, it points to their being a very tiny minority. There are those who argue that changes to the 2015 Act would allow 16- and 17-year-olds change their gender identity without parental consent. This is, quite simply, untrue. The programme For government commits to: Removing the need for a person aged 16 and 17 years to have two specialist reports before they can apply for legal gender recognition, by providing for self-declaration, with parental consent and by making mediation available on a voluntary basis. This is being done on foot of a 2018 review of the legislation, which consulted with young trans people who felt that the need to consult with doctors was forcing young people down a medical route when all that may be required is social transition and legal recognition. There was an argument that the National Womens Council of Ireland wants to exclude the word woman from maternity hospital guidelines, which is also false. NWCI advocates for inclusive language in legislation and policy. NWCI recommended the use of women and people in the amendments to the maternity legislation, the group stated. Given that intersex people, non-binary people, and trans men can become pregnant, this doesnt feel like an egregious request and one which is very unlikely to impact the day-to-day lives of anyone. Attempt to relitigate 2015 Act There is now also an attempt to relitigate the 2015 Act under the guise that it was, somehow, snuck through. To be clear, the Act began its life with a 2010 formation of the Gender Recognition Advisory Group, which came back a year later with a report. This was followed by two opposition bills being debated in 2013 when Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh introduced his bill in the Dail and senator Katherine Zappone brought hers to the Seanad, before the Governments bill was brought in July that year. Aengus O Snodaigh: Sinn Fein introduced his bill in the Dail in 2013. File picture: Andy Gibson A comprehensive report was debated in 2014 before the bill was published that December. In January 2015, the bill was introduced in the Seanad and debated for two days before a Dail debate in which 26 TDs spoke. By the time the bill passed in July that year, the Trans Equality Network Ireland estimated that 240 articles were published about the bill. But even if the bill was snuck through, its quiet operation for seven years should say something, surely? In some sections of society, the issue of transitioning, trans healthcare, and trans treatment will raise questions which are more complex, but the answer to that complexity is never to import a toxic discourse. The Taoiseach is right thats something we have no time for. Did you know? In 1957, John Jack Murphy became the first unemployed person ever elected to a national legislature. Known in some quarters as the man in the black beret, he won a seat in the Dublin South Central constituency but resigned a year later, frustrated at the lack of support for unemployed people. I was fed up with the callous indifference of the big parties to the situation of the workers. I resigned as a protest against appalling indifference of those parties to the unemployed, he said. He left Ireland for Canada but returned in 1964. He passed away in 1984. This week in years gone by 1921 July 1: It is reported that Arthur Griffith and Eoin MacNeill have been released from Mountjoy prison to much excitement amid increased hope of a peace deal with Britain. According to Sinn Fein leaders, there was complete unanimity to achieve a settlement. 2001 July 2: Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan challenged taoiseach Bertie Ahern to call on election anytime. Following his party's decisive win in the Tipperary South by-election, the nine-percentage-point rise in the Fine Gael vote gave Noonan his first electoral endorsement as leader and a good springboard for starting his general election campaign. There is going to be a real contest now between Bertie Ahern and Michael Noonan. We have been planning a general election for some time now, and we are ready at any time, Noonan said. Fine Gael was roundly defeated at the general election nine months later, winning just 30 seats. Noonan resigned immediately after. 2011 July 1: The Irish Examiner reported that with more than 4.5m citizens, the population of Ireland was moving towards post-Famine levels and was the fastest-growing in Europe, according to the Central Statistics Office. Preliminary results of Census 2011 published showed the population of Co Cork exceeded 500,000 for the first time since the Famine, while 1.27m people live in Dublin. 2016 June 30: In the days after the Brexit referendum, the turmoil from that decision continued to play out on the front pages. The front page of the Irish Examiner on July 1, 2016 quoted Fianna Fail's Dara Calleary, a former junior finance minister, as saying Europe walked away from Ireland during the financial crash and enforced the bailout upon us. 2020 June 27: Micheal Martin becomes Taoiseach as a historic coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and the Green Party comes to power at the Convention Centre in Dublin. What to look out for this week Tuesday The Dail week will kick off at 2pm with Leaders' Questions, with the cost of living due to remain an issue. Sinn Fein will look to hammer that home as they have a motion calling for an emergency budget in the Dail at 7.30pm. In the Seanad, a busy day will see three pieces of legislation debated, starting with the Institutional Burials Bill which will be discussed from 2.45pm. The Government business will also see the Planning and Development and Higher Education Authority Bills discussed. The Linn Dara CAMHs unit, which saw 11 beds closed last month due to staffing issues, will be discussed at the sub-committee on mental health. Sectoral emissions targets for transport and agriculture will be the subject of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. The Joint Committee on Tourism, Sports, Art, Culture, and Media will launch its report on the abuse of referees in sport. Wednesday On Wednesday, the Taoiseach will join EU leaders in meeting Nato leaders in Madrid. Expect questions about Irish neutrality to be high on the agenda when Martin appears before the Irish media. At home, Labour will bring its Autism Bill to the chamber at 10am before Leaders' Questions at midday. With three weeks left of the Dail term, the Government will look to get through seven pieces of business. There are bills on EirGrid, regulation of builders, assisted decision making, and judicial appointments, as well as the renewal of the legislation underpinning the Special Criminal Court. Thursday Frances president has said Russia cannot and should not win in Ukraine, voicing the Wests continued support for Kyiv following Moscows horrific missile attack on a shopping centre. Ukrainian leaders denounced the strike, which killed 18 people in the central city of Kremenchuk, as a war crime and a terrorist attack. The attack drew swift condemnation from the Group of Seven (G7) leaders meeting in Germany at the time. It came as an unusually intense barrage of Russian fire all across Ukraine, including in the capital of Kyiv, drew new attention to a war that some fear could fade from the headlines as it drags on. Speaking at the end of the G7 summit in Germany, French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to address that concern, vowing that the seven leading industrialised democracies would support Ukraine and maintain sanctions against Russia as long as necessary, and with the necessary intensity. Russia cannot and should not win, he said. He added that Mondays attack on the shopping centre was a new war crime. As they have in other attacks, Russian authorities claimed that the shopping centre was not the target. Russia's attack on civilians at a shopping mall is cruel. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. As demonstrated at the G7 Summit, the U.S. along with our allies and partners will continue to hold Russia accountable for such atrocities and support Ukraines defense. President Biden (@POTUS) June 27, 2022 How to counter Russia and back Ukraine will be the focus of a summit this week of the western Nato alliance, whose support has been critical to Kyivs ability to fend off Moscows larger and better equipped forces. Ukrainian leaders, however, say they need more and better weapons if they are to continue to hold off and even drive back Russia, which is pressing an all-out assault in Ukraines eastern region of the Donbas. As Mr Macron spoke, rescuers combed through the charred rubble of the shopping centre that authorities said was struck with more than 1,000 afternoon shoppers and workers inside. The attack was branded a war crime by Mr Macron and Ukrainian officials (AP) Many of those inside quickly fled the building when an air raid siren sounded and took shelter across the street, Ukrainian interior minister Denis Monastyrsky said. Several of the bodies of those who did not make it out in time are burned beyond recognition and their identification could take days, he said. In addition to the 18 killed, authorities said 59 were wounded. Another 21 people are still missing, Mr Monastyrsky said. The attack recalled strikes earlier in the war that hit a theatre, a train station, and a hospital. A police officer inspects a fragment of a Russian rocket stuck in a tree trunk about 300 metres from the epicentre of the Russian rocket attack (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history, while the G7 leaders said indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. At Ukraines request, the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting in New York on Tuesday to discuss the attack. As condemnation of the strike came in from many quarters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov struck a defiant note, saying Russia would press its offensive until it fulfils its goals. He said the hostilities could stop before the end of the day if Ukraine were to surrender and meet Russias demands, including recognising its control over territory it has taken by force. Standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Tackling energy prices spikes. Protecting the world from a food crisis. Investing in quality infrastructure. Democracies deliver. Even more so when they are united. This is what the @g7 stands for. pic.twitter.com/tTjLp94WIO Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 28, 2022 Russian defence ministry spokesman Lt Gen Igor Konashenkov claimed that warplanes fired precision-guided missiles at a depot that contained Western weapons and ammunition, which detonated and set the mall on fire. Ukrainian officials have contradicted that, saying the shopping centre was hit directly. Lt Gen Konashenkov said the depot was near a factory for road construction equipment. Mykola Danileiko, a spokesman for that factory, confirmed that it was hit along with the mall, but insisted that there were no weapons there. Many of the victims were said to have been burned beyond recognition (AP) Wayne Jordash, a British lawyer who is working with Ukrainian officials to investigate possible war crimes, meanwhile, said that initial indications were that there were no military targets nearby, but the investigation is ongoing. Elsewhere on Tuesday, Russian forces struck the Black Sea city of Ochakiv, damaging apartment buildings and killing two, including a six-year-old child. A further six people, four of them children, were wounded. One of them, a three-month-old baby, is in a coma, according to local officials. The unusually intense spate of fire in recent days came as the G7 leaders gathered in Europe. They pledged continued support for Ukraine and the worlds major economies prepared new sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on oil and higher tariffs on goods. At least 18 people were killed (AP) Mr Zelensky has called for more air defence systems from his Western allies to help his forces fight back. The US appeared ready to respond to that call, and Natos support for Ukraine will be a major focus of its summit as the alliance turns its attention once again to confronting an adversarial Russia. In a sinister warning as Nato leaders gathered in Madrid ahead of that summit, Russias state space corporation Roscosmos published satellite images and the precise coordinates of the conference hall where the meeting will be held. It also posted the images and coordinates of the White House, the Pentagon and the government headquarters in London, Paris and Berlin referring to them as decision-making centres supporting the Ukrainian nationalists in a message on the Telegram app. That wording echoes Russian President Vladimir Putins earlier warnings that he could target such centres in response to what he has called aggressive Western actions. Burma ASEAN Special Envoy on Second Visit to Myanmar; No Meeting With Suu Kyi Prak Sokhonn, ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar and Cambodia's foreign minister, speaks during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat press conference in Phnom Penh on February 17, 2022. / AFP PHNOM PENHThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Special Envoy on Myanmar will start his second tour to the country on Wednesday, following up on the blocs peace plan and humanitarian assistance for the country that has been in social, political and economic turmoil since last years coup. Cambodias Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the trip to Myanmar aimed to contribute to building an environment conducive to an inclusive political dialogue through the meetings with all parties concerned. Following last years military takeover, Myanmar has seen nationwide popular armed resistance to the junta. The military regime has killed at least 2,000 civilians so far for their anti-coup activism. The five-day visit by ASEAN envoy Prak Sokhonn comes just a day after his call to Myanmars regime to return the countrys detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from solitary confinement in prison to the location in the capital Naypyitaw where she was originally detained. Prak Sokhonn was appointed as the ASEAN special envoy for Myanmar earlier this year to mediate between all parties concerned as required by the blocs peace plan for Myanmar, known as the Five-Point Consensus. After the regimes brutal post-coup crackdowns on protesters, ASEAN last year adopted a five-point peace plan for Myanmar, including an immediate cessation of the juntas violence against its own people. However, the plan has largely been criticized as a failure, as the junta has continued to commit extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and the torching of civilian properties as it tries to crush armed resistance across the country. At the same time, ASEANs plan to provide humanitarian assistance to the country has been denounced by rights groups for allowing the junta to distribute the aid, amid fears that the military regime will use the relief supplies for its own benefit. Given the regimes ongoing atrocities, the envoys second trip to Myanmar seems unlikely to result in any breakthroughs. His first visit to the country in early May produced no tangible results after Prak Sokhonn met only with junta officials. Like last time, he will not be allowed to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In May, Cambodias prime minister Hun Sen, the current ASEAN chair, urged the Myanmar regime leader to let ASEANs envoy meet with Suu Kyi and detained President U Win Myint to create a conducive environment to start an inclusive political dialogue. However, regime chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing responded that he would only facilitate meetings with other parties concerned, meaning that the envoy will not meet with Suu Kyi or U Win Myint during his visit. You may also like these stories: Regime Airstrike Destroys Hospital in Lower Myanmar Junta Chief to Preside Over Myanmars First Grand Military Review in Seven Years Resistance Fighters and KIA Clash With Junta Forces in Northern Myanmar Burma Karen Groups Battle Myanmar Military for Control of Key Outpost Local residents displaced by the fighting in Waw Lay / CJ Fierce clashes continued Tuesday between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar military following the Karen ethnic armed groups attack on a military outpost in Waw Lay in Karen States Myawaddy Township on Sunday, sources told The Irrawaddy. The KNUs armed wings, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO), and other resistance groups launched the assault on the Ukayit Hta outpost on Sunday. Both sides have reportedly suffered casualties. Sources familiar with the fighting in the area said the battle for Ukayit Hta is the fiercest they have seen between ethnic and regime troops since last year. Artillery shells land every three seconds, he said on Tuesday. A resident told The Irrawaddy on Monday: [The Myanmar military] has bombed [the area] around 11 times from the air today. The fighting is fierce and is still going on. Residents from neighboring villages have been fleeing their homes since yesterday. A source close to the Karen armed groups said the regime sent in reinforcements on Monday and was also providing artillery support. The regime was conducting aerial attacks with Yak-130 jet trainers and light combat aircraft from its Hmawbi Airbase in Yangon, he said. So far there has been no airstrike today, he said, describing the situation on Tuesday morning. The outpost is located at the Falu-Waw Lay-Sukali intersection and is of strategic importance. Video files of local residents fleeing the fighting have spread on social media since Sunday. Neither side has yet released casualty figures. But a KNDO fighter was confirmed killed in action on Sunday. The fighter was identified as Corporal Wai Lin Aung, who defected from the regime in August last year, taking two firearms with him. He fought alongside KNDO fighters in attacks on the Maw Khee junta outpost and Waw Lay Police Station. Defense Minister of the parallel National Union Government U Yee Mon issued a certificate of honor for the former corporal. The KNLA, the KNDO and allied resistance forces captured a military camp in Maw Khee in the KNLAs Brigade 6 territory, known as Dooplaya District, on March 22. The KNLA and allied resistance forces also seized Thay Baw Boe camp on May 18. Earlier this month, the KNDO and allied resistance forces also seized Waw Lay Police Station, where junta troops are based. Five junta soldiers were captured, and nine resistance fighters detained there were rescued. Burma Myanmar Junta Tortures Sagaing Anti-Regime Activists Mother to Force Surrender A Wetlet protest. Wetlet Basic Education Students Union Myanmars regime has detained a protesters mother in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, and demanded that the activist hand herself in. Daw Htwe Htwe Thein, the mother of Ma Thoon Nant Thar, an executive member of the Wetlet Basic Education Students Union, was detained on Friday at her house. A police commander called Ko Han Min Soe, the students union president, and said he must surrender along with vice-president Ko Nanda and Ma Thoon Nant Thar by Tuesday. The police officer called him three times this week and Daw Htwe Htwe Thein was tortured on Monday during the phone call, Ko Han Min Soe told The Irrawaddy. They beat hit her nearly six times. They said they will kill her if we will not surrender, he said. The student union organizes frequent anti-regime protests for students and residents in the resistance stronghold of Wetlet. The students union lost contact with Ma Thoon Nant Thar three days ago. Troops raided her home in February and May. Ko Han Min Soe said: Seizing relatives will not stop the revolution. We will continue the revolution without betraying the people. Some members of the Wetlet General Strike Committee have been detained but the student leaders remain out of custody. A strike committee spokeswoman said: The student protesters are being targeted. Thats why they took their parents hostage and told them to surrender. We will never surrender. We will continue to do what we have to do for the revolution. Burma Resistance Mine Attacks on Myanmar Junta Convoys Kill Almost 40 Soldiers A mine exploding as resistance fighters ambush a junta convoy in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region in May. Photo- Black Eagle Defense Force-Myinmu Almost 40 Myanmar junta troops were reportedly killed on Monday when Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) staged multiple ambushes on regime convoys in three townships in Sagaing and Mandalay regions. Around 30 regime troops were reportedly killed on Monday morning when Tamu-PDF used mines to attack junta soldiers escorting a convoy of eight vehicles traveling between Yan Linn Phine and Wi Toke villages on the Tamu-Kale highway in Sagaing Regions Tamu Township. The convoy was returning from Tamu to Kale Township. Tamu-PDF battalion 3s spokesperson told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that three vehicles were damaged in the ambush and that regime forces opened fire randomly after the attack as they stopped briefly in Wi Toke Village. On June 23, the same convoy but with more than 12 vehicles was also attacked with mines by Tamu PDFs near Yan Linn Phine Village on the Tamu-Kale highway while it was heading to Tamu. Following the ambush, regime troops killed three villagers detained in nearby villages. Also on Monday morning, a junta convoy of three military vehicles escorting a civilian vehicle believed to have been carrying a senior regime official, was repeatedly ambushed with mines on the Sagaing-Monwya highway in Sagaings Myinmu Township, said local PDFs. PDFs used six mines to ambush the convoy at 9.45am as it traveled between Myinmu Town and Wan Pyae Village, said Myinmu Civil Revolution Force (MCRF), one of the PDFs that took part in the ambush. Just minutes later, at 9.53am, the convoy was ambushed again with six mines as it moved along the Sagaing-Monywa highway. The convoy was travelling from Sagaing to the northwestern military command headquarters in Monywa, according to local PDFs. At least six junta personnel, including officials, were injured in the attacks, while at least three vehicles were damaged by the blasts, said MCRF. However, The Irrawaddy was unable to confirm the military casualties independently. Later on Monday, at 5:45pm, the convoy was ambushed with mines for a third time as it traveled between Myinmu Town and Htee Saung Village on the return trip from Monywa to Sagaing, according to Knight Commander (KC), the resistance force that staged the attack. A PDF video shows the convoy moving at high speed after the mines went off, while the sound of gunfire can also be heard. Ko Bal Than Gyi, the leader of KC, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that they managed to ambush the convoy as it traveled the Sagaing-Monywa highway. Two vehicles, including the one believed to be carrying a senior junta official, were damaged in the attack, said KC. There were three military casualties from the attack and the convoy went directly to the hospital in Sagaing following the ambush. We will never give up our revolution. We will continue our missions against regime forces until we gain victory, said Ko Bal Than Gyi. Zero Guerilla Force claimed to have killed three military regime troops and injured nine others on Monday when a drone dropped a bomb on junta forces inspecting vehicles and civilians at the entrance to Myinmu Town. Video shows the military checkpoint being targeted with a bomb dropped by the PDFs drone. Another attack on Monday morning saw an eight-vehicle junta convoy ambushed with mines on the Pyin Oo Lwin-Mandalay highway in Mandalay Region. Dragon Rangers Mandalay, an urban guerilla group, claimed responsibility for the attack and said three soldiers died and three vehicles were damaged. Junta forces continue to face daily attacks nationwide from PDFs and ethnic armed organizations. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Continue in Kayah State Hell Hounds Are Loose in Myanmar; Who Can Stop Them? Myanmars Min Aung Hlaing, Russias Putin and Their Ilk Must Not Prevail COMPANY NEWS: Motorola Solutions has extended Kansai International Airports communication reach, becoming the fifth major airport in Japan to deploy mission-critical communications based on the Tetra standard. Motorola with its partner, Nippon Airport Radio Services, deployed the communication system to Kansai following integrations in Narita, Naha, Haneda, and Chubu international airports from 2016 to 2019. The communications system connects critical functions across the five airports including security, operations and baggage handling. The five airports have also deployed more than 9,000 of Motorola Solutions ST7000, MTP6550 and MTM5200 two-way radios to support communications for the Civil Aviation Bureaus air traffic control, runway management, airport security, ground staff, bus transit services and commercial airlines. The deployment is seen vital as Japans tourism and aviation sectors are starting to recover from the pandemic and reopening borders to international tour groups this month. The five airports experience high levels of passenger traffic and the largest inflows of Japans international cargo. Before the pandemic, almost 200 million domestic and international travellers transited through the airports annually, Kansai says. Nippon Airport Radio Services president and CEO Yoshikazu Takahashi said the performance of Tetra communications network and two-way radios had far exceeded expectations. Behind the scenes of any airport operation is a carefully coordinated set of activities to manage passenger flows, support on-time performance and maintain security, safety and customer satisfaction, Takahashi said. Motorola Solutions advanced Tetra technology has helped our airports to coordinate complex operations every day as well as proving its resilience to typhoons, snow storms and other disasters on many occasions, he said. Motorola Solutions vice president for Asia Pacific Steve Crutchfield said the mission-critical communications system would meet the operational needs of Japans airports today and well into the future. With mission critical communication based on the Tetra standard, organisations can deliver and scale their services to meet increasing demands while upholding the highest levels of safety, security and productivity, Crutchfield said. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 27 June 2022. 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 Mostly sunny skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Today Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later at night. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Tomorrow Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds light and variable. A German court on Tuesday handed a five-year jail sentence to a 101-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard, the oldest person so far to go on trial for complicity in war crimes during the Holocaust. Josef Schuetz was found guilty of being an accessory to murder in at least 3,500 cases while working as a prison guard at the Sachsenhausen camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin, between 1942 and 1945. The pensioner, who now lives in Brandenburg state, had pleaded innocent, saying he did "absolutely nothing" and had not even worked at the camp. "I don't know why I am here," he said at the close of his trial on Monday. But presiding judge Udo Lechtermann said he was convinced Schuetz had worked at the camp and "supported" the atrocities committed there. "You watched prisoners being tortured and killed before your eyes," Lechtermann said. "Anyone who tried to escape from the camp was shot. So every guard was actively involved in these murders." More than 200,000 people, including Jews, Roma, regime opponents and gay people, were detained at the Sachsenhausen camp between 1936 and 1945. Tens of thousands of inmates died from forced labour, murder, medical experiments, hunger or disease before the camp was liberated by Soviet troops, according to the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum. - Contradictory statements - Schuetz, who was 21 when he began working at the camp, remained emotionless as the court announced his sentence. "I am ready," he had said when he entered the courtroom earlier in a wheelchair, dressed in a grey shirt and striped trousers. Schuetz remained at liberty during the trial, which began in 2021 but was postponed several times because of his health, and is highly unlikely to be put behind bars given his age. His lawyer, Stefan Waterkamp, told AFP he would appeal -- meaning the sentence will not be enforced until 2023 at the earliest. During the trial, Schuetz had made several inconsistent statements about his past, complaining that his head was getting "mixed up". At one point, the centenarian said he had worked as an agricultural labourer in Germany for most of World War II, a claim contradicted by several historical documents bearing his name, date and place of birth. After the war, Schuetz was transferred to a prison camp in Russia before returning to Germany, where he worked as a farmer and a locksmith. - 'Moral responsibility' - More than seven decades after World War II, German prosecutors are racing to bring the last surviving Nazi perpetrators to justice. The 2011 conviction of former guard John Demjanjuk, on the basis that he served as part of Hitler's killing machine, set a legal precedent and paved the way for several of these twilight justice cases. Since then, courts have handed down several guilty verdicts on those grounds rather than for murders or atrocities directly linked to the individual accused. Among those brought to late justice were Oskar Groening, an accountant at Auschwitz, and Reinhold Hanning, a former SS guard at Auschwitz. Both were convicted at the age of 94 of complicity in mass murder but died before they could be imprisoned. A former SS guard, Bruno Dey, was found guilty at the age of 93 in 2020 and was given a two-year suspended sentence. Separately, in the northern German town of Itzehoe, a 96-year-old former secretary in a Nazi death camp is on trial for complicity in murder. She dramatically fled before the start of her trial but was caught several hours later. While some have questioned the wisdom of chasing convictions related to Nazi crimes so long after the events, Guillaume Mouralis, a research professor at France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), said such trials send an important signal. "It is a question of reaffirming the political and moral responsibility of individuals in an authoritarian context (and in a criminal regime) at a time when the neo-fascist far right is strengthening everywhere in Europe," he told AFP. A German court on Tuesday handed a five-year jail sentence to a 101-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard, the oldest person so far to go on trial for complicity in war crimes during the Holocaust. Josef Schuetz was found guilty of being an accessory to murder in at least 3,500 cases while working as a prison guard at the Sachsenhausen camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin, between 1942 and 1945. He is highly unlikely to be put behind bars given his age. The pensioner, who now lives in Brandenburg state, had pleaded innocent, saying he did "absolutely nothing" and had not even worked at the camp. "I don't know why I am here," he said at the close of his trial on Monday. But presiding judge Udo Lechtermann said he was convinced Schuetz had worked at Sachsenhausen and had "supported" the atrocities committed there. "For three years, you watched prisoners being tortured and killed before your eyes," Lechtermann said. "Due to your position on the watchtower of the concentration camp, you constantly had the smoke of the crematorium in your nose," he said. "Anyone who tried to escape from the camp was shot. So every guard was actively involved in these murders." More than 200,000 people, including Jews, Roma, regime opponents and gay people, were detained at the Sachsenhausen camp between 1936 and 1945. Tens of thousands of inmates died from forced labour, murder, medical experiments, hunger or disease before the camp was liberated by Soviet troops, according to the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum. - Contradictory statements - Schuetz, who was 21 when he began working at the camp, remained blank-faced as the court announced his sentence. "I am ready," he said when he entered the courtroom earlier in a wheelchair, dressed in a grey shirt and striped trousers. Schuetz was not detained during the trial, which began in 2021 but was postponed several times because of his health. His lawyer, Stefan Waterkamp, told AFP he would appeal -- meaning the sentence will not be enforced until 2023 at the earliest. Thomas Walther, the lawyer who represented 11 of the 16 civil parties in the trial, said the sentencing had met their expectations and "justice has been served". But Antoine Grumbach, 80, whose father died in Sachsenhausen, said he could "never forgive" Schuetz as "any human being facing atrocities has a duty to oppose them". During the trial, Schuetz had made several inconsistent statements about his past, complaining that his head was getting "mixed up". At one point, the centenarian said he had worked as an agricultural labourer in Germany for most of World War II, a claim contradicted by several historical documents bearing his name, date and place of birth. - 'Warning to perpetrators' - After the war, Schuetz was transferred to a prison camp in Russia before returning to Germany, where he worked as a farmer and a locksmith. More than seven decades after World War II, German prosecutors are racing to bring the last surviving Nazi perpetrators to justice. The 2011 conviction of former guard John Demjanjuk, on the basis that he served as part of Hitler's killing machine, set a legal precedent and paved the way for several of these justice cases. Since then, courts have handed down several guilty verdicts on those grounds rather than for murders or atrocities directly linked to the individual accused. Among those brought to late justice were Oskar Groening, an accountant at Auschwitz, and Reinhold Hanning, a former SS guard at Auschwitz. Both were convicted at the age of 94 of complicity in mass murder but died before they could be imprisoned. However, Schuetz's five-year sentence is the longest so far handed to a defendant in such a case. Guillaume Mouralis, a research professor at France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), told AFP the verdict was "a warning to the perpetrators of mass crimes: whatever their level of responsibility, there is still legal liability." Western allies vowed on Tuesday to boost NATO's defences and to back Ukraine to the end as Moscow demanded Kyiv's surrender. As NATO leaders gathered in Madrid for a summit, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Finland and Sweden would be formally invited to join NATO after Turkey lifted its block on their bids. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had stubbornly refused to approve their applications -- lodged in response to Russia's war on Ukraine -- despite calls from his NATO allies to clear their path to membership. But he abandoned his opposition following crunch talks on Tuesday with the leaders of the two Nordic countries in Madrid. Erdogan's office said late on Tuesday it had agreed to back their applications, saying Ankara had "got what it wanted". British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the agreement between Finland, Sweden and Turkey, saying their membership would make the defence alliance "stronger and safer". Meanwhile, a senior US official said their membership would be a "powerful shot in the arm" for NATO unity. NATO's expansion came as Russian missiles continued to pound Ukrainian cities. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters arriving with President Joe Biden that Washington will announce "historic" new long-term military deployments in Europe. The reinforcements will join NATO's eastern flank, Russia's nervous neighbours like the Baltic states, and reflect a long-term change "in the strategic reality" elsewhere in Europe. Ahead of the summit, Stoltenberg said the allies would boost their high-readiness forces from 40,000 to 300,000. - New sanctions - Before travelling to Madrid, Biden and other leaders of the G7 powers -- the world's richest democracies -- had held a summit in the German Alps. Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz boasted afterwards that his country, a laggard in defence spending, would build "the largest conventional army within the NATO framework in Europe". Russia's invasion, he said, had convinced Berlin "that we should spend more... an average of around 70 to 80 billion euros a year on defence over the next few years". NATO member Bulgaria announced it would expel 70 staff from Russia's diplomatic mission accused of working against its interests. At the G7 summit, the leaders agreed to impose new sanctions targeting Moscow's defence industry, raising tariffs and banning gold imports from the country. The US Treasury said the measures "strike at the heart of Russia's ability to develop and deploy weapons and technology used for Vladimir Putin's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine," The new set of sanctions target Rostec, Russia's largest defence conglomerate, as well as military units and officers implicated in human rights abuses in Ukraine, the Treasury said. Putin's Kremlin was not fazed by the sanctions, warning that Ukraine's forces' only option was to lay down their arms. "The Ukrainian side can stop everything before the end of today," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "An order for the nationalist units to lay down their arms is necessary," he said, adding Kyiv had to fulfil a list of Moscow's demands. - 'Everything burned' - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the United Nations to visit the site of a missile strike on a shopping mall in the central city of Kremenchuk, as he addressed the UN Security Council on Tuesday. "I suggest the United Nations send either a special representative, or the secretary-general of the United Nations, or a plenipotentiary commission to the site of this terrorist act... so the UN could independently find out information and see that this indeed was a Russian missile strike," Zelensky said of the attack on Monday that killed at least 18 people. "Everything burned, really everything, like a spark to a touchpaper. I heard people screaming. It was horror," witness Polina Puchintseva told AFP. All that was left of the mall was charred debris, chunks of blackened walls and lettering from a smashed store front. Russia claims its missile salvo was aimed at an arms depot -- but none of the civilians who talked to AFP knew of any weapons store in the neighbourhood. And, outside Russia, the latest carnage sparked only Ukrainian fury and western solidarity. "Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime," the G7 leaders said in a statement, condemning the "abominable attack". Zelensky declared on his social media channels: "Only total insane terrorists, who should have no place on Earth, can strike missiles at civilian objects. "Russia must be recognised as a state sponsor of terrorism. The world can and therefore must stop Russian terror," he added. The G7 leaders did not go so far as to brand Putin a terrorist -- but they vowed that Russia, already under tough sanctions, would face more economic pain. "The G7 stands united in its support for Ukraine," Scholz told reporters. "We will continue to keep up and drive up the economic and political costs of this war for President Putin and his regime." - Oil price cap? - The G7 had announced several new measures to put the squeeze on Putin, including a plan to work towards a price cap on Russian oil. The group also agreed to impose an import ban on Russian gold. At the same time, the G7 powers heaped financial support on Ukraine, with aid now reaching $29.5 billion. Meanwhile, with fierce artillery duels continuing in the eastern Donbas region, Ukrainian officials said the central city of Dnipro and several other sites had been hit by more Russian missiles. Pro-Moscow forces detained Igor Kolykhayev, the elected mayor of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Russian media said the "nationalist" was an opponent of Moscow's supposed efforts to "de-Nazify" Ukraine, but Kolykhayev's aides said he had been "kidnapped" by the city's illegitimate occupiers. The UN said 6.2 million people are now estimated to have been displaced within Ukraine, in addition to 5.26 million who have fled abroad. "Ukraine now faces a brutality which we haven't seen in Europe since the Second World War," Stoltenberg said as leaders began to gather in Madrid. burs/spm/raz A photo taken on June 23, 2022 shows Ziyang street in the ancient city of Taizhou, Linhai, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua] Tens of thousands of people crowded a culture and tourism area close to the Yangtze River in Wuhu, Anhui province, for an outdoor concert on Saturday night. After the concert ended at around 9:30 pm, the night seemed to have just begun in Wuhu Old Town Block. "After the free concert, many in the audience went to nearby restaurants and bars to continue enjoying the cheerful night," said Cheng Pei, executive for activity planning at Huangshan Culture and Tourism, the company that runs the block. Since late May or early June, with the easing of epidemic prevention and control measures, many local restaurants have extended their opening hours to 2 am. In the neighboring city of Xuancheng, local authorities are considering holding similar activities regularly over the next three months. After an inspection visit to a downtown street on June 19, the city's Party chief and mayor led dozens of officials to a local barbecue restaurant for a casual dinner. Kong Xiaohong, Party chief of Xuancheng, has asked local officials to attach greater importance to consumption in order to help boost the economy. About 60 percent of Chinese consumption activities happen at night, while supermarket sales from 6 pm to 10 pm account for more than half of the day's revenue, according to the Chinese Cities' Night Economy Influence Report 2019 by Tencent. Such visits by top local officials to boost consumption have also happened in other cities across the country. The Party chief of Henan province's Xinzheng city and deputy Party chief of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region's Guilin city, led local officials to restaurants for dinner on the nights of June 7 and June 15. Xuancheng statistics bureau's data show sales revenue for the local catering sector declined by 10 percent in the first four months from the same period last year. "Since May, the sector has been recovering steadily, though the latest performance still fell behind the same period before 2020," said Shang Jianping, an official from the Xuancheng's bureau of commerce. Bai Ming, an expert with the Ministry of Commerce, said officials' public support for the night economy showed that the fight against COVID-19 had been successful, so residents will consume more, according to a recent report by China News Service. "Their visits would push related departments and officials to think about new measures to boost the sector," Shang said. His bureau organized a meeting on Friday that included local government departments and business owners, to prepare multiple support policies for the night economy. For example, the local authorities are relaxing parking restrictions to make it easier for consumers to park. As long as they do not affect traffic and safety, more street vendors would also be permitted, said Shang. In late May, Shandong province required local tourism spots to offer no less than a 50 percent discount for entry tickets on workdays, support local catering shops during extended hours and provide more temporary streetside parking spaces. The "Counters" are back! "Uncanny Counter" team confirmed that Kim Sejeong, Jo Byung Gyu, Yu Jun Sang, and Yum Hye Ran will reunite in the much-awaited second installment of the action-fantasy drama! Keep on reading for all the details. 'Uncanny Counter' Season 2: Original Counters To Return Good news to "Uncanny Counter" fans! Sports Donga confirmed on June 27 that the original cast of OCN's record-breaking drama, which stars Yoo Jun Sang, Jo Byung Gyu, Kim Sejeong, and Yum Hye Ran are all returning for the series' upcoming sequel! In January 2021, the high-rated action series has recently been speeding up preparations for its much-awaited Season 2. The production was also hopeful that the original cast would participate again, which now is guaranteed. The crew also looked for new cast members to join the production. The drama was highly popular and was even evaluated as a new "Korean Hero Drama" during its run. In response, the production team, including director Yoo Sun Dong, decided to expand the drama into a new season just months after Season 1 concluded. Since the first season's finale, the series is being prepared based on the webtoon of the same name, which is serialized under the author's name Jang Yi. Kim Hieora Joins 'Uncanny Counter' Cast The "Uncanny Counter" team is devoted to casting new stars who will be significant to the story. Kim Hieora, who starred in the action-comedy series "Bad and Crazy," is confirmed as an additional cast member. She made her acting debut in a musical play in 2009 and had her first small-screen appearance through JTBC's "Beyond Evil" in 2021. Kim Hieora also made cameos in "Hospital Playlist" and "Forecasting Love and Weather." Furthermore, the production is willing to cast new actors and actresses to showcase fresh talents to captivate the viewers. 'Uncanny Counter' Season 2 Postpones Filming Meanwhile, the filming production was postponed until autumn due to Jo Byung Gyu and Kim Sejeong's busy drama schedules. The two were immediately booked for projects right after they starred in "Uncanny Counter" Season 1. Once the two stars finish their ongoing drama engagements, the production is expected to resume. After "Business Proposal," Kim Sejeong will return with another webtoon-based drama, "Today's Webtoon," which is set to premiere in July. Jo Byung Gyu is working on a new drama and film, both set to hit the screens this year. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: OCN Kdrama 'Uncanny Counter' Receives Grand Prize at 2021 Cable TV Broadcasting Awards + Update on Season 2 For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity update, follow and subscribe to KDramastars. KDramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. YORKVILLE Amazon Inc.s commitment to electric vehicles might make headlines on Wall Street, but the companys hub in Racine County is becoming where the rubber meets the road. Amazon has won approval from the Village of Yorkville to install almost 400 new electric-vehicle charging stations at its delivery center in the Grandview Business Park overlooking Interstate 94. This would be a significant change in EV charging infrastructure in the state. According to tracking from EV Adoption, as of September 2021, Wisconsin still had fewer than 900 total charging ports in the state and fewer than 15,500 electric vehicles. Plans submitted to the village indicate that Amazon could have its eye on a system ultimately capable of charging as many as 760 electric vehicles. Although the logistics giant is not saying much about its Yorkville plans, local officials are excited that Amazon Executive Chair Jeff Bezos and his team are bringing electric-vehicle technology to western Racine County. Its too soon to tell if its the wave of the future, Yorkville Village President Doug Nelson said, but it certainly seems to have its niche. Amazon spokeswoman Kate Scarpa said the company would not discuss its proposed Yorkville site for electric vehicles, including the question of how large a geographic area will be served. Amazon has several large distribution operations in Kenosha County and Racine County. Scarpa noted that Seattle-based Amazon has a struck a deal to put 100,000 electric-powered delivery vans into service by 2030 as part of the companys pledge to be free of carbon emissions by 2040. Some prototype electric vans already are being tested in select markets, although Scarpa would not say if that includes Wisconsin. Were working to electrify delivery stations across the country this year and over the next several years to help us support a zero-emissions fleet, she said in a statement. Amazon moved into Yorkvilles Grandview Business Park last year with a facility that local economic development officials estimated would bring in 50 delivery trucks a day and would dispatch 268 delivery vans. Located at 1925 W. Grandview Parkway immediately west of Interstate 94 and 15 miles north of the Illinois border, the hub is part of Amazons vast network of logistics and distribution services for online shopping and other ecommerce. The New York Times reported earlier this year that Bezos, one of the worlds richest people, is intent on building the worlds largest electric-vehicle fleet and charging network. Amazon last year posted $33 billion in profit on sales of $469 billion, up from $21 billion in profit and sales of $386 billion the previous year. Mario Denoto, president of the Greater Union Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, said he welcomes Amazons electric vehicle plan as a positive sign of business growth. Denoto questioned how much electrical power it would take to charge 400 vehicles at a time. But he added: If they think electrical vehicles will work for them, Im all for it. Lets go. Business is what makes the world go around. The proposal calls for precisely 399 charging stations, and the application seeking approval from Yorkville officials indicates that the charging stations and related equipment could be installed within 90 days. The charging stations will not be open to the public or available for public use, Amazon representatives wrote. The purpose of this installation is to supply electricity to charge Amazon fleet vehicles in their designated parking lots, the proposal states. Hours of operation will be determined by Amazons operating schedule. Designed by engineers at Kansas City-based Black & Veatch Corp., the plans describe a total of 399 charging stations, while also showing 630 as a future target and 760 for a total site. Black & Veatch officials declined to comment. The Yorkville Village Board approved the proposal June 13 with little debate. Nelson said he believes electric-powered delivery vehicles were part of Amazons plan when the company moved into the Grandview Business Park last year. He called the proposal straightforward and said he welcomes seeing Amazons innovation in western Racine County. It makes sense, he added. If they think its more efficient and can make them money, I think its a smart move. Correction: This story initially misstated the distance from Grandview Business Park to the Illinois border. It has now been corrected. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BRISTOL Russell Road and Highway EZ, which form an intersection at the Wisconsin-Illinois state line, could look a little different in the next few years, according to an intergovernmental agreement between Lake County and Kenosha County. Ray Arbet, the countys out-going public works director, said Lake County officials approached Kenosha County about a year ago regarding the proposal, which was discussed before the countys Public Works and Facilities committee, which met at the Pringle Nature Center in Bristol Monday night. The intersection proposed construction is expected to include a roundabout, along with infrastructure for stormwater management, could start as early as 2024, according to an intergovernmental agreement. In Wisconsin, a portion of the roundabout would be located on the county highway in Pleasant Prairie. The agreement, approved unanimously by the committee, also establishes in writing the maintenance responsibilities for each county, something the two municipalities traditionally shared over the years. This concept is basically them rebuilding and re-configuring the intersection of County Trunk Highway EZ and Russell Road, Arbet said. Theyre going to construct the roundabout, theyre going to do the design, construction, the acquiring all the right-of-way and temporary limited easements on the Illinois side. Our contribution to the project is limited to the right-of-way acquisition to about .3 acres those temporary limited easements they need for construction of it and thats pretty much it, said Arbet who announced earlier that he would be retiring on Friday. Theyre going to be taking care of everything else. According to the agreement, there had previously been no document spelling out jurisdictional maintenance responsibilities. Rather, the two counties have split the maintenance for its shared sections at the state line in what Arbet likened to a gentlemans or handshake type of agreement. Under the formal intergovernmental agreement, Lake Countys Division of Transportation would maintain Russell Road (Lake County Highway 19) and Lewis Avenue south of Russell Road (Lake County Highway 27). Kenosha Countys Division of Highways would maintain and have jurisdiction over 39th Avenue north of Russell Road (Kenosha County Highway EZ). In addition to the roundabout and storm sewer, the project would include street lighting, landscaping, signage and a multi-use path. The counties also agreed to maintain the rights of ways necessary for the improvements which include 128th Street/Stateline Road just west of Highway 45 to Highway 41 and Russell Road from Highway 41 to Illinois Route 137 (Sheridan Road) on their respective sides of the state line. In the IGA, the approval would establish our commitment to the project. It outlines their commitment to the project, as well as, memorializes the maintenance allocation of things going forward, he said. Supervisor Aaron Karow wondered about the countys financial commitments to the project. According to Arbet, the Kenosha Countys portion of the project has yet to be funded but it is expected to occur next year. According to the agreement the project is expected to begin as early as 2024 contingent on transportation funding awarded in Lake County. The agreement is still subject to approval by both the Lake County and Kenosha County boards. The Kenosha County Board is expected to vote on the agreement next month. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Kenosha County sheriffs sergeant has been recommended to serve as the countys director of emergency management. Sgt. Christopher Hannahs recommendation for the position was announced Monday in a joint statement by County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Sheriff David Beth. Under executive order, Hannah will serve as the acting director of the office pending appointment by the County Board, according to the release. Under an executive order signed Monday, Hannah is serving as acting director until his appointment is approved by the County Board. Hannah succeeds Horace Staples, previously a lieutenant who was recently promoted to captain in charge of the countys detentions operations. Previously, Hannah served as training sergeant and deputy director of emergency management. Emergency management plays a vital role in our county, particularly during times of crisis and great need, Kerkman said. With his experience, skill set and knowledge of the community, I am confident in Sgt. Hannahs ability to serve adeptly in this role. A Kenosha native, Hannah earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point before beginning his law enforcement career with the Village of Oregon Police Department in 1999. He joined the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department as a deputy in 2005, working all three shifts on patrol. Hannah became the traffic court officer for the department in 2014, remaining in that position until his promotion to sergeant in May 2017. He has served in numerous roles in the Operations and Administrative Services divisions as a sergeant, including first- and third-shift patrol sergeant, sergeant of Support Services, sergeant of media/community relations and sergeant of training. The director of emergency management is responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing all emergency management and Homeland Security-related activities for the county. I am grateful for this new opportunity and look forward to continuing the valuable relationships the Kenosha County Sheriffs Division of Emergency Management has with all its partners, Hannah said. More information about Kenosha County Emergency Management visit https://www.kenoshacounty.org/511/Emergency-Management. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 74 Shares Share KevinMD contributors, virtually without exception, have asserted the solution to events like the horrific tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, is gun control. Allow me to present an alternative viewpoint in the interest of diversity of opinion. First of all, I favor reasonable gun restriction laws. But sadly, I dont think that will solve the problem. Look at the city of Chicago. It has one of the strictest laws on gun control in the country. And it has one of the highest rates of gun murder. The sad fact is that there are evil and crazed monsters who, if they desire to kill, will not cease their rampages by a law commanding them not to purchase a gun. (And even though the Uvalde, Texas murderer had posted his intention to kill on Facebook, to blame this tragedy on social media and Mark Zuckerberg is not helpful either.) However, we can do one crucial thing to stop violent crime: Stop freeing violent criminals with little or no punishment. We can end the no bail policies or slap on the wrist sentencing by judges and DAs. The father of 21-year-old murdered college student Saiko Koma is one man who laments these legal policies. Steven Mendez gunned down his daughter in October of 2021 in New York City. Mendez had pleaded guilty to armed robbery in 2020, only one year earlier. In addition, he had a host of other criminal charges against him at the time, including pulling a gun on his mother. Mendez was out on probation at the time. Would stricter gun control laws in New York City (which already have some of the strictest laws in the country) have kept Steven Mendez from killing this innocent young woman? Doubtful. Would keeping him in jail for a reasonably judicious period of time, instead of granting parole for his crimes, have saved Saiko Komas life? Absolutely. I would hope that many of us would resonate with Mr. Komas words when he lamented, What is wrong with these judges! Twenty-year career criminal Eugene Clark, who had previous convictions for robbery, gang assault, and other crimes, beat to death and then robbed 67-year-old Ramon Luna. Clark was on parole at the time. For these new crimes, a grand jury indicted him for second-degree murder and two counts of robbery. The judge, however, released Clark on his own recognizance after making him promise to show up for his court date in 4 months. In the meantime, Mr. Clark would be free to roam the streets. Yet sometimes, it is not the judges fault; it is the fault of some lawmakers, who espouse critical legal theory, a theory that proclaims criminal law is merely a construct of white privilege. That is the case in New York, for example, where lawmakers have passed the no bail statute, legislating the numerous crimes that are not worthy of bail under this new legal theory. This law was great news to someone like 32 years old Ricardo Hernandez, who already had over a dozen prior arrests to his credit. On April 17, 2021, Rodriquez shoved an Asian police officer on the New York City subway tracks. Rodriquez was arrested and charged with a hate crime. Then immediately after his arraignment, he was released without bail. Even the judge felt remorse. My hands are tied, said the judge. The law does not allow me to set any bail for this type of offense. Final case: Waukesha, Wisconsin,11/21/21. Darryl Brooks, a registered sex offender with a twenty-year career criminal record and who, in his many posts on social media, had expressed hatred for whites and praised Hitler for murdering Jews, deliberately drove his SUV into a crowd of Christmas holiday gathers, killing six, and maiming dozens of others. He had five open arrest warrants at the time. Amazingly, he was freed on one thousand dollars bail after using the same SUV nineteen days earlier to run over the mother of his child. While new restrictions on gun ownership are not unreasonable, if we want to keep Americans safe, lets stop letting violent criminals like Darryl Brooks, Eugene Clark, Steven Mendez, and Ricardo Hernandez back on our streets. And these are not isolated cases; there are thousands like them all across America. The answer is not gun control. It is violent criminal control. Scott Abramson is a neurologist who blogs at Doctor Wisdom. Image credit: Shutterstock.com For many health care professionals, the stresses of their roles routinely take a heavy toll on their mental and physical well-being. It did for me. The pandemic and the unprecedented loss of life were more overwhelming than any of us could have imagined, and for some, it simply pushed them over the edge. But, even before the pandemic, our peers have been suffering from depression, anxiety, and exhaustion and needed resources to help them better cope and manage their well-being. For me, I learned the path to a healthier, more balanced, and purposeful life. I took up ultra-running, which has helped me enormously. I also developed strategies and tactics that I can rely on to keep me on an even keel, even when things get extra challenging. My journey is what inspired me to write a book and share what I have learned with others. The resources which will now be made available as a result of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act are vital to supporting more health care professionals. Many medical associations are applauding the new legislation. We as medical professionals should not hesitate to avail ourselves of any and all resources designed to help us improve our mental and physical well-being so we can continue to help and heal others. Anthony Avellino is a pediatric neurosurgeon and the author of Finding Purpose: A Neurosurgeons Journey of Hope and Healing. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, New legislation addresses health care professionals mental health needs. Did you enjoy todays episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info Do you know someone who might enjoy this episode? Share this episode with anyone who wants to hear health care stories filled with information, insight, and inspiration. Hosted by Kevin Pho, MD, The Podcast by KevinMD shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. A new government scheme providing 10,000 free hot desk working days at remote hubs across Ireland has gone live. The Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme - aimed at both existing hub users and first-timers - was announced today (Tuesday June 28) by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys. According to the minister, the scheme gives people an opportunity to try out remote working hubs for free. She said, "This Voucher Scheme will help more people to realise the benefits of remote working and will provide an opportunity to try before you buy. Whether you are fitting in some work while on holiday in Ireland or looking to relocate to rural Ireland, Connected Hubs has an option for you. The first phase will see three vouchers credited to the accounts of all registered ConnectedHubs.ie users, with each redeemable for a day's hot-desk working in participating hubs. The scheme will run from now until August 31 (phase one) and September to early 2023 (phase two). Minister Humphreys continued: "The census figures released last week show population growth in every county with some of the largest increases happening in rural counties like Longford and Leitrim. This bucks previous trends where we have seen some rural counties experience population decline. Our Connected Hubs National Voucher Scheme is now live. The scheme will provide at least 10,000 hot desk working days free of charge. Read more & claim your vouchers https://t.co/RvKisCpnwe#OurRuralFuture #ConnectedHubs https://t.co/zouuxWkgUB Heather Humphreys (@HHumphreysFG) June 28, 2022 "The fact is there are now more people living and working in rural Ireland than ever before. Through the implementation of Our Rural Future and the continued drive towards remote working, I want to ensure we continue these positive trends for the benefit of our rural communities. "The Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme will allow people to try out their local hub for free and I believe many will see it is a much better option for them than working from the kitchen table or facing a long commute. They may also decide that the hubs in our wonderful regional towns and villages would make the option of relocating, or moving home, a viable one." Anybody wishing to register for their free vouchers can do so online at www.connectedhubs.ie or via the ConnectedHubs mobile app. Members of the Defence Forces could be drafted in to help with security at Dublin Airport. They will undergo training to help alleviate some of the pressure on staff until the end of the summer if needed. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Government has supported a request from the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan. The capitals airport, run by DAA, made international headlines in May after passenger queues stretched outside the terminals and more than 1,000 people missed their flights. Statement re. request from Government for Defence Forces to be on standby to assist DAA with security duties at Dublin Airport. Agreed on the basis of a clearly defined timeline & non passenger facing role. @defenceforces @IRLDeptDefence https://t.co/2LBx9WcXl5 Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) June 28, 2022 In a statement, Defence Minister Simon Coveney said: While I recognise that the role of the Defence Forces is not normally to assist in the provision of services for a commercial airport, I have agreed to this request on a clear assurance that this is a distinct piece of work, provided in extreme circumstances, as a short-term emergency-related contingency action and is in direct response to a letter from DAA management to the Minister for Transport. The request is clearly defined in terms of the role and timeline, lasting no more than six weeks, in non-public-facing duties. Over the last number of days, I consulted with the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy on this request. Members of our Defence Forces will undergo an immediate period of training and stand ready to assist if the need arises. However, this support will be stood down in August when the busy holiday period has passed. The DAA have given assurances that they will continue with their own recruitment and onboarding of additional security staff and the introduction of other mitigations during this period. In a statement, a spokesman for DAA said that 93% of all passengers spent 45 minutes or less queuing at Dublin Airports security screening areas in the first three weeks of June. Some 77% of passengers queued for 30 minutes or less. Over the past weekend which was the busiest Dublin Airport has experienced since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic 91% of the 50,000 to 55,000 passengers that departed Dublin Airport each day cleared security screening in less than 45 minutes. While capacity reductions, which have been deployed at other UK and European airports, have been considered as a possible option, there is general agreement that this is undesirable, given that it would be very challenging to implement with airlines and it would have a material impact on the summer travel plans of a significant number of Irish passengers and families, most of whom have not enjoyed a foreign holiday in over two years. Hence, data outlined to Government that a prudent contingency at this juncture could be for the State authorities and DAA to take initial steps to facilitate the training of Defence Forces personnel at the airports vehicle control posts, should this ultimately be required. As a first phase, we outlined that the State could take preparatory steps in the immediate term to train and prepare Defence Forces personnel for such a deployment, in the event that significant Covid-19-related absences due to illness and infection affected DAAs own security team. Any deployment of Defence Forces personnel would only be triggered as a second phase, and only if ultimately required due to a Covid-19 outbreak. As recently as last weekend we have started to see the impact of the current rise in Covid-19 cases in the aviation sector, with 13 flights cancelled by one carrier last Sunday alone, citing an outbreak of Covid-19 amongst its staff as a key contributory factor. In a statement, Mr Ryan said: I would like to thank the Minister for Defence for his agreement to this request and I would like to thank the Defence Forces for their assistance in this matter. This is a contingency measure only and the deployment of the Defence Forces may not be necessary. I expect that the DAA will continue to manage through the summer period with passengers who heed the relevant advice making their flights and the majority of passengers passing through security in less than 45 minutes. As this is a contingency measure, the Defence Forces will only be deployed, if requested by the DAA, and in a scenario where there is a significant deterioration in passenger queuing times with a risk of large numbers of passengers missing their flights. The Minister for Justice is seeking to restrict children and young peoples access to porn websites as part of a landmark strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Helen McEntee said pornography websites have changed the way younger people view sexual relationships, adding it is something the Government must deal with. Ms McEntee said that while she cannot block every porn site, ministers will work with children and parents through an education and public information campaign to raise awareness of the harm of pornography. She said pornography and the sex trade fuel misogyny and violence against women and undermine gender equality. It is part of the 363 million euro strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which will include the doubling of the number of refuge spaces across the country, from 141 to 282. The five-year strategy is based on four pillars protection, prevention, prosecution and policy co-ordination and contains 144 actions. Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Ms McEntee said that while the Government can put the strategy in place, it needs every man and woman to play their part in achieving zero tolerance of domestic and gender-based violence. The Fine Gael minister said there is more work to be done to tackle young peoples access to porn sites. We have committed to establishing a working group, bringing together a number of different state actors, making sure that they have the right information and data, Ms McEntee added. But also bringing together the voice of the child and this is simply to acknowledge the fact that pornography has become more violent, it has become more degrading. It has changed the way that younger people view sexual relationships and its something that we need to deal with. I would love to say that we would just block every single site and not allow young people to access it, but that is simply not possible. Even putting in place a huge amount of measures to restrict a child or young persons access to certain websites, working with them, supporting parents to make sure that they understand what the children are looking at. The plan also includes the possibility of a domestic violence register. Ms McEntee has asked Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for gardai to look at how a register would work and how it would be used to protect potential victims. The plan will also increase the maximum sentence from five to 10 years for assault causing harm, one of the most common charges in cases of domestic violence. Department of Justice officials will engage with the judiciary to consider the creation of specially trained judges for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence cases. We will be bringing forward a bill that will initiate the process for family judges who are specifically trained and would work specifically in family court hubs, Ms McEntee said. This is expanding beyond that. So it is an area that we need to explore further and obviously the action in this commits to exploring that. Describing it as a landmark day, Ms McEntee called on the public to do more to tackle sexual and gender-based violence. As minister, the Taoiseach and all of my colleagues, we can develop policy, we can put in place new laws, we can put in place a new curriculum, we can work with each and every one of you, but I cant insert myself into the WhatsApp groups and call out the type of behaviours and cannot insert myself in every single night out where these type of incidents are happening, she added. We must achieve #ZeroTolerance of domestic, sexual, and gender based violence and the attitudes which underpin it. Working together, we must make Zero Tolerance a reality. pic.twitter.com/VCS243kXJu Fine Gael (@FineGael) June 28, 2022 I cant stop the individual, unfortunately most likely a man, from picking up the phone and calling for sexual services from a woman who has possibly been trafficked, or is most likely in a very abusive situation. We all have a role to play here in the delivery of policy and services and the direction that we can provide. But its each and every one of us, each individual, each man, each woman, making sure that we play our part and we play a role in making sure that we achieve that overall goal, that overall objective along that journey. That is absolutely zero tolerance of any kind of domestic sexual and gender-based violence. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there is simply no place in society for misogyny. He also said the experience of each domestic and sexual violence victim is unique. Their circumstances are unique. Their experience is unique and the impact on them and on their life is unique, he added. Because of this, their needs are unique and we must be able to respond in a way that works for each individual. The strategy recognises this, its guiding mission is clear. Zero tolerance of domestic sexual and gender-based violence. It places the individual victims and their needs at the centre. It will take us from a fragmented approach to a holistic and tailored one. It will build supports and processes that proactively respond to and adapt to meet the needs of each individual. Minister for Children Roderic OGorman said domestic and sexual violence do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability or socio-economic status. We recognise that domestic violence and sexual violence impacts on the lives of women and children of all backgrounds and some men, he added. However, society does not treat all victims or survivors of abuse equally. That has to change. Its time for zero tolerance on social biases and stereotypes that create barriers to safety to help and assistance provided for victims and survivors of domestic sexual and gender-based violence. Ms McEntee said 249 women have been killed in Ireland over the last 25 years, including Ashling Murphy, Jastine Valdez, Jennifer Poole, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, Ana Kriegel and Fiona Pender. The plan will also look to reform domestic violence laws, including strengthening emergency orders, increasing powers of detention, and enacting legislation to introduce offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation. It will also seek to allow gardai to wear body cameras when investigating domestic abuse cases. The Government will also set up a statutory agency for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence by January 2024. Weather Alert ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO 11 PM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values between 100 and 105 can be expected Monday, followed by heat index values between 105 and 110 Tuesday and Wednesday. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois. Portions of central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From Noon Monday to 11 PM CDT Wednesday. * 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. People in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Area can get information about cooling centers or energy assistance related to the excessive heat by calling the United Way of Greater Saint Louis at 800-427-4626, or if calling from a land line phone dial 2-1-1. You can also call Cool Down Saint Louis at 314-241-7668. && CHARITON COUNTY Three people were killed and multiple people were injured after an Amtrak train derailed in Mendon on Monday afternoon. Seven cars and two locomotives on an Amtrak Southwest Chief Train 4 derailed around 12:43 p.m. while on its way to Chicago from Los Angeles. More than 200 passengers and crew members were on board, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The train derailed after "striking a truck that was obstructing a public crossing near Mendon," according to an updated statement from Amtrak. MSHP said the crossing, which is located on Porche Prairie Avenue, did not have any lights or electronic control devices. During a press conference, Cpl. Justin Dunn of MSHP Troop B said three people were killed in the crash, two from the train and one from the dump truck involved. "Many" injuries were reported, but all injured and non-injured have been transferred from the scene. MSHP Lt. Eric Brown said this is an active and ongoing investigation, which will remain well into Monday night and Tuesday. "As we stress here, this the beginning of a lengthy investigation," he said. "We have a lot more information we are seeking and need to obtain." A KOMU 8 reporter reported multiple medical helicopters and ambulances from Linn, Saline and Chariton counties at the scene. MU Health Care confirmed it has received 16 patients, and Boone Health said it was anticipating 30 patients to arrive. Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall said it has received six patients. A hospital spokesperson said the Saline County emergency management director is coordinating with the Marshall Ministerial Alliance to establish temporary housing for anyone in need. PHOTOS: Four fatalities, injuries reported after Amtrak train derails in Mendon 0:54 Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a 14-member team to the derailment. The team is expected to arrive Tuesday. The NTSB is launching a 14 member go-team to investigate Mondays Amtrak derailment near Mendon, Missouri. Chair Jennifer Homendy will serve as spokesperson on scene. Team expected to arrive tomorrow. Check Twitter @ntsb_newsroom for updates. NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) June 27, 2022 Mike Spencer, a resident who lives in the area, said the trains come through at a "very rapid speed." "Amtrak comes through anywhere from 75 to a 100 miles per hour," Spencer said. "So, it doesn't give you much time to cross. If you make a mistake, this has got the potential of happening just like it happened." A passenger on the train tweeted that they were bussed to Northwestern High School for medical care. So thankful for the people here, safely at the Northwestern high school near Mendon. This town pulled together to help everyone pic.twitter.com/RYAVvQRlPm Dax McDonald (@cloudmarooned) June 27, 2022 Local authorities are assisting with passengers. Amtrak said it has activated its incident response team and sent emergency personnel to the scene. Gov. Mike Parson tweeted and said multiple state agencies were responding to the scene. We are saddened to hear of the Amtrak train derailment in Chariton County this afternoon. @MoPublicSafety, @MSHP troopers, and other emergency management personnel are responding. We ask Missourians to join us in praying for all those impacted. Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) June 27, 2022 U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt also sent out tweets, acknowledging the incident. We are closely watching this emergency situation as it develops and stand ready to help however we can https://t.co/1sgmA8vy16 Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 27, 2022 Terrible news of a train derailment in Chariton County this afternoon. We are thinking of all those affected and grateful for our first responders. Ready to assist with any federal resources that may be needed. Senator Roy Blunt (@RoyBlunt) June 27, 2022 Amtrak established a hotline, 800-523-9101, for those with questions about their friends and family who were traveling aboard at the train. A machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine mining for rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia. Reuters-Yonhap Korea places hopes in US-led Minerals Security Partnership, domestic production of rare earth metals By Kim Bo-eun HONG KONG South Korea's decision to join a U.S.-led pact on mineral supply helps satisfy a "definite need" to cut dependency on China for key resources, including rare earths, analysts said. Securing key resources has become a core task for major economies around the world, as minerals are a crucial element incorporated into cutting-edge technologies, green energy and national defense industries. Countries have traditionally relied on China as it not only holds the largest amount of rare earth reserves, but it also is the world's biggest producer. But China's recent moves to regulate the mining and exports of rare earths has had economies scrambling to secure alternative supplies, with the U.S.-led Minerals Security Partnership launched earlier this month. "Korea is more dependent on China [for supply of rare earth] because of proximity and because of the structure of trade between the countries where intermediate goods account for a large part," Kim Kyoung-hoon, senior researcher at the Korea International Trade Association's (KITA) Global Value Chain Research Task Force, said. Korea has its own rare earth reserves, but does not possess its own production capabilities, although in recent years it has moved to produce its own rare earth magnets. A first step to establish an integrated supply chain was taken when Australian Strategic Metals invested in Korea to set up a joint venture with its subsidiary to produce rare earth metals with raw materials sourced from Australia. KSM completed setting up its production plant in Ochang, North Chungcheong province, last month and the company plans to produce 5,000 to 10,000 tons of rare earth metals on an annual basis. The Korean-produced rare earth metals will then be turned into magnets by an intermediary for use by Hyundai Mobis, the parts and services arm of the Korean multinational automotive manufacturer. "There is definitely a need for Korea to diversify sources of supply. While Korea's production of rare earth metal and magnets is in its very early stages, it is significant that it has set up a domestic base for production," added Kim. Rare earths are among the four items the Joe Biden administration has identified as critical strategic assets, along with semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and pharmaceutical ingredients. AP-Yonhap U.S. allies in Europe, such as Germany, France and Britain, as well as others in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia and Japan, have also signed up to the Minerals Security Partnership. "Demand for critical minerals, which are essential for clean energy and other technologies, is projected to expand significantly in the coming decades," the U.S. Department of State said earlier this month. It also said members "are committed to building robust, responsible critical mineral supply chains to support economic prosperity and climate objectives". Rare earths are a group of 17 chemically similar elements composed of scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides that are abundant in nature, but difficult and dirty to extract. China accounted for 58.9 percent of South Korea's rare earth imports in terms of volume in 2020, according to the KITA. "Rare earths are becoming increasingly important as industries covering electronics, chips and automobiles become more advanced," said Lee Jay-yoon, the director of the materials industry and sustainability division at Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade. He referred to the experience in 2019 after Japan placed restrictions on exports of its hi-tech materials and parts, which Korea was highly dependent on. "Korea has faced the need to utilize diplomatic relations and boost its network when it comes to economic security," Lee added. China began tapping into its rare earth reserves in the 1950s, taking advantage of a lack of environmental regulations to dominate the global market. The difficult and costly process of extracting resources, as well as the environmental pollution involved, have served as substantial barriers for other nations to produce rare earths. China holds 35.2 percent of global rare earth reserves equivalent to 12.5 billion tons according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. It is followed by Vietnam with 17.6 percent and Brazil and Russia with 16.8 percent each. The world's No. 2 economy produced 140,000 tons of rare earths in 2020 compared to just 39,000 tons from the U.S. Myanmar produced 31,000 tons in 2020, with Australia fourth with 21,000 tons. China's portion of global rare earth production peaked at over 80 percent after 2000 as economies opted to import resources that were cheaper than producing their own, but the percentage has fallen to around 60 to 70 percent. This is attributed to countries recognizing the importance of rare earths given their use in cutting-edge industries, and instead turning to utilize their own resources. Electric cars are seen charging at a station. gettyimagesbank The chief of an international group campaigning for an end to all nuclear testing has called on North Korea to reinstate its related moratorium, as speculation is rampant that the secretive regime may soon carry out an underground nuclear weapon test. "While I can assure you of the readiness of our verification regime to detect any nuclear test, I wish to take this opportunity to call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to renew the commitment it made in 2018 to suspend nuclear testing," Robert Floyd, executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), said in a statement during a meeting of its governing body in Vienna, Monday (local time). He also urged Pyongyang to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The North announced a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missile tests in April 2018, two months before a historic summit with the United States in Singapore. In late 2019, however, the North's leader Kim Jong-un stated that Pyongyang no longer felt bound by the moratorium amid a stalemate in denuclearization talks. North Korea conducted its sixth and last nuclear weapon test in September 2017 at the Punggye-ri site. South Korean and U.S. intelligence communities say preparations for another test already have been completed. (Yonhap) President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee disembark the presidential jet at Madrid-Barajas Airport in the Spanish capital, June 27. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol will meet with the secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Tuesday, and promise to enter into a new cooperation program between South Korea and the military alliance in the latter half of the year, according to a presidential official. Yoon arrived in Madrid, Spain, the previous day on his first overseas trip as president. He is scheduled to attend a NATO summit Wednesday, and also hold a series of bilateral and multilateral summits on the sidelines. In his meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Yoon will pledge $100 million in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and outline South Korea's plan to establish a mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium, where the organization is headquartered, the presidential official said. "He will also promise to sign a new cooperation program between South Korea and NATO in the second half of the year," the official told reporters Under the deal, the two sides will seek to establish a "new strategic cooperative partnership" beyond the military and security fields at a time when the world faces multilayered threats and intense economic security competition, according to the official. South Korea and NATO first entered into a partnership in 2006, and developed it further through individual agreements and revisions in 2012, 2017 and 2019. South Korea is not a member of NATO but was invited to the summit along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand as the organization's Asia-Pacific partners. Yoon will be the first South Korean president to attend a NATO summit. President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee disembark from the presidential jet at Madrid-Barajas Airport in the Spanish capital, June 27. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Spain, Monday, to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and meet with world leaders to discuss security and economic ties on his first overseas trip as president. South Korea is not a member of NATO but was invited along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand as the organization's Asia-Pacific partners. Yoon will be the first South Korean president to attend such a summit. On the sidelines, Yoon plans to hold a trilateral summit Wednesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first such gathering of leaders from the three countries in nearly five years since a meeting in September 2017. Yoon is also scheduled to hold a series of bilateral summits, starting with the Australian prime minister and the NATO secretary-general, Tuesday. A planned meeting with the Finnish president was canceled due to a scheduling conflict. President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee greet the traveling press corps inside the presidential jet en route to Madrid, June 27. Yonhap By Arthur I. Cyr President Joe Biden's May trip to Northeast Asia rightly received extensive media coverage. By contrast, however, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's June journey to Southeast Asia has received much less. Too bad. Asia has enormous strategic importance. President Richard Nixon deserves special credit for achieving direct U.S. ties with China. Singapore, a main Austin stop, hosted the 19th in a series of conferences there sponsored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Established in 1958 by the Ford Foundation, IISS is respected for providing reliable information on military developments worldwide, plus in-depth analyses of international security and strategic challenges. China's defense minister also attended the conference, along with leaders from the Indo-Pacific region. Early this month, President Biden hosted a U.S.-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting in Washington, D.C. In Singapore, Austin met with Indonesia Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. A fortunate meeting, because that nation provides powerful evidence regarding Asia's future course. Indonesia held the largest one-day free elections in the world in April 2019. President Joko Widodo enjoyed reelection for a second term by a majority. In 2018, a Gallup Poll found that an unprecedented 75 percent of Indonesians believed elections are honest. This is the highest percentage ever, in a long-term upward trend in public confidence, following a troubled national history. Gruesome earlier events provide graphic, important context. In May 2018, the Islamic State conducted bloody terrorist attacks in Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city. Terrorism is persistent though not frequent in Indonesia. In a 2016 attack, four people died. In 2002, the worst attack killed 202 people in Bali, including many foreign tourists. Indonesia's election took place in the world's largest nation with a Muslim majority. Trade routes and commodities provide Indonesia with great strategic significance. Washington has the opportunity to highlight Indonesia, and neighboring nations, as success stories of expanding political stability, modernization and the rule of law. In 1998, opponents forced Indonesia's longtime autocratic president and former general Muhammad Suharto from power. Since then, the nation has had a representative government. Indonesia's international conflicts today are largely technical and legal, notably the maritime disputes that involve the nations of East and Southeast Asia. Dictatorship has ended, though corruption remains a problem. During the height of the Cold War, Indonesia enjoyed its status as a pivotal power among Third World nations. Flamboyant nationalist President Sukarno played the Soviet Union and the United States off against one another. CIA efforts to bring Sukarno down were frustrated and ultimately boomeranged. During the 1960s, cooperation between Indonesia and the Soviet Union expanded exponentially. This development, vital in the massive U.S. military intervention in Vietnam in 1965, is rarely mentioned today. British forces, with Australian and New Zealand allies, defeated Indonesian attacks on Malaysia. Earlier, Britain defeated an aggressive, virulent Communist insurgency in Malaya, which today is part of Malaysia. Britain's military avoided massive firepower, in contrast to the U.S. in Vietnam, especially from 1965. To be sure, the British military employed air strikes and artillery, but relatively selectively. Officials rightly regarded heavy bombing as counterproductive. Given American preferences for firepower and technology, we should keep this fundamental lesson always in mind. With today's firm foundation, the United States has promising opportunities. Stronger Indonesia ties can leverage influence and investment throughout the enormous Asia regions. Meanwhile, our veterans, especially of the Vietnam War, should feel pride in this long-term success. Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.edu) is the author of "After the Cold War" (Macmillan/Palgrave and NYU) and other books. His column appears weekly. Neutrality of police should not be compromised The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is drawing a strong backlash from police officers over its push for police reform aimed at taking direct control of the law enforcement agency. On Monday, Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min announced a plan to set up a police bureau at the ministry as early as next month. He stressed the need for such a bureau to better supervise the National Police Agency (NPA) which will take over most investigative powers from the prosecution. The ministry deserves criticism for its unilateral reform drive. It is hard to understand why the ministry is rushing to finalize its plan on the bureau by July 15, despite the police's objection. Any reform should be carried out based on consensus. But the government has so far done little to reflect different opinions. It has had no discussions with the police agency. Nor has it held any public hearings on this important and sensitive matter. It is necessary to gain democratic control of the police which will become more powerful after the prosecution is deprived of investigative powers. Nevertheless, the government should take a proper and appropriate step to seek police reform in a democratic manner. Otherwise it will only cause unnecessary social conflicts and see any attempt at reform go nowhere. It should keep in mind that haste makes waste. At the center of police reform should be how to ensure democratic control of the police agency without damaging its independence and neutrality. Under the dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s, police had served as the handmaiden of power. The police agency was separated from the interior ministry in 1991 following the death of a student activist by police torture which ignited the June 1986 pro-democracy movement. Lee argues that his ministry needs direct control of the police as President Yoon Suk-yeol abolished the office of the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs which had reined in the police. He noted that the ministry's control of the police would be more legitimate than that of the presidential office. However, his reform plan could be seen as an attempt to return to the dark, old days. That's why most police officers are against his plan which they claim might undermine the agency's political neutrality. National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong offered to resign in apparent protest against the reform. Lee should not turn a deaf ear to their opposing voices. Lee's plan is based on recommendations by a police reform advisory committee under the ministry. But the newly formed committee has not had enough time to discuss police reform. Thus, the ministry should first try to build a consensus on the issue and work out a better blueprint to help the police agency serve the people better. It should not repeat the same mistake made by the previous Moon Jae-in government which had tried to directly control the prosecution at the sacrifice of its independence and neutrality all in the name of prosecutorial reform. We urge the interior minister and the Yoon government not to try to tame the police. And police reform should be focused on how to ensure officers conduct fair investigations without being swayed by any outside influence. By John J. Metzler How time flies. It's been 25 years since Hong Kong returned to Chinese control, a quarter-century since the prosperous British Crown Colony became a semi-autonomous part of the People's Republic of China, the world's largest dictatorship. Nonetheless, the small but feisty islands on the south China coast remained a prosperous and relatively free place, until recently. When Britain formally departed in 1997, part of the exit agreement was a fifty year deal that Hong Kong would retain its political and economic freedoms. Hong Kong's way of life was guaranteed. Thus while becoming a Special Autonomous Region (SAR) of the People's Republic, the feisty island entrepot legally retained rights and freedoms not permitted on the Chinese mainland. I vividly recall being in Hong Kong immediately following the July 1st handover from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic. The spectacular fireworks over Victoria Peak and the grand harbor signaled a new era joining what was described as a reformist and ascending China. The whiff of firework smoke was still in the air along with a nervous optimism that somehow all would go smoothly. This was Hong Kong after all, not authoritarian and corrupt Mainland China and the world was watching. In 1997, Hong Kong was a pretty prosperous place compared to the Chinese motherland that was trying to bring it back into the fold. The adage of the "Golden Goose" economy became the currency of the day. Hong Kong is the goose that lays golden eggs, in other words, prosperity for China. Why then would China wish to kill the golden goose? This analogy makes a good point and was largely true until recently. Hong Kong's Basic Law ensured the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, whereby the Crown Colony returned to Beijing's sovereignty, but in parallel, ensured a self-governing region where, for a 50-year period, freedoms and economic vitality would remain untouched by Beijing's heavy hand. Chairman Xi Jinping's regime would change the template and narrative for a once largely successful city-state based on the rule of law, not on the rule by law. But the storm clouds have been darkening. By 2014, Beijing considered the Sino-British Treaty to have no further legal effects. In 2020, China slapped Hong Kong with draconian national security legislation to pull the special administrative region into line with the rest of the People's Republic. Chris Patten, Hong Kong's last British governor, lamented recently that Beijing's crackdown on Hong's Kong's civil liberties has "been a lot worse" than expected. "I thought there was a prospect China would keep its word, and I'm sorry that it hasn't," Patten said in London. Beijing is strangling the proverbial golden goose. While Hong Kong's economy has remained largely free and highly competitive, both Beijing's political crackdowns in recent years and the "dynamic zero-COVID" policy pursued by the government there have begun to tarnish this once-thriving international business hub and its 7.6 million inhabitants. Hong Kong's political deterioration has been startlingly quick. The human rights monitor, Freedom House, states, "The people of Hong Kong traditionally enjoyed substantial civil liberties and the rule of law under their local constitution, the Basic Law." However, the enactment of the National Security Law in 2020 seriously undermined the 'one country, two systems' framework." The Chinese Communist Party now uses a new system of "patriots governing Hong Kong," as a way to vet and pick candidates in local elections. Viewing a global list of competitors and benchmarks for political and civil rights, Hong Kong came in at 43 out of 100 and was listed as "Partly Free." As recently as 2017, Hong Kong ranked 61 out of 100 in the ratings. China, however, scored an abysmal 9 out of 100. Conversely, nearby democratic Taiwan ranks 94 out of 100. Press freedoms have changed appallingly for the worse. Since China assumed control, there was a slow erosion of media freedoms. Now the press is encouraged to "be patriotic" and support the Beijing party line. While there was less direct censorship until recently, the Hong Kong media exercises wide self-censorship. Last year China's shut down the independent Apple Daily newspaper and arrested a number of journalists including its pro-democracy owner, Jimmy Lai. The French media freedom barometer watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, cites Hong Kong's stark decline. During 2017, Hong Kong ranked 73 out of 180 countries; by 2021 it slipped to 80 out of 180, and by 2022, it crashed to 148 out of 180. China ranks 175 out of 180. In 1997, many pundits argued that Hong Kong's freewheeling freedoms and rights would soon change China. Sadly, it turns out that China's communist system seems to have changed Hong Kong. John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China." Garrett, IN (46738) Today Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High around 90F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Angola, IN (46703) Today Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 88F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with thunderstorms developing later at night. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Sunshine and some clouds. High around 90F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. It was reported that BTS member Suga's family is in the midst of preparing to launch their own business in the idol's hometown, Daegu. If Suga's family successfully launches their business, Daegu's tourism is expected to boom. Keep on reading to know more. BTS Suga's Family Acquired License to Launch Own Business in Daegu On June 28, it was revealed in an exclusive report by media outlet Kyongbuk that the family of one of the BTS members had sent in an application for a business license to the Dong-gu office in Daegu. According to the report, the application was for a permit to operate a gallery, which has been approved. In a phone call with Kyongbuk Ilbo on June 27, the mayor of Dong-gu, Bae Ki Cheol, revealed it was Suga's family who had applied for the business license. He added they wanted to build an exhibit in their hometown. Bae Ki Cheol said: "Suga's family said that they wanted to build a memorial exhibit in their hometown, and because there were no legal issues, they have been trying to get a building permit before. The application has [only] been approved now because there might be people who think that I was trying to use this as a way to take advantage of the elections before." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BTS Suga Shares Current Condition of His Shoulder Following Injury In Kyongbuk Ilbo's report, it is said that Suga's family had also applied for a building permit for a small retail store and a small restaurant back in June of last year. In addition, his family had reportedly also applied for a construction permit around the Dongchon Amusement Park, which consists of two buildings: a retail store the size of 499.71 m and a restaurant the size of 950.38 m. BTS Suga's Family Business Expected to Boom Tourism Although Suga's family applied for permits to operate a retail store and restaurant, it was revealed that his family would also be opening a gallery, such as a K-Pop library, after the construction of the building has been completed. In regards to the application, a Daegu official said: "We proceeded with the procedure in accordance to the application for a general business premises permit while discussing the future procedures with the client. During that process, we learned that [they are] the family of a famous group [member] who will run the business. The review period was extended while discussing permissions with the relevant departments. But [the permits] are not something that was granted because they were the family of a member of a famous group." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BTS Suga Gives SAVAGE Response to ARMY Asking for School Advice If Suga's family's plans of launching their businesses pushes through, it is expected that the tourism and the business itself will boom once it successfully opens, especially if it is located the Dongchon Amusement Park. In fact, fellow member Jin's older brother currently operates his own restaurant, Ossu Seiromushi. The restaurant has been successful and has become one of the places which ARMYs (BTS fandom) and K-Pop enthusiasts try to visit when they travel to South Korea. Based on that, Suga's family business is also expected to be successful. For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Robyn Joan BEIJING, June 28 -- Recently, an engineering element attached to a brigade under the PLA 81st Group Army carried out a multi-subject blasting operation assessment. The assessment was based on realistic battlefield environment, and aimed at testing the troops' technical know-how and equipment operation capability, optimizing the operational procedures, and improving the level of support capacity for military tasks. Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudan's foreign minister, Ali Al-Sadiq Ali, on Monday summoned the Ethiopian ambassador to Sudan and expressed his country's condemnation for the "killing and mutilation of the bodies" of seven soldiers and one civilian on their common border 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 BURLINGTON A Burlington man allegedly sexually assaulted a group home resident. Brian K. Matheson, 38, of the 600 block of Foxtree Circle, was charged with a felony count of second-degree sexual assault and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. According to a criminal complaint: At 10:22 a.m. on Saturday, an officer was sent to a residence in the 300 block of McHenry Street for a sexual assault. The residence is a group home for people with disabilities. Upon arrival, the officer met with a woman who said Matheson entered her apartment and sexually assaulted her. She told him to get out and he eventually left. The officer then spoke to another resident who said he and Matheson left the Log Cabin Tavern at 233 W. Jefferson St. around 2:30 a.m. and walked back to his apartment. He went to bed and Matheson was still up talking to his roommate. The officer spoke to Matheson who said he knew that everyone who lived in the building had a disability. He confirmed being at the bar until 2:30 a.m. and coming back to the residence, but he claimed he did not stay long and did not sexually assault a resident. Matheson was given a $1,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing is on July 6 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. JUNEAU A 32-year-old Beaver Dam man made his initial appearance in court on Monday and faces felony charges of playing an inappropriate game of doctor with two girls, 6 and 7. Daniel Cameron faces two felony counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child and felony counts of exposing genitals to a child. If found guilty of one of the counts of sexual assault, he could face up to 25 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision. Cameron appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Commissioner Steven Seim. Cameron was released on a $1,000 signature bond with conditions that he shall not have any direct or indirect contact or communication with the victims nor their residence. He also may not have unsupervised contact with any minor females. According to the criminal complaint: Cameron called Beaver Dam Police on Saturday reporting he wanted to turn himself in for allowing the two girls to touch him inappropriately. Cameron had two girls at his home on Friday night who were cousins. One of the girls said they were playing doctor and pretending that Cameron had issues and that they were going to do surgery on him. The girl said that the surgery was on Camerons private parts. The other girl said that the doctor game had happened at least four or five times while the two girls were together. The girl said the three would shower together at times as well. Cameron told the police that he was in his room and was naked and that the two girls came in and started playing doctor. Cameron said it was inappropriate, but his intent was to desexualize the human body and nudity. Cameron told law enforcement that a similar game had happened in the past. A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Aug. 4. Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760. If you haven't been to the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market yet, you are missing out. Here are 20-plus photos and videos from the flea market on Ju | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: SC agrees to hear next week plea challenging Centre's 'Agnipath' scheme for recruitment in armed forces. Maha crisis: SC to hear on July 11 fresh plea of Uddhav faction against Speaker's decision on new party whip along with pending ones. New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on The Tiruchengode Co-operative Urban Bank, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, for non-adherence or violation of directions issued under various guidelines including Know Your Customer (KYC) Guidelines, the central bank said in a statement. The penalty has been imposed in the exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Section 46 (4) (i) and Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS). Also Read | India vs Ireland 2nd T20I 2022: Hardik Pandya, Harry Tector and Other Key Players To Watch Out For. "This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers," the statement said. The inspection report of the bank based on its financial position as of March 31, 2020, revealed violations or non-compliance with the norms. Also Read | IND vs IRE 2nd T20I 2022, Malahide Weather, Rain Forecast and Pitch Report: Here's How Weather Will Behave for India vs Ireland Match At The Village Cricket Stadium. Based on the same report, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why a penalty should not be imposed for non-compliance, it added. "After considering the bank's reply and oral submissions during the personal hearing, RBI came to the conclusion that the aforesaid charges of non-compliance with RBI directions were substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty." Earlier on Friday, the central had imposed a penalty of Rs 57.50 lakh on Indian Overseas Bank for non-compliance with certain directions. The non-compliance included failing to report certain instances of frauds involving ATM card cloning or skimming within three weeks from the date of detection, among others. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thane, Jun 28 (PTI) As many as 582 new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Maharashtra's Thane district, taking the tally of infections to 7,26,053, a health official said on Tuesday. Also Read | Mumbai Building Collapse: One Dead, 8 Rescued After Four Storeyed Building Collapses in Kurlas Naik Nagar, More Feared Trapped. With the addition of these cases on Monday, the district currently has 5,629 active COVID-19 cases, he said. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. One death was also reported on Monday, raising the COVID-19 toll in the district to 11,903, he said. The recovery count has reached 7,07,480, the official added. (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 28 (PTI) The Centre has sanctioned procurement of an additional 3,200 bullet proof jackets and helmets for the use of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed at Delhi Metro, government installations and for VIP security duties, an official said on Tuesday. The procurement has been done at an estimated cost of Rs 16.51 crore. Also Read | TS Inter Results 2022: Telangana 1st and 2nd Year Intermediate Results Declared at tsbie.cgg.gov.in; Know Steps To Check Scores. Apart from the Delhi Metro network, the CISF is responsible for the security of all government buildings like the North Block housing the ministries of Home and Finance, Shastri Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan among others in the national capital. The Union Home Ministry has approved the procurement of 3,180 bullet proof jackets and helmets for augmentation of the CISF strength deployed at Delhi Metro, Government Building Security (GBS) and Special Security Group (SSG), the official privy to the development said. Also Read | Xiaomi 12S Series Launch Confirmed for July 4, 2022; Check Details Here. While the GBS provides security to government buildings, the SSG guards top dignitaries as recommended by the Union Home Ministry. The current deployed strength of the CISF at the Delhi Metro network is around 13,000 personnel while strength of the GBS and SSG is 3,000 personnel each. Presently, the CISF is providing security to protected persons classified as Z Plus, Z, X, Y. The CISF has 74 formations including 12 reserve battalions and eight training institutes. According to the mandate, the CISF provides security to the premises staff along with the security of property and establishments. It provides security to strategic establishments, including the Department of Space, the Department of Atomic Energy, airports, the Delhi Metro, sea ports and monuments among others. The CISF also provides protection to some private sector units too. It is the only force with a customised and dedicated fire wing. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28 (ANI): In a sharp attack on rebel MLAs amid the Maharashtra political crisis, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are with Eknath Shinde's rebel camp are in touch with Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said that the rebel MLAs have sold themselves for lakhs and crores. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. "These MLAs have sold themselves for Lakhs and Crores or after their files were opened. MVA government will further continue. The power which has brought us here...we will come to power in Delhi too," said Thackeray while addressing Shivsainiks in Byculla, Mumbai He said that the rebels who are currently staying at a hotel in Assam, sold themselves when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was hospitalised. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. "When the CM was hospitalised, they (rebel MLAs) sold themselves. I would like to ask them, is there no humanity left? We trusted them," he added. "There are two groups of people in Guwahati - there's a group of 15-16 people who are in touch with us, some of them recently. The other group is the one that has run away, they have no courage and morality," the minister said. Further, he openly challenged the rebels in revolt and said that have the courage to resign and stand in front of them. "They conceived an entire conspiracy when CM (Uddhav Thackeray) was incapacitated as a CM to work 24x7; even then he was working. Whoever wants to come back, our doors are open...if those in revolt are truly courageous, resign and have the courage to stand in front of us," he said. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". "Many people told us that Congress and NCP will betray us but our people betrayed us. Many MLAs who were watchmen, rickshaw drivers, and paan shopkeepers - we made them Ministers. On 20th May, Uddhav Thackeray offered him (Eknath Shinde) the CM post and he did drama," Aaditya Thackeray said. He said there was anger among party workers over the action of party rebels. "I can understand your zeal and strength, can even notice your anger. I've been visiting and interacting with Shivsainiks and I can see there is a lot of anger among them. But there is one positive thing the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena," he said. Aaditya Thackeray claimed that the food bill of rebel MLAs was to the tune of Rs 9 lakh per day and alleged they were taking private choppers. "They (rebel MLAs) went to Guwahati where there's a flood situation and many people are without shelter & food. They (rebel MLAs) are enjoying there. Bill for meals (for them) in one day is Rs 9 Lakhs, they are taking private choppers and enjoying there. Shame on them," he said. The Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the rebel group has been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state government that he continues to be the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by Monday, 5.30 pm. The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days. On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nagaon (Assam) [India], June 28 (ANI): As the flood situation continues to stay grim in Assam's Nagaon district, Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Nisarg Hivare on Monday informed that the state government has been providing relief materials to the affected areas, hence, no one has to pay anything. "Relief material being provided. Everything is at the expense of the government. No one has to pay anything. We received a complaint in this regard and will take action, "Nagaon Deputy Commissioner, Nisarg Hivare told ANI. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. He further said, "We have sent three-day relief materials to the people and are now preparing to transport relief materials for five days. It's free, no one has to pay anything." The overall flood situation in Assam has improved but over 33.03 lakh people in 28 districts continue to remain affected due to the natural calamity in the state, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) informed on Saturday. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. According to ASDMA, a total of 117 people have lost their lives so far in the flood and landslides in the state this year; of which 100 people died in flood alone, while the remaining 17 died due to landslides. The report also stated that 8.76 lakh people have been affected in Barpeta district alone, followed by 5.08 lakh people in Nagaon, 4.01 lakh in Kamrup, 2.76 lakh people in Cachar, 2.16 in Karimganj, 1.84 lakh in Dhubri, and 1.70 lakh people have been affected in the Darrang district of Assam. The Indian Airforce deployed seven types of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft in various flood-affected areas, informed the officials on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Silchar to monitor the flood situation and took stock of the condition of people who have been affected by the flood. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 28 (PTI) Development projects, like Silverline, which would benefit Kerala would not be abandoned irrespective of the financial constraints being faced by it, state Minister for Parliamentary Affairs K Radhakrishnan said in the assembly on Tuesday. Also Read | TS Inter Results 2022: Telangana 1st and 2nd Year Intermediate Results Declared at tsbie.cgg.gov.in; 63.32% Pass 1st Year While 67.16% Pass 2nd Year. Radhakrishnan was answering queries regarding the financial position of Kerala on behalf of state Finance Minister K N Balagopal, who is attending a GST Council meeting. Also Read | Xiaomi 12S Series Launch Confirmed for July 4, 2022; Check Details Here. "The government has no intention to withdraw from projects which would contribute to the development of the state. The government will move forward with such projects," the state Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said. His response was in answer to a query by the opposition as to whether the government would back off from the Silverline project as it would allegedly cause a huge financial loss to the state which is already dealing with a huge debt of over Rs 3.32 lakh crore. Radhakrishnan also said that since the government carried out various development and welfare-related activities in the state, even when it was facing financial problems, its revenue or funds would decrease. However, such development and welfare activities would bring in more revenue for the state in future and improve the standard of living of the people, he added. He also said the last LDF government was able to control the increasing debt of the state. Radhakrishnan said that from 2010-11 to 2015-16, there was a 100.03 per cent increase in the state's debt, but from 2016 to 2020-21 the rise was only 88.66 per cent. This indicated that the state government was able to take steps to curb or control the increase in Kerala's financial debt, he said. He also assured that Kerala would not reach a financial situation as that of Sri Lanka. Radhakrishnan further said that while difficulties were being faced in tax collection, the government was taking steps to strengthen the same. He also pointed out that besides the state government's policies, the central government's stand on issues like GST compensation were also responsible for the financial problems of Kerala. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28 (ANI): A core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation amid the crisis faced by the MVA government due to the revolt in Shiv Sena. The BJP has decided that the party will follow the "wait and watch" approach. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. The meeting was held at the residence of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and other BJP leaders. "BJP core committee meeting was held. After the Supreme Court's order, the state's political situation was assessed and discussed. Eknath Shinde said that his faction is the original Shiv Sena, this too was discussed. We discussed what role should we assume in future in the current scenario," Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters after the meeting. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. "After discussion, it was decided that we will wait and watch and a core team will come for a meeting once again, depending on the situation in the coming days. BJP will then take a decision in the interest of the people, in the interest of Maharashtra," he added. In a jolt to Uddhav Thackeray camp, Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant joined the party rebels led by Eknath Shinde at Guwahati on Sunday The Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the rebel group have been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state Governor that he continues to be the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by Monday, 5.30 pm. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, in its order, said, "As an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker, to the petitioners or other similarly placed MLAs to submit their submissions today by 5.30 pm, stands extended till July 12. The petitioners or other MLAs are at liberty to submit their reply without prejudice to their rights in the writ petition." The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days.On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28 (ANI): A four-storey building collapsed in Naik Nagar of Maharashtra's Mumbai on Monday late night, informed the civil body official adding that the rescue operation is on. The fire brigade and police team reached the spot to rescue the trapped people from the debris. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. "A 4-storey building collapses in Naik Nagar. Fire brigade team, and police at the spot as the rescue operation continues," Pravina Morajkar, Corporator told media persons here. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), seven people have been rescued from under the debris and are now in stable condition. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. "Seven people rescued from under debris are in stable condition; 20 to 25 are likely to be trapped under the debris. Rescue operation on," the Corporator added. In another incident, a man died and 19 people were injured after a multi-storey building collapsed at Shastri Nagar in Maharashtra's Bandra West a few days ago. The deceased has been identified as Shahnawaz Alam, a 40-year-old man. "The building collapsed around 12.15 am. One person has died and 19 are hospitalised and are now safe. All of them are labourers from Bihar. The fire brigade and officers are present at the spot," Manjunath Singe, DCP Mumbai Police told media persons. (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 28 (PTI) IT services company, Infosys, on Tuesday announced it has been selected by Australian express logistics business, Global Express, to separate the technology landscape post divestment from Toll Holdings. Building on its strategic collaboration with Global Express to drive hybrid cloud-powered innovation, Infosys will leverage the blueprints and tools from Infosys Cobalt, a set of services, solutions and platforms for enterprises to accelerate their cloud journey. Also Read | FTX Crypto Exchange Not in Active Talks To Acquire Trading App Robinhood: Report. Under the collaboration, Infosys will also help set up a greenfield technology environment, and migrate Global Express' applications and services to a sustainable and energy-efficient data centre and public cloud on AWS. "Global Express appoints Infosys to manage technology separation from Toll Holdings," the Bengaluru-headquartered IT services major said in a statement. Also Read | Motorola Moto G42 India Launch Tipped for July 4, 2022. The statement did not reveal the size of the contract. Infosys will manage the end-to-end program, enabling Global Express' transformation strategy for its transport and logistics business, to deliver smooth customer service. "We are pleased to partner with Infosys to develop state-of-the-art digital capability, transforming our foundation technology platforms," said Danny Gravell, CIO of Global Express. Karmesh Vaswani, Executive Vice President and Global Head Consumer, Retail and Logistics, Infosys, said the company is thrilled to be working with Global Express on the business-critical project as they enter an exciting new era. "Our aim will be to bring an innovative hybrid agile approach to not just holistically separate the technology platforms, but to focus on enabling a modern, secure, and agile platform to support Global Express through their digital transformation," Vaswani added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Schloss Elmau [Germany], June 28 (ANI): After attending the G7 summit held in Schloss Elmau, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday. In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi said, "Interacted with several world leaders and participated in a memorable community program in Munich. We were able to discuss many issues aimed at furthering global well-being and prosperity." Also Read | G7 Leaders Vow To Back War-Torn Ukraine 'For As Long as It Takes', Amid Russia's Invasion of Kiev. PM Modi will pay his condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former UAE President and Abu Dhabi Ruler. He will also congratulate Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as the new President of UAE. This will be PM Modi's first meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan since his election as the new President of the UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Also Read | Canada Day Fireworks 2022 Live Streaming Online: Best Places To Watch the Illuminations From Home on Fete Du Canada!. In a first working session on Sunday, the heads of state and government of the G7 discussed global economic issues. On the second day of the summit in Elmau, the main focus of the G7 heads of state and government remained continued support for Ukraine as the leaders of the G7 nations, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held discussions on the impact of Russia's war on food and energy supplies including the global economy. Expressing his gratitude towards Chancellor Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz, and the government further, Prime Minister Modi hailed India-Germany ties. "I thank the people of Germany, Chancellor Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz, and the German Government for their hospitality during the entire visit. I am confident India-Germany friendship will scale newer heights in the times to come," PM Modi said in a tweet. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a unique biennial dialogue mechanism for the government of both countries to coordinate across a spectrum of bilateral matters. Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe. The two countries had a bilateral trade worth USD 24.84 billion in 2021-22. Germany is also one of the largest Foreign Direct Investment sources for India with total a total FDI of over USD 13 billion between April 2000-March 2022. Over 1,700 German companies operate in India and more than 213 Indian companies operate in Germany. PM Modi arrived in Munich on Sunday to attend the G7 summit. Upon his arrival, PM Modi was welcomed by a Bavarian band on his arrival in Munich. The G7 Summit invitation is in keeping with the tradition of strong and close partnership and high-level political contacts between India and Germany. The Prime Minister also interacted with the Indian community in Germany on Sunday at the Audi Dome, Munich. Thousands of members of the vibrant Indian community in Germany participated in the event. He highlighted India's growth story and mentioned various initiatives undertaken by the government to further achieve the country's development agenda while he lauded the contribution of the diaspora in promoting India's success story and acting as brand ambassadors for India's success. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Munich [Germany], June 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made India's position clear on the Ukraine conflict at the G7 summit where he reiterated that there must be an immediate end to the hostilities and a resolution should be reached by choosing the path of dialogue and diplomacy, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. Replying to a question on India's stand on Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kwatra during a press conference said, "On Russia-Ukraine, PM made India's position clear including an immediate end to hostilities; dialogue & diplomacy to resolve the situation." Also Read | Jordan: Toxic Gas Leak at Aqaba Port Kills 10, Injures Over 200. Foreign Secretary Kwatra also highlighted that PM Modi has spoken with the world leaders on the knockdown effect of the conflict in Eastern Europe on the food security crisis, especially on the vulnerable countries. "PM also put forward knockdown effect of the conflict on food security crisis, especially on vulnerable countries," Kwatra said. Also Read | Mexico: 6 Police Officers Killed, 4 Injured in Shootout With Armed Individuals. Ever since the war started on February 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been appealing to both Russia and Ukraine for peace and an end to hostilities. Earlier, PM Modi intervened and had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested that a direct conversation between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine may greatly assist the ongoing peace efforts to deal with the ongoing conflict. PM Modi had also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict. India is looked upon as a solution provider by all which was quite evident by the body language and camaraderie of leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra over PM's visit to G7 Summit in Germany. PM Modi on June 26-27 attended the G7 Summit in Germany, held meetings with world leaders as well as interacted with the Indian diaspora. During a press conference, Kwatra said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence at the G7 summit showed that India's presence is valued by all and that India is looked upon as a solution provider by all. You would have seen the body language and camaraderie of leaders with our PM." In an instance of bonhomie between the leaders of the two largest democracies of the world that caught the eye of viewers, US President Joe Biden walked up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greet him at the venue of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at Schloss Elmau, Germany on Monday. India is among the five partner countries invited to attend the G7 Summit. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today welcomed the Prime Minister at Schloss Elmau, ahead of the G7 Summit. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kremenchuk [Ukraine], June 28 (ANI): Amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping centre in central Ukraine on Monday, killing 16 people. At least 10 people are missing and 59 people were severely wounded in the deadly strike that took place at a shopping mall near a railway station in the industrial city of Kremenchuk, located in Ukraine's central Poltava region, the New York Times reported. Also Read | The U.S. Supreme Court Ruled in Favor of a Former Public High School Football Coach Who Latest Tweet by Reuters. Condemning the attack, Ukraine's Interior Minister, Denys Monastyrskyi said "People just burned alive," in a statement. The strike came after Russia, in a sudden escalation, fired more than 65 missiles at Ukraine over the weekend. Also Read | India Says It Remains Deeply Concerned by Developments in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza. Smoke engulfed the surroundings after the missile hit the mall in Kremenchuk as local residents desperately searched for the missing, according to city council officials. Ukrainian officials said that as many as 1,000 people could have been inside the building at the time of the strike, though the exact number was not clear. Until Monday, the centre of the city had not been hit -- Russian forces had only hit industrial targets and an oil refinery. The Amstar mall, located in the city's centre, is not far from an industrial facility and is believed to be used to repair tanks, the officials added. "When they hit infrastructure or factories, we can understand that someone was given the coordinates," Olha Usanova, a deputy mayor of Kremenchuk, said. "This is just destruction of civilians. I have no words for this horror." Earlier, a strike in the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed five people and wounded 22 on Monday, New York Times reported citing local authorities. Quoting the head of Ukraine's emergency services, Serhiy Kruk as saying "So far, 16 people had been killed and 59 injured, 25 of whom were hospitalized," the media outlet reported. The strike had been carried out by a Russian X-22 missile weighing nearly 2,000 pounds and was fired from Russia's Kursk region, near the border, Ukraine's Defense Ministry stated. Ukrainian media reported that 115 firefighters had managed to put out the massive fire and rescuers were continuing to search through the debris for survivors. During the ongoing G7 summit that is taking place in Germany, the world leaders called the mall attack a "war crime" in a statement Monday night, as per the reports by New York Times. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine dedicated most of his nightly address on Monday to the strike, calling it "one of the most defiant terrorist attacks in European history." "Only totally insane terrorists, who should have no place on earth, can strike missiles at such an object," Zelensky said, adding, "Russia will stop at nothing," he said. Kremenchuk had a population of almost 220,000 people before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. The previous strikes by Russia have targeted a theatre, a maternity hospital and people waiting in line for bread, a shopping centre being the latest addition. On February 24, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine. Nearly 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to United Nations (UN) estimates and most of those displaced are women and children. The conflict has left 15.7 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian support, with some of them lacking access to water and electricity. Three million children inside Ukraine and over 2.2 million children in refugee-hosting countries are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Almost two out of every three children have been displaced by incessant rocket attacks and fighting between the two nations. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, June 28: The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) declared the Punjab Board Class 12th result today, June 28. The PSEB Class 12th results were supposed to be released on June 27, however, the press conference was postponed. The Punjab Board 12th results were declared at 3.15 pm. The overall pass percentage is 96.96 percent while the overall pass percentage of girls 97.78 percent. This year, a total of 302 students made it to the merit list. Pathankot district has topped the PSEB class 12th result. Students can visit the official website of the Punjab Board at pseb.ac.in or punjab.indiaresults.ac.in to check their results and view their marks sheets. Students must note that the PSEB Class 12th results can be checked using board exam roll numbers. TS Inter Results 2022: Telangana 1st and 2nd Year Intermediate Results Declared at tsbie.cgg.gov.in; 63.32% Pass 1st Year While 67.16% Pass 2nd Year. This year, the Punjab Class 12 board examination was held from April 22 to May 23 in offline mode. The duration of the PSEB Class 12 papers were 1.30 hours, 2 hours, 2.30 hours, and 3 hours, depending upon the requirements of the subject. Officials from the Punjab Board said that around 3 lakh students appeared for the Class 12 term 2 board examination in the state this year. The result of Class 12 term 1 examination has already been declared. Steps to check Punjab Board Class 12th Result 2022: Visit the official site of the Punjab Board at pseb.ac.in Click on the results tab on the homepage Select Class 12 exam result link Enter your name, roll number, and other details Submit and check your PSEB Class 12th Result 2022 Take a printout for future reference Last year, the Class 12th examinations were cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the result was declared based on an internal assessment. The overall pass percentage stood of PSEB Class 12th exams stood at 96.48%. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2022 03:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, June 28: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, BJP chief J. P. Nadda discussed the situation in a meeting with former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his residence here. Sources said the agenda of the meeting was the current political situation. Maharashtra Political Crisis: Ill Be in Mumbai Soon; 50 MLAs Are With Us, Says Eknath Shinde "Future of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government hangs in balance and there is complete uncertainty over continuity of government. Current political situation is agenda of meeting between Nadda and Fadnavis, and also the party's future course of action," sources said. Bharatiya Janata Party's national general secretary Arun Singh has also reached Nadda's residence. It is learnt that Fadnavis will also meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the Maharashtra situation. Earlier in the afternoon, Fadnavis reached the national capital to meet the BJP central leadership. Sources said that Fadnavis will brief the central leadership about the political situation in Maharashtra. "Fadnavis will also discuss the party's future course of action," sources said. As uncertainty continues to haunt the MVA government the BJP is closely following the political developments and has adopted a wait and watch policy. On Monday, the Maharashtra BJP State Core Committee meeting was held in Mumbai to discuss all the aspects in detail. "So far we have not got any proposal from anybody in this matter... Whenever it is received, we shall consider it and call another core committee meeting if needed," senior Maharashtra leader Sudhir Mungantiwar had said, reiterating the party's known stance. A political crisis hit the Maha Vikas Agadhi government last week when Shiv Sena MLAs, including Minister Eknath Shinde revolted against the party leadership. A BJP insider said the party is treading cautiously amid the changing political situation in Maharashtra to avoid a repeat of the 2019 misadventure when Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra and later resigned due to lack of numbers. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2022 05:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The Delhi Police on Tuesday outrightly denounced claims that termed the arrest of Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking portal Alt News, as politically motivated. Kochi, Kerala | Trial court dismisses plea of prosecution seeking to cancel the bail granted to actor Dileep in 2017 Actress Assault case. Prosecution argued accused has influenced the witnesses & tampered evidences. Dileep has got bail in October 2017 from Kerala HC ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Finland to give Ukraine 70 million euros for development cooperation, humanitarian aid. According to Finlands Foreign Ministry, which announced the pledge, Finlands long-term development cooperation in Ukraine focuses on education, rule of law, energy and climate resilience. The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) June 28, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) New Delhi, June 28: Google has invested in Indian startup Progcap that caters to small and medium-sized businesses, as it raised $40 million in its Series C funding round. The funding into Progcap, which serves more than 700,000 small retailers by extending a revolving credit line of $10,000 to $12,500 to them, was led by Creation Investments and Tiger Global. "Progcap is becoming the core operating engine for all the transactions of its customers, providing them with credit and technology solutions that make their businesses more efficient," said Pallavi Shrivastava and Himanshu Chandra, Co-founders. Existing investors Sequoia India and Southeast Asia also participated in the round. The fundraise was an extension of the company's Series C round and values the company at $600 million. Earlier, it raised $30 million from Tiger Global and Creation Investments. Google To Shut Down Hangouts in November 2022, Tells Users To Switch To Chat. Progcap said it will use the new funds to support its expansion and accelerate product development. The startup has facilitated credit disbursals worth over Rs 6,500 crore, working with over 7,00,000 small and medium businesses. The startup has raised about $100 million in funding in the past one year. "We're delighted to invest once again behind the Progcap team as it expands its product offering and further serves last-mile retailers in India," said Tyler Day, Partner, Creation Investments. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2022 01:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Krun, June 28: The G7 leaders, who have gathered in Germany for their ongoing Summit, promised to continue providing Ukraine with "financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support" and stand with the war-torn nation "for as long as it takes" in the face of Russia's continued invasion of Kiev. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the leaders said that the G7 is "steadfast in our solidarity with Ukraine, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defence of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in their fight for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future". The G7 leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US who have been joined in Krun, Germany, by two representatives from the European Union (EU), also welcomed the European Council's decision last week to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine. G7 Leaders Launch Plan To Rival Chinas BRI, Aim To Mobilise Nearly $600 Billion by 2027. While condemning Russia's "brutal, unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war" against Ukraine, the leaders said that they "will not recognise Russia's continued attempts to re-draw borders by force". "This devastating war has produced dramatic consequences far beyond Europe. It constitutes a blatant violation of international law, in particular a grave breach of the UN Charter." The G7 reiterated its demand for Russia to put an end to this "war of choice, and immediately, unconditionally cease all hostilities and withdraw its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders". The leaders also condemed Russia's unjustified use of nuclear rhetoric and signaling, and said that Moscow must abide by its international commitments, including those which ban the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. They also expressed serious concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement on June 25 that Moscow will supply Iskander-M nuclear capable missiles to Belarus in the coming months. In their joint statement, the G7 leaders said they remain committed to "sustaining and intensifying" sanctions against President Putin's government and enablers in neighbouring Belarus. There will be sanctions on gold and oil exports and also "targeted sanctions on those responsible for war crimes". The G7 also demanded that the Kremlin allow food to leave Ukraine's ports - and blamed Moscow for rising threats to global food insecurity as a result of the conflict. "We urgently call on Russia to cease, without condition, its attacks on agricultural and transport infrastructure and enable free passage of agricultural shipping from Ukrainian ports," said the G7 statement. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky virtually addressed the leaders and appealed for more heavy weapons from the Western allies. He also hoped the war would be over by the end of the year "before winter sets in" and urged the allies to keep the pressure on Russia with more sanctions. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2022 12:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). President Joe Biden's nominee to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ed Gonzalez, announced that he is withdrawing himself from consideration for the post. His nomination has been stalled due to an unsubstantiated domestic abuse allegation. According to his wife, Melissa Gonzalez, that allegation is not true. Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford raised concerns about the old allegation, and this prompted Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to cancel their plans to vote on Gonzalez's nomination. Ed Gonzalez Decided on Withdrawal After 'Prayerful Consideration' In his announcement regarding his withdrawal, Ed Gonzalez, who currently serves as Harris County Sheriff in Texas, said that he prayerfully considered what was best for the United States, his family, and for Harris County, which elected him to serve a second term. Gonzalez then thanked President Joe Biden for considering him as his ICE nominee and expressed his gratitude to the president. He added that he wishes the administration well as it tries to overcome paralyzing political gridlock that threatens not only the U.S. border but also the heart and soul of America. According to The Hill, the Biden administration did not return a request for comment on Gonzalez's decision. READ NEXT: California Jury Awards $21 Million to Family of Pregnant Teen Killed in 'Botched' Police Operation Melissa Gonzalez Insists Abuse Allegation Is Unsubstantiated The domestic abuse allegations, which led to the stalling of Ed Gonzalez's nomination, came from an unrelated suit at Houston Community College (HCC) where Melissa Gonzalez previously worked as the vice-chancellor. An affidavit from an HCC officer alleged that he was called to the Gonzalez home due to a domestic dispute. However, Melissa Gonzalez herself said that the allegations are false. She said she never made any complaint, and that any suggestion that she made one against her husband was "false and defamatory." She added that any assertions in a said affidavit against her, her husband, or their marriage, are completely false. The Houston Public Media reported that the lawsuit came from another former Houston Community College employee against the college. It alleged sexual harassment against two superiors at the college, and its affidavit was signed by a former HCC police officer. However, no charges were ever filed against the sheriff, nor was there any evidence to support any claims of abuse or physical violence. Biden also stood by his ICE nomination and said that the Harris County Sheriff was an "extraordinarily qualified law enforcement professional." The president also spoke of Gonzalez's track record of "implementing progressive solutions to difficult problems," as well as his track record of working with other government agencies, including ICE. During his time as Harris County Sheriff, Gonzalez had been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, especially its policy on immigration, He terminated the agreement between his office and ICE in 2017, and even declined to participate in a 2019 ICE raid. READ NEXT: January 6 Hearing: Donald Trump Pressured Justice Department to Call 2020 Election 'Corrupt' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin Watch:Sheriff Ed Gonzalez withdraws from consideration as ICE director - KHOU 11 U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said that abortion rights are only the beginning after Supreme Court decided to repeal the Roe v. Wade landmark decision that legalized abortion. According to Los Angeles Times, Harris said the Roe v. Wade revocation is likely to endanger other rights such as same-sex marriage and birth control. Harris noted that Justice Clarence Thomas cast doubt on those rights in a concurring opinion. She said that Thomas was merely saying "the quiet part out loud." In a CNN interview, the vice president said that she definitely believes that it is not over. READ NEXT: Roe v. Wade Overturned: What It Means for Abortion in California, Florida, New Mexico | Where Will It Be Illegal? Vice President Kamala Harris on Roe v. Wade Repeal In her interview, Vice President Kamala Harris told CNN's Dana Bash that she never believed former president Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick would preserve the landmark abortion ruling. Harris said she did not believe Trump's Supreme Court pick, which is why she voted against them. She added that it was clear to her when she was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that they were "very likely to do what they just did." Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins earlier said publicly that she feels misled by Brett Kavanaugh, who, she said, reassured her that he would not overturn Roe v. Wade. Harris was flying on Air Force Two from Washington to Illinois on Friday to unveil the administration's latest strategy to improve maternal health in the U.S. when the decision came down. Harris said that the current administration "will do everything" in its power to provide access to medication abortion. However, Harris said the administration is not currently discussing using federal lands for abortion services in and around states that will ban the procedure. Harris said she thinks it has been clear where U.S. President Joe Biden stands on the issue of reproductive health. Biden said last year at a CNN town hall that he would be open to altering the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation "and maybe more." Roe v. Wade Repeal U.S. Supreme Court officially reversed Roe v. Wade on Friday, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion no longer exists. Justice Samuel Alito said that the 1973 Roe ruling must be "overruled" as they were "egregiously wrong," adding that the arguments are "exceptionally weak," according to an NPR report. Abortion rights will be rolled back in nearly half of the states immediately, with more restrictions likely to follow. Abortion will not be available in large parts of the country for all practical purposes. Meanwhile, Thomas said that the legal rationale for removing Roe could be applied to overturn other major cases, such as legalizing gay marriage, barring the criminalization of consensual homosexual conduct, and protecting the rights of married people to have access to birth control. Thomas noted that "in future cases, we should consider all" of the said precedents as they are "demonstrably erroneous." States such as South Dakota, Kentucky, and Louisiana have laws in place that lawmakers designed explicitly to take effect immediately upon the repeal of the Roe ruling. READ MORE: Pres. Joe Biden Labels Supreme Court Leaked Opinion on Abortion Case as "Radical Decision" This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Kamala Harris speaks out against overturning of Roe v Wade: 'This is not over' - from Guardian News The United States has sent hostage affairs envoy Roger Carstens and ambassador James Story to Caracas in a bid to bring home American citizens detained in Venezuela and rebuild relations. According to a U.S. State Department spokesperson, the delegation went to Venezuela for a welfare trip. The jailed American citizens include a group of oil executives from Houston-based petroleum company Citgo and a former U.S. Marine. The Associated Press reported that in a televised remark, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro confirmed the visit from the American delegation. Maduro said that National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez received the U.S. delegation. He noted that both sides are continuing the communications between the two governments, which began on March 5, when the U.S. first sent Carstens and Story, along with the National Security Council director for the Western Hemisphere, Juan Gonzalez, on a surprise trip to Caracas. That marked the first White House trip to Venezuela in over two decades, and it resulted in the release of two American prisoners, whom the U.S. said were unjustly detained. U.S. Willing to Resume Relations With Venezuela After Years of Hostilities Before the surprise trip by U.S. diplomats in March, U.S.-Venezuelan relations had been frosty at best. It escalated when Nicolas Maduro won re-election in 2018, and the U.S. and its allies refused to recognize him as the legitimate winner. The U.S. insisted that opposition leader Juan Guaido was the legitimate winner of the elections, leading to further hostilities between the two governments. As the meetings began, it was unclear what other issues aside from freeing prisoners were on the agenda. However, according to the Associated Press, the lifting of oil sanctions is high up on the list. READ NEXT: Cuba: Latin Grammy Winner and Dissident Artist Sentenced to Prison U.S. Diplomats Also Met With Rival of Nicolas Maduro But while the U.S. delegation met with the Maduro government, a representative from the opposition who wished to stay anonymous told the Associated Press that James Story also spoke with Juan Guaido shortly after arriving in Caracas. The AP reported that negotiations between Nicolas Maduro and the opposition have yet to resume. And Story and Guaido reportedly talked about jumpstarting the negotiations in Mexico. Earlier this month, President Joe Biden spoke with Guaido and affirmed that the U.S. still recognizes him as Venezuela's interim president. In a statement released via the official White House website, Biden expressed his support for the Venezuelan leader and said he was willing to calibrate the U.S. sanctions policy. The second trip of the U.S. delegation to Venezuela came after a public plea to the Biden administration from the family of Matthew Heath. According to Reuters, Heath is a former U.S. Marine and was arrested in Venezuela due to what the U.S. calls "trumped-up terror charges." His family called on the Biden administration to act after an apparent suicide attempt from the imprisoned American. The trip also comes as U.S. interest in Venezuelan oil has increased following a 50% jump in oil prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. READ MORE: Puerto Rico: 27 Haitian Migrants Stuck on Deserted Island Rescued by U.S. Coast Guard This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: U.S. Delegation Arrives in Venezuela to Continue Dialogue Process - From TeleSUR English A Michigan mom was accused of torturing and murdering her three-year-old son, whose body was found in a freezer. According to People, the child's mom, Azuradee France, 31, has been charged with murder, first-degree child abuse, torture, and concealing a death. France reportedly pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges on Sunday. The Michigan mom's next hearing is scheduled for July 8, the prosecutor's office said. Detroit Police Chief James White described the boy's death in a news conference on Friday as "a tragic case" and said it was "something that no one should have to see." According to some reports, family members identified that Michigan boy as Chase Allen and that he was blind. France has five other children who reside with her in her home in Detroit. "Just imagine what they [other kids] must have gone through and what they must have endured being inside of that home," White said. White confirmed that a child's body was found decomposing inside the freezer in the home's basement. He said police officers felt something was wrong when Azuradee France suddenly acted oddly and responded in a way meant to push the cops away as if nothing wrong was going on. READ NEXT: U.S. Southwest Megadrought Blamed on Climate Change; New Mexico, Others in Its Driest State in 1200 years Michigan Mom Allegedly Tortured and Killed Her Son Whose Body Was Found in Freezer The boy's decomposing body was discovered at around 1 p.m. on Friday when police officers were dispatched to a home in Monte Vista Street in Detroit to conduct a welfare check on a child. During the welfare check, the home was found to be in poor condition, and it raised concerns for the five children living there. The kids were all taken to a local hospital for physical evaluation, and a child psychologist will also interview them. Child Protective Services (CPS) will reportedly be placing the children in foster homes. Worthy said this case has shocked him and the investigators. Prosecutor Kym Worthy noted that the "alleged facts" of this case have "astounded even the seriously jaded." She added that "our children" continue to be at risk, not only from gun violence but also from "the alleged murderer that lives in the house with them." CNN reported that investigators were still unsure at this point how long the toddler's body was in the freezer or when or how he may have died. But the medical examiner's office ruled the boy's death a homicide. Meanwhile, the accused Michigan mom's mother, Toni Haynes, told The Detroit News that she and other family members had previously warned CPS about her daughter. However, she said they would visit Azuradee France's home but eventually "give her kids right back to her." Haynes noted that she became suspicious when France told her the toddler had burned his hand on a plateful of noodles, so she called CPS again. Haynes noted that the Michigan mom also told her after the CPS visited her daughter's home several times that the boy had gone to live with his paternal grandfather's girlfriend in Coldwater. However, she said the grandfather told her that Chase was not living with his girlfriend. Child Abuse in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least one in seven children in the United States have experienced child abuse or neglect. CDC reported that it is likely an underestimate as many cases are unreported. A total of 1,750 children died of abuse and neglect in the U.S. in 2020. The CDC said the rates of child abuse and neglect are five times higher for children in families with low socioeconomic status. It noted that experiencing poverty could place a lot of stress on families, which may raise the risk for child abuse and neglect. READ MORE: Caldor Fire Moves Closer to Lake Tahoe as Blaze Continues to Spread in Northern Part of California This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Detroit Mom Charged After Blind 3 Year Old Son's Body Found in Freezer - From Event News At least 46 migrants were found dead inside a semi-truck in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, authorities said. According to CNN, authorities were alerted about the truck's contents just before 6 p.m., when a person working in a nearby building heard a cry for help inside the vehicle found near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus said the worker found the doors partially opened and saw several people deceased inside. First responders rushed 16 people - 12 adults and four children - into nearby medical facilities. All those found alive and deceased were reportedly migrants seeking a better life in the United States. Migrants Likely Died From Heat and Lack of Water, Texas Fire Chief Says San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said those still alive were hot to the touch and were suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion. Hoos noted that the migrants found alive were still conscious when transported for care. Hood also said that while the tractor-trailer was refrigerated, there was no visible working air condition unit, nor was there any sign of water for the people being transported. The National Weather Service reported high temperatures within the San Antonio area where the truck was found. It ranged from the high 90s to low 100s on Monday. Officials remained hopeful that the migrants who survived the ordeal will recover. They also said three of those rushed to the nearby Methodist Hospital Metropolitan were now in stable condition. According to McManus, three people have been taken into police custody. However, it is still unclear whether they are connected to the situation. Milenio reported that the San Antonio Police Department is now looking for the driver of the truck. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also dispatched several investigators to the scene. READ NEXT: U.S. Boosting Monkeypox Testing as Cases Rise Texas Governor Greg Abbott Blames Joe Biden for Migrants' Deaths; San Antonio Mayor Mourns In a tweet, Texas Governor Greg Abbott spoke about the deaths of the migrants. Abbott said "these deaths are on" President Joe Biden. The governor blamed Biden's open border policies and said the deaths were consequences of the president's refusal to enforce the law. At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law. https://t.co/8KG3iAwlEk Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 28, 2022 But according to New York Daily News, the tweet did not go too well to many, as Abbott was lambasted in replies. Many pointed out that this was all Abbott's fault because despite the governor's beefing up security along the Texas-Mexico border and increasing the funding for the human trafficking unit, migrants were still able to get across the border on his watch. The Texas governor is currently running on an anti-immigration platform for his re-election bid and has focused his attacks on Biden. But while Abbott has been playing partisan politics in the face of the tragedy, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg lamented the deaths of 46 migrants, calling it a "horrific human tragedy." He mourned the tragedy, urging people to think compassionately and asked to pray for the deceased, the ailing, and their families. Migrants seeking asylum should always be treated as a humanitarian crisis, but this evening we're facing a horrific human tragedy. More than 40 hopeful lives were lost. I urge you to think compassionately, pray for the deceased, the ailing, and their families at this moment. Mayor Ron Nirenberg (@Ron_Nirenberg) June 28, 2022 Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard also expressed condolences to the victims' families on his Twitter account. Ebrard said the Mexican consul general in San Antonio, Ruben Minutti, was already verifying the nationality of the deceased. And if there are Mexican nationals among the victims, he noted that support would be provided to the victims and their families. The nationalities of all the victims were still unknown. But some media outlets reported that some of the victims are from Guatemala and Honduras. READ MORE: Joe Biden's ICE Nominee, Ed Gonzalez, Withdraws This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: At Least 46 People Found Dead in Semi Truck in Texas - From NBC News Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Gardai in Laois have issued a fresh appeal help to the public arsing from a fatal road traffic accident near Stradbally on Friday June 24. The guards are also still in the process of trying to positively confirm the identity of the victim of the crash which occured on the Athy Road at Laundry Cross about 4 kms from the Laois village. While gardai believe the man was an Eastern European national who had recently moved to Portlaoise after arriving in Ireland just over a month ago, they expect to have to carry out DNA tests to confirm his identity. The man may have spent a short time in Roscommon before moving to Laois. The deceased has no known relatives in Ireland so this could take some time to confirm. The process of identification has been made difficult for Gardai because the car he was driving went on fire after his car hit a wall on the R428. He was the sole occupant and there were no other vehicles involved in what is being viewed as a tragic accident at approximately 2.45pm on June 24. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. They are particularly interested in anyone who may have seen a distinctive blue coloured Vauxhall Astra registration number 151 RN. They want to know from any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the Athy Road (R428) or surrounding areas between 2.30pm and 3.15pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardai. The movement of the car on the day is also if interest to gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. A concert in Kildare town will take place to raise funds as part of medical mission for Syria. The Syrian Refugee Crisis still remains as one of the worlds largest humanitarian crises at present. Northern Jordan continues to host 1 million displaced individuals, including many families living in camps since 2016 or earlier. Doors for the Medical Mission For Syria - Music For Medicine, A Midsummer Concert will open at 7:30pm. The fundraiser consists of a two hour program in the midsummer setting of St Brigids Cathedral in Kildare Town. There will be a raffle at intermission, and the program will also include a series of brief talks detailing the current circumstances in Northern Jordan, the work of Atlantic Humanitarian Relief (AHR), and the experiences of some Irish Volunteers who are travelling on the September 2022 Mission, and who have travelled previously. The AHR, which is based in USA, has been conducting missions to the area since 2012, and its next mission will take place on September 30 this year. A team of 80 self funding medical and humanitarian volunteers from USA and Europe is now assembling for this mission. Featured guests will include the Gormanstown Choir, the DARA Quartet, Viola Soloist Elena Ryan and Organist Ella Fallon. The event will take place at 8pm on Saturday, July 23. Further information and booking via Eventbrite. Those who wish to donate directly to the AHR can do so by clicking here. A barrister expressed concerns at Naas District Court on Thursday, June 23, that a prosecuting garda currently on a gap year may be delaying a court case. Barrister Aisling Murphy made the comments in the case of Lee Byrne, with an address listed as 30 Broadfield Close, Rathcoole, Dublin 24. The 23-year-old has been accused of punching another person at the Sallins Road in Naas on October 6, 2021, allegedly causing them to fracture their jaw. Ms Murphy claimed that the prosecuting garda, who is on a gap year, did not hand over any of the relevant documents about the case. However, Garda Sergeant Brian Jacob insisted to Judge Desmond Zaidan that while the documents were not present on the day, they were indeed handed over to gardai. Ms Murphy countered that it could not be certain that the garda in question would even come back to their role. The judge adjourned the case to October 17 to allow for DPP directions, and also granted bail for the defendant until this date. Kildare County Council is no closer to finding a solution for a group of Kilteel, Naas, residents whose water supply has been contaminated with arsenic. The issue was highlighted by the Leinster Leader three months ago after it merged that the poisonous substance - which may be carcinogenic for humans after long term exposure - was present in a group water scheme used by a number of local families. Since then they have been forced to rely on bottled water. However KCC official Joe Boland said that because the supply is a private one the responsibility rests with the trustees of the scheme though we have a duty of care. He told a Naas Municipal District meeting on June 14 that efforts are continuing to find a solution. Read more Kildare news He also said the council had never before come across a similar problem adding well resolve it, I know its frustrating. He was responding to a call for more information about progress towards a resolution made by a number of councillors. Mr Boland said KCC, Irish Water and the trustees are working on it and the solution would be a connection to the public main which would have a significant cost, a new borehole or a treatment process. A lot of effort is being made to find a solution, he said, adding he would caution against speculation on the source of the contamination. The provision of a new connection which would mean laying a new 3.5 kilometre water main, is not part of Irish Wagers capital investment programme. Another option being explored is appointing a consultant to examine whether an alternative arsenic-free water source is available. Cllr Fintan Brett said between 64 and 70 families are affected and the cost of conducting a feasibility study to establish the feasibility of a borehole could be 25,000. He also said that a mains connection would take three years. Cllr Bill Clear said that the cost of a mains connection would be 1.5m and Irish Water wont do that. Cllr Colm Kenny claimed it was not clear whether the arsenic was naturally occurring or a man made source. A former garda and another man have been jailed for drug and alcohol-fuelled assaults on two women, which culminated in one woman being bundled into a van and told she would be driven to the mountains and buried. During the ordeal in April 2021, Dublin man and former garda Stephen Cooper (37) forced a woman to take part in a strip search after he claimed she had stolen drugs from him. Cooper threatened the woman and then told her: I used to be garda, I know how to do this and if you weren't a thief, I wouldnt have to do this. After forcing the crying woman to strip, Cooper then inserted his fingers into her body and repeatedly told her to shut up. This assault took place at a house in Naas, Co Kildare at the tail end of a four-day drink and drug binge that had begun in a hotel elsewhere in the county. The victim of this first assault was in a state of shock and left, the court said. Cooper, his accomplice Stephen McGrath (37) and a second woman then moved to a house in Ashfield, Kilteel Road, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. When the two men began accusing this woman of stealing cocaine from them, McGrath began a prolonged and vicious assault, kicking and punching the woman repeatedly and tearing clumps of her hair out. Both men told her at one point that they were going to bring her up the mountains and bury her. They then tried to lift her into the back of a van but she began screaming and kicking out and they stopped and instead put her in the footwell of the front seat. Cooper handed McGrath a small multi-tool knife and McGrath told the woman I am going to stick that in your head. Cooper said to McGrath: You have to take care of her or we are both fucked, prosecuting counsel, Edward Doocey BL, told the court. McGrath drove off with the woman as she begged him to let her live and told him she had a child. She later told gardai that every time she opened her mouth, he punched her. He also pulled down her trousers and underwear and stuck his finger aggressively into her anus. At their sentence hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan said that the men's behaviour was cruel beyond extreme, reprehensible and shameful. To say they ill-used these women would be a gross understatement. They terrified them, they threatened they, they assaulted them, he said. He said that the second victim must have believed she was going to die and that she was struggling for her very life. She must have been absolutely terrified of what was her future, he said. Cooper, of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm of the first woman at a place in Naas. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the second woman at Rathcoole, making a threat to kill her and to production of an article capable of inflicting harm. McGrath, of Ashfield, Kilteel Road, Rathcoole pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the second woman and production of a weapon at Ashfield. He also admitted sexually assaulting her and assault causing harm to her at locations in Tallaght, Co Dublin. McGrath's four previous convictions are for possession of drugs, dangerous driving and drunk driving and Garda Rob Whitty agreed with Patrick McGrath SC, defending, that these were minor by comparison with the offences before the court. He agreed that this incident was out of character. Gda Whitty accepted that McGrath is genuinely remorseful and apologetic. Cooper was jailed in 2014 for perverting the course of justice and drug dealing after he allowed a friend to take the blame when gardai found the drug LSD during a search at the Electric Picnic music festival. Maurice Coffey SC, defending, said that Cooper came from a respectable family but that a once promising life was ruined by poor choices, particularly around drug use. He said both men were seriously out of control on the night. He said his client accepts what happened to these women should not have happened and that this is backed up by the guilty pleas. Mr Coffey said that after serving time for the earlier offences Cooper got his life together, married and set up a business. He said his marriage broke down and his business was hit by Covid and Cooper fell back into drug use and his life spiralled out of control. Judge Nolan said he was taking into consideration the fact that both men had entered guilty pleas which were practical indications of their remorse and shame and saved the victims the trauma of coming to court. He said that both men had otherwise contributed to society and he said he had no doubt both men could be reformed or rehabilitated. I doubt either man would come before this court again for anything remotely as serious, he said. He said both men came from good families and have brought great shame to their families. He described Cooper's assault of the first woman as humiliating and terrifying. He imposed a three-year prison sentence for this assault and another three-year prison term for the threats against the second woman, to run consecutively. He said that McGrath's level of culpability was greater because of his treatment of the second woman in the vehicle. He said McGrath's behaviour was gross and cruel. He imposed an eight-year prison sentence, made up of four-and-a-half years for the sexual assault and three-and-a-half years for the assault causing harm. Responded to report Garda Rob Whitty told prosecution counsel that on April 23 last year (2021) he responded to a report of an assault by two men at a house in Rathcoole. The victim had been admitted to hospital and told gardai she had met McGrath a few days before. He said the pair had spent two days together in their own company before meeting Cooper and the first victim. They went to a hotel and were on a binge of drugs and alcohol, with the two men providing the drugs. They were eventually thrown out of the hotel and went to the house in Naas where the victims later told gardai there were moments of paranoia and tension during binge-drinking and drug taking, Mr Doocey told the court. Counsel said that at one point there was an allegation that cannabis and make-up had gone missing and Cooper became irate and began asking the first victim to empty her pockets and her bag. He then patted her down in front of everybody and told her to go into bedroom because he wanted to do a more thorough search. He made threats and made her take her bra off and shake it out. He told her I used to be garda, I know how to do this. He then felt her legs and pulled her trousers down. She was crying and he told her: If you weren't a thief I wouldnt have do this. He then inserted his fingers inside her and twirled them around as if looking for something, the victim told gardai. He told her to shut up repeatedly while doing this. The woman was in state of shock and acutely embarrassed. She left the house and didn't go to gardai and this offending only emerged when the second woman went to gardai. This second woman told gardai that the three people then left Naas and went to a house in a rural area in Rathcoole where they set themselves up in a granny flat at the back. When the men accused the second woman of taking a bag of cocaine, Cooper grabbed the woman and threw her to the ground. McGrath then began kicking her and stamping on her and Cooper was saying to him: Don't let her away with that, batter her. The woman tried to escape through the door, but McGrath prevented her. He held her hair and punched her in the face and told her: You love your hair do you? before he pulled a clump of it out. The woman managed to get out through an open window and ran to the main house but McGrath caught up with her. She lost consciousness and regained it to find McGrath dragging her back to the flat. She heard both men saying, they were going to bring her up the mountains and bury her, Mr Doocey told the court. The men tried to put her in the back of a van with McGrath holding her by the top of her body and Cooper holding her legs. She managed to resist them and they then put her in the footwell of the van. When McGrath drove off he kept punching her and kicking her. The woman told gardai that he was driving like a maniac. CCTV footage of the journey showed the van coming to a stop at one point and the woman trying to get away and McGrath dragging her back. At one point he aggressively sexually assaulted her, the court heard. The incident ended when he let her out and she raised the alarm. Over 1,000 extra college places will be offered through the CAO this year. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, today (Tuesday June 28) announced the expansion, which consists of a total 1,056 targeted college places in areas such as IT, engineering and nursing. Speaking today, Minister Harris said, "Im delighted to announce these additional college places as I know it is a constant concern for Leaving Cert students. This year we have made a real effort to make sure that they are in sought after courses, and ones that will produce graduates with the skills our country is crying out for. "Some examples of courses receiving extra places this year include IT, architecture and construction, nursing, engineering, education and welfare." He continued: "In the coming weeks the Minister for Health and I will also bring a memo to Government to outline a 5-year plan to secure extra places in medicine, another area in which we are in need of more qualified staff. "After a stressful number of weeks for school-leavers, I hope today will offer some good news about the weeks ahead." Minister @SimonHarrisTD speaks about the choices at third level as he announced over 1,000 extra college places today, including 60 medicine places, and 16 new apprenticeships such as farm management, horticulture and software solutions architecture. https://t.co/ScrOskQ8Zn Department of Further and Higher Education (@DeptofFHed) June 28, 2022 Additionally, 16 apprenticeships in fields including roofing, robotics, cladding and automation are also currently in development and will commence this year (2022). He said, "While these extra CAO places are a vital and welcome development, it is essential we continue to expand our third level system for everyone. There must be multiple pathways that learners can take as they prepare for their chosen careers. "Thats why we are working hard to introduce new apprenticeship programmes, such as the ones in bar managing and wind turbine maintenance which we launched in March, and we have also improved the financial incentives on offer to employers to take on apprentices, particularly female ones." Minister Harris also confirmed work is underway to improve pathways from further to higher education as part of the government's Unified Tertiary System strategy. He said, "There should be no barriers for students who want to pursue their chosen educational and career goals. Students anxiously awaiting their Leaving Cert results should know that while their points are important, they alone will not determine whether they can succeed in their education and career ambitions. "There are different routes to getting where you want to go, and we are working hard to ensure they are accessible to everyone." The minister also announced the abolition of the 200 levy for Post-Leaving Cert courses. Today, Ulster Bank Ireland DAC gave a further update of its phased withdrawal process. As part of this phased withdrawal, Ulster Bank has signed a legally binding agreement with Aviva Direct Ireland Ltd for the transfer to Aviva Direct of renewal rights in relation to its home and car insurance books. Customers do not need to take any action and Ulster Bank will write to them shortly to communicate this change and what it means for them. This transfer, which will take effect on a rolling basis from September 1, 2022, relates to renewal rights for car and home insurance policies which are underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, for which Ulster Bank acts as insurance intermediary for Ulster Bank customers. In this context, since customer policies are already underwritten by Aviva with Ulster Bank as the intermediary, there will be no change to the terms and conditions of customers existing policies until their renewal date. When a customers current insurance policy expires, Aviva Direct will automatically issue a renewal quote prior to the renewal date and outline the terms of renewal cover. At that point, customers can renew the policy or seek alternative cover with another provider, as they could have done previously. Ulster Bank will write to customers to inform them of this transfer of renewal rights. Once the transfer starts customers will continue to receive correspondence as required from Ulster Bank until their renewal date and their policies will continue to be serviced and administered by Aviva up to the renewal date. Ulster Bank Chief Executive Jane Howard said: Todays announcement of this transfer to Aviva Direct is one more step in our phased withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland and I am happy to inform our customers that they dont need to do anything until their policy comes up for renewal. We will be writing to customers in this regard to ensure that they remain supported throughout the transfer. A senior Conservative MP warned the Foreign Secretary against impugning the patriotism of those who criticise Government plans to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Conservative chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Simon Hoare was speaking during a debate where both those for and against the Governments plans to give ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland claimed patriotism underpinned their position. Mr Hoare said he had grave concerns about the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which he described as a failure of statecraft. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, when asked in the Commons why she is not using the dispute mechanisms included in the agreed treaties with the EU, said part of the reason she was putting forward the Bill was because Im a patriot. Mr Hoare intervened to say: Is she seriously impugning the patriotism of colleagues across this House who have concerns about her Bill? I find that a false conflation. Elsewhere in the debate, Conservative former prime minister Theresa May outlined her opposition to the Governments plans, saying the Bill would break international law, and adding: As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. Labour former minister Sir Tony Lloyd made a similar point, saying being able to ask others to adhere to international law and standards because the UK does so is true patriotism, which he said does not simply come from jingoist flag waving. Ms Truss remark about patriotism came in response to Labours Hilary Benn (Leeds Central), who said: I suspect that when she was campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU, she never in a million years thought shed be standing here proposing a Bill of this sort. He asked: Why is the Government not proposing to use the legal method to raise these questions with the EU through the treaty that it signed rather than one claiming necessity, when the Foreign Secretary is yet to give me a single example when the British Government has claimed necessity for abrogating a treaty that is negotiated and signed? Ms Truss replied: The reason I am putting this Bill forward is because Im a patriot and Im a democrat, and our number one priority is protecting peace and political stability in Northern Ireland and protecting the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, and nothing (he) has suggested will achieve that end. Following the exchange, Mr Hoare said: The Foreign Secretary knows that I have grave concerns about her Bill. But could I ask her just to coolly reflect upon praying-in-aid patriotism as a defence of it. Is she seriously impugning the patriotism of colleagues across this House who have concerns about her Bill? I find that a false conflation. The Foreign Secretary replied: I was directly responding to the point of the honourable gentleman asking me why I had campaigned one way in the referendum and now am working to make sure that the Brexit negotiation that we achieve works for the people of Northern Ireland. Speaking later in the debate, Mr Hoare said: I think this Bill is a failure of statecraft and it puts at risk the reputation of the United Kingdom. The arguments supporting it are flimsy at best, and irrational at worst. It is a Bill that risks economically harmful retaliation, a Bill that runs the risk of shredding our reputation as a guardian of international law and the rules-based system. How in the name of heaven can we expect to speak to others with authority, when we ourselves shun at a moments notice our legal obligations? Boris Johnsons bid to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared its first Commons hurdle, with no Tory MPs voting against it despite warnings the plans are illegal. MPs voted 295 to 221, majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks. Voting lists showed that dozens of Conservative MPs abstained, joining former prime minister Theresa May, who made clear she would not support the legislation as she warned it would diminish the UKs global standing and delivered a withering assessment of its legality and impact. Following the result, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that the Bill, which gives ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, provides practical solutions to problems caused by the Protocol and protects the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. While a negotiated outcome remains our preference the EU must accept changes to the Protocol itself, she added. The Prime Minister earlier claimed the proposed legislation could be carried out fairly rapidly, with the proposals in law by the end of the year. The Government is aiming to fast-track the Bill through the Commons before Parliaments summer recess. However, some MPs who opted not to block it at second reading appear likely to seek amendments, and the House of Lords is also expected to contest parts of the Bill, setting up a lengthy showdown between the two Houses. The European Union has also launched fresh legal action against the UK in retaliation over the Governments move. Mr Johnsons Government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really arent working in a way that they like or understand, youve got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, Mr Johnson said: Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing. He said it would be even better if we could get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice-president. The Prime Minister added: We remain optimistic. Ms Truss attempted to downplay concerns of MPs by saying the Bill has a strong legal justification and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution. But leading the criticism from the Tory benches, Mrs May told the Commons: The UKs standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions. As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith also said: I fear that this Bill is a kind of displacement activity from the core task of doing whatever we can to negotiate a better protocol deal for Northern Ireland. I also fear that it risks creating an impression to unionism that a black-and-white solution is available, when the reality is once this Bill has been dragged through the Lords, and courts, and EU responses and reprisals, compromise will ultimately be needed. But Conservative former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said there is necessity for the Government to act because there is a growing and real threat. On Tuesday Chris Philp, the minister for technology and the digital economy, rejected the concerns raised by Mrs May and others. He told Times Radio: If entering into a treaty yourself at the beginning automatically meant you contributed to the problem, then you would never be able to invoke this clause to change a treaty, a set of treaty obligations. I think it quite clearly is necessary. Weve the powersharing agreement which is broken down, trade across the Irish Sea is being adversely impacted by this. The protocol was supposed to respect the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which it is not doing. Unionist opposition to the imposition of checks has seen the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refuse to return to the powersharing Executive at Stormont, leaving the region without a functioning government. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson acknowledged the Bill is not perfect but said: It empowers ministers to make change where change is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the UK internal market. Sir Jeffrey, ahead of the debate, also warned the Lords that blocking the legislation would be akin to wrecking the Good Friday Agreement. A Number 10 spokesman said on Monday that the Government had never put a hard target date on when it would hope to see the Bill enacted. The government took a decision today to move forward with a key Green Party Programme for Government commitment to provide free contraception on a phased basis, beginning with women aged 17 to 25. Cabinet approved an amendment to the Health (Exemptions from Charges for Acute In-Patient Services) Bill 2022 which will insert provisions to provide for the free contraception for young women. Green Party Senator Pauline OReilly said: It is eighteen months since the Green Partys motion to provide free contraception passed in the Seanad. Given the history of the State with regard to women, women are now owed proper healthcare and I am delighted that we are taking the next step today. A huge leap forward was made when we, as a nation, repealed the eighth amendment of the Constitution but if we are truly a progressive country it is time to deal with other aspects of reproductive care. For women in particular, the right forms of contraception can be very expensive, costing hundreds of euro. We need to see each woman receive the right form of contraception for her, allowing her to keep safe and preventing crisis pregnancies. A 2020 report from the Dublin Well Woman Centre demonstrated that 51 per cent of women aged 17 to 45 have had sexual intercourse without using contraception. Some women do not have access to funds, while others do not prioritise themselves when setting family budgets. It is time to tear down the barriers and to allow every woman equal access. The Health (Exemptions from Charges for Acute In-Patient Services) Bill 2022 will be published in the coming days and is expected to commence in the Dail shortly thereafter. Italian Roberta Capelli, center, and her lawyer Irene Terrel arrive for an extradition hearing in Paris on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. LEWIS JOLY / AP The Paris Court of Appeal may rule on Wednesday, June 29, on the extradition requests for 10 former Italian far-left activists who have been refugees in France since the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. However, it is possible that the investigating chamber, which is responsible for deciding the case, will not make a decision and will request further information, as it has already done on several occasions in the autumn of 2021 and the winter of 2022. The Italian government is requesting extradition of these activists for acts of terrorism dating back to the Years of Lead, in the 1970s and 1980s. They were welcomed in France under what has been called the "Mitterrand doctrine" and granted asylum in exchange for renouncing armed struggle. The proceedings were initiated in the spring of 2021, just after the detention in France of these long-time activists on a European arrest warrant. For the first time, between March 23 and June 15 of this year, the court examined the situation of the eight men and two women requested by Rome, aged 61 to 78. Some of the 10 Italians chose to speak before the judges of the investigating chamber, although not Giorgio Pietrostefani, at 78 the oldest of the Italian asylum seekers, who arrived in France in 1975, and was never able to appear for health reasons. Lawyer Irene Terrel, who is defending seven of these Italians, emphasized that "it is rare for two further requests for information to be issued by the court. It is proof of culpable inaction by the repressive authorities, compared to our extreme diligence. If the Italian state requests extraditions 40-50 years after the facts, one might expect that it would produce the documents cited," she said. The public prosecutors have asked for clarification of the legislation relating to the statute of limitations, translations and procedural documents missing from the files. One of the main legal problems with the Italian requests is their retroactive nature. The Italian act bringing the procedure for judgement by default into line with the rulings by the European Court of Human Rights dates back to 2014. Previously, the law did not provide for a fresh trial in the event of the arrival on its territory of a person convicted in absentia. However, in the case of all the Italian refugees in France, the act would have to apply retroactively, as their case was much earlier. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback 'Humanitarian clause' In some cases, the Court of Appeal, as it has been asked to do in the past, had issued a favorable opinion on extradition in the 1990s or 2000s. But since the extradition was never carried out by France, the decision has now expired. "The French state has four months to execute [the extradition ruling], and the requesting state has two months to challenge [non-execution before the administrative judge]," Ms. Terrel explained. If nothing was done, the case is closed, according to the lawyer, one of the best specialists in extradition law in France. To justify new extradition, she maintains, there must be new facts. "This is not the case," she notes. You have 39.74% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. LIMERICK has received a jobs boost following the announcement by Three Ireland of a significant expansion of its operations in Limerick. The telecommunications company says it plans to create 175 new positions at its customer experience centre in Castletroy over the next four years. The new jobs will enable to the company's Irish office to begin export services to Three UK business customers for the first time. They will include both full time and part time positions and openings across a range of job titles and experience levels in the B2B sector. The Customer experience centre at the National Technologt Park was originally established over 20 years ago and currently employing close to 400 people. Welcoming this Tuesday's announcent, Tanaiste & Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar said: "These 175 new jobs for Castletroy are really welcome news from Three Ireland. For over 20 years, Three Ireland has invested in Limerick and the Mid-West region, creating jobs and providing services. These new jobs further strengthen the companys presence and commitment to Limerick and are a testament to the existing staff in Castletroy. .@ThreeIreland is investing further in its Castletroys facility, creating 175 new jobs for Limerick. Great news #FullEmployment pic.twitter.com/CaJbT0lI7u Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) June 28, 2022 Robert Finnegan, CEO of Three Ireland and Three UK, added: "This expansion of operations in our award-winning Limerick Customer Experience Centre demonstrates the strength of Threes customer service in Ireland and we are very excited to build on the high standard of talent we have. As the largest mobile telecommunications provider in Ireland by market share, with the fastest overall network, our Customer Care was awarded Contact Centre of the year in 2021 and were extremely happy to bring this exceptional level of service to our Three UK Business customers as well." Mr Finnegan said the investment underlines the company's commitment to Limerick as an employment hub into the long-term. "Three Ireland has been investing and growing in Limerick for over 20 years, and today, we are reaffirming and increasing that commitment with the creation of these roles. IDA CEO Martin Shanahan said Threes decision to expand the strategic operations at its Customer Experience Centre in Limerick is terrific news for the Mid-West Region and demonstrates its confidence in its ability to service international clients from Limerick. OVER 100 Ukrainian refugees enjoyed a day trip around West Clare recently thanks to the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP). The day tour for Ukrainian refugees included a visit to some of the regions best known attractions, including the Cliffs of Moher, Ailwee Caves, and the Burren. Organiser of the tour, artist Una Heaton, said: "This day would not have been possible to organise without the generosity of LEDP. "It was a special day filled with laughter and joy, an emotional time for a proud people but a day to feel normal once again." LEDP extended its community funding to support a memorable day out, and welcome distraction, for the Ukrainian Refugees who have little opportunity to explore life outside the Radisson Hotel where they are residing. Through its benevolence programme, LEDP already provides funding to Doras, to support its Refugee & Migrant Outreach Clinic. Niall OCallaghan, Chief Executive, LEDP, commented: "We were delighted to support this trip and bring some enjoyment to the lives of those who are living under constant worry and uncertainty. "These people are far away from home and family, so today was an opportunity for LEDP to support a temporary return to normality for the many children and parents based at the Radisson. "This builds further on our existing partnerships where were helping support those most vulnerable in our community. "The three-year funding programme we have put in place with Doras is another project we are supporting to enable the integration of migrants into Limerick life." A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. SIGNIFICANT fire safety concerns were identified during an unannounced inspection of a nursing home in Limerick earlier this year, it has been revealed. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published a report relating to the two-day inspection which was carried out at Corbally House Nursing Home on March 2. According to the report, inspectors found the facility had not taken adequate precautions to ensure that residents were protected from the risk of fire. They also found that fire safety precautions were not being adequately reviewed. "The provider had failed to identify serious deficits in the system of detection, containment and management of fire. In addition, staff spoken with did not demonstrate appropriate knowledge in relation to the procedure to be followed in the event of the fire alarm sounding," states the report. Such were the concerns of inspectors, the premises was visited again less than a week later after management were directed to take urgent action to address some of the matters highlighted. While all staff had attended fire safety and infection control training, a number of 'bad practices' were observed during the inspection. In addition, a review of the staffing roster suggested there was an inadequate level of staff "to ensure the safety of residents" in the event of a fire emergency. According to the detailed report, two residents' bedrooms at the nursing home did not have any fire detection equipment while there was inadequate management of the keys to exit doors. Inspectors also found that some fire doors were being kept open in an ad-hoc way. Another concern related to the large amounts of combustible materials which were being stored in the basement. "There was also eleven oxygen cylinders in the basement, most of which were not secured to a stand. There was holes noted in the plasterboard ceiling of the basement, creating a potential breach of the fire containment between the basement and the floor above," states the report. In addition to fire safety, Corbally House Nursing Home was found to be non-complaint across a number of other areas including governance and management, infection control, training and staff development. The failure to maintain proper records was also highlighted. However, the nursing home was found to be 'compliant' or 'substantially complaint' in all other areas. In their report, the HIQA inspectors noted the centre was well-lit and warm and that residents described it as being homely and comfortable. "There was a relaxed and calm atmosphere and inspectors overheard polite conversation between residents and staff. Residents told inspectors that staff were kind and residents were satisfied with the time taken for staff to respond to their call bells," states the report. A NEW online Revolutionary Map of Limerick (1913-23) has been launched by Limerick Museum as part of events marking 2022 centenary commemorations. Created by William ONeill on commission from Dr Matthew Potter, curator Limerick Museum, the map seeks to pinpoint the locations in Limerick city and county of events pertaining to one of the most important decades in Irish history. The information included is based on the work and research of Tom Donovan, Michael Hopkinson, Jennifer Levey, Helen Litton, Des Long, Sinead McCoole, John O'Callaghan, Padraic O'Farrell, Eunan O'Halpin, William T O'Neill, Padraig Og O Ruairc, Matthew Potter, Des Ryan, Sharon Slater and Thomas Toomey. The project also used newspapers such as the Irish Times, Freemans Journal, Limerick Leader, and Limerick Chronicle. Speaking at the unveiling Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler said Limerick was a major theatre of activity during the Irish Revolutionary period. "Both the city and county produced an array of figures who were willing to train, fund, and fight for Irish republicanism. In addition, there was also the Limerick Soviet, one of the most extraordinary events of the period, a general strike in which city's citizens governed their own affairs independent of British rule," said Mayor Butler. Dr Potter said Limerick also had a disproportionately large number of both police and army barracks, garrisoned by the Royal Irish Constabulary (including the Black and Tans), the British Army, and the Auxiliaries. "In addition, Limerick was the scene of the Dromkeen Ambush (1921), the most successful ambush by the IRA outside of Cork, during the entire War of Independence. The Civil War engulfed the nation in 1922-23, and all eyes were looking at Munster, which was the scene of major engagements, such as the Battle of Limerick City and the Battle of Kilmallock," said Dr Potter. The Revolutionary Map is being constantly improved and updated. It can be accessed here To begin with, the project is focusing exclusively on events within Limerick itself, and Limerick people who fought or were killed outside the city and county boundaries of Limerick have not yet been included. Please contact Limerick Museum at museum@limerick.ie if you have any edits that you wish to make to the map, including pictorial and other evidence that might enhance the story. The map forms part of the Limerick City and County Council Decade of Centenaries Programme which is organised by Limerick Library Service and funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative. For more see www.limerick.ie MUMBAI : The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) on Tuesday rejected a Future Group plea seeking termination of arbitration proceedings on the grounds that Indias antitrust regulator kept its approval for the Amazon-Future partnership in abeyance, two people directly aware of the development said. In its order, SIAC said it would continue with the arbitration proceedings that began in October 2020 after Future Group proposed to sell its retail, wholesale and logistics assets to Reliance Industries Ltd for 24,713 crore ($3.2 billion). In April, Reliance called off the deal after Future Retail Ltds creditors rejected the proposal. Mint has reviewed a copy of the SIAC order. The tribunal finds that the continuation of these proceedings has not been rendered unnecessary or impossible under Section 32(2)(c) of the Arbitration Act. Accordingly, there is no ground for the termination of these proceedings under the Arbitration Act," presiding arbitrator Michael Hwang S.C.s order said. Future Retail argued that there was no basis for the tribunal to continue with the arbitration since the approval for the agreement based on which Amazon approached SIAC has been kept in abeyance by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The 2019 agreement between Amazon and Future Coupons Pvt. Ltd, a promoter entity of Future Retail, has been kept under suspension by CCI for alleged suppression of facts. Amazon has challenged the CCIs order. SIAC said even if Future Retail discontinues to be a party to the arbitration proceedings, all other Future Group entities must be under arbitration proceedings even if an insolvency case is initiated in India. Future Retails largest lender, Bank of India, filed a case under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code after the company defaulted on payments. Future Group owes about $3 billion to at least 28 creditors. The tribunal said its order takes cognizance of a live contract because of which investment flowed into the company (Future Retail), and in that contract, there was no suppression of facts. The SIAC order means the surrendering of Big Bazaar stores to Reliance by Future Retail is not legitimate and can attract severe penalty if those assets are not brought back," one of the two people cited above said. At the heart of the Amazon-Future battle is an intense rivalry for gaining a beachhead in Indias burgeoning retail e-commerce space. Reliance took control of about 950 Big Bazaar stores this year across locations after their leases expired. Following the takeover of the assets, Reliance lowered its deal value for the Future deal to around $2 billion from the original $3.2 billion. Subsequently, on 23 April, Reliance said it would not proceed with its plan to buy Future Groups businesses after secured lenders to Biyani-led Future Retail voted against the deal. SIACs hearing comes at a time Kishore Biyani and his family, the founders of the Future Group, are in talks with Reliance Industries to sell the groups supply chain and logistics businesses. The Biyani family is also in separate talks with at least three large investors, including Azim Premjis Premji Invest and billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala to sell Future Lifestyle Fashions Ltd, Mint reported on 1 June. The proposed deal between Reliance and Future irked Amazon because its 2019 agreement to buy a 49% stake in Future Coupons gave it an indirect stake in Future Retail and barred Future Retail from transferring its assets to any company, including Reliance, without Amazons consent. In Indian courts, Future Group has claimed that Amazon was misusing the emergency arbitration order passed by SIAC on 25 October 2020. The interim award barred Future Retail from taking any step to dispose of or encumber its assets or issuing any securities" to secure any funding from a restricted party. The quarter ended March 2022 saw banks in India open the highest number of bank branches in the past nine quarters, since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. Even as the pandemic fed the growth of online banking services, brick-and-mortar branches remain crucial for financial inclusion in India, especially in rural areas. However, the experience of the past five years shows that nationalized banks, which dominate Indias banking sector and have historically led the rural drive, are going slow on branch expansion. And while private banks are taking the lead in branch expansion, rural via this route is not a priority for them. In the five-year period to March 2022, the number of functioning bank branches increased 8% to 158,793. Notably, branches of nationalized banks decreased 6.6% during this period as they rationalized their network following a spate of directed mergers. By comparison, the branch network of private banks increased about 40%. As a result, they continued their gradual ascent in branch network share, increasing from about 19% in March 2017 to about 25% in March 2022. Private Banks have a distinctly urban focus. Only about 20% of their branches are in rural areasthe least among the four geographical categories of bank branches defined by Indias central bank. As a result, private banks account for only 15% of rural bank branches in India. This is significantly lower than their 28% share in semi-urban branches, 27% in urban branches and 36% in metropolitan branches. For rural coverage to expand, government-owned banks have to step on the pedal again or private banks have to farm out in a bigger way. Slower expansion Around one-third of total bank branches in India are located in rural areas, which comprise nearly two-thirds of Indias population by most estimates. Therefore, these areas are largely underserved by the existing network of branches. Notably, 83% of branches situated in rural areas are operated by public sector banks (including regional rural banks), which emphasizes their importance to the rural economy. In the last five years, the pace of branch addition has decelerated in all four geographical categories. Between 2017 and 2022, India added 12,049 new branches, against 43,232 branches between 2012 and 2017, and 28,584 branches between 2007 and 2012. The deceleration is especially sharp in rural and semi-urban areas, where lower financial inclusion, lack of access to online services and low digital literacy serve as handicaps to remote banking. The number of new rural and semi-urban branches added during 2017-22 amounted to only about a quarter of the 2012-17 period. Private-public contrast While overall growth in bank branches in the latest five-year period has been anemic, select banks have grown well. The top five in growth are all private banks, led by IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank. In fact, HDFC Bank has said it plans to double its network in the next five years. By comparison, government-owned banks in this list have either posted marginal gains in branch network or have reduced branches during this five-year period. Several realignments are underway in the space of government-owned banks. As many as six of the top 20 banks by branches have had to absorb other government-owned banks following directives from the government. This has caused their branch network to increase, but this is more in the nature of an existing branch being reassigned. They are now rationalizing their networks. Even private banks have embarked on acquisitions (for example, IndusInd taking over Bharat Financial), some of which has led to new branches being created. Geographical disparity Wide, easy and equitable access in the Indian banking system remains a work in progress. At present, there exists wide disparity among states in terms of access to bank branches. This, in turn, reflects a stark inequality in access to financial services. Smaller states and union territories, and southern states, lead in terms of bank branches per capita. On the other hand, north-eastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand are the worst off in terms of access to banking services. Generally, the more economically-developed and urbanized states have better access to the banking network, while states with large rural populations are lagging behind. Even as large regions and populations remain underserved by the banking network, Indias dominant public sector banks seem to be pausing on expansion, either because of internal compulsions or because they have reached their expansion threshold. Thus, the role of the aggressively- expanding private banks and small finance banks becomes crucial. But will they expand their network in the regions that really need them? www.howindialives.com is a database and search engine for public data Ukrainian rescuers sifted through the rubble of a shopping mall in Kremenchuk looking for survivors the day after it was struck by Russian missiles, killing at least 20, as Western leaders vowed fresh measures to increase economic pressure on Moscow to call off its forces. The Statue of Liberty is a famous example of copper turning green. Copper has a beautiful reddish hue, but when exposed to the elements, the metal undergoes a series of chemical reactions that make it turn green. But why does this color transformation occur? The answer, it turns out, is similar to why iron rusts; if iron is left unprotected in open air, it will corrode and form a flaky orange-red outer layer. "When copper metal corrodes, it forms what is called an oxide layer," Paul Frail, an advanced senior engineer in corrosion treatments with Suez Water Technologies & Solutions based in Trevose, Pennsylvania, told Live Science. The oxide layer, Frail explained, forms when the surface of copper reacts with the oxygen and water present in Earth's atmosphere. The layer is made up of copper salts and oxygen, and becomes thicker over time. Eventually, the copper underneath the layer is no longer exposed enough to the air to react. Related: Why do some fruits and vegetables conduct electricity? "Initially, the film may looked tarnished or black," said Frail, who is also a member of the American Chemical Society. "As the oxide film matures and grows more color, it will begin to [change], ranging from yellow-reds, blues and to a greenish color." The Statue of Liberty, he noted, is a famous example of copper turning green, as is copper metal used in other types of statues, and in older buildings for government, offices and universities. Archaeologists discovered a copper necklace with the inscription "Nikostratos" next to a mummy in Aswan, Egypt. (Image credit: Courtesy of the University of Milan) The color we see on older copper exposed to the air is not directly due to copper oxide, or the reaction of copper with oxygen in dry air, said Mark Jones, a retired chemist with Dow Chemical. When the oxide reaction occurs, the oxides are not colored. Rather, the color comes from "reactions of traces of sulfate and chloride in the atmosphere with the copper oxide," Jones told Live Science. Sulfur oxides come from combustion of fuels with sulfur, for example, and then fall on to the copper through rain. "They react with the oxides on the surface [of the copper] and give color," Jones said of the sulfur oxides, which are always present at low levels in the air. This is one demonstration of how copper's gradual color change requires multiple steps. On the periodic table of elements, copper is situated next to nickel and zinc in the first row of what is called transition metals, which refer to metallic metals with certain properties. These properties include being good conductors of electricity, being resistant to corrosion, being very malleable (or shapable) and serving as good transfers of heat. Copper, like these other metals, can easily be combined to form alloys, Frail noted, which have popular properties in construction including slow corrosion when compared with iron. "A common alloy of copper is brass, where copper is mixed with zinc," Frail said. Copper also sits above silver and gold on the periodic table, meaning it has similar chemistry to these elements, Jones said. None are rapidly oxidized, he noted; while gold is completely resistant to oxidization, silver is less resistant than gold and copper even less so than gold or silver. "All these traits, and its higher natural abundance than gold and silver, contribute to copper's use in electrical applications," he added. Copper is also the major component of the catalyst used to make methanol and vinyl chloride. Originally published on Live Science on Feb 9, 2013 and updated on June 28, 2022. 5 Seconds of Summer drummer Ashton Irwin was hospitalized after the band was forced to cut its Houston concert short on Sunday, June 26. In a note shared on Instagram Stories, 5SOS said, Upon experiencing physical symptoms, Ashton was taken to a local hospital for tests and medical review. As a result, it was advised [that] Ashton had experienced extreme heat exhaustion. Thankfully and most importantly, he is feeling ok and recovering very well. (A rep for 5SOS declined to comment further.) 5 Seconds of Summer were well into their concert when the band left the stage, and someone reportedly came out and told the crowd the group was taking a break. Not long after, per video obtained by TMZ, someone returned to the stage to deliver the news that the show was over, but they told fans to hold onto their tickets. In their Instagram note, 5SOS added, We apologize to all the fans in attendance for the show being cut short. Ticketholders please check your emails, you will be updated directly as soon as we have more information. At the advice of Irwins doctors, 5 Seconds of Summer announced they would postpone their next show in Rogers, Arkansas. The gig has been pushed to July 26, and will now serve as the final date on the bands North American tour. The group will return to the road June 30 in Nashville, Tennessee. On Twitter, Irwin offered a few more details about what happened, saying he was struck by an intense migraine brought on by exhaustion and overheating onstage, which made me loose [sic] my vision and gave me symptoms of stroke in the left side of my body. I suffered from an intense migraine brought on by exhaustion and overheating onstage which made me loose my vision and gave me symptoms of stroke in the left side of my body. So the decision was to end the show there and then. Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) June 27, 2022 He added, Its always amazing to play a massive energetic show in every environment thrown at us. Unfortunately this time my body gave out due to heat exhaustion. I was in tears in the ambulance, because I feel Ive let many people down. Im looking after myself and getting rest now. I feel so loved and looked after by my brothers and team and all of you. this is the price a dehydrated drummer pays when he takes on Texas heat. 5 Seconds of Summer are set to release their fifth studio album which boasts a perfect palindrome of a name, 5SOS5 on Sept. 23. It follows the groups 2020 effort, Calm. This post was updated 6/28/22 at 9:23 a.m. ET with 5 Seconds of Summers updated touring plans and a statement from Ashton Irwin. Greetings from Variety Awards Headquarters! Today is June 27, 2022, which means Emmy nomination round voting ends today . From there, its 15 days until Emmy nominations are announced on July 12 ; then 46 days until final round voting begins on August 12 , followed by 62 days until final round voting ends on August 22 . Then comes the finales: Its 68 days until the Creative Arts Emmys kicks off its two-night event on September 3 ; and then its 77 days until the 74th Emmy Awards takes place, live on NBC, September 12 . Listen, its obviously hard to put this newsletter out this week when the Supreme Court has just declared a war on women, stealing away their Constitutional right to autonomy over their own bodies and promising that more rulings that curb other hard-fought freedoms may soon also be taken away. Its the darkest time for this country, and sometimes it feels helpless as the fascist right-wing has effectively gamed the system and put in place voter suppression (and now, conspiracy-minded QAnon followers are taking on oversight of voting in many key battleground districts) which will continue to almost guarantee their tyranny, regardless of the actual popular opinion or vote. Lucky we live California, but if the Republicans get their way, the moment that they once again control Congress and the Presidency, expect them to try and strip away our rights on a national level. This is why, when Democrat politicians simply tell us to vote, in the magical hope this will all be corrected, its not good enough. Sure, vote. That is key. But we cant rely on a flawed system where voting suppression and other right-wing tactics could very likely suppress the majority vote. They need to do something. NOW. Its all connected. The Jan. 6 committee is highlighting the lengths the right wing will go to steal elections and push this country into a theocracy oppressing women, People of Color and all LGBTQ+. And now, the Supreme Court assault on womens rights is proof that its working. As Robert Reich tweeted, 5 of the 6 Supreme Court justices who just voted to overturn Roe were nominated by a Republican president who lost the popular vote. This is how democracy dies. The act of media companies promising to pay for the travel of employees in red states in order to receive a safe abortion is fine, but misses the point. Women shouldnt have to inform their employer of something so private and personal. Media companies need to be more forthcoming in no longer contributing to or supporting politicians who favor removing the rights of women and others. And how much longer should they even be forcing their employees to work in states (or produce in states) where their lives could be in danger? Yes, this is a newsletter about the awards race. But were all also humans here. The saying notes that Womens Rights are Human Rights. And as those rights go away, we all lose. Listen, its obviously hard to put this newsletter out this week when the Supreme Court has just declared a war on women, stealing away their Constitutional right to autonomy over their own bodies and promising that more rulings that curb other hard-fought freedoms may soon also be taken away. Its the darkest time for this country, and sometimes it feels helpless as the fascist right-wing has effectively gamed the system and put in place voter suppression (and now, conspiracy-minded QAnon followers are taking on oversight of voting in many key battleground districts) which will continue to almost guarantee their tyranny, regardless of the actual popular opinion or vote.Lucky we live California, but if the Republicans get their way, the moment that they once again control Congress and the Presidency, expect them to try and strip away our rights on a national level. This is why, when Democrat politicians simply tell us to vote, in the magical hope this will all be corrected, its not good enough. Sure, vote. That is key. But we cant rely on a flawed system where voting suppression and other right-wing tactics could very likely suppress the majority vote. They need to do something. NOW.Its all connected. The Jan. 6 committee is highlighting the lengths the right wing will go to steal elections and push this country into a theocracy oppressing women, People of Color and all LGBTQ+. And now, the Supreme Court assault on womens rights is proof that its working. As Robert Reich tweeted, 5 of the 6 Supreme Court justices who just voted to overturn Roe were nominated by a Republican president who lost the popular vote. This is how democracy dies.The act of media companies promising to pay for the travel of employees in red states in order to receive a safe abortion is fine, but misses the point. Women shouldnt have to inform their employer of something so private and personal. Media companies need to be more forthcoming in no longer contributing to or supporting politicians who favor removing the rights of women and others. And how much longer should they even be forcing their employees to work in states (or produce in states) where their lives could be in danger?Yes, this is a newsletter about the awards race. But were all also humans here. The saying notes that Womens Rights are Human Rights. And as those rights go away, we all lose. **************************************** Reach Michael on Twitter @franklinavenue or email mschneider@variety.com **************************************** As Emmy Nomination Voting Ends, Dont Forget About These Worthy Contenders Although series like Ted Lasso, Succession and Dopesick remain front-runners in their respective comedy, drama and limited-series categories, they all aired last fall. Are they vulnerable when it comes time for Phase 2 final voting? Maybe, or perhaps not, as theyve been consistently at the top of most pundits prediction pages. But Im getting ahead of myself: First off, as Phase 1 Emmy nomination voting ends today, its about handicapping who might even make it to that next stage. And with the Television Academy once again touting the largest number of Primetime Emmy submissions in its history, that means there will also be more so-called snubs than ever. So, TV Academy members, as youre marking your nomination ballots, lets take a look at series and performances that you shouldnt forget. I dont need to rave about sure things like Hacks Season 2, but I fear shows including Pen15, The Other Two, As We See It, Winning Time and Pam & Tommy may be passed over. (Its that anticipated deluge of snubs that keeps me pushing for an extension to 10 nominees in major categories!) And then there are the broadcast heroes that I hope will get some attention this year: Abbott Elementary and Ghosts. On Varietys Awards Circuit podcast, my colleagues Emily Longeretta, Jazz Tangcay and Clayton Davis also shared their hopes for nominations. Here are our pleas, read them Although series like Ted Lasso, Succession and Dopesick remain front-runners in their respective comedy, drama and limited-series categories, they all aired last fall. Are they vulnerable when it comes time for Phase 2 final voting?Maybe, or perhaps not, as theyve been consistently at the top of most pundits prediction pages. But Im getting ahead of myself: First off, as Phase 1 Emmy nomination voting ends today, its about handicapping who might even make it to that next stage. And with the Television Academy once again touting the largest number of Primetime Emmy submissions in its history, that means there will also be more so-called snubs than ever.So, TV Academy members, as youre marking your nomination ballots, lets take a look at series and performances that you shouldnt forget. I dont need to rave about sure things like Hacks Season 2, but I fear shows including Pen15, The Other Two, As We See It, Winning Time and Pam & Tommy may be passed over. (Its that anticipated deluge of snubs that keeps me pushing for an extension to 10 nominees in major categories!)And then there are the broadcast heroes that I hope will get some attention this year: Abbott Elementary and Ghosts. On Varietys Awards Circuit podcast, my colleaguesandalso shared their hopes for nominations. Here are our pleas, read them here **************************************** Enjoying Awards HQ ? Get the most important stories delivered to your inbox every day by subscribing to other Variety newsletters **************************************** Click here to read the full article. Manolo Cardona, one of Colombias top actors who has starred in such Netflix hits as Narcos and Who Killed Sara?, is now filming his directorial debut, One Must Die, for Paramount+. Cardona also stars in the suspense thriller and is joined by Spains Maribel Verdu, who starred in Pans Labyrinth, Belle Epoque and Y Tu Mama Tambien, and is soon featured in the upcoming DC film The Flash. The rest of the cast includes Carla Adell, Juan Carlos Remolina, Dagoberto Gama, Fernando Becerril and Adriana Paz. In the story written by Julieta Steimberg and Gavo Amiel, seven people are kidnapped and find themselves unwilling participants in a deadly game. In order to survive, the captives must choose one of them to die, but this person will have to agree to be sacrificed. Meanwhile, the clock ticks and their allotted time is running out. Ive always been interested in exploring the human condition, especially in the most extreme and vulnerable conditions, Cardona told Variety. All my life, Ive been a fan of these South Korean thrillers, especially those by Park Chan-wook and his vengeance trilogy: Oldboy, Lady Vengeance and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. When I read the script and started working on it, I realized that it was very similar to all the South Korean films that have inspired me on the narrative, aesthetic and visual level, he continued. Thats when I felt the urge to make this story my directorial debut. Filming began on June 20 in Mexico City, where the pic will shoot for a total of five weeks. A weeks shoot will be filmed on a beach in Veracruz, Mexico. Cardona has also produced a slew of film and TV projects through the shingle he runs with his brother Juancho, 11:11 Films & TV. One Must Die is produced by Paramounts international studio, VIS, in association with 11:11 Films. The project is one of many first-look deals that VIS has cobbled with major content makers across Latin America, Spain and the U.S. These include a number of high-profile directors, producers and actors, led by Paco Cabezas, Juan Jose Campanella, Santiago Segura, Frida Torresblanco, Marc Anthony, Diego Boneta, Cardona and Luis Gerardo Mendez. Most recently, it signed a deal with Spains Morena Films. Its also forged pacts with Gaumont, El Deseo, Cattleya and Indigo, among others. Production has also started in Mexico for the second season of Paramount+s original hit series Cecilia, produced by VIS in association with Oficina Burman, part of The Mediapro Studio. The first season of Cecilia was honored at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, where it earned the silver award for best screenplay. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Mary Mara, the actor best known for her recurring roles in ER and Law & Order, died in Cape Vincent, N.Y. Sunday from an apparent drowning. She was 61. In a report published Monday, the New York State Police confirmed that Mara was discovered in the St. Lawrence River in Cape Vincent around 8:10 p.m. on Sunday by various officers. According to a statement from a representative, Mara was staying at the summer home of her sister Martha. A preliminary investigation suggested Mara died by drowning while swimming. Her body has been transported to Jefferson County Medical Examiners Office, where an autopsy will be performed to determine an official cause of death. In a statement to Variety, Maras manager Craig Dorfman confirmed her death. Mary was one of the finest actresses I ever met, Dorfman wrote. I still remember seeing her onstage in 1992 in Mad Forest off Broadway. She was electric, funny and a true individual. Everyone loved her. She will be missed. Mara was born and raised in Syracuse, N.Y. before going on to study at San Francisco State University and Yale. She began her film and TV career in the 1989 with the television movie The Preppie Murder, and would go on to amass over 80 screen credits. Her notable productions include ER, which saw her play recurring patient Loretta Sweet, and police procedural Nash Bridges, which saw her act in the main cast as inspector Bryn Carson. Other notable television credits include NYPD Blue, Ally McBeal, Farscape, Law & Order, The West Wing, Monk, Shameless, Ray Donovan, Dexter and Criminal Minds. Onstage, Mara appeared in a New York Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth Night with Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Gregory Hines. In 1990, she co-starred with William Hurt in a Yale Repertory Theatre production of Anton Chekhovs Ivanov. Mara made her film debut in 1992 with Love Potion No. 9, and appeared that same year as Billy Crystals daughter in Mr. Saturday Night. Other credits include Bound, A Civil Action, K-Pax, Gridiron Gang and Prom Night. After appearing in the 2020 film Break Even, Mara retired from acting and returned to live in Syracuse. Mara is survived by her stepdaughter Katie Mersola, sisters Martha Mara and Susan Dailey, brother-in-law Scott Dailey and nephew Christopher Dailey. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Only Murders in the Building star Selena Gomez took a moment during the second seasons red carpet premiere to speak out against the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, effectively ending federal protections for abortion access. Its about voting, Gomez told Variety. Its about getting men men needing to stand up and also speak against this issue. Its also the amount of women that are hurting. Im just not happy and I hope that we can do everything in our power to do something to change that. .@SelenaGomez on what Hollywood can do in light of #RoeVsWade getting overturned: "It's about voting, it's about getting men men needing to stand up and also speak against this issue. It's also the amount of women that are hurting. I'm just not happy." https://t.co/jLjwaGfpcA pic.twitter.com/gsvN27UYFi Variety (@Variety) June 28, 2022 Gomez also pointed others to a recent post she shared on Twitter, in which she shared a link to Planned Parenthoods website, explaining it as a valuable resource on what people can do next to help defend abortion access on a state level. Watching a Constitutional right be stripped away is horrific, Gomez wrote on Twitter Friday, the same day that the Supreme Court announced its majority decision. A woman should have the right to CHOOSE what she wants to do with her own body. End of story. It was a serious note from Gomez on the occasion, which saw her walk the red carpet alongside her series co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short. Together, the trio talked about how the series has evolved since its first season last fall. Later at the premiere, series showrunner John Hoffman also offered up his dream casting for a third season of the show, explaining that Harry Styles should be visiting the apartments at the Arconia. When informed about her showrunners big ambitions, Gomez seemed more tentative: That is hilarious. I dont know about that. Martin offered his own dream casting in response, saying that hed love for director Steven Spielberg to make an appearance. Short then made the perhaps-not-so-serious suggestion of Steven Seagal: Everyone looks at me, but Im a Steven Seagal nut. The second season of Only Murders in the Building will premiere its first two episodes on Hulu on Tuesday. Variety chief television critic Daniel DAddario was a fan of the shows follow-up run, calling Selena Gomezs performance a career-best in his review. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. President Trump knew that protesters were carrying weapons before directing them toward the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, where they stormed the building and interrupted the electoral count, a former aide testified to Congress on Tuesday. Trump also demanded to go to the Capitol himself, according to the aide, Cassidy Hutchinson. When the Secret Service drove him back to the White House instead, he became angry and tried to grab the steering wheel, she testified, using his free hand to try to grab a Secret Service agent close to his neck. Im the effing president, he said, according to her account. Take me up to the Capitol now. Hutchinson was a surprise witness called by the House select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol. She gave her account of Trumps comments on the day of the attack, as well as testimony about several warnings of potential violence in the days leading up it. Hutchinson said she heard about Trumps conduct in the car from Tony Ornato, then the White House deputy chief of staff. Hutchinson was a special assistant to Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff. The committee played police dispatch audio from the scene of Trumps speech at the Ellipse, in which officers warned that some of the demonstrators were carrying AR-15s. Trump was set to give a speech at the Ellipse, and the area around the stage was cordoned off with magnetometers. Shortly before the speech, Trump was concerned that not enough people were inside the magnetometers, Hutchinson said. She said that Trump had been warned that some of them were carrying weapons, and did not want to come inside and give up their weapons to the Secret Service. I dont care that they have weapons. Theyre not here to hurt me, Trump said, according to Hutchinson. Let the people in Take the effing mags away. She also said that the president indicated that the protesters could march to the Capitol once the rallys over. In his speech, Trump said that he would walk with the protesters up to the Capitol building. In his memoir, Meadows said that Trump meant he would walk with them metaphorically. But Hutchinsons testimony contradicted that, indicating that Trump insisted repeatedly that he be allowed to go to the Capitol himself. Hutchinson also testified that Ornato warned Meadows on Jan. 6 that the protesters were carrying knives, guns, bear spray, body armor, and spears made out of flagpoles. However, Meadows did not act on that information, she said. Ornato said he had also warned the president of that, she said. On Jan. 2, Giuliani told Hutchinson that Trump would go up to the Capitol on Jan. 6. Its going to be a great day, he told her, according to her testimony. She said she later discussed the conversation with Meadows, her boss, who warned her that things might get real, real bad on Jan. 6th. She said those conversations left her feeling scared and nervous about what might happen. Hutchinson recalled watching later in the day as the Capitol was overrun by violent rioters. She said she saw Trumps tweet from that afternoon, in which the president lamented the Vice President Mike Pence didnt have the courage to overturn the election result. As an American, I was disgusted, she said. It was unpatriotic, un-American. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie. The Jan. 6 hearings began on June 9, and the Democrat-led committee held its sixth panel on Tuesday. The hearings have focused on Trumps unfounded bid to overturn the 2020 election, his pressuring of lawmakers to find votes for him and the connections to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Two more sessions are expected to come in July. The latest hearing was announced abruptly on Monday night, when the committee announced it planned to disclose recently obtained evidence. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office A suspected drunk driver had her child inside the vehicle when she crashed into a plastic trash can, according to Laredo police. Kassandra Cruz-Baldorinos, 29, was charged with driving while intoxicated with a child younger than 15 years old. A man is facing an array of charges after he allegedly assaulted his wife and endangered their 2-year-old son, according to Laredo police. Carlos David Munoz, 23, was arrested on the charges of aggravated assault, assault of a family, household member, endangering a child by criminal negligence, interfere with an emergency request for assistance and unlawful restraint. On June 18, officers responded to an assault reported in the 300 block of West Sycamore Street. While en route, dispatch told police that a woman was assaulted and the suspect had left the scene with a child. First officers on the scene encountered a woman who had bruises to her eye and cheek area, redness and inflammation, states the arrest affidavit. Police said she was covered in blood. She stated that her husband, Munoz, had assaulted her before leaving the scene with their 2-year-old son. Laredo Fire Department paramedics arrived to evaluate the woman. She was then taken to Doctors Hospital. Officers then went inside the apartment, where they observed pools of blood in the living room and kitchen along with a broken plate. Simultaneously, paramedics and officers were requested in the 3300 block of McDonnell Avenue for a person with lacerations to an arm. First responders identified the person as Munoz. Police said Munoz had arrived at the location with his 2-year-old child not in a safety seat. Munoz had crashed into the mailbox located in the front of the residence. Munoz was on the verge of passing out due to the amount of blood loss because of the lacerations to his arm. Paramedics took him to Laredo Medical Center. The child was safe and returned to his mother. According to the woman, Munoz had been drinking prior to the assault. She told him not to come home if he was drunk due to recent arguments. She stated they began to argue when he arrived home. She tried to leave the apartment to avoid further conflict, but Munoz prevented her from leaving. Munoz then grabbed her phone and broke so she could not call 911, states the arrest affidavit. Munoz started punching her in the face. The woman could not escape from him. She grabbed a plate and threw it on the floor to alert the neighbors. She stabbed Munoz several times on his left arm with a fork. He then started strangling her to the point where she had difficulty breathing, court documents state. As she was being strangled, she stated that Munoz said he was going to kill her, states the affidavit. The women fell unconscious. When she woke up, she noticed Munoz and her child were gone. Police also interviewed Munoz. He stated he helped a friend move from his apartment at about 10 a.m. When they finished, they went to a Tacos Kissi for dinner at about 4 p.m., he told officers. After eating, he went to a friends house where he had four drinks of mixed whiskey, two mixed drinks of tequila and possibly two bottles of Dos Equis. A friend had to drop him off at home because he felt tipsy. Munoz claimed he started arguing with his wife after she slapped him in the face. He tried to leave with the child when his wife began to stab him in the arm. He told police he was not good to drive because he was on the verge of passing out, authorities said. When asked about the claims made by his wife, he stated he did not hit her but could not explain the bruises to her face. He also denied breaking the phone and strangling her, states the affidavit. Almost anyone can now get a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States and in neighboring Mexico. This was made possible after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of six months and 5 years last week. Coming off that announcement, the health directors of both Laredo and Nuevo Laredo state that it is important for young children to get vaccinated. Like adults, children also can transmit the coronavirus to others if theyre infected, even when they have no symptoms, City of Laredo Health Director Dr. Richard Chamberlain said. The COVID-19 vaccine does protect children and adults, reducing the chance that they transmit the virus to others. Vaccines save lives. Chamberlain does state, however, that parents should expect to see some symptoms among their children, just like they might experience in adults. Side effects for children 4 year old and older include pain, redness and swelling to the area that the child got the vaccine, Chamberlain said. Also, children can experience tiredness, headache, muscle or joint pain, chills, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes. Side effects for children six months to 3 years old are pain where the shot was given, swollen lymph nodes, irritability or crying, sleepiness, and loss of appetite. According to Chamberlain, COVID-19 vaccines help reduce the risk of becoming infected and suffering from severe illness, long COVID, hospitalization and death. Nuevo Laredo health director Dr. Liliana Arjona agrees with Chamberlain's assessment and also firmly recommends the usage of the COVID-19 vaccine. I recommend the COVID vaccine for children fully, Arjona said. It is important for all the people of Nuevo Laredo to get vaccinated and also for the people of Laredo, Texas to do so as well, because as we have said ever since the beginning, this is one region united together, and we must promote this closeness with each other and both cities. Arjona states that the most complicated problem among children is that they might cause bigger transmission of the virus than adults, which can lead to more active cases in the community if not vaccinated. Although these patients are not within the age groups in which COVID becomes severely complicated, they are equally capable of transmitting the disease to someone else, Arjona said. If we truly want to come out good out of this pandemic, these children must get vaccinated as well. Chamberlain does believe that vaccinating children can put another dent in the pandemic, which has seen its impact notably decrease since the vaccines first started to emerge. This latest action ... to have access to vaccines will help further prevent transmission of COVID-19 infections, he said. Breaking the cycle of transmission also prevents further mutations and the creation of new variants that might be more infectious or resistant. Fewer overall infections among the population mean less chance of severe infection, death in the community and the emergence of deadly coronavirus variants. The city recently announced its marketing and tourism department had seen multiple members recognized for their work and others earning high-profile certifications. Last week, city council highlighted their efforts and praised their work to entice visitors to come to Laredo. After three years of classes, CVB Assistant Director Joel Vazquez and CVB Marketing Manager Selina Villarreal earned their industry certificates of Certified Tourism Executive designation from the Travel and Tourism College of the Texas Travel Alliance. CVB Marketing Coordinator Ana Reyna Arzate was selected as one of the 2022 Emerging Tourism Stars by the eTourism Summit for her contributions to the city and tourism industry in Laredo. Through the recognition, she was given the opportunity to participate as a speaker in the 2022 eTourism Summit in Florida. Lastly, Visit Laredo was also awarded with the recognition in the "Innovation in Influence Marketing" category for their "Welcome Back to Laredo" last year in November. The campaign was spearheaded to ensure tourism returned to Laredo amid the reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border. Vazquez proudly told council he has been working for the city for over 19 years since his initial start during an internship as a senior at United South High School. He explained he previously planned to major in nursing, but after the internship and his travels, he changed his major to business administration and got a minor in marketing. I have grown with the city; the city has been a family to me, and its been a pleasure, he said. Its awesome to continue, I started as an information counselor and now I am the assistant director, so I have done nearly every position there. With over 14 years at the city, Villarreal began as an administrative assistant before climbing the ladder to marketing manager. She said she was blessed to say her job was promoting her home town and knowing visitors are having a great experience leading them to return to the Gateway City. What other better job could there be? she asked. Both Vazquez and Villarreal underwent intensive professional education focusing on marketing, leadership and management courses taught by college professors and seasoned travel and tourism professionals. According to Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau Aileen Ramos, Arzate was chosen as one of 140 other individuals as an Emerging Tourism Star, where she was selected for her dedication and her ways of finding new means of promoting Laredo. She said she was proud to hear of Arzates accomplishments and to have her work at the city for the past six years. She was one of nine winners and The Travel Vertical stated an Emerging Toursim Star is a savvy individual in destination marketing and attractions who are new to the eTourism Community of digital travel and tourism professionals or have risen to the challenges of a role. Arzate told The Travel Vertical during an interview she came to Laredo for a six-week internship but fell in love with the city on the first day. The warm and friendly people, small-town feel and its fast growth made it a perfect place for me to live. I remember people telling me, 'If you drink the water youll never leave,' so Im here 20 years later promoting Laredo as my own community, Arzate told The Travel Vertical. In regard to the final award, the Welcome Back to Laredo was deployed to bring back visitors after 19 months of the border being restricted. However, Ramos said the campaign was vital and the first course of action taken by the CVB after the restrictions were lifted. Through the Visit Laredo website, a number of activities, facts and city details can be found. This includes a border wait time link allowing Mexican residents to plan out the wait time before they visit Laredo. As food variety is a staple in Laredo, the website also features a number of restaurants for a variety of different cuisine. Courtesy/Immigration and Customs Enforcement A man wanted for murder in Honduras has been deported via the San Antonio International Airport, federal officials announced on Friday. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Jairo Samir Hernandez-Bautista, 30, a Honduran citizen, trying to enter the country illegally near Laredo on April 17. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations officers took custody of Hernandez-Bautista on April 21. He was then placed in immigration proceedings. An employee of the City of Laredo Municipal Housing Department has been arrested for using city-owned tools to do side jobs, according to Laredo police. Mario Escalera, 57, was arrested on June 16 via a warrant charging him with abuse of official capacity. A supervisor for the City of Laredo Municipal Housing Department filed a police report stating that an employee, Escalera, had taken assorted tools and equipment from the City of Laredo Municipal Housing warehouse without permission. The value of the items taken were about $2,027.92, according to court documents. The supervisor stated he had been in the area to conduct a surprise inspection on a city-owned house located in the 3300 block of Aberdeen Loop. The house had clutter in the front and rear. The supervisor took photos and submitted them to his supervisor for investigation. Housing officials then noticed on the photos several tools that belonged to the Municipal Housing Department, according to an arrest affidavit. Officials made contact with the renter of the home on Aberdeen. He was identified as Escalera. He stated he had borrowed the tools about two weeks ago. Escalera advised (the supervisor) that he took the equipment without letting anyone know because he knew they would not let him if he had asked. Escalera mentioned he would return the equipment in a week after he finished doing side jobs, states the affidavit. A search of his backyard yielded a multitude of equipment that belonged to the Municipal Housing Department. Inside his Ford F-150, he also had a 5-gallon jug of paint, two sets of restroom faucets and one set of kitchen faucets that also belonged to the Municipal Housing Department, according to court documents. Police learned that city employees are allowed to carry assorted tools in the work vehicles, but they are not allowed to remove them for personal use, states the affidavit. (The supervisor) informed (police) that Escalera has worked for the Housing Department for approximately 10 years and had never had an issue until now, the affidavit states. In an interview with investigators, Escalera stated he had worked for the Municipal Housing Department as a maintenance worker providing handyman work for the housing properties. He said that approximately three weeks ago, he started to have financial hardship and that his salary was insufficient to pay the bills. Escalera noted that he took it upon himself to take home the same tools and equipment and use them for handyman work after hours, states the affidavit. Escalera added he had no intentions to steal the items because he continued working for the city and would need the tools to work orders assigned to him. Escalera then provided a copy of a written confession in Spanish to investigators, according to court documents. At least 50 people were found dead in an abandoned 18-wheeler in San Antonio near Lackland Air Force Base on Monday evening, according to reporting from the Texas Tribune. Law enforcement officials believe the victims were migrants and that this was part of a migrant-smuggling operation. In addition to the 50 deceased victims, 16 others have been taken to the hospital, the Texas Tribune reported. Of the deceased, 22 people were identified as Mexican, seven were from Guatemala and two were Honduran, according to the New York Times. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who represents Laredo, took to Twitter to respond to the event, calling it an absolute tragedy. We must bring an end to these senseless deaths and hold those responsible accountable, Cuellar wrote in a tweet late Monday night. Let us pray for the families of the deceased. May they Rest In Peace. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott also responded to the news on Twitter. He blamed the incident on Democratic President Joe Biden, saying it was caused by the administrations deadly open border policies. These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies, Abbott wrote in the tweet. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also said on Twitter the horrific and heartbreaking incident was a result of an open border and claimed that the President and Democrats will ignore it. Human traffickers are exploiting the open border and the most vulnerable are paying for it with their lives, Cruz wrote in a tweet. Tragically, President Biden and the Democrats will continue to ignore the [Biden border crisis]. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the administration rejects the blame for the death of the migrants, according to reporting from the Dallas Morning News. She said those who place the blame on Biden are exploiting the horrific and heartbreaking event. "The border is closed, which is...why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks, Jean-Pierre told reporters. "46 people died in Texas. Were focused on them and on holding the human smugglers who endangered vulnerable individuals for profit accountable. Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke also commented on the event, calling it devastating on Twitter. ORourke said urgent action is needed to address the border issue. Our thoughts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in San Antonio today, ORourke wrote in the tweet. We need urgent action dismantle human smuggling rings and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration that reflect our values and meet our countrys needs. According to the Texas Tribune, three people are in custody, but it is unclear if they are connected to the incident. Local authorities said they first received a call around 6 p.m. from a worker in the area of the 18-wheeler saying they heard cries for help coming from the vehicle. The trucks doors were partly open when authorities arrived, the Texas Tribune reported, with one body outside the vehicle and the rest inside. Local authorities said they were very hopeful the 16 taken to the hospital, four of which were children, would survive, according to the Texas Tribune. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said this case could be the deadliest human smuggling incident he could recall in the city, the Texas Tribune reported. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MENDON, Mo. (AP) An Amtrak passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago struck a dump truck Monday in a remote area of Missouri, killing three people and injuring dozens more as rail cars tumbled off the tracks and landed on their sides, officials said. Two of those killed were on the train and one was in the truck, Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Justin Dunn said. It was not immediately clear exactly how many people were hurt, the patrol said, but hospitals reported receiving more than 40 patients from the crash and were expecting more. Amtrak's Southwest Chief was carrying about 207 passengers and crew members when the collision happened near Mendon at a rural intersection on a gravel road with no lights or electronic controls, according to the highway patrol. Officials were still trying to determine the exact number of people aboard. Seven cars derailed, the patrol said. Rob Nightingale said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth. It was like slow motion. Then all of a sudden I felt it tip my way. I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust, Nightingale told The Associated Press. Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didnt hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying. Nightingale was unhurt and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window. The collision broke the dump truck apart, he said. It was all over the tracks, said Nightingale, an art gallery owner from Taos, New Mexico, who said he rides Amtrak regularly to Chicago. It's too early to speculate on why the truck was on the tracks, said National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. A team of NTSB investigators will arrive Tuesday, she said. Trains won't be able to run on the track for a matter of days while they gather evidence, she added. At one point, KMBC-TV helicopter video showed rail cars on their side as emergency responders used ladders to climb into one of them. Six medical helicopters parked nearby were waiting to transport patients. Close to 20 local and state law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, fire department and medical helicopter services responded, Dunn said. The first emergency responders arrived within 20 minutes of receiving a 911 call, he said. Passenger Dian Couture was in the dining car with her husband celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when she heard a loud noise and the train wobbled and then crashed onto its side. The people on our left-hand side flew across and hit us, and then we were standing on the windows on the right-hand side of the car," Couture told WDAF-TV. Two gentlemen in the front came up, stacked a bunch of things and popped out the window and literally pulled us out by our hands." Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, after a backcountry excursion at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. No one in the group was seriously injured, said Scott Armstrong, director of national media relations for the Boy Scouts of America. The Scouts administered first aid to several injured passengers, including the driver of the dump truck, Armstrong said. High school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago, were also aboard, Superintendent Tim Beying told The Kansas City Star. Cheryl Benjamin was on her way home to East Lansing, Michigan, after an Alasksan cruise and a trip to Disneyland. She said she felt a bump, then heard a squeal, then looked out the window and saw the cars in front of her falling to the right. Then her car fell, the last to derail. It all took about 45 seconds. Benjamin told The Associated Press that the passengers organized themselves to escape the cars. Some of the Boy Scouts on board helped her climb out of the train and onto the ground. She was spending Monday evening in a local high school gym, where community members had brought in food for the passengers as they waited for buses to take them to hotels. Republican state Rep. Peggy McGaugh was at the high school. She said locals heard about the crash and started frying chicken, making sandwiches and delivering pallets of water. Being the small community this is, nobody wants to be the hero but everyone wants to help," McGaugh said. Mike Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on the land surrounding the intersection where the crash occurred, said everyone in Mendon understands that the intersection is dangerous, especially for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment. The approach to the tracks is on an inclining gravel road and its difficult to see trains coming in either direction, he said. Spencer said he had contacted state transportation officials, Chariton County commissioners and BNSF Railway, which owns the track, about the potential danger. Spencer, who is on the board of a local levy district, said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levy on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple days. Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. It was the second Amtrak collision in as many days. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between. Mendon, with a population of about 160, is about 84 miles (135 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City. ___ Associated Press reporters Margaret Stafford in Liberty, Mo., Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, S.D., Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb., and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report. __ This story has been corrected to show that the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California voters will decide in November whether to guarantee the right to an abortion in their state constitution, a question sure to boost turnout on both sides of the debate during a pivotal midterm election year as Democrats try to keep control of Congress after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The court's ruling on Friday lets states decide for themselves whether to allow abortion. California is controlled by Democrats who support abortion rights, so access to the procedure won't be threatened anytime soon. But the legal right to an abortion in California is based upon the right to privacy in the state constitution. The Supreme Court's ruling declared that a right to privacy does not guarantee the right to an abortion. California Democrats fear this ruling could leave the state's abortion laws vulnerable to challenge in state courts. To address that, state lawmakers on Monday agreed to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot this year that would leave no doubt about the status of abortion in California. While for now we may feel safe here in California, we cannot rest on our laurels," said Assembly member Sabrina Cervantes, a Democrat from Riverside. It is only a matter of time before this will directly affect you and the people you love. The amendment would declare that the state shall not deny or interfere with an individual's reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. It would become law only if a majority of voters approve it this November. Of California's likely voters, 76% oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, according to a poll conducted in May by the Public Policy Institute of California. That could give a boost to Democrats chances of retaining control of Congress. Despite its progressive reputation, California has a number of competitive House races that will help determine which party wins the most seats in November for the remainder of Democratic President Joe Biden's first term. Republicans opposed the amendment, arguing it is too broad and would allow for abortions late in pregnancy when a fetus is capable of surviving outside of the womb. California law currently restricts abortion to only before a fetus is viable, which is usually defined as around 24 weeks of pregnancy. The wording of this says nothing about late term. It puts no restrictions on it, said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, who noted his twin sons had complications at about 30 weeks of pregnancy. Babies like my twins at 30 weeks, their lives could be taken. Assembly member Akilah Weber, a Democrat from San Diego and practicing obstetrician-gynecologist, said many factors other than the gestational age of the fetus determine viability, arguing the decision is best left to the patient and her doctor. This amendment ... is not only compassionate, but it is rooted in the current state of science, evidence-based medicine and the legal landscape, she said. California joins Vermont in trying to protect abortion in its state constitution. The Vermont proposal, also on the ballot this November, does not include the word abortion but would protect personal reproductive autonomy although there is an exception justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment in California is part of Democrats' aggressive strategy to make California a sanctuary for women seeking abortions. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law aimed at shielding California abortion providers and volunteers from lawsuits in other states a measure aimed at blunting a Texas law that allows private citizens to sue people who help women in that state get an abortion. Californias massive operating budget scheduled for a vote later this week contains more than $200 million in new spending to expand access to abortion in the state. The money would pay for abortions for women who cant afford them, scholarships for people studying how to provide abortions and money to help women pay for logistics like travel, lodging and child care but only within the state of California. Monday's abortion debate in the state Legislature was colored with the emotion of personal experiences as many lawmakers detailed their own experiences with abortion. Assembly member Buffy Wicks said she chose abortion during an unplanned pregnancy when she was 25, and it allowed her to have a family when I was ready. Assembly member Isaac Bryan said his mother got pregnant from a rape and chose to have him and put him up for adoption. I get asked all the time why that doesn't make me pro-life, Bryan said. It's because my mother had options. She had choices, and they were hers to make. And I refuse to be tokenized to undermine the bodily autonomy of women and childbearing people. NEW YORK (AP) The company planning to buy Donald Trumps new social media business has disclosed a federal grand jury investigation that it says could impede or even prevent its acquisition of the Truth Social app. Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp. dropped almost 10% Monday as the company revealed that it has received subpoenas from a grand jury in New York. The Justice Department subpoenas follow an ongoing probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission into whether Digital World broke rules by having substantial talks about buying Trumps company starting early last year before Digital World sold stock to the public for the first time in September, just weeks before its announcement that it would be buying Trumps company. Trumps social media venture launched in February as he seeks a new digital stage to rally his supporters and fight Big Tech limits on speech, a year after he was banned from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The Trump Media & Technology Group which operates the Truth Social app and was in the process of being acquired by Digital World said in a statement that it will cooperate with oversight that supports the SECs important mission of protecting retail investors. The new probe could make it more difficult for Trump to finance his social media company. The company last year got promises from dozens of investors to pump $1 billion into the company, but it cant get the cash until the Digital World acquisition is completed. Stock in Digital World rocketed to more than $100 in October after its deal to buy Trumps company was announced. The stock closed at $25.16 Monday. Digital World is a special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, part of an investing phenomenon that exploded in popularity over the past two years. Such blank-check companies are empty corporate entities with no operations, only offering investors the promise they will buy a business in the future. As such they are allowed to sell stock to the public quickly without the usual regulatory disclosures and delays, but only if they havent already lined up possible acquisition targets. Digital World said in a regulatory filing Monday that each member of its board of directors has been subpoenaed by the grand jury in the Southern District of New York. Both the grand jury and the SEC are also seeking a number of documents tied to the company and others including a sponsor, ARC Global Investments, and Miami-based venture capital firm Rocket One Capital. Some of the sought documents involve due diligence regarding Trump Media and other potential acquisition targets, as well as communications with Digital World's underwriter and financial adviser in its initial public offering, according to the SEC disclosure. Digital World also Monday announced the resignation of one of its board members, Bruce Garelick, a chief strategy officer at Rocket One. Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump said Tuesday he will lead the legal fight on behalf of Randy Cox, a Black man who was seriously injured in the back of a police van in Connecticut when the driver braked suddenly. Crump also called for a federal civil rights investigation into the treatment of Cox, 36, who was being taken June 19 to a police station in New Haven, Connecticut, for processing on a weapons charge when his head struck the back wall of the van. Crump said police mocked Cox's cries for help and later dragged him by his feet from the van and placed him in a holding cell before he was taken to a hospital. Cox, whose legal first name is Richard, is in intensive care, paralyzed from the chest down, Crump said. At a news conference Tuesday in front of New Haven Superior Court, Crump, who has been called Black Americas attorney general for his work on civil rights cases, led a crowd in chants of Justice for Randy Cox. His co-counsel, Jack O'Donnell, said the legal team expects to file a federal lawsuit within 60 days, once it has reviewed all the evidence, including more than two hours of video. Some of that, including footage from a camera that recorded the moments when Cox was injured, has been released publicly. I am here because when I looked at that video, it shocked my conscience, Crump said. And I believe when you all see that video, it's going to shock your conscience. The only question is, why, when the police look at Randy Cox saying, I cant move,' why doesn't it shock their conscience? Five members of the New Haven police department who were involved in the transport have been put on leave while the episode is investigated. New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and acting Police Chief Regina Rush-Kittle said they are committed to being transparent with the facts. They have released all videos to the public and have given all evidence to state police, who have been called in to conduct an independent investigation, they said. I've watched the videos many times, Elicker said. I, in my own view, did not see malice on the part of the officers. I saw some bad decisions, an extreme lack of compassion. I think what we focus on, what we can control here in New Haven, that is ensuring that we have accountability in our city. Cox was handcuffed when he was in the back of the New Haven police van, which was not equipped with seat belts. He flew headfirst into a wall when Officer Oscar Diaz braked hard; he said it was to avoid a collision, police said. Diaz resumed driving to the police department, despite Cox calling for help and saying he was injured and couldnt move, according to the video and officials. A few minutes later, Diaz stopped the van to check on Cox, who was lying motionless on the floor. Diaz then called paramedics but told them to meet him at the station instead of waiting for them where he was, police said. At the station, officers dragged Cox out of the van by his feet and put him in a wheelchair, video shows. Police then booked Cox, took him out of the wheelchair and dragged him into a cell, where he was left on the floor, video shows. Paramedics arrived minutes later and took Cox to a hospital, officials said. Crump said Cox was accused of lying and told to get up several times by police. Wheres the first aid training? Wheres the on the job training? Wheres the accountability? said Latoya Boomer, Crumps sister, who attended the news conference with several other family members. I want to know, wheres the person who sees whats going on and says, Maybe hes not joking. Maybe hes not drunk. Maybe he is in distress. Scot Esdaile, the president of the Connecticut branch of the NAACP, said he is not convinced the hard braking of the van was an accident. People from the community have been coming to us for years talking about how they torture people in the back of paddy wagons, he said. They put people in the back of the paddy wagon; they go real fast and then they slam the brakes. Elicker said last week that prisoner transport vans not equipped with seatbelts have been taken out of service and that the police department is working to install seatbelts in them. He said Tuesday that department will be also be implementing more training for officers in response to the incident. WASHINGTON (AP) Instagram is blocking posts that mention abortion from public view, in some cases requiring its users to confirm their age before letting them view posts that offer up information about the procedure. Over the last day, several Instagram accounts run by abortion rights advocacy groups have found their posts or stories hidden with a warning that described the posts as sensitive content. Instagram said it was working to fix the problem Tuesday, describing it as a bug. In one example, Instagram covered a post on a page with more than 25,000 followers that shared text reading: Abortion in America How You Can Help. The post went on to encourage followers to donate money to abortion organizations and to protest the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to strip constitutional protections for abortion. The post was slapped with a warning from Instagram that covered the post, reading This photo may contain graphic or violent content. Instagrams latest snafu follows an Associated Press report that Facebook and Instagram were promptly deleting posts that offered to mail out abortion pills in states that restrict their use. The tech platforms said they were deleting the posts because they violated policies against selling or gifting certain products, including pharmaceuticals, drugs and firearms. Yet, the APs review found that similar posts offering to mail a gun or marijuana were not removed by Facebook. The company did not respond to questions about the discrepancy. Berlin photographer Zoe Noble runs the Instagram page that had its post referencing abortion blocked for viewing. The page, which celebrates women who decide not to have children, has been live for over a year. Monday was the first time a post mentioning abortion was restricted by Instagram, although Noble has mentioned it many times before. I was really confused because weve never had this happen before, and weve talked about abortion before, Noble said. I was really shocked that the word abortion seemed to be flagged. The platform offers no way for users to dispute the restriction. The AP identified nearly a dozen other posts that mentioned the word abortion and were subsequently covered up by Instagram. All of the posts were informational in nature, and none of the posts featured photos of abortions. An Instagram post by an AP reporter that asked people if they were experiencing the problem was also covered by the company on Tuesday, and required users to enter their age in order to view it. The AP inquired about the problem on Tuesday morning. Hours later, Instagrams communication department acknowledged the problem on Twitter, describing it as a glitch. A spokesman for Instagram-owner Meta Platforms Inc. said in an email that the company does not place age restrictions around its abortion content. Were hearing that people around the world are seeing our sensitivity screens, on many different types of content when they shouldnt be. Were looking into this bug and working on a fix now," the company tweeted. Tech companies like Meta can hide details about how posts or keywords have been promoted or hidden from view, said Brooke Erin Duffy, a professor at Cornell University who studies social media. This can all take place behind the scenes, and it can be attributed to a glitch, Duffy said. We dont know what happened. Thats whats chilling about this. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran and the United States began indirect talks Tuesday in Qatar aimed at finding a way to save Tehran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers. Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, met with European Union official Enrique Mora in Doha after earlier meeting Qatari officials with Tehran's local ambassador. Mora will pass messages between the Americans and Iranians. Rob Malley, the U.S. special representative for Iran, arrived in Qatar on Monday night ahead of the talks. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar said Malley met with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss joint diplomatic efforts to address issues with Iran, but declined to immediately offer any other details about his trip. Qatar's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it welcomed" hosting the talks. It said the talks aimed to reestablish the deal in a way that supports and enhances security, stability and peace in the region and opens new horizons for broader regional cooperation and dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran and world powers agreed in 2015 to the nuclear deal, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord, raising tensions across the wider Middle East and sparking a series of attacks and incidents. Talks in Vienna about reviving the deal have been on a pause since March. Since the deals collapse, Iran has been running advanced centrifuges and rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium. Even as negotiators convened in Doha, Iran's nuclear chief on Tuesday confirmed that Iran had begun installing a new cascade of advanced centrifuges at its underground Fordo facility. The International Atomic Energy Agency earlier reported that Iran was planning to enrich uranium through a new chain of 166 advanced IR-6 centrifuges at the site. A cascade is a group of centrifuges working together to more quickly enrich uranium. We will follow measures according to the plans made, declared Eslami, without saying at which level the new cascade will be enriching. Earlier this month, Iran removed 27 surveillance cameras of the IAEA to pressure the West toward making a deal. The IAEA's director-general warned it could deal a fatal blow to the accord as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Nonproliferation experts warn Iran has enriched enough up to 60% purity a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% to make one nuclear weapon, should it decide to do so. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though U.N. experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003. Building a nuclear bomb would still take Iran more time if it pursued a weapon, analysts say, though they warn Tehrans advances make the program more dangerous. Israel has threatened in the past that it would carry out a preemptive strike to stop Iran and already is suspected in a series of recent killings targeting Iranian officials. ___ Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW ORLEANS (AP) Judges temporarily blocked abortion bans Monday in Louisiana and Utah, while a federal court in South Carolina said a law sharply restricting the procedure would take effect there immediately as the battle over whether women may end pregnancies shifted from the nations highest court to courthouses around the country. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for a wave of litigation. One side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect, and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures. Much of Monday's court activity focused on trigger laws, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last week's ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old anti-abortion laws that were left on the books in some states and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play. Well be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case that resulted in the high court ruling, said Friday. Rulings to put trigger laws on hold came swiftly in Utah and Louisiana. A Utah judge blocked that state's near-total abortion ban from going into effect for 14 days, to allow time for the court to hear challenges to the state's trigger law. Planned Parenthood had challenged the law, which contains narrow exceptions for rape, incest or the mother's health, saying the law violates the equal protection and privacy provisions in the state constitution. I think the immediate effects that will occur outweigh any policy interest of the state in stopping abortions, Utah Judge Andrew Stone said. In Louisiana, a judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of that state's trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing. At least one of the state's three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures on Tuesday. Were going to do what we can, said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport. It could all come to a screeching halt. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judge's ruling and enforce the law. We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, Landry tweeted Monday. In South Carolina, a federal court lifted its prior hold on an abortion restriction there, allowing the state to ban abortions after an ultrasound detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. There are exceptions if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Planned Parenthood said after the ruling that it will continue to perform abortions at its South Carolina clinics within the parameters of the new law. Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions to save a mother's life or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality, but no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The ACLU of Florida argued that the law violates the Florida Constitution. A ruling on that is expected Thursday a day before the law is scheduled to take effect. Abortion rights activists also went to court Monday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. In Friday's ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges," said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school. As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states either because of state laws or confusion over them. In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time. Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited. That's likely to be the case in Louisiana. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state court dont deny that the state can now ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana now has multiple, conflicting trigger mechanisms in the law. They also argue that state law is unclear on whether it bans an abortion prior to a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. And while the law provides an exception for medically futile pregnancies in cases of fetuses with lethal abnormalities, the plaintiffs noted the law gives no definition of the term. Now that the high court has ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights groups are seeking protection under state constitutions. Challenges to trigger laws could be made on the grounds that the conditions to impose the bans have not been met, or that it was improper for a past legislature to bind the current one. James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, said the wave of suits from abortion rights advocates is not surprising. We know that the abortion industry has basically unlimited funds, and its allies have basically unlimited funds, and of course theyre fanatical about abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, Bopp said in an interview. But he said that that the Supreme Court ruling should preclude abortion rights supporters from prevailing in any federal challenges. And he called efforts based on state constitutions fanciful. Still other cases could be filed as states try to sort out whether abortion bans in place before Roe was decided sometimes referred to as zombie laws apply now that there is no federal protection for abortion. For instance, Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother. Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe it is enforceable. Abortion opponents have called on lawmakers to impose a new ban. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it immediately suspended all abortions. In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban ahead of last week's Supreme Court ruling. In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the states constitution. Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control. Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have adopted laws that allow people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions. It is an open question as to whether that means people can be pursued across state lines, and legal challenges over the issue are likely to come up in cases of both surgical abortions and those involving medicine mailed to patients. The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to shield abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments imposed by other states. In liberal Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday that prohibits state agencies from assisting other states investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts. Rhode Islands Democratic governor said he would sign a similar order. ___ Forliti reported from Minneapolis and Mulvihill from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Samuel Metz in Salt Lake City; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; and other AP reporters throughout the U.S. contributed to this report. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion. Before beginning the Fall 2022 semester at Texas A&M International University, incoming freshman and transfer students will take part in a time-honored campus tradition. Affectionately known as Dusty Camp, the two-day student orientation experience focuses on helping incoming students learn more about University services, academic expectations, and receive a first-hand experience of student life on campus. Students who havent registered for Dusty Camp can still sign up online by visiting go.tamiu.edu/dustycamp. To date, some 1,205 students are registered to attend. Five Dusty Camps are expected to take place throughout the summer months, with Monday kicking off the first two-day camp. Other sessions are scheduled for: Dusty Camp II: Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12. Dusty Camp III: Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 22. Dusty Camp IV: Thursday, July 28 and Friday, July 29. Dusty Camp V: Thursday, Aug. 4 and Friday, Aug. 5. Dusty Camp is led by Student Orientation Leaders, who help guide students throughout their Dusty Camp experience. This years OLs are Fatima Barrera, Elena Cano, Jorge Chacon, Daniella Delgado, Arizbeth Espinoza, Jesus Galaviz, Austin Garcia, Agustin Guzman, Alicia Huerta, Glenys Maldonado, Abigaely Perez, Daniel Perez, Yelenis Pino Del Barrio, Derly Rojo, Monica Urias, Mayela Villarreal and Christopher Zavala. We are excited to welcome the Class of 2026 with their first signature event at TAMIU: Dusty Camp. This innovative, two-day experience allows for our incoming class to develop their five senses of student success for their first year and beyond: their sense of capability, connectedness, purpose, resourcefulness, and understanding of our academic culture, said Dr. Nicholas Hudson, Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement director. Through Dusty Camp, students will develop meaningful connections with their peers and the university as they begin their university experience, Hudson reiterated. Students build lifelong friendships and experience TAMIU traditions, thereby leading to an increased affinity for the University and aiding in their overall retention and degree completion. Not only is Dusty Camp memorable and a highlight of their time at TAMIU, but it is also purposefully structured to allow students to create their own unique TAMIU experience. Students leave equipped with connections to faculty and staff, an understanding of available resources and an appreciation for TAMIU that we hope lasts a lifetime, Hudson explained. Dustdevil Transition, a one-day orientation session aimed at preparing students who are transferring to the university from another higher education institution, is also scheduled to take place. The transfer session is happening Friday, July 8. Transfer students should sign up by visiting go.tamiu.edu/transfer-orientation. In-person parent and family-only orientation sessions are also scheduled and will be delivered in both English and Spanish. Session topics include learning more about financial aid, campus safety and student success. All sessions take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first session began on Monday for English speakers. Five more parent and family-orientation sessions are expected to take place during the following dates: Monday, July 11 (English). Thursday, July 21 (English and Spanish). Thursday, July 28 (English). Thursday, Aug. 4 (English). Thursday, Aug. 18 (English and Spanish). Parents and families can register for the upcoming sessions by visiting go.tamiu.edu/parent-orientation. TAMIUs Fall 2022 Registration is now underway. For detailed registration information, visit news.tamiu.edu/fall22. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Late registration ends Friday, Aug. 26. For more information on Dusty Camp, contact the Office of Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement at 956-326-2280, email sole@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the University Success Center, Suite 224. University news and information can also be found online at tamiu.edu and on TAMIUs social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. A group of abortion providers from around the Lone Star State filed a lawsuit Monday against Attorney General Ken Paxton and several other state and local officials over what they say are conflicting state laws banning the medical procedure. An initial hearing on the new legal challenge, filed in Harris Countys 269th state District Court, will be livestreamed at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on the courts website. Hours after the Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections Friday, Paxton issued a legal advisory arguing that Texas district attorneys could immediately file criminal charges based on an existing statute outlawing abortion that is technically still on the books in Texas, despite a court ruling questioning its validity. The law, originally passed in 1925, had since been ruled unconstitutional by the landmark Roe v. Wade, the same case overturned by the Supreme Court just days ago. The providers are asking 269th state District Court Judge Cory Sepolio to temporarily repeal the 1925 abortion ban so they can continue providing what were previously legal abortions before the states trigger laws go into effect 30 days after the Supreme Court officially releases its judgment. Once Paxtons advisory was released, abortion providers across Texas immediately canceled appointments in fear of being prosecuted, attorneys for the providers argued in their petition filed Monday afternoon. "Mr. Paxtons and the Texas Legislatures attempts to greenlight the immediate prosecution of abortion providers based on violations of the Pre-Roe ban must not stand," attorneys wrote in the suit. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images In 1973, the law was transferred from the Texas penal code to the states civil statutes and deemed unenforceable after Roe was decided. Ever since, it failed to appear in the states official record of statutes, called Vernons Civil Statutes, attorneys said. Indeed, an archived version of the record from February 2022 before the Supreme Court overturned Roe shows it was nowhere to be found. But an official version accessed Monday includes the 1925 law in the code. However, despite Paxtons urging for prosecutors to file criminal charges related to abortions, the code now also has an annotation announcing it was "impliedly repealed" by another abortion case in 2004 that has yet to be overruled. That case, McCorvey v. Hill, started when Roes original plaintiffwhose real name is Norma McCorveyasked the federal courts to reverse their decision in the landmark Roe. The Fifth Circuit of Appeals ruled McCorvey waited too long to request the case be reversed. Attorneys for the abortion providers argue that because the statue had been off the books and unenforceable for decades, it should be invalidated. They also claim the states trigger laws would be inconsistent with the 1925 law, creating a potential problem surrounding due process. The American Civil Liberties Union and its Texas counterpart, along with the Center for Reproductive Rights which won a temporary halt on abortion restrictions in Louisiana on Monday, helped filed the suit. Susan Walsh/Associated Press "Abortion services stopped immediately in Texas last week after the Supreme Courts crushing decision, but we will fight to maintain access for as long as we can," said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. "Every day, every hour that abortion remains legal in Texas is a chance for more people to get the care they need. The clinics we represent want to help as many patients as they can, down to the last minute." The list of plaintiffs includes: Whole Womans Health, Whole Womans Health Alliance, Alamo Womens Reproductive Services, Austin Womens Health Center, Houston Womens Clinic, Houston Womens Reproductive Services, and Southwestern Womens Surgery Center. As of Monday afternoon, the defendants which include Paxton, key members of the state's health and medical boards, and several district attorneys including Kim Ogg had yet to formally respond to the lawsuit, according to Harris County court records. Mukesh Ambani has resigned as a Director in Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited with the company's Board on Tuesday approving his elder son Akash Ambani's appointment as the Chairman. In regulatory filing, Reliance Jio, the telecom arm of the Reliance group, said the Board of Directors at its meeting held on Monday "approved the appointment of Akash Ambani, Non-executive Director, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company". The company also said the Board "noted the resignation of Mukesh Ambani as Director of the company effective from close of working hours on June 27". The Board also approved the appointment of Pankaj Mohan Pawar as the Managing Director for a period of five years commencing from June 27, subject to shareholders' approval. The company also said the Board approved the appointment of Raminder Singh Gujral and K.V. Chowdary as Additional Directors, designated as Independent Directors, for a period of five years commencing from June 27, subject to shareholders' approval. Local News, Seasonal & Current Events By Chris Boyle Published: June 28 2022 Come and watch extremely rare aircraft, featuring the museums squadron of vintage WWII bombers and fighters, as they perform exciting flight demonstrations. In a patriotic salute to American Airpower, the American Airpower Museum will host a series of Warbird Weekends on selected Saturdays (weather permitting) for the remainder of their 2022 flying season, July 16th through October 29th. Come and watch extremely rare aircraft, featuring the museums squadron of vintage WWII bombers and fighters, as they perform exciting flight demonstrations. The American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport is Long Islands only flying military aviation museum. The American Airpower Museum (AAM) maintains a fleet of operational historic WWII aircraft. Weather permitting, the museum may fly one or more of the planes in our collection; a North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber, Douglas C-47B Skytrain Transport, Grumman TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber, North American P-51D Mustang, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, North American AT-6 Texan Trainer and a WACO UPF-7 Biplane. Visitors will have the opportunity to see these iconic aircraft in action as they start their engines, taxi to the runway and take to the sky over Long Island as they did over 80 years ago. Bring your cameras to catch amazing photos of the planes as they roar by overhead. In addition to watching exciting flyovers, visitors can actually take a once-in-a-lifetime flight in one of three aircraft, a C-47B Skytrain, AT-6 Texan or red WACO Biplane! Folks interested in flying should stop by and book their flight! For information on flight experiences throughout the Warbird Weekends flying season (weather permitting), please visit the museum gift shop Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY. Or call Jacky at (516) 531-3950. Museum hours each Saturday during Warbird Weekends are 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call AAM first at (631) 454-2039 to check if planes are flying, or go to AAMs website and check Events and Activities. Admission for adults is $15, seniors and veterans $12, and children 5-12 $10. Tickets and pre-registration not required for regular admission. Museum visitors will enjoy food offerings including hot dogs, beverages, snacks and assorted refreshments! So, hang out with your family and friends at Hangar 3, grab lunch and enjoy exciting aviation action all day long! (Rain dates on Sundays.) (Correcting the description of Baron to reflect the relinquishment of its legacy licence block XXI in Peru earlier this month.) Baron Oil PLC - oil and gas exploration company with assets in the UK and Timor-Leste - Ahead of Tuesday's annual general meeting, Baron reports "significant" progress at 75% owned Chuditch asset in Timor-Leste, with reprocessing of the 3D seismic data now complete. Continues to engage with "multiple" potential farm-in partners for the asset. Progresses work on UK Offshore License P2478, in which it has a 32% interest, and achieves a "significant uplift" in data quality in 3D and 2D seismic reprocessing. Notes UK windfall tax could lead to oil and gas companies re-engaging in exploration drilling, which would be positive for the chances of its Dunrobin prospect. Rising oil prices will also be to Dunrobin's favour, Baron says. Current stock price: 0.075 pence 12-month change: down 17% By Elizabeth Winter; elizabethwinter@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Jadestone Energy PLC - Perth-based oil and gas development company with assets in Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines - Hires SBM Offshore's Bert-Jaap Dijkstra as its new chief financial officer and director, effective on September 1. Dijkstra has held a number of finance and management roles since 2013 at SBM Offshore, most recently as group treasurer and director of Investor Relations. President Paul Blakeley says: "We're delighted to welcome Bert-Jaap to the Jadestone team as CFO following a thorough search process. He brings deep and relevant experience of capital markets and the upstream sector, and his impressive track record of executing significant financing solutions in the oil and gas industry will be invaluable to Jadestone as we seek further accretive growth in the Asia-Pacific region." Jadestone says Dijkstra will relocate with his family to Singapore in line with the company's strategy of ensuring that senior management are positioned close to its assets and finance teams in the Asia-Pacific region. Current stock price: up 1.2% at 82.97 pence each on Tuesday 12-month change: up 14% By Xindi Wei; xindiwei@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Shares in Jangada Mines PLC fell on Tuesday after the mining company said its Pitomberias vanadium project in Brazil may need additional funding, and it cautioned on an uncertain timeline to production. Shares in Jangada Mines were down 19% at 3.78 pence each on Tuesday morning in London. Jangada said it was "pleased" with the "great" progress with the 100%-owned Pitomberias Vanadium project in Brazil during the year. However, the company cautioned that additional funding will be required for the Pitombeiras project as it moves towards production, a key goal for the group. As a result, Jangada is engaged in an ongoing assessment and will consider the sourcing of funding over the next three to nine months. The timing of construction of the plant is currently unknown, and the company cautioned it was too early to say definitively whether the project would move into production in 2022. The project has a total resource estimate of 5.70 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.51% vanadium pentoxide, 10.09% titanium dioxide, and 50.42% ferric oxide. Since the year-end, a technical report also confirmed the economic viability of the project. Jangada said the project has "excellent potential to become a profitable producer" of ferro-vanadium concentrate, despite warning on its funding and production timeline. In addition, the Brazil-focused firm said to swung to profit in 2021 on lower costs. It swung to a pretax profit of USD92,000 from a loss of USD2.3 million in the 18 months ended December 31, 2020. Administration expenses were 20% lower at USD864,000 from USD1.1 million. Like the prior financial year, Jangada posted no revenue. By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who was supposed to appear before Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a prevention of money laundering case linked to the Rs 1,034 crore Patra chawl land scam on Tuesday, is likely to skip the questioning. Refusing to join the probe, he dared the anti-money laundering agency to arrest him. The ED, which took Pune-based businessman Avinash Bhosale into custody this morning in connection with DHFL-Yes Bank case, wants to grill Raut in this matter too, as per sources. They claimed that Patra Chawl case of ED is also linked to DHFL case. On Monday, the central probe agency had asked Raut to appear in its Mumbai office the following day to get his statement recorded. Soon after receiving the summons, Raut took to Twitter and alleged that he was being victimised on the instructions of the Centre. "I just came to know that the ED has summoned me. Good! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shiv Sainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route. Arrest me," Raut had tweeted. In April, the ED had attached Raut's property in connection with the land scam. A property worth Rs 9 crore of Raut's associate Pravin Raut and assets worth Rs 2 crore belonging to Varsha Raut, the wife of Sanjay Raut, were attached by the ED. Pravin had eight parcels of land in Alibaug and a flat registered in the name of Varsha Raut which were attached. The ED had arrested Pravin in connection with the matter. "We had filed a charge sheet in the matter against Pravin, Sarang Wadhawan and Rakesh Wadhawan of HDIL and Guru Ashish Construction and others were named as an accused in the charge sheet," said an ED official. During the probe, the ED that Pravin allegedly paid Rs 55 lakh to Varsha. This was paid from the bank account of Pravin's wife. The money was termed "proceeds" of crime by the ED. It was also alleged that the travel expenses of Sanjay Raut were borne by Pravin which included his hotel stay and air tickets. (Alliance News) - Symphony Environmental Technologies PLC said on Tuesday it signed a supply agreement with Mexican bread manufacturer Grupo Bimbo for its d2p antimicrobial technology. Shares in Symphony were up 17% at 18.72 pence on Tuesday in London. The Borehamwood, Hertfordshire-based plastics and rubber technology developer said the agreement represent a "major commercial advance" for its d2p antimicrobial technology used in the plastic film of bread packaging. Symphony will supply its d2p antimicrobial masterbatch to Grupo Bimbo's nominated bread packaging manufacturer across the American continent for three years. The company did not disclose any financial details of the deal but said the supply of d2p in the US, Canada and Mexico will be exclusive. Grupo Bimbo has first-refusal for other countries in the Americas, it added. "I am grateful to our board and shareholders for their support for this very challenging research & development project. Its successful conclusion and commercial adoption, makes a big difference to the company, and lays the foundation for our FDA approved, d2p antimicrobial bread packaging for the whole world - not just in the Americas," said Chief Executive Michael Laurier. In 2020 and 2021, the company obtained regulatory approvals from the US Food & Drug Administration for its d2p anitmicrobial technology for the use in plastic films for bread packaging. By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's bid to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared its first Commons hurdle, with no Tory MPs voting against it despite warnings the plans are illegal. MPs voted 295 to 221, majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks. Voting lists showed that dozens of Conservative MPs abstained, joining former prime minister Theresa May, who made clear she would not support the legislation as she warned it would "diminish" the UK's global standing and delivered a withering assessment of its legality and impact. Following the result, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted the bill, which gives ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, "provides practical solutions to problems caused by the Protocol and protects the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement". "While a negotiated outcome remains our preference the EU must accept changes to the Protocol itself," she added. The prime minister earlier claimed the proposed legislation could be carried out "fairly rapidly", with the proposals in law by the end of the year. The government is aiming to fast-track the bill through the Commons before parliament's summer recess. However, some MPs who opted not to block it at second reading appear likely to seek amendments, and the House of Lords is also expected to contest parts of the Bill, setting up a lengthy showdown between the two Houses. The EU has also launched fresh legal action against the UK in retaliation over the government's move. Johnson's government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. "What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement," he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. "You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really aren't working in a way that they like or understand, you've got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. "All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market." Asked if the measures could be in place this year, Johnson said: "Yes, I think we could do it very fast, parliament willing." He said it would be "even better" if we could "get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic", the European Commission vice-president. The prime minister added: "We remain optimistic." Truss attempted to downplay concerns of MPs by saying the bill has a "strong legal justification" and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution. But leading the criticism from the Tory benches, May told the Commons: "The UK's standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions. "As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. "I have to say to the government, this bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the UK in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it." Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith also said: "I fear that this bill is a kind of displacement activity from the core task of doing whatever we can to negotiate a better protocol deal for Northern Ireland. "I also fear that it risks creating an impression to unionism that a black-and-white solution is available, when the reality is once this bill has been dragged through the Lords, and courts, and EU responses and reprisals, compromise will ultimately be needed." But Conservative former justice secretary Robert Buckland said there is necessity for the government to act because there is a growing and "real threat". Unionist opposition to the imposition of checks has seen the Democratic Unionist Party refuse to return to the powersharing executive at Stormont, leaving the region without a functioning government. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson acknowledged the bill is not perfect but said: "It empowers ministers to make change where change is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the UK internal market." Donaldson, ahead of the debate, also warned the Lords that blocking the legislation would be akin to "wrecking the Good Friday Agreement". A Number 10 spokesman said on Monday that the government had never put a "hard target date" on when it would hope to see the Bill enacted. source: PA Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- Novacyt SA - Surrey-based biotechnology group focused on clinical diagnostics - Launches research-use-only monkeypox assay, as cases of the viral disease rise in non-endemic nations. "The launch of this assay expands Novacyt's genesig real-time PCR diagnostic product portfolio and is in line with the Company's strategy to maintain its position as a global first responder in infectious diseases," company explains. Company had previously developed Covid-19 assays. ---------- Tribal Group PLC - Bristol, England education software and services - Wins three further cloud contracts with University of Sunderland, Birmingham City University and University for the Creative Arts - all existing customers. Tribal will migrate their current Tribal Student Management Systems SITS:Vision to the Tribal:Cloud, offering an "improved student experience and delivering operational efficiencies for the universities". The deals range from three to five years and have a total value of GBP5 million. In addition, company signs new five-year SITS:Vision contract with the British University of Vietnam. Pact has total value of GBP1.7 million. Tribal now expects revenue for 2022 to be ahead of current board expectations and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation "broadly in line". "H1 Ebitda will be lower than the prior year due primarily to increased costs associated with a major customer implementation, following the extension of project timelines as a result of earlier Covid-19 related travel restrictions. However, Ebitda performance is expected to recover through the course of the second half, reflecting the group's continued focus on improved operational performance," Tribal adds. Will release interim results on August 16. ---------- Christie Group PLC - provider of professional and financial services, stock and inventory services to several sectors - Instructed to sell portfolio of 111 freehold care homes on behalf of Four Seasons Health Care Group. The properties are located in England, Scotland and Jersey and are trading under either Four Seasons Health Care or brighterkind brands. "This is the Four Seasons Health Care Group's remaining freehold property portfolio and associated care home business, thus being a key milestone in the group's ongoing restructuring process," Christie says. Process to be conducted by agency and advisory unit Christie & Co. "Christie & Co expects the portfolio to be of interest to a range of buyers, including corporate buyers and investors, regional groups, and SME operators all of whom are looking for growth opportunities via acquisition," company adds. ---------- Creo Medical Group PLC - Chepstow, Wales-based medical devices for surgical endoscopy - Expects high vaccination rates in US and Europe to lessen impact of Covid on operations in 2022, as Creo's commercialisation of endoscopy devices "continues at pace". Endoscopy procedures look at the inside of a patient's body. They are inserted into organs or orifices in the body. "Our momentum from 2021 has carried over with strong trading in the year to date, and the group continues to innovate, educate clinicians and to commercialise. The board looks forward to further updating shareholders during 2022 on important product advancements and meaningful commercial progress. The solid progress made over the past year underpins the board's continued confidence in the group's opportunities in 2022 and beyond," Chair Charles Spicer says. ---------- Firering Strategic Minerals PLC - operator of Atex dual lithium-tantalum project in Ivory Coast - Begins diamond drilling at "potentially lithium bearing pegmatite targets" at Atex asset. Chief Executive Yuval Cohen says: "This first phase of our diamond drilling programme, we believe, will confirm the presence of lithium bearing pegmatites and assist us in our goal to achieve a maiden resource estimate for Atex once all the drilling phases have been completed." Cohen continues: "With the price of lithium remaining robust, now is the time to push ahead at Atex, to meet the forecasted demand for lithium-ion batteries to fuel the [electric vehicle] and energy storage revolution." Ltihium-ion batteries are key components of electric vehicles. ---------- Hamak Gold Ltd - British Virgin Islands-based gold exploration firm focused on Liberia - Says rock chip samples from Nimba asset in Liberia are "positive". Two samples return grades of 45.5 grammes per tonne gold and 37.3 g/t gold. "The positive rock samples are located where significant gold in soil anomalies were recently reported from Nimba Block-1 and confirm the presence of bedrock gold," Hamak says. ---------- Getech Group PLC - Leeds, England-based green hydrogen company - Signs five-year extension to geospatial services contract with customer of its transitional petroleum division. New pact has total value of GBP1.7 million. "Services provided by Getech will include the design, implementation and management of geospatial operating systems that are essential for aboveground safety, environmental protection, and security on a large and complex asset," Getech says. "Adjusting the end-2021 order book position for contracts that have since converted to revenue in H1 2022, this new contract delivers significant growth in the value of Getech's current total order book - adding material recurring revenue over the next five years." ---------- CleanTech Lithium PLC - Jersey-based lithium exploration and development company focused on Chile - Applies for 119 new exploration licences in northern Chile, which constitute the Llamara project. "The Llamara project is located within the highly prospective Lithium Triangle in Chile, 600 kilometres north of the company's two flagship projects, Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin," CleanTech says. "The projects relatively low altitude of 1,100 metres allows for year-round exploration which can continue during the winter break in site operations at Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin." Says initial work programme, which will include geophysics, will determine drilling targets. ---------- Hydrogen Utopia International PLC - London-based waste-to-hydrogen company - Says design of waste plastic to hydrogen system reaches "advanced stage" and programme of testing to begin. Firm has been working with Electron Technologies BV in the Netherlands since May of last year on design of unique thermal processing system for conversion of waste plastics to hydrogen. "Electron and HUI have considered the thermochemistry of the entire process from basic principles and the equipment design has been developed accordingly," Hydrogen Utopia adds. "Electron, with HUI's help, is currently sourcing suitable plastic material to use in the tests, which are expected to take place next month." ---------- By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Nicola Sturgeon has insisted "now is the time for independence" as she unveiled plans to hold a second referendum on Scotland's place in the UK on October 19 2023. The Scottish First Minister outlined plans to hold a consultative vote on that date, with her government publishing a Bill to enable a second referendum. She also revealed to MSPs at Holyrood that Scotland's most senior law officer, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain will refer the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill to the UK Supreme Court, to see if such a vote would be legal. However, Boris Johnson has insisted the focus should be on the economy, as he argued the UK would have a "stronger economy and stronger country together". A Number 10 spokesman made clear the prime minister continues to believe it is "not the time to be talking about" a second referendum on Scottish independence. The spokesman said: "Our position remains unchanged that both ours and the Scottish Government's priority should be working together with a relentless focus on the issues that we know matter to people up and down the country." Johnson, meanwhile, said that while he would study the Scottish First Minister's plans "the focus of the country should be on building a stronger economy". "I haven't seen exactly what she's said yet," he told reporters as he travelled to Madrid for the Nato summit. "We will study it very carefully and we will respond properly. "The focus of the country should be on building a stronger economy, that's what we're doing with our plan for a stronger economy and I certainly think that we'll be able to have a stronger economy and a stronger country together." Sturgeon argued it was time for Scots to "debate and decide the future of our country". In a statement to Holyrood she said: "Now is the time to get Scotland on the right path, the path chosen by those who live here. "Now is the the time for independence". She said while she had a "clear democratic mandate" for another referendum, the UK Government was "regrettably refusing to respect Scottish democracy". Opposition MSPs in Holyrood accused Sturgeon of putting the "priorities of Scots on the backburner" to focus instead on her independence "obsession". Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross was also clear his party will not participate in an illegal referendum. Sturgeon, however, said her plans provided for an "indisputably lawful" referendum to take place. In the event the court rules the proposals are outside of the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, the next general election will become "de facto referendum" on independence, she said She continued: "If it does transpire that there is no lawful way for this Parliament to give the people of Scotland the choice of independence in a referendum, and if the UK Government continues to deny a section 30 order, my party will face the UK general election on this single question: should Scotland be an independent country?" But Ross said the First Minister's "selfish obsession" with another "divisive" referendum has taken precedence over issues such as the cost-of-living crisis and NHS waiting times. "A potentially illegal referendum next year is the wrong priority for Scotland," he said. He added: "We won't play Nicola Sturgeon's games. We won't take part in a pretend poll when there is real work to be done. "Real work on the global cost-of-living crisis, real work to invest in public services, real work to rebuild our economy. "Those are our priorities and they're the priorities of people across Scotland as well. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the First Minister's timing was wrong in launching the campaign while the Covid-19 pandemic was still causing people to lose their lives. He said: "For households across Scotland, it doesn't feel like this crisis is over. "Isn't it the case that the pandemic Nicola that said she wanted us to pull us through is gone, and the partisan Nicola Sturgeon that wants to divide our country is back, pursuing a referendum that two-thirds of Scots don't want right now." Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton asked Sturgeon why her "fixation with breaking up the UK will always trump the needs of the people in the country". On Tuesday evening, the Supreme Court confirmed it had received a "reference" by the Lord Advocate under its devolution jurisdiction. In the first stage, it will be considered by Supreme Court president Lord Reed of Allermuir. He will decide whether there are preliminary matters to be addressed, when the case will be heard, how many Justices will consider the reference, and which Justices will sit on the bench. source: PA Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (l-r) 2nd Lieutenant Anthony Marturano of Penn College, 2nd Lieutenant Boyer Download Image: Web Lycoming College 2022 graduate Erika Boyer of East Greenville, Pa., was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves and was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps at a commissioning ceremony in May. As an ROTC cadet, Boyer participated in weekly classes, physical training, monthly leadership labs, and a field training exercise every semester, all while keeping pace with her academic commitments. She graduated from Lycoming College in May with a major in criminal justice and minors in psychology and sociology. Boyer was also a student athlete at Lycoming, playing for the womens lacrosse team. Upon commissioning, she committed to eight years of service. We are very proud of Erika and all of her accomplishments. As an ROTC cadet and Lycoming College student, Erika was exposed to a breadth of knowledge as she prepared to lead soldiers in her new position with the U.S. Army Reserves, said Chip Edmonds, executive vice president of Lycoming College. Her preparation as a criminal justice and criminology major, coupled with her ROTC training, will serve her well as she launches her career in service to our country and community. The Bald Eagle Battalion was happy to welcome back Lt. Gen. Walter E. Piatt as the guest speaker for the event. A 1987 graduate of Lock Haven University, Piatt was a member of the Bald Eagle Battalion as a student, and has held numerous positions in the armed forces, as well as written books based on his experiences. The Lycoming College Army ROTC program is part of the Bald Eagle Battalion, headquartered at Lock Haven University, where the commissioning ceremony was held. In addition to Lycoming College members, Bald Eagle Battalion is comprised of members from Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, and Pennsylvania College of Technology. More information on ROTC at Lycoming College is available at https://www.lycoming.edu/rotc. The National Police are investigating the death of a person whose charred body was discovered after a fire at a property in Coll d'en Rabassa, Palma. The body was found in an outhouse. On the plot were various items, including cars. The fire affected both the building and an exterior area. Forensic police sealed off the area and are investigating whether the person was intoxicated by smoke and passed out and was subsequently burned. Digging wells to access or filter drinking water is a relatively rare behavior in the animal kingdom only a handful of species have been documented to do so. Researchers from the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Uganda provide the first report of habitual well-digging in a rainforest-living group of East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii); they suggest that this behavior may have been imported into the communitys behavioral repertoire by an immigrant female chimpanzee. Water, a resource of universal relevance, is rarely considered a concealed resource; it is usually directly accessible from surfaces, cavities, or other types of containers, said first author Hella Peter, a Ph.D. student in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews and the School of Anthropology and Conservation at the University of Kent, and colleagues. However, water is also present beneath the surface, where access is only possible through the creation of wells. Some species have been documented to regularly exploit concealed water. Reports include those on African elephants, warthogs and various equids, such as feral horses and donkeys, khulan, mountain zebras and plains zebra. In their research, Peter and co-authors analyzed the behavior of East African chimpanzees in the Waibira community in Uganda. The well-digging was first observed in Onyofi, a young immigrant female who arrived in 2015 and was immediately very proficient, suggesting she perhaps grew up in a well-digging community. Since then several other young Waibira chimpanzees and adult females have been seen digging wells. No adult males were observed digging, however, they regularly use the wells dug by others. Onyofis well-digging attracted a lot of attention from the other chimpanzees in the group, and she was carefully watched both by young chimps and other adults, suggesting that when she arrived the behavior was novel to the Waibira community. Her wells seem popular, with other chimpanzees drinking from them directly, or using chewed up leaves or moss, demonstrating that there seems to be some added benefit to well-water. The presence of the behavior also highlights the importance of water as a resource, even for rainforest living populations. With increasing change in the climate, behavioral adaptations to changes in rainfall may allow groups like Waibira to continue to thrive even when their local habitat starts to change. Well digging is usually done to access water in very dry habitats in chimpanzees, we only know about three savannah living groups who do so, Peter said. What weve seen in Waibira is a bit different from those groups. First, they live in a rainforest, so most people assume getting water shouldnt be a challenge but it looks like the yearly few months of dry season is enough to cause some trouble for them! Whats also interesting is that the wells all appear next to open water, so the purpose of them is likely filtering, not reaching the water the chimpanzees might get cleaner or differently flavored water from a well, which is fascinating. One of the most interesting things was seeing the other chimpanzees responses to Onyofis digging even large dominant males would politely wait for her to finish digging and drinking, and only then go and borrow her well, which is pretty unusual around such a valuable resource, said senior author Dr. Catherine Hobaiter, a researcher in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews and the Budongo Conservation Field Station. Were curious to see what happens once some of the young males who can dig grow older maybe they will be acceptable teachers for the big males, and theyll stop relying on others to dig wells for them. The study was published in the journal Primates. _____ H. Peter et al. Well-digging in a community of forest-living wild East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). Primates, published online June 6, 2022; doi: 10.1007/s10329-022-00992-4 Gerardo Perez is the president of Faconauto, the Spanish association of car dealers. In Palma for a meeting with the Confederation of Balearic Business Associations, he said on Monday that deadlines for transition to electric cars "have never been realistic". "We have always advocated that transition be orderly and fair. A huge and high-power charging infrastructure is needed as well as time for technological development and a fall in the price of electric cars. Only 4.7% of sales in the Balearics are electric. In Spain it is 3%. The government is telling people that they have to buy a car for which there is insufficient infrastructure. "Administrations say that they can't undertake investment and that this has to be done by private businesses. But the businesses reply that as there aren't enough cars, they can't do this. It's a Catch-22 situation. We are asking for realism. The Spanish government has set up a working group to implement charging infrastructure throughout Spain, but this is three years too late. We have been under pressure to sell this type of car for three years, so this shows that the house has started from the roof. "There are 23,000 chargers on public roads in Spain and 350,000 would be needed. Of the 23,000, most are low capacity. They take four or five hours to charge the car, so it doesn't make any sense to have these chargers on the street. But a high-capacity one costs over 100,000 euros. Who is going to make that sort of investment with a fleet of 70,000 electric cars out of a total 26 million? The administrations are forcing a technology without knowing who is going to invest in it. It may be the future, but at the moment it is not the present. "In some northern European countries, income is getting on for double that in Spain. It's regrettable that the best-selling vehicle in this country is a used car over ten years old. An electric one costs between 35,000 and 60,000 euros on average. Even in Germany, where there is higher income, they are not going to meet deadlines set by Brussels because they can't be fulfilled. In southern European countries the situation will remain more acute if cars don't become cheaper. Politicians have to take their foot off the accelerator because they are putting Spanish and European industry in a very difficult situation. "This has all been born out of an ideological element having been added to the issue of sustainability. It is waving an ideological flag when the circumstances do not even exist for it to become a reality. When that ideological component is removed, the deadlines will be different." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade elicited strong reactions both positive and negative as the ruling meant abortion is no longer a constitutional right. State Rep. Jack OMalley, R-Lake Ann, said leaving abortion regulation up to the individual states essentially leaves it up to the voters, which is "probably the way it should be." "I know people are emotional on both sides, but in the middle of all that, there is a process. They turned it back to the states, we've got this 1931 law, but the process also includes the people and a ballot initiative," he said. "What I'm assuming is going to happen on that front is no matter what the courts decide, in November the people of Michigan will be deciding whether there will be abortion or not. "In November, we'll let the people decide." A dormant 1931 law bans nearly all abortions in Michigan, but it hasn't been enforced since Roe v. Wade, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Anticipating that Roe could be overturned, Planned Parenthood of Michigan filed a lawsuit challenging Michigans ban. A state judge suspended the law in May, saying it violates the states constitution. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats, hailed the decision. Rebecca Amidon, Manistee County Democratic Party vice chair, said outlawing abortions is dangerous. "Let's be very clear: Ending Roe does not end abortions," she said. "It ends access to safe and legal abortions for vulnerable communities nationwide." The sentiment was shared by the state of Michigan's chief medical executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian. "If women and doctors are under threat of prosecution and jail time due to Michigans abortion ban, women will have a more difficult time accessing critical health care," she said in a news release. "And with abortion not legally available, women are more likely to undergo unregulated procedures that can jeopardize their future reproductive health and in some cases be life-threatening." Rachel Roe, Munson Healthcares chief legal officer, said Munson will work to adapt to the effects of Friday's decision, whatever they may be. Fridays decision by the U. S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe versus Wade will have an undeniable impact on patients, providers and healthcare systems around the nation, including northern Michigan," she said in an email. "The path forward and scope of this change is still uncertain, but Munson Healthcare is committed to supporting our health care team in navigating this new landscape." For now, Munson's current practices remain in place, Roe said. "We are closely monitoring the two pending Michigan lawsuits and will be prepared to provide clarity when a dispositive ruling on the Michigan law is issued so that our healthcare team remains able to make scientific, evidenced-based care decisions that align with the law and ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients," she said in an email. "... We will continue to update our health care team as this situation evolves. Amidon said outlawing abortion can negatively impact women who want to have children, too. "I do not want to be investigated for having a miscarriage," she said. "I do not want to wait until I'm dying of sepsis from an ectopic pregnancy before I'm allowed to terminate my pregnancy. By then, it's often too late." Bagdasarian said decisions about whether to end or continue a pregnancy should be made by a woman "with the counsel of her family, her faith and her doctor not politics." As a physician, I know that the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn nearly half a century of precedent protecting safe, legal abortion violates the trusted relationship between a patient and their doctor," Bagdasarian said in the release. "This ruling completely supersedes and overrides a woman's ability to dictate her health care in consultation with her physician. And it clears a path for draconian laws like Michigans 1931 criminal abortion ban to take full effect." Nancy Brown, secretary of Right to Life of Manistee County, said she supported the Supreme Court's decision. "I am really not surprised, because this is something that should have never been constitutional in the first place with the federal constitution," she said. "This is something that should be left up to the voters of the state. I'm very, very happy with that." Whitmer also filed suit asking the states Supreme Court to declare the 1931 law unconstitutional, according to the Associated Press. Michigan abortion rights supporters hope to put the issue on ballots this fall. Their proposed constitutional amendment would affirm the right to make pregnancy-related decisions without interference, including about abortion and other reproductive services such as birth control. The Reproductive Freedom for All committee needs to collect about 425,000 valid voter signatures by July 11 to make the November ballot. The measure would become law if voters approved it. The issue also is expected to shape statewide elections Whitmer and Nessel are both up for reelection in the fall and legislative races. "We are really going to have to fight hard for Michigan to be for life. We have a very aggressively pro-abortion attorney general and governor," Brown said. "I would really like to see the people in this state embrace life; embrace supporting mothers and families; and embrace supporting women of all ages with the love, care and financial support that they need." Amidon said she considers the Supreme Court's decision "a devastating blow to Americans' fundamental freedom to make their own health care decisions." "It can't be overstated: This decision is a direct result of the GOP's decades-long, radical war on reproductive health care and the right to choose," she said. "Now, with Roe v. Wade overturned, Republicans in statewide elected positions like GOP-controlled state legislatures like Michigan's are already taking steps to make abortion illegal." Amidon said Michigan Democrats are "our last line of defense against attacks on reproductive rights in the state of Michigan." "We must elect a majority of Democrats in state legislature, re-elect Gov. Whitmer and Attorney General Nessel in November, because our lives depend on it," Amidon said. "... While Democrats are focused on lowering costs, bolstering health care options and investing in Michigan's communities, Republicans are more interested in banning abortions and taking away our civil rights. "We have to vote like our lives depend on it." O'Malley said he is waiting to see what unfolds in the aftermath of Friday's Supreme Court decision. "There are so many plates spinning right now and balls in the air, I don't think we need another one. ... A lot of people are introducing things and saying things should happen, but there is a process there let's let it play out," he said. "I think it's going to play out rather quickly. I don't think this is something that's going to take eight months to figure out." The Fourth of July is a day for celebration for many, and those celebrations often involve fireworks. While each individual municipality is responsible for creating their own fireworks ordinance in the state of Michigan, public safety officers from both Benzie and Manistee counties said there are some are some basic safety practices that should be followed no matter when, or where, fireworks are involved. Benzie County Sheriff Kyle Rosa recommends people leave fireworks displays up to the professionals, even though consumer grade fireworks were made legal in Michigan in 2011. Commercial type fireworks can be bought, but they should be left in the hands of professionals when it comes to setting them off, Rosa said. Too many accidents can happen. Rosa gave an example of a young man who was killed and another seriously injured during a fireworks incident in Benzie County earlier in the year. Mark Cameron, fire chief for the City of Manistee Fire Department, said if people plan to set off fireworks for the Fourth of July, or any holiday, it should be done under adult supervision. Always have adults supervising children if theyre lighting fireworks, even if it is just sparklers, Cameron said. They can burn at 1,200 degrees and can cause severe burns. Make sure children keep them away from their faces. Cameron also suggests keeping a five-gallon bucket of water or other water source handy when using fireworks. When the fireworks are done, put them in the water so they dont have the chance to smolder or cause a fire, he said. If a firework is lit but does not go off, put it in the water so it doesnt ignite later. Cameron said fireworks should only be used on private property with the permission of the property owner, and to be aware of the surrounding area. Dont light fireworks off in crowded areas like a public beach, or elsewhere they can hit other people, he said. Be cautious with projectile type fireworks and watch so they dont land on a roof or grassy area where they can catch fire. Frankfort Police Chief Rob Lozowski said people are responsible for damage done by fireworks once they leave the ground, no matter where they may land. It is legal to light these fireworks off from private property, the person lighting it off is criminally and civilly liable for whatever happens if that projectile hits or catches something on fire when it comes down, Lozowski said. Keep kids and pets away from fireworks, said Rosa. Stay away from alcohol and drugs; mixing them with explosives is never a good combination. Rosa also said while it may be legal to set off fireworks at certain times depending on where they are at, people should use their best judgement and be aware of others around them. Be mindful of people who have pets in the area that might be scared of the noise from fireworks, he said. Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA ) announced today that it has received its narcotic license through Nimbus Health GmbH for the distribution and marketing of its first product for the German medicinal cannabis market a move understood to make Rua the first medicinal cannabis company from New Zealand to take such a step. The application to extend the narcotics license of Nimbus Health GmbH (Nimbus) to include Ruas dried flower has been granted by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Rua signed a commercial agreement with Nimbus Health in July 2020. The approval of the application will enable Nimbus to distribute and market Rua's products in Germany by the end of 2022. The medicinal cannabis product which is a high THC flower, has been developed through an extensive R&D programme by Cann Group, Ruas Australian strategic manufacturing, supply and technical services partner. Linus Weber, Nimbus Founder and Managing Director, says his team is excited with the progress. In Germany, medicinal dried-cannabis flower is prescribed mainly for pain patients (70%)(1), and cannabis flowers with a THC content of greater than 20% make up 77% of cannabis flower prescriptions1. At its launch, we believe Ruas flower will be one of the highest THC dried flower medicines on the market, which will give Rua a significant competitive advantage, he says. Through its partnership with Cann Group and with Nimbus as a distribution partner, Rua is well-positioned to provide German patients with sustainable access to its product for many years to come. Rua CEO, Rob Mitchell says, With the European medicinal cannabis market estimated to be worth 2.3b ($3.82b NZD) by 2026(2), Rua understands it must go global to support local, and our export plans, particularly into Germany and wider Europe, are coming to fruition. The acquisition of Zalm Therapeutics has enabled us to advance the securing of supply agreements in other emerging, high-growth markets including Czech Republic, Poland and the UK. The global commercial opportunities open to Rua are compelling and underpinned by our ability to export high-value medicinal cannabis at scale and pace as a result of the partnership we now have with Cann Group and the scale afforded by their Mildura facility, he says. Canns new AUD $120m cultivation and processing facility at Mildura is considered one of the largest and most advanced in Australasia. The first stage of its construction is now operational and capable of producing 12,500 kilograms of dried cannabis flower per year. When complete, capacity at the 13.5-hectare facility will grow up to 70,000 kilograms. In a capital-light strategy, Gisborne-based Rua is leveraging this unprecedented scale to punch above its weight and deliver a range of medicinal cannabis products to multiple export markets in record time. Chief Commercial Officer, Andi Grant, who is leading Ruas push into Europe says Each market has a unique regulatory environment, which makes the work complex but with strong short and long-term potential. The Czech Republic is one of the most progressive medicinal cannabis markets in Europe. It has seen steady growth over the last five years, largely thanks to a comprehensive public reimbursement programme whereby up to 90% of medical cannabis costs are covered by the Government(2). The Polish medicinal cannabis market is expected to be worth at least 2b ($3.29b NZD) by 2028(3). In Poland, medicinal cannabis must be imported from foreign producers, which presents significant opportunities for international companies(3). The UK is one of Europe's most promising markets for medical cannabis in terms of its sheer number of patients. With a regulatory and funding approach very similar to New Zealands, the number of privately prescribed medical cannabis items dispensed in 2021 increased by 425% on 2020(2). Experts estimate the existing 15,000 patients in the UK could conservatively reach 650,000 patients in the next seven years, amounting to an anticipated gross market size of around $1b USD(2) ($1.5b NZD). Rua will announce further expansion plans later in the year as the company finalises distribution agreements across Europe. While the company looks to global markets, it remains committed to patients in New Zealand and developing products for the New Zealand market. The kaupapa to give back to the community will always be in our DNA and entering global markets will secure meaningful revenue so we can continue prioritising sustainable economic development in the Ruatorea and East Coast communities, says Grant. ENDS Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 4th July 2022 Morning Report BIF - Acquires shares in Hot Lime Labs RUA - Cann Group granted TGA GMP for Mildura facility AFI - Invitation to Results Webcast PFI Share Buyback Programme to Pause Greenfern Industries Limited ("GFI") - Late Annual Report FSF - Monthly Allotment/ Redemption Notice 1st July 2022 Morning Report General Capital Releases 2022 Annual Report Fonterra, NZX, EEX confirm GDT strategic partnership Musician Machine Gun Kelly revealed a dark passage of his life, in his Hulu documentary, "Life in Pink." The musician, whose real name is Colson Baker, admitted that he put a shotgun in his mouth, affected by the loss of his father in July 2020 and that a phone call with his now fiancee Megan Fox, who was overseas making a movie, helped him stay alive. Loneliness almost caused a great tragedy "I flew to my dad's apartment to clean out all his stuff. I had a really weird interaction with a neighbor who told me a lot of things I didn't want to hear and that fucked me up even more because I couldn't deal with the pain," Kelly said. "I wouldn't leave my room and I started having really, really, really dark thoughts. Megan (Fox) went to Bulgaria to film a movie and I started feeling really wild paranoia. I was constantly getting paranoid that someone was coming to kill me." The story gets worse, as within the confession, the rapper added that he used to sleep with a shotgun next to his bed and had completely lost control that day. The phone call with Megan Fox "I called Megan. I was like, 'You're not here for me. I'm in my room and I'm freaking out, while she's listening to me. Dude, I put the shotgun in my mouth. And I'm screaming on the phone and the barrel's in my mouth. I go to cock the shotgun and the bullet, when it comes back up, the cartridge jams. Megan went silent," Machine Gun Kelly said. That moment was a wake-up call, but both Fox and his 12-year-old daughter, Casie, turned the tables on him and eventually calmed Baker down. "'I want to see you as my father' and 'I want to see you as my future husband' and I was like, I really need to get off drugs this time." As Fox noted that her fiance was "like dead silent" and realized that "something wasn't right." As a result of that event, the musician acknowledged that his fiancee "became the sunshine" for him, "That's what helps me write those songs. Because it's like all the fairy tales they never told you in school... the passion between us is out of this world". Kelly then explained that there came a time when he reflected, "I need to get off drugs, for real this time,'" although he did not mention whether he had been using drugs at that time elsewhere in his story. HARMONEY SECURES ADDITIONAL NZ$215M FACILITY TO SUPPORT FURTHER BOOK GROWTH Key highlights: Establishment of an additional NZ$215 million warehouse facility, supporting New Zealand growth This facility is led by one of Australias big four banks - Harmoney is funded by three of Australias big four banks across Australia and New Zealand With over 90% of the Group loan book now funded by warehouse facilities, Harmoney has a highly diversified funding panel, which provides for a cost-effective and capital efficient funding base to support its continued growth Harmoney Corp Limited (ASX/NZX: HMY ; Harmoney or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a new NZ$215 million warehouse facility with one of Australias largest banks. This new warehouse facility will provide further funding capacity supporting New Zealands loan book growth, and complements the Companys balance sheet strength. As announced on 27 April 2022, Harmoneys loan book accelerated to NZ$627 million, a 13% increase quarter on quarter (QoQ). The establishment of this new $215m facility gives Harmoney significant warehouse capacity, deferring a New Zealand asset-backed securitisation that was being considered in recent months. Commenting on the new warehouse facility, CEO & Managing Director David Stevens said: We have achieved yet another milestone for Harmoney. Back in 2019, we started the process of transitioning away from peer-to-peer funding and now within a short span of 3 years, we have accelerated this to be over 90% warehouse-funded. This new warehouse facility further unlocks our loan origination capacity, it provides a lower cost of funding to optimise growth, and further diversifies our funding panel. Our ability to secure this additional New Zealand warehouse facility, from the same big four bank that provided the new Australian warehouse in February 2022, demonstrates its confidence in Harmoneys 100% consumer-direct business model and our continued ability to execute on our growth plans. Our total warehouse facilities are now over $950m, of which over $330m remains undrawn. Update to Neil Roberts employment agreement As noted in section 6.3.3.3 of the Companys Prospectus, Neil Roberts employment contract with the Group includes entitlements to compensation in the event of his termination (other than for serious misconduct or breach) or redundancy (Compensation). Mr Roberts employment contract has been updated to the Groups current template for consistency with all other Group senior executives. In the process of standardising Mr Roberts terms of employment, the Group has agreed to satisfy its obligation and pay Mr Roberts Compensation. This amount will be repayable within 6 months if Mr Roberts employment is terminated for serious misconduct or breach within 6 months. Going forward, Mr Roberts will have no entitlement to compensation in the event of his termination or redundancy. This release was authorised by the Board of Harmoney Corp Limited. -END- Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 4th July 2022 Morning Report BIF - Acquires shares in Hot Lime Labs RUA - Cann Group granted TGA GMP for Mildura facility AFI - Invitation to Results Webcast PFI Share Buyback Programme to Pause Greenfern Industries Limited ("GFI") - Late Annual Report FSF - Monthly Allotment/ Redemption Notice 1st July 2022 Morning Report General Capital Releases 2022 Annual Report Fonterra, NZX, EEX confirm GDT strategic partnership Auckland 28 June, 2022: NZX: GSH Good Spirits Hospitality (GSH) advises that, as advised on 18 May 2022, its Chair, Duncan Makeig, has stepped down from the Board today. The Directors have unanimously agreed that Mr Matt Adams be appointed Independent Chairman. Mr Adams has been a director of GSH since December 2019 and is currently Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Since his appointment to the Board, Mr Adams has been instrumental in pursuing opportunities to increase shareholder value through both operational and acquisitional initiatives. He also took a lead role in supporting GSH to navigate its way through the COVID pandemic and associated lockdowns and restrictions. On his appointment Mr Adams stated: It is an honour to be elected Chairman of Good Spirits and I look forward to working with the companys stakeholders to continue pursuing value as Good Spirits emerges from the COVID related hospitality downturn. We are seeing strong green shoots in regard to current trading and are especially delighted with the strong performance of GSHs newest venue the Fox A London Pub. I would also like to personally thank Duncan for his tireless work as Chairman of Good Spirits over the past 3 years, we wish him well for his future endeavours. At todays board meeting, Mr John Seton was elected Chairman of Good Spirits Audit and Risk Committee to replace Mr Adams. The GSH Board extended its thanks to Duncan for his dedication and service and congratulated Mr Adams on his appointment to Chair. ENDS Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 4th July 2022 Morning Report BIF - Acquires shares in Hot Lime Labs RUA - Cann Group granted TGA GMP for Mildura facility AFI - Invitation to Results Webcast PFI Share Buyback Programme to Pause Greenfern Industries Limited ("GFI") - Late Annual Report FSF - Monthly Allotment/ Redemption Notice 1st July 2022 Morning Report General Capital Releases 2022 Annual Report Fonterra, NZX, EEX confirm GDT strategic partnership Greenfern Industries Limited (GFI:NZX) is pleased to announce it has received an initial two-year binding offtake order for the purchase of their Taranaki-grown medicinal cannabis. This product will be for use in an overseas medicinal market and depending on which chemotypes are supplied could be worth in excess of NZD1.6 million over the contract's duration. This comes just days after Greenferns previous market announcement that it has received the globally recognised Good Agriculture and Collection Practices (GACP) certification via global certifying body Control Union Medicinal Cannabis Standards (CUMCS). This is another great milestone for the company and its shareholders. As we go from strength to strength in what is very much a sunrise industry here in New Zealand, the progress that we are achieving is a testament to the solid foundations we have laid to date, said Dan Casey, managing director of GFI. As the company looks to raise new capital in the second half of 2022, the phase one cultivation facility will be utilised until the larger phase two facility comes online. Its quite a strategy to not get too far ahead of ourselves by over capitalising on infrastructure before the markets are ready and the regulations are met, but at the same time you dont want to miss opportunities as they present themselves. Its a real balancing act, said Casey Greenfern is currently preparing a medicinal cannabis consignment for testing to meeting New Zealand minimum quality standards. Once this is completed the first batch will be ready for shipment. This agreement shows a clear path to revenue for Greenferns cultivation business and from this the company will scale accordingly to meet overseas demand. Greenferns Australian business, GFI Pharma, continues to acquire patients month on month through prescription medicine tincture sales. That, together with its hydroelectric power station in full swing with winter energy demands, the company is solidifying itself as a progressive and diverse cannabis company. -ENDS- Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 4th July 2022 Morning Report BIF - Acquires shares in Hot Lime Labs RUA - Cann Group granted TGA GMP for Mildura facility AFI - Invitation to Results Webcast PFI Share Buyback Programme to Pause Greenfern Industries Limited ("GFI") - Late Annual Report FSF - Monthly Allotment/ Redemption Notice 1st July 2022 Morning Report General Capital Releases 2022 Annual Report Fonterra, NZX, EEX confirm GDT strategic partnership Looks like 2022 is clearly the year for Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. The couple who tied the knot earlier this year in April is now all set to embrace parenthood. Alia took to Instagram and shared a photo of her undergoing a sonography and announced that Ranbir and she are expecting their first child. Alia wrote, Our baby . coming soon. (sic) With congratulations being in order for the it couple, we cant help but root for their love all over again. The two even have a special symbol which they share lovingly to signify their love for each other. The infinity sign, also seen at number 8, is a symbol that Alia often uses when referring to her feelings for Ranbir. Here we take a look at their 5 Instagram posts that speak a different love language. Watching Sunset Together Is A Love Language There is nothing more romantic than watching a sunset with your partner. The magic of that golden hour can drive romantic feelings in people, making them come even closer. Also, finding a travel buddy in your partner can literally take you places. This is actually a birthday post that Alia made for Ranbir, pulling out a picture from their romantic vacation in the Maldives. Twinning Outfits Is A Love Language Lets just put it this way, twinning your outfit with your partner is a love language. Much before the amazing pictures from their weddings were out, the couple had been twinning their outfits on festivals and special occasions. This particular post is from Diwali 2021 where Ranbir and Alia colour coordinated their outfits in navy blue ethnic numbers. 'Jo Tera Hai Woh Mera Hai' Is A Love Language Girlfriends have always been guilty of taking over their boyfriends' wardrobes. Be it a sweatshirt that becomes a snuggle buddy in their boyfriends absence or a guys new t-shirt that unabashedly becomes a gfs loungewear, girls like to claim their guys wardrobe as theirs. Alia Bhatt is no different as a girlfriend. The Gangubai actor had taken to Instagram last year and shared a picture wearing Ranbirs hat while mentioning that she is missing him. She captioned the post as when you miss him so you steal his belongings . Flexing Each Others Skills Is A Love Language Be it revving about your partners work amongst your friends or simply flaunting their photography skills by posting a photo dump of pictures taken by them, flexing each others skills is a love language. Alia took to instagram while on a desert safari escapade with Ranbir earlier this year and posted a carousel of cute pictures of herself with a caption saying, Casually flexing my boyfriends photography skills. Cherishing Special Moments Over PDA Is A Love Language The Brahmastra stars refrain from subscribing for a lot of PDA on social media. In fact, they keep it very subtle and special and thats what makes their bond so magical. While everyone was tucked away in their homes during quarantine of 2021, Alia had posted on Instagram a picture of her and Ranbir holding hands, captioning it Major missing. If this is not a couple goals, we dont know what is! Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor tied the knot at an intimate wedding in their Mumbai home on April 14. The couple will be next seen together in Ayan Mukerjis film Brahmastra thats set to release in September this year. Celebrated as the Pride month across the globe, the month of June has become integral for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Buoyed by massive, energetic, and colourful marches through the city, Pride month is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, while also a medium for raising awareness around the problems and issues they face. Throughout history, the LGBTQIA+ community has been victims of systemic abuses. Fearing rebuke, exclusion, and violence, many members of the community withdraw a significant part of their identity from society in an attempt to hide their experienced realities, often leading to various mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Added to that, the stigma surrounding mental health and the supposedly taboo discussions around it, it is understandable how it can prevent an individual from the LGBTQIA+ community from seeking help. In our society, the importance of good mental health for an individual is often disregarded, regardless of ones sexual orientation. However, the LGBTQIA+ community faces increased challenges when it comes to addressing these issues due to the systemic prejudice that exists. Here are three major impacts that this social stigma surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community has on the mental health of those people. Anxiety Unsplash In their youth, individuals of the LGBTQIA+ community tend to be far more vulnerable to developing anxiety due to social stigma as they internalize feelings of shame for things which were normalised for all cis-heteronormative youngsters. This creates a sense of disparity and conflict of identity within the individual. Its a well-acknowledged phenomenon, especially in India, where struggles with being accepted in society lead to the vast majority of the LGBTQIA+ community experiencing a loss of confidence in society, snowballing the impact of anxiety to much greater levels. Several members of the LGBTQIA+ community also find themselves in extreme financial debt due to the stigma they face when looking for employment opportunities. Our indigenous hijra community has long been victims of this discrimination, leading to them being ostracised by society. Coming out of the closet also presented a high risk of rejection by their families as well as society at large. Depression Unsplash Depression often finds root in Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community in their childhood due to the bullying, harassment, and physical violence they face. From the school to the playground to even their own homes, the LGBTQIA+ youth arent safe from the many forms of prejudice. Even in adulthood, individuals face consistent persecution on the basis of their identity. Today still, non-heterosexual expressions of love are met with fierce resistance by the cishet society at large. Institutionalized discrimination rarely allows an opportunity for mental health recovery within the LGBTQIA+ community. The sheer frequency of these stigmatic experiences leads to a life severely impacted by depression as well as other health risks such as substance abuse, self-harm, and risky sexual behaviours. PTSD Unsplash An unfortunately common experience faced by many among the LGBTQIA+ community is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, where the affected can be triggered intensely due to past experiences of abuse from stigma and hate crimes. The stress experienced by the LGBTQIA+ community on a daily basis can range from discrimination at home, work or public places, to internal stressors such as the concealment of one's identity to keep themselves safe from any external triggers. Individuals can develop various coping mechanisms such as negative thoughts of self, hypervigilance, and hyperarousal. PTSD often lasts for months or several years, often even lifetimes without proper care, healing, and rehabilitation due to inaccessibility. At the end of the day, we must acknowledge that we are unfortunately a far distance from attaining true equality. Everyone should have the right to love who they want and identify how they want, without fear of judgement or punishment. This is why Pride Month shines bright as the beacon of hope, equality and self-identity against shame and prejudice. Back in time, we mostly saw LGBTQ+ characters come on in an irregular manner on shows or movies, mostly to add to the comedic or dramatic effect. This stereotypical route changed in recent years. Many shows paved the path for queer representation, and honestly, it has never been better. iStock As we celebrate pride month and the LGBTQ+ community, we have summed eight shows to stream on Netflix right now: 1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine Netflix One of the top-rated shows on IMDb, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, is a series that revolves around Jake Peralta, a part of the New York City Police Department. He often comes into conflict with his commanding officer, Captain Raymond Holt. While it might sound like any other detective shows, it puts light on the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. The show has received positive reviews throughout its time and is a must-watch. 2. Schitt's Creek Netflix We have often heard people rave about Schitt's Creek. As someone who recently binge-watched this show, Schitt's Creek has a brilliant storyline. The story talks about the Rose family, who lose their fortune after the business manager defrauds them. The family then settles in a motel but works hard to earn back their life. David Rose, essayed by Daniel Levy is a pansexual character, who falls for a man later. His relationship receives complete acceptance and no raised eyebrows from the people of the town. 3. Atypical Netflix Atypical released on Netflix in 2017, and the show takes you through an emotional ride. It's based on the life of an 18-year-old, Sam, who is suffering from spectrum disorder. The lead is in a quest to find himself. His younger sister plays the role of Casey, who holds her family together and keeps her sexuality a secret. The story unfolds more into love, independence and the topic of sexuality. 4. Sex Education Netflix If you haven't watched it already, add this to your list right away. Sex Education is a Netflix original series, a coming-of-age dramedy. The show received praises for its representation of sensitive subjects and has a diverse take on the LGBTQ+ community. The story is about a teenager who lives with his sex therapist mother and it talks about his friendship with gay character Eric. The series earned more than 40 million streams at the time of its release and became a successful show. 5. Sense8 Netflix Another high rated, queer-friendly show is Sense8. It's a story about eight individuals who embark on their journey and discover that they are 'sensates' connected emotionally and mentally. The show gets intense with each season and is quite famous for its no-holds-barred concept. The show ran for two seasons, after several controversies. 6. The Half Of It Netflix The Half Of it focuses on a lesbian love story. The American comedy-drama is about three characters in their teens. Paul is attracted to Aster and hires Ellie to write her letters and text messages. Soon Ellie starts developing feelings for Aster. The show unravels drama and romance and is the best modern-day queer series to watch. 7. Star Trek: Discovery Netflix For the first time, the franchise made headlines for its queer drama. The show boldly presents the life of a gay couple, Lt. Paul Stamets and Dr Hugh Culber. The duo also locked lips during the show's mid-season finale, which also made it the first gay kiss ever in the Star Trek Franchise. 8. Someone Has to Die Released in 2020, Someone Has to Die is set in the 1950s. The show talks about the alleged relationship between Gabino, who arrives home to his traditional Falcon family, with a male ballet dancer. The Spanish thriller was lauded for its script on homophobia amid the Franco regime. Unless and until the conflict ends, there is a continued risk of civilian deaths. It is therefore critical that all States, the United Nations and civil society use all available means to end the conflict and support a transition to peace. The UN Human Rights Office today published a report that, following rigorous assessment and statistical analysis of available data on civilian casualties, estimates that 306,887 civilians* were killed between 1 March 2011 and 31 March 2021 in Syria due to the conflict. This is the highest estimate yet of conflict-related civilian deaths in Syria. The report, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, referred to 143,350 civilian deaths that have been individually documented by various sources with detailed information, including at least their full name, date and location of death. In addition, statistical estimation techniques of imputation and multiple systems estimation were used to connect the dots where there were missing elements of information. Using these techniques, a further 163,537 civilian deaths were estimated to have occurred, bringing the total estimated civilian death toll to 306,887. The conflict-related casualty figures in this report are not simply a set of abstract numbers, but represent individual human beings. The impact of the killing of each of these 306,887 civilians would have had a profound, reverberating impact on the family and community to which they belonged, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said. The work of civil society organizations and the UN in monitoring and documenting conflict-related deaths is key in helping these families and communities establish the truth, seek accountability and pursue effective remedies. This analysis will also give a clearer sense of the severity and scale of the conflict. And let me be clear: these are the people killed as a direct result of war operations. This does not include the many, many more civilians who died due to the loss of access to healthcare, to food, to clean water and other essential human rights, which remain to be assessed, Bachelet stressed. The report also contains disaggregated data for the documented deaths, including by age, gender, year, governorate, actors allegedly responsible and the cause of death by weapon type. The estimate of 306,887 means that on average, every single day, for the past 10 years, 83 civilians suffered violent deaths due to the conflict. The report notes that, the extent of civilian casualties in the last 10 years represents a staggering 1.5 per cent of the total population of the Syrian Arab Republic at the beginning of the conflict, raising serious concerns as to the failure of the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law norms on the protection of civilians. This statistical work builds on previous efforts to assess direct conflict-related deaths. In 2013 and 2014, the UN Human Rights Office commissioned three statistical analyses of documented killings in Syria, but this effort was discontinued as the situation in the country grew more complex and dangerous, affecting the Offices capacity to maintain the required quality and verification standards. In 2019, the Office resumed information-gathering and analysis on casualties, including on Syria, in its global reporting on the UN Sustainable Development Goals indicator on conflict-related deaths (SDG indicator 16.1.2). The report sets out the challenges in recording casualties during a conflict, beyond the immediate risk to civil society actors who try to access the sites of incidents where attacks have taken place. Where civil society actors undertake casualty recording, effortscan put the recorders themselves at risk. They also face multiple challenges in their documentation efforts, including the collapse of their usual networks of information as people are on the move, displaced or in areas where there is a general information shutdown; the limited, or lack of, access to mobile data, Internet and electricity to collect and transmit information; limitations on their movements; and surveillance, the report states. Despite these challenges, there has been consistent and systematic work in documenting casualties on the ground for more than a decade now. The data used for the report rely on the courageous work of such individuals and groups. To produce the report, the Office used eight sources of information pertaining to different periods across the 10 years covered. These include: the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies; the Center for Statistics and ResearchSyria; the Syrian Network for Human Rights; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; the Violations Documentation Center; Syria Shuhada records; Government records; and records of the UN Human Rights Office itself. The work done by casualty recorders in documenting individually verifiable information on each casualty is critical. The process is victim-centred, placing individuals, their families and communities at the centre by ensuring that those killed are not forgotten, and that information is available for accountability-related processes and to access a range of human rights, the report states. Unless and until the conflict ends, there is a continued risk of civilian deaths. It is therefore critical that all States, the United Nations and civil society use all available means to end the conflict and support a transition to peace. UN News With each passing day, anti-Indian emotions push the Kashmiri youth closer and closer to rebellion. Armed resistance to governmental persecution has risen in IIOJK as a consequence of the militarys iron fist tactics, which has created population alienation. by Asad Ali There have been a deadly epidemic, physical and economic instability, and savage conflict ravaging the earth for the last two years. Tyranny gained strength around the globe after democracys defenders suffered heavy losses in their battle against authoritarian adversaries. Because the international world was not doing enough to aid, persecuted activists frequently risked lengthy jail sentences, torture, or even death in detention facilities. The use of force was also common under power regimes when competitors and conflicts were typically resolved by violence in the interest of public health. Governments of all political shades utilised invasive monitoring, racial restrictions on assembly and association, and arbitrary or violent enforcement of these restrictions by law enforcement and non-state actors. False and misleading information, some of which was intentionally spread by political leaders, flooded the communication channels of many nations. People around them sought to cope with the epidemic in sloppy or dumb ways, and autocrats from Venezuela to Cambodia and other parts of the world utilised the catastrophe to quiet their critics and maintain their positions of power. Most democratic nations made sure that any limits on freedom were essential and commensurate to the danger presented by the virus, on the other hand. In world history, there have been both the greatest heroes and the cruellest despots, but those who motivated them to achieve great things for themselves and others are remembered. For the great majority of people, a genuine hero is an ordinary individual who overcomes obstacles with courage and inspires the masses to resist injustice. Benjamin Franklin, an American political philosopher, famously stated, if you do not wish to be forgotten when you are dead and decaying, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing. It is worthwhile to read and write about the experiences of Kashmiri freedom fighters. Kashmiris have been following saviours of their human rights and sovereignty, such as Mirwaiz Molavi Mohammad Farooq in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) valley for many years. He was known as the Mirwaiz of J&K during his stint as Chairman of the All Jammu and Kashmir AwamiAction Committee, a coalition of political parties in J&K that sought to settle the J&K dispute. In May 1990, he was assassinated by gunmen at his residence in Nageen, Srinagar. During the May 2002 commemorations of the 12th anniversary of Mirwaiz Molavi Muhammad Farooqs killing, another prominent Kashmiri lawyer and politician, Abdul Ghani Lone, was also murdered by Indian Occupation soldiers. The authorities enforce curfews and other restrictions in Srinagar to prevent a march to the graves of the two Kashmiri heroes, even though thousands of Kashmiris, South Asians, Hurriyat leaders, and other organisations commemorate their contributions every May. The story is not yet complete. Tens of thousands of people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have lost family members due to their battle for self-determination. The Kashmiri people have endured the horrors of conflict for many centuries. Not only are Kashmiris the direct victims of the upheaval, but so is everyone in South Asia. Regardless of what occurs in IIOJK, the future of relations between India and Pakistan, two nuclear powers in South Asia, will be affected. In response to the problem of shrinking political space, the Kashmiri resistance has undergone a dramatic tactical shift from civil disobedience to armed resistance since August 2019. Students, academics, intellectuals, and researchers have often embraced the path of armed confrontation, mostly because they have been unable to discover other measures of preventing the atrocities perpetrated by the Indian military machinery. With each passing day, anti-Indian emotions push the Kashmiri youth closer and closer to rebellion. Armed resistance to governmental persecution has risen in IIOJK as a consequence of the militarys iron fist tactics, which has created population alienation. Instead of pursuing education and employment, the youth demand their right to self-determination by violent means. Everyone wants the Kashmir issue to be addressed, but the time has come for other countries to exert pressure on India to participate in the discussion. While the removal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution has led to the globalisation of the Kashmir Conflict, a settlement of this conflict is urgently required. Given the success of referendums in achieving independence for East Timor and South Sudan, it would be a grave violation of United Nations resolutions and international law to deny the people of Kashmir the right to self-determination. Never forget the sacrifices made by Abdul Ghani Lone and Mirwaiz Molavi Muhammad Farooq. People paying homage to the martyrs and expressing their determination to continue the ongoing liberation struggle demonstrate that the Indian government is scared of the populations power and fervour, which leads it to conduct these dictatorial actions. According to the concepts of classical realism, the use of power is influenced by many interactions between the strong and the weak. It is common knowledge that the powerful have a hand in moulding events and persons, thus the power of the weak should never be underestimated. Kashmiris in the J&K valley will continue to strive for their right to self-determination regardless of how oppressive the situation grows. The concept that democracy is failing because it cannot fulfil the wants of the people is complicated. In truth, democracy is in peril because of the silence of democratic torch-bearers. Democratic states need to take the lead on the international stage and come together fast. The new administration in Washington, DC, and the governments of other nations that respect democracy must work together to make the most of its advantages, combat its adversaries, and aid its supporters. They must also clean their own houses to defend their institutions and retain their credibility in the face of politicians and other actors who are prepared to compromise democratic values to acquire power. If these crucial actions are not done, the world will turn even more against the principles that free countries stand for, and the calamity of tyranny will spread to every country. The writer is Islamabad based expert of strategic affairs This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Hundreds of people gathered Monday in front of the Midland County Courthouse for a "Reproductive Freedom Rally" and petition signing. At the back of the crowd sat 73-year-old Sharon Hale, sporting a Ruth Bader Ginsburg T-shirt. With neuropathy in her feet, Hale said she can hardly walk. Instead, she rode her scooter to the rally, where she said people were kind and made room for her. The rally was personal to her, bringing back memories of the trauma endured by a friend who sought an abortion before Roe v. Wade was decided in January 1973. I know someone that had to fly to New York in 1970 to have an abortion, Hale recalled. She was forced to see a psychologist. She had to tell that person (she) was going to throw herself down the stairs if (she) didn't get one. Hale said when she learned that the United States Supreme Court had overturned the decision on June 24, she thought of her friend and the days before Roe v. Wade and she felt absolutely terrible. Michael Burhans has volunteered for candidates or legislative issues in every election since 1968. He was collecting signatures for the petition at the event and was struck by the fact that he will have to continue to fight for women's reproductive health issues in the 21st century. I fought this battle when I was a teenager on college campuses around the country with my parents, he said. I can't believe I'm out here fighting it again. The Reproductive Freedom for All ballot initiative is an effort coordinated by ACLU of Michigan, Michigan Voices, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan. Petitioners need to collect 425,059 signatures from registered Michigan voters to get the effort on the November 2022 ballot. As of Sunday, organizers say they already have well above that number -- over 600,000 signatures. If Michigan voters approve the ballot initiative in November, the state Constitution would affirm that Michiganders have reproductive freedom. That means the right to make decisions about pregnancy, including birth control, abortion, infertility, miscarriage care, prenatal care and childbirth. The rally was packed with people of all ages and genders. Many were angry, sad and tired. All were determined to express their opinions and unite with others who are fighting back against the Supreme Court decision. I was born in 1978, so I've always had this freedom. For this to be taken away is just deplorable, said Sarah Haskett, of Midland, one of many mothers attending in support of their daughters. Four speakers addressed the group, including U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, the only Democratic candidate for the new 8th Congressional District. I don't trust the United States Supreme Court to protect fundamental freedoms, Kildee said. I trust women. Midland County Clerk Ann Manary, a Republican candidate for the 95th State House District, said the decision whether or not to have a child is a sacred choice that every woman should have. I'm running as a Republican and I'm pro-choice, Manary said, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the audience. Sometimes people think those two things can't go together and I'll tell you all you're wrong. Women have the right to choose. I will vote to protect that right each and every time it comes before me. Many people said they were pleased to see Manary representing the Republican Party at a pro-choice rally. The rally was organized by the Women of Michigan Action Network and led by Allison Wilcox. Wilcox encourages people to do what they can to support the movement by talking to friends and relatives, putting a sign in their yard, and doing whatever they can to help, even if they try to avoid getting involved in politics. Democracy is at stake, Wilcox said. People think talking about politics is hard, and it is, but that's the only way people understand the stories of other people and get that empathy. For more on this subject, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/05/06/americas-abortion-quandary/ GENEVA (AP) Two senior Libyan officials began two days of talks Tuesday on constitutional arrangements for elections, the latest U.N. effort to bridge gaps between the countrys rivals. Aguila Saleh, the influential speaker of the country's east-based parliament, and Khaled al-Meshri, head of the governments Supreme Council of State, based in the west, in the capital of Tripoli, met at the U.N. headquarters in Geneva. According to the United Nations, the talks will focus on a draft constitutional framework for elections after Libyas rival factions failed to reach an agreement in their last round of talks in the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Stephanie Williams, the U.N. special adviser on Libya, said they would discuss "timelines, modalities and milestones to guarantee a clear path to the holding of national elections as soon possible. It is now the time to make a final and courageous effort to ensure that this historic compromise takes place, for the sake of Libya, the Libyan people and the credibility of its institutions, she said. The criteria for a presidential candidacy were a contentious point in the talks, according to Libyan media. The Tripoli-based council insisted on banning military personal from running for the countrys top post apparently a move directed at the divisive commander Khalifa Hifter, whose forces are loyal to the east-based administration. Hifter had announced his bid in elections slated for last December but the vote was not held because of myriad issues, including controversial hopefuls who had announced bids and disputes about election laws. There are growing tensions on the ground, and sporadic clashes between rival militias recently erupted in Tripoli. Living conditions have also deteriorated, mainly because of fuel shortages in the oil-rich nation. Tribal leaders have shut down many oil facilities, including the countrys largest field. The blockade was largely meant to cut off key state revenues to the incumbent Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who has refused to step down even though the vote was not held in December. Now, Dbeibah and another prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, appointed by the east-based parliament to lead a transitional government, are claiming power. The rivalry has sparked fears the oil-rich country could slide back to fighting after tentative steps toward unity last year. Libya has been wrecked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country was then for years split between rival administrations in the east and west, each supported by different militias and foreign governments. MINDEN, La. (AP) A north Louisiana mayor has died after battling cancer. The city of Minden announced Tuesday that Mayor Terry Gardner had died at age 66 of complications from cancer. KTBS-TV reports that Gardner had been hospitalized over the weekend, a month after he announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer. Gardner was serving his first term as mayor. He took office in January 2019. Gardner is survived by his wife, Debbie. Funeral arrangements were pending. NEW HAVEN A New Britain man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl for a drug trafficking organization Monday, federal prosecutors announced. The sentence stems from the mans participation in a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization. Armando Gonzalez, 40, of New Britain, and an associate used office space and area apartments to store and package fentanyl for street sale, according to U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. After an associate left one of the storage locations, police found him with about 45,000 lethal doses of unpackaged fentanyl, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Gonzalez was arrested in April 2020 and pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in March 2022. He has been detained since his arrest, the U.S. Attorneys office said. The Drug Enforcement Administrations Hartford Task Force started investigating the drug trafficking organization in July 2019. Prosecutors said the organization was suspected of distributing fentanyl and heroin throughout the state. Investigators discovered that Gonzalez and other members received kilogram-quantities of narcotics primarily fentanyl from a source in Mexico. The group then distributed the drug to street-level dealers. Members of the organization delivered the earned cash to a money broker in Brooklyn, N.Y. The broker laundered the narcotics proceeds before transferring them to the organizations leaders, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. From August to October 2019, investigators seized more than $200,000 in cash from members of the drug trafficking organization. Gonzalez and his associate, David Cintron, used several locations to store and package fentanyl for street sale. These locations included an office space on Pratt Street in Hartford, an apartment in the Asylum Hill neighborhood in Hartford and an apartment in New Britain, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Cintron was arrested on state charges on Dec. 18, 2019 shortly after leaving the Pratt Street office. Police found him with about 4,860 wax paper sleeves of fentanyl, 90 grams of unpackaged fentanyl or about 45,000 lethal doses of the drug and other items used to process and package narcotics. Gonzalez, Cintron and three associates were arrested on federal charges on April 28, 2020. That day, investigators searched the New Britain apartment and seized numerous bags of suspected fentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics, a firearm, ammunition and cash. Investigators found Cintron in the bathroom of his Manchester residence that day, flushing suspected fentanyl down the toilet, the U.S. Attorneys office said. A grand jury indicted Gonzalez, Cintron and eight others with narcotics distribution adn money laundering offenses on June 3, 2020. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in March 2022. U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven sentenced Gonzalez to 10 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release Monday. Cintron pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. WEST HARTFORD Police say a 22-year-old man was charged with spray-painting 16 buildings, light poles, electrical boxes and telephone poles last week. West Hartford Police said they were called to the 200 block of Park Road around 11 p.m. Thursday for a report of a suspicious person. Members of the Community Support Unit then found a suspect spraying graffiti on the side of a building behind Prospect Avenue, police said in a news release Tuesday. Police detained the suspect, a 22-year-old man from Hartford, and said he admitted to spray-painting numerous buildings and pieces of property in West Hartford and Hartford. In West Hartford, police identified 16 buildings, light poles, electrical boxes and telephone poles that had been damaged. The suspect was charged with 16 counts of third-degree criminal mischief. He was released from custody on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN The Main Street block between Washington and Court streets is undergoing a major revitalization due to the efforts of developer Dominick DeMartino. A rooftop patio bar, gourmet grocery, Latin-style restaurant, nitrogen-infused ice cream and cookies parlor, New Haven-style, coal-fired pizza restaurant, and more have the potential to make downtown Main Street more delicious and diverse. The 49-year-old Durham resident is developing four adjacent buildings on the block, as well as another building about 900 feet north. The businessman, whose work schedule includes nights and weekends, is aiming to infuse vitality into an important downtown location that has suffered for years with some empty storefronts. Were creating 220 full-time jobs, 22 apartments and six retail businesses on Main Street, said DeMartino, who emphasized that existing downtown businesses will benefit from the attention and foot traffic these will attract. The area already has a great group of business people, and these new developments will bring everyone to a different level, he said. There is a real sense of community, because the businesses recognize they benefit from the resulting synergies, he added. Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim said the new developments build on the citys economic development momentum, and is a strong use of the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds intended for communities to recover from the economic, social and other impacts of the pandemic. We want the businesses to do well, of course, the mayor said. But these developments are also about building a cohesive community and downtown. We have something special downtown there isnt really anything like it in the region. The new businesses will make downtown stronger and even more distinctive, Florsheim said. DeMartino has already gutted and renovated the building at 412 Main St., an upscale-Italian restaurant called Sicily Coal Fired Pizza. Owner/operator Tony Prifitera, a New Haven-area entrepreneur working the kitchen during lunch last week, is planning to open a wine bar in the adjacent building at 418 Main St. DeMartino is also gutting and remodeling that building, and DeMartino said he expects the wine bar to be serving customers next summer. DeMartino is developing 422 Main St., which abuts 418 Main St., as a ice cream parlor with a mens barbershop in the rear, which is new construction. There also will be six apartments available over the first floor of 418 Main St. and another four apartments over 422 Main St. DeMartino said he expects the parlor and barbershop to be open for business by summer 2023. The ice cream spot, which will also offer large gourmet cookies, will be operated by Prifitera. Customers will see the ice cream being made right in front of them, DeMartino said. The barbershop will be operated by Fresh Cutz, which now has locations in Hamden and Wallingford. The fourth building in the string on the block DeMartino is developing is 428 Main St., the former Woolworth building. The plan is for a 7,000-square-foot gourmet market and a 4,000-square-foot restaurant on the main floor, and a roof-top patio bar. The rooftop bar will feature an enclosed, climate-controlled, 3,000-square-foot area with a 3,500-square-foot, open-air outdoor section. The enclosed area will have garage-style doors that can be opened in good weather, and the rooftop bar will feature views of the Connecticut River, DeMartino said. This will be the last of the downtown buildings he will develop, with businesses expected to open there in one and a half to two years. Less than 1,000 feet and two blocks north of 412 Main St., DeMartino also has bought and plans to gut and rehab 584 Main St., the former Shliens Furniture Co. building in the North End. It will include 12 units of market-rate apartments. DeMartino said the homes will appeal to young adults who want to live, work and play downtown thats who I am trying to attract. The buildings main floor will be for a Latin-style restaurant with a bar and heavy appetizers or tapas. A tenant has yet to be secured for that space, he said. DeMartino said his developments are unique because they are turnkey, or fully ready for the tenant to conduct business. The tenant gets everything (the business needs) except for food and liquor, he said. Thats what makes my approach unique, said DeMartino, who designs the interiors himself. The city is assisting the development with a council-approved $2.54 million grant from ARPA funds. Florsheim said the city received a total of $30 million, of which $8.5 million will go to the school system. The funds supporting the new development on Main Street are coming from the citys remaining allocation. The state of Connecticut also is supplying a $2.6 million matching grant, DeMartino said, adding that he expects the total cost for all five buildings to be approximately $15 million, including all the final preparations. DeMartino said he owns almost 1 million square feet of commercial space mostly in Connecticut, but some in Massachusetts. He said most of the properties are in the New Haven and Wallingford areas, including a 65,000-square-foot shopping plaza and 80,000 square feet of offices rented by a defense contractor. In Middletown, DeMarino said he also is developing 160 apartment units on Newfield Street at the location of the former Wild Bills Nostalgia site. He said he hopes to gain approval from the zoning commission in 2024, and construction could take a year to 18 months. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: %method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: %perl> 28: